The Chapel Hairdressing

I wanted to try somewhere new and thought this place looked nice. Unfortunately, I don’t think the whole «cosy chat on the sofa» focus on customer service vibe is genuine. At my first appointment my cut and colour were done well, but they messed me about for my second appointment and were surprisingly rude when I tried to reschedule. All in all the service isn’t good enough to warrant the attitude.

This was my regular hair salon when I lived locally and I loved it.
They’ve managed to create the perfect luxurious and inviting environment, with great attention to detail and lots of nice touches.
Cue a personal welcome and chat on a comfy colourful sofa with your stylist, with your drink (tea/​fancy coffee/​juice/​glass of wine…) delivered on a slate board accompanied by a bar style snack of crisps or chocolate.
The wash and colour treatments are done in the cosy downstairs after which you can relax with a magazine on the plush velvet sofas with the modern fire flickering in front of you, before heading upstairs into the light and airy main room to be seated in front of the ceiling-​hung mirrors for your cut.
They operate a slightly different system to most hair salons, so your stylist is with you for the entire process, from wash through to cut, colour, blow-​dry and style. Instead of pricing individual services, you pay by time at your stylist’s rate, which makes for a very personalised and attentive service.
The only challenge is getting booked in for a reservation! It’s popular so you need to plan ahead.

Positive: I went here on the recommendation of a friend who loves the place and has been a satisfied customer for years. The Chapel obviously wants to please clients and even contacted me after my appointment to see if my experience had been good. And their space is lovely.
Negative: I had a junior stylist who spent a good amount of time pointing out the furniture and emphasizing how the Chapel is different to other salons because of the consultation conversation that happens on that furniture. I sat on that furniture and explained that I’d like her to do maintenance to a cut that I’ve had for years. Her response was to inform me that my style was «old fashioned» and pursue her own agenda with my head, telling me that I’d need to return in a few weeks for a follow-​up cut as well (as if this was part of my budget?). She might have considered that looking «old fashioned» is just fine for those of us who are boring older married professionals.
I’m pretty sure that the Chapel would generously respond if I went in and asked for a redo: they show every sign of caring about their customers, and I admire that. But really, there are a lot of salons in London, and I’m looking to become a regular client at a place where I won’t need to spend the time going in for a redo. So the search continues.

Heidi was one of the best hairdressers I had last couple years, shame she left Bit pricey and even if they advertise, that they charge is per minute, for some reason each visit they calculated exactly same duration 45 minutes for men cut (even if it took 35).

I have had a fear of hairdressers for years. I never seem to find a decent one. By decent I mean, where they listen to what I want and I dont run out the door and immediately put on the hat that has been hidden in my bag.
All that has now changed.
The Chapel, as its name might suggest has converted me. Its a new religion. Upon arrival I was given a full tour of the space and it was explained to me how the salon works, which is different to anything i have experienced before.
The waiting area is big fluffy comfortable couches where I’ll meet my stylist to chat about my haircut as I want it. Tea/​Coffee/​Wine and snacks are offered, complimentary. You can see why I fell in love at this exact moment… have a chat, have a drink, talk about my hair in a way that makes sense to me.
As a friend pointed out to me recently, hairdressers have the power to change how you look, very directly and it is SO important to be comfortable with them being in charge of that for you. What is lovely about the whole experience you don’t feel like another customer, you don’t feel rushed through the salon as if they have some quota to meet. There’s a sense of value to you. At every point through my haircut I was offered a chance to play with my hair and see how it felt and whether i liked it or not.
I’m not the girliest girl, but the part of me that relishes in make-​up and dressing up simply lights up in this place. Its not snooty, or overarching, it just makes sense.
I will be going back again and again.
Hair Hallelujah!

I had been eyeing this place ever since I moved to the area a year ago, but had convinced myself The Chapel was out of my price range. What a mistake! For the same price I had been spending for cuts and color, I could have been receiving them with savory nibbles, wine and chocolate biscuits!
The Chapel is very different from other salons, and not just because they feed you and allow you to meet stylists as chirpy and charming as Lucinda. The first «I’ve never done this before» happens if you want to change your hair color. The Chapel requires a skin allergy test 48 hours in advance, which may sound annoying, but it comes with refreshments and is free of charge, so enjoy it!
When I went in for my test, I was seated on one of three comfy sofas in the waiting room. I had arrived a bit early and settled into a couch with an Ottolenghi cookbook (no magazines in the waiting area caused another pang of «how different»). Looking around at the coffees people were enjoying with a foil wrapped sweet made me regret turning down a drink when one was offered by the man at the reception desk.
I had enough time to convince myself I NEEDED the cookbook before Lucinda popped into the room. The bright Australian casually sat herself down next to me, giving me the feeling we had known each other for ages. She and I discussed the new cut I wanted and we pawed through a tackle box filled with color swatches until I found the perfect new hue for me.
Lucinda explained that The Chapel charges by the hour and not by the service. The amount of time needed for an appointment is determined before you are in the stylist’s chair, so you know what the bill will be in advance. When read about the charging policy online I thought the whole practice would fill me with anxiety. I imagined the feeling I get when I’m in a taxi, watching the meter click higher and higher. Luckily, this isn’t the case at all.
I was full of excitement when I returned a couple days later. Dropping my bag off in a little locked drawer, I was ready to unwind. I had decided to treat this as a little spa break and indulgently requested wine when asked if I wanted a beverage. I sipped my complimentary vino while Lucinda applied my color. This was done downstairs, in front of a modern fireplace. I then curled up on a bench seat with a magazine (they do exist here — they’re just not in the initial waiting area) and nibbled my veggie crisps.
I love the big reveal when you blowdry your hair after dying it and see your new shade for the first time. This time did not disappoint. I had it done weeks ago and am still in love with it. The cut is great too. A little choppy in one place, but I just haven’t had time to go back in and have it fixed. I have a strong feeling that would be done quickly and with a smile.
The Chapel made me feel more important than I have since I quit my «real job» in Washington, DC a year ago. It’s a wonderful place that I can’t believe exists. Just too good to be true.

Lovely, not too cool for school stylists, check. Beautiful décor, check. Great client service, check. Shall i get you a glass of wine? Don’t mind if i do.
Love this place, even if it wasn’t just down the road I’d only come here.
You get one person doing your whole job, from colour, hair washing, cutting, drying so you don’t get the «disconnect» I’ve had before between stylist and colourist. You also pay by the hour so no matter what you’re having done you don’t get hidden extras added to the bill.
Highly recommended.

This place is awesome– the whole experience is a must! After several bad starts trying to find a London hairdressers this place was a last ditch attempt before I resorted to travelling 250 miles for a cut and colour. Everything is excellent– cut, colour, staff, salon and experience. A little more than I would lusually pay (about £200 for full head and cut) but worth every penny as hair has never looked so good!

I tried The Chapel on a whim and I’m pleased I did. Mark took the time to chat with me and take a good look at my hair before he started cutting. I’ve been very happy with the result. The atmo in the salon is relaxed and unfussy. One always feels welcome. They have great hours too, so it’s super convenient. It’s money well spent.

I have been coming here since it opened and if there were two angels that were put on this earth to do hair it would have to be Billie and Georgia.
Billie has coloured my hair now for a few years and we have been on a magical mystery tour of the color spectrum. I have had blonde, blue, red, green, black, copper and even purple put through my hair and each time my hair has never looked silly. The skill she has as a colourist needs to be seen to be believed!
Merge that with Georgia chopping your hair and you can kiss your bad hair days away. I have never seen a hairdresser that is so precise and is such a perfectionist when it comes to washing hair. She will cut it wet and then as its drying cut more, making sure everything is precise. She also has a talent for cutting your hair so well that when it starts to grow it still looks good. In the case of my hair it usually ends up looking as if it’s a different style with each week that it grows. They have been doing my hair for 3 years and they aren’t cheap but they are very very very worth going to.
The salon is very modern, they provide you with nibbles and wine and fancy magazines. You come out of there feeling pampered and relaxed.
The money you spend in there will leave you with hair that is complimented on lots, will style well once you leave the salon and you will be wanting to go back there. If you have Georgia as your cutter, you will never want anyone else to do your hair ever again.