First and foremost, my three star rating is ONLY applicable to the salon and how it's run- NOT the quality of the stylists- that is hands down 5 stars across the board.
As far as stylists go, I have been going to see Dimitri for 5 years through a coworker referral. I would give that hair God 10 stars if I could; I have sent about 6 different people to him and all have left his chair feeling sassy and gorgeous- the way you should always feel leaving a hair salon. For the other hair dressers, I always see beautiful hair and happy clients by the time they are walking out.
Now for the important part...why I'm giving the salon 3 stars. I'm not cheap by any means and I have zero problem spending on things as important as hair. However, it's no secret the cost of getting your hair done in the city is obscenely overpriced which is one of the reasons why I first started going to New Image out in Queens was to get relatively affordable prices. And in the beginning, it was fair prices for cut, color, blow dry- the works. Not cheap, but the same cost as what I would pay to my trusted hair stylist back home in southern CA. I was happy and looking/feeling great on top of it.
Now fast forward to the last 2 years- every time I have gone and went to pay I've been shocked with the price and asked for a cost breakdown (prices are completely set by salon management, not the stylists). I NEVER DO THAT ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE. EVER. The response I get varies from "that's the cost for a combo of the services you got" (which is not advertised or discussed anywhere) or "it's always been that price" (which it definitely never was and I always say that to them). Not only that, my friends who get the exact same service as I do pay different prices every time they go (which is not normal to not pay a close to similar price and which is always less than what I pay). I get it- prices in New York and rent are constantly rising- but not THAT significantly where someone pushes back and questions it EVERY TIME in the last two years.
The last time I went- I got a color and blowout. That's it. No toner. No highlights. No cut. I PAID $170 WITHOUT TIP. I purposely did not schedule to get my hair cut because of their ridiculous new pricing structure and was expecting to pay a decent amount less than I usually do. WELL BOY WAS I SURPRISED. The time before that I got cut, color, toner, highlights and blowout and paid $280 without tip (which I used to pay $200-$210 w/o tip for). So you're honestly really telling me that I got 3 less services with a $100 price difference?! No. That's not what it is. They change their prices around a cost they want you to spend or think you should spend every time you go and it's obvious because their pricing structure or cost for services IS NOT CONSISTENT.
It's really upsetting because they know I've been going there for 5 years now, have sent many people to them and they also know well that people come out to their salon with the false pretence they will be getting a better or more fair price than what they would pay in the city- but now, there isn't much of a difference.
Other than that important factor, the salon is clean and well kept and generally has a nice energy which is important for clients to have an enjoyable experience- and I always do....until lately at the very end which is not a nice way to end your appointment. The more their prices rise, the less I can afford to tip my hair stylist and the wonderful, hard working hair assistants they have in the salon. I personally don't think that's fair to them (in addition to the customer) and it's also not something I want to do because they deserve it.
Will I keep going because I love Dimitri? Yes.
Will I continue to earnestly insist their prices are affordable to new people I refer? No. read more