- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
House of Lords Hair Design
Category: Beauty and Spas Hair Salons Hair Salons [Edit]
639 Yonge StToronto, ON M4Y 1Z9
Neighbourhoods: Church-Wellesley Village, Downtown Core
(416) 962-1111
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Kids:
- No
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Maddie R. said: "Feeling impulsive and encouraged by the positive reviews, I went here to get some blunt bangs. I am very happy with the result! The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and the price is reasonable ($50 student price). My boyfriend…" read more »
24 reviews for House of Lords Hair Design
24 reviews in English
-
Review from Amber B.
Toronto, ON
4/11/2012
Definite hit or miss situation, here.
I used to LOVE Vanessa, but she has since left and works at another salon.
I have been here a few times. To be fair,
+ I have always been able to walk in and get a quick appointment right away
+The stylists who have helped me have always been very nice
I know the loud atmosphere and stream of people going and coming is not for everyone, and of course, it is known for being less expensive than other salons. However, what bothers me is the price difference. I had gotten my hair straightened before there and paid under 20 bucks (not for wash & blow dry & style, I mean literally just a hair straightening when I was in a hurry) and then last time I went there I didn't specifically ask how much it would be, and it ended up being over 30 dollars. For the same thing. If I was getting more done, of course I would understand that it was more, but the prices seem so inconsistent depending on who you get.
Everyone has always done a good job with my hair there, though, and I will probably go again, just make sure you ask how much it will be beforehand, or refer to the signs.
FYI: Cash & VISA only! -
Review from Char C.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2012
I gotta go with everyone else on this....if you get a great stylist WOW if you dont....ICK! I had this stylist once did a great job and it was DIRT CHEAP I was so happy....but then when I came back looking for her (sorry cant remember the name) she left...so I went to someone else for a color and cut. The color was HORRIBLE I cried....I love having red hair, first she got the dye in my eye..second the color was wrong. You know how red fades to that copper after you wash it for a few weeks....thats what I started with. The cut was ok but I saw that I had red dye on my face like REALLY on my face and she just tried to cover that up with my hair....when I told her about the dye she asked someone else to clean it up....she couldnt so I had to walk home with dye on my face....Was not impressed.
Then I went there for extensions...not too bad...but she didnt do them tight enough (btw it was pretty cheap I wont lie) so they fell out pretty quickly I asked her to do em again 2 weeks later (of course not for free) and they were a bit better but then I ran out of money haha.
Anyways.....its mediocre at best....head across the street to Moshito or for a real treat head up to yonge and bloor to concept spa and salon. -
Review from Annie L.
Toronto, ON
2/8/2012
FYI: If you are a man, your walk-in haircut will always be $14 unless you request a senior stylist. If you are a woman, your walk-in haircut will always be $37-45 unless you point to the sign that says $14 or tell them your friend have always only paid $28.
Coming here is like playing Russian Roulette with your hair at a local bar.
First time here, I got an amazing cut from a very good looking and very chill guy who smelled like a dirty hotel room. I tipped him with a beer from my 6-pack. 4-stars!
My friend got a haircut and color from a punk queen. The 'do was amazing but the girl bought Manic Panics from Cosmetics World next door literally while my friend's highlights are still in foils. $170 + tips later, the colors all washed down the drain that Friday night. 3 stars.
Second time here, I requested a cut from the ashtray smelling guy. Turns out he quit. I've been assigned to Bess. She gave me a wild cut and blow-out I was extremely happy with. 5 stars!
Third time here, I requested for Bess again, dutifully. That's when I realize customer loyalty was hard to give. She had a huge breakdown filled with sob stories, and that night I washed my blow-out down to find one side of my hair's at least an inch longer than the other side. 1 star.
Fourth experience was from my friend. She was supposed to be out on a date but had to come home after the haircut. All of us gave her a "WTH is that?!?" look. She immediately washed out her blow-out. 0 star!!
For odd reasons, my guy friends always come out of there with reliable crew cuts from this Asian guy. So yeah...excitement, bar-none. -
Review from Chris P.
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I found HOL to be very impressive.
I walked in here on a whim, I had gotten out of work early and as my hairdresser who I used to see regularly had dissappeared when his salon shut down I was in the market for a new hair place.
I had no idea what to expect from HOL and only went in because it was the first hair place I passed on my walk down Yonge street.
It was sooooo crowded, I had to swim through a sea of people to get the receptionist's desk.
(BTW I am a spa receptionist so I know how daunting it can get when theres just one of you and 100000 cutomers milling around all wanting service At This Exact Second so I have to hand it to the front desk girl, she was keeping her calm in the midst of the choas)
I figured ok this place is so busy, theres no way they are going to be able to take me without an appointment, but I was pleasantly suprised when I was told yep come on in, theres someone available.
My stylist was excellent, she listened to what I wanted and didn' try to talk me into something different as so many stylists will try to do which I find ultra annoying, the cut she gave me was stellar and she also took the time to give me advice on how to style it.
And at $25 I'd say the price is indeed right.
I'm deductng one star only because the bathroom was kindof gross looking with a front door that didn't close for unknown reasons.
I'm defintiely going to head back here and so should you! -
Review from Luis H.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 3/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Brendan has left House of Lords since February 2012. It's a great shame because he had a very loyal following there. Hope management realizes this lost as I have been receiving messages from other Yelp! users on where he is working now.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/11/2011
Loyal customer to this place, especially to stylist Brendan, who is a very professional stylist with… Read more »
-
-
Review from Andrea P.
6/15/2011
Oh god. Now, I am not terribly picky when it comes to my hair but never ever ever again will I go to House of Lords!
I can't remember the stylist's name but I am sure he was on some sort of drugs because he a) threw my hair over his shoulders as he cut it (Edward Scissorhands style) and b) asked me the same questions (ie. where do you go to university) 3-4 times in the span of 20 minutes! Anyways, all I wanted was a trim of my current style, and the guy ended up totally butchering it (came out looking like a bad version of Jennifer Aniston in 1997).
Terrible cut and terrible service. I am sure this place had it's day, but it's a total dump now.. -
Review from Sharawadgis T.
Toronto, ON
2/16/2011
House of Lords is a good pick if you want a haircut with no pseudo-spa experience.
My hair isn't rocket science. I just needed to lose some dry ends and sheepdog bangs. I stuck a toe (an ear, really) into the House of Lords by getting my bangs trimmed there a few times. As other reviewers noted, there is indeed hair all over the floor, but a haircut isn't a tattoo so who really cares?
More importantly, on an early-evening walk-in I barely had time to take my coat off before a stylist was ready for me. The stylist, April, straightened my hair with a flatiron then cut it without washing it. That was fine by me, since I can wash my own hair at home (along with the rest of me.)
The haircut was fine, and I was out of there in half an hour, without talking about feelings or paying someone to wash, painstakingly dry and then heat-style my already-clean hair. I didn't realize quite how much all that business annoys me until the House of Lords gave me a chance to skip it. I'll go there again. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
8/30/2010
I am almost ashamed to admit that I have come here. Lets be clear, this is a 5 min walk from my office and I come to get my BANGS TRIMMED. Its only five bucks and *hopefully* done better than I can do on my own using my office scissors.
*Hopefully.* I have had an entire cut here, back in university days, but I never went back. They charge more for "long hair" even if you want only a trim. It seems to me that crafting a good short-cut would take more energy. Also, the stylist would not stop trying to convince me to colour or add extensions, when clearly I don't look like the type.
Regardless, I have had the emergency bang trim a couple times when I have somewhere to go and I cannot see enough to get there. The first time was great, I had an older lady who somehow heard what I wanted over the insanely loud banging hardhouse and gave me a nice, free flowing, properly blended bang. I should have taken her card.
The next two times were horrible. The last girl cut them so short and blunt, with the uncut long piece overhang, all while proceeding to tell me that my haircut didn't suit me and my round/chubby face needs some poof for balance. She also said I have a really "unique look" which I suppose is open for interpretation.
Honestly, this place must be for people fresh out of haircutting school, or something. Everyone I have ever got can barely hold scissors, and they use the comb for leverage. I expect some finesse from a stylist that claims to be professional.
Never again. ill side-sweep until I can get to my usual hairdresser.Listed in: Yonge & Bloor Reviews., Worst of the Worst, My Hair Dids.
-
Review from Adeel O.
3/29/2010
The camo cape should've been a warning - "your hair is the enemy and we WILL make sure it regrets coming to House of Lords".
My experience at HOL ended a few minutes ago and I don't know whether my anger stems from that funny-looking guy in the mirror, the beating I took from an overenthusiastic, clipper-wielding maniac, or because Yelp doesn't have a zero star rating!
For one, I'm not a fan of how you have to go to the stylist and interrupt him/her to ask how long the wait is before he/she's free. What's the point of having a receptionist? I guess she's really just the cashier.
Anyway, after taking a 30 minute stroll because there was a wait, I returned to HOL and was next in line. I took a look at the guy who'd just gotten his haircut from my stylist and thought, "That guy should really reconsider his hairstyle."
0:15 - "not too short..just clean up the sideburns and trim the top"
0:20 - holy cow...dude, how many cups of coffee have you had today?
0:45 - ow...ow...ow...easy there...dude, this isn't a contest...
1:30 - I'm screwed
2:30 - this seems like an eternity.
3:00 - smalltalk...respite...thank you
3:30 - oh look, the clippers are out again
3:31 - ow...ow...ow...
4:30 - gel? seriously? how about "can I turn back time for you?"...
Paid $15...but couldn't get myself not to tip. As i took the three steps to get back to the guy who'd just condemned me to hats for the next two weeks, I caught the next guy in the chair of doom looking at me in the mirror. I could tell what he was thinking - "that guy should really reconsider his hairstyle!" -
Review from Brenda S.
9/29/2010
I went earlier than I needed to, expecting a lineup. But I was taken in right away, or almost right away -- I actually had to go get cash, because for some reason they take only cash or Visa (no other credit cards, and no debit). I had neither on me. But once I came back with cash I was popped right into a chair. Good thing I'd brought a picture of the style I wanted and didn't have to look at magazines. It was about 4 pm on a Wednesday, so maybe other times or days would be busier.
Yes, there are lots of different stylists there and I'm sure some of them are not that great. Mine was... Nina? It was hard to hear in there. :) I have to say, I went in there with a headache and I didn't think the pounding techno beats would help matters. But after ten minutes in the chair I was relaxed and headache-free. You know how little kids are afraid of haircuts, probably because of all the poking and pulling and scraping of combs? Nina was incredibly gentle and careful. I know it's a weird thing to say in a review but I noticed that. She was also knowledgeable, explaining that my hair (fine and untreated) would not look as poofy as the picture (coarse, and crunchy from being bleached).
After maybe twenty minutes of snipping, fluffing, and hot-ironing later (yes, she straightened my straight hair, and the effect was quite nice) I was out of there with one of the best cuts I've ever had. The short bob (from my messy jaw-length mop) without a wash or any product came to $35 after tax and before tip.
I'll go back, but I'll probably ask for Nina again so that I know what I'm getting. With any salon, you get the luck of the draw unless you know the name of your favourite stylist. I know there's someone really good here just like I know there's someone really good at my budget option (Topcuts at King West & Yonge -- ask for the tall skinny bald European guy). The only way to avoid that scenario is to find someone who works solo, which can be pretty expensive. -
Review from Giselle g.
Toronto, ON
11/15/2010
It took years to work up the nerve to walk into THE HOUSE of LORDS. I don't know what sort of sketchy scenario I was expecting. I still associate the place with bitchin' rocker hair and feathered mullets to hang your roach clip off of.
The truth is an updated 90s sort of sketch. It's not so bad. There is loud, pounding techno playing, hair all over the floor.
A hairdresser named Martin did my hair and I've since been back to see him twice as he's done such a good job. We have pleasant conversations and he is a completely upstanding character who does a good haircut. I highly recommend him. -
Review from Lindsay R.
Toronto, ON
12/20/2008
METHINKS NOT!!!
To Jessica P. I think we had the same lady! My friend convinced me to check this place out due to its cheap fees. Also, my boyfriends uncle used to go here in the 70's sooooo why not right? I heard stories of people lining up out the door just to get it...oh the appeal! From the outside and inside it looks hip and has an old school feel to it - including roting chairs.
Anywho...on with the crazy story. So my friend gets to go first and the girl looks like she knows what she's doing. I on the other hand ended up with a Jamaican crazy Edward scissor hands lady! oh my god!
She had blonde hair with lightning bolts shaved into the side of her head and the rest all stuck up. At first I thought what great style you got there lady! but then I noticed the extremely long nails...is it possible to cut properly with those things?
We got to talking and joking around and I thought, hey who can screw up bangs. But boy did she screw me up good!
She cut bangs all the way around my head...so short on top....long on bottom....and....here's the best part....
She put Castor oil in my hair!!!!
I had to go back to my more expensive but amazing hair dresser to get it fixed and now I have layers.
Don't get your hair done with this bad, very bad, hairdresser. -
Review from Madison A.
Toronto, ON
9/22/2010
I've been going to House of Lords for my haircuts for the past 3 years and have always had good experiences. I have long hair and just get it trimmed, but you'd be surprised how many stylists manage to screw that up. Not here.
This place has gotten a lot of bad reviews, but I will share the secret to House of Lords with you: Call ahead and make an appointment. Ask the receptionist who their best stylist is...they will tell you. Then make your appointment with them, or the next best one if they're not available (you can usually get an appointment within the week). It's that simple. I recommend Genevieve if you've got long hair. She never cuts too much off and does a nice job styling after. This place seems to have a pretty high turnover of stylists, so if you leave yourself at the mercy of the walk-in you never know what you're going to get. Enjoy the pounding music and 70s rock photos while you revel in your good, cheap haircut. -
Review from Chris P.
7/3/2009 14 Check-ins Here
For $15 (plus gratuity) its a pretty good cut. I've only had one bad experience where I wasn't really happy and now I know who to avoid. The last time I was in the guy was meticulous. For a minute I thought he was going to cut every hair on my head individually. Just when I thought he was done, nope, it still took 10 more minutes. I'd rather sit for a few minutes for perfection than leave with a just ok cut.
NOTE: They don't take debit but they have an ATM if you don't mid paying the service fee. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/13/2008
How about "House of Worst Hair Cut Ever"?
Not only was I disgusted with my hair -- and its unnecessary Saturday morning excessive-product, '80s-esque up-do -- but they didn't have enough change for a $20! I was one of the first customers in that morning! How can you not have change for $20?
Exclamation point! -
Review from Chris L.
Toronto, ON
9/25/2011 3 Check-ins Here
If you can get the right hairdresser, this place it's well worth it. I always wait for Robert, he's by far the best one working at HOL. Just be prepared to wait
-
Review from Renata R.
4/30/2010
I expected more when I saw lots of people waiting for a cut there. I should have checked at yelp before. Silly me. At least my hair grows pretty fast.
I didn't wait more than a minute and asked for something really short and fancy, layered. The guy could barely hear me because of the loud music. After a few questions, he brought the album. I pointed out more or less what I wanted, but emphasized "really short, specially on the back".
Lots of scisorss later and I was still feeling hair on my neck. I had to ask for extra trimming. "Oh, you like it really short". Yeah dude. Now you got it.
The haircut is ok, not awesome, and did cost me 20 bucks. Acceptable, but I feel I'm not coming back. I was looking for something interesiting, and my hair looks... common.
The guy also tried to straighten my hair. MY HAIR IS ALREADY STRAIGHT.
At least he didn t try to use wax or something like that. I hate this kind of stuff. And I told him I was a "wash and go" person.
They accept only cash and visa, but there's an ATM inside.Listed in: The Beauty and The Beast
-
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2008
House of Lords has been around forever.
When I was in high school, it was the only place you could go to get your hair dreaded (it was the 90s. Grunge. That was cool okay). And they were one of the only places that would dye your hair well with that Manic Panic stuff in all those bright colours that were also popular when I was in high school.
There's a lot of bad reviews here, but I've only had good experiences. Maybe it's about who cuts your hair, or what you want or what you're used to. Like so many bad haircuts I've had at other salons, that are still great salons.
Just sayin'. -
Review from Catherine M.
ON
12/14/2008
You would think that I would give the place I routinely get my hair cut a five star review, but House of Lords hasn't quite earned my love, hair aside.
The allure is a decently priced haircut that doesn't look like something a soccer mom would get. The place is pretty good about getting you in and out of the chair without a lot of product/treatment upselling the ritzier places will try to push on you. And at the end of the day, I refuse to drop 100 bucks every six weeks to have body proteins trimmed that are just going to grow back anyway. Yeah, I'm a cheapskate.
The back story I know is that the guy who runs the place has some swinging 80s rock star connections. I thought this was a gimmick until the last time I was in and Alice Cooper and his family were in there getting hair cuts or something. I was too busy getting shampooed to really gawk and no one else really seemed to care much.
The people who work here are (mostly) professionals, with a few unfortunate exceptions. Overall I've had 95% great experiences and the stylists are all really nice. The boss dude is kind of a character who wanders in and out saying outrageous things, overall it's a funny sort of place to go and at least it's not pretentious. -
Review from Su B.
5/3/2009
Not bad at all -
After reading all the reviews here I was really skeptical but being new to Toronto and in a pinch on a particular Saturday, I decided to give it a shot. I walked in at 4pm but it was super busy and the stylist was busy and very courteously asked me if i could come back at 6pm. I did (with trepidation) and Patricia did a wonderful job. I showed her a picture and told her what my issues were - low maintenance and nothing that would emphasize my round face.
She walked me through what she would do and while cutting asked me for feedback. We had a fun conversation about food places in the city and the end result, including blowout, was great.
Agreed the place is quite a dump and there were some stylists bitching about others but my stylist was great. -
Review from Dardana M.
ON
12/1/2008
I used to see this place when I was a kid, and thought it was pretty damn cool-looking. I can't say my opinion on the matter has changed all that much, since the last time I was in there I noticed about nine different photographs of David Lee Roth (and at least one of Eddie Van Halen to balance things out) hanging above my head. The music and constant chatter flesh out the rock-and-roll vibe that makes me feel like time has sort of stopped in here.
The seeking out of hair-styling has- don't ask me why, I'm just weird- always been a point of contention with my inner self. I spent a life-time eschewing trends and avoiding visits to salons, so I think the one time I got my hair "did" there, I found it to be a rather indulgent thing to do.
I am older, wiser, and have now gotten over my fear of making hair appointments in bona fide salons; thus, I don't know if I would choose it again, cuz the walk-in element is not as attractive to me as it used to be (which is one of its major selling points). But I must stress that the cut I got those years ago was pretty nice, and the cut that I recently witnessed on a friend of the male persuasion was pretty well-executed and most importantly, well-received. -
Review from Dishan W.
8/30/2010
I'm sure there are people that love to come here. It's very popular aka always crowded and I've yet to meet someone that has not heard of it. But I am not a fan.
I don't have super complicated hair and there's an extremely limited number of things I can do to change it up and as a result I end up walking out of various salons with almost identical hair styles. I notice the small changes myself, and walking out of here both times, I was not completely satisfied with the end result. But that's only a small reason I'm giving this place 2 stars as I do understand that not all stylists are the same and maybe I just had bad luck in getting 2 people that didn't quite sync up with what I had in mind.
The 2 star review is mainly due to the general feel and atmosphere of the place. The first time my barber had this huge body builder figure and I must say I was a little intimidated (he was a nice guy though) but he tried to have a conversation with a lot of loud background noise, and I do not appreciate having conversations with someone I already know I won't be seeing again. He did give a reasonable cut though. The second time (more than a years gap between visits) it was a female stylist and I have not had great luck with ladies cutting my hair in the past, but I thought I'd give her a shot anyway. I left more disappointed than my first time and she too tried conversing over loud music and people.
The physical appearance of the place also didn't appeal to me but I can see its appeal to some. And the very chill yet quick processing of setting a customer with a stylist seemed to throw me off a little for some reason.
All that aside, the price is good and it played a big role each time I decided to go there. Both times I had to wait around close to15minutes, but it wasn't too bad, just had a lot of people in the waiting area so I had to stand both times. So, definitely easy on the pockets.
Ideally I would like to give it 2.5 stars as "Meh, I've experienced better" seems closer than "A-OK" (three star review) but the only reason I would return is if I were in the area and badly needed a haircut.Listed in: Everyone Needs a Haircut…
-
Review from Emily V.
Toronto, ON
1/4/2010
okay. so. i went to HOL because i knew they had a lot of stylists and i didn't want to make an appointment. also because they seem to have a reputation for being a pretty chill place, and i figured i'd like the experience.
alright so i walk in, and ask if there is a stylist i could see now. the receptionist says something along the lines of OMG OF COURSE THERE IS YOU IDIOT. and then yells the name of a hairstylist to come and fetch me.
my hairdresser was, let's face it, a bitch. which was fine because it wasn't always directed towards me, and hell i can't blame a girl for having a bad day. what i can blame her for is a straight up bad haircut. all i needed was my hair thinned, trimmed and layered for body, ease of styling, etc. the ends look like I CUT IT MYSELF. its bad. like i took a chainsaw to it. its not 'edgy', she made a mistake. in fact at one point, she asked me if i thought my hair looked straight--like she wasn't sure herself.
as far as i can tell, the hairdressers can decide what to charge. she charged me $32. completely overpriced considering the crap haircut i got.
i think if you know who to go to, this place is fine. but personally i will never go back, even though its so close to my house. all i'm saying is that if your stylist isn't recommended to you, don't go there. they have way too many stylists to ensure quality control. -
Review from Ian C.
Toronto, ON
4/15/2010
Its more barbershop than "hair design", despite looking kinda funky from outside. I had the biggest dude working with the tiniest of scissors, but the cut itself isn't all that bad. Not really good, not terrible. Everything just lacks finesse - from the cut, to the hair washing with a garden hose, to some crazy hair wax that didn't come out when I washed it... You get what you pay for. Next time I'll probably choose to pay more, hehe.
