My hair love story I came to live in London 6 years ago and of course needed a hairdresser. A friend of my sister recommended Basecuts in Portobello Road so I decided to give it a try. I went there and met Danny (the current manager) and my first haircut gave me a very good impression, I was really happy with my haircut and every time I went there since, I have never been disappointed. He understood me/my hair and my hair expectations all the time. My hair love story started with this salon. Danny left at one stage and this made me sad as I felt I couldn't trust anyone else to look after my hair. But I still decided to go to this salon because it makes you feel at home, everyone is friendly, welcoming, and with interesting personalities and looks. And you can feel that they are trendy, stylish hairdressers who listen to customers! I tried Marilyn and she also managed to make me feel very happy with my hair. But when Danny came back (I was so happy to see him back) I returned to him as he has got the style I'm looking for. He sees beyond you and the outcome is just amazing.... What else can I say, their work is well worth the price! There are different hairdresser styles there so I'm sure you can find one who fits your hair style too!

I used to go here several years ago but stopped when my fave cutter left. Thought I'd give it another go and am very very pleased I did. Had Paul, a lovely northerner with 12 years experience cut my hair. Short hair is hard to cut especially on women who aren't models! Its hard to keep the hair feminine and light. Paul however is a true star, excellent cut, lovely shaping, spent ages adding texture and height. If you haven't been try him of you used to go and stopped go back and give it another go. Paul's the man.

Beyond appalling. If I ran any small business I would ensure one thing, that the customer left happy. Yuki screwed up. Lovely girl but did not do what I asked. I ended up with hair that looked dip dyed in toilet bleach. Lisa Simpson would not be a far off look. You'd think showing the hairdresser a photograph & explaining & agreeing on what I wanted that would be what I'd get. I asked for dark blonde hair with a cluster of blonde highlights round the front & a few round the back. She knew she had screwed up when she said I needed to come back two weeks later for ash highlights. Don't you mean low lights I said? No highlights. What? Brighter than this? Picking up my Lisa Simpson block yellow hair. Yes she said. How much would this be after this £150 appointment. £85 she said. Alarm bells. I thought I'll give it 24 hrs wash it see what my friends think. It's not so bad, they said. You've changed your hair !(Worried face) Yup it's gone wrong. A conversation over the phone with the manageress Hensa, I thought proved hopeful. Despite her saying I had to see Yuki -I said no way! Despite her saying I might have to pay for it-again no way! My friends said that when their hair had gone wrong they had gone back to the salon who'd sorted it out. So I returned to the salon, where instead they closed ranks on me. They even saw the dark blonde sparsely highlighted image & said my block dip dyed yellow hair was what I asked for. Hensa said I had 'changed my mind' & would have to pay for it. ONE HOUR LATER of discussion, with clients overhearing, she said she would go half, then withdrew her offer when I got upset, saying I was threatening. I said, I'm a woman, upset that I can't wear my hair down. I look ridiculous. This is not what I asked for. How is being upset threatening? She asked me to leave!!!! Finally I thought, I'll get the toner & see. During the treatment I rang other local salons to see if they could see me after to put lowlights in. All were booked up. I conceded and asked Hensa if I could go halves & do the lowlights. She said toner goes on after lowlights, I had missed my chance & any other salon would have to wait a week. A week! With this hair? I had been counting the days 'til this appointment. I was going to a friend's birthday & was embarrassed. Much more was said besides. Too much to go into. Even the colourist-Camille, whilst she blew dry my hair told me she shouldn't be doing this. I should have gone back to Yuki. I explained I saw the card Yuki had written my hair colours on & the amount Yuki got from my original appointment I had read was £70, I paid £120 so Basecuts gets 40%. At my second appointment (which went wrong) I spent £150, 40% of which is £60. £60+£40 is £100. The cost of a hair colourist? £95. Hensa pretended to compromise & asked me to pay half of £95. But the cost to Basecuts would have been 40% of £95, £38. So not only did Hensa want me to fully cover sorting out their mistake, she infact wanted to PROFIT from their mistake by £9.50 on top!!! No one can afford to be so arrogant in this current climate, as to disagree with what is a plain case of something gone very wrong. Yuki got it wrong and Basecuts should have put it right. Me? I am left with dreadfully damaged hair from Yuki painting bleach all over my head & a style completely different from what I asked for, despite by a photograph & consultation. Basecuts was very foolish. If you want your hair cut in Notting Hill go anywhere but Basecuts. Infact I have a new name for them. But it doesn't end in 'cuts'.

Went to Basecuts and saw Charlie, whose friendly advice and styling helped me come out of the salon feeling great and confident with my new hair. Since then I have gone back for colouring and have not been dissapointed! A real hidden gem in my local Notting Hill...5 stars!

My hair was cut by Frederico. He listened to what I wanted and made helpful suggestions and the end result was a lovely haircut. Plus the prices are really really reasonable.