Are your split ends haunting your dreams? Have those “beachy” highlights you got in July grown out in a way that’s more washed up than those kids from the first season of Laguna Beach? Help is on its way. Our style mavens hit the streets to find the best—and worst—salons within walking distance. All salons are given a rating out of five stars and prices are meant as a guide only; hair varies, so be sure to double check prices with your stylist.
James Brett Coiffure
This trendy Aveda concept salon is located in the heart of downton Kingston and offers a wide range of
hair and spa services. It prides itself on service and quality—which keep their customers coming back—and it uses Aveda products, which means they’re derived naturally and organically. The staff
is professional, knowledgeable and precise in their work. And if you’re looking for a new do, the staff at
James Brett know the latest hair trends for each season. “The most common style we do is usually the long, glossy, flat-ironed hair, with texturizing hair cuts. It’s still long and flat, even though curls are in. We’re expecting to be doing more perms this year,” manager Catherine Taylor said. Taylor said James Brett Coiffure offers four levels of stylists, which reflect four levels of experience and pricing—from new talent, who have just graduated from school, to owner James Brett himself, the salon’s busiest and most expensive stylist. If you’re willing to dish out $120 or more for a women’s cut and colour, you won’t be disappointed and your hair will still feel freshly cut after two months. Your hair services also come with a complimentary hand massage, beverages and a gift bag for new clients.
They also offer a 10 per cent student discount Sunday to Wednesday.
*****
189 Princess St.
613-542-2427
Women’s cut: $35-$40
Men’s cut: $24
Colour: $80-$85
Highlights: $95-$100
Note that price range indicates salon stylist prices and all chemical services include a hair cut.
—Joanna Nicholson
Serenity Hair and Spa
This salon’s kitschy décor and oh-so scenic view of the A&P parking lot is far from serene and the hair services aren’t spectacular either. My $50 haircut took approximately 10 minutes and I walked away feeling like I could have done it better myself. The stylist’s lack of knowledge about her own career also made me feel uneasy. But if you’re looking to get an appointment the day you phone, Serenity Hair and Spa may be your answer.
*
295 Brock St.
613-547-8711
Women’s cut: $35
Men’s cut: $15
Colour $60 for short hair, $80 for long
Highlights or lowlights $80 and up
—Joanna Nicholson
Diva Salon
Diva is a fairly small salon with an upscale spa-atmosphere, located in an older building complete with exposed limestone walls, candle lighting and soft music. Owner Paula Foster said that for 11 years, Diva has been operating as an Aveda concept spa, though they have been offering hair styling for less than two years. “We try to be innovative, we’ve gone back to the roots of Aveda, which is based on ancient ayurvadic technology,” Foster said. “We really want to educate people on a deeper scale. It’s about wellness more than beauty.” The salon features a full esthetics and spa line, and even something as simple and relatively low-cost as a brow wax is treated with the same level of soothing spa-room atmosphere and attentive care as a more high-end spa package. Foster said Brazilian waxes are their most popular service and they even offer a Brazilian for men called the Boyzilian.
“We’re definitely student driven. We have a lot of people who come from Ottawa or Toronto specifically
to see some of our stylists,” she said, adding that the salon features a year-round 10 per cent student discount. Stylists are well-trained and attentive to their clients, but I’ve found that some of Diva’s stylists aren’t up-to-date on current trends or urban styles.
*** 1/2
336 Princess St.
613-544-4067
Women’s cut: $38
Men’s cut: $28
Partial foil highlight and cut: $90
—Meghan Sheffield
Fab Hair
The best-kept secret of the Kingston hair salon circuit is located at the corner of Queen and King Street East. Amidst the sea of fancy hair salons along Princess Street, Fab Hair is a welcoming salon with some edge. “We’re known for our friendly atmosphere,” said Gillian Argue, hair stylist at Fab.
Getting your hair done at Fab is like going to your friend’s place for a cut, except your friend is a welltrained hair stylist with a knack for avant-garde cuts.
The craziest hairstyle Argue has done for a client recently was an asymmetrical cut with chunks of
red and purple dye. “A lot of people come wanting funkier cuts,” said Argue. “We get a lot of popular
hairstyles, too. The Sienna Miller haircut was really popular last year.” The salon has a lot of regular
clients from the townships and in Kingston, despite its out-of-theway locale. A friend recommended the salon to me in third year, and I haven’t had a bad haircut since. Just make sure you go to Fab with an idea of what you want, and maybe some photographs. Stylists at Fab take what they do seriously, but they’re always willing to experiment.
*****
390 King St. E
613-549-2194
Woman’s cut: $40
Men’s cut: $18
All-over foils: $100
All chemical treatments include cut and style.
—Lauren Raham
Luce Hair Studio
Almost half the time I ask someone in Kingston where they got a great new haircut, it seems like the answer is Luce. Although the salon has only been open since July 2005, it has already established a
diverse and regular clientele. The service is friendly and relaxed, and Luce’s exposed brick wall and simple furniture contribute to its hip, upscale vibe.
Popular treatments and styles this season are “Pinks, chocolate browns, and waves,” said co-owner
Steve Wallace. “Curly, wavy hair is coming back—the Jennifer Aniston look is out.” Luce specializes in hair colour, with two stylists certified as Master Colorists. “With that sort of certification, they know colour inside and out—and application, placement, and what’s going on with the client’s hair,” Wallace said. “It’s really, really in-depth.” In addition to its hair services, Luce employs two estheticians,
a massage therapist and a reflexologist. “We do a billion Brazilians.” Luce isn’t your cheapest option,
but if you want to make a serious investment in a long-lasting, quality haircut and smart colour, the 10
per cent student discount adds up.
**** 1/2
370 Princess St.
613-544-3330
Hair shaping: $39 ladies, $27 men
Ladies’ part foils: $98; full foils, $108; colour and full foils, $139
Men’s part foils: $86; full foils,
$96; colour and full foils, $127
—Meghan Harrison
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s)-in-Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.