I would avoid GMs hairdressers

[Jellybeanz]

I have been going to GMs for years and years and always found them reliable, fairly reasonable (comparatively - for this area!), if slow service.

I went today and my goodness, my last visit I wasn't impressed to find that a blow dry wasn't included in a haircut price (had to ask her for the brush and dryer in the end and do it myself, wasn't willing to walk out looking like wurzel gummidge) but TODAY was so much worse...

Usually happy staff had been replaced by grumpy / sour faced teens, the girl who did my hair looked like she had sucked a lemon and didn't speak to me throughout except to laugh [once] at something her colleague said to her.

She even huffed when I had a sip of my drink (as she had to stop for at least 5 seconds).

Then the worst part - the hair wash. My gawd I have never known such a rough wash in my life. The only saving grace was that she didn't have the usual false nails. I felt like my head was in a spin dryer being tumble dried. "Do you want a head massage" usually meets a "Yes please!" erm not today thanks. If she could do that when washing imagine what a head massage would be like - cheese grater treatment perhaps?!

I expect the woman also having a hair wash had similarly rough experience as she also declined a massage and looked eager to get back out into the salon daylight and have her hair finished (by the lovely Millie - one recognisable face, lovely as ever).

Once the "rough drying" began - which essentially meant a comb through and her running her chewed nails through my hair whilst waving the dryer somewhere near my head - I knew I was at risk of looking worse than when I came in and paying for the privilege. And I did. My parting was wrong. She said "Is that dry enough?" (erm well, let's see do I want to go outside with damp hair when I have a cold and after paying ?50 for highlights?!). I guess so. What's the point in making a fuss, just to be met with more grimaces or possibly shocked faces at someone daring to point out their inadequacies. Surely I should just be grateful I got a half price offer.

To top it off the lingering at the till when I paid was almost too much. Really, you expect a tip of any kind after that treatment???

My tip is charge less, treat customers better, include a blow dry in whatever the customer is having, and BE NICE :)

I shall only be returning on a Saturday when it is busy enough for you to get great treatment to a trusty hairdresser I have had before!

What a shame, a lovely day ended by me being out of pocket and looking hardly any better. Humph.

[Sue]

Go to Shingo at Kuki!

He's excellent. Loads of recommendations on here, including mine.

A short walk from GMs.

ETA: Bellenden Road, just where the shops start, at the East Dulwich end.