Home > Los Angeles Style > Style Review > The tress-test

Everyone knows there’s nothing as satisfying as a good hair day. But while it's impoirtant to look good, especially in L.A., if you're on a budget tighter than security at an Obama rally, should you splurge on a three-figure haircut? And if you decide to eat this month instead of getting your curls coiffed, can you get a decent ’do for a 10-spot and some change?

We decided to conduct an undercover tress-test, comparing Privé in L.A., a fave of folks like Uma Thurman and Johnny Depp, with the prices to prove it, with the Vidal Sassoon Academy in Santa Monica, where getting a haircut costs less than date night at the ArcLight.

Atmosphere

Privé: Upon entering the salon, the exposed brick wall and maximized natural light relax your frustration at having driven around the block three times before you noticed the tiny sign out front. The open floor plan—stylists’ stations are on the periphery, and at islands in the center—speaks to the general ease with which the salon seems to run.

Vidal Sassoon Academy: Located on the second floor of an unobtrusive block, the school avoids the hubbub of the street performers and frantic shoppers that crowd Third Street Promenade. The shampoo room is relatively peaceful, seating about six, but the haircut room is packed with a dozen or so patrons, their stylists, and a roving instructor, creating a cacophony that is endearing more than it is annoying.

Stylist

Privé: There are 16 stylists at the salon, all chosen by head honcho and stylist-to-the-stars Laurent D, and they each set their own price. We worked with a lovely one-name gal, Danai, a farmer’s daughter who chatted with us about delivering baby goats while she worked her magic on our head.

Vidal Sassoon Academy: The stylists are all beauty school grads (though not necessarily VSA grads) who are at the Academy to bone up on their skills by taking supplementary classes in sessions that last up to a month and a half. Each class has around a dozen students supervised by an instructor, who discussed with us and our stylist, Rachael from Valencia, how the cut would go. At each phase of the process, Rachael—and we—waited for the instructor to come by and give input, or demonstrate a technique, which makes for an interesting exercise in teamwork, and a very long hair appointment (see below).

Attire

Privé: Unaccustomed to the good life, it was a surprise to be handed a robe and shown to a changing room immediately upon arrival, but we adapted pretty easily. A good tip for hair salons, and life in general: Don’t take off your pants if you see that no one else has.

Vidal Sassoon Academy: They give patrons what at first appears to be a standard-issue smock, but as we attempted to fasten it—there are both Velcro and tie closures—we realized it was actually an apparel-riddle that perhaps had no solution discernible by humans.
 

Time
Privé: Walking through the door to walking out again took one full hour, during which time we changed clothes twice (see above), had our hair washed and cut and learned a little about farm life (also see above). The salon is open every day, as late at 7 p.m. on Thursday, and we were able to book an appointment within a few days of calling for one.

Vidal Sassoon Academy: Clear your day, because a cut at the Academy will last usually two to three hours, and much of that time will be spent either chit-chatting with your stylist or silently critiquing your facial structure in the mirror as you wait for the instructor to give the go-ahead for your stylist to continue. Our stylist washed our hair twice (for reasons still known only to the instructor), and gave us a thorough blow-dry. The school offers cuts two to three times a day, seven days a week, though depending on what the students are learning, the sessions may only be available to people with certain hair types.
 

Cost

Privé: Cuts range from $100-$200. A cut with Laurent D will run you $300. Color goes from $75-$300 and up, depending on the specific treatment. There are also nail and makeup services available.

Vidal Sassoon Academy: A student ID on a weekday will get you a cut for $10.50; otherwise, plan on shelling out $21. On the weekends, no discounts are given, and everyone pays $25 for their ’do. They offer color services as well for $25-$50.
 

And the winner is… Your hair. The truth is that both places gave us what we wanted: a good haircut. Privé’s cut took much less time and didn’t include the sounds of homeless people rubbing elbows with soccer moms wafting in through the windows, but for some of you, that may be a symphony you’d miss. The collaborative nature of the haircut experience at the Vidal Sassoon Academy virtually ensures that even if you get assigned to a stylist whose own hairstyle may be of a dubious nature, yours won’t be.

Moral of the story: You will never look like Uma Thurman, no matter where you get your hair cut.

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