S H Hair Salon

You know how you have at least one love-​hate relationship with someone? Well I have one with a fierce little Malaysian lady called Tracy.
Now Tracy is a hairdresser, and she is an extraordinary one at that. I say this because I was born with a head of hair that was thick as a horse’s tail and as straight as ruled lines on paper. It was impossible to get my hair to sit in other style then a straight bob, so I grew up until my early teen years with a hairstyle resembling that of Cleopatra with a sharp fringe to boot.
During my uni years, I went a little crazy and opted for the really short hairstyles, which worked for awhile but I began to miss my long hair so I grew it, and then I met Tracy.
At the time she worked at a hair salon called ‘Le Salon’ in Chinatown, which is still there, but wherever she went I followed like a lost puppy. Now let me tell you why.
When I first let Tracy cut my hair, she sighed as all hairdressers do, on the realisation of my hair type:
«Goooosh is so thick your hair!?»
I just nod and smile sweetly.
She then gave me a bunch of hair magazines and starts pointing out some of the styles she thinks will work for me. It’s refreshing, as it’s usually me telling the hairdresser how I’d like my hair to be. Once we agree on one I like and she thinks will work for me she gets a cutting. She works slowly at first, to get a feel for the texture of my hair and how it sits. She works quicker as time goes on, and before I know it I’m done.
Over the past few years since I’ve been visiting her she has grown to read my hair as an open book. Her inimitable authority and experience allows her to work with whatever condition my hair is in. She works quickly, but with great accuracy. I’ve had cuts where I’m in such a rush, that she can get me in and out within 45 minutes. A pretty incredible feat when I think back to the time when a junior hairdresser took nearly an hour to just blow dry my hair!
I have grown to trust her completely and give her artistic freedom to do whatever she likes as long as:
1) I can carry it off at work, and
2) It won’t cost me an arm and a leg!
So yes that does include the time she persuaded me to perm my hair. Yeah I know right?! When she mentioned the word ‘perm’ I had scary images of 80’s perms in my head, but in expert hands she made that perm look classy, and once the curls dropped, I had beautiful semi-​loose curls which appeared every time my hair got wet which until that point had NEVER happened EVER.
I went to see her last week (my last visit was in November 2012), and again she gave me a great cut. Of course she still barks the line «Goooosh your hair so thick!!» everytime I see her, and she has to switch between various combs and brushes as she cuts to get through different sections, but despite her complaining — and no doubt she’ll have a word or two to say about your hair — know that you’re in good hands, and she says it because she cares.
At £35 for a cut and blow dry (much cheaper for men!), it’s not the cheapest deal around, but for the expertise and the banter you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who will get to know your hair as well as this fierce lil lady.
P. S. If you do stop by, tell her that ‘Ashley’ recommended you. No, that’s not my name but she’ll know you’re referring to me!
NB: Tracy no longer works here but at J L Salon, 57 Dean Street W1D 6AJ. For appointments: 7 885 100 228.