Shampoo Hair Studio

Over four (!) years ago, when I wrote «I’m convinced that as long as [Jamie] and I are both in Toronto, I won’t be frequenting any other salon» I overlooked the fact that maybe one day Jamie might start working somewhere else in Toronto. That day is today (okay, not TODAY, but like… pretty recently). She’s now at Fringe in Parkdale.
This isn’t an updated review so much as it is a sort of PSA, but I think I’m obligated to enter some amount of stars. So let’s say four — everyone else at Shampoo seemed very friendly and skilled at hair-​cutting, but they’ve really «lost a star» in Jamie (I’m so sorry).

I used to really like Shampoo Hair Studio. I would have given it 5 stars at one point. I also don’t like giving negative reviews but I just can’t stand it anymore.
I’ve found that the quality of the cuts — while still not bad — is severely offset by the demeanour and attitude of the staff (and owner). I’m not generally an overly punctual person but I’ve found that EVERY SINGLE TIME I’ve been here in the past 2 years I’ve had to wait 30 – 45 minutes *after* my scheduled appointment.
I stuck with the same stylist (Renée) because I wanted to give her a chance and thought perhaps it was a one-​off thing. Nope. I don’t know if she overbooks or is just slow but when I first walk in the door she doesn’t even notice. After 10 minutes, I’d get up to make to leave and she’ll tell me she’ll be ready for me in 10 minutes. Half an hour later, I’m finally in a chair and get a mediocre cut.
Thing is, my wife has had the exact same experience with the owner, Paul. Twice. I don’t know if these guys are just on Island time or if they don’t care or we’re not cool enough but I can’t be bothered to come here anymore.
In short: if you’ve got time on your hands, book the afternoon off and come here to read some magazines. Maybe you’ll get a hair cut.

So i really don’t like writing negative reviews for small businesses but my experience here was really bad. My hair looks terrible. I have relatively easy hair to cut and usually it only takes 15 – 20 minutes for a haircut (with shampoo) — it took 55 minutes here. I asked the stylist to use the clippers but he didn’t so I got charged way too much for this cut. I also had to remind him 3 times to take an inch off the top of my head — something he never did. I also had to remind him to cut 1 of my sideburns at the end (they’re still not even). He also completely changed the cut I have at the back of my head without asking or even telling me he was doing it.
Now I have uneven sideburns, my hair is way too short at the back and the hair on top hasn’t even been cut. I’m going to have to shave my head to fix this as I no longer have any money left to get another haircut.

Jamie is the bomb. She gave me my new pixie cut. I got it in Jan and it is still growing out pretty okay (although it will probs be time to see her again pretty soon).
She is a tiny ball of optimism, talent and beauty. She will talk you through the whole cut. Jamie makes you feel involved in the process and safe in her hands. And every once in a while, she will just reinforce how awesome the cut looks and how awesome you look in it. I can’t stress how important optimism is when you are getting 90% of your hair chopped off. I knew that if she could be optimistic about it, I could too. She even strategized with me about earrings, dresses, make up that would look great with my cut.
The space is kind of easy to miss. Just a tiny door in the maze of Kensington. But once you’re in, it’s a pretty cool environment. There’s only a few stylists so it feels intimate rather than congested. It’s punk-​ish. But really, I think anyone would feel welcome here.
I really recommend Jamie for any hair cut. Hell, she cut my hair and I have weird a** curls.

Jamie is awesome. Every time she cuts my hair, everyone tells me I look great. And I actually agree with them! All I have to say to her is «shorter please» and she’ll make it simple and classy every time. Thanks Jamie!

W.O.W. I will follow you… wherever you may go!
And I’m talking about Mathew @ Shampoo Hair Studio. This man is an absolute magician when it comes to hair ladies and gents. Years back he was an instructor at the Aveda Institute and I swore I would move with him — and have!
If you want a hair stylist with a kick-​ass personality that will let you loose on the city with THE perfect cut/​colour for you, you have GOT to go see him. I swear by him.
If he ever moves… I’m screwed. This is a life-​long relationship! LOL.

Daniel switched salons, and is now at Curl Up And Dye, a few blocks away. So he took 1 star — and his music collection — with him.

I went into the salon and asked for help cleaning up the shape of my hair. I specifically asked that they ONLY shape up my hair and avoid cutting too much off.
I think I’m a decent communicator, and I spoke clearly with the stylist, but I don’t know what happened. I came in with a shoulder-​length, outgrown bob, and left with a short, SHORT pixey hair cut. I was basically given the same haircut that the stylist herself had. It fit her personality/​face shape but was wrong for me. And no, it was NOT a pleasant surprisel.
I find that one of the telltale signs of a bad hair dresser is trash talking. There was plenty of that here, the hairdresser didn’t spare any of my feelings to tell me how my last cut was awful. She then went onto telling me stories of how she «fixes» other people’s hair mistakes in a condescending tone.
Besides the trash talking, the hairdresser (female, short red hair) was pretty nice. I’m mostly ticked off by the fact that she totally ignored my request and cut off more than 40% of my hair length. Normally I’m not that uptight about hair, but it took me about 3 months to grow it back to the previous length… Baaaad!

For years I, or a skillful friend, would cut my own hair. It was great, and for a long time, I rocked a single particular hairstyle, or versions of it. Then one day, I bit the bullet and sought out the services at Shampoo after a fair bit of research (consideration factors: $, potential ‘cool’-ness, location) for a different kind of short cut.
How Shampoo Hair Studio fared in preliminary rounds: reasonable price, cool looking hair dressers, and Kensington Market (also tied to ‘cool’ factor).
Going down the stairs of the colourful, moderately retro space, I was happy to find that it wasn’t too busy. The one other client there was a middle-​aged possible mom, which actually made me feel even more at ease. There ain’t nothing worse than a pretentious cooler-​than-​thou establishment where you’re sitting with a towel around your neck and your hair in a slick. Jamie, who I was scheduled with at the booker’s recommendation, is a cheerful and laidback gal with tats and a wicked custom-​made leather tool kit. Later on, I’m pleased to find that conversation flowed easily (with the odd comfortable silence), covering everything from Trinity Bellwoods park to Degrassi.
Based on some non-​desrcript mumblings on my end about something «mushroom-​cut like but not really a mushroom cut», I ended up with the coolest hair cut ever as Jamie snipped away carefully as if working on a sculpture. She even stayed late to ensure every strand was right were she wanted it, and she even said at the end «That’s the most fun I’ve had all week!»
I’ve since been back again and have another appointment booked. You can’t help but appreciate someone who loves their art.