The $150 difference
I’ve really raised my expectations of hairdressing service by going to Brad Ngata Hair Direction for the past 5 years. To save money, I decided to try the new place downstairs from my apartment. I know it was risk to let someone other than the 2005 & 2006 Hair Expo ‘Australian Hairdresser of the Year’ touch my hair but I tested them out with a fringe trim a few weeks ago. The guy did a pretty good job and gave me a freebie (in anticipation of further business from me). So I took the big step and made an appointment at midday on Saturday. The actual haircut turned out fine, I just told them to keep it the same style but I tell you, there is a huge difference between a $200 haircut from the salon of Brad Ngata (where ‘You’re the star, sweetheart’) and the $50 Chinese place downstairs when it comes to atmosphere and service. At Brad’s the appointments always run near on time, they offer you magazines, coffee or tea in funky surroundings (Stark mirrors, Marimekko soft furnishings). At “the Chinese” there were little tv monitors at each station, but they were already blasting out the Justin Timberlake on the overhead speakers, so I didn’t really want to watch Casino Royale at the same time! I had to ask for a drink of water, which they promptly brought to me but it was hot water (yeah I know, they are Chinese, they don’t drink cold water). After staring at myself in the mirror for about 15 minutes, I had to ask for some magazines to read. What kind of hair dressers don’t have lots of trashy mags on hand for people to read?? It was 50 minutes until the stylist came to cut my hair. I noticed an Asian lady with a perm was getting her hair blow dried straight before me! The only 2 redeeming features of the experience was that they rinsed my hair after they cut it to get all the stray hairs out and I had a coupon to get $10 off the $50 hair cut. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience, but what can a princess with a mortgage do?
Simon Rumble said,
July 17, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
I can recommend a great Iraqi barber on King Street who’ll give you a clipper cut for $8!
daveg said,
July 17, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
Well… you know where’s probably people in between the $50 to $200 bracket who’d do a decent cut and have a better atmosphere… black and white baby!!
Mel said,
July 22, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Try a senior hairstylist at Noddy’s at the Blockhouse (UNSW). No they aren’t student hairdressers. My fave hairdresser managed the place, she used to work at Noddy’s in Newtown (so we’d all avoid seeing her on Saturdays and see her at UNSW instead). $40 for a cut and blowdry.
They are open late on Thursdays.
Joeii said,
July 23, 2007 @ 11:17 pm
I never thought I knew fear until I was in a dodgy hairdresser in Cabra that my mom SWORE was the shit.
I’m telling you, I nearly cried.
It was then I realised that you’re not really paying for a haircut. You’re paying a shitload for piece of mind.
…….and that’s how they sell you insurance!