How to Choose a Hairdresser in Farnham: 7 Things to Look For
A good haircut starts long before the scissors come out
Farnham has plenty of hairdressers, and on paper a lot of them look similar - nice website, good photos, a five-star rating or two. The real differences only show up once you're in the chair, which makes choosing somewhere new feel like a gamble. Having run a salon on Downing Street since 2013, we've heard most of the horror stories. None of that is inevitable - there are specific, practical things you can look for, some visible before you've even booked, some only obvious once you walk through the door. Here are seven of them.
A proper consultation, every single time
This is the single biggest indicator of a salon that takes your hair seriously. A rushed "so, usual?" while a gown gets thrown over your shoulders isn't a consultation. A proper one starts with open questions - what you're hoping for, your routine, what you dislike about your current hair - before anyone reaches for a comb.
Our own rule is simple: never touch a client's hair without asking first. If a client says "just an inch off," we get them to physically show us the inch, because everyone's inch is different - a small thing that prevents most miscommunication.
Ask what's actually going on your hair
A salon that can tell you exactly what products it uses - and why - is generally one that's thought about the outcome, not just the style. Vague answers here are a red flag; you want specifics: which brand, and whether it suits colour-treated, fine or curly hair.
We work exclusively with Goldwell and KMS, part of the Kao professional group. All our colour is formulated with hair integrity built in, so there's no compromise on condition to get the tone you want, and every chemical we use is vegan. Ask any salon the same question - how they answer tells you plenty.
Look for evidence, not adjectives
Plenty of salons describe themselves as "award-winning." Fewer will actually name the award, and the specifics matter - an internal salon award means something different to a genuinely competitive, judged industry accolade.
We've been a British Hairdressing Awards (BHA) finalist three times, reaching the Southern Counties final twice - the UK's only industry-wide, judged accolade - and a UK Top 4 finalist at Goldwell Color Zoom, an international competition open only to Goldwell salons. We mention it not to boast, but because it's worth asking any salon about directly.
Read the reviews, not just the star rating
A star rating on its own doesn't tell you much. Read a handful of the actual reviews and look for detail - do people mention specific stylists by name, describe the consultation, talk about how they were made to feel? A longer review describing a real experience is worth more than a generic five words.
One of ours reads: "During my consultation today, Ben took time to sit and discuss what I was hoping for in terms of style and manageability, gave me an idea of what he envisioned, making me feel very excited about getting it cut!" That detail tells a new client far more than a number out of five.
Find the stylist whose speciality matches your hair
Not every stylist suits every hair type, and a good salon is upfront about who's best placed to help rather than just booking whoever's free. Curly hair, for instance, needs a genuinely different cutting approach - plenty of stylists can cut it, but far fewer can create shape a client can wash and wear.
Within our own team, specialities are named rather than assumed: curly cuts, graduated bobs, balayage and lived-in colour, modern textured cuts. If you know roughly what you're after, ask who specialises in it - a salon that answers confidently has thought about matching stylist to client.
Notice how they talk to you, not just about hair
This one is hard to judge before your first visit, but it's worth noticing from the first phone call. Do they answer directly, and explain what's realistic rather than agreeing with everything you ask for? A stylist willing to say "that might not work, here's what I'd suggest instead" is being honest, which matters more than one who tells you what you want to hear. We're not afraid to say no when something genuinely won't work - because whatever you leave with is effectively our billboard.
The appointment shouldn't end at the till
A good cut or colour you can't maintain at home isn't much use three weeks later. Before you book, ask what aftercare guidance you'll get - product recommendations, styling technique, how to protect colour between visits. We build this into every appointment: clients leave with specific advice on products, tools and technique, so the result holds up at home, not just on the day.
"The whole salon had a great, relaxed atmosphere. A really lovely experience, we will definitely be back!"
Trust the process, not just the portfolio
None of these seven things are complicated, but together they add up to a genuinely different experience from a salon that's just going through the motions. We've been trading on Downing Street since 2013, and the consultation-first approach Ross and Claire built the salon around from day one is still exactly how we work today. If you're weighing up your options, take a look at our haircuts in Farnham page, or check our FAQs for answers to the questions we get asked most before a first visit.
Ready to find your next hairdresser?
Come and meet the team on Downing Street
A full consultation before we touch your hair, every time. No pressure, just an honest conversation.