Really delightful experience today :)) I've been living in a bun since my former stylist moved out of town and I checked S+M on a whim to find that there was a last minute opening with Danika and after seeing her gorgeous shag cuts I took it. Danika was very communicative the entire cut and really delightful to chat with-- she provided me with upkeep instructions throughout and a great product recommendation. Honestly I've never been so happy with my hair and can't imagine going to anyone else while she's around. Oh and S+M has nice ambiance. Every bit of the experience felt premium from the building to the wash sinks. You should get your hair cut here, they're great. read more

Smoke + Mirrors - long shag cut by Danika - Hair Salons Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Gwendolyn is amazing - my hair looks great everytime. The salon is gorgeous and is nice to spend time in.

The photos attached to my review adequately capture the terrible, stress-inducing, and devastating experience that Smoke & Mirrors has to offer - from the owner herself, Leah, her employee, Emily, the horribly done hair in which they blame the customer for, and the way that Smoke & Mirrors salon virtually robs you of your money while showing willful ignorance. The photos attached include photos of my orange brassy hair (that I sent to Emily immediately asking for help), conversations between me and Emily, and email conversations between me and owner, Leah. By the way, the owner has chosen to not respond after her first email which lacked respect and ethical regard for her clients and compassion in general. I have always gotten my hair done a beautiful, icy, platinum blonde. Upon my first visit to Smoke & Mirrors on May 10th, as you can see from the photos attached, my hair was done orange, yellow, brassy, to put it lightly - a disaster. Wondering what I paid at my visit? $260! Not only was my hair ruined for the price of $260 at Smoke & Mirrors, employee Emily had done this to my hair since November 2023. I paid nearly $1k for my hair to look like this for 9 months haha! The best part? Both Emily AND THE OWNER LEAH have blamed me for this $1k+ disaster of their own doing - offering no refund (even though I was at first offered a "partial refund" *or* for Emily to fix it, not both). When I sat in Emily's chair to get my hair "fixed" she immediately told me she wouldn't be doing my roots or actually bleaching my hair??? She said she could only try to take out the brassiness?? The brassy wreck was not fixed, btw. Emily messages me two days later telling me I need to come in within SEVEN DAYS and pay full price again in order for her to get my hair back to a platinum blonde. As seen in the attached screenshots showing my continuous communication of my hair (communication that went on for months), you can see that the owner yet again placed blame on me in her email. Smoke & Mirrors salon, its owner, their employees have quite literally gaslit me, lied to me, and blamed me for months. I've been questioning my own eyesight and reality regarding my hair. They will take no blame if they ruin your hair, so definitely keep that in mind! The owner told me that she would give me no refund and blamed me for her employee's blunders, however, I was told that they would love to hear my feedback for how they can provide the best services to their customers. I think this review does this well :) Beware of getting robbed blind when you walk into Smoke & Mirrors, xoxo read more

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I had a really experience at Smoke + Mirrors, when I had a haircut with Gwendolyn a few months ago. The location is really convenient (in the heart of Hampden), and the salon is really cool (high ceilings, lots of wood) and comfortable. Gwendolyn was really nice and listened so well. I had had a haircut that I really didn't like (at a different salon) and was there to cut a lot of it off (into a bob) to get rid of the layers I really didn't like from the other salon. She totally got what was bothering me about the cut, explained what she could do, what she couldn't do and would just take time, and then got started. I appreciated her honesty, and the end product was so much better than what it had looked like when I walked in. I really appreciated it. I would happily return to Smoke + Mirrors in the future. read more

I went here for a haircut and honestly, the experience was pretty meh. It was my first cut in a few years and I was looking for a luxe and lively experience. The cut was OK but the blow dry was horrible. I left with damp and frizzy hair. I couldn't really see the cut and had to go home and style my hair myself. At the same price point, you can go to ash and oak in Catonsville and they will style your hair before you leave. Ok to try - will not be returning though. read more

I made an appointment with Danika this evening and she was immediately cheerful and excited to help give me my desired cut! She spent time inspecting my hair before the cut to determine texture and any damage, and offer any other insights. She was very easy to talk to and knowledgeable about products (without trying to sell them to you) and different styles. I laughed a lot in her chair! And walked away with exactly my desired haircut. She is talented! She mostly described each step she was taking her time to ensure each section was even and fell correctly and looked good. And it looks great! My family said it was one of the best haircuts and blow dry theyve seen on me and it was exactly as I described and imagined. I will be coming back to see Danika! The atmosphere was cozy too. With plants everywhere and a rockin playlist I was offered something to drink before I sat in the chair. I really like the vibe! read more

My wife got her hair done in June 2025. Cut and color by Sunshine who was Awsome. Her hair looked good and it was beautiful when she was done the first time. Came back 3 months later at the beginning of September and was supposed to get Highlights, but and Color. Almost 2 and a half hrs later the color didn't take. No problem, we paid and tipped Sunshine very well regardless. Things happen. We were promised a free highlight, cut and color and we rescheduled another appointment at the end of September 2025 or the beginning of November. My wife got covid and canceled the appointment and was told to call back when she was well and reschedule her appointment. Nothing about you only have a certain amount of time or we won't honor the money you paid for a service that wasn't done. Today December 18th 2025 we called to schedule the redo and they said they wouldn't honor the free color and highlights. It's only been maybe 2 moths if that. This place is not worth you hard earned money. Sunshine was great but the place is no good. Go somewhere that the people will respect you and your money. 0 Stars​ read more

I've been going to Gwen for a good bit now, the literal only downside to this salon is the pricing being a little on the high side, but they have literally never done me wrong. It is so welcoming and light in there and every person that comes in always has an incredible job done to their hair. From what I've seen you can't go wrong coming here if you can afford it. read more

I recently went to Smoke and Mirrors for the first time after having been a loyal Fringe customer for years. I wanted to get balayage, but the prices at Fringe for a senior stylist have steadily risen and I found it outside my budget. I was shocked that Smoke and Mirrors, which has a very boutique aesthetic, was much more affordable to book with a senior stylist and I jumped to make an appointment. First the aesthetic: boho-industrial-gothic. Very hip, moody, and interesting to be in. In the middle of the salon there is a large space with a giant table and comfy chairs where you wait for your color to process. It makes it so easy to read/work/chill and is much better than just awkwardly hanging out in the haircut chair the whole time! Second, COVID: they had several protocols including masks and online consent forms and safety information. Experience: I booked with Josh and they were right on time with service. They were very professional, pleasant, and FUNNY! We had a great time chatting and laughing. I was stuck between two balayage looks and based on their expertise they steered me away from one based on how it would turn out with my specific hair type. Sarah, Josh's assistant/colorist, gave me a very gentle, LOVELY shampoo experience with an incredibly relaxing head massage-- I felt 100% luxurious and pampered. I had an extremely positive experience at Smoke and Mirrors and definitely plan to go back. Already recommended it to several friends! read more

Smoke + Mirrors - View from the large wooden table where you wait as your color processes. - Hair Salons Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Gwen has been a lifesaver after a bad COVID haircut. She takes her time and literally never rushes. 90% of the head massages are amazing. I'm not a huge fan of their color line as it leaves my hair feeling very dry w/out copious amounts of conditioner. read more

After not getting my hair done professionally for four years, I was extremely nervous to go for a big change that I had planned. I ended up going with Smoke and Mirrors due to it being nearby, and I'm so glad that I did. Danika did my cut and color on both days that I was there, and was always genuinely enthusiastic and helpful for the entire time I was there. She made me feel comfortable and listened to while I was there, and we ended up talking a lot about our interests and the local scenes as we were both recent transplants to the area! The front desk staff was also really nice and welcoming. I was asked if I wanted snacks or water while I was waiting, I was asked about the style and colors that I chose, and they were all excited to see the outcome after the job was finally done. I'll definitely be coming back to Smoke and Mirrors in the future. Thank you all for your hard work! read more

New to Baltimore and needed a cut and color for a badly washed out and grown out balayage (see before&after pics...) Josh was welcoming, helpful, and did an amazing job. He spent time discussing what I was looking for in new hairstyle and nailed it. So glad to have found this place! read more

Smoke + Mirrors - Before - Hair Salons Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Ladies of an age need special care. My stylist, Gendolyn intuitively understands how hair behaves for me. We've collaborated on a style that will suit me going forward. And she's a good person! read more

My visits may be long, but my hair always comes out feeling amazingly soft and colored beautifully. Only thing preventing 5 stars is that it is somewhat on the pricey side if you are planning to get some coloring done. That being said, Brittany did an amazing job with my most recent transformation from caramel highlights to a purple balayage! read more

Smoke + Mirrors - Post salon purple hair! - Hair Salons Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Very Hampden aesthetic with dark color, live edge wood decor, plants and a coffee/tea bar, love it. Staff was friendly and welcoming. They are pretty busy so getting an appointment weeks in advance is a good rule of thumb, but overall I was happy with my cut and color. read more

I see Josh at Smoke and Mirrors and he is the absolute best! I've gotten my hair cut and colored by him for a few years now and I don't think I could ever see anyone else. I have curly hair and so many of my haircut experiences have been awful. I don't know what it is, but not enough people can do curly hair well! Josh absolutely can. He's great at giving recommendations to improve the look and he's a great conversationalist! I had a super positive experience getting my hair colored by him as well. He gave me exactly what I asked for and it turned out fantastic! Even though some of the extra fun colors have since faded, the balayage that stayed looks amazing. I still get compliments on my color even though I definitely need to get it re-done hahah. read more

Smoke + Mirrors - Hair Salons Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I love this place. It has a great really chill vibe. Danica gave me the best haircut I have ever had!

Bryan always leaves my hair looking beautiful! But especially beautiful this time since I got a full cut and highlights with a mix of balayage. I asked for a honey color and he did just that. I was working off a photo from a previous style and he matched up perfectly. Also I just have to say that the interior of the salon is stunning as you can see from my second photo here. They are very cautious with Covid and take your temperature at the door as well as provide clean and sanitized pans to use. Everything is very spaced out and there as well beyond 6 feet between other customers. Definitely recommend checking out smoke and mirrors your your next haircut or treatment! read more

Smoke + Mirrors - Hair Salons Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I loved my hairdresser for this location. However due to sickness of my children including RSV, flu, pneumonia and a sinus infection I needed to cancel my appointment. They accused me of not leaving a voicemail to cancel the appointment and then charged me $180 for the cancellation which they said was what half my bill would have been based off of what I have previously had done there before. I understand a cancellation fee last minute, but $180? For a regular customer? read more

It's now been two months since I went in and got what was clearly a beauty school f*** up from a girl who maybe hadn't finished her training and scooted me off before the boss got back. I asked to get rid of the unevenness I had going on because I wanted a bob. And she instead gave me an actual mullet, and on top of that this was her version of "curtain bangs" Well they still won't lie flat because they're so short. And the cherry on top was her trying to save it by curling it at the end even after I said no thanks. I wish I hadn't paid. read more

Smoke + Mirrors - Even two months later I'm still outraged. - Hair Salons Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I'm the queen of making impulsive decisions, which is why I feel so lucky I landed in Caitlin's chair when I decided to spontaneously get a shag cut! Not only is she an absolute expert at curly shag cuts, but she is also so friendly, laid back, and made me feel so relaxed throughout the process. As a public health pro, the salon's COVID safety protocols also made me feel as safe as possible - it was my first haircut in over two years and I couldn't be happier! read more

Smoke + Mirrors - Hair Salons Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Josh at Smoke and Mirrors is the absolute best. My hair is long, curly, and out of control and he is the only one who can tame the beast and actually make it look good. I have gotten TONS of compliments on my most recent hair cut/color! There are not many people who can make a three-hour hair appointment actual fun, but Josh does. Being a good conversationalist is a gift and he makes it seem easy. I had an appointment in April that had to be rescheduled for July due to COVID. I felt very safe and comfortable with their set up - there was plenty of distance between chairs, everyone wore masks, seats and handles were wiped regularly, even the pens were sanitized. They went above and beyond to make sure people felt comfortable. Josh and Smoke + Mirrors is the best and I highly recommend them! read more

Got a fantastic haircut. Staff was really friendly, salon is beautiful. Overall great experience.

I had seen this salon on IG through friends and decided to book an appointment. I booked with Josh and received an amazing bleach touch-up, gloss, and cut on my hair! All staff is friendly and professional and take social distancing very seriously. I felt very safe--which is important for me while currently pregnant. Temperature checks, adequate social distancing, and thorough cleaning of stations all took place during my visit. The salon itself is beautiful! The atmosphere is very chill. A visit to Smoke+Mirrors is a very relaxing experience--you will leave pampered and looking great! read more

The space for this salon is awesome. And old historic-like Bike shop transformed into a rustic brick clean natural salon. I passed by one day and swung in to check the inside out & fell in love. I was booked in March for color/highlights & cut but was cancelled the week Md shut down from pandemic. I was rescheduled quickly, the week they re-opened, my hair was long over-due grown out highlights, rooted color. My stylist & I spoke for 30 mins about what I wanted and did not want showing precious pics of me & Pinterest. She was sweet and the placements, cut & color looked pretty just not what I asked for. She didn't make me feel bad though. Unfortunately my request of getting an all over cool beachy blonde with some darker roots wasn't met though she tried. It seems we had some communication difficulties. I came in for a correction but it didn't achieve the look. Going blonde with techniques of painted on color placements, highlights and a root blend has been my experience for this look but I've found on my dark brown hair it's hard to accomplish. Because of the time and expense I decided to speak to the owner. She got to the point of what I liked & didn't & I re-shared my pics. She went out of her way as salon owner to make me happy. We consulted for 30 mins. She did the second correction. She got me much closer to my blonde pics. We had to do a last minute root blend at the end because the blonde was too honey and too much all over top to root since I have curtain bangs and not just a lob. Though the bangs were a little shocking at the start, the root blend helped. She took more weight out with another hair cut and blending of bangs and sides so the look could be more accomplished. I'm enjoying a new look! Going blonde from brown even for professionals is extremely hard. It takes time for your stylist to learn you, how your hair takes to colors, toners etc. Then there's also communication difficulties that are bound to happen. I'm pleased with this salon doing their best to make it right. They did not charge for 2 corrections. I volunteered & paid for additional cut. I would recommend this salon not only because of their green/clean products and atmosphere but also because the owner stood behind their customer service values, wanting me to leave happy and that's why I rate them 4 stars. read more

Josh cut my hair from long to super short. I let them take the reins with only a few instructions on what I wanted, and they KILLED IT. I've gotten so many compliments I almost can't handle the hotness. Josh also does incredible color and I have friends who travel two hours from different states just to get their color from them. read more

Bryan Tarka is a master at his craft. I would crawl across Baltimore city to have Bryan do my hair. He is very talented with color and I trust that he will always make my hair look amazing. Bryan's work is worth every cent!! read more

Great haircolor and cut job! Would definitely go back. My hair looked amazing and felt amazing too!

UPDATE: I went to the new location and it's amazing. Just a block from the original, but larger. It's a super nice space with unique features. But that's not why we're here. Caitlin did a fantastic cut. I didn't give her much direction, but she delivered. Even though it was mid-day, there were plenty of other people getting cuts and color. They also seemed happy with the results. Still absolutely recommend. Exceptional from start to finish. When I called to make an appointment the receptionist asked about my hair - length, type, what I was looking for - and I was booked within a week. My cut was with Sally who spent time talking about what I wanted and didn't like in the past. She then explained what she thought would be best and we went with that. During the cut I mentioned my hair looking dirty more often recently and Sally asked about my routine and explained why that might be happening and how to address it. Absolutely recommend. read more

I've been a longtime client and devotee to Leah Taylor. She is everything you want in a stylist: a great confidante, knowledgeable about all things hair, and approachable despite her years of experience. I was so delighted to learn that she's recently opened her very own salon on the avenue. The space itself is rustic chic, with so many well thought out details. Everything from the mirrors and beautiful woodwork to the product line has been carefully curated by Leah. Having recently gotten married I wanted a change and needed to cut my long hair. Leah gave me a stylish chop with depth and dimension as well as a pop of purple color on the ends. I am going back to get various shades of purple ombré after my hair gets a break from the toning/bleach. The prices are comparable to other salons and might I say reasonable considering the excellent service and final outcome of a fresh, new look you get when leaving. I am so happy this stylish salon filled with creative wonders has made its debut in the neighborhood! read more

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Amazing amazing amazing. Josh is an artist and I don't want anyone else to do my hair now. I never had a haircut or color I really liked before I went here. He turned my horribly box-dyed black hair into a really cool pink melt. I feel like they take great covid precautions, I like that they take your temperature when coming in and I felt safe. Just for reals go here. It's 100% worth it read more

Paid $300 for my hair to look almost exactly the same as when I walked in. When discussing the outcome, the stylist stated "well if we did that then it would've looked more like the pictures" ... as if the pictures weren't the goal end result. There was dimension in the images that my hair did not have at all and that was the entire goal... dimensional intentional rooted balayage style... and only when I continued to press the issue was there any offer for me to come back - which I only had 2 weeks to do as per their policy - I was out of town for work and at that point I don't trust that stylist to help me because there was a general lack of accountability & only after pressing did she say it must've been a miscommunication. Extremely disappointed, and now low maintenance style turns into the same issue I had before. Complete waste of money for such an expensive salon. Highly disappointed, will not return. Save your coins. End result looks like I just have worse/longer root read more

I had a very positive experience with Teena today, and I will definitely be returning to her for my next appointment. She was incredibly considerate, receptive, and thorough. I'm so happy with the results-- she totally nailed the color that I was going for (natural-looking light brown with subtle blond highlights), it's exactly what I wanted. I came to Smoke & Mirrors after a couple underwhelming experiences at Crafted, right around the block. I really like the decor and vibe of this place, it's very pretty and surprisingly well lit (it looks kind of dark from the outside). The atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming as well. I'm glad I finally found a salon in Baltimore that perfectly meets my preferences and needs. read more

I love smoke and mirrors. The space is gorgeous and everyone who works here is so warm. I followed Josh here from another salon. I have a lot of hair and wouldn't trust anyone else to touch it. I've even brought my mom and mother-in-law into see him and they both loved his work! I'm also super impressed by the precautions the salon has taken since reopening after the pandemic. read more

I can't say enough about this place. They provide awesome service, in a beautiful space, and their commitment to the environment is way more than marketing. They really practice what they preach, and are a model for other salons and small businesses. Josh is THE BEST. He's been cutting my hair for ages and I can always count on having a good time and walking out with great hair. He's just a genuinely good dude too. read more

I'm sure this place kills it for certain jobs, but do not come here if you have curly hair and/or want it dyed. It's not that my hair looks terrible. It's more that I spent $450 to get my hair cut for the first time in 7 years for it to pretty much look the exact same. The dye basically didn't show up, and my hair is still the same fluff ball that it was. They also combed it out completely dry, which is terrible for curly hair and left my hair extra frizzy for days even after a wash (they claimed to be able to do curly hair). If they would have just knocked off a couple hundred dollars, I would have been all right, but here I am writing like the 5th review I've ever done out of massive disappointment. read more

I came to Brittany with a year's worth of grown out black/brown box dye wanting to do a copper balayage, and she delivered in every way. My hair turned out exactly how I imagined, and Brittany took great care to keep it feeling soft and healthy. Cannot recommend her enough. read more

Brittany was wonderful! She was able to get an idea of what i wanted and exceeded my expectations

I can't rave about this salon enough!! I'm in Baltimore for only 2 years; just long enough to need to find a really great place to cut and color my hair. I tried Crafted a couple times and it just wasn't the place for me; it felt very rushed and overwhelming (that fast-paced vibe totally works for some people, just not me!). Smoke+Mirrors is exactly what I was wanting! It's intimate without being cramped (although they're moving to an incredible, larger space this spring!), effortlessly stylish, and full of plants, organic products, and great music. Everyone is so nice and genuine, and they're all now my style and hair idols, haha! It's also a green salon, which is great. I appreciated that you have to call to make an appointment so they can be sure to set you up with enough time so you're not rushed through the whole appointment. I was asked to send a picture of my current hair and any inspiration pics, and they asked to increase my appointment time to make sure Bryan could achieve what I wanted. I really appreciated that level of attention and care! I saw Bryan Tarka for a trim and blonde balayage and I'm now obsessed with him and his work. He put so much care and attention into my hair, listening to what I wanted and giving me his professional opinion on what would be best for my hair, features, and coloring. He truly is an artist. He's also so incredibly nice and a joy to talk with! Bryan made me feel heard and cared for, and gave me styling recommendations that met me where I'm at (busy, evening shower-er, but wanting to show off my hair now that it looks like actual heaven). I'm probably going to fly back to Baltimore just so he can do my hair forever. I legit can't rave enough about Smoke+Mirrors and Bryan!! read more

Holly B usually does a great job. Unfortunately she didn't exactly do the coloring I wanted for my wedding. Brought in pictures as examples. I went back again the next day. Still wasn't right, so I emailed. The owner got back to me saying she'd make time and fix it but when I tried to follow up (July) I got nothing back. Disappointed. Lost ~300 bucks, and I'm a teacher...wedding expenses for nothing, gotta love it. read more

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