Hairs and graces

Read up on Time Out editors recommendations for their favourite hairdressers

Xuan Hair Salon 10RMB

Having short hair, I like to have a fi xed style, and though the hairdressers here are quite young, they can all do a good basic cut. I once had a bad experience in Toni & Guy, where the stylist insisted that his art was more important than my own opinion, but here I get what I want for ten kuai.

They’re all quite chatty, and they do try to persuade me to perm or dye my hair. But I just refuse, and I’m normally very happy with what I get. Gissing Liu

A-zhen at Giza Hair Salon 37RMB

After cutting all my hair off at the age of 16 and looking like a horrendous version of Marie Fredriksson from Roxette, I’ve been trying to grow my locks ever since, and now start all haircuts by pleading that only my split ends are removed.

A-zhen, who is uber-trendy in his drain-pipe jeans and grey cardigan, is suitably restrained. Most hairdressers, when faced with a heavy head of hair, cheat by hacking away with a pair of thinners before ironing out all shape with steaming hot straighteners.

A-zhen snips skilfully in all the right places, so even when I do my hair at home, without the luxury of straighteners, I can just about recreate that ‘just out of the salon’ look. And the best thing is that a basic wash, cut and blow dry comes to just 37RMB. Annabel Greene

Rocky at Meili Shijie 60-100RMB

After discovering that no less than three of my girl friends (all with nice hair!) were going to the same 60RMB hairdresser, I decided to see what all the fuss was about and rocked up one Tuesday afternoon.

What I found was a small, modern salon with down-toearth staff, neck-friendly basins and a heap of great magazines (Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire) to get stuck into. Even better, a cut from the most senior hairdresser, Rocky, who speaks good English (including the necessary haircut lingo) costs just 100RMB.

A fair price for one of the best cuts I’d had in ages. The best thing about Rocky is that he actually gives you the haircut you ask for at the start.

Usually you have an image in your head of the look you want and the vision that greets you in the mirror the moment they’ve finished makes you want to die, but for once I was pleasantly surprised. Needless to say, he’s been my hairdresser ever since. Rita Chung

Simon at Susana Hair Salon 88RMB

Generally, I ask hairdressers for ‘Not too short, please, and can you leave it a bit messy on top?’ Almost always, they set about my hair with reckless abandon, and by the time I pluck up the courage to protest a little, it’s too late; I already look like a gawky 12-yearold from the ’50s, and am (inwardly) apoplectic.

So it is notable that going to Simon at Susannah is actually a pleasurable experience. Simon is a very cool guy, with wacky tattoos on his pecs and dishevelled hair, but what is great about him is that he actually listens.

So every step of the haircut, he checks with me what length I want. His approach is ‘softly softly’, which is exactly how hairdressers should be, and he somehow manages the curious alchemy of getting the shape of my hair right (diffi cult, as I have a fl uffy, shapeless mop).

And while he’s friendly, he doesn’t do excessive small talk. Neither Simon nor any of the staff speak much English, but bad Chinese does the job. Toby Skinner

Frederic Macel at Eric Paris Salon 425RMB

Many times in Beijing I’ve ended up looking like Carol Brady from The Brady Bunch, so it was a blessing to meet the genius that is Frederic Macel at Eric Salon.

Although he’s not cheap – 425RMB for a wash, cut and dry – this charming Frenchman has never let me down. And while he’s always a solid bet, he also manages to still do creative things with my hair, often encouraging me to try new styles without pushing me out of my comfort zone. Clara Sun

Robb at Toni & Guy 580RMB

I’ve always been a little adventurous when it comes to my follicles, having been round the Dulux colour card at least twice, and I’ve really struggled to fi nd a hairdresser in Beijing that keeps me on the right side of crazy.

That is until I met Robb. Robb understands my brand of scruffy chic without making me look like Sideshow Bob. He’s salon director of the Toni & Guy at the Yintai Centre, and is one of the best hairdressers I’ve ever had.

I usually twitch and grimace for the entire duration of any haircut, but not with dear Robb. He’s funny and entertaining, but silences aren’t awkward, either – perfect hairdressing etiquette.

He takes on board my ideas, but then inputs his own suggestions about what will really suit my style and face shape. He gives good advice on colour, too, and takes into account skin tones, which can vary during the year.

The going rate for a cut by a salon director like Robb is 580RMB, and colour is 600RMB. He’s also technical supremo at the Toni & Guy Academy at Sunshine 100.

If you’re ready, willing and accepting of a more avant-garde style, then you can volunteer yourself as a model for a free cut, but fret not, your cut and colour will be performed by trainees under Robb’s watchful eye. Alice McInerney

Salons

Eric Paris Shop 123, Kerry Centre, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang district (139 1179 8376). Open 10am-8pm daily.

Giza Hair Salon 4 Jiaodakou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng district (6406 8402). Open 10am-10pm daily.

Meili Shijie Somerset Grand Fortune Garden, 46 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang district (8440 1918). Open 10am-9pm Tue-Sun.

Susana Hair Salon Dongcaoyuan (on same street as Face Bar, just north of Buy Now mall), Chaoyang district (5876 1099).
Open 9am-10pm daily.

Toni & Guy Unit 303, Tower C, Yintai Centre, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district (8517 1292). Open 10am-10pm daily.

Xuan Hair Salon Pingleyuan Xiaoqu, Xidawang Lu.