Photo by Matteo Miliddi on Unsplash
It’s no secret that New York is the epicenter of the United States. It beats every other city in almost every aspect. They top the charts in each category from food to fashion. And what goes hand-in-hand with New York fashion? New York beauty - including skin, makeup, and hair. And, with the springtime quickly approaching, many people are looking to switch up their look whether it’s their color, cut, or style. So, if you’re lucky enough to live in the Big Apple, or you’re just visiting to get some of the best treatments, here is a list of the best salons in the greatest city in the world.
Spoke and Weal is located in SoHo, New York. This salon takes a different approach to hair cutting and styling. Rather than telling your hairdresser where to cut your ends and how many inches you want trimmed, the stylists at Spoke and Weal observe your hair thoroughly, making note of texture, thickness, and your face shape. They then make the cut they feel would best suit you in all aspects.
While this may sound terrifying and like a sign to run, customers love it and it’s the main reason they continue to be loyal to the salon and to stylist Kelsy Osterman specifically. Their stylists are masters at colored hair as well, whether you like highlights, balayage, or full dye jobs. Spoke and Weal is definitely a salon to try if you’re in the SoHo area.
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Fringe Salon has been around for over 15 years, so they are a New York beauty staple. They’ve sustained the test of time and continue to have loyal customers while also bringing in new customers with their master stylist Amy Schiappa. Amy has been featured in the New York Times and has been named one of New York City’s top stylists. This salon began its journey in New York, New York, but has since opened a second location in Brooklyn.
Customers describe it as having a hipster aura with the dark and sultry lighting, and its eclectic collection of mirrors, furniture, and artwork. Getting your hair or any beauty treatment done is supposed to be an experience. While the outcome is always the main focus, the process should be just as enjoyable and relaxing.
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Butterfly Studio is located in the Flatiron building, an iconic tourist attraction in New York City. It was founded by Kattia Solano in 2001. This is not only a highly-rated hair salon, but it’s also an experience to be able to say you’ve had your hair cut, colored, or styled in the famous Flatiron building. However, because of the pristine location, and the years of experience Solano has, a classic cut can cost quite a bit. If you want your New York beauty appointment booked with Kattia herself, it’s going to cost you about $400. But, the other stylists are much more affordable, and it’s no secret that they must be talented if they work under Ms. Solano herself.
Aerea Salon is located on 21st Street in New York, New York. Aerea is slightly different than the other salons I’ve mentioned, as it includes makeup services as well as hair. Their hairstylists are trained not only in colors, cuts, and styles, but are also experts in extensions. And if you have an event coming up that you need your makeup done for, or just want to be pampered for an hour, their colleagues are makeup artist experts as well.
If you are someone who has naturally curly or wavy hair, Aerea Salon also provides Keratin treatments, Japanese hair straightening, and even an Olaplex Bond Multiplier. The salon has been featured in New York beauty and fashion campaigns for the famous Say Yes to the Dress store Kleinfeld, Cosmopolitan, The Knot, and more.
Christo Salon is located on, you guessed it, Fifth Ave. Christo is an iconic salon. It was founded by Christo Curlisto in 2002 and has been making a name for itself ever since. This salon is a standout studio because it is a salon designated for curly-haired queens. Christo has been dubbed “King of Curls” by world-renowned papers such as The Wall Street Journal and Women’s Wear Daily.
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What makes Christo and his salon so successful and different is the way they cater to curly hair. Historically, curly hair has not been accepted as the norm and has even been deemed unprofessional in some cases. Christo’s goal is to help women embrace their natural curls and never be ashamed or afraid to wear them out in public. He developed a technique he refers to as the diametrix cut. This type of cut is designed to focus on creating a layered base on several different types and textures of curly hair.
The Blackstones Collective is located on East 7th Street in New York, New York. Blackstone’s founder and lead stylist Joey Silvestera says that they specialize in “street hair.” What exactly is street hair you may ask? It’s described as “making the best with what you have.” This salon is star studded. On any given day, you can expect to see a variety of supermodels, fashion designers, actresses, architects, writers, and plenty of celebrities. Blackstone is almost an unheard of salon for those outside of NYC, and they don’t need to rely on heavy advertising because word of mouth brings them more than enough clients.
The Blackstone’s Collective was recently featured in a Vogue article and was named the best New York beauty shop. If Vogue doesn’t convince you, I have no clue what else will. The stylists are top tier and highly trained to work with different hair colors and textures to provide you with the look that will have you feeling the most confident. And don’t be too shocked if your time spent in the chair is accompanied by a few celebrities.
New York City is the greatest city in the world for so many reasons, and the beauty category is no exception. Depending on what you’re looking for in a stylist, color, cut, or experience, none of these salons will disappoint.
Written by Jordan Hammaren
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