why the poor review? I ask why the high reviews? walk into their salon and ask them whether any of the hair dressers are trained by any standards and the answer will be no. in other words they hire anyone that has some level of experience but Hobs abides to no standards in terms of training. what does this mean for customers? it means they can justify their high prices compared to any other hair dresser salon that exist in the UK. i get my hair cut by a qualified hat dresser that actually went to college to learn how to cut by the experts. an expert using the scissors . i want proper training. not like a white van driver who thinks they can drive because they've got x years experience but someone actually qualified and trained by an expert. I'm not saying they're bad at cutting fair. we all know anyone cut use a trimmer and that's easy anyone can do it. . I'm just trying to justify why their prices are three times more than average and they offer nothing special in comparison to others. you want us to pay a high price? Prove its worth it read more

Ya know here is the thing, I like this salon, I really do but I probably won't go back. My styalist was very skilled, and I got a great cut. I described the style of cut that I wanted, and she said "well I think it will look better if we do it a bit differently"... of course I caved and let her do what she thought was best. Did I get a great cut? Yes. Did I get lots of compliments? Yes. But did I get the cut that I went in to get? No. I wanted a particular style, not just a great cut. I would recommend this salon to people who rely on the stylist to create their look, but I quite like to create my own. read more

HOB Salons - Hair Salons Near Me - London, XGL

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After having a disaster with hair extentions, half my hair had turned into dreadlocks, and the rest was desintergrating by the second. I headed here for some well needed advice and hair treatment. I came armed with a portfolio of magazine snippings of what style I was after. ( and Kleenex!). My stylist was a lovely, sassy and intelligent creative, who took my under her wing and gave me excellent advice and suggestions. I was proud of the end result, and I really enjoyed my time here.. The staff were ultra professional, and a little birdie told me that they get paid more on how they dress... so thats what all the black ties were about! amount of Kleenax used? Zero read more

HOB Salons - Hair Salons Near Me - London, XGL

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Can you mess up a blow dry? Yes. Sadly. The worst part was the shampoo. My scalp was not touched and my head and hair still feel dirty. Forget it. Yes, my hair looks okay, but not after it smoked and he burned it - because he was in a hurry. I will never go to this salon again. He did not wash my hair - and it feels greasy - yuk. The problem with Salons like this one is that if you're a walk-in you get the bottom of the barrel. I'll have to find a place where they really wash your hair. read more

I decided out of nowhere that I absolutely needed a haircut in London. After asking multiple people, I was referred to the HOB salon in Camden. The stylist here was extremely professional and recommended blunt bangs and red highlights for a fun yet mature look. They took the right amount of time to ensure that I was comfortable yet not too long as to take up my entire afternoon. Upstairs is the student salon where students can practice and learn new techniques. The place is extremely clean, and welcoming. read more

If you can't dye hair funky colors in the middle of Camden, you really shouldn't be in business, are my thoughts.... Wanted light pink hair. Was told it could be light pink. Wasn't made pink (hair turned ORANGE from a shitty bleach job). Had hair color corrected to a darker pink by senior colorist. Two appointments later was finally told they would never be able to turn it light pink on my hair...blah, blah, blah something about not being able to bleach it enough (!!)....and my hair is a medium brown, not black, and easy texture so uh...??? Waste of time/money. Feel lied to about the end look. Haircuts by Mehmet were nice albeit kinda pricey at £42. read more

love my usual salon! I can't remember when I first came here, but found my stylist Tracey (currently on maternity leave) and decided she was it! Having had other disasters in the past ( see my review of Rush Kings Cross) it wasn't worth risking a dodgy salon for a cheap deal. This is right next to Camden Lock and is light and airy. Wash chairs are black leather with massage settings in them and leg rests, each stylists station has massive mirrors and they also have an academy onsite for teaching the hob styles to trainees. I have always found the receptionists super-friendly ( Hi Simona!) and they do free fringe trims in between cuts. Atmosphere is buzzy but not too loud, just funky background tunes. All round, a great option for haircuts in Camden. read more

My daughter has newly short hair, but wanted an edgier cut. We could put her off no longer and we found this place while strolling Camden. Where better to get a trendy, shorter cut. It wasn't cheap, but sometimes the memory supersedes the cost. She will always remember getting her hair cut in London. Her stylist took his time, listened to her and she left feeling confident and smiling. Further proof are the dozen, post-cut selfies. Lol! read more

I love this place. I came via a friend's recommendation. I had short hair at the time and was trying to grow it but couldn't find a hair dresser that was happy to do the "grow out stage" with out cutting my hair right back down. I decided on Ian (one of the top stylists) and haven't looked back. My first appointment he didn't rush and it took him twice as long to sort my hair out. He immediately understood what type of hair I had and why other hair dressers were struggling to cut it. He also could tell that different people had cut it with their own different styles. It was amazing to finally have a stylist who knew what they were doing. It's taken about a year to finally get my hair to just below my shoulders and I feel my hair is safe in his hands. The staff are always friendly, from when you walk in to when you leave. I couldn't fault it if I tried. read more

This is a review for the Hob Academy. I wouldn't normally bother about doing this but I thought your salon had to know incase this hair dresser does this again on a paying client. I had my hair cut yesterday at the academy with the guy with red hair. He was very lovely but obviously VERY inexperienced and very unconfident in what he was doing. It is by far the worst hair cut I have ever had. I have incredibly thick hair, as the hairdressers all noted and we discussed the length of my proposed hair cut a lot, so it should have been pretty easy for him to get it right. When I tilted my head back up from him cutting it against my neck it was at least 1-2 inches shorter than what I said. So short that I literally cannot tie it up in a pony tail. There is actually nothing I can do with it except use 20 bobbipins to pin it behind my ears. I asked him why he cut it so short and he said that it's not actually that short, obviously realising the error he had made because he gave no reason why he ditched the original idea. Also, every 5-10 minutes he looked confused and went off to get the supervisor to help him. The hair cut is very uneven as all of my friends noted and because my hair is so thick it looks like a big puff ball, even after trying to straighten it for half an hour. I am now forced to go out and buy hair extensions because of the giant error your hair dresser made in his estimations of the length. I know it was a free hair cut and hair grows back which is why I didn't cause a scene at the salon, but I thought you'd appreciate some feedback on this experience. read more

When I got my first job in All Saints in Camden and decided it was time to ditch the school girl curls for something edgier, I went to this place as it's right next door. The guy who did my hair was ABSOLUTELY amazing (unfortunately he isn't there anymore two years later but the rest of the senior team are just as capable). I pretty much went from Goldielocks-length to 'Rihanna before the red bob mistake' in about an hour but it looked so good I have never had another style since. The salon is lovely, really open, bright and friendly and they'll keep you topped up with as much tea and coffee as you like. read more

I'm not ashamed to admit that until I was directed here by my better half a few months ago I viewed haircuts as a regrettable necessity and viewed a trip to the hairdresser as only slightly more enjoyable than a trip to the dentist. Hence my tendency to get my thinning mop cropped only when it had advanced beyond my collar and beneath my nose - hence her determination to up my standards. She was, of course, quite right. Time under the shears at Hobs is a perfectly agreeable experience and I'm even presentable again. read more

Definitely disappointed with Hob. They spent three hours adding a blue streak to my hair and giving it a trim and I really wasn't happy with the results. (My colors werent bright enough and faded quickly, I ended up redoing it myself a week later) They may be better at more traditional cuts, but it seems more like a hair factory than a place for creative styles. read more

I got a free haircut for being a hair model from Amy today and wow she exceeded my expectations!!! Possibly the best haircut I've gotten with the best recommendations! All the trainees were really good actually (I was watching while she was cutting my hair) and I'm just in love. My hair felt so light and bouncy and all my dead ends were gone. I couldn't be happier. Please go to her when she becomes a stylist in January! read more

Have been going to Hob at Camden for my haircuts for several years now. I have had a few different stylists in that time, of varying levels, but can honestly say I've never had a bad cut. It's not the cheapest, but I don't go until I really need too, and view it as a bit of a treat. Have just come from having my hair done by Maki, who is lovely. She was really busy, and had clients waiting, but never once did I feel rushed. She listened to what I wanted and offered her advice/suggestions, giving me exactly what I was after. Would definitely recommend giving it a try. Thanks Maki read more

Love this place but I'm on a budget so can't treat myself often. The staff are nice and great cuts!

After trying out a few local salons in the area and not having much luck I thought I would try Hobs. I was pleasantly surprised! I booked a junior stylist as they was the only person available at such short notice at Christmas and she certainly didn't disappoint. The attention to detail was exceptional, from asking me if I wanted my foot rest up whilst I was having my hair washed to the time and effort it took to tackle my unruly fringe at the end. It was clear that the stylist had run over my time slot and her next client was waiting but that didn't stop her from carrying on with my hair until it looked perfect and I was happy. To be honest I thought this was going to be a one off place for me as a last minute Christmas booking as I couldn't find anything else available but I'm pleased to say I will definitely be back for my next cut! One very happy customer. read more

From Chevon at the front desk to the amazing stylists I've had here (first Jamie, now Ryan), I absolutely love this salon and couldn't sing enough praises! Chevon always greets me when I come and makes sure I'm booked in and sorted for fringe trims and future appointments. Both Jamie and Ryan have taught me how to style my hair and given me tips to keep it looking its best between appointments. They've also told me when they think a haircut I'm interested in may not look good or may be difficult to style daily, and I've ALWAYS left with the cut I wanted. (Unless they talked me out of it because they knew it wouldn't look right with my curls, in which case I've walked out with a cut I love and didn't know I wanted!) Expect a cosy chair and tea to wait with, a lovely head massage during the shampoo, plenty of smiles and super friendly staff. read more

This is the worst hairdressers I've ever been to in my life , the 'top' stylist hacked off my hair didn't inform me of the tiny lairs and mullet style he did what he wanted to do and it's going to take years for my hair to grow back again they also bleached over already bleached hair and putting a heating lamp over it my hair has snapped off and I'm missing some at the front, my hair will never be the same again I wish I could turn back time and never go into this dreadful place read more

BAD ATTITUDE TOP DOWN At booking I was told I'd be in the graduate class, so stylists already qualified. However, I found out half way through my cut that my stylist was actually a barber. Yes its hair but techniques and styles very different. Overall I'm very disappointed. I only wanted a trim, a straight cut. My only request was that instead of cutting it straight and blunt, I'd like the short vertical cuts just to give it a more professional finish. However, the stylist told her supervisor I wanted a ''rounded cut''. Huh? I was puzzled, maybe that's what they called the softer finishing I wanted. My request was so CLEAR AND SIMPLE how could anyone get it wrong? Well I was wrong. And after over THREE hours in the salon I left dazed and exhausted. On the way home I felt one side really uncomfortable, like I had more hair weight on that side. I gave it the benefit of the doubt. However, after showering and looking in the mirror at home, it was a joke. I have a rounded cut like they had in the 70s. And it doesn't have an even line, I have bulk in the middle, unequal hair distribution and jagged ends. I could have done a better job. I thought the stylist was very sweet, but I feel she didn't concentrate lacked skill, and talked excessively. The supervisor pointed out something to her, I expect it was the uneven cutting. But he didn't follow it up by rechecking or putting it right himself. So training is amateurish, not exacting in the way other schools are. There the teachers always take time to really check and put right any mistakes. Here its a bit lazy. The next day I called hoping to get it rectified, instead I got an immediate defensive attitude. I spoke to the head of training, according to whom the cut was prefect. But he told me the academy was not suitable for me. Initially he refused to do anything but then said I could come in and he would look at it. So he could tell me it was perfect again and waste more of my time. I explained how it was physically uncomfortable to have more hair on one side than the other. But he kept saying I don't understand. After explaining a few times very clearly, I realised he didn't care and didn't want to understand. Jake just has a bad attitude is belligerent, and passive aggressive. Don't waste your time here they don't care, and cannot get a straight cut correct. I got a call back from the Head office who said I needed to go back and have it checked. That would have been fine, BEFORE, I spoke to Jake, but his attitude put me off. I was put through to Clive Collins, SERVICE director. He sounded like a cockney thug, and very aggressively wanted me to repeat what I had already emailed him. He completely ignored the added injury caused by Jake. But suddenly said he would end the conversation. They don't know how to speak to people. It's bad management and I feel sorry for trainees. Don't risk a company with owners like this. Hair dressing is a personal business and most companies want to make you happy. Go somewhere that cares. read more

Today I had a haircut at HOB in Camden Town and I am crying now! They destroyed my hair! The worst haircut I've ever had in my life! Now I have to cut all my hair short and wait for it to grow again. And I didn't like the way I was treated. I deffinately not recommend it to anybody!! read more

I called them last week to book an appointment. But I was told to go in for a consultation. So I went on Monday morning. I had no consultation but I managed to finally book an appointment for today. So I took a day off and went to Hob in Camden. Well my name was not on system and there was no one available. If you go to a cheap hairdresser (and HOB is NOT CHEAP) you won't get treated the way I was treated. For what you pay, you expect people to treat you with respect. At least you would expect people to be able to do their job (open your pc, write a name down for the right day/hours). I work in customer service and well, mine is five stars, theirs in one. Thanks Hob I am going to give my money to someone else. Needless to say, I'll tell my friends to do same. read more

I decided to visit the new Hobs in my local town as they were offering a great deal. I was very nervous as I normally have my haircut at Hair OTT in Portsmouth, and have done for the last 4 years. I had printed off pictures and tried to explain the cut and colour I wanted. However, when they dried my hair I was no longer blonde, I had grey streaks in my hair that they tried to pass off as white blonde, and my hair had gone from white blonde to a dull dark grey/brown. Not what I had asked for or shown them. It was the most awkward situation I have ever been in. They put another toner in my hair to tone down the grey, but I was nearly in tears. Rather than having one of the stylists blow dry my hair after everything that had happened, an admittedly sweet but totally in-experienced girl dried my hair and I was hit in the face constantly by the wires and she clearly didn't know what she was doing. I didn't even let her finish drying my hair as I was so upset. I was in there for 4 hours. They still made me pay the £90 and barely apologised. They said I can come in and have it corrected but I don't want them to touch my hair again. read more

I've been to HOB 5 times in my entire life which includes 3 different branches in NW London. Out of these 5 times, on 3 occasions I have ended up with the same nondescript bob which is about 5mm long at the back of the neck, with the rest of the hair coming down to the same level. At the front it is slightly longer. On the last occasion I went to HOB I stated clearly and unequivocally that I wanted my shoulder length hair trimmed and I wanted it to be the same level all around. Nobody listened to me and I ended up with the same bob again and it will probably take 4 months for my hair to grow to shoulder length again. Technically it is a very good cut. However, for the life of me I dont understand what is so wonderful about this style and why are trainees being trained to inflict this boring bob on anyone in this day and age, particularly when they dont want it. Clearly it's a no-brainer for them to do this cut. So that's the last time I will visit HOB if that is what I'm going to get from them. read more

I really liked this place! I was in urgent need of some beauty therapy and ended up in this stylish salon. With my terribly outgrown haircut from five months ago, I felt rather embarrassed to face the funky and well-groomed receptionist, but I got a warm welcome and was immediately offered a drink, a magazine and a comfy place in the waiting area. The staff were lovely and the whole experience was pleasant throughout. I got a brief consultation for free, and, importantly, the hair dresser really wanted to know what I liked rather than just going creative (ie, crazy) on my hair. This was followed by a wonderful scalp massage and the actual hair cut, accompanied by a nice chat. And the best thing was, it looked great, and I felt really happy about the cut. I often walk out of a hair dresser's on the verge of tears but incapable of criticising the new creation on my head, so this was just great! At £45, it wasn't cheap, but definitely worth it. read more

I got my hair cut and highlighted here last spring/ summer while I was doing a study abroad there. I wanted some fringe and BLONDE blonde hair (like, almost platinum). I asked for a senior stylist. This was THE best (and most expensive) haircut and color I've ever had! Only four stars because it cost around 200 pounds- 300 dollars. They even let me come back a few weeks later for a trim to my fringe read more

Do not be fooled by this award winning salon! I used to go to HOB for cut and colour at both Camden and Baker Street branches. The colour once was a disaster, as the stylist never listened to what I wanted so came out completely wrong. I had to come back for a correction another day as on the day the colourist did not have time/ could not be bothered to fix it although she knew I was travelling from far. I was promised that I will get a free blow dry by the salon director on my return to fix the colour. The colour was fixed (within the abilities of the colourist who apparently was one of the top colourists there) however my hair was really damaged- they never offered a complimentary hair treatment and the salon director never bothered to see me and do a blow dry although she knew the reason of my visit. At the other branch the colourist was so busy that after putting colour on my head she started serving another lady and never bothered to check how the colour develops although she has never done my hair before. The cuts are ok but nothing special. The atmosphere is not particularly friendly. I have since been to friendlier and more professional places with much more accessible and attentive stylists who also won top awards. I went to this salon because of its numerous awards. But be aware, you will never be able to book appointment with people who win these awards (like Akin Konizi and Christel Lundqvist) to see other members of the Artistic Team you might need to wait 2/ 3 months because they are only 1 day a week in a salon (if you're lucky!) the rest of the time is spent on money spinning venture like Hairdressing Academy for the foreign students who are prepared to pay a top whack for that and on winning the awards which is aimed at attracting their customers. It is such a shame as the talent is certainly there but they obviously forgot that they are in the customer service business for that I don't believe they deserve my custom. read more

Went here to bleach my roots. Andre did an amazing job. Highly recommended for blondes:)

This salon is a must. When it comes to my hair I can behave a bit like a diva. It used to be a drama to go the hairdresser and even, sometimes, traumatic experience. I was never happy and never loyal to any salon.Now I am looking forward to every cut and it's a stylish treat, the place to be when you want to plan a me day. I've been visiting for almost 3 years now and Luca my hairdresser is simply amazingly creative and exceeds my expectations. Would recommend to anyone. read more

Exactly what I wanted. Greeted with a warm friendly smile from the receptionist, the soothing shampoo and massage treatment from carlos? (I hope that was correct), and the great chat, ideas and haircut given by Rosa. FIrst time I left the hairdressers, given the exact haircut I wanted. See you in four months :D read more

I agree with Melissa W! The hairdresser wasn't even thinking while cutting my hair! Just got something, whatever, but not what I was thinking at all! This looks nice, he said, we'll leave it as it is. But later - he cut it! This too looks nice - "let's cut it!". So nothing that "looked nice" was left at the end! Will never go back and will try to forget asap this experience! read more

My daughter (not from London and a child) was pulled off the street and persuaded to go to this salon last Sunday. She was told they had an emergency; they were in the middle of a shoot and one of the models had dropped out. Would she step in? They told her that she would effectively be getting a £120 haircut for free and that this could be the beginning of paid modelling work with them. They flattered her and said they could not believe she had never done modelling work before. They told her her hair would be cut by an experienced Italian salon owner. She was then taken to the basement of Hob Camden for the 'shoot' where her hair was cut by a non-English speaker. An English speaking stylist decided on the style (without consultation with my daughter) and the (presumably trainee) stylist then began to cut, stopping every few minutes to wait for further instruction. The cut took 2 hours. By this time, my daughter realised her mistake and was very frightened. She does not know her way around London and it was now dark, she couldn't use her phone in the basement and she knew her family would be worried about her late return. She was also humiliated by her own naivety, and horrified by the amateur hacking of her hair. The cut looks like she's done it herself, while experiencing a breakdown! I think my dog could do a better job. Her humiliation was exacerbated by their then insisting that she do a catwalk trial and they made her parade on a balcony above the busy salon. They also took photos of her without her consent. She has worn a hat every day since. Had they asked her to have a cut by a student, she may well have said yes and known the risks. Instead she feels gutted that she was lied to and it pains her that people could taken advantage of a child's naivety. Do you really want to go to a salon which takes advantage of inexperienced children in this way? read more