Live by the Sword Salon — Local services in New York

I never write bad reviews, but this felt warranted, especially since Katie isn’t taking accountability for her botched result.

TLDR- Learn from my $500+ mistake and avoid. This business is money hungry and aren’t honest in their limitations (I’ve actually had another salon admit they couldn’t correct this fiasco, so ethical colorists do exist). Katie knew I worked in beauty but let me leave in an unacceptable state, which you can be the judge of based on my pictures. I’ve already warned all my friends, coworkers & clients about this place so they can avoid a similar disaster.

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I booked a color correction with Katie to remove an old dye job and go ash blonde. My hair’s naturally black, so I know it can be tricky. Despite all this, Katie felt confident and assured me in her abilities to achieve my goal of blonde. She initially recommended doing a strand test but decided against it, which probably would’ve spared me this headache.

I went through different phases of treatment including bleach, and ~4 hrs later, my hair was bright orange with yellow roots. She then added a final step of applying 1 shade of toner, DESPITE my hair being 2 different colors. I didn’t think much of it since I instilled full trust in Katie but looking back, this was a red flag.

In the salon, my hair looked like some form of blonde, and while I wasn’t super happy with the tone, I figured this was the best of her abilities. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized that the back of my head was still ORANGE, so my hair was 2 different colors as if I DIY’d and was completely unpresentable. Katie never showed me this in the salon and only told me “how blonde” I was at the end.

Before I had left the salon, Katie was firm that I shouldn’t come back to treat the top of my head for 8+ weeks (even with toner when I asked), so I knew this was beyond her or Live By The Sword’s skillset and needed a 2nd opinion fast since I looked ridiculous.

After scrambling to find someone to fix Katie’s mess, I ended up getting another correction 2 days later at a different salon that did a proper strand test and was successful in making me look presentable for work WITH bleach and no breakage (which Katie believed would destroy my hair).

It’s unacceptable that I had to spend $500+ for a botched color and another $500+ to correct it elsewhere. I emailed LBTS for a refund but instead of taking accountability, Kristina (the owner) has blamed me for having unrealistic expectations. She then said they could tone it for me to even it out, so I guess it’s normal practice for them to spend 5 hrs for color correction, just to have you come back so they can correct their “correction”? Also, to reiterate, Katie had advised AGAINST toning anymore for fear of damaging my hair. So this advice is contradictory and doesn’t give me any faith in their general expertise and hair knowledge.

This whole place is giving beauty school with high end prices. Come at your own risk, unless you don’t mind spending an exorbitant amount to be...

Gus at Live By The Sword has been my hair savoir for the past couple of years. After my previous stylist messed up my hair, I developed a fear of of doing anything. After looking at countless salons, I landed on Live By The Sword and Gus. Gus is not just a hairdresser – they are an artistic genius who works wonders with hair! The consultation was incredibly thorough and attentive. Gus took the time to understand my hair goals, preferences, and fears! Their expertise was evident as they provided valuable insights and recommendations that aligned perfectly with my vision.

When it came to the actual process, I was blown away by the precision and skill displayed by Gus. He has an uncanny ability to mix and blend colors to create a hue that was uniquely suited to me. The color was vibrant, multidimensional, and expertly applied. It's like he knew exactly what shades would complement my skin tone, and the end result was beyond my wildest expectations.

What truly sets Gus apart is his passion for their craft. You can sense his genuine enthusiasm as the work and commitment to ensuring the client's satisfaction is remarkable. The entire experience was relaxing and enjoyable, making the salon feel like a sanctuary of beauty and self-care.

I've had several different fun styles with him! He even did my hair for my wedding and my hair during my 3rd trimester. He know exactly what to use that was safe but also still fun. We've done blonde, pink, and peach on long hair on short hair. Every session was handled with love and care. I also appreciated his honesty in telling me that XYZ style could ruin my hair or won't look cute. Also, his product recommendations are wonderful.

In summary, if you're looking for a hairdresser with unparalleled talent, a keen eye for detail, and a genuine passion for making people look and feel amazing, then Live By The Sword is your ultimate destination. My experience was extraordinary; Gus has gained a...

Had a facial on 02/08. As someone who values skincare as a routine part of my life, I cannot recommend this salon for its facial services (though I see it is better known for its hair services). I actually feel extremely upset about the time and money I wasted on this service. I’d like to start of mentioning that the aesthetician, Alex, is good. She did the service efficiently and the facial itself was nice. I’d rate it a 7/10 overall.

That being said, I was instructed to come in 15 mins early for the check in process. I came on time, and had to wait 45 minutes for my appointment due to lag time. 45 mins wait time while having an appointment is absurd. It’s better to call and inform the client so we’re not waiting around and can simply come later. The “60 minute custom facial” itself was less than 45 minutes. Got in at 3:30, got out at 4:10. The facial room is not enclosed, so there isn’t a ceiling or even a door (curtain only). Thus, it is LOUD. On a Wednesday at 3:30PM, the salon was packed and that noise encompasses the facial room. There should be a disclaimer to this on their website or something. Even if it isn’t a “spa-like experience”, this is not a appropriate setting for a facial. I’ve been to several other salons that do facials and services, but the rooms are separated. This feels very much like a money-making scheme from this salon. If you’re charging the same price for facials as full spa’s, then it shouldn’t be a loud room with 45 min wait time. Please note I paid $72 via Classpass for the facial instead of $80. Saving $8 wasn’t worth the experience.

Anyways, it’s a full on No from me. Good...