On various websites, I see reviews of 5 stars and reviews of 1 star. Based on my experience this salon is scoring more "medium". A 5 is overrated, a 1 is really underrated. I tried this salon via the recent groupon voucher. As a result, I got a great deal for highlights and a haircut.
I got there a bit late due to the horrible traffic on 27 around 4.45 and was out of there by 6.30. I was greeted in a friendly and personal manner and was seated immediately. I was asked what I wanted and I feel we had a good interaction on what i wanted. What added to the good experience is that the owner, who was doing my hair, wasn't overly chatty. Also, this is the first salon without overly loud and annoying music or chatter, or where the employees or owners are spending more time and effort looking at their own mirror view, rather than the customers! So overall I enjoyed the atmosphere... although you could argue that they could try a bit harder to give their business a more modern and "fresh" feel....
As to the haircut and highlights. I am happy with the highlights. They look very natural and it didn't take him hours to do them. I really get annoyed when stylists try to give you highlights hair per hair... as a result... it is all the same color! So now, because he did it a bit quicker and a bit less precise, it actually looks very natural and spontaneous! From that perspective, the best highlights I had since I moved from Europe to NJ!!! The color is a bit on the lighter end of the spectrum of what I am used to, but you can't expect the color to be exactly right the first time you try a new salon. So no complaints! The cut... well I can't really judge until I try to style it myself in 5 minutes time before going to work. I hope it is low maintenance, but it looks good so far. I was - however - hoping for a bit more guidance from him. He really asked me how I wanted it, but he is the expert so I always prefer when a stylist recommends something. But again - not a deal breaker to me. The blow dry wasn't really what I am used to from Europe... but going to a hairdresser here in the US for the past year, I already gave up hope for a good blow out. I really think that part is skipped during any US hair dresser education.
So overall, very good experience. The only reason why I give 3 stars and not 4 is one detail... but important to me. When I made my appointment, I looked online to see what time the business closes on Friday: 8pm. When I called for the appointment with partial highlights and cut, he told me I had to be there at the latest 4.30. To get there, I had to leave work early and since I don't have a car, I had to ask a colleague to drop me off, so she had to leave work early too. I would be fine with all that, but not to see the owner leave at 6.40 - right after he was finished with me. (I was still there waiting for my colleague to pick me up again as I was done way earlier then expected). I wouldn't have had to go through the trouble of leaving work early and rush out the office... so I really feel that is a bad mark for customer orientation.
In summary: don't let the bad reviews online keep you away, but also don't expect a 5-star salon. I will surely be back when there is another groupon!!! read more