What makes for a great salon in L.A.? For some, it's all about having a renowned stylist sailing the ship. Others may judge a salon by how well their lowest-level stylist trims hair. And, for a lot of people around here, it all boils down to who does the best blonde highlights.
But, regardless of whether you care more about a chill, anything-but-stressful ambience or a price tag that won't break the bank, we believe all great salons have one thing in common: You leave feeling really, really good about your hair.
Sure, it may sound simple. But, in our experience, only an elite group of salons can be relied upon to provide that every time. We searched near and far, and narrowed it down to 13 spots that never disappoint. So, check them out ahead, and then make an appointment ASAP. And, if you have a local favorite that didn't make the list, let us know in the comments — we're always looking for an excuse to get our hair done.
Benjamin With Negin Zand
Formerly known as Salon Benjamin, Benjamin Mohapi's Melrose salon recently got a name change, thanks to renowned colorist Negin Zand coming aboard. The impeccably designed space might be one of the coolest salons we've ever been to. It's tastefully stylish without that old-school, uptight salon mentality. You'll leave with a look you really love, whether or not you decide to go dramatic.
Cost: Haircuts start at $135; highlights start at $210.
Notable Clients: Jaime King, Megan Fox, and many more
Products Available: A wide range of offerings, including shampoo by Davines and nail polish by Tenoverten
Benjamin With Negin Zand, 8910 Melrose Avenue (near North Almont Drive); 424-249-3296.
Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin With Negin Zand.
Mare
New-on-the-scene Mare packs a triple punch: hairstylists Mara Roszak and Alex Polillo, and colorist Denis de Souza. The three cofounders are all Hollywood heavyweights in their own right, with laundry lists of celebrity clients. Plus, the brand-new West Hollywood salon is actually a converted home, so it offers a relaxed feeling and an outdoor space where clients can get treatments while enjoying the SoCal weather.
Cost: Haircuts start at $175; color services start at $100; extensions start at $400.
Notable Clients: Emma Stone, Lily Collins, Rita Ora, and Emilia Clarke
Products Available: Davines, Leonor Greyl, and Sachajuan; tools from GHD and Parlux
Mare Salon, 152 North Wetherly Drive (near Beverly Boulevard); 424-274-3479.
Photo: Courtesy of Mare.
Spoke & Weal
Stylist Jon Reyman and colorist Christine Thompson teamed up to open their L.A. outpost (they also have a location in S.F.), and we couldn't be happier. Since both have worked with a number of incredible designers, the salon is geared more towards high-fashion looks than celebrity trends. If you want something a little edgy but not too crazy, this is your spot.
Cost: Cuts start at $75; highlights start at $130.
Products Available: tons of Aveda
Spoke & Weal, 8211 West 3rd Street (near South La Jolla Avenue); 323-591-0979.
Photo: Courtesy of Spoke & Weal.
Hairroin Salon
Boasting outposts in New York and L.A., Hairroin (tagline: "Addicted to style") is youthful, edgy, and badass. This is the place to go if you want to dye your hair a neon color or shave off the side, or try something equally punky but trendy. In other words, Hairroin is where Jem and the rest of the Holograms would get their hair did.
Cost: Haircuts start at $70; color treatments start at $105.
Notable Clients: Ariana Grande, Zooey Deschanel, Scarlett Johansson
Products Available: R+Co, Davines
Hairroin Salon, 1520 North Cahuenga Boulevard (near Sunset Boulevard); 323-467-0392.
Photo: Courtesy of Hairroin Salon.
Cie Sparks
Malibu's not necessarily known for its incredible salons — well, until now, that is. Having just opened in October 2014, Cie Sparks may be one of the newest on the list, but it didn't take long for us to trust 'em. Power duo Michael Sparks and Heather Cie have compiled a stellar team for a salon that combines Hollywood glam with the laid-back California lifestyle.
Cost: Cuts start at $175; highlights start at $225.
Notable Clients: Cie and Sparks have worked with everyone from Kate Beckinsale to Gillian Jacobs to Lena Dunham.
Cie Sparks, 3835 Cross Creek Road (near Pacific Coast Highway); 310-456-2300.
Photo: Courtesy of Cie Sparks.
Shin
One of the few renowned salons in Santa Monica, Shin opened a little over two years ago — which is surprising, considering all of its diehard devotees. That said, if you go for Shin An's famous dry cut, you'll totally understand why.
Cost: Haircuts with Shin start at $275; cuts with other stylists start at $125.
Products Available: Philip B., plus a few in-house lines worth testing out
Shin, 1025 Montana Avenue (near 11th Street); 310-310-3128.
Photo: Courtesy of Shin.
Andy Lecompte Salon
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Lecompte and his wildly talented team do a killer job with hair across the board. Plus, they're considerably faster at their craft than many of their top competitors.
Cost: Cuts start at $200; color service starts at $125.
Notable Clients: everyone from Madonna to Nicole Richie
Andy Lecompte Salon, 616 North Almont Drive (near Melrose Avenue); 310-273-4100.
Photo: Courtesy of Andy LeCompte Salon.
Nine Zero One
We'll get straight to the point: If you're blonde, dying to go blonde, or even just considering a hint of highlights, this is your new favorite spot.
Cost: Prices vary by stylist but can be viewed on the staff bio pages here.
Notable Clients: The list is endless, but just to give you a taste, Emma Roberts, Jennifer Lawrence, and Miley Cyrus are among them.
Products Available: L’Oréal Professionnel, Oribe, Unite, and more
Nine Zero One, 8469 Melrose Place (near North Alfred Street); 310-855-9099.
Photo: Courtesy of Nine Zero One.
Kimble Hair Studio
If you're at all interested in hair, you're definitely familiar with Kim Kimble. The celebrity hair guru's list of famous clientele may be the most impressive in the biz. Aside from her frequent past appearances on Oprah, she also has her own show, L.A. Hair, on WE tv. Our personal recommendation: If your locks are the least bit dry or damaged, make an appointment for one of their signature conditioning treatments. Your tresses will thank you.
Cost: Prices available upon request.
Notable Clients: Beyoncé, Kerry Washington, Halle Berry, and many more
Products Available: A wide range — plus the in-house line, Kimble Beauty
Kimble Hair Studio, 8280 Santa Monica Boulevard (at North Sweetzer Avenue); 323-650-2222.
Photo: Courtesy of Kimble Hair Studio.
Ramirez | Tran
Fact: This is far from the first time we've written about Ramirez | Tran. Hell, we've ogled their Instagram. And, we stand by our praise of the relatively new salon. You can expect to leave happier than ever after a cut and color service. That said, we admit it's not the most affordable spot — but, if you go anyway, reserve a decent chunk of your day if you're getting color!
Cost: Haircuts with Tran cost $400. For Ramirez, base color starts at $150, and highlights start at $350. Appointments with the other super-talented stylists and colorists are much more affordable.
Notable Clients: Miranda Kerr, Harley Viera-Newton, and Aubrey Plaza
Products Available: Oribe, Davines, L’Oréal Professionnel, and more
Ramirez | Tran, 8912 West Olympic Boulevard (near South La Peer Drive); 310-724-8167.
Photo: Courtesy of Ramirez | Tran.
Capella Salon
Valley denizens, this one's for you. The Studio City salon is run by seasoned vet Shai Amiel, who calls himself the "curl doctor." He specializes in the Deva Cut, a dry-cutting technique just for curly-haired gals. Translation: Hightail it here if you want the prettiest, bounciest curls of your life. But, even if you have pin-straight locks, you can take advantage of the salon's other services, including standard haircuts, color, highlights, extensions, braids, and more.
Cost: Haircuts start at $75; Deva Cut starts at $125; color service starts at $75.
Products Available: Kérastase, DevaCurl, and Moroccanoil
Capella Salon, 12930 Ventura Boulevard (near Coldwater Canyon Boulevard); 818- 784-4247.
Photo: Courtesty of Capella Salon.
Harper Salon
Founded by the former owners of Steam salon, the salon aims to cut hair for every type of L.A. woman — from Hollywood litigators to Hollywood stars. The one thing that all cuts will have in common: a little edge. The space itself boasts a cool, industrial, dragon-tattoo vibe, and the decor is a minimalist dream. If you're looking for a quick chop that won't cost you an arm and a leg, the Melrose salon has you covered.
Cost: Haircuts start at $125; color services start at $100.
Notable Clients: Kaley Cuoco, Renee Zellweger, and more
Products Available: R+Co., Oribe, and the owner's own all-natural line of hair creams
Harper Salon, 8259 Melrose Avenue (at North Harper Avenue); 323-931-0066.
Photo: Courtesy of Harper Salon.
Mêche Salon
A favorite of celebs, this Beverly Hill salon is bolstered by one of the biggest names in hair color, Tracey Cunningham. Lily Aldridge, Jennifer Lopez, Drew Barrymore, Charlize Theron, and tons of other stars have Cunningham to thank for their locks — and, you can, too (if you're lucky enough to score an appointment with her). Even if you're not in the market for a new hue, the rest of the team at this stylishly sleek spot is equally adept at haircuts, keratin treatments, extensions, manicures and pedicures, brow shaping, makeup application, and more.
Cost: Haircuts start at $175; color service starts at $150.
Notable Clients: Emily Blunt, Lea Michele, and Minka Kelly
Mêche Salon , 8820 Burton Way (near South Robertson Boulevard); 310- 278-8930.
Photo: Courtesy of Mêche Salon.
Brighton Salon
Looking for a one-stop shop? Look no further than this Beverly Hills salon, which has a diverse staff of experts offering color treatments, cuts, extensions, brow-shaping and tinting, and dry styling, like braids and updos.
Cost: Haircuts start at $40; color treatments start at $60.
Notable Clients: Sienna Miller, Kristin Cavallari, and Nicole Richie
Products Available: Kerastase, Oribe, Kevin Murphy, and Shu Uemura
Brighton Salon, 9409 Brighton Way (near North Beverly Drive); 310-247-2221.
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