Charlie Miller

I went to Charlie Miller despite the reviews in here, I noticed that a good few of them were for different branches and though Jenny L had a not-​so-​great colour I figured that no one could mess up what I wanted done with my hair.
I’m not adventurous when it comes to my hair and usually just get the same old thing. This time I wanted something extreme (well, for me anyway!) so I decided to go with a stylist (the choice of salon was ‘what’s near my house’).
Jane (?) was absolutely lovely. She went through everything with me before hand, asked me all the right questions and gave her input. I then went over to get my hair washed and the trouble started. I couldn’t hear a thing the girl washing my hair said and she clearly couldn’t hear me. For example I did not want a head massage having banged my head quite hard the day before. She went ahead anyway, luckily she grazed the soft spot only once so I decided not to cause a fuss.
I headed back over to the chair and the chopping started. Annoyingly the haircut we had discussed never materialised.
Now, let me be clear. I don’t really care that much. I was going in for a big chop and had no particular style in mind. The cut I received is a really good cut, everyone loves it and I am very happy with it. I said as much when I left. I bear no ill will to this salon nor it’s hairdressers/​stylists!
However, if I were more picky about my hair, this review might have a very different tone!

Used to go to Charlie Miller years ago and, although it was expensive, I felt it was worth the money. Been struggling with my hair recently and decided to treat myself by returning to Charlie Miller. Persevered with Lorraine for almost a year (at £59 for a cut and blow dry), at the end of which I’ve given up and moved elsewhere. After around five cuts, I felt my hair was no where nearer to where I wanted it to be than when I started out. I felt Lorraine spoke a lot and didn’t really pay close attention to what she was doing. I also felt that she didn’t take care to finish off my hair, and each time I left the salon, I couldn’t wait to get home to re-​style my hair (which might have been acceptable if I’d been able to re-​style it successfully, but unfortunately, it never felt right), I’m sorry, but I feel Charlie Miller has lost its edge and is over charging for a mediocre service.

I am new to edinburgh, and i had, left a amazing salon in the midlands, and i was absolutely dreading frinding a new one, it is so stressful. So after having a few consultations with various salons i decided to give CM a go on south at andrews street. I had my consultation explained what i wanted etc and i really needed some guidance and recommendation in which i was given, but this was totally wrong, i had my hair highlighted and paid over 100 quid, when i left it looked ok but no different. Whilst i was there they also forgot my drink and when i asked for one the lady on reception did not acknowledge i had said anythhping and walked off to get someone to bring me some water, which i thought was a tad rude. So i left it two weeks to see if anything would change with my hair and it didnt so i called to explain/​complain that it was not as expected or how i had been told it would look. So they offered me to go back for a redo which i accepted, i saw a lady called Ros she was absolutely fantastic, to be honest she is just what i needed to hear the first time i went in. But she sat down with me explained everything in great detail, and the dos and donts i needed to do and dont do :-). She then booked me in with herself for a all over head tint (bleach) and the blow dry was with a stylist called megan who was also great. The service was fantastic this time around making sure i had drinks and that i was ok. ros is the director she is a lovely lady and really knew her stuff, so from going the first time and it not really being the best visit i have had to a salon to me then speaking up and receiving a redo it was definately worth it and it has now restored my faith in this salon. i also got offered a free cut with Megan and a blow dry as part of her on going training which i happily accepted.

Normally I dread walking into a hair salon. The bright lights, being surrounded by mirrors and the surly looks from some of the staff. This was most definitely not the case with the Charlie Miller branch based in St Andrews Square. I was greeted warmly upon arriving, probably because I had a look of sheer terror on my face — I really don’t hair salons — but the receptionist/​lady that spoke to me soon put me at ease. Even though I arrived 20 minutes early for my appointment I was not left waiting and was ushered to have my hair washed. Because I had booked on-​line — a really handy service — and had only done so the night before I had no idea what to expect from my stylist. Turns out Katie was wonderful. I explained that my hair had been butchered at another salon and needed it fixed after having to wear it up for three weeks. She talked me through what she thought was the best way to fix the cut and because she is the ‘pro’ I went with it. I left feeling totally pampered and so pleased with my style! The products she used really accentuated the layers and I was so pleased with this salon. The 40% student discount really helps but I would definitely still go after the treatment I received. I thoroughly recommend this particular to branch to anyone and Katie as a stylist. Thank you!

Just wanted to say that I had a very good experience (as a model) at your Stafford Street salon with your trainee Nadia. Excellent all round service, and a pleasing cut, especially as my hair is somewhat unusual (strong natural curl/​wave, interrupted by the bald patch on top, which tends to send what’s left all over the place). She got the sides neat and symmetrical, which doesn’t always happen, and she even thinned down my beard (with scissors) at the sides to bring everything into harmony. Excellent work!
(A non-​hair-​related aside: I did want to post this comment directly via your website, but unfortunately, your contact page form isn’t working, and I could not find an email address listed. However, as you appear to have monitored this site in the recent past, I thought this was worth trying instead).

I got my haircut last week and was delighted — it was in the frederick street branch, i think my stylist was called lee. She was fab. really listened to what i wanted and quickly understood the look i was going for. After a few days i decided to be a bit braver and get an extra couple of inches off. i phoned up and they offered to do this for free. excellent service, excellent cut. would recommend.
Victoria

VERY UNHAPPY! I had my hair cut at Charlie Miller, St. Andrew’s Square, a couple of months ago. It cost me approx £68 (senior stylist) and although I thought it was a tad expensive (I have been having problems growing out a short haircut) I was quite pleased with the result. I booked an appointment with the same female stylist on Friday. When I arrived at the salon, the stylist whom I had booked with was off work (the receptionist said that they had tried to call me but I hadn’t received a call and there was no message on my voicemail when I got home). They offered me another stylist and I accepted. The girl seemed a little pedestrian when dealing with my hair. She spoke a lot and I felt that she wasn’t really listening to what I wanted, I also felt that she wasn’t paying attention to what she was doing. The reason I was having my hair cut was because my fringe had become too long and the style was now completely ‘off balance’. She cut every part of my hair except for my fringe which she said she would leave until after she had dried my hair, which I was a little concerned about as my fringe was the part of my hair that I was most troubled by and I had explained at the beginning that my fringe gives me problems if it is not cut well. She cut my fringe quickly at the end of the process. She didn’t dry my hair in a way that I was happy with, so I thought that the style would be fine when I got home and dried it myself — Wrong! — 36 hours later I can confidently say that this is a most unimpressive haircut. It bears no resemblance to what I asked for. I feel this has knocked back the growing out process another six months, which is ridiculous considering that this is such an expensive salon. Beware at paying such high prices, it doesn’t guarantee a good haircut. I have had better haircuts from small cheap suburban salons. Charlie Miller you are not worth the money you charge!

My hair is kind of ‘my thing’, and I am very particular about it. In need of a new hair dresser in Edinburgh, I tried here as it was recommended by a friend (the lovely Emily V.) Whilst Emily had a great cut here, I’m afraid my experience was definitely ‘meh’.
This is the nature of hairdressers though. It depends on each individual hair dresser you get, and also on each individual client. What I will say, though, is they are not suitable for curly haired clients. My old hair dresser in Glasgow had curly hair herself, and knew exactly how to cut it. So I understand that some (a lot) of hairdressers) just don’t knwo how to handle curls and I won’t hold that against them.
In testing the water, however, I only got my hair coloured — not cut. Colouring is pretty much standard. Now, Charlie Miller’s is an up-​market salon. With a 20% discount I paid £80 just to get it coloured. They use L’Oreal, which I like, as it’s what I normally get.
I had a quick consultation, and I carefully explained I wanted it to look as natural as possible and lighten it slightly. I watched carefully as she applied it. First thing I noticed. My old hairdressers (all 4 different colour stylists who did it at the salon) used to tease out one thin section of hair, very thinly seperate that and apply the colour carefully. So there were lots and lots of thin layerse of different colour throughout. This did create a very natural and dynamic effect.
My hairdresser here took much bigger chunks, only teased them in a very slight ‘halves’ and then slapped on teh colour. She also kept checking her watch. I got the impression she was in a rush. As a result I have much ‘bigger’ chunks of colour throughout and it doesn’t look natural or as ‘good’. It, in all honesty, looks cheap. Not what I paid £80 for.
She also didn’t really seem to listen when I said I wanted it to look natural. It seemed a very ‘by the book’ colour job where she didn’t listen to me, my needs, or really examine how my current colour was done and try and match that. I now feel like I have a generic blonde sitting on top of my hair that does nothing for the curls.
I am disappointed, and unhappy. Luckily I didn’t get it cut there, and safe to say I won’t be going back. I don’t mean to be so scathing, and there may well be other good stylists there who work wonders with straight hair, or different looks.
But I felt my stylist could have listened more, and done a better job. It felt cheap at the time and it looks cheaper now. Also, I did feel like one of many customers and was rushed through. Again, not the £80 salon experience I was hoping for.

It has been a long time since I’ve gotten a haircut which I’m still happy with a week later. I have curly hair and only straighten it once in a blue moon, which means that if my cut is not just right, I find myself with a mop of unruly hair which refuses to be styled.
This branch of Charlie Miller opened up about a month ago and has a 25% off deal for November. I am forever looking for a bargain so decided to take advantage of this offer. I booked an appointment with Lisa who is in the second to the top tier of hairdressers.
When I walked in I was immediately impressed with the décor and staff. There were no teenagers running around with ridiculous makeup and haircuts which are really only ok if you are on a runway. The staff gave off a polished and professional feel which I’m not entirely used to.
Lisa was lovely. She was good to chat with, expressed an understanding of curls and offered to take the time to straighten my hair for me which was great as I was headed out that evening. Once it was dry and straight she continued to snip here and there to make sure the cut was even and not too choppy. Essentially, she took the extra care I’m used to with my hairdresser in my home town who has been cutting my hair for over ten years.
My happiness with the cut was cemented when I styled it a few days later and it came out perfectly. It has looked consistently good every time I’ve worn it down since, which has been brilliant as I was starting to worry that my hair was just beyond hope.
I highly recommend this Charlie Miller and will definitely be going back to see Lisa.

I had my hair cut by Stewart at Charlie Miller, Harvey Nichols a couple of months ago. Stewart washed my hair and used Ushumera shampoo. He cut my hair very carefully and all round the service was fantastic.
I had my hair cut there today and what a difference. I had my hair washed by a young tall thin girl with short dyed blonde tinted lilac hair. She did not talk, used Kerastas, was extremely rough with my head, water was splashed every were even on my face. She threw the shower head into the sink while my head was still in the sink, what a clatter it made. She pulled my hair so tight to ring out the water, very painful indeed. It was so awful I had no option but to say to her not to be so rough, it made absolutely no difference. Stewart ask what was wrong. I was furious with her and told him it was not on to be treated like that and I would not stand for it. I was almost in tears. It made no difference to her she walked around the salon very superior, sniffing when she passed me. What a horrible experience. I would advise any one who experiences this not to put up with it. Complain there and then directly to her and the other staff. You have every right to demand a reduction in the price of the service. Most certainly the more people who complain direct while in the salon and do not pay they will eventually get the message that this type of treatment is not on, ever. I will be writing direct to the Directors of the Company, I will not let this type of service continue for anyone ever.

Having recently moved to Edinburgh I was looking for a decent hairdresser and like Jean Jessica I thought the reputation of Charlie Miller meant I could rely on a good hair cut — wrong!
I visited the branch on Frederick Street and paid extra for a senior stylist (waste of money) I had my hair cut and highighted for over £100 and I was nearly crying when I leftMy senior Stylist was quite young and gave me a below average haircut and dye job. The cut wasn’t straight and the highlights didn’t even cover up my roots from my previous highlights. However, the worst experience was having my hair washed by the junior. She appeared to have no interest in doing her job and handled me so roughly during the wash that she knocked my head hard on the basin. She then endevoured to try and comb my hair without holding it and easing the pressure and so just tugged at it for 5 minutes. I was then left at the back of the salon by myself with dripping hair for 20 minutes before the stylist remembered she actually had to cut my hair as well! I was given no apology, as I was leaving, I couldn’t believe I had just paid £120 for such terrible service and hair styling. I did write and complain but again was offered no apology.
All in all over priced and and over hyped. I would not return and have advised everyone I know not to bother either.

When looking for a different hairdresser to use in Edinburgh, I thought the reputation of Charlie Miller, combined with the setting and associated prestige, of Harvey Nics, I couldn’t go wrong with a ‘Style Director’ there. How wrong I was!
The website states style directors average 30 years experience. When she appeared, aged no more than 30, alarm bells rang. Average is such a wonderfully useful word, but in this case could only honestly describe the cut I received. After being passed from trainee to trainee for the wash and ‘style’, in a glorified corridor of a salon, I was reluctant to part with my £53.

Charlie Miller hairdressers are hugely popular in Edinburgh, with a reputation for being the best and many branches in the coolest parts of town. I particularly love their branch in Harvey Nicks, it’s smallish, but friendly and the staff are great. It’s fairly expensive, but if you have a snaofax, you get 40% off, so it’s actually fairly reasonable.