Salon Riz — Local services in New York

This was my second time at Salon Riz, and honestly, I was disappointed both times. The first time I met with Claudia went OK. She took the time to "get to know" my hair, although it oddly took a very long time as she was confused on how to cut it (?). I was then whisked away for a wash, which was under scalding water, despite me saying repeatedly that I wash my hair with cold/lukewarm water due to scalp issues. Cool. I got the haircut w/C, and while the body of the cut was fine, my bangs were all wrong. I asked for a variation of curtain bangs/full front, where they'd be long/slanted enough to stand as curtain bangs but short enough right in the center if I wanted to cover more of my forehead. My other stylist got this right, but I left this salon with more of full frontal bangs, which I explicitly said I did not want.

The second time I met with Tom, after some friends recommended seeing other stylists in the salon. I walked in and was whisked away for a wash without even meeting Tom or getting a consult w/dry hair considering this was the first time he was cutting my hair. The temperature of the water was constantly changing and the tech kept spraying water across my face (rolling into my mask). It was so messy + uncomfortable and not relaxing at all. Great. I explicitly tell Tom what I want: long layers, face framing pieces, curtain bangs that are short enough in the center in case I want to put them forward. I grew out my bangs for months to have a fresh canvas to work with. Tom trimmed my hair + cut layers, but I'm missing the face framing pieces. Worse, Tom haphazardly cut my bangs and gave me a weird edgy cut when that is not at all what I asked for. Seriously, I was a little scared as he was cutting my bangs with the thinning scissors. Rightfully so. When I got home, I realized just how uneven my bangs were and how awful they looked.

I'm just disappointed having paid nearly $200 for two cuts here where clear directions were given and not followed. It's not at all a luxury or high quality salon, from when you walk in, to the washes, to when you leave.

I told Claudia this was the first time in over a decade I was getting my hair cut with a new person as my old stylist moved across the country, and I was very scared to get my cut with someone new. I was obviously right to be because this was a joke both times.

Edited: Your response really should say "We're sorry that our stylists did not better listen to your requests and left you with a botched haircut." I left feeling unheard, frazzled, and with an embarrassing haircut. No-one ever wants to return to a hair stylist to "fix" the haircut they couldn't get right in the...

I have been coming to Salon Riz for several months now. I had been looking for a stylist who can cut short curly hair in imaginative styles, in particular for Black and Brown women. I live in Harlem and have tried several salons around the neighborhood, but most of them either specialize in locs or braids or other protective styles or they want to sit me under the dryer and straighten my hair. Or, frankly, the cost is out of my price range and/or not warranted for a 30-45 minute short cut.

I searched and searched the internet and on Yelp, reading hundreds of reviews and poring over hundreds of photos and finally settled on Rachel at Salon Riz because a) the few photos I'd found showing her work were great, b) she had done some edgy short curly cuts, and c) she'd worked with Black hair and appeared to have Black friends. Well the day before my appointment the salon called and said that Rachel had been exposed to covid. They asked me if I wanted to reschedule with someone else. I told them the whole story about why I had selected Rachel in the first place, and they told me that there was someone else there who they thought I would be happy with. So they rescheduled me with Claudia.

Long story short, I have been very happy with the salon and with Claudia. I never know what I want and therefore can be a frustrating client. But Claudia has been very patient with me and has been explaining my hair to me. I even bought a diffuser for the first time in my life. She listens to what I want, takes care in cutting and styling my hair, and explains her choices along the way.

Finally, the facilities are adorable. The space is nicely decorated, with plants and flowers and unique furnishings, and it is exceptionally clean. The professionals who assist with shampooing are courteous and gentle and...

I'm sad to say I would really discourage anyone with above 3c hair from going to this salon! I felt really uncomfortable throughout the experience. One hairstylist told me about how she detests her curls and then proceeded to tell me how my curls look just like hers in a disapproving tone, and the principal hairstylist told me that maybe I "should be more worried about what I am doing to my hair than concerned about her experience" when I expressed nervousness after she told me that she had never applied the Brazilian blowout to kinky hair. Note that when making the booking I had:

a) asked the receptionist if they used the Goldwell Keratin (I was told yes, but upon arriving, learned that they do not — and since I was on a tight schedule, I had to go with the Brazilian),

b) asked if there was a stylist who could book me next day who could work with curly hair (kinky hair is CURLY too!),

c) when I got there and had the principal hairstylist look at my hair BEFORE proceeding with the treatment, I asked her: "Can you manage my hair?" and she said yes. However, knowing what I learned mid-treatment — that the salon rarely gets clients with kinky hair — would have made me walk out that door.

As a kinky-haired person, I want to trust that my stylists know what they are doing. An added bonus, this is sad to say, is that the stylists make people with all hair textures feel comfortable and like their hair is WORTH learning to style. This was one of the most negative experiences I've had in recent years. Kinky-haired girls —...