Antonio Prieto Salon — Local services in New York

I never write reviews, and I was really trying to avoid writing one in this case, but here we are. After a long hiatus, I decided on a whim to treat myself to color. At the recommendation of a friend and after reading a lot of reviews and perusing Instagram, I booked a last-minute appointment with Reni at Antonio Prieto salon for highlights. I was transparent at the beginning of my appointment that I had used boxed dye several months ago and showed a picture of the color I was hoping to achieve. Reni said my hair was too dark and because of that and the box dye, suggested something different, saying we should go "one to two shades lighter." I agreed. Many hours, multiple comments about how bad it is used to box dye and Pantene shampoo, and $525 later, I had a color I didn't love and wasn't close to what I wanted, but I decided to give myself a few days to see if it it grew on me since it was a big change. It did not, and seemed very inconsistently applied with large patches in spots.

A few days after my appointment I was on Instagram again and happened to open Reni's page in which I saw she shared a post from someone else about the difficulties of lightening dark hair and wrote the following, in her own words, "Reminder to myself to be kind to myself, and this is the reality of removing dark color. I had a client w box dye the other day, & although I know (I know), I lost sleep over her hair. At the end of the process I did not like it. The client did however, but I just beat myself up so much over it bc it's not what I wanted. A moment of transparency and weakness that sometimes I don't like my work, but also even wizards have limits."

I sent her a message on Instagram and she confirmed she was indeed talking about me. To say this is unprofessional and uncalled for is a major understatement. If she was not confident in what she suggested for my hair when I provided full transparency about my history and routines, why would she allow me to sit there for hours and pay for a very expensive service? This is akin to robbery. It's also a real head-scratcher that an Instagram page primarily used to document her work as a colorist is used to post things about not being able to achieve what she herself said she could do, not to mention it's a major disserve to the salon.

I sent an email with this information to the salon, and Antonio himself prompty called me. Antonio was appalled and apologetic, and did proceed with a full refund as well as made me an appointment with his lead colorist, but he also did not fully offer this service complimentary, instead he gave me the option to pay if I was happy with the color.

Yesterday I realized that Reni blocked me on Instragram. Personally, I couldn't care less; however, I sent another email to the salon to cancel the additional color appointment and ask them to confirm that she is not continuing to post negative statements about me, my hair or this situation. I cannot return to that salon when their employee is so willing to engage in unprofessional, childish, rude, and mean behavior.

If you want to be shamed for box dye and the hair products you use, be humiliated on social media, and pay a lot of money for sub-par color (by the colorist's own admission), then this is the...

Just saw Antonio on 8/30. I had been traveling and got a haircut that was not working for me at all. Antonio did not have much to work with and he went shorter than I have worn my hair in a while, But, he restored a great shape to my hair and it works so well. He told me I would like it more in two weeks, but I am enjoying the cut already. Cristo did my color based on the cut and gave me some beautiful strategically placed blonde highlights. They are fun and make the style more interesting! Between the two of them I am so happy!!

Antonio today. Another great haircut. Great conversation. So collaborative with you as he works towards your end results. Besides the fact that I feel like he is worth every penny, he is a good person. Always makes you feel appreciated as a customer. I also saw Cristo for color. Cristo does such a good job with color. My hair is difficult to color and often i have had to sit for another round to cover the stubborn grays….NOT with Cristo. He is the man, makes it happen with one take. Everyone in the salon is warm and inviting. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a great haircut, maybe some color, excellent product recommendations and consistency. Antonio has been right there for over 20 years! You know he is...

Pros: lovely space, people are v nice and welcoming. Cons: for me I ended up with an unflattering and unmanageable haircut. I’ve really resisted writing this as I hate to submit smthg negative but after several weeks (and a 6 month nutrafol subscription), I am still as frustrated and upset. I simply wanted a revamped style from long shoulder length hair. Choppy chin length blended layers etc. What I have is essentially a mullet. Or the modern term “a wolf cut”. Kept decent length at the back but I easily lost 5-6” on top & those layers are at my cheek/ears! They are so short they don’t even stay back in a pony tail. They constantly flop down in my face which for someone who goes to the gym 3x a week is infuriating. I have to clip them back like an 8year old. I’m also a business professional and in a corporate office. The only way I can wear this cut is curly - and my hair is poker straight - so I now have to spend a full 30mins to do that which I don’t have at 6am! And still clipping the front back. It’s not salvageable after a day and a sleep so it’s starting over every day. It truly has upset me and I feel frumpy. It will take me until the end of the summer, at best, for the top to grow even to past the chin for...