Fringe benefits

Feature

Compared with the cost of a new ’do in overpriced Blighty, high-grade mainland European hairdressers can be a snip. Sally Howard combs through the tonsorial options

Once there was a divide between certain types of European hairdressing as vast as a Flock of Seagulls quiff. Throughout the 1980s, the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish keenly embraced backcombing and bubble-perming as sensible grooming strategies – everyone from posh girls to chart-topping popstrels aimed high (and wide) and wound up with hair like a gale-blown wig. Meanwhile, on the continent, helmet-like was the look and Catalan footballers to Italian politicians topped themselves with space-age domes.

Yet times change and teased fringes fall flat; high-quality hairdressing now knows no borders.

“Hairdressing used to differ greatly from country to country,” says a spokesperson for Jean Louis David, Europe’s largest hairdressing chain (with branches in France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Portugal and Switzerland).

“In the 1990s, looks such as the Jennifer Aniston Friends cut became popular everywhere and training standards, which had been below-par in, say Spain, started to level out.”

What’s more, you can often bag a bargain on your bangs in Europe.

“I always find London very expensive for hairdressing,” says Victoria Pettes, a London-based commercial graphic designer, “I travel about Europe a lot for work though, so I usually wait to get my hair done – Berlin is great for a choppy cut and Italy and France for a classic glam blow-dry.”

But how do you ask for a good blow-dry without risking a stern slap, or faceful of glottals? Well-groomed locals offer their tips…

France

WHAT’S THE DAMAGE?

Around €40–60 for a wash, cut and blow-dry, with some good student discounts.

WHAT’S THE LOOK?

For women mid to long with a natural dégradé (or layered) look for girls. The teen trend is for close-cropped mullets spurred by jerky electronic dance movement “la tecktonik”.

THE BIG BRANDS?

Branded hairdressers (very good but can be expensive) include Jacques Dessange, Jean Louis David, celebrities’ hairdresser Franck Provost, Mod’s Hair, Saint Algue and Jean-Claude Biguine.

WHAT THE LOCALS SAY:

Nadege Agullo was born in Bordeaux and has lived in London and (now) Paris. “Avoid hairdressers where old ladies with violet hair go, cheap ones or ones where the hairdressers have bad haircuts... Haircuts are at least 30% cheaper than the UK. The classic French cut is square mid-length hair, with or without fringe, which gets shorter as you age.”

What to ask for:

LEAVE THE FRINGE: ne touchez pas à la frange SHORTER: plus courts LONGER HERE: plus longs ici

Germany

WHAT’S THE DAMAGE?

Around €32 for a wash, cut and blow-dry.

WHAT’S THE LOOK?

Classic cuts and adventurous without being OTT. Short and pixie looks for women. THE BIG BRANDS? Aveda, Marlies Möller, Klier (more than 1,000 branches in Germany) and Kertu.

WHAT THE LOCALS SAY:

Elizabeth McGrath is a Brit who has been living in Berlin for three years. “I’d never get my hair cut in London now. The cost here in euros is what you’d pay in pounds in the UK.

“One difference is that you can get your hair cut for €10 or €15 here, and it might not be that bad. In London, only men would consider getting a haircut for under a tenner. German hairdressing is less showoffy than London too. You won’t find any Hoxton fins here or outlandish colours – it’s either blonde or dark. The personal treatment can be wonderful. The cult Max Höhn on 12 Schröderstrasse, Berlin, has expert hairdressers, but only one sink and two hairstations. It’s supertiny but the feeling is one of luxury – it’s just you and your hairdresser and maybe one other customer quietly getting their hair stylishly snipped. Highly recommended.”