Getting a haircut in Europe

Here's my story from elsewhere in Europe!
I was in Germany after I had already been in Europe for more than 7 weeks...the hair needed desperate attention! I was staying in a small village and decided to go ahead and just walk into the local salon. They didn't speak very much English and I spoke limited German. I was able to get across the idea that I just wanted my hair done in a style that was popular with their clients.
After about 3 hours I walked out with something that looked like a longish permed mullet. It was pretty funny! I lived with it for a while - lots of ponytails and buns - and then just cut it short when I got home.
If you know what you want, go in with a picture of you with your hair done in the style you are hoping for. Or just go with the flow and see what happens! It's hair - it'll grow back. :)

I haven't gotten a haircut in Italy for years, primarily because there isn't much left to cut.

But my wife (and her sister, when she comes) go to the hairdresser in Italy religiously. I am not a good judge of women's haircuts so I simply tell them they look great (after over 2 decades of marriage I've learned that you always praise your women for how good their hair looks, how great their dresses fit, and how thin they look).

But, regardless of my ignorance on the subject they are absolutely ecstatic with the stylish haircuts they get there and they always praise the skills of Italian hair dressers.

I, on my part, am just as happy because the price of my wife's haircuts and styling in Florence is less than half of what she pays normally in San Francisco. So I always tell her: "go for it!". I wish she could always get it in Florence instead of San Francisco.

In Florence she goes to the Jean Louis David salons. They are somewhat pricier but still within €40 for cut+wash+styling. Men's prices are about half (€20 something).

Costs are comparable Rachele, and Italian women always look great. :-)

If you will be in Roma, I can perhaps recommend a place. Let me know.

I can only comment on this from a male perspective, but I've had haircuts in several places in Europe.

In Italy I tend to just ask the hotel staff where the nearest Barber is (I usually don't use those fancy high priced salons that cater to both men & women). The Barbers always do a great job, and I've never been disappointed.

On one of my two month trips I was badly in need of a haircut when I arrived in Chur (CH), and it turned out to be a rather interesting experience. On that occasion I did use a salon as it was right next door to the hotel. The two girls that ran the place couldn't speak a word of English and I don't speak German so that presented a minor problem. Fortunately the front desk clerk from the hotel was able to get away for a minute and tell them what type of haircut I wanted. They took their time and again I was really pleased with the results.

I always get a haircut in Italy, my favorite hairstylist retired last year so I am looking for a recommendation in Roma. I found him by asking the hotel desk clerk (who had a gorgeous cut), so that's one method. I pay anywhere from €20-40, depending on the city. The stylist will take s fair amount of time getting to know your hair before he/she picks up the scissors. Shampoo is included in the price, in my experience. Tips don't seem to be expected.

I get my hair cut in Italy. When I see a cut I like, I ask the gal where she got the cut. Sometimes I luck out when the gal actually works at a hair shop. They model the cuts done at their shop.

The stylist usually shows me the equipment for me to choose, and that helps me get the cut I want. My Italian haircuts are every bit as good as those here.

One time a neighbor brought me to her shop, but I left when I saw long hair on all the stylists. I wear boy cuts for girls of course, and so found a shop where they all sported snazzy boy cuts. They even layered snippets of neon color in strategic places. Loved it!

My husband needed a haircut in Tirana, Albania. There was a "berber" next door to our hotel, with no customers in the shop, so Tom walked in and sat down. The barber tried to ask how he would like it cut, so Tom picked up a People magazine with a photo of Brad Pitt on the cover, and pointed to his hair. The barber nodded his head, and gave him a great haircut. Now if only he could have made the rest of him look like Brad Pitt too, that would have been fun!

We leave next week for a five-week trip and will probably both need haircuts by the time we reach Rome. My husband speaks pretty decent Italian and I told him he could just walk in and say "make me look like George Clooney." (He does have the face, and hair the same color. . . . It should work out OK).

I am taking along a photo to show what I want.

Laurel, I may be in touch regarding a salon.

Greek Haircut definition:
http://gogreece.about.com/od/Glossary-of-Greek-Terms/g/Greece-Haircut.htm

I've gotten my haircut several times in recent years. Once in London so that was easy enough. Once in Lisbon where I just walked into a barber shop that seemed fairly empty but they spoke no English. I just made gestures and showed how much to cut off with my fingers and it turned out pretty good. What was interesting to me is that he cut it with a straight razor. Never experienced that before.

I'm sure it's more complicated for some women, but in general, a barber/stylist can see how your hair is styled and if you can explain that you just want a trim/cut, they should be able to match it.

We'll be in Rome for a month and I'd love to know a good place for haircuts. I'll need color as well.

I can recommend Trotta, in Corso Vittoria Emanuele II. They are also on Facebook with some nice accoladesfrom happy clients.

I just showed up in Venice with horribly damaged hair from a two-week Alpine trek, and lucked into the New Jolly Salon (yep, that's actually the name) near the Scole Grande di San Ruoco. They spoke almost no English and still did a magnificent job deep conditioning, repairing, and styling my mane. Very happy with them.

Many years ago I had my haircut in a little hole in the wall salon in Paris. I went from shoulder length do to a short hair style. It was the best haircut I have ever had. I looked at a style book in the salon and said to the hairdresser "comme ca" (like this). I would not hesitate to get my haircut in Paris again.