Cheynes

Damn you Cheynes with your good hairdressers who have great craic and your expensive prices!
Seriously though — I go through cycles with my hair. I have it short, get tired of having to STYLE it regularly so spend years growing it our, wear it long for ages, get tired of NEVER styling it, and cut it short again.
I recently entered a short phase.
To go short, I went to not-​Cheynes and yes, got my hair cut off but no, didn’t really like the cut. It was kind of a bob, and you really can’t sport a curly bob when you’re 30. You look like a mom, or a child.
With my brother’s wedding around the corner I went to Cheynes.
I’d had Craig cut my hair a few times and was really happy with how he cut it, but I decided I was too cheap and too hair-​lazy to keep it up. Craig was busy when I was free so they got me an appointment with Lloyd.
Lloyd took one look at my hair, read my mind, and got what I wanted. He explained exactly what he was going to do, did a quick all over cut and then took his time refining it.
While he was cutting, someone decided to put on Phil Collins and the next 20 minutes were spent reminiscing about Genesis and half making fun/​half loving the music.
So, not only was my time in the chair a total giggle, but UGH the cut was amazing. It’s like, really good. It’s exactly what I wanted. Lots of hairdressers cut curls with the expectation that you will just straighten your hair anyway, it’s weird. From Lloyd I got a proper cut that was meant to improve the volume and shape of my hair.
BUT, it was just about £60.
I have spent too long luxuriating in my £14 haircuts and £60 was a slap in the face, especially considering I’ll need to get it cut more now that it’s short and has a style that needs maintained.
So, full marks on doing a great job cutting my curls. Minus one star for the price, which to be fair is probably standard for the «director» level of a salon these days.

Been getting my hair done here for years by Craig Hibberd and wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else. Fantastic staff, talented at what they do and really make you feel welcome, with a smile, friendly chat and a lovely coffee. I always enjoy my visits to this salon, Craig and his team make me feel welcome and looked after and best of all I leave with great hair and a smile. I honestly couldn’t recommend this salon highly enough.

Good hair cut, high price!
You might think that prices and cuts go hand in hand, but I bet to differ. Can’t deny that Karl did a very good job, and at the same time I feel I paid a bit too much.
You might think what is too much? More than £100 I would say. Got similar service for half the price for highlights and cut. Maybe it’s the norm nowadays, who knows.
Overall impression:
I felt a bit claustrophobic in there. Very small place, Lots of people: 7 Hairdresser, 3 Assistants, and all the clientele. It felt like that the shop overlaid bookings. Some customers turned up earlier than expected and my hairdresser had to excuse himself to talk to them quickly (what was a polite thing to do). However, I felt like there was not enough attention on one person, as everybody was rushing around, trying to do their job as efficient and fast as possible.
There were children, lots of them.
The receptionist was a bit too impersonal for my taste. It felt like I am a piece on a conveyor belt and am pushed through and passed on to get to an end result. Nevertheless, she did her job professionally.
Cut:
As mentioned, Karl did a very good job. He is very attentive to your needs and tries to do his job as precise as possible. He loves what he does, which makes it easier to make his customers happy. If you choose Cheynes, then ask for Karl.
Others:
I liked the massage chairs, which are downstairs, where you get your hairs washed. Took me a while to get used to, but it works fine.

Best hairdressers in Ediinburgh… really friendly, competent staff. if you need a great cut and colour, get Fiona to do it! I always use her and she’s the best!

Oh what can I say I went in for cbd and blondhighlights and came out with a v bad cut and dull brown lowlights, I went back to a different salon on their request whereupon I was treated very hostile and was made to feel I had asked for a bad cut and colour, I was in my 37years of going to salons Im now 43 amazed and realy uspet at the way I was spoken to, anyway I was promised to brighter hair even though they thought it was fine well they said it was much better when they had finished but I am now left with ginger highlights just cant believe it especially when the end of colour 5inchs was already blonde and I just asked them to match it Im faced with growning the mess out especially as it is now in bad condtion due to the amount of colour they put it Never again if you want to go to a conveyer belt and be felt like your a number and come out with completely what you didnt ask for go to Cheynes Thanks very much for ruining my hair

I rang in the morning on the off chance I could get an appointment and thankfully they had a cancellation. All the staff were welcoming and very chatty. I was brought quickly to get my hair washed where they had amazing massage chairs! For this alone I was happy! When I was brought back upstairs Kal the hairdresser talked me through what he was going to do. As I normally have an overgrown fringe everytime I go a hairdresser (as I go so irregularly) it is often hanging wet over my face which isn’t always the nicest feeling, but Kal purposely cut it first so I didn’t have that problem. A really enjoyable experience overall with a great haircut (I can finally see again now my fringe is cut), and because I had asked for a stylist when I rang they gave me stylist prices when I paid even though Kal was a much more experienced hairdresser :)

Very happy with Kal who did my hair today. I had long, thick curly hair that the best of hairdressers fight with but he did good. Happy and will go back ;)

After being convinced by a friend to try her hairdresser, Paterson SA, to have my hair coloured, I quickly realised that «you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone»…
Craig Hibberd from Cheynes at Bruntsfield has being doing my hair for the last ten years and it wasn’t until I ventured elsewhere that I realised just how good he is! He knows exactly how I like my hair, I don’t even have to ask. I never leave the salon feeling tired out from my experience like I did at Patersons when I was there for 3 and a half hours for a half head of colour (which by the way only lasted around 2 weeks — compared to when Craig does my hair and it looks great for at least 6!) As well as this, he always brightens up my day by making the experience not only relaxing but fun (if he wasn’t a hairdresser I’m sure he’d love a job as a comedian). His team at Bruntsfield are great too, they are so welcoming and they know all the clients by name, not just there own. For them it is clear that going to the hairdresser is much more than just having your haircut — the atmosphere, the way your are treated and obviously how well they do your hair are all taken into account.
I feel guilty I ever imagined Craig and the salon at Bruntsfield could ever be topped. I guess I assumed that all hairdressers would provide the same kind of service as I am so used to the fabulousness with Craig. I highly recommend Cheynes at Bruntsfield to anyone and I will be sure to take my friend there, just to show her what she is missing!

Popped in for a fringe trim and to check them out as a potential new salon as I’m new to the area. The cost of the trim was a reasonable £8. I explained to the hairdresser, Lloyd, that I just needed a tidy up before I sat some job interviews. I also asked him if he felt we should cut in a full fringe, as I’d had the length at the back shortened by 3 inches before relocating from London and wondered if the front should be changed as well. He said it didn’t need it and suggested we proceed with a tidy up of the long (ear-​length) layers at the front. I agreed. I was therefore surprised when he cut a significant amount at eyebrow level, leaving the overall look quite disjointed. Lloyd himself was pleasant enough but didn’t seem particularly engaged. So, all in all, not a disaster cut, but disappointing, and I’ll try one of their competitors before I’d go back.

Had hair coloured and cut at Cheynes in Bruntsfield by Fiona. Love it !!! Will definately go back.
All the staff were friendly, courteous and helpful.
Thanks fiona and Co.

I’ve only ever had colour done at Cheynes. Having very little previous experience of colour, and wanting to go lighter, I had a consultation and took the plunge. I was aware that it would take time to get my hair as light as I would like, however I ended up with patchy colour and found that I was charged for highlights when I was actually just having my root regrowth done (I only found this out later when I queried the treatments I was having with another salon). It is pricey, even with discounts. The staff are friendly and appear to be well trained, however I for one would appreciate a bit more explanation for what’s happening to my hair rather than being unhappy afterwards. I ended up having a repair job done at a different salon which I was far happier with.

I am a bit fussy about where I get my hair cut but am willing to give new places a try. I tried here and, although the cut was okay, it felt a bit like I was part of a production line.
I remember when Cheynes was just starting out and it was more of an intimate affair and I think it is maybe just a victim of its own success in that it is always very busy but I am not convinced that you can get a really good cut and finish in 20 minutes. The girl who I got was nice enough but not very chatty nand didn’t even seem too concerned if I liked the cut or not. I don’t think I will be rushing back any time soon.

I get nervous getting my hair cut and have resigned myself to going to trainee nights, so at least I haven’t shelled out too much on the experience. Cheynes Academy operates in their various salons once a week and their student staff are professional with the right balance of consultation and ‘where are you going on your holidays’ chat. I recommend Jenni who works at Drumsheugh and Lothian Road.