Paris, France has the best haircuts. Where does one go?

I always ask hotel staff (whose hairstyles I like) for a recommendation. Pat from Canada may be able to help. Is the haircut for you or your husband?

Having lived in Paris and going back to visit family and friends, I've gone through a slew of places. Things change all the time. Two friends who live in Paris go to the Thomas Coiffeur chain. A huge chain is Jean-Louis David, but you need to be aware that they have their own school and teach their hairdressers only how to cut with an electric razor. Not my cuppa tea. The bottom line is that French training is different for a scissors cut; compared to where I live, much more time is spent cutting precisely, even is small neighborhood salons. A good French cut can last me anywhere from two to four month, even ones from a small salon. So to make an overly gross generalization, if you want a chic cut look around the chic neighborhoods (6th, 7th, 8th, 17th), if you want something young, hip look around the hip places (Marais, Les Halles, Latin Quarter). The prices are posted outside (by law), and just pop in and ask if you can make an appointment.

A good friend who lived in Paris for a few years and is picky about her short hair (unlike me, I go to cheap places), went to Jean Louis David.

Thank you all. I currently have very long hair and would like someone who has the ability to look at my face shape and cut my hair to fit that shape and look professional. I am thinking a medium length would be good but short is fine also. The long hair is being grown for Locks of Love currently and will be shipped to them from Paris. Does anyone know of an excellent haircut place around the 4th or 7th ? The cut is mainly for me, but it is always nice when he likes it too since this trip is for our 50th b-days AND OUR 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

Here is the former glory of French coiffeur, which in the old days served stars like Catherine Deneuve, but was bought by a Japanese company a while ago when the original owners died, and has built a tourist trade based on international reputation. They will give you a "coupe transformation" for a price: http://www.maisondebeautecarita.fr/en/faubourg-st-honore-paris. This is where I got a cut that lasted four months--but many years ago.

Marie Claire magazine has a list of "favorite salons": http://www.marieclaire.fr/,salon-de-coiffure-notre-selection-des-coiffeurs-a-paris,20146,35329.asp (could be their loyal advertisers, hard to know)

From a Marie Claire article, "Histoire des plus grands salons de coiffeurs" (website is incredibly non-user friendly so you can google it yourself) here's a list of well-known, respected chains: (including Jean Louis David) : Jacques Dessange, Camille Allbane, Franck Provost, Fabio Salsa, Jean-Marc Maniatis, Saint-Algue, Coiff&Co, Intermede, Jean Louis David.

I suggest you do the first cut for Locks of Love a few days before you leave for Paris but have a Parisian salon do a styling. It will be easier than explaining the length you want and what you want to a French speaker, less expensive with the bulk cut off, and you won't have to hassle with the mail (if human hair is allowed in the mail).

BTW, I recommend a Paris haircut for everyone. You won't regret it.

I will be in Paris for Christmas but I will be travelling with my husband and 9 month old baby. Not sure if she will let me get a nice haircut but I am so glad I stumbled upon this thread. I hope Paris salons would let me come in with my baby.