Are you looking for Edinburgh's number 1 hair salon?

Medusa Hairdressing has six salons across Edinburgh and East Lothian. Four are located in Edinburgh city centre (Teviot, Broughton Street, Hanover Street and Bread Street), one in Stockbridge (Medusa Raeburn Place), and one in Musselburgh.

You’ll find full details, addresses and opening times on each individual salon page.

Yes. A skin test is required for all colour services, and we do insist on it.

The test takes under two minutes and can be done at any Medusa salon, even if your appointment is booked elsewhere. Skin tests must be completed at least 48 hours before your colour appointment and are valid for up to three weeks.

Allergic reactions are rare, but they can be serious. We carry out skin tests to protect your health and ensure your safety.

(...We'll now climb down off our hobby-horse.)

Short answer: sometimes yes, sometimes no — and we’ll always tell you honestly.

With services like bleaching or lightening, a toner isn’t optional for us. It’s what turns “freshly lightened” into properly finished, wearable colour. In other cases, your hair may already look spot on and won’t need that extra step.

A toner fine-tunes your colour after lightening or colouring. It balances warmth, adds softness or edge, and helps the colour look intentional rather than accidental. While it’s best known for blondes, brunettes and redheads can benefit too.

In-salon toners are far more effective than purple or silver shampoos, which are great for maintenance at home — but they’re not a replacement for professional toning.

We offer a relaxed but considered refreshment menu, including:

• Fresh coffee

• Organic teas and fruit infusions

• A selection of wines and soft drinks

All served with either biscuits or savoury snacks.

Sometimes the car breaks down, the baby melts down, the boss has a last-minute “great idea”, or the dissertation due tomorrow failed to write itself… we understand that last minute calamities happen, but please try to cancel with as much notice as possible so that we have a chance of re-allocating the slot to someone else.

Getting a great cut in the first place is the crucial first step, and all of our stylists are technical masters in cutting hair so that it falls naturally into place, and will serve you well, long after you’ve left the salon.

We also offer a complimentary fringe trim or gent’s neck tidy within six weeks of your appointment to help you maintain your style.

At Medusa, we stand behind every hair cut we create, and we want you to be delighted with it: "mehh" is not good enough for you, and its not good enough for us. Some times as stylists, we don't quite understand precisely what vision you have in your mind - we always try to find out, but once in a very long while, we miss the spot. And if you want an adjustment or tweak on your hair, come back within two weeks of your cut or colour and we'll sort it out. No questions asked. (well, ok, we probably will ask what you want corrected, but you know what we mean).

The truth is that we genuinely do want to know if you're not happy with any part of our service - but please please do let us know, either at the time or by contacting the salon manager afterwards and give us a second chance to convince you. Great hairdressing starts with great communication, to get the perfect style for you, so if your visit isn’t going exactly as you want or you’ve maybe got a wee inkling that we haven’t quite understood, then please please tell us - we won't be offended at all, quite the opposite – we want you to love your hair and every minute of your visit...talk to us 😉

Yes, you’re welcome to request a track on Spotify. We’ll do our best to fit it into the vibe of the day - right music, right moment.

Tbh, if the relative in question is your gran, then we would first like a second opinion, but if you do seriously think you have what it takes to take part in one of the catwalk shows or editorial/portfolio photoshoots, then read on.

Medusa regularly takes part in national and international hair competitions, as well as major industry training and fashion-led events. These often involve catwalk shows, and we’re always interested in hearing from people who feel comfortable in that kind of environment. It’s not easy — you’ll be walking a runway in front of a lot of people — but it’s an unforgettable experience.

We’re also frequently looking for models for editorial and portfolio photoshoots. These are more relaxed than catwalk events, but just as creative and a lot of fun.

If you’re interested in modelling for Medusa Hairdressing, please email [email protected]

Cuddly, well-behaved dogs are welcome at our salons. Sorry, no wolves allowed (...we don't care how much you were influenced by Twilight all those years ago).

Yes. Our Bread Street salon has a mirrored studio space in the basement available to hire from £20 + VAT per hour.

This flexible space is suitable for:

• Fitness and dance classes

• Seminars and training

• Beauty courses

• Photoshoots and meetings

The space includes its own reception area, refreshments station, washroom facilities, audio system, stage and projector screen.

For enquiries, contact Rhonda on 0131 622 7277 or email [email protected]

Yes. Many of our salons offer late-night opening, with some open until 7pm or 8pm on selected days.

Please check the individual salon pages for exact opening times.