I knew it was different the first time I walked in Corta Cabeza in Madrid and they asked me if I’d like a coffee, tea or beer. Beer? It was the first time I’d been offered a beer in a hairdresser’s. And from that good start, everything went so well that after 10 years of searching for a place to get my hair done without leaving feeling traumatized, I felt I’d finally found the place for me.

After more than 10 years of showing up there every 3 weeks or so, you’d think they’d be fed up of seeing me, but they are always friendly and welcoming. It’s the staff who make it a special salon; apart from being great professionals who work hard to understand what you want, these guys love working here. Many of them have been here since I started coming at the recommendation of a friend. One of the owners lived and worked for years in London, and he seems to get what this Londoner needs!

I love the decor, which is a mixture of industrial, shabby chic, upcycled aluminum scaffolding planks and kitsch, complete with Chesterfields, large mirrors and super comfortable basins, which you practically lie down on. The staff sometimes remind me of the cast of a Fellini film, while the clientele is a complete mix from young to old. No matter who you are, Corta Cabeza will send you out looking fantastic.