The Strand

Carol Palmer
5 Star
I’ve been going here for about 4 years, never had any problems, great atmosphere, lovely hot drinks given , I feel like they are my friends, very clean and always professional, the hair wash n head massage is amazing, and the chair also massages you too. I highly recommend this salon .
Wednesday 22nd January 2020

Amanda Bruce
2 Star
I had an appointment booked for a hair cut the first week of January when we were suddenly put into national lockdown. As per other businesses of this type I assumed that after re-opening I would have been re-scheduled in for my cut but this was not the case. A post on their Facebook page back in March mentioned contacting regulars (which after 16 years I believed I was,) before the re-opening date to get them booked back in yet I heard nothing, and was shocked when I discovered in early April that they were fully booked. I have very fine hair which gets straggly quickly, and as I can only afford to get it cut about 3-4 times a year it was in a very bad way, so I struggled to cut it myself. Having cervical spondylosis in my neck and other health issues I found this extremely difficult and painful. I messaged The Strand during the first week of April to ask what had happened to my appointment, explaining that it wasn`t my fault I couldn`t attend back in January and as no one had contacted me I`d been left with no option but to cut my own hair. They didn`t reply. My sister had an appointment at the Strand a few days ago and asked them why I hadn`t been contacted. She was told that I wasn`t considered a regular customer like herself and my mum and I don`t spend as much money as they do! (They go about as often as I do, 3-4 times a year). She added that they need to concentrate on customers who go every two weeks because they are the ones who keep the business viable, and that my message to them was ` very nasty`. I can`t honestly see how enquiring what happened to my appointment can be construed as `nasty`. It would seem that exclusively patronizing a business for 16 years counts for nothing. I think even Alan Sugar would have to agree that this is a most unprofessional way to run a business. Every customer should be valued and treated equally, regardless of how much money they have to spend! I`ve never heard of any other business operating this way or slagging off a customer to members of their own family for not spending or frequenting enough. I have been a loyal customer of the proprietor for many years and this has left me feeling discriminated against, ostracized and very upset. I see no justification for acting this way. If they were inundated with enquiries and I`d just been overlooked then fair enough, but why not just contact me via phone or message to say I would be re-booked but might have to wait a few weeks. A professional operation would have responded to my enquiry with an apology and an offer of a booking, not a direct and personal attack to a member of my own family for not being as financially well-off as their other clients. In response to the owners comments relating to this review I checked my phone records and there was no phone call made to my landline on March 30th or any other day. Covid or not, a professional business would have contacted any prior clients already booked in for an appointment. That is correct protocol no matter how busy the diary, not expecting the clients to chase them! I also know of at least one other person who took it upon themselves to phone up and request an appointment upon re-opening and was also not responded to. The attitude has been very poor overall. Here`s the thing. I worked in customer services for many years. If this had been my business and let`s say a customer had been overlooked for re-booking, I would have answered their message apologising for the error. If the owner had been unwell or bogged down with enquiries or whatever the reason, then a simple apology would have sufficed, or an offer offer of a free haircut or whatever at some point in the future would have been a nice gesture. Just a simple acknowledgement that an error had been made. What you should never do is blame the client. Instead this defensive response tells me this was not an error or an oversight. As for their numerous satisfied customers all I can say is that I was once one of them. The hairdressing skills were never in dispute.
Thursday 13th May 2021

Michelle F
5 Star
Extremely friendly salon, I highly recommend it and I very highly recommend Nicole. I have had a few stylists over the years at the strand and they were all very good, but Nicole is one of the best, she listens, understands and communicates well. Gives a great head massage too. Thank you Nicole, see you in February 2017.
Saturday 26th November 2016

L J
5 Star
Fantastic salon. I absolutely adore this Salon, I feel so relaxed once I step inside. There is no better therapy than sitting in your stylists chair, knowing confidentiality is upmost. If you haven't visited this Salon, YOU MUST.
Wednesday 19th August 2020

Cath Clayson
5 Star
Excellent service, friendly and great value! Very understanding staff who go that extra mile. The best salon in Corby!
Monday 20th May 2019