1 /5 Kelly D: Not Worth the Hype or the £140 Price Tag
(Screenshots of our full conversation have been included for transparency and public accountability)
UPDATE (08/08/2025): Since posting my review, Emre’s handling of the matter has reinforced my concerns.
1. On 6 August, he offered a 50% refund.
2. On 7 August, he increased this to 60%.
3. Later that same day, he offered a full refund (£140)
4. On 8 August, I accepted the full refund in writing and provided my bank details.
After this, he withdrew the offer, calling my review “unfair” and my sharing of our messages “not right.” Earlier refund offers were also made conditional on removing my review, which is both unethical and, under UK consumer law, may constitute review manipulation.
Throughout, I have remained truthful and consistent: seeking compensation for the poor service and the additional cost to fix it. My account is supported by screenshots and has not been exaggerated. His own messages show shifting positions: 50% → 60% → 100% → nothing.
I would’ve assumed that honouring the agreed £140 refund - and offering fair compensation - would be far less costly than the reputational damage caused by refusing it.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: I’ve had many amazing haircuts in my time - this was definitely not one of them. I found Emre on Instagram and was impressed by the polished work on his feed, but my experience didn’t reflect that.
I had a 2pm appointment at the Stoke Newington branch. No one greeted me, offered refreshments, or seated me. I came in for a haircut, wash, and blow dry. After waiting 10 minutes, Emre consulted me quickly while juggling two colour clients, then passed me to an assistant for a long hair wash. The sink setup was uncomfortable and left me feeling I was going to get a stiff neck.
We agreed on a haircut, but from there things felt rushed and chaotic. Emre began a blunt wet cut, then left to take a call, leaving me with assistants. At no point was heat protection or styling product used - deeply concerning at this price point.
One assistant blow dried the same section for 5 minutes, then two others joined. At one point I had three people tugging and drying my hair at once. It looked nothing like the polished, voluminous finishes Emre advertises. For £140, I expected him, not assistants, to complete the cut and style.
Afterward, Emre cut into my hair again to “blend” layers, which only removed more thickness and length - both things I had said I wanted to maintain. There was no technique: no clips, no sectioning, just random freehand snipping.
He later blamed the result on my “naturally straight hair” saying a bouncy blow dry “wouldn’t hold no matter where I went.” Firstly, my hair is not naturally straight. Secondly, I’ve had many blow dries that lasted, the problem wasn’t my hair, it was the service.
I spent £107 at another salon to fix the cut. The new stylist noted the uneven face-framing, random layer lengths, long and short layers that were not properly blended for the desired effect. I’m now down £247 because of Emre’s lack of care.
What’s worse, Emre offered a partial refund only if I removed my review, which is unethical and against Google’s policies. I’d rather be out the money than let others book without knowing what to expect.
Please read the other negative reviews before booking, they’re consistent for a reason. I expected professionalism and compassion for something as personal as my hair. What I got was chaos, dismissal, and condescension. I wouldn’t recommend this salon. Take your money somewhere it will be respected.
