Haircuts.

Today I am going to write about a favourite subject of mine, ‘haircuts’. Now I have troubled a lot of people with my view but, with perhaps one or two exceptions I can recall no one else either agrees or believes me. Fair enough.

The first thing I noticed about my wife Liz when I met her was her fabulous hair. It was shaped in a sort of a bob but it was perfectly proportioned and when she danced it moved with he in a complimentary gavotte. It turned out that through University she had got used to visiting a hair salon called Milton Brown in the West End of London. I cant quite recall but I think she may have acted as a model and got free haircuts. Let’s say that was the story as it is a good one!

All my own life I had tricky hair. A funny bit at the front and a tendency to spike at they back. I had loads of haircuts and aside from David Pickavance (see earlier post) no one had ever managed to really sort it out and lets be honest make me look as good as I could be.

When I worked in New York my colleague Richard Gray, who (If I have not written about I must) one day announced he had a new hairdresser. AS he had already found me my Doctor, my dentist and various other professional services it was inevitable I found myself in the chair of Mr Akee. Mr Akee was Japanese and he trained with the Vidal Sasoon group. He used Japanese scissors and bits of kit and the precision and care in his cutting was just amazing to watch. The usual 20 minute job in some salon, picked by chance, transformed into at least an hour of snipping. The cost instead of the usual $25 became $75 and Richard informed me I MUST tip well. When Mr Akee finished I was delighted. Vain yes I know but oh my goodness did it look good. So good in fact that the following week a woman approached me from HQ in Zurich who was looking for photo opportunities for The UBS magazine. I have the picture somewhere and I think you would agree if you saw it my ‘Barnet’ looked great.

At the same time Liz was beginning to enjoy a certain freedom of motherhood as our children got older. It became possible for her to leave Jo and Tom with a friend for an afternoon and fed up of the local Greenwich Connecticut hairdressers she headed for New York. (By the way most American women have lousy haircuts-it is a fact just look). She decided to head for Vidal Sasoon and she went a step further by paying up for a senior stylist. We had arranged to meet somewhere near Park Avenue in order to journey home together. As I walked up 56th street I think it was towards towards our rendezvous I passed a stunning woman wearing a white dress and carrying a red handbag. Gulp I thought eyes front! Suddenly a shout and I turned the vision was my Lizzie looking beyond gorgeous. Her hair once again looking just fabulous with maybe some highlights, I can’t remember.

After this occasion I was convinced. Mr Akee moved away but I was hooked. Vidal Sasoon New York, Toronto, wherever I may be in the world boy I had some great haircuts. Back working in London I would go to see John the top stylist at Vidal Sasoon London. I would arrive back in the office and people would comment, usually a wolf whistle or similar. In truth most admired but when it came to the question of where did you have your haircut and how much was it people were appalled. In 1900 I was all done with John for £75 but as that compared to the usual barbers charge of perhaps £7:50 with a tip no one followed me. Then one day I man who worked for me and who was a seriously good bloke in many ways told me it was his birthday. He had always admired my haircuts and was beyond delighted when I gave him a ‘special birthday present’ a haircut with John. Suffice it to say that Graham who usually had an awful haircut and wore unflattering glasses returned with a fantastically stylish hairstyle. Within days he had got some very different glasses and I can honestly tell you that he would place his hand on his heart and confirm that that haircut was a game changer. He went on to become partners in an investment firm and he always says that the boost to his confidence was routed in that cut.

So next time you need a haircut don’t go to some barber or local hairdresser. Certainly dont convince your self the Toni and Guy or similar are any good. Just fork out and get a really proper haircut or hair do. If you want specific recommendations then get in touch. One thing I promise you is you wont be disappointed.