As an au pair on a budget, I really didn't want to pay upwards of 30 euro for a haircut. I did some research on various beauty schools around Paris and discovered that in general, they're a little more strict in terms of what they'll do- some will give free cuts but require that the stylists have complete control, others will give you a little more leniency but charge 10 to 15 euro- as opposed to the schools back in the US where one can just go in and get a trim or whatever.
I decided upon the Jean Louis David training center because it seemed to offer the best compromise- 7 euro for a cut (an additional 8 euro if you want coloring or other chemical services done), with the caveat that the cut is one selected from their book of styles for the upcoming season. At this school, the hairdressers are not beauty students, but rather, hairdressers from various Jean Louis David salons who get sent here to learn the new styles to bring back to their salon.
Making my appointment was very easy- although you can call their number (be warned, they charge you 0,15€ a minute), I decided to walk in because I didn't quite trust my French over the phone and figured it would be best to go in person. The receptionist was very friendly and I was able to get an appointment the next day (I'd previously heard that they sometimes have a wait of up to two weeks).
I arrived about 10 minutes early for my 11h30 appointment and there were a few women already in line in front of me waiting to get checked in. You pay the receptionist beforehand- they only take cards, both French and at least American Visa- as well as check in any coats or scarves at their coat check if you want. I'd recommend grabbing one of the style book/magazines on the front counter so you can browse through while you wait upstairs since they don't seem to have any up there, although the receptionist never directed anyone to take them.
When you arrive upstairs, you'll wait for a few minutes until all of the hairdressers are ready, and then they'll come out and select you, almost like picking teams in P.E. Then you'll be lead into the studio, given a few more minutes to peruse the style books, and then your stylist will come back and go over any final concerns about length/style of the cut. There is a minimum of 3cm that must be cut, though I imagine if you have longer hair and want one of the longer styles, they might be a little more relaxed on that (my stylist offered to just do 1 or 2cm, but I wanted to get about 5cm off).
Then it's off to shampoo, and then waiting until everyone is ready to start. As it's a training center, they'll find people who are getting each style and have all of the stylists periodically watch the instructor give the next steps of the style. I found even with all of the training and waiting to get approval from the instructor, it went much faster than at any American beauty schools (probably because they're already all actual hairstylists).
Once the cut is complete, the instructor will come around and do a final check, then they blow dry your hair and you're off to go! I loved that they didn't put any extra product in it or try and push shampoo/conditioner/whatever else sales on me.
I was able to easily communicate with my hairdresser in French (which was also partly because I had the pictures to go off of and just had to indicate what other various lengths I wanted for the amount getting cut off and my bangs and such), and she was very polite and professional. I couldn't have imagined that getting my first haircut in Paris, using only French, would have been so easy, cheap, and turn out so great!
I'll definitely be coming back here in a few months for a new style. read more
