London: Salon > Diy Transition. Advice Needed!

[Pseudonymforforum]

In the hope that a slightly blunter post will gain better traction:

I accept that I will have to go to a salon first time round - I trust that they will advise on the kind of system I need, take measurements, install etc. I would then like to order future systems online (ideally from the same source the salon uses), fit them myself and then have my local barber cut them in.

The questions i have are:

1) Can anyone recommend a good salon in south / central or west London for a consultation?
2) What sort of cost would I be looking at A) for the initial salon and then B) for future systems
3) How far in advance do you guys tend to order replacement systems - do you just get 3 at once, say, and have them stocked up at home, ready to use when the other one messes up?

 

[Noah]

Hi Pseudonym

1) I will PM you some thoughts about possible suppliers.

2) I think the going rate for a salon-supplied system in London is around £850, although there is quite a lot of variation. You can get a very decent system off the Net for less than £200. The salons tend to keep the identity of their supplier secret, so it is unlikely you will be able to use the same source, but you will be able to get the same quality.

3) I buy mine 2 at a time, get identical cut-ins, and have both systems in use at any one time, swapping them week about. That has the advantage that I can separate the business of detaching and reattaching from the process of cleaning the used system - I can detach, have a shower, and reattach in half-an-hour, and clean up my used piece whenever I get a bit of spare time later. I am not obliged to spend an hour wandering around my flat bald, while my system is being cleaned, conditioned, dried etc.

Whether or not you do that, you always need a back up system for peace of mind. A custom system takes about 2 months to get from when you order it. A stock system takes about 10 days if you are in the U.K.

Noah

 

[Pseudonymforforum]

cheers, Noah. again - i appreciate you taking the time to help!

are there any step by step written guides (with photo's maybe) anywhere on this forum?

 

[Noah]

A guide to what in particular? Making a template?

 

[BaldBearded]

I sent you a PM as well, I have someone who is excellent in London.

S.

 

[Pseudonymforforum]

Another couple of questions:
Where’s this place in Brixton that does fittings? I’m very local!
When you get a system fitted by a salon, is it standard for them to give you your template so that you can order online elsewhere in the future?

 

[BaldBearded]

I will PM you about Brixton.

About the template... if you go to a salon, you spend hours there for a consultation, and get a template made, all for free. Then you expect to get that back so you can order your next system cheaper on the Internet?

Think about that for a bit.

 

[grincher]

If its your first piece, then I would buy one and see how it feels. If its not for you there's no point in having a second piece.

If you decide to continue then order a second piece within a month as they take 2-3 months to make.

I have sent a PM

 

[berdon]

Hi all

Would you be able to PM me the info for London based salons please? I am Berlin based currently but from London. I will be back for a month over Christmas and would like to get my first consultations.

All help is appreciated

 

[BaldBearded]

I will PM you.

 

[Noah]

PM from me too.

 

[tremondo]

may i ask as a new member to this forum on places for london as well?

thanks in advance

 

[BaldBearded]

may i ask as a new member to this forum on places for london as well?

thanks in advance

I will PM you.