- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Brandon Keith Hair
Rating Details »
Category: Hair Salons [Edit]
Neighborhood: Back Bay161 Newbury St
2nd Fl
(between Dartmouth St & Exeter St)
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 536-9843
- Nearest Transit:
-
Copley (Green)
Back Bay (Orange)
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- By Appointment Only:
- No
16 reviews for Brandon Keith Hair
I was recommended to BK by my modeling agency, Tonn Model Management, and I have no regrets since.
Love this place. Orestos gave me the royal treatment when I went there. My hair is really difficult to style and deal with, but Orestos did a great job giving me a good styling.
I've definitely been a regular for awhile now.
I've tried many salons on Newbury Street, but Brandon Keith is by far the BEST! Located on the 2nd floor, the salon has a stylish interior without the attitude! Everyone is down to earth and makes you feel comfortable and welcome in the salon. I've been going to Melissa for about a year now, and I absolutely LOVE HER! She always does a fantastic job with color and listens to what I want but gives suggestions on what she thinks will work best. The prices are reasonable for the area, and I'll sacrifice spending on some other things to keep getting my hair done here!
From the moment I walked into Brandon Keith, I felt a such positive energy. The stylists were all so warm and fun. My experience there was more than cutting/coloring my hair, it was an injection of self-esteem looking at myself after.
Brandon transformed me into an edgy, funky and chic.. I loved everyone there-
Well worth throwing down a few bucks for the treatment and best cut of my life..
I also followed Leon here from Back Bay Hair Designs, and yes, BKH is a much nicer space! Spacious, sunny, clean, and the people are always very friendly.
I've reviewed Leon before (see my review for Back Bay Hair), but I'll reiterate that he's wonderful, I love him, and I'll never let anyone else cut my hair. He is SO great about getting my bangs exactly how I like them. And beyond that, he's a really sweet person. :)
I love Leon.
Before him I had never had a cut so fantastic that after 5 weeks of growth people will still stop and say 'Wow, did you just get a haircut?"
Yeah, he's THAT good.
I've been up and down Newbury Street and this is a nice enough salon. Melissa is great and does a really solid cut. The staff gets along great, but sometimes spends a bit too much time hanging out with each other while a customer is getting a cut. I sent a friend in to the salon and couldn't figure out what was taking 2 hours for a simple cut and blow dry; they had booked the cut around a double process foil highlight, which shouldn't have had another client booked in between at that price point. Focus on the color, don't sandwich a cut in between and do bits and pieces while you check the color. WTF?? Both clients got a bit screwed,it seemed. Music is techno, and can be way loud. But Melissa does rock it out, so she brings the salon to 3 stars from 2.
I decided to try Brandon Keith Hair after 'hopping' around the larger salons on Newbury and never feeling satisfied with the outcome. My hair is very fine and can easily look a frazzled mess if not handled with care. Both the condition of my hair and my color were terrible before I walked into an appointment with Rick and my 'style' was non-existent. I loved the intimate and relaxed setting of the salon, all the staff were warm and friendly. Rick took time to listen to what I wanted to get out of the visit and it showed! I came out of the salon with EXACTLY the cut and color I was hoping for. I wasn't even sure if the long bangs I'd requested would work with my fine hair but Rick did such an expert job that my he somehow made my dull, lifeless hair look full, healthy and luxurious! Rick also knew exactly which tone would suit my coloring and it came out a rich, glossy chocolate brown.
I truly had one of those ' I love it!' moments when I looked in the mirror and can't wait to go back and get my bangs trimmed!
This is sort of funny, as reviews go that is, because I have yet to go to the salon, but I am really excited to check it out because I have just learned that a hairdresser I love has recently taken over a chair there.
Here's the story-
I randomly asked a lot of people where they had gotten their great hair cuts and they all said the same place, so I booked a cut, and when I got there they told me a new guy was going to be cutting my hair. What he did was radically different from what I had before, and I was a little unsure until I got home and my husband said "Wow, you look great! Does he do men's hair?"
If you knew my husband, and how important his hair is to him (sorry honey, but you know it is true xoxox ) then you would understand the significance more, but suffice to say, it is a big deal for him to want to try a new hairdresser (since it is usually me, because no one else gets it right!)
So he went- oh so happy with his hair cut.
Then my mom went
and my kids
Both of em!
And we were all one big happy family!
And then Rick disappeared!!!
And the next thing I know all those people with great hair cuts are talking about massive layoffs at the salon in question and how they are all going to other places to follow their hairdressers.
Forget bliss, I am following my hairdresser too
And so is my mom, and my husband, and my kids....
His name is Rick, or Richard, by the way, and he ROCKS
--------------------
Update on May 8th:
I have been to see Rick, and once again I have a good haircut and a nice, warm fuzzy feeling about the whole experience.
And now I can comment on the salon as well, which is really beautiful!
I felt welcome, it was sunny and comfortable, and everyone was so nice.
The only thing I want to add is that when you go be aware that it is upstairs, not street level. I had a teeny weeny bit of trouble finding it. But nothing serious.
Five stars, for sure!
Let's just say I've had plenty of haircuts on Newbury St. before, even good ones. But I've never understood the word "stylist" until I had my hair cut by Leon. I absolutely love my hair now and get compliments from everyone. For a girl with a frizzy mass of Italian waves this is really something special. Indeed.
I'm on the search for a new hairdresser, mainly because my girl is located waaaaaaayyyy down in Randolph. Why Randolph? Yeah you can ask, as most of my friends do. Well, she does a great job, and when you trust your hair to someone, you are afraid to change, right.? Yeah that's me. But Randoplh is such an inconvienence considering I work 30 minutes North of Boston.
So I tried out Brandon Keith on Friday by making an appointment for a blowdry. I walked in and wasn't overly impressed because it's almost too simple - perhaps because BK just recently took over or just because that's his style. My appointment was with a guy named Phillipo who is a cool shiz not to mention had fantastic style. I like to define myself through my style and noticed he was quite the same - so I appreciated that. Really good at knowing what you want without asking too much and great at making suggestions. He styled me pretty well, gave me the trashy-sexy look I was going for so he passed the test. Not entirely sure I'm ready to have his scissors have a go at my locks - but keep him in my little black book of haridresser I need in a pinch.
The minus 1 star for me was the cost - very expensive. My blowdry was $50, and if I decide to go with the highlights, lowlights, cut, blowdry and everything else I was told I need to make my hair more healthy we are looking at $300. Ahhhh? Not sure I can justify that. I'd rather be inconvienenced with a drive to Randoplh for half the cost. The other thing is that the salon was so plain and not comfortable. The back of my neck was bruised by the sink. Most salons have converted over to those new sinks with rubber in the neck area. It's way more comfortable. Wasn't exactly the relaxing meditative/healing experience I look for at a salon.
Would I go back? Perhaps, but I think for now I am going to keep looking. I would not consider this a bad review at all - after all when you are looking for a hairdresser it's what you like. Everyone that worked there were very nice and friendly - but I also didn't get that warm welcomey feeling. I'd recommend this place to people who are edgey and comfortable with a change at any expense - both at your wallet and possibly insecurites.
It's worth checking out, but don't go for a total change at first. Take baby steps.
I followed Leon here from Back Bay Hair Designs, and BKH is a much nicer space. I wasn't thrilled with the shampoo boy which is why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5; his idea of a "relaxing scalp massage" consisted of grinding his fingers into my head pretty hard.
Leon did an excellent job cutting my hair, which was the important part. I like my hair cut blunt, with thick, blunt bangs (think Bettie Page). A lot of stylists don't seem to understand what I want and end up giving me layers and feathery bangs - eek, Mom hair! Leon has done exactly what I wanted from the first time I went there and I will always have him cut my hair.
I'm perturbed.
When I arrived i was informed that Brandon was running 15 min behind. I said "no problem I'll come back in 15".
::15 min later::
I had to wait another 10 minutes till a sink freed up for the assistant to wash my hair. The water while he was washing my hair was EXTREMELY hot. I don't think that it is healthy for any hair to be washed this hot (this is coming from a girl who likes her showers hooot). I over heard the washer say to the client before me "sorry the water just changes on its own, we have no control." That's pretty unfortunate for a hair salon!
The cut was good.
Brandon was nice.
But, I think this salon has a few kinks to work out, just like any new business.
I haven't had bangs since high school. Never liked them back then either. But the other day I won a silent auction at C&B for an amazing gift certificate to get my hair cut and colored at BKH. So, when the following events followed, I knew I had to try something completely new.
[] I hadn't got a hair cut in about 6 months
[] Got the gift certificate to this "edgy" salon for an expensive cut and color for only $100
[] Brandon appeared in this months Stuff@Night as I randomly opened the mag
[] I was going to NYC for the weekend
[] And when I called to make an appt Brandon was able to do my cut/color later that same day!
Excited and nervous, I went to this new salon with this idea that I would get bangs. May I remind you that it had been maybe 10 years since my last set of bangs, but I had this feeling of confidence that Brandon would do this right.
Brandon greeted me kindly with a huge smile on his face and the soothing and sultry Alicia Keys singing in the background. His salon was immaculate, clean, uncluttered, stylish, and comfortable. He knew I was apprehensive about the cut, but he was sure I would look "hot" and "sexy." Okay then. Well, he did the highlights and also glazed the rest of my hair for contrast. The color, by far, went above and beyond my expectations. It looked great (and still does). When the cut came, my heart raced. My bangs were cut with careful precision and a steady hand. I felt dizzy by my nerves, but in all honestly, my hair looked great.
Brandon executed the impossible with ease!
What's even better, I can manage this new style without belaboring with a blow dryer or hair product, but as Brandon might say, "See what a little product can do?? Amazing!"
Brandon, thanks for transforming my look with confidence. I am so glad I took the risk to try something new wth you.
I had my hair cut and highlighted today at Brandon Keith. In short, I LOVE IT!!! Leon did my hair and he was fantastic!!! I will be a repeat customer of Leon's and Brandon Keith's Salon from here on out.!!! The salon has a great ambiance and feel to it. Very attentive service from the front desk as well.
I love this place. Like many other reviewers I followed a stylist here from Back Bay Hair Designs. However, instead of the famous Leon I followed the wonderfully talented Melissa. She is the best hairstylist I have ever had. I have received many compliments on my haircut and she always does an excellent job highlighting my hair. I first went to her on the recommendation of a friend and it was the best thing I could have ever done. My hair has gone through many style incarnations, I even confess to having gone through a perm phase. But the short hairstyle she gave me last year suits me and my lifestyle well. Plus I won't shudder in 20 years at pictures of me with this hairstyle. I already wince whenever I see the pictures of me from the mousse'd spiral perm era.
So I've been wanting rockstar hair since I was in high school. All my previous attempts at getting it have been unsuccessful--from my first bottle of Manic Panic that stained my hands, neck and sink but merely tinted my hair, to my experiments with edgy salons like Shag and Judy Jetsons--nobody seemed to be willing (or able?) to give me what I was looking for.
Then I found Brandon.
He just opened up a salon on Newbury St. a few months ago and a friend of mine went to him last week. She came back with the coolest hair and of course, I had to go too. When I went to see him I didn't really know what I wanted. I've had variations of basically the same haircut for 2 years now and wanted a change but didn't know what I wanted to change. Brandon took over and the results were phenomenal.
He died my hair a stunning red color and put in dark brown lowlights and light red (almost orange-y but in a good way) highlights. Not too much but just enough to give it some dimension. Then the cut...oh my god this is the haircut I've been dreaming of for 2 years and could never explain to people!!!! It's fun and edgy and super low-maintenance. You just wake up, mess it up, put some spray-on wax in it and go!
Anyway...I'm glad that I finally have the rockstar hair of my dreams. The service was a little pricey, but well worth it in my opinion.
