Fringe benefits

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Italy

WHAT’S THE DAMAGE?

Around €30 for a cut and blow-dry.

WHAT’S THE LOOK?

Carré (all the same length), sfilati or sfilzati (different lengths). Wild and ‘folkloristic’ fashion looks.

THE BIG BRANDS?

Jean Louis David and Toni & Guy.

WHAT THE LOCALS SAY:

Ilaria di Fiore is a fashion designer from Naples who lives in London. “Choose your hairdresser in Italy as you would a restaurant. Don’t go near anywhere that looks empty, or with clients that look like the sort of people you wouldn’t hang out with. In Italythey would laugh at you if you asked to leave with your hair wet. Top Italian hairdressing can be very modern, so be brave! Although remember that if it’s a very difficult cut that needs upkeep, you’ll have to visit again. For this reason, wild colours that can’t be copied when you need your roots done aren’t a good idea.”

What to ask for:

LEAVE THE FRINGE: lasci la frangia SHORTER: più corti LONGER HERE: più lunghi qui

Spain

WHAT’S THE DAMAGE?

€25–30 for a mid-range cut.

WHAT’S THE LOOK?

Straight and swishy highlighted hair holds its ground for girls. A resurgence of mid-length, tousled hair for men.

THE BIG BRANDS?

Llongueras and Jean Louis David.

WHAT THE LOCALS SAY:

Concha Caiña, a Spanish magazine editor who lives in London, often returns home to have her hair cut and styled. “Spanish women visit hairdressers on a regular basis, especially older ladies, who usually go to their hairdresser once a week. Hairdressers do more than cut your hair – they know you and in many cases act like an agony aunt. People living in Spain are amazed by the high prices in the UK and horrified by the wet cut you get in Britain – the wet cut is NOT a finished job; it needs to be blow-dried! Go to Valencia, Granada, Seville or Bilbao and you will have a lovely weekend with a new look ALL for little more than a wet cut in trendy London.”

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