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Stylist Moulay shows how to cut Tina
Barry's hair to trainees Rachael Tewel, Cheryl Gasero and Irene
Serrano (l.-r.). |
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The star smiling from the cover of InStyle
magazine has skin so flawless, it looks sprayed on, legs as narrow as
a 10-year-old's and hair with that "just rolled out of bed" sexiness.
She also has the big bucks to pay a trainer, makeup artist and hair
stylist to whip her into understated perfection.
Yes, life isn't fair. But take solace — fine salons, many with
A-list clientele, offer weekly "training nights" when cuts and
coloring are reduced to a fraction of their cost.
What's the catch? The salon's "head of hair" oversees in-house
stylists who need more experience or want to practice new techniques.
One evening, trainees will concentrate on razor cuts, scissoring hair
into loose layers, while others learn where to apply highlights for a
sun-kissed look. You receive the cubic zirconia of hairstyles and
coloring — all the bling of the mega-dollar stylist's work without the
sticker shock. Here are several salons that make the cut.
PILO ARTS DAY SPA & SALON
8412 Third Ave. (at 84th St.), Bay Ridge, Brooklyn(718) 748-7411
Bay Ridge babes always look hyper-groomed. The salon responsible
for their sleek good looks: Pilo Arts. In the loft-like space with its
light wood cabinets and brushed metal chairs, head stylist Tony Chez
instructs trainees on proper blowout, straightening and
up-to-the-minute cutting techniques.
When: Tuesdays from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Call the
salon several days ahead for appointment, or walk in.
The bargain: Cut: $15 (usually $40-$120); color:
$35-$65 (usually $58-$125); straightening and perms: $65 (usually
$120-$200). Cash, Visa, MasterCard and American Express accepted.
PRIVÉ SALON
310 West Broadway (between Grand and Canal Sts.) (212) 274-8888
Moulay, one of Privé's top stylists, shears the locks of Sigourney
Weaver, Gwyneth Paltrow and Paris Hilton. He oversees 12 stylists in
the spacious, modern salon, correcting everything from scissor
technique to fuzzy communication skills. "Don't say, 'I'm going to cut
off 6 inches,' hold up her hair and show her what 6 inches looks
like," he instructs one student. The handsome Moulay used my curly
hair to demonstrate a razor cut with "lots of movement." The result —
a very sexy cut with lots of movement. When: Every
Wednesday from 7 to 10 p.m. Call the salon for an appointment. Expect
a one- to two-week wait.
The bargain: Cut: $35 (usually $90-$175); color:
$35-$70 ($110-$300). Cash only.
SALON ISHI
70 E. 55th St. (between Park and Madison Aves.) (212) 888-4744
In this peach-colored, Zen-like space, stylists and assistants clad
in black gather to practice haircuts and learn new treatments. Before
cuts or color are administered, clients fill out a questionnaire to
determine the easiest style for the customer to maintain. On the
evening I visited, Ishi, the salon's owner, instructed a stylist who
clipped a teenager's long, straight hair into heavy layers that framed
her face perfectly.
When: Wednesday evening at 5 for color; 6 p.m. for
cuts. Call to set up an appointment. One to two weeks' wait.
The bargain: $15 for all services (usually
$85-$230 for cuts and $92-$250 for color). Accept cash, Visa and
MasterCard.
SPACE SALON
155 Sixth Ave. (at Spring St.), (212) 647-8588
Walk across the cement floor of this huge, techno-chic SoHo
salon and sit at one of the stations behind the silver-beaded curtain.
Trainees, who look like they moonlight as rock 'n' rollers, will give
you any style you'd like, but, judging from the roar of the
blow-dryers, Space's clients prefer straight, shaggy styles.
When: Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon for
color; Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for cuts.
How: Call the desk and tell the booker what you're
interested in. A trainee will call back when there's an opening.
Expect to wait one week to one month. Cash, Visa, MasterCard and debit
accepted.
The bargain: Cut: $35 (usually $95-$150); color:
$35-$55 (usually $95-$175).
VIDAL SASSOON
90 Fifth Ave. (at 14th St.), (212) 229-2200
Call (212) 535-9200 for information on training nights at the
uptown Vidal Sassoon (730 Fifth Ave., at 54th St.). After a
consultation, clients are paired with the stylist-in-training with a
knack for whatever hair design the "model" craves. Vidal Sassoon is
known for precise, clean cuts, which is just what clients receive in
the sleek, 25-seat space with floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
When: Day and evening appointments. Wednesdays at
6:15 p.m., client "models" come in to discuss the style or color
they're trying to achieve. One- to two-week wait.
The bargain: Cut: $20-$40 (usually $92-$154);
color: $30-$60 ($80-$250).
Originally published on February 13, 2005 |