Unique Hair Studio — Local services in London

I’m not one to write negative reviews but this was one of the worst hair salon experiences ever. Big mistake to go to someone new and an unknown salon. Never going again or making the mistake of recommending him to anyone.

I paid £175 and while I have happily paid £250 or more this particular cut and service was not worth £50. Putting the price point aside which doesn’t make sense for a lack of service where he is doing everything from washing hair (of which he did a terrible job) to taking payments and everything else in between.

Long hair is easy to cut and there are many ways to cut and style it but his refusal to do it any other way was downright bizarre. That should have been my sign to leave which I deeply regret. I won’t get into my specific hair cut which I wasn’t at all happy with, the biggest issue was his manners and general disregard to understanding what the client is saying prior to the cut and during. He was rude, a terrible listener and just not warm in any capacity. He said he had done 8 haircuts that day but nothing justifies this sort of a experience. If you are having a bad day, don’t take on more clients/customers or cancel.

On more than one point the guy said that he didn’t understand, anyone else in that position would make the effort to ask and inquire from the client, not be arrogant about it. I gather from meeting him that he’s quite young so his ego and attitude might come from that but his lack of emotional intelligence and poor command over English made it an all in all horrible experience. I have been to many small to big salons here in London and the rest of the world but never come across a hairdresser who had such poor comprehension and intelligence where he is not the least bit receptive to what the client is saying. In addition to the time and money wasted it’s the bad haircut that I have to live with till it grows out. There is a reason people go to bigger or more established salons and I learnt the hard way not to experiment with a one man shop with something as important as hair.

It’s the unprofessionalism and the attitude that really gets me. I had to wait 15 mins past my appointment time because you were not done with the previous customer. No apology and that is not the worst of it. You changed my appointment time without so much as a call or a msg asking me the customer if the new time even suits me. Nor did I get a thank you for adjusting to your schedule after you double booked. That really takes the cake and despite all this the there is no acknowledgement and apology from you for any of the...

I was the lucky winner of a recent competition I won via Instagram to have a luxury hair cut treatment at the beautiful Unique Hair Studio in Covent Garden! 📍 🖤

I was messaged by the lovely Malik and although I’ve had the pleasure of visiting him on one other occasion a few years back at a different salon. my hair was well over due for a good haircut ( dare I even say a cheeky Balayage that I was happy to pay extra for) we discussed the requirements and I was all booked in on my preferred date & time via the Booksy app.( quick and easy enough to use no need to bombard his dms ladies 😂)

My appointment was on Monday 11th July 2023 .. the commute to the salon was easy and was located conveniently near Tottenham Court Road station! A quick walk and a coffee later I arrived at 10am and was greeted by Malik ( I was his first muse of the day)..

After a good consultation and already getting excited about future bookings / services( this was still before we had begun todays services.. says it all really 😂)

I truly had a lovely experience at UNIQUE! Malik was attentive and listened to my concerns and then advised what he thought in a very friendly manner (we’ve all had experiences where it can be a little daunting visiting the salon).

The only minor feedback I would give ( at the end of the service / the big reveal etc .. He unfortunately didn’t initiate wanting to take any videos / pictures of my end result 🙁 which made me feel a little self conscious as I love to see all of his lovely work via Instagram / pictures / stories very minor but just a small note 🙏🏽 .. I asked if he could take a few on my phone as I was leaving and (his next client had only arrived a few moments prior) so he kindly did do that.. I had my own moment🙃.

Congratulations Malik on your beautiful studio! I look forward to hopefully seeing you in the coming months for more hair treatments! 10/10 worth every Penny!

Ps. I only paid a small addition for a toner along with my Free hair cut treatment. The Unique ( 😉) .. cocktail toner was mixed by the artist himself! Which gave the end results the finishing touches! Thank you...

This salon seems to be hit or miss, and unfortunately, I experienced the 1-star service with Malik. If you’re considering going here, please take the time to read the 1-star reviews, which I wish I had done prior.

I booked a 5:30 pm appointment but received an email pushing it to 6 pm, then a text delaying it further to 6:20 pm. While delays are understandable, this was just the beginning of a disappointing experience.

Upon arrival, Malik was inhospitable and unwelcoming, displaying a cold demeanor. During the consultation, he was resistant and dismissive, even saying, "Your hair is fine right now, so what do you want me to do then?" I was there for a simple trim and to reshape my layers—something straightforward for my rather simple, straight, long hair. His rudeness was unlike anything I've encountered before, at any salon in any part of the world. Showing a reference image led to more resistance, and if it weren’t for the steep deposit, I would have walked out.

Eventually, we agreed on the plan. However, the shampoo experience was terrible—cold water, no robe, and no towel around my neck. While cutting my hair, Malik’s peculiar cutting technique caused hair to fall everywhere but the robe. It was quiet and tense through and through - a totally unpleasant environment.

The final result was nothing like the reference images and much shorter than what I asked for. Hair covered my clothes, which was unacceptable, forcing me to cancel my dinner plans and go home instead.

Overall, avoid spending your money here. It seems Malik caters to his regulars and treats others poorly. The service is overpriced, and the atmosphere is tense and unprofessional. Save yourself the trouble and find a more reliable salon, especially at his...