UPDATE 2018: Sorry, this salon is no longer open (Victoria has moved out of the country), but you can check out Oliver Brown (in the same location).
I know I’m not the only one who has been frustrated by French hairdressers. Even with the best French language skills, no matter how many times I explain what I’d like done to my hair, I always end up with something they think would look better. I’ve been to all of the fancy, expensive salons in town. I’ve been to ones recommended by French friends. I’ve tried bringing photos of my hair when I liked it for reference. I’ve been “surprised” with bangs when I didn’t ask for them. I had one “celebrity” hair dresser convinced that if he just kept cutting shorter that eventually the “life” of my hair would suddenly appear. He stopped after hacking off five inches, just below my jaw line, and said in shock, “En fait, vos cheveux sont complètement raides!” Yes, that is what I told him before he started, that my hair is naturally pin-straight, zero body. Sometimes I actually liked what I ended up with at the French salons, but it was never what I asked for. Grrr…
When I want what I ask for and advice I can trust, I go to StylePixie (tel 01 46 70 25 69). Over the years I’ve been cut, colored and — most importantly — taught how to best take care of and style my own hair, something I rarely get from other stylists. And StylePixie’s experts can even graciously “fix” boo-boo’s wihtout making you feel like an idiot (well, the haircolor on the box I bought at the supermarket looked like the right shade in the photo).
The spacious loft salon is located right outside the metro station Marie & Pierre Curie on line 7 (admittedly I’m biased, as that’s my line). The clientèle are almost exclusively English-speaking, so it feels almost like being at home, where everyone is chatting with each other, something I’ve never experienced in French hair salons I’ve visited, where people pretty much keep to themselves. It’s not the most central hair salon in Paris, and in fact it’s actually in the ‘burbs (gasp!), but the savings on rent get passed right along to the customer.
That means StylePixie’s prices are totally reasonable. Haircuts start at €72 (€30 for men, €20 for children), color from €75, straightening from €100, and a 25-minute nourishing hair treatment with shiatsu massage for the head and shoulders is €45. They also do gel and UV polish nails, pedicures, brow and lash tinting and facial waxing. Check out the full range of their servoces on the website. Products used are from TIGI (Bedhead), which can be purchased (but they’re never pushy about product sales here, like in most salons).