If you ever get approached by someone offering you a free model haircut DO NOT accept it. I went for it around three years ago when I was a naive university student, who didn't have a lot of money to spend on luxury items, so a free haircut from a reputable hairdressers was a grab. It was in Bond Street, just opposite Claridges. Now I always have the phrase "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" ringing in my head like alarm bells whenever I get approached by anyone for anything after this incident, no matter who the person is or where the location is. At 18, I had beautiful, long, curly hair - and I assure you that this type of hair does not take a quick time to grow. I also want to reiterate that a young girl's hair is vastly important for their self esteem! I think the person who cut my hair was called Marcus, but I can't really remember now. I went in, and was showed into a small waiting room where other people collectively joined the room. I was very shy then so I didn't speak to anyone, and I felt rather uncomfortable. I was finally taken by the hairdresser who approached me in the first place, and I was led to an area that looks like a salon, and I had to wait around there for a very long while. I feel like most of the day involved tedious waiting. During this waiting I was clear as to what I wanted with my hair. I wanted a trim, and subtle layers putting in. My length was extremely important to me. I even said this multiple times. I also want to add that I was planning on having a paid photo shoot the very next day, so I did NOT want a dramatic change to my hair! Next thing I am taken into the lecture room where I am facing a hundred blank faces; I don't have a mirror in front of me any more. I'm sat there quite bored, wondering what it is that the hairdresser is talking about, vaguely paying attention to the translator for the students, and wondering why this is taking so long. I remember looking down on the floor when it was finally finished, and the amount of hair on the floor I could have made into a carpet for my room. I was in numbed shock. I feel around my body for my hair, and my arms go higher, and higher, and higher. They eventually feel around for some hair, which is above my neck. My hair before this was well below my waist. He cut off all my hair. It must have been more than ten inches. As he sees my growing look of panic, he emptily tells me "it looks nice". All I wanted to do was run to a mirror desperately, but the sociopathic hairdressers made me stick around so I could take photos with the students that I did not care about. It was mortifying and felt like it was never going to end. After I finally could look, I simply went home and cried over and over again. I didn't thank them, I couldn't even speak. It shook my confidence to the ground and I never really got over it. That's why I'm posting about it now after all this time - I need some closure. I still don't have it back to the length now and it's been three years. I had to fork out money on hair extensions just to feel like myself again.
To add insult to injury, I spoke to several of my older friends in London about it after it happened. They sympathised with me, especially as many of them had gotten haircuts through this method themselves, and then asked me how much I got paid for it. Unbelievable. You're supposed to be paid for these things? I detest companies like you with a fire passion. You're rich enough, and you just like to use people who do not know any better. It's disgusting. And the hair cut wasn't even that fucking nice, just bland. read more