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Bello Hair Studio
Rating Details »
Category: Hair Salons [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square5250 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 784-5733
- Hours:
Mon., Wed-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
33 reviews for Bello Hair Studio
I was having one of those days where I wanted to chop off all my hair. I took a deep breathe and thought about my options. My regular girl will take me immediately but money is tight; I was looking for a bargain. I turned to yelp and of course, as usual, yelp delivered. I called Bello and they were able to squeeze me in the next day. (I did have to pay the price in time as she was also doing highlights for someone else at the same time.)
I was long overdue for a haircut and told her to just take care of my hair, no questions asked. She went really fast. I didn't think she had an ultimate goal in mind. I thought she was just cutting without remorse. Turns out I was totally wrong. It's been about a month since that haircut and my hair still looks perfect everyday without any styling. I love this no-nonsense haircut. Thanks, Bello!
Unfortunately, I have no idea who cut my hair. I do know, however, that she was very tall and extremely proficient. I really like that it is a low-cost, no frills salon with some exceptional talent. I need a haircut - not a haircut with a latte and pretty cookies that consequently makes my wallet hemorrhage. (I used to love Milio's on Belmont for this same reason but their staff is so unreliable that I stopped going there.)
I would prefer to keep this just my secret.
After spending a boatload on my last color job where I was talked into highlights, only to not be happy with my hair some weeks later, I was on the search again for a new colorist.
My biggest issue was that I wanted it to be nearby so I could go home to blow dry/straighten my hair myself, but I of course wanted it to turn out good too. Luckily, I happened across Unity's review and saw that this place was a 2-minute walk away. Yay!! The color I wanted would have required bleaching my whole head, and I appreciate how Alba (my colorist) and Emma helped me find a better solution to reaching the color I wanted. I felt as though they cared about the health of my hair more than the outcome. Two nice, lovely ladies.
When Alba washed my hair I thought I was getting some type of spa treatment, lol. For serious! The water was velvety. The shampoo & conditioner both felt like my hair was being washed with liquid silk, and I got a great massage on my head. I was a little disappointed when my rinse was over. :-(
The prices are great, the products are quality, and the environment is non-foo foo shee shee. Comfortable and simple. I have for certain this time found my new colorist.
I've tried to contact this place to set up an appointment twice since my first time. They're either closed or avoiding my calls. The website is down, so I think it's the former. Boo!
That said, I moved on to Studio 4 Hair and am very satisfied with my cut and highlights.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/2/2008
Alema did exactly what I wanted and it was only $15 to get my hair cut (no blow-dry). It was cheap,… Read more »
I wanted to try a new salon that was closer to home and less $$, without compromising on style. Alema came through! Wash, cut and style for $25! No joke. She did a fantastic job and was extremely personable. I hate that awkward, first time at a salon, no conversation, longest 45 minutes of your life kind of feeling and got none of that at Bello! My husband also got his hair cut here recently and it's only $12 for a guy's cut! A great way to save some cash without compromising!
Went here just before Christmas for the first time and got a cut with Alema. It took awhile to get here from Lakeview (bus to a bus to a 10 minute walk), but it was worth it. This is a no-frills salon, so don't expect a head massage and an herbal tea while you wait. The clientele seemed mostly Eastern European and friendly with the staff. Since I was going for a new style, I opted for the wash, cut and blow dry/style. The wash was utilitarian - like, I said, no frills. I wasn't expecting to be pampered though. She spent some quality time on the cut, which is usually a good sign. I gave her some pictures of what I wanted. After she was done styling and blow drying, I wasn't exactly 100% satisfied. She parted my hair on a different side so it was kind of wonky looking. I wore a hat the way home, so I had to restyle anyway.
I'm glad that I did before making a final decision about the place! Her cut is fantastic. Once I styled it according to how I know my hair likes to go, I could see how talented she is. I got bangs and a few layers. For the first time in a long time, my bangs lay right with minimal effort. Amazing. She also kept the length in my hair and didn't go too short. Seriously, after this cut, I've gotten nothing but compliments and people actually wonder if I've colored my hair. The way she cut it makes my natural color stand out more. Weird, hey? I'm not complaining.
All of this was $30 before tip. I'll be a repeat customer, that's for sure.
Do you dye your hair? Do you know that awful, itchy feeling when the dye is in your hair, when all you want to do is get one of those back scratchers and go to town on your scalp? Not here, folks. Whatever they use to color hair here, it's awesome. My scalp never itched (a first for me!) and the color is still bright and red, over a month later.
My cut is good, not great. But I believe that might be my fault, since I really didn't know what I wanted with my hair, I just wanted a whole lot of it GONE.
Overall, yes, I'll be back. Their prices are spectacular.
I found this business on yelp, because I was tired of feeling I had to go downtown or to Lincoln Park for a decent cut. I have gone now twice, one to get a cut and color, and the second just for a cut. It certainly is a sweet, clean, and maybe no frill salon - but they carry that through in their pricing. I personally don't need massages, and coffee to pay over $100.00 for a color. They do a great job, great price, and i always have found free (or cheap meter) parking! Its worth checkin' out!
Plus i have naturally curly hair which can be a trick, and people love to cut more than they need. She, Alema, has always cut no more than i ask. And now that I have seen her twice, I can have the confidence that she understands me, and maybe I can ask for more daring cuts!
Just returned from my first haircut at Bello. I went in with mixed emotions -- my normal trepidations of getting a trim at an unknown destination, and fear that all of the fantastic reviews would set my expectations at an impossibly high level. I'm not always the best at explaining what I would like to have done in "salon speak," so often leave hair cutteries reaching for the hat buried in the bottom of my bag.
As it turned out, I left my appointment a half hour after its start pleased as peaches. My haircut was fantastic, definitely exceeding my expectations. Alma listened to what I had told her, and used her expertise to create a great cut beyond what I could have imagined. And all for the price of $12.
This place is UNREAL. I need to call my mom and tell her that I'm in love. With a hair salon. She will be so proud.
F A B U L O U S !!!!!
This is definitely one of the best cuts / color I have ever had.
REALLY!!! I have gone to so many high end salons / spas and I am 100% more satisfied with the quality and the service I received here at Bello.
When I originally called, it was a little challenging to make an appointment because she is soooo booked, and I completely understand why now. I needed a change from my current stylist, and saw all the rave reveiws here on yelp so I figured why not?
hahaha... my friend thought I was being very brave at trying a small salon, but I figured what the heck, it's just hair, it'll grow back, right?
OMG, I was freaking out when I found out I had to wait over a week to get in because I was having one of those days, you know when you are ready to start cutting your hair yourself? I was in panic mode, and almost called someone else... but I am so glad I didn't.
The individual attention and service is unsurpassed. Alema is the sweetest person, and I told her to do whatever because seriously, when I came in, my hair looked like a broom that was ready to sweep the floor...hahaha...ok it was in a pony tail, but you get the idea.
She showed me the colors and I was glad she was honest with her opinion and my hair came out perfect. I have never recieved so many compliments on my hair as I did after this cut/color. Seriously...
I will definitely DEFINITELY come back.... I parked across the street at the Dominicks, so parking was no problem either. (maybe you are not supposed to do this, but seriously, who is checking?)
The salon is smaller... but I felt more attended to than a spa. Not rushed or like a number, and she really listened to what I was looking for!!! This place deserves 5+ stars!!!!!
I found this place because of yelp and I've been here twice now and I've had both the owner and the other lady (Alma?) cut my hair. Both cuts were great and the price is unbelieveable! I will be back! I am usaully too cheap to have my hair colored professionally but I gotta say, at these prices I just might try it next time!
I've never had trouble parking. I usually find a spot on the cross street just north of there.
Great place! GO!
The exact same thing happened to me. I thought they may have closed down or something because I've called 4 times and just now got a hold of Alema to get an appointment. Anyway, they are open and I'm getting a cut this evening! Hurray!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/30/2009
I've been here 3 times now and have never left disappointed! I went to another shop to get my hair… Read more »
Hmmm...how do I put this?
Get your hair cut here. TODAY!
I just returned from my first visit to Bello Hair Studio. I just moved to Chicago, and was a bit nervous about finding a new hairdresser. I have short hair (a bob with a wedge-type back...sort of like Katie Holmes' do) and I've found that even though it's a trendy cut, it's tough to find someone who can get all the layers in the back just right. I almost canceled my appointment in favor of a slot at an expensive Aveda salon because I was so nervous.
I am so glad I didn't.
Alema is wonderful, so friendly and warm. She asked me what I wanted and when I pulled out a couple photos for her to look over, she actually studied them instead of quickly glancing at them like many other hair stylists do. And then, in 15 minutes, she replicated the cut in the photos to a tee.
Alema did a better job than my beloved stylist in my last home. My hair looks perfect, exactly as I've always wanted it. Her services (wash, cut and style) cost $27, about half of what I was paying at my old salon. She could charge much more, and I would gladly pay it. It's so nice to find someone who really can do everything, and she must have tons of faithful clients because her phone was ringing off the hook. I can't wait to get my hair highlighted there next month!
Since moving to Chicago, I have been putting off getting my haircut. Living in Lincoln Park, I can't believe the prices the places around here charge! I found this place on yelp. I heard the prices were beyond reasonable, the quality is suberb, and the hairdresser was so nice--this ALL true!!
She listened to everything I said. I have curly hair and sometimes wear it straight so I like to have it cut a very distinct way. Afterall, it has to look great both ways :) She layered it perfectly. I paid 30 bucks to have it shampooed, cut, and styled. She even smoothed it out with her fingertips...her fingertips are magical! I can't wait til it's time for my next appointment!
A simple haircut can wreak havoc on my relationship. The boyfriend is super picky about his hair - he'll go some place, describes what he likes and the "stylist" grabs an electric razor and cuts his hair waaaay too short. He'll look like he's 12 and he'll be in a bad mood for days ... which puts me in a bad mood ... its a vicious circle.
His experience at Bello Hair Studio was completely different. He actually text messaged me at work to tell me that he had an awesome haircut there. She listened to what he said and gave him the cut and style exactly how he wanted it. He looked good :)
So I decided to go and give it a try since I'm never happy with my hair and so I neglect it to the point that my last hair cut was 6 months ago. Alema did a wonderful job, I pretty much had told her to do whatever she thought would look good on me and she gave me a very stylish cut. After she was finished she said "oh I think it looks so cute!" If another stylist had said that it might have come off as self-congratulatory or insincere but not Alema, she's an adorable person.
My haircut cost just $20, the boyfriend's was $12. He's already made another appointment and I'll definitely be back again.
I have super thick, curly hair and this is the best cut I've had.
They got me in for an appointment the day after I called. It was fast, inexpensive and I am very happy with my hair (for the first time in a while).
Alema did a great job and was very personable. (Kind of random, but she reminded me of a Bosnian version of the lead actress in the movie Chocolat.)
Anyway, support this local business!
I've driven by this place hundreds of times and never saw it until a couple weeks ago. I'm glad I did. I easily got one of the best haircuts I've had in years (and THE best in Chicago).
Alema is very skilled , friendly and conversational. I wasn't rushed or ignored even for a second. For a guy I am picky about my haircut and she seemed to have read my mind about what I wanted! She also has the most delicate touch - I barely felt like someone was touching my hair let alone cutting it. It was the perfect cut for a great price.
I know where I'll be getting my future haircuts.
This place rocks! Ema does a great job, is easy to schedule with and is very pleasant to talk to while she's doing her thing. I can't believe she only charges $12 for a men's haircut, I've paid as much as 5 times that to far less capable stylists!
Highly recommended.
I went to Bello Hair Studio in Dec 2008. I just moved into the neighborhood and Yelp sent me this way to try the $15 haircut. Well it's $27 now and they have added an additional hairdresser. I did not get the infamous Alema but her Serbian friend who didn't quite satisfy me. I have to admit I was wishy washy about what I wanted and asked a lot of questions about her recommendations for fine hair. Layers. yes they always say layers. yes they always want to give me the Jennifer Aniston circa 1995. But these layers were special. They formed a complete bowl around my entire head and then the back was left long in a kind of modern woman mullet. Now I know this style was popular last year with the return of the mullet but I wasn't feelin it. I was a little intimidated by her as a strong personality. When she was washing my hair I said "Can you believe this Blagojevich?" and she said "I know- they're attacking him needlessly! So what maybe he took a little money" - I should have known then that her perception was off. But she had scissors in her hand and I wasn't in the mood to fight with her....
Still- reasonably cheap. I would go back and try Alema.
This is the absolute cutest little place ever!! Very chic and very sophisticated, i went in for a repair job on my color ( i went brown from a box and tried to go back to my natural color which is blonde; needless to say it failed). Emma was very nice while at the same time being realistic about the damage that was already done to my hair. She did an UH-MAZING job on my hair and i have to say that i give her mucho points for it. All in all, it was a very great experience and i will be going back.
also, it was very reasonably priced especially since i had a ton of correction work done. I gave this place five stars and let me tell you that it earned every single one of them. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place
Heard about this place from some friends & I must say--they are truly great friends for that. I have very curly hair & have a hard time finding stylists who cut it well. So, I went in with mixed emotions--but after I met Alema--she reassured me & I came out with a lovely layered cut that I loved. Plus, she had me in & out of that chair in 20 mins--wow! I got my hair washed & cut (no drying) and it only cost me $15--in my book that is pretty darn excellent.
I agree with all these positive reviews - a very good cut and overall pleasant experience, and TOO cheap. When she told me the price I said without thinking, "You need to raise your prices." She laughed and said, "Everyone tells me that." Well, sadly, in this superficial world, people very often confuse cost with value. God I wish I could get back every $50 I've spent on mediocre haircuts in trendy salons with uber-hip stylists (uber-hip = pierced & tattooed). Alema could double what she charges and it'd still be cheap. Just think of it like that Radiohead web release: Ignore the price she gives you, and pay her what you think it's worth.
I moved to Chicago about a year ago, and have hated my haircuts ever since. I went to another salon in the city where I was charged too much and given a so-so cut. I used to have really smooth, shiny, straight, easy-to-style hair, but something changed and it has become coarse and wavy. I had yet to find a stylist who knew how to tame the waves.
I found Bello on Yelp and am really happy. Emma gave me exactly what I wanted in a cut and seemed to listen to and understand what my hair wanted to do and how to give it a great shape.
I have gotten compliments on my highlights and am already recommending her to friends.
The price is a steal for the quality of the service.
Thanks, fellow yelpers, for a great find. I took your advice and went to Alema for a cut and color. I love my new hairstyle! It's true that her prices are very low. I paid $55 for a color, cut and blow dry. Incredible deal! I've been looking for that special stylist for four years now and finally I found her.
Simply put, this place gives you major results for minor money. I got a cut, color & blow out for $55! That is less than my last cut cost. She did an amazing job and fit me in on short notice. I think I have found my new home!
The best haircut I've ever had. Hands down.
I just moved into the Lincoln Square area and needed to find a new hairstylist closer to home (rather than commute back to Wicker Park, etc.), so I came on here and chose the closest salon with the highest rating. I'll admit, though, a part of me was skeptical, given there are so few reviews, but I'm now glad to add another Thumbs Up!
The salon was quite cute and the owner was patient and really listened to what I wanted. (I went in with a vague sense of "I want short hair again.") She was so quick I was worried for a few minutes, but at the end it was clear she was just THAT good. And, on top of being a great professional, she was very personable and interesting - which is a pleasant surprise compared to some of the snottier sorts in some salons around the city.
I'll definitely be heading back - and given the prices are so reasonable, I might even finally get my hair professionally coloured.
I have had a few cuts here. I think they do a decent job, but what's missing is a confident sense of style. The staff really takes the time to try to give you what you ask for, and they are very nice. However, I felt like my stylist was relying TOO much on me to tell her how to cut my hair, which made me nervous. My hair looked acceptable, but not as good as it usually does when I pay a little more for the cut. I was excited to find this place at first, but I've come full-circle. I like the people at Bello, and wish them continued success, but I'm moving on.
This is a quaint, friendly studio! I got a great cut (and my hair is not easy to cut) at a great price! I will be back again!
With all the great reviews on here, I was quite disappointed when I went to Bello. I am not picky about my hair and usually trust the hairdresser to know what he/she is doing more than I do. I think I had Emma, not Alema (whichever one is not the owner). I asked for a simple cut and a simple allover dye. She messed up the dye the first time and my roots were like 4 shades lighter than the rest of the hair. She put a toner on it to fix this, which seemed to do the trick until a few days later when it completely washed out. Now my hair looks even worse than it did before! The cut was better but not by much -- and it cost $78. I realize this is cheaper than most, but you also get what you pay for. The worst part about the whole thing was I was there for almost 3 hours! No apologies, not discount, no offers to fix the dye on another day - Nothing. I won't be going back here.
So I'm always weary about going to new places. I've actually relied on the same few people from one salon in iowa actually and have always been just content with my cuts and color. I usually go to expensive salons just because I assume the cost is comparable to the quality, but I read some good reviews for bello and I've heard the prices are reasonable...so I decided to try it (this economy is KILLING me). Let me tell you, this is THE best color job that I have EVER gotten in my life. Alema (Emma) did my hair--the owner--and she actually cared about my hair. I have fine hair and it pulls the color so quickly...she pulled out each section at separate times and checked them so often. The color is AMAZING! I got lowlights and highlights and they're beautiful. I've never come out of a salon as happy as I did today. I totally give them an 11 on a scale of 1-10. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! The cut, the color, the price, the conversation. I'm DEFINITELY going back in six weeks!!!! Love love LOVED IT!!!
I visited this salon purely based on the reviews I read here. The shop is very small, with nice slate floors and a "new" feel to it. The owner Alema is the only stylist currently on staff, so I was really shocked that I got an appointment for a cut and color on short notice.
Alema is very personable and fun to talk with. She listened to my request for my style and color, and really got specific about the details of the cut to make sure I got what I wanted. While my color was processing, she sat and talked with me and we found out we actually knew some people in common. The color turned out very nice and shiny, and the cut was exactly what I asked for. She gave me plenty of time to give feedback during the cut, so I never felt like things were progressing too fast or that I was out of control of the situation, which is always good when you're going for a new look.
I have to say, the biggest surprise for me was the amazingly low price! I have paid well over twice what I paid here for a cut and color (don't even get me started on what I've paid for a cut and highlights). The whole cost was slightly less than what I would expect to pay for just a cut at any other reputable salon.
Overall, it was a perfect experience, and I will definitely be going back!
Great haircut, great price...no drama, just a quality cut. I've gotten lots and lots of compliments. Who knew $12 could buy so much.
My fiance and I have been putting off the haircuts since our move to Chicago, and I was a little scared to try out a new salon, but we are very happy about the haircuts Ema did for us today! Fast and *incredibly cheap,* the double appointment took about 45 minutes, an hour tops, and my hair is great! I'm trying to grow it out but at the moment it's too short not to have a few layers and a cleaned-up look--Ema understood exactly what I needed and reproduced a cute cut that my fiance loves. He looks great, too, and we'll both be back.
I would give Bello 2 and a half stars. I was disappointed with this place after reading all the great reviews. First off, I should say that I have a terrific hair stylist that I've been going to in the west Loop (who charges double Bello's prices), but for a variety of reasons, I wasn't able to get in to see him for my last cut. I decided to try Bello since it's pretty close to home and seemed like a good deal. I had a late afternoon Saturday appointment, and ended up having to wait over an hour. Too long - good thing I didn't have evening plans. And the waiting area consists of hard chairs and a small table, so it's none too comfortable. At my regular place, the wait is never more than 5-10 minutes, and I'll get a beverage. My stylist (the owner) did come over to talk to me while waiting. Finally in the chair and my stylist proceeded to have conversations in another language with other staff and customers. Sorry, but while you're cutting my hair, the focus should be on me, and since it was my first time, how about trying to get to know me a little? I also didn't get the level of confidence from her that I get from my regular stylist. The haircut was on the better side of mediocre and the price is cheap, but I'd say you get what you pay for. I'd go back if I was low on cash (the long wait was certainly no time saver), but I realize that I prefer the more comfortable salon experience, the personal attention, and the great (as opposed to just decent) haircut that I get from my regular stylist. The price alone just didn't make up for the mediocre quality.
