I will be in Paris for a week over our Thanksviging holiday and have gotten intrigued by the idea of getting my hair cut (and maybe colored) in Paris. Anyone have any experience with this? I have no idea where to go, how hard it would be to book, whether it would be worth the time etc. Would appreciate any experiences or advice.

Hi Mary Susan<BR><BR>Look at the top of your page. In the "Text Search" box type "haircut and Paris" In the box to the right, scroll down and highlight "France." Press "Find." You'll find 13 threads that address this very subject!<BR><BR>I loved my Paris haircut and wish I could pop over once a month for a trim!

Here's a "cut and paste" from a reply I posted in September:<BR><BR>"I picked a busy salon, also Jean Louis David, on rue St. Dominique in the 7eme and walked in on a Saturday<BR>morning. An hour later I walked out with the best haircut of my life. Raphael was the stylist. The cost for wash,<BR>cut, blowdry was about the same as here in CA." <BR>

My advice would be to do it only if you speak fluent French or can find a good place where you can speak English. I did this once, back many years ago before my French had evolved to the point where I could scream "No WAY you're going to do that!" and arrived back home with a haircut that might have been great if I had been planning to spend the next five months in German biker bars but that was very difficult to tame for my usual client meetings. This experience was not inexpensive, either. I figure I paid about $15 a month for a year's worth of being pretty socially unacceptable in an American setting. I guess I went to the wrong place, but it was someplace - I wish I could remember where - David something or other? - LOTS of people had recommended. <BR><BR>A couple of years ago in the Dordogne my son really needed a haircut, and I took him to a local salon and asked the lady to cut his hair in exactly the same fashion it was already cut (a bowl cut, popular at the time). She got on a cell phone and started cutting away, and before my son or I could stop her, turned him into a rooster with a cockscomb. Fortunately, we were in France for a month, so none of his friends ever saw it, but we called him "Spike" for the duration of that trip. Suffice it to say that my dreams of achieving hair perfection in France have never been realized. All the more frustrating as those French women seem to manage to get absolutely PERFECT cuts every time. Caveat emptor.

I second the Jean-Louis David idea. It's a chain, so they're all over Europe. I've gotten my hair cut there in Krakow, Spain, and Italy, and there was always someone who spoke pretty good English. Plus, I was always happy with my haircut.

I have to third the Jean Louis David only I used the flagship salon off Champs Lysee and It was fabulous. Both my mom and I had a cut and color, they spoke english relitively well and will ask you if you did that to yourself ( in refereance to your current look) It was pretty cheap compared tot he NYC salon prices and I have kept the color and look since I returned and now everytime I am in PAris I go back for a recharge.

They have Jean Louis David chains all over, they have them in the US, also, so I think it's just chance as to whether you get someone good or not, but that one off the Champs-Elysees sounds okay. I suspect the salons at the major dept. stores might be a good bet, also, as they will speak English (someone around will, anyway) and are used to foreign clientele. If you aren't that picky about your hair, why not. I haven't done it myself, but had a friend with the same experience as St Cirq's, so be prepared (which can happen in the US, also, especially if you go to a salon where they are more interested in being artists than in what you want) -- I don't remember what salon she went to in Paris, but she got a cut that was very avant-garde and, well, unusual. It might have been just the thing for a college student who wanted to be very different, but wasn't what most people want to live with. I think hair salon prices are reasonable in Paris.

If you want to go to a place that is not a chain, try Jamal Fakih. He is near the Etoile on 55 ave Marceau. Ask for Susan, she's Irish. Jamal speaks English, too. Catherine, the colorist there, is one of the best in town. tel 01 47 20 56 78.

I had a very good cut at (the only) salon on rue Frederic Sauton a few yrs. ago. About $45. They speak some English, were professional and pleasant. Metro stop Maubert Mutualite; lovely area.

Thanks to all. I like the idea of just walking in to a decent place, although I realize I would never do that here under the assumption that anyone who would be available without any notice would probably not be very good. It is an intriguing idea, or maybe I will try calling the place where they speak English (my french will get me a hotel and bathroom, but not very far in a hair salon I fear).

Mary Susan, a couple of ideas for you. Find the salon you want to use, and walk in to make your appointment for later that day or later that week. Or you could have your hotel phone for an appointment for you.

I get my hair cut at BLEU COMME BLEU on the rue Rivoli, next to the Le Meurice Hotel, about $65 and well worth it. They speak English, bring you wine, coffee, etc... and KNOW what they are doing, English sopken...reserve a place early.<BR>Wendy

OOps, English SPOKEN.

$65 for a haircut? I guess that is what you pay for the "etc."

I had a haircut at the Jean Louis David salon at Au Printemps (or was it Galleries Lafayette ????) a couple of years ago. I just walked up to the desk and asked and they had an opening then. The fellow that cut my hair spoke English well, as did several of the others there. It was about $45, and it was a nice haircut (trim more then cut). There are a zillion small shops all over the city, I've been to Paris many times but this was the first time I decided to get a haircut. It worked out well!