Hair Salons in Malta
I am always being asked for recommendations of hair salons in Malta and I always give an honest answer- all the ones I've tried have been a total waste of money. I'm usually pretty forthcoming on the blog, if I go somewhere or try something and it's rubbish I'll be honest in my review but somehow being honest about a shitty hair salon seems a bit more personal- I worry that the stylist might one day read the post and feel hurt or that I could be affecting someones livelihood. But I am so sick of wasting my hard earned cash on these crappy places that I felt it's time to give my honest opinion.
The salons I have tried so far in Malta are;
Zodiac (Gzira)various cuts, washes and blow drys- €12 for a cut and blow-dry.
Toni & Guy (Sliema)a trim, wash and blow-dry- €60 for a cut and blow-dry (HAHA)
The Loft (St Julians)a wash and blow-dry- €25 for a wash and blow-dry
Gabriels (Gzira)wash, cut and blow-dry- for €39.95.
In all salons I've tried the washing has been harrowing. They hurt. Every stylist in Malta must have been trained at the same place because they all have this awful habit of squeezing your scalp so hard when they shampoo that it is incredibly painful. Someone obviously taught them to be firm but there is a world of difference between a firm shampooing and one that makes you feel they're trying to cave your skull in. STOP IT.
As with the hair-washing, the blow-dries have all been useless. I can blow-dry my hair well enough at home, FOR FREE, so when I pay to get it done in a salon I expect it to be amazing. In 4 years I've never had one that was remotely any good. Volume seems to be foreign word over here. They blow-dry your hair SLICK to your scalp, so the roots are basically glued to your head then they curve the tips under so your hair is literally the exact shape of your head. It's awful. If you feel like a pamper or want a nice blow-dry for an event- do it yourself.
I've only ever once been happy with a cut and that was at Gabriels. The wash and blow-dry were no good but the cut itself was really nice and I'm very happy with my hair right now. One salon butchered my hair on 3 occasions although I suppose it's my fault that I kept going back. So if you're looking for a haircut in Malta my advice would be;
1. Don't. Wait until you next go abroad and have it done there.
2. If you can't wait, go to Gabriels but turn up with wet hair and blowdry it yourself at home.
If you have tried a salon where you were happy with the whole experience please please let me know where!