The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Although the Cairo neighbourhood of Maadi has numerous
salon options, Nefertari stands out for its affordable prices and friendly
service. Tucked away next to the new Jared’s Bagels shop on Degla’s Road 233,
Nefertari is a small but comfortable venue offering a standard range of hair salon
services. 

Nefertari’s owner, Madame Nagwa is often in the shop,
and greets customers at the door with a smile and offer of refreshments. A
fashionable lady trained in France, Nagwa is a French speaker and can offer
good advice to customers when it comes to hair colour and cut options. However,
English speakers should be wary; the strengths at this salon are Arabic and
French, and getting a complicated request in English executed correctly could be
difficult.

A comfortable waiting area has a table piled with new
issues of American, British and French fashion magazines, a veritable jackpot
of salon reading material. Due to the fact that Nefertari has only two
hairstylists, Said and Khaled, these magazines come in handy when wait times
get lengthy. If you are coming in for a long appointment or don’t want to get
stuck waiting, consider calling ahead as they accept appointments.  

Due to space constraints, there is no section for
veiled ladies at Nefertari, but women can partake of waxing services (starting
from 20LE for full arm) in a closet-sized treatment room if they so wish.
Threading (starting at 10LE for eyebrows) is also offered either by
hairstylist Khaled or a female assistant. 

At just 35LE for a wash and blow-dry, Nefertari’s hair
styling services stand out for their low prices and high quality. Both Khaled
and Said will take their time styling your hair to your exact specifications.
Said is a master of volume – perfect for those with less than ideally thick hair, while Khaled is skilled at taming wild, curly locks into a silky, smooth
coif. 

A rare treasure in such a modest salon, Madame Nagwa
is a professional stylist, and a haircut with her begins at 60LE. She is able
to execute a range of styles, and is familiar with the latest trends from
Europe. For simple cuts, Khaled and Said can both be trusted as well, but for a
major change stick with the lady herself. The same goes for colour, which
starts at around 100LE for a root touch-up. 

With a gem of an owner who can offer European-standard
colour and cuts, skilled stylists and prices rarely found in Cairo hair salons of
similar calibre, Nefertari is a great choice for quality and affordable
salon services.