Photo courtesy of Gerald Wu Hair Design
First, you need to know something about me before I start this review on the totally amazing Gerald Wu hair cutter extraordinaire. I am not cool. I don’t know the first thing about trends. I read popular books about 10 years past their prime. And I’m the first to arrive and leave a party. Case in point: I’m wearing a sweater with hearts on it that I wore to a “Bad Sweater Party” and no one is batting an eye.
But when I stepped inside Gerald Wu’s Hair Design studio to get a haircut I knew I entered some secret party that I would never normally be invited to.
I needed a haircut bad. My plan for the last 2 years was to donate 12 inches or more to Wigs for Kids (who unlike Locks of Love doesn’t charge anyone for their wig) and finally the time has come. A friend pointed me to Gerald, I emailed him instantly, he booked me with ease and warned me that he doesn’t wash hair, but that he does make drinks. PERFECT, I said.
And with that, last week was Hair Day. Only slightly nervous, I walked up to a very hip studio space next to Salumi. Instantly, I knew I just entered what Rudy’s only hopes to be – cool, yet unpretentious and most importantly CHEAP (just $40, no matter what the cut). Best of all, I didn’t have to write my name down and wait with all the other hipsters.
You see, Gerald Wu is a one-man show. He doesn’t have a staff. His cash register is his pocket (or his phone if you have a credit card) and bonus, he also bartends on the side. So to start things off right I requested a hot toddy and we talked about my new look.
Think Rihanna. Think punk. Think Kid n’ Play. That’s what I wanted. Balls out. From your everyday curly haired Ballardite with yoga pants and CSA bins to rockin’ trendsetter – I needed to go big (or move back to Capitol Hill 
. So Gerald looked me up and down, confirmed I could handle the change and I took one quick sip of my perfectly warm Toddy before he dove in. First big cut out of the way and I was fine, I could breathe! Shaping was key and he was so at ease that his confident energy instantly rubbed off on me. Never for a second did I think I made a mistake. I trusted him like a best friend. Like a best friend with scissors an inch away from your ears.
But not only does Gerald have magic scissor hands, he’s also a great talker. I normally just plop down and tell the person I’ll never remember to do something, and then we don’t talk for 20 minutes. I almost dreaded that I would be in his studio, all alone, with no distractions for 90 minutes – but he put my fears to rest. With the views of King Station from his bright big windows, the cassette tapes sprawled across the stereo, the Noir movie playing on his blank white wall via projector and our easy conversations about life, work and how we got to where we are today – the 90 minutes just flew by.
Put that altogether and what did I get? Only the best haircut I’ve ever had IN MY LIFE. It was exactly what we talked about, I didn’t come home and find stray hairs uncut or all over my clothes and best of all – it’s 4 days later and the cut still looks great, post styling and washing (with a lot less conditioner, I might add). Plus, did I mention the whole experience was all for $40 (or $30 for guys)? Seriously you guys, I think I just found everyone’s favorite hair stylist. You’re welcome.
206.499.8755
321 3rd Ave South, #401
Seattle, WA 98104
