Koto Salon

I came here with a Big City Perks voucher. This voucher included a haircut, style, shampoo, blow dry and IMPRIME Steam Treatment.
My experience started out with a phone call to make the reservation. I called in and requested a certain time, the lady that i assume was Koto said yes it’s available. After I mentioned I was coming in with a Big City Perks voucher however, she began to ask me if I can come in in the morning, i said no. «How about the following day, morning?», I said no as I preferred this time. «I thought you said this time was available just now?» She said, «Oh, since you’re coming in with a voucher, the deal includes treatment that requires 2 people to do.» I felt iffy about her answer, seemed pretty bogus. But I agreed, giving the benefit of the doubt. (which I later will learn I was exactly right… bogus)
When I arrive for my appointment, I’m greeted by Koto’s two apprentices. Turns out Kotos not even here, and I am about to become a lab experiment for these two apprentices. Being fully aware now that I am about to get my haircut by her apprentices, I was mentally prepared to give them as much detail as possible as to what I wanted, what I didn’t want and stop them if I felt it was 1 snip away from a disaster.
The male apprentice approached me and began asking me what style I wanted and giving suggestions etc. I was pretty nervous at this point. I have never liked having my hair cut by a male stylist. He then shampooed my hair (with rather cold water). He did ask me how the temperature was, but I bared with it. Of all the shampoos I’ve received from a hair salon, I have never once needed to tell them to adjust the water temperature, so it definitely threw me off. He then conditioned my hair, and put a towel around my head and stuck me under a steamer for about 20 minutes.
During this time under the steamer, Koto had walked in, and shortly after a regular customer. Similar to the review from Jenny H. (in the filtered reviews), you could see a world of difference from the treatment the customer received and I received.
My steam treatment was done, and the male apprentice rinsed out my hair and was getting ready to cut it. But, one word from Koto, and the female apprentice took over. She came over and told me she’d be taking over. (seemed like this was done intentionally to honor what Koto said on the phone to me about how it was a 2 person process… yeah right.)
The haircut was alright, I stuck to a simple style so there wouldn’t be any issues. However, when I was done my cut, the apprentice called Koto over to approve the haircut. This lead to a discussion amongst her and the two apprentices about what was good, and bad about the cut. Made me extremely uncomfortable… as I felt I was no longer a paying customer, but a bobble head. Koto critiqued, told her some errors in which she then fixed. I asked if she was able to curl my hair, in which she asked Koto for permission. The apprentice said she’s not able to curl it for me. How odd… you are a salon aren’t you? But I guess it’s because I was using a voucher and it only includes a «blow dry». Minus 1 point there.
I wouldn’t recommend this salon. Even if you were a full paying customer, I wouldn’t know how Koto cuts hair as I wasn’t able to experience that with this voucher. (rather defeats the purpose of using a voucher deal to promote your business doesn’t it?)

I’ve been in the market for find a salon that I can become a long term customer with but its really not that easy. I’ve been paying so much to walk out not completely satisfied and generally disheartened I have to keep looking. So I thought, why not try a Groupon, that way I can try the place on for size at a discounted price. I figured to, that the whole point of a Groupon is that the place is trying to get new customers so are going to ensure that they do a good job. Really wow you and make the time enjoyable. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
It didn’t take long after getting there, showing my Groupon that suddenly I was a second rate citizen. I was made to feel I was some kind of cheap loser. I tried to explain I really wanted to find a place that I could trust and know that the hundreds of dollars that I drop into my hair was worth it. This didn’t stop the attitude I received, maybe I thought, that was just the way she was but when a regular customer came in she was friendly and bubbly…
All I ever wanted was to go fully blonde but places are really against giving you the bleach wash, they say to save their hair, but really that they can make you come back for highlights after highlites. I tried to say this at the least I just wanted the roots done and more of the brown removed. The Groupon was for a cut, blowdry, and partial head of headlights. i. e 65% off their normal service cost. What I ended up getting felt more like what $ 60 would get me. My roots are barely covered and I don’t know what color she put in? A couple strands? Or something? I felt more stupid when apparently I wasn’t conveying what I wanted clearly. She spoke english but I guess we had a failure to communicate? Also, I’d like to point out how terrible I feel when people speak in another language — especially over my head. Its just very rude.
I can deal with getting a bad hair cut, etc what I can’t is being treated like I’m just not worth it. With no word she just left me and attended to the full paying customer not acknowledging me until I was on my way out. I was left with her assistant… apprentice? he was nice but didn’t seem to really listen. I said bare minimum for hair off. I just really wanted a slight minimal trim. he said «3 inches then?» Whhhaat?
Bottom line. maybe this place is fantastic if you go in not having a Groupon but I wouldn’t recommend trying it with one. I have no idea why companies even bother to get them if they are just going to treat you like some piece of shit for purchasing it.

«Koto and her partner are amazing stylists/​technicians. Koto trained in London (Toni and Guy) and had her own salon there for a number of years (she has also worked in Japan). She has an amazing eye taking into account the shape of your face, skin colouring etc to identify the most flattering hair style and colour.»