Curly hair specialists in London

[fionaj]

Hello fellow curly girls

Would like to say a huge thanks to this forum which led me to the discovery of Michael Price of Unruly Studios.

Having been natural (mixed race hair) for a year and a half and despairing of EVER finding a hairdresser who was even remotely au fait with the right washing/drying/cutting/styling techniques for my hair, it was a joy to have my hair done by Michael on Wednesday.

Michael has a passion for curly hair, is very knowlegeable, and a lot of fun too. Don't be shy about going to a 'London salon' as he'll soon put you at your ease. (Don't you just hate those hairdressers that grab a lock of your hair and say: "My goodness, what on earth have you been doing?" ) Michael is the complete antithesis of that - completely down-to-earth.

I'm still growing my hair, so Michael - at my request - didn't cut a huge amount off, althpugh he saw instantly what was wrong with my current shape. The real difference for me was in the styling. He taught me how to use a diffuser properly (normally I let my hair dry naturally) which will be useful for days when I don't want to do the school run with sopping wet hair. Oh, and he gives a wicked scalp massage - the best I've ever had.

So, curly girls, give Michael a try - he really rocks!

Fiona
xx

[ScarletOhara]

As my daughter who has just become a hairdresser has been taught that you cut curly hair the same as everyone else's that's where it's all going wrong! I have tried so many products and so many hairdressers over the years. Each persons curly hair responds differently and each curl has its own personality! What works for me is this - Ionly use shampoo which has no sodium laurel sulphate (like Pantene or Australian Organics) - amonium laurel sulphate is slightly better for you & not as harsh. I use loads of Tresemme conditioner (purple one in a pot) and Pantene mousse the ice blue one to hold my hair (much cheaper than Tigi Curls Rock) after I've washed & conditioned. Don't use serum as this only sinks in & makes curly hair dull, don't get it razored and don't let them rub it vigorously when it's been washed! Still looking for the hairdresser who gets it though!

[erd]

I just moved to London from the US - and I find that my hair looks horrible here. My formerly amazing miracle product (DevaCurl - Set it Free) doesn't seem to do a thing and I haven't had a good hair day in a month. I did get a horrifyingly un-curl-aware haircut which isn't helping - but it's also the texture that seems to be making my hair a messy festival of frizz. Can anyone recommend something that will help? I don't really like products that hold (like a mousse or gel) so usually I go for a leave-in conditioner - but I haven't found one that works!

Help!

[sharen]

I just moved to London from the US - and I find that my hair looks horrible here. My formerly amazing miracle product (DevaCurl - Set it Free) doesn't seem to do a thing and I haven't had a good hair day in a month. I did get a horrifyingly un-curl-aware haircut which isn't helping - but it's also the texture that seems to be making my hair a messy festival of frizz. Can anyone recommend something that will help? I don't really like products that hold (like a mousse or gel) so usually I go for a leave-in conditioner - but I haven't found one that works!

Help!

Dear erd

Welcome to London, I am also a foreigner and I feel your pain.

I'm sorry I can't recommend a hairdresser (I have a dream about going to NY and getting my hair cut at Devacham!!), but I understand the Curly Girl Deva-Curl ideas. I use Angell, maybe that would be better in the London weather - I buy mine from eBay, or you probably have a relative who can send you some. I have a cupboard full of products, none of them work as well as Deva-Curl. Do you have the Curly Girl book? There are some ideas on the Naturallycurly.com forum, apologies if you already know about these.

Some people hear seem to like the Curls Rock products but I think they have silicone in them. hohum.

Good Luck!

[sharenb]

Sorry I forgot to put in my reply that the water in London is pretty terrible and I found it really upset my hair also. You might want to consider rinsing with cider vinegar/evian etc or flat beer. (the forum I mentioned above has some good ideas)

[Guest]

Like a lot of you I haven't found a place that works to get my hair cut in London, so I get it cut once a year when I go to NYC at Christo's Fifth Ave
http://www.curlisto.com/

I've been to Ouidad and Devachan and none can top it. I alw=so love their products. To the girl who's looking for a good leave-in conditioner I love Curlfriends leave-in. It comes in a pot and you can get it at curlmart. They ship to the UK.

[shoequeen]

Hi all, I am new to this forum and discovered it whilst searching for a good girly hair dresser! I found one once in southampton, a lovely afro specialist who had my hair in gorgeous ringlets then prompltly gave up the salon due to ill health. I have now gone back to my usual heavy layering! Am trying to grow it but due to layering and thinning am not getting anywhere.

My husband booked a trip to NY for my 30th recently so i have phoned and booked an appoinment at Lorraine Masseys salon!Will let you all know how i get on. Am then intending to leave it as long as possible before next cut and will try Unruly i think - got to be worth the commute to finally have fab hair!

None of my friends understand my predicament as they all have long straight or wavy hair. They all say how lovely my hair is but i know it could be soooo much more!

[happycurlychat]

Hi, I've got really thick curly gair and I have had some really awful times at the hairdressers.

I have never found a hairdresser who can understand that curly hair might look long when it's wet...but it shrinks when it dries. So they might wet cut it to shoulder length but it dries to chin length!!

I had one hairdresser go off to the back room and point and giggle at me with her colleagues and another who told me that he felt 'sorry for people like you because there's nothing at all that you can do with your hair'

Nowadays the only person I trust to cut my hair is my husband.

I've just set up a forum for us curlies in the UK to talk about curly hair, it's at http://happycurlychat.forumer.com

I'm desperate to find out if there are any decent products or hairdressers out there.

[bushfire blonde]

I had my hair cut yesterday by the lovely Michael at Unruly and he has totally transformed it.
He instantly saw what was wrong with the previous cut, told me to trust him and went for it. I am now the proud owner of a groovy do - everyone loves it.
I'm always pathetic about having anything different hair-wise as I've had some really bad cuts in the past and I work in fashion so nasty hair is a no-no (how shallow - must change career)- but this guy just got on with it and kept telling me I'd love the end result. He totaly understands curls, explained drying / styling techniques to me and I'm booking him in to do my colour asap as he wants to sort that out too.
He's also funny - as he chopped a load of hair off, he casually said "are you bricking it?" (er, yes).
Anyway, I would urge similarly afflicted curly girls to pay him a visit, he's a clever old sod.
Thanks Michael x

[Unruly Mike]

I have just checked this forum again to see what you all have been writing. It seems many of you have come to put me/us/Unruly to the test. Thank you all for your efforts to come and check us out here in Notting hill.

I have been busy teaching the rest of my team how I manage to satisfy so many of you (often desperate, petrified, nervous, shaking) curly haired people. When you call to book you must specify that you have curly hair - we are not a curl exclusive salon and I employ stylists that are strong in other area's.

If you are hoping to come and see me please be aware that I get booked up often three weeks in advance - even though I work 60 hour weeks (Yeah - I love it!!). If you can't wait to see me then try to see Anthony who has mastered the technique - although it is just as hard to get an appointment with him because he is famed for his gents cuts and prefers to be at home watering his plants than actually working. Otherwise be patient.

One other thing you could do that might make you happier with your curls is read a blog I posted ages ago http://www.cuttingremarks.co.uk/?p=145#more-145 In this blog I try to explain some of the basic styling advise I give to people in my chair - although it is constantly changing as I learn more like maybe use the dryer on low heat not high - don't know why I ever recommended that. One thing that has yet to change however is that I still recommend Tigi Curls Rock - one pump is good even for people that create a solar eclipse when the step out the door so half a pump will do for most of you.

Again - Thank you to all of you who have given me the chance to do my thing with your hair. Hope to see more of you soon.

Also a special thanks to Lamis for officially having the hugest head of hair in the world. You have taught me every thing I know - even if we lost/broke a few tools in there along the way.

Michael

[disappointed]

Hi,

I seem to be the only person disappointed with Unruly Hair Salon - I went there based on the comments in this website and was actually quite excited about getting my hair done there. What a disappointment I got. Even though I told Michael that I didn't want my hair shorter than shoulder level I ended up with chin-level hair, with no layering to give any shape or style to my hair and therefore have ended up with thick fuzzy triangular hair that I have had to tie up in (probably the shortest!) ponytail. It would also have been nice if Michael had listened to my when I said that I didn't want my hair dried as my hair and any type of diffuster do not mix. To add to my disappointment I also had my hair coloured there and even though I'm not very good at colouring my hair myself I could have done a better job that the woman who put the colour in. When I had tied up my hair (in my very short ponytail!) I had very noticable patches of grey hair underneath. I now have to find another hairdresser to try and fix all this.

[HEADQUARTERS SALONS]

How to create modern twist curls
Steps:

1. First, rough dry your hair to get most of the moisture off.
2. Then... apply a product especially designed to protect your hair from the heat.
3. Next, blow-dry your hair with a paddle brush, using your dryer with the nozzle attachment.
4. Once your hair is dry, apply more protective product and section the hair, combing each one as you go through.
5. Place the straighteners at the root holding them horizontally and without closing them. Carefully wrap the section around the plate all the way to the end.
6. Close the straighteners, rotate, and pull them away from your head in one slow movement. Allow the section to cool. Keep alternating the direction of the curls.
7. Finish with a quick blast of shine hairspray to make your hair look really glossy.

This AOL Show Me story was created with thanks to Charlotte Amin at the Hair Temple Salon, Plymouth. - submitted by AOL Video

VISIT CHARLOTTLE WEBSITE VIDEO LINK ON http://video.aol.com/video-detail/how-to-create-modern-twist-curls/3225242843

ALSO CHECK OUT WWW.HEADQUARTERS-SALONS.CO.UK

[Guest]

How to create modern twist curls
Steps:

1. First, rough dry your hair to get most of the moisture off.
2. Then... apply a product especially designed to protect your hair from the heat.
3. Next, blow-dry your hair with a paddle brush, using your dryer with the nozzle attachment.
4. Once your hair is dry, apply more protective product and section the hair, combing each one as you go through.
5. Place the straighteners at the root holding them horizontally and without closing them. Carefully wrap the section around the plate all the way to the end.
6. Close the straighteners, rotate, and pull them away from your head in one slow movement. Allow the section to cool. Keep alternating the direction of the curls.
7. Finish with a quick blast of shine hairspray to make your hair look really glossy.

This AOL Show Me story was created with thanks to Charlotte Amin at the Hair Temple Salon, Plymouth. - submitted by AOL Video

VISIT CHARLOTTLE WEBSITE VIDEO LINK ON http://video.aol.com/video-detail/how-to-create-modern-twist-curls/3225242843

ALSO CHECK OUT WWW.HEADQUARTERS-SALONS.CO.UK

Hey girls check this site out it great!!!!!

[marmo]

I've had some horrendous cuts since I moved to London and am currently sporting a fetching triangle which I'm hoping the appointment I've just made with Michael this Friday will fix. Thanks to all who have posted and, fingers crossed, helped me find a cutter who knows what they're doing. I'll keep you posted....

[LauraM]

It is so nice to know I'm not alone out there! My curly hair drives me bonkers, I hate going to the hairdresser and frequently feel frustrated with the whole thing! Maybe I will treck across for an appointment with the magic man at Unruly?