Yesterday, I did as I often do when I'm looking to get my locks shorn -- I walked in, at random, to the first hair-cutting place that I saw and took my chances. Needless to say, I was not pleased with the result. I don't really blame the man who cut my hair. I understand that it must be difficult to meet someone for the first time, figure out how their hair works, and provide exactly what they are looking for. I'll allow that you have to get to know a client first, but I will say this: Hairdressers, you can't get to know a client nor can you determine what kind of haircut they are after, if instead of listening, you talk non-stop throughout.
The last hairdresser I had was Erin, a girl filion found, and she was really great. Unfortunately, filion lost her number and she's left the salon she was at. It's kind of a tragedy, but then again, she was pretty expensive.
I've most often gone to barbers in the past, but so many of them don't give a shit I think. The last barber I went to was wearing a really tight track suit that was COVERED in hair, a lot of it cat hair, and he reeked of cigarettes. Shitty haircut. One of the worst ever.
After that I tried a hairdresser. I found a great place, but for some stupid reason, once one person cuts your hair in a salon, you have to go back to that same person all the time, and the woman I ended up with, though she was very nice, didn't pay attention to what she was doing, ever. She talked constantly and would be looking out the window, looking at the person next to her, or having a conversation with someone behind her, all the while snipping away. By the end of it I looked like I'd cut my own hair with a machete. Once, while she was away I got a great haircut from another girl that worked there, but for some reason (and I even asked the owner) I couldn't make the switch. They were afraid to tell her that I preferred somebody else. Instead they started calling me if she was away on vacation: "She's away, you need a haircut?"
"Uh...I was just there yesterday, remember?"
But she went away so rarely. She'd brag about never taking sick days and whatnot and the whole thing just got too annoying. I guess they figured it would hurt her feelings or something, and maybe I should have just said something to her, but I couldn't do it either.
I'm definitely not going back to the guy yesterday. While I'll admit that it was interesting to hear about his stint in rehab and his twenty-four year bender sniffing coke and smoking crack the bottom line is, it wasn't a good haircut. I'm so stupid though. Here's this guy who looks like a Vegas magician telling me he's gonna cut my hair "just like all the boarders" since he saw my skateboard when I came in. First of all, I don't even know that there is a consistent "boarder cut", and second, you can be damn sure that if there was one, this guy didn't know what it was. And most importantly, I didn't even want my hair cut that way. But somehow he appealed to my vanity and I glimpsed myself on my board, with my cool new haircut blowing in the wind, younger skateboarders hollering approval as I whizzed by. Big surprise, it didn't turn out like I expected. I should have been more clear about what I did want. I know for sure that my request of "like an 80s dad" went over his head, and somehow he argued successfully against my request of "shorter, please" so that I ended up with kind of a bowlish bob which displeased me greatly. But I only have myself to blame.
So now I call upon all who read this post to provide the names and locations of the best hairdressers and barbers in Toronto. The only way you find someone good after all is through word of mouth -- or in this case, word of text -- but it would be great if we could get a list going so that the next time I need a haircut I can find, for maybe the first time ever (not counting the elusive Erin) somebody decent.
Posted by King at Junio 24, 2004 01:01 PM"Vegas magician" is one of the best insults I've heard.
I've always had good luck with M*A*R*T*H*A at A*V*A*L*O*N, but I seem to recall that you didn't.
If you're consistently running into trouble, maybe you should find a picture of someone sporting the haircut you have in mind. If I was a stylist I wouldn't know what you meant by 80s dad either. Kind of a conservative mullet, maybe?
Posted by: D on Junio 24, 2004 02:06 PM .My hair dresser is wicked, it took me four years and at least 30 mediocre or shitty hair cuts and colour jobs for me to finally land in her magical hands. Her name is Fran and her salon is called 2 Hot Blonds the only problem is that she is all the way out in Markham, a little far for a hair cut but well worth the drive in my opinion.
There is this other guy named Trancis, not sure what salon he is at now but I have a few friends that go to him and he is very artistic and funky, maybe be a little too out there for you King but if you are interested I could get you the info.
Don't feel like I was very much help here...sorry?!
Posted by: Sassy on Junio 24, 2004 02:30 PM .No, that helps Sassy. I just can't believe the name Trancis.
D, you find she pays attention to what she's doing?
Posted by: king on Junio 24, 2004 05:40 PM .King, I saw your hair and it looks great!!! GREAT!!!! Remember that. If you want to make it GREATER!!!!!!!! then I know a secret; if your hair is especially unruly or you don't like the way it looks then just put a little bit of Vaseline in it and shake it around a bit. Even if it looks weird and people ask you about your hair then you can be all nonchalant and say, "Oh I don't do much but if it's especially unruly I use a suggestion of vaseline"; how fucking cool does that make you sound? I do it all the time. Maybe, though, you shouldn't take hair advice from somebody who only cuts his hair once a year and it ends up looking all feathered for the next 8 months and who also says things like, "Oh if it's especially unruly then I use a suggestion of Vaseline".
Whatever.
Posted by: TheDiscourse on Junio 24, 2004 08:12 PM .My dad also has a wicked line: "The difference between a bad haircut and a good haircut is a week."
My dad's also bald now though.
Posted by: TheDiscourse! on Junio 24, 2004 08:14 PM .Dude, not that I don't love it and everything, but your positivity is getting a little out of control. I hesitate to even say so, but I just want to make sure you save it for something more worthwile than my hair looking good.
Posted by: king on Junio 24, 2004 08:55 PM .Discourse's positivity is just negativity with extra exclamation points.
Posted by: D on Junio 25, 2004 02:21 AM .I'm afraid you're totally not quite right about that at all!!!
My positivity is totally legitimate and exciting!!!
Posted by: TheDiscourse! on Junio 25, 2004 09:18 AM ."Trancis" works out of Coupe Bizarre, I believe.
(How the fuck do I know that? I cut my own hair, for shit's sake.)
Also, it is great or terrible that the hairdressing thread is longer than the thread about Discourse selling his vote?
Posted by: adHominem on Junio 25, 2004 10:27 AM .All of my hairdressers have left me, except the one I hate the most, Matthew. He does a good job, I like my hair, but he doesn't talk to me....at all.....ever. It is really awkward. I try to start conversations with him and he acts pissed. It sucks. I loved Erin. We talked about boys and sex and hair and celebrities. But now she wants to cut my hair at my house which I'm not into. I want the salon experience.
Posted by: filion on Junio 25, 2004 04:59 PM .Ask Sassy how many stylists she's seen in the past 12 months. She's a complete hair whore.
Posted by: on Junio 25, 2004 05:00 PM .Matthew sounds good. I think I'd prefer no talking, but I'd definitely be into getting my hair cut at home. Does that mean you can get in touch with Erin filion? Or would it be too creepy for her to cut a guy's hair over at his place? It shouldn't be. I mean, I'm definitely not creepy -- until you get to know me maybe.
By the way, that was you who called Sassy a hair whore, correct filion?
Posted by: king on Junio 28, 2004 09:47 AM .When I do get my haircut I go to see Eamond at Harlots(!) on Queen at Palmerston. He's an old family friend and he's a good sort. He also talks and looks like an East London gangster, which is totally fucking awesome. I think I'm convinced he does a good job because of his thick cockney accent; if we're to listen to the commercials of Vidal Sassoon (aka Vehdahl Sasseewwn) or Laboratoire Garnier (aka Lahbohratwaah Gaahneeay), cockney males are the sine qua non experts on hair and haircare products. I trust them implicitly. Does anybody know why Cockney is the voice of hair?
Posted by: TheDiscourse! on Junio 28, 2004 01:04 PM .I ran into one of my old hairdressers on Friday. She cuts hair at her apartment now for $30. You can drink wine and have smoke while you're getting your hair cut too.
Posted by: filion on Julio 5, 2004 11:55 AM .I had a great laugh on this site I am a hairstylist and I have seen, heard and experienced the worst of the worst belive me just beause I'm in the business do not think I have not had bad cuts. The worst was from a co-worker that had just started at the salon I was working in she had great credentials.a month be for my weddind day I wanted Rease Withspones cut from the movie Sweet Home Alabama I got a muhroom mullet.I post boned my wedding for 8 months untill it grew out.At this time I'm working on a website that will allow client to view the work of the haidresser before they go and expierience them. I plan on matching client up to their hairs sole mate ! I'll keep you posted
Posted by: roxanne on Agosto 7, 2004 09:07 AM .D, I think the scottish jokes in ads started with Mike Myers' scottish characters, especially fat bastard in Austin Powers, The spy who shagged me.
Why can't ads be more original?
I think you're right, christa. I'm just so sick of all this second-rate scots-related hilarity being used to sell whatever it is (I'm looking at you, Pale Ale).
As for cockney and hair, hasn't that been discussed here before? If not, here's a theory: cockney accent embodies a working class somewhat more fancy than our own, yet still servile. You wouldn't trust a Canadian steelworker with your hair because what does he know? He probably has a mullet, anyway.* You don't want Sir Snooty Upperclass-Fauntleroy IV doing your hair because his superior class status will make you feel insecure. Compromise: cockney!
*For the sake of a cheap joke, I'm ignoring the fact that mullets are currently in style, or at least recently have been in some areas.
Posted by: D on Agosto 10, 2004 07:50 PM .Mullets suck ass they are not in style its just that the people who are sporting them are such dorks that the hair seem cool
Posted by: roxanne on Agosto 12, 2004 10:21 PM .Wow. What a penetrating insight. I think you're right Roxanne.
Posted by: king on Agosto 13, 2004 12:56 PM .The best stylist (most dont like to be called a hair dresser)is my best friend, the woman I share a brain & soul with Brandy. Unfortunately she lives in Barrie. She refuses to cut anyones hair until she's sat down & had a good chat with them. She wants to know what your lifestyle is like & how much time you want to spend on your hair etc...She really is incredible and will do your hair from her place so you can have some drinks, smoke spliff & get a cheap deal. If you ever want to take a ride up to Barrie with me & try her out, you have my word that you would love the rad cut you got. In Toronto one of the best stylists is Rocky from Coupe Bizarre. It's always a kick ass style but you'll pay 40$ plus tip.
Posted by: juice on Agosto 16, 2004 11:17 AM .Alert! Hot new stylist. I just got turned onto this lovely Columbian gentleman, Carlos Restrepo. He and 2 other Sr. Stylists from Vidal Sassoon and Civello have opened this adorable no bull-shit salon on Irwin Avenue (3 blocks south of Bloor and just West of Yonge) No sign, no specific styling products, just an unassuming house converted to a makeshift salon. It is wonderful, but pricey. $80 for a cut, but you'll feel like the queen of the fucking universe.
Posted by: filion on Agosto 19, 2004 10:53 AM .new hair stylist? Now you have got my attention. (big surprise) My current hair stylist does a great colour job although I am not so keen on the cut its growing pretty long now and its kind of boring, I think I need to sass it up a bit. Definitely don't want to go short but it needs some shape, thinking I might try this new salon you talk so highly about, $80 is a little steep though for a cut, but I would be willing to pay that if I walked out of there feeling like the Queen of the fucking universe, hell yeah!
Posted by: Sassy on Agosto 19, 2004 03:44 PM .hello toronto. im moving to your fair city in march of next year and will be looking for work in a stylish/forward thinking barber shop.
i am 25, with 7 years experience in all feilds of male grooming..... if you think you can help e mail me at monkeyboy_900@yahoo.com
'Trancis' works out of 'W'...Walter's salon on Queen West.
Posted by: E. on Septiembre 14, 2004 02:33 PM .Hello Everybody,
We are looking for volunteers to help us in our Hope in Program as Hairdressers. If you know any people or group that you enjoy volunteering, it would be great – they could practice their skills while helping our community.
Thank you very much,
Fernando Lusvarghi
Hair Dresser for Homeless Drop-In
New Hope offers Saturday and weeknight programming for socially isolated and homeless Parkdale residents. We are looking for a professional hairdresser who wants to provide hair cutting to community members who cannot afford this service.
Duties & Responsibilities:
·Hair cutting and styling for drop-in members
Skills Required:
·Need to be a professional hairdresser
·Must be comfortable with people who experience homelessness and social isolation
·Must be friendly, reliable, patient, non-judgemental and non-discriminating
Orientation, Training and Benefits:
·Staff provides orientation and training before volunteers are placed in the program
·On-going support provided by New Hope staff
Program Time & Location:
·Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-9:00pm, and every second Sunday, 12-3pm
·Parkdale Community Health Centre (Queen and Dufferin)
Volunteer Commitment:
·2 hours a week, for minimum of 3 months
gwen rose at david and francis in yorkville is awsome i am a hairstylist and it is hard to cut another stylists hair she is great and 10 times cooler than anyone i know
Posted by: roxanne on Noviembre 8, 2004 09:43 PM .