Best Hairdresser in Amsterdam

A good man might be hard to find, finding a good hairdresser is next to impossible.

The two main problems with hairdressers are: they (1) love cutting & colouring and (2) love hearing the sound of their own voice. The styles they produce may be artistic and beautiful for one day, but what we generally want is a haircut that looks good for a couple of weeks and without special lighting and real-time Photoshop. Not to worry, though, there are some hair dressers in Amsterdam that are in many ways a cut above the rest.

*** update in December 2012: I received many negative comments about 2 hair salons previously recommended, so I have removed them. If you have a salon to add to the list, please share it with our readers!**

Fikri Kala

Gone are the days that Fikri is booked for the next three months! After years of such work pressure, Fikri decided make rigorous changes: a minimalistic hair salon, everything in a clean (white) design, and two big mirrors on the wall. Classical music and no other hair dressers in the building, create a calm and serene ambiance. Fikri is a sweetheart and a sincere, warm man, who puts your wishes first. Got a busy work life? Unwind with a cup of green tea or proper coffee (his other passion). Saturdays he's off, but on Sunday he is available to give you a new coup. Judging from his website, he still prefers to not be promoted, so let’s keep his name a secret! Fikri Kala, Keizersgracht 389, Amsterdam. Tel. 06.52649212

Coupe d’Etat

The review of a popular Dutch glossy magazine sounded good: honest advice based on your hair, face and lifestyle, plus good cutting & styling as well as great service. Also see my comment of September 2011 - I am so happy with these hairdressers here. A definite must-go to, also because of their fabulous natural-based, well-research and highly-technical products! Ask Dave for the latest innovations to get the hair that you want! (In my case: thicker hair). Wash, cut & style by the award-winning Creative Director Jeffrey as of E65.- Coup d'Etat, Willemstraat 21, Amsterdam. T. 020.623 26 97

Rob Peetoom

Rob Peetoom is the name that has been around in the Dutch hair fashion world for over 40 years. Our model friend had her hair done here on her wedding day. She was happy with her hair (and still is happy with her husband, in case you are wondering). As the salon is a big name in Amsterdam, you don't always get the same hair dresser. To be consistently service best, ask to be cut by the award-winning Creative Director Vincent Langedijk. Wash, cut & style by Vincent Langedijk E64. Rob Peetoom, Elandsgracht 68, Tel. 020 5285722. There's also a branche in the Bijenkorf, but there's no Creative Director present.

SVEMIR on Olympiaplein (Stadionweg) also comes recommended (see comment of Bella, May 2011). He's a most kind, down-to-earth guy who listens to your wishes, advises well and doesn't force his opinion onto you. Very respectful and capable hairdresser. It was him that asked me kindly whether I had ever thought of a short coup, instead of long hair. I gave him the freedom provided the coup would look 'natural'. And guess what... short hair looks way more natural than long hair with me. Thank you, Svemir, for your wise advice! Svemir Hairdesign, Olympiaplein 144, Amsterdam South. T. 020-6626274

Comments

[Sheryl]

Hi thanks for this but do you know of any good women hairdressers? I am over going to guys as they do not understand what a woman wants in quite the same way as another women...even if gay.

[Denisa]

Hi Sheryl,

I have so much hair and there hasn't been anything I have been able to do with it as all hairdressers wants to do 'their thing' and their thing only looks nice when I step out of the place... So I simply stopped cutting my hair.. until a colleague recommended Frank Donfield who is an Irish guy who has been here for the past 25 years. I know he is not a lady hairdresser as you asked for but he is simply great and honest. He won't cut anything that he thinks will make you look strange or make your hair look strange or difficult to handle. He will be totally honest with you.

I so recommend him - http://www.frankdonfield.nl/

[Kira]

Dear Denisa,

Thank you Denisa for your recommendation. May be send me a photo of your lovely hair do?

And Sheryl, I was thinking the EXACT SAME thing - why is it that all the salons listed are under male supervision? Does anyone know a good female hairdresser that I can add to this list?

Kira

[Fiza]

Kimm Koffijberg of Koffijberg hairdressers is very good. She took over her father's salon Koffijberg some years ago. It is on Scheldestraat nr 8 in front of Okura hotel. The salon is great, and she is very good but also very very expensive. (83 euro wash cut dry, or 90 euro for wash cut blowdry). This is including the 15 euro supplement you pay for being cut by Kimm. Personally I stopped going here, not because she is not good: Kimm is great, but the price is way too high for me, and also she is always fully booked and you have to reserve a long time in advance. I go to Hairfashion by Leo now, because he is at least as good as Kimm, a lot less pricey and easier to get a reservation. If you really insist on a female hairdresser, and don't care about the high price and having to book a long time in advance, then Kimm is definitely a great choice!

[bella]

May I recommend one more? Svemir Hair Design, I especially like Iris Ruess (also for the ladies who want a lady hairdresser). She's very good at listening to what you want and if you say 'only 2 cms' she'll stick to it. She also very good at explaining what's good for your type of hair and can teach you to style it the way you want it (volume, straight, curls). Wash (with nice head massage), cut and dry/style will set you back about 50 euros. Olympiaplein 144, Amsterdam.

[Paola]

Thanks Kira,

I visited Pierre of Lorenzo Fuente on the weekend and am thrilled at the outcome. He clearly knows a thing or two about curly hair and cut my hair exactly as I wanted it. The Fuente products sold at the salon are also great! Although Lorenzo correctly identified me as a hairdresser slut. I will definitely be returning to him in the future!

[corinne]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend the name of a great hairdresser at the Toni and Guy Magna Plaza salon?

Thanks

[Kira]

@ Bella regarding SVEMIR

Coincidentally (or may be not so coincidentally), I also had a pleasant experience with Svemir. He was the guy to suggest 'a short cut' for me. For a girl who never had a cut shorter than shoulder length, I was happily surprised how natural short hair looked on me. May be Svemir knew I could not handle much more change and didn't make the coup 'special' - Leo and Pierre did take that extra mile (but then I was already accustomed to the sound of the scissors).

[Beatriz]

Ron Meijer is my hairdresser , and believe me I have a really special hair that it is not easy to handle ...
He even got the prize of " Beste Praktijkopleider van het jaar 2010 Uiterlijke Verzorging" from all over the country .

Wonderhands The Art of Hair
Hazenstraat 6/A
1016 SP Amsterdam
Telefoon: +31-20 330 5385
E-mail: info@wonderhands.nl

[Maria]

thanks Kira- love this hair dressers post!

you may want to add Cutting Inc on the Beethovenstr. It is owned by a woman and have yummy Aveda products. The place is not cheap in good OZ manner but they do a good job cutting hair and are good with highlights... you also get a head massage... i see it seems a must ;-)

- Maria

[kira]

Someone commented about a negative experience at Coup d'Etat. I just received a call from the head hair dresser, who would like to be put in contact with this lady to discuss what has happened and to turn it into a positive experience.

Such an active attitude towards providing service is most admirable and shows one's nature.Jeffrey - CHAPEAU!
In the same breath, I also know that Leo welcomes back customers who (later) appeared not to be happy with their cut.

In case you are the lady with a bad experience, please send me an e-mail (kira at cosmo-polite.com)

[Kira]

After 2 visits to Coup d'Etat, I am most impressed by their service. And no, it's NOT a marketing trick as the second time I went 'undercover''; I had another hair dresser (the charming Dave) who did not know who I was, that I blog and I called last-minute so Jeffrey could not brief him about me.

Anyhow, first the hair dresser had a mini-interview with me to find out which coup would suit me best. Questions like 'what are your hobbies' actually had me startled - uhm... I occassionally run, but apart from dining & wining... I don't do much, I guess. What an eye-opener that easy question was! I have to find a hobby!!

After the interview, wash, and cut... I got a complimentary make-up 'touch up' as the new cut asked for some mascara. At the same time, I made a mental note never to go to a hair salon without foundation - those (day)lights really show every blemish!

See for yourself, the result: a new Kira with a 'graphical' bob! I've uploaded the photo in the post.

I am REALLY happy about their service and the outcome. Dave has really made my (6) week(s)!

[Linda Young]

I can highly recommend McTavish Hair Salon in the Quellijn Straat 80, (de pijp) Amsterdam. http://www.mctavishhairsalon.com/ The owner is Rowan McTavish highly trained in all aspects of hair styling, cutting and colouring as are her co-workers Daniel who specialises in colouring and make-up and Kirsty, all very professional and highly trained. t: 020 670 0223. After searching for many years I would not go anywhere else, I trust all of them. Linda Young

[Laura]

Hi, I'm looking for hair dresser well experienced with long and curly hair for good blow dry (kind of spanish hair).
Does anyone of you would have one to recommend?
Thank you!

[Oana]

Hello everybody,

after I had some bad experiences I discover the best hair colorist ever.His name is Drake and works at CDM in R'dam.
My hair looks amazing.
He's from the States so no issue with the language.

[Kira]

@ Laura, I'd say Leo is your best bet for blowing dry long curly hair.

[abigail]

Hi!
I was wondering if anyone knows of a hairdresser in Amsterdam who is specifically skilled at cutting curly hair. The styling is not as important (I usually get the hairdresser to flatiron it anyway for a special treat), but I wear my hair curly on a daily basis and want a cut that will suit it best.
Thanks for any suggestions!

[Lin]

Hi.

I have to say that I have gone to Toni and Guy here several times (to try out different people for cuts) and they are not trendy at all. They are in other countries but in Amsterdam - it's soccer mom all the way. I had 4 friends that went to them and we all complained about the same thing.

I was in the salon business years ago and we all loved getting the toni and guy books from the UK cause they were so unique and funky, but I guess there is not that demand here in Amsterdam.

Lin

[Kira]

@ Lin - it seems that the international image of Toni & Guy have overflown to Amsterdam. I wouldn't know T&G as i'm not that adventurous or funky. Does anyhow else have similar experiences as Lin had in Amsterdam?

[Danelle]

I recommend Salon B ( Willemsparkweg) - have had my hair cut by several of their hairdressers (all women so far) and each time their recommendations were spot-on and my hair still loked great long afterwards - which is a first for me, as i have "difficult" hair :-)

[Ana]

When I moved to Amsterdam I was terrified with the idea of leaving my regular hair stylist behind... I've been to two different salons and never felt I got the treatment I was used too. Also, I color my hair every month and paying 100 euros each time was just not an option. That's when I heard about Jennifer! She's amazing and does friendly prices... I have curly hair, not easy to manage, but she cuts it in a way I only have to wash ang go! Give her a try... you can call her to schedule an appointment: 0611751965.

[MarijaneVanderwende]

What is the location of Jenniifer?

[Ana]

Hey Marija, Jennifer is at the Oost, but she goes to your place if you want to. :) Just give her a call and talk to her. She's great!

[Angelique]

I was actually browsing for restaurant tips and saw this post. Just thought I had to add that Raoul at LysandroCicilia ( Reguliersgracht 95) has been my hairdresser ever since I moved to Amsterdam. He may be the best hairdresser in town: lots of personal detail and attention in a beautiful salon. At least he knows how to blow dry my hair, and this is hard to find in Amsterdam. He's Spanish and his English is good with a strong Spanish accent. The salon owner is always present too and he's fluent in English as well..

LysandroCicilia hairstyles

[Katie]

I ended up leaving Hairfashion by Leo after 3 hours, 110 euro and bummed over the hair, so I would not recommend