There’s nothing better than a good day in New York—make that a good hair day in New York. Walking the city streets with a great haircut and flawless highlights is priceless. And at certain city salons, getting a designer ‘do at drastically reduced prices—and yes—sometimes even for free is ‘do-able. These haircuts are either given by seasoned professionals who need a model to tryout the latest hair trends on or a trainee with several years of professional experience at a prestigious salon. Still interested? Make your appointment ahead of time and prepare for a change.
What: Louis Licari: $35 haircuts and $40 color services.
When: Classes are held every Monday at 6 p.m. The waitlist for a haircut is about two weeks and about a month for hair color.
Why: If it’s good enough for Vogue—where Louis Licari’s work has been featured—it’s good enough for you.
Where: 693 Fifth Ave., 15th and 16th Floors, between 54th and 55th Streets in the Takashamaya building. Call 212.758.2090.
Who: Celebrity clientele include: Susan Sarandon, Mira Sorvino, Katie Couric, Hillary Swank and Rob Lowe.
What: Redken Exchange—Free haircuts and $15 hair color by advanced stylists with five to 25 years of experience.
When: The four-hour sessions are held twice weekly and there is an open model call every Thursday from 10 a.m. to four p.m.
Why: If Redken’s award winning products aren’t reason enough, the Exchange also gives clients mini sessions on the state of their hair, how to care for it and samples of the styling products or color used during the appointment.
Where: 565 Fifth Ave., 2nd Floor, between 46th and 47th Streets. To book an appointment call 212.984.4703 at least a month before your visit.
Who: The models at New York Fashion week wear clothes by top designers and, often, hair by Redken—the official sponsor for the past eight seasons.
What: Cutler Salon—$10 haircuts, $20 single process hair color or highlights and free blowouts.
When: Haircuts occur from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the no charge blowouts are every Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Why: Unlike other salons, most Cutler trainees work with the salon’s celebrity clients. So the trainee that cuts your hair for $10 could have just coiffed a Victoria Secret model’s mane.
Where: 115 E. 57th St. between Park and Lexington; 212.308.3838 or 465 West Broadway between Houston and Prince; 212.674.2210.
Who: Clients include: Scarlet Johansen, Victoria Secret, Lucky magazine, The View, New York Fashion Week, Seventeen magazine, John Frieda and Swarovski Crystal.
What: L’Oreal Professional SoHo Academy—haircuts, single process color, highlights and styling—all for free!
When: Classes are held almost every Sunday and Monday. The classes start in the morning and last four to five hours. To schedule an appointment e-mail a picture of yourself that shows your hair, a description of your hair, the dates you will be in New York City and your cell phone number to Nicole at nchiacchiero@us.loreal.com.
Why: Did we mention that the services are free?
Where: 15 Mercer Street between Grand and Canal Streets; 866.SOHO.NYC
Who: Forty percent of the stylists in the program own their own salons and the remaining 60% are the best hairdressers in their respective salons.
