Review; The Hair Forum, Witney

I’m starting an info handbook about Witney, so I can practice my writing and make it useful. It’ll be filled with information on all the exciting things about the town (won’t take long). I’ll add some fascinating reviews, like this one, below with advice on some local hairdressers. Then, if I don’t lose interest halfway through this fascinating guide to the bright lights of the market square, I’ll gather it all up and have a little e-book. Wish me luck – with my attention span. x

Hair cut and styled by Matthew

The Hair Forum, Witney.

Before I chose a new hairdresser, I followed a few of them on social media. I’m careful with hairdressers.  Some I’ve found too scissor-happy, some of don’t speak, some of them are just  bad.   Going through my Insta favourites, I first reached out to “Olivia’s Hair Salon” on Corn Street.  Near to where I work,  talented and recommended by several friends, sadly Olivia was fully booked.  She kindly offered me an appointment with her “Senior Stylist” (there’s only two of them working there), I declined, was Olivia’s magic I’d sought.  Next, I tried “Hair by Leanne”; Leanne owns a busy local salon and has a fantastic feed of amazing transformations.   She said it was a three month wait for an appointment.  Impressed with her photo-stream, I waited patiently, as instructed.  As the time rolled on, I asked nicely if I could get a more specific appointment?  Alas no, this queen of colour, basically told me to sling-my-hook and move along, there would be no magic happening for my hair.  I hastily retreated, before her sharp scissors and sharper tongue chopped off my head, instead of my hair.

 Evenutally after much procrastinating, I found Matthew at The Hair Forum, (THF) on Madley Park.  The first thing that struck me about the salon, was how friendly everyone was.  (Friendliness was suddenly my top priority, after my brush with lippy Leanne).  All the stylists at THF help each other out, when they were free, they just lent a hand.  I thought that was nice. The owner, came over and chatted, Matthew chatted.  He taught me about things to do with colour and tints and condition, all way above my curly head.  I relaxed, drank a few coffees and let him carry on, while I half-listened.  Then, he asked me questions. Now, this took me a bit by surprise, becuase I wasn’t expecting an exam, so this was a bit of a rude awakening, where Matthew found out I wasn’t really listening. Ok, I was hearing the words, but they didn’t make any sense to me.  Patiently, again he tried, (clearly he’d had morons in before) he went over the words, tints, textures, foils and regrowth and waited for me to choose.  I went with, “Can you just do what you want, give me a glow-up* ?” Matthew, now assured he had informed consent, set to work doing whatever he wanted.

Many years ago, and I mean many; I had been a hair model for Wella.  Sounds exciting doesn’t it? Let’s just say, it’s not London Fashion Week.  Basically, I became the muse of the chief stylist at a very expensive salon.  In practical terms, it meant she did my hair on a weekly basis. I’d sit in the chair, from the end of school till the end of time, or when she (her name was Rachel) felt satisfied with her craft . As anyone who’s worked with creatives knows, they are never satisfied.  Then, I’d be photographed for hours, or I’d be dressed up and expected to parade my hair on a stage to lots of people.  Or, I might have my hair cut on stage somewhere with lots of interested people, paying attention.  Or, I’d just sit on that stage and she would explain “how” she cut my hair.  Get the (boring) idea.  But this was the Eighties and cases of free fizzy wine and after-parties were a heady incentive, for me to be a hair model.  The more drunk Rachel got, at these events, the more hairspray she would desposit on me. I’d be there with my head upside down as she emptied yet another entire can – forgetting she’d just done it moments before. But to be fair to Rach, she always took care of me, keeping her fag in her other hand, held right away from me, for safety’s sake. You know when you see female Nasa astronauts in space, with their hair sticking up on end? That was Rach’s signature look and Nasa shoud give her the credit she deserves.

Back to The Hair Forum; unlike my trip to the swanky Daniel Galvin Salon in Marylebone, the drinks at THF were free –  ok, not quite as boozey as my Rachel days. But, I was saving a massive £4 a coffee by not bothering to shlep to London. Matthew and I chatted away, I learned about his guinea pigs – which was a fascinating education. Different to the time I had my hair done at swanky Mahogany, in Oxford, where the “senior stylist” cut my hair in complete silence. (No chat – no tip, bitch).

And the end result?  Did my hair look good?  Well, it was quite different, a lot lighter which I’ve never had before and I really liked it.  I wondered what my friends would think and as honesty is their love language, I braced myself.  Matthew’s glow-up was a great success, friends have asked for his number and I’ve had many compliments.  It’s lifted the way I look, but more importantly, it’s really changed the way I feel.  

* A “glow-up” used to be known as a “make-over”.  

Matthew

Colour Specialist

The Hair Forum

2 The Neighbourhood Centre

Madley Park

Witney OX28 1UD

01993 702021