Wild Romance

How much praise is enough for one awesome hairdresser? I think just one review won’t do it, so I’m back again to worship at Mel Kane’s altar. Oh yes!
I’ve been to Wild Romance twice this past week: first for a haircut, and then for a colour refresh/​regrowth — both obviously booked with Mel, the only hairdresser I trust in this city (sorry, guys!). Being familiar with Mel’s magic with a pair os scissors I didn’t expect less than a great hair colour job, but I must admit I was a bit anxious.
Doing a red hair might seem easy but there are tons of different shades of it, so achieving perfection (in the customer’s perspective, of course) is something very difficult. I brought a few inspirations and, as usual, Mel sat down with me to understand exactly what I wanted.
Mel is just as meticulous with a hair colour as she is with a hair cut, and I find that reassuring. I spent about 3 delightful hours at the salon having a nice chat (followed by some tea) with Mel while she crafted my perfect colour (she used 3 different colour mixes to achieve what she envisioned for me), and by the end I was C O M P L E T E L Y astonished with the result.
I must add she also cut my husband’s hair this past week, and it’s the best haircut he’s had in a while (he’s Japanese, which adds another level of difficulty to the task, since cutting Asian hair properly requires a lot of skill and attention to detail).
So once again: do not hesitate in scheduling an appointment with Mel Kane next time you’re considering a colour or a cut. Super super super recommended!

I’ve had two wonderful experiences at Wild Romance. First off: the atmosphere is relaxed, comfortable, and welcoming. Second: I came here initially for a hair cut and had a great experience. I have pretty curly hair, which has usually led to mediocre cuts at best. Heath did a phenomenal job and gave me the best hair cut I’ve had! I came back again for coloring and was blown away by Heath again. He did an amazing job lightening my curls in a natural way. Can’t wait to come back, and highly recommend!

I LOVE this place. My hair was growing out horribly and I desperately needed a haircut. A friend recommended Wild Romance to me and said it was a quality place. I got my haircut by Remi and he is a MAGICIAN. He gave my hair the love that it needed and totally fixed my hairstyle. He is also SO sweet, and such fun to talk to. We chatted quite a bit and had some great belly aching laughs. I’m only in Amsterdam for a couple months so I don’t think I’ll be able to go back to Remi :(but I definitely recommend this place and Remi! He will work wonders

Ich hab kurzfristig einen Termin noch am selben Tag bekommen, nachdem der Nachbarladen (selbe Kette) meinen Termin nicht finden konnte.
Die Frisörin war super lieb, nicht aufgesetzt, professionell, und hat mir einen wunderschönen blonden Strähnen kopf gemacht obwohl ich echt nicht einfach bin bei Blond und sehr sehr anspruchsvoll! Sie ist einfach klasse! Hier geh ich jetzt immer hin, wenn ich in Amsterdam bin! Hab mich sehr wohl gefühlt!
Zeitungen gab es, Steckdosen, Wifi, und was zu trinken!

I go to Clint now because I like his cautious approach to trimming my hair since I’m always so nervous about stylists cutting off too much of my slow growing, long hair. I also enjoy visiting with him while I get my hair colored, as he’s a really cool guy. The salon is funky-​cute too and their prices are very reasonable compared to other salons around town.

To put this in perspective, I’ve been going to the same hairdresser for about 15 years. He’s moved salons five times and I followed him around the city. Needless to say I was insanely nervous to try anyone new when I moved to Amsterdam. I went to Wild Romance, and to Remi in particular, because of the awesome Unilocal reviews, and I was not disappointed!
Remi was friendly, helpful, and took the time to discuss what exactly I was looking for. I felt really at ease, and loved the result! The salon itself is crazy cool, with giant chandeliers and a skylight above the hair washing station so you can admire the sky while getting your scalp massaged. Bliss.
I’ll definitely be heading back for more Wild Romance goodness!

My review is specifically concerning Loula, although the salon generally is just amazing. This woman is not a hairdresser, she’s a wizard scissor ninja. She has to be the most gifted stylist I’ve ever found, and watching her work with your face and shape your hair from something horrific into something that makes you look like the absolutely best version of yourself is like one of those Discovery Channel one-​hour specials. She’s professional and courteous and has a smile that just lights up the room. If you’re lucky enough to snag an appointment, thank your lucky hair gods.

Clint Dunlop is the man! I did a lot of research to find the best hair stylist in Amsterdam and Clint fit the bill online. I made an appointment through email because my phone was not working and he got back to me right away. In person, he was super friendly, easy to talk to, and really listened to what I wanted. His highlighting skills are meticulous. I had such a good time and was so happy with the result, that I day dreamed about becoming rich one day and flying my jet from the US to have Clint do may hair whenever I needed a cut or color. Thanks Clint for the great experience, and when I come next time with my jet, I will definitely bring you that SXSW T-​shirt and some BBQ!

I really couldn’t be happier with my cut from Remi and overall experience at Wild Romance! Honestly, I’ve lived in Amsterdam for 6 years now, and prior to this had not found a really good stylist, bouncing around salons, accumulating weird layers, sulking home to my old reliable stylist in Canada. not good times. Those days are over! Remi gave such a fantastic cut and dry, and was such a pleasure to chat with, I almost can’t wait for the next trim. He’s very attentive, very skilled, creative to just the right degree, and has a wonderful air of honesty and care around him that is sooo refreshing in a salon (and anywhere, really).
Wild Romance is a great spot as well, somehow finding a balance between warm and welcoming and hip — like another reviewer said, not at all pretentious. When I came in, I felt like I was being seen for the potential just a few snips of the scissors would unlock, and when I left, I felt light and beautiful and summer-​ready. I can’t imagine a better, more comfortable, more enjoyable salon experience :) Thanks again Remi and props to the Wild Romance team!

Worst haircut of my life…
First, was sent an email by my hairdresser (Charlotte) the night before asking if I could come in an hour later than scheduled. I replied yes, thinking there was some client dye job that’d take longer than necessary. Upon arrival, she thanked me for coming later and said it was because she wanted to start her day later. But this wasn’t a 9am haircut, it was 1pm… unprofessional to say the least, but I digress from the reason I’m so compelled to write a review.
This isn’t about me not liking a style. It’s about what a BOTCHED job Charlotte did at cutting my hair. Seriously, was she drunk the night before? Did her contacts slip out? She gave me uneven edges, no blending, refused to cut my hair on a side part, complete disregard for the weight and texture of my hair. The short layers around my face are now resting blunt– and oddly uneven– while the rest of my hair is long. It looks like I have two different haircuts on one head. AWFUL. Thank god for bobby pins.
I read many positive things about her online, though I was shocked and revolted by her work on my own hair. Additionally, I did not find her endearing or professional… her makeup was all smudged like she’d slept in it and she was quite rude– even for Dutch standards.
On a positive note! I saw two girls come and go with absolutely love cuts by the male stylists. I’m sure there is great hairdressing coming out of this salon – just not with Charlotte!

Pascal worked his magic! After a bad hair color experience at a different salon, he managed to fixed it. «The hair doctor!»

Very highly recommend this salon. REMI is a gifted stylist and even his non-​local clients keep booking with him when traveling through Amsterdam. I will add myself to that list! If you are looking for someone who will freshen your look and expand your horizons — but also be very consultative and sensitive to your «boundaries» (i.e. no regrets cuts and color), REMI is a perfect choice. He’s also extremely warm and personable so spending time at the salon is lots of fun!

I’m visiting Amsterdam for a week and found myself badly in need of a cut for my short hair, as I failed to see my stylist back home before I left for my trip. Thankfully, I was able to get a last minute appointment with Remi. He was extremely attentive to detail and really took time to talk with me about the cut and style. He takes great pride in his work and is definitely talented. So glad to have found Remi and I highly recommend him!
Update: so it’s been 24 days and I LOVE the way my cut is growing out! Thank you Remi! Only problem, and it’s a big one, is that I live in the States…

Really cool hairdresser, the staff is wonderful and really professional. You can totally trust them, you will leave the hairdresser with a lovely hair. It’s in a mid range price for the Amsterdam prices but worth it! I go with Jennifer Golden, the master of the colour :) I definitely recommend her

In the name of the father, the son and the holy Unilocal.
It has been 23 days plus some decades since my last confession…
Oh Unilocal father, I have sinned. Like, really sinned…
What’s that you ask?
Which one of the 10 commandments?
Well, as shameful as it is, I have committed…
adultery — OH, THE SHAME!!!
Oh sorry, I shall be quiet. Please hear my story oh Unilocal father.
It was a warm humid summery Amsterdam evening. My hair was so long, it would flow in the wind like the sands of time. Knowing I could no longer suffer a day more with this hairstyle, I immediately went to book a reservation with my hair stylist when I saw that… well… it was his day off!!! I ran my fingers through my hair feeling more disgusted every strand of hair that trickled off of my naked fingers. The thought of having to face the outside world looking like a black yorkshire terrier died on my head was too much for me to bare.
Oh Unilocal father, what was I to do! So I started looking at other available hair stylists. The sinful lust began to consume my inner thoughts (and a little in my pants — wink wink) as I looked through all the names… And then, I saw him.
Pascal
Pascal is a name derived from something related to Easter so I thought to myself… this is clearly hair stylist adultery, but the big J would approve since Pascal is in someway related to his big day!
Later that evening, I walked in Wild Romance covering my excitement with a layer of Catholic guilt. Pascal was there. His casual demeanor was cancelled by the seriousness of his face. One glance into those French eyes and I knew that he was going to do things with my hair that have never been done — and I was gonna like it!!!
As I sat down and took several sips from my first beer to ease the tension, I explained to Pascal that god has punished the top of my head with a quick onset of balding and that my head can only be made whole again with the right hair cut. With this ambiguous direction, Pascal lifted his instrument, and closed in.
When I think of artists, I imagine a frustrated painter demanding perfection for every stroke of his brush. The Asian pianist who will slam at the keyboard after a missed note. And then there is Pascal. The hair artist who silently orbits my head honing in on each and every piece of hair to create the most balanced cut. At some points, I was reminiscent of a hummingbird hovering around my head quickly fixing minute inconsistencies only visible to a small fraction of the animal kingdom.
I sat there in awe of what was being done to me. The extreme concentration of every little detail with the end result of THE perfect haircut. You know the kind that makes you smile as you walk out whilst boosting your confidence thrice fold! Of course, as any respectable artist should be, I caught a glance of Pascal overlooking the work he just performed on me with a satisfied and slightly boastful semi-​smile.
Oh Unilocal father… now that I’m telling you all this, I’m feeling less and less ashamed! In fact, if committing hair stylist adultery is a sin, then I have been sinning with Pascal for the last 8 MONTHS!!! You know, screw this man — I’m gonna continue seeing Pascal!!! Thanks for the pep talk!!!
pssss… here is his card in case you want a good time :)

I’m still reeling from the most terrible salon experience of my life. I had a cut and color with Pascal on Tuesday of this week and I’m still in shock from how horrible my haircut turned out. I specifically asked for an asymmetrical cut which was truly just a clean-​up of my current cut which was also asymmetrical. Instead, Pascal cut 6 inches off my hair, gave me incredibly short layers on the top of my head, and BANGS. i wish i was making this up. he didn’t listen at all and butchered my hair. Also, guess who doesn’t have an asymmetrical cut? This kid!
i have thin hair, so giving me short layers on the top was the worst thing a hairdresser could do. it’s completely thinned out my hair and has not given the usual layering effect of volume. Also, he used roughly ¹⁄₃ of the hair on my left side to donate to the bang cause.
Anyway, I’m not one to take hair too seriously, but this has actually affected my quality of life. There’s no way for me to style it but one particular way. I have to wake up earlier every morning to shower and style my hair with the one styling option available to me (spoiler alert: it requires bobby pins). It’s too short for me to go attempt to get it cut somewhere else. I’m now living a life where I’m dependent on bobby pins.
I also got a balayage too. The color isn’t terrible like the haircut, but it’s also nothing to write home about. I spent 144 Euro on this experience and all I got was a shitty haircut and some slight PTSD. The real killer is that I was so shell-​shocked by the whole thing that I gave him a tip! And for that, I can only blame myself.
I really don’t understand how this salon can be so well rated. I also can’t believe that I was able to have this terrible of an experience with it being so well rate in an international city like Amsterdam. Horrible. I guess I’ll have to wait until my 90’s Jennifer Aniston/​Harry Styles haircut grows out. One thing is for certain, I’m NEVER EVER coming back. EVER.

After travelling around Europe for two months and failing to have gotten my timely haircut before I left, I was in desperate need of a cut. I decided on a drastic chin length cut, downsizing from my shoulder length hair. A style I had sported many times before, but not something I would normally trust a stranger to do. Eyup came to the rescue. I needed low maintenance hair for the rest of my trip and boy did he deliver!
I barely spend five minutes on my hair every morning before my husband and I head out everyday to go sightseeing. AND IT LOOKS GREAT! If I spend a tiny bit more time on it, it has a carelessly sexy look which is exactly what I wanted. So many times before I have asked people for the same style and I end up looking like soccer mom.
Eyup was so genuinely nice, even though he knew I would not come back since I was only in Amsterdam visiting. He even invited my husband to come sit with us while he was waiting and gave him a beer to drink. It was competitively priced too, 45 euros for a haircut. If only he lived closer, thank you Eyup!

It is no secret that every expat faces the challenge of finding a good hair stylist in a new country, and in the Netherlands this is especially difficult. Wild Romance is the oasis in this desert, and Eyup is like fresh water.
I asked him to give me a «bike-​proof» hairstyle, once that could withstand my bike commute without resulting in bedhead; he asked a lot of other questions to get a good understanding of who I was. Almost 4 months later, I still LOVE my haircut. Since I prefer short hair, it usually looks good for the first 2 months then starts getting weird and shaggy, there is no such fear with Eyup. He is amazing and was even willing to trim my bangs/​fringe when they got too long at 2 months.
This is the best haircut I have ever gotten, and it was awesome to wake up in the morning with great low-​maintenance hair that looks amazing. I think I have finally found my hairstylist — FINALLY the search is over!

Great atmosphere. Remi was sweet and highly skilled.
Wish the prices were lower but the amazing scalp massage in the dark wash room while slides of album covers play was worth it, alone.
On top of that the cut is excellent. Everything I tried to communicate to Remi and more.
Try Wild Romance to treat yourself!

I am living in Amsterdam for a short time, just three months, and needed my hair colored. It was a tricky job, and after reading the good reviews I went to Wild Romance and saw Remi. He was excellent, very talented and also very funny and personable. I recommend him without reservation. I thought the price was fair, and I loved the interior design which was unlike any other hair salon I’ve ever been to in my life.

Well… What the hell am I suppose to say after Dennis’ detailed review (amazing btw!)
Clint rocks? Kinda lame, truthful though.
He is not the kind of «i am too hip for this joint» hairdresser, he makes you feel at ease, and I am normally quite anxious, hardly ever thrilled with a new hair cut, but hot damn, loving the hair!
Love! It! So there.