does anyone know how much a haircut costs at Chez Maxim? would it be rude to ask when I call to make an appointment? i never learned the swiss rules for these kind of things.
No, not rude at all. I don't know the Swiss rule on this kind of thing either, but the owner of Chez Maxim isn't Swiss so it doesn't really matter. I expect she will be happy to tell you what the cost will be, just ask when you book the appointment.
I just came back from Camille Albane, the one in Rue du Petit-Chêne 3, (021 312 07 82), and I just thought I should post here:
The haircut is very nice (86chf including washing and styling), but it also impresed me that the lady on the phone informed me, although our conversation took place in english, that my hairdresser could also speak english. Just fyi.
I know that hair styling and cuts are really individual and one man's trash is another man's treasure so take this with a grain of salt.
I went to Chez Maxim recently and left underwhelmed. I told her (she's an American woman who has been here for 6 years) that I wanted something urban chic/cool. I told her that I liked precision cuts and usually straighten my hair.
What she gave me instead was a super-imprecise razor cut (Like the ones that were popular 10 years ago in the States) and then a blow out with a big rounded brush giving me adorable curls. I looked like a senator's wife. And when I told her that she made me look like a china doll she just shrugged and told me that I could fix it how I wanted when I went home.... When I did style it myself, using a straightening iron, I realized that the ends are all uneven, as well as being 4 or 5 inches shorter when I asked for a trim. And there are random layers everywhere in my hair....and not in a good way.
Again, she seemed like a really nice lady, but this definitely was not the sort of cut for me. I just thought I would write this review for the informational purposes of others who may be thinking about going there.
Oh, and the cut/shampoo/style was 69 CHF, for the person who asked above.
My husband and I also stopped going to see her. The last haircut I received put me into helmet hair territory. I had a haircut suitable for my mother during the Thatcher years. My husband has his longish hair butchered into a short back and sides that was perfectly suitable for a banker (not what he was looking for) and he was able to go almost 3 months until the next cut. It seemed that after a couple of visits she stopped giving the haircuts we were asking for and gave us what she thought we should have. I won't recommend her any longer.
I found my best option is to take my limited french into a hairdresser and a picture of what I want. I'm reasonably happy. Others I know have just given up and now spend a fortune getting their hair cut at the Lausanne Palace where they speak perfect english and know how to give a decent cut or only get cuts when they travel.
Just thought I'd add my 2 cents (centimes?) I went to Chez Maxim the first time I got my hair done here a while ago. She was pretty nice but I wasn't thrilled. In the states, I would get highlights and then whatever was NOT foiled would get lightened to a diff. shade. At CM she lightened my whole base, then highlighted on top of that, which is not good for the hair at all. Anywho, now I go to City Cut. (The one near Metropole.) I see Celine for my hair. She speaks a little English, I speak less French. Together we learn, and my hair gets done! (Did you know "roots" is racine in French?) She said it's best just to highlight my hair, which she then paints on. I've been there twice so far. The first time I got a major cut, and it turned out great. Of course being a fickle female now I miss my long hair and am letting it grow. I told her this last time I was there for scheduled highlights and trim. She told me my ends looked ok and I could skip the trim til next time. She really seems to take into account what you want and need. It can get kind of hot in there, so wear light clothing! Also I don't think anyone else there speaks English, so at least know enough French to make your apt. (Or just be like me and make your husband go in there with you to make the apt!)
I read this with interest as I’m always looking out for hairdresser’s recommendations. I’ve been to Chez Maxim and she’s OK. I wouldn’t rave about her but also wouldn’t want to put anyone off trying her as personality/interactions plays a big part in how you feel about a hairdresser. The big plus point for me is her English is fluent which gave me much more confidence on the first visit. Although it would help my French, I think I prefer not to risk it on something as important as my hair
Downsides of Chez maxim for me are the cuts seem very fast, and she used clippers to trim the straggly hairline on my nape - I haven’t had that done since my small hometown hairdresser in the 1980’s. On a purely personal level, I don’t feel I have gelled with her, which for me is important in a hairdresser, and as a result after 3 visits I still wouldn’t ask her to do anything more than a trim.
I may give Camille Albane a try next – do you have the name of the stylist?
Try Carole Coiffeuse. She’s in rue du Petit-Chéne Lausanne. She speaks quite a lot of English. She used to be my hairdresser. I hope she’s still there. She won’t scalp you. Don’t worry. Good luck.
For Brow Threading (épilation au fils): I go to Atelier du Regard, Rue Haldimand 14, 1003 Lausanne. You can book your appointment online, so no need to call and book in French. The service to book is: Restructuration des sourcils. I had an appointment with Duygu. She was very sweet and did a good job, but spoke very little english. An friend of mine recommended Pamela or Cecil- I believe both of them speak english.