Formerly known as Basement Barbers…read more(http://london.blog.qype.com/2009/01/basement-barbers-at-exmouth-market/) , I'm pleased to report the new Liv "Hair & Beauty for Everyone" salon is a spruced up version of my favourite place for a quick, inexpensive and consistently good haircut. The two ladies there are incredibly friendly. For under a tenner, I get my ears lowered better than other places I've gone that have charged more than twice as much. So, I can leave a tip and still experience that warmly and fuzzy 'value for money' feeling. Oh yeah, I always receive compliments about my looks after a cut here. Considering what they have to work with (my grubby mug and mussed up hair), I'd say the Liv ladies do a smashing job making my hair look its best!

This salon opened in May 2007, so it's a bit of a new kid on the block, but it is a kid you will…read moresee for a while because it's so cool. It's an independent salon in Soho with that indie vibe from the hairdressers to the music they play. What I loved about it is that the people there really love their job, so they will take the time necessary to talk you through what they can do, depending on your features and lifestyle. Another plus is that you don't have to sell a kidney to get a good haircut, its reasonably priced and sometimes they will give you a discount in your first cut.

I made an appointment on a Tuesday for a Wednesday afternoon hair styling appointment. I usually…read moreopt for choosing a service, whatever it is I may be looking for on Yelp, with a higher number of reviews than Viva has, but I said what the hell, I'm sure it'll be fine. To accurately describe what happened, I'll give a chronological list of events. Tuesday: called, got a woman on the phone who kept asking me to repeat myself. So, on the third try of telling her I wanted my "hair blown out and and straightened and to add in my own clip in extensions, hopefully around 14:00", she said "okay, how is 13:30?"...etc. She then asked "do you have a preference on stylist?". I joked and said "someone good" and she said, "hold on, I can't hear you" and kind of half went outside. I said never mind and that I will see them tomorrow. (They also couldn't (wouldn't?) take my phone number because it's a US number). Wednesday, 13:30: I arrive at the salon and was greeted nicely and brought directly to the chair. I pull out my extensions and the woman (the same woman on the phone it turns out) looks slightly horrified and says she "doesn't do extensions". Ok. No biggie. "Is there anyone else who can?". She goes off asking the other 3 or 4 stylists if they now how. A girl says no at first, then yes. Then they tell me one girl who knows how to blow dry will do that part and another who knows how to put in clip in extensions will do that part. I tell them that this is ridiculous, then the same, "nice" guy who greeted me got very defensive and was no longer Mr. Nice Guy. Wednesday, 13:40: I walk out in search for any other salon that can do this. It took me until 14:30 to find a place, and boy was I lucky. PLEASE save yourself the time and aggravation (if you look 2-3 reviews below, you can see that they similarly screwed someone else over) and go to Haringtons on Poland Street. Nick was wonderful and my hair looked amazing. If you're tired of reading, I've already included the important bits. For anyone who wants to hear a little more, I will tell you why this whole situation pissed me off so much that I had to write this. I'm a singer touring in Europe currently. I had a debut performance at a very famous venue in London and I was to arrive for a soundcheck at 3 (in Soho, luckily). My image is a big part of what I do, so I depend on salons doing their part and listening to me when I tell them what I need (I think that's called "good business practice"). That's why I always am sure to tell them that I have these extensions, because, like the girl at Viva, not everyone does them.

I've been here once for a cut and a blow dry and I found the staff and the environment very warm…read moreand friendly. I was well looked after by the hair washer, who gave me a lovely massage, and the hairstylist was friendly but not too animated (which is a pet hate of mine, I don't need to talk ALL the time). The decor is French and feminine with antique furniture and there was alternative music playing which was a nice change to other salons I've been in. The overall result was good, but not the greatest haircut I've ever had. However, the price is great, so it's a little bit of a trade off.

Beaucatcher is perfect for a reasonably priced wash, cut and blow-dry. The staff are friendly and…read moreif you get the right stylist they won't over-talk (a pet hate of mine). Sadly I lost the card with the stylists name who I had the best experience with so have been just hoping to get lucky every time since then. I am not sure I would come here for any highlights given my friend's issues in the past, however when we have had issues the salon has resolved them without fuss and with apologies. The shop front is a beautiful and in the summer you can have coffee in the courtyard outside if you arrive early enough.

I was in desperate need of a haircut having had no time to visit my usual hairdresser as her hours…read moredo not match well with my work schedule and busy weekends. This place was close to work, and less than £50 to cut my midback length hair. Perfect. I walked past this place twice before realising it was there, as it also shares a storefront with a souvenir shop. Unlike many hair salons in London I wasn't offered a drink or anything upon arrival, but I wasn't really expecting it either. That is a feature that I am still not used to with London salons, the coffee or tea service while you wait. Kind of glad I didn't have to bother saying no several times here. I was seated and showed the stylist my photo of the shoulder length hair I wanted. He talked over a couple things with me, then brought me over to have my hair washed, conditioned and a quick head massage, then I was brought back to the chair and he got to work. I was expecting to be seated for an hour, but my hair was quickly chopped to my desired style (simple layering for movement, shoulder length cut - all done very well), and then my hair was dried straight. This took longer than the cut. In between there was a bit of the standard chitchat, suggestions for hair colouring to cover my premature greys, and I was out within 20 minutes. Overall the speedy service was exactly what I needed, and I have a great haircut. It's not a luxurious spa-like salon, but it does the job and does it well. Will definitely go back.

so i went here for a haircut after work. i had booked an appointment after doing some googling and…read morejust trying to find a place close to by job - it had been ages and my hair needed cutting badly. the prices seemed reasonable (for london). as a california transplant, it's been hard to adjust to the price of beauty here. :) i was seen quickly by what seemed to be the owner. he did a great job and in record time. he was going so quickly i was getting a bit concerned about the outcome but the cut was great. solid layering, good fringe, and he blow-dryed it expertly all in 45 from soaking wet to cut and trimmed to soft and fluffy. my only pain point is that what i ended up paying was way more than what i wanted. i thought it would be about 20 pounds and ended up costing me 30 pounds plus i left him a 5 pound tip. it was worth it - the cut was good. but given the price i actually paid, i probably could have gone to a higher end salon, but who knows how the cut would have turned out i guess. the quest continues for a nicely priced salon with nicely done cuts...

I visited on a weekday afternoon, so the salon wasn't busy. The colourist greeted me cheerfully…read moreand asked the assistant to get me started. He robed me up and offered me a beverage. I accepted a coffee and found the cafe americano I received of enjoyable quality. The colourist then came for a consult, and I discussed my hair history with her (years of dying it black myself with only a recent salon-quality lightener to lift the colour to brown), and we decided on a semi-permanent colour. The service itself took about as much time as I would have expected, and the assistant gave me a relaxing shampoo. Both the colourist and assistant were chatty, although the overall vibe of the salon wasn't particularly welcoming so I felt a bit awkward throughout the experience. Perhaps it was because it wasn't bustling with business. Overall, the salon experience was pretty average and the price was par for central London; I had no immediate complaints after leaving, but I also had nothing particularly good to say about the salon. Nothing stood out as better than the rest. Unfortunately, the colour washed out after just one shampoo at home with products specially formulated for coloured hair. I didn't bother going back.

Paul is my hairdresser,…read more I have been coming monthly for a few months now. and this is great honest service with a laugh and if you are lucky a freshly baked croissant and a coffee. It's a lovely little salon, and there is always time for a chat and a laugh.

This was my first time to the Colour House, and like everyone would be I was a little bit nervous…read moreas I had never had my haircut here and hadn't had any recommendations. As it turned out they have a new fan, I was delighted with my haircut. I loved the premises, very funky modern decor, with a clean and airy atmosphere. No loud music that you sometimes find at hairdressers, just a calming back ground. Being a Monday I was fortunate to get a last minute appointment when I realised a haircut was long overdue, so they managed to fit me in during my lunch hour. Linda, one of the senior Stylists cut my hair, I took a pic and she followed it to the letter. She did a fantastic job and I probably wouldn't have needed the pic. Very pleased with my hair. The Colour House is recommended, I'll be going back.

One word..FREE this trendy friendly hair salon is just behind Plaza on oxford street and its free…read more But don't let this make you think they offer below standard haircuts coz they are great. I was told about this place by a friend and reluctantly went in a couple of weeks ago, the friendly women on reception told me that as everyone was on lunch I could come back at either 2pm,3.30 or 4.30. I think they also do similar hours in the morning too/(ie 9, 1030 and 1130). Although I have short hair and only wanted a trim my stylist still washed it and was very friendly through out without being overly chatty. Although it took just over an hour I didn't mind as I rather she take her time than just rush.

In this place there is also an education saloon where you can get a haitcut for 8.50, aswell as…read morecheap colorings etc. The coiffeurs are people who are already working as hairdressers and they just learn new things there. So you dont need to worry that your hair is getting cut by absolute beginners. Tip: get an appointment in busy times for hairsaloons (eg) christmas, because then the teachers doing cuts aswell, because there ar too many customers.... absolute bargain!!!

The Chiswick Salon is a fantastic independent hairdressers! I've been very pleased with the…read morehaircuts I've had here and the friendliness of all the staff. they also have a special area for kids with a DVD player and plenty of books to put them at ease.

I'd recently moved to the area and tried out this place as my usual salon is in East London and too…read morefar to go. On a positive note, everyone who works here seems really nice and there's plenty of parking outside. However, the place is absolutely tiny. The smallest business I've been into I think! I was in and out of the door in about 15 minutes and was really disappointed with the result - it was a 'get home and tidy with the kitchen scissors' job. As I say, the hairdresser was really nice, as was the girl on reception, but I'm 27 and I was the youngest person in the place by about 25 years. That's not a bad thing - I was just looking for somewhere trendy and funky and this certainly isn't it.