David Ryan Salon — Local services in New York

Here’s the thing. We live in Vermont and, may I just say, it can be CHALLENGING, to get a good haircut in The Green Mountain State. So there’s that. But also, Miranda has been keeping her hair waist long forEVER and was just not able to wrap her mind around actually cutting it. As in getting a style and framing her face and just losing some of all that. And, again, the stylists in Vermont were not “helpful” in making any kind of change.

So we were FINALLY going to be able to get back to NYC and I decided I would take the opportunity to take Miranda to an actual, legit salon where a stylist with knowledge, experience and skill would be able to do some “makeover” magic. But! I also needed that stylist to bring the Good Vibes and the Positive Energy to make this a GOOD experiences for Miranda. You know?

Back in the 80s, when I was coming up and would sometimes get my hair done in NYC the “salon vibe” was, frankly, STRAIGHT MEAN. Like everyone was snotty and rude and mean. Probably because they were all also starving themselves in a doomed attempt to get that starved look that was ALL the craze back then. Also, of course, I have curly hair and that was just not a thing. It was never a good, fun, positive experience for me. But I’m GROWN these days and figured I could direct the whole situation as required to steer it in the right direction.

I didn’t have to. Every aspect of our visit to David Ryan Salon was pretty much perfect.

I chose David Ryan because we were staying in The Garment District and I knew I could find a place, walking distance, in Hell’s Kitchen. So I went online and read through descriptions and services offered and online reviews. David Ryan Salon, in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, is a GORGEOUS spot. The interior is really just perfect. It was quiet while we were there, but also we’d brought 2 small toddlers with us. So that was just as well.

When I booked Miranda’s appointment I chose to request a Master Stylist. Because, WHY NOT? Two things: if you’re paying a professional to do something, get the good one! Also, there is no such thing as a good, cheap haircut. That being said, Miranda’s cut and style was $130. Which, IMO, is NOT expensive for an excellent haircut from a skilled stylist.

Miranda’s stylist was Madion Russo. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Madion. Not only is he EXTREMELY good at what he does. He is kind. Kindness goes A LONG way my friends. Especially when you are talking to someone about their personal appearance and, helping them to change it. Not only did he give Miranda a BEAUTIFUL haircut, he talked to her about coloring and conditioning and styling and ALL THE THINGS in such an easy, approachable way. He tailored his service to his client and was just amazing.

I cannot recommend David Ryan Salon and, particularly Madion Russo highly enough....

This Salon is NOT Trans-Friendly

Went to this salon for the first time a couple of days ago. Chose it because I work in the area and they had availability when I was free.

I felt really uncomfortable when I checked in with the person at the front. I booked online for a men’s haircut, since I have short hair, the style I wanted is considered a “masculine” style, and I don’t identify as either male or female. The person checking me in saw that I had a men’s haircut booked, took one look at me, and said, “you should have booked a women’s cut.”

I was so taken aback by that statement that I didn’t have a reply. They said, “Did you book a men’s cut because you have short hair? It should’ve been for a woman’s cut.” I stumbled over my words in trying to explain that I have short hair and want a men’s cut. But they kept saying that it should be a woman’s cut. After about a minute of this, I mumbled that I don’t identify as male or female, and they conceded that they would “have to see” what the stylist did to determine if it should be charged as a men’s or a women’s cut. Women’s cuts are almost twice as expensive as men’s.

I sat down to wait for the stylist, and the person at check-in went over and talked to the stylist, leaning really close and whispering. The two of them kept looking over their shoulders at me, so it was obvious they were talking about what I requested. I felt incredibly self-conscious and quite frankly embarrassed, even though I asked for something that was completely normal.

That day, I happened to be wearing a dress. I also got top surgery two years ago. But just because I was wearing a dress does not mean I automatically identify as female and want a female cut. I should not have to explain my gender identity to a stranger just to get the haircut I want. My outward appearance has absolutely no bearing on my gender identity and it does not dictate what kind of haircut I “should have booked.” These comments made me feel unsafe as a trans person in this establishment, which is ironic considering the website says the owner decided to open the salon in Hell’s Kitchen because the neighborhood is “a hub of gay culture.”

The wash and cut were fine and they ended up charging for a men’s cut, but the number of micro aggressions I experienced in the span of five minutes means I will not be...

I would NOT recommend David Ryan salon. The manager and stylist Madion Russo are rude, inconsiderate scammers.

When I called to schedule an appointment I asked for a blowout and to put in and style my extensions for a wedding, which he said would cost $75. At my appointment, after my hair was washed, I sat down at Madion’s station where he proceeded to tell me that he wouldn’t put my extensions in and style. He assumed that the extensions were already in my hair.

I was surprised that he made this mistake especially after confirming by phone. I was stunned. I asked him if there was any chance he could help put in my extensions for me. He immediately snapped at me and told me he wouldn’t do the service “especially if I was going to lecture him,” even though the whole time I was extremely polite. Madion left me in a very uncomfortable spot — I sat in the chair upset and panicking, as I had little time before the wedding to find ANOTHER place that would slide me in for an appointment. Madion also said my extensions were “a mess” (they were only a little tangled.

Madion could probably sense that I was stressed out because he finally agreed to put in my extensions for me, but that the service would cost $110 now. Since I was desperate to get the extensions in for the event I agreed to it, but I should have gone elsewhere because he threw a hairbrush at me and told me to brush out my own extensions…and then for the blowout, he BENT me over so my head and neck were down, which was physically painful, and told me to STAY like that while he went to wash another person’s hair for over 5 minutes.

Finally, the manager and Marion were speaking to each other in a different language (in front of me) about this current situation. They switched to English & the manager groaned and said to him, “You know this is gonna be a bad yelp review right?” Marion responded, “I don’t think she’ll do it.” The manager then said “So stupid” and the two continued being snarky.

I was in tears afterwards. I have never been...