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Carsten Institute
Rating Details »
Categories: Cosmetology Schools, Hair Salons
Neighborhoods: Flatiron, Union Square22 E 17th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 675-4884
- Nearest Transit:
-
Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
14th St-6th Aves (F, V, L, 1, 2, 3)
14th Street (PATH)
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
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8 reviews for Carsten Institute
i LOVE this place. every time i come i get a great cut and it's only $18! the hilights are great too. partial foil is $37 and full foil is $52 which i think is amazing.
just a tip: when making your appointment, ask about graduation. if you book closer to the current class' graduation date, your hair dresser will have more experience and probably more insight. ;)
also, they no longer accept tips via cc (cash only) so be prepared.
I've been getting my hair cut at Aveda Institutes for years and I also worked for an Aveda Salon. This Aveda Share School is mediocre at best.
Instructor and Student did not seem very attentive at first. I was afraid they hadn't heard what I really wanted done. My student was confident for the most part and seemed to work well. I realized that he skipped a step without instructor approval...but the instructor did not seem to care. During a final check while my hair was still wet, the instructor (Mr. B?) told me that I would have to grow out a chunk of my hair because "the last stylist must have cut this wrong". Actually, Mr. B, that hair existed before I came into the Carsten Institute.
After my hair was dried, I was surprised that there was not even a selection of products used. There was one product available at this student's station. I had asked for texturizing to be done and this must have been interpreted as "thin out the ends of my hair". I realized my hair was uneven and had to have him attempt to fix it - but there was already a huge chunk missing from before.
I blame instruction here, not necessarily just a bad student. The instructor was busy chatting with people instead of over-seeing a student stylist. Also, I was required to pay before my service and no tips were allowed unless they are cash...not that I would have left one anyway.
I got my hair done here a couple months ago. I was expecting it to be very affordable since i am on a budget and i read that their prices are very reasonable. HOWEVER, while the haircut was very affordable my color was not! I was told that i was going to be charged by the bowl and that i might even need 3 bowls for my hair. I would never have needed 3 bowls if they weren't so tiny. I think this is definately a trick they use to get more money. My hair is not that long but i do have a lot of hair. Besides that i had a very enjoyable experience....I had a slight anxiety attack before my student started to cut my hair. I definately decided to get a very basic cut and she did a really good job. The music they were playing was really fun and i liked having a young student to talk to. She looked a little nervous and unsure at times and i wished that an instructor was monitoring her a bit more. All in all it was an ok experience. My hair came out good but I didn't leave the salon with that super confident feeling that you get when you get all prettied up. The main reason i was going there was for the value but it actually ended up being just as much as if i got my hair done at my usual place. I guess this was just a try it once and see thing
The students here do a great job. I've gotten highlights here twice, and they came out really lovely both times. And you can't beat the price.
However - the second time I went, when I got home, I realized that they had dripped bleach all over the back of my dress. Totally ruined. I called the salon the next day and told them about what had happened, thinking that though they couldn't replace the dress, maybe I could get the 40 bucks I paid for the highlights back. I was very friendly and even told them what a great job the student had done with my hair.
The people on the phone were brisk and UNfriendly, and told me that they wouldn't refund anything at all because these were students.
I explained that had they done something awful to my hair, I wouldn't have even bothered complaining. I accept the fact that these people are learning.
However, I, who know nothing about hair at all, am aware that bleach ruins fabric. Student or not, they should have know how to properly wrap a plastic cape around someone's shoulders. If they're going to charge anything at all, they should at least be partially responsible for the person sitting in their chair.
I would probably still go back, I guess, but next time, I'm wearing gym clothes.
I loved my experience here. I've had my hair cut at a few beauty schools in California in the past, but this experience far surpassed any of them. The student and instructor were attentive and detail oriented; they critiqued and cleaned up and paid attention to the quality of the cut itself, as well as how it worked with my head; and they were really attentive to what I was looking for. I have very short hair, so sometimes it's hard to work with it... but the student did a wonderful job.
What to expect: I made an appointment and was promptly seen at the appointment time. You pay up front ($18.79 for cut, including tax, accepts all major credit cards) and tip afterwards. I sat down, and the student and I discussed what I wanted. I got my hair washed + complimentary scalp massage (Aveda products smell great, too)... then the student sketched out her "game plan" and it was reviewed and updated by the instructor. I got my hair cut... and then it was again reviewed and touched up a final time. Then it was styled, I filled out a comments survey... and was out the door in an hour.
It was a bit longer than my usual hair cut (my short haircuts usually only take 30 min) but that was expected since I was at a school. Check out the prices: they're the cheapest I've seen-- and not just for Manhattan!
FYI: They are open Tuesday through Saturday.
Aveda has been booked both times I've tried scheduling an appointment with them so my impatient ass ended up at its sister school, Carsten, instead. They are punctual and the booming music keeps things fun and chill.
My first experience was pretty good. My hairdresser was friendly and outgoing and followed my directions. It took about 1.5 hours.
My second hairdresser gave me a complimentary scalp massage (score!). This was heaven combined with the hairwash and minty Aveda products. My scalp was all tingly and smelled minty even after I showered the next day. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there. My hairdresser was quiet (not a huge problem in itself) and seemed very unsure of herself, making me nervous. She also took FOREVER (2.5 hrs, to be exact), even though she had less to cut than my first time.
The bottom line is that what you gain in savings is what you lose in time. You should only come here for a simple cut and when you know exactly how you want it done. Don't expect to be able to get a consultation or much of an opinion from your hairdresser. Depending on who you get, it could be a hit or miss.
I think this place is great. Where else can you get 2 opinions and 2 people's expertise regarding the service you are about to have done on your hair?
Not in NYC friends.
As the other reviewers said, it is time consuming. It takes a little longer than a regular salon. But, you're helping these students get their credits to graduate, so you can feel a little better about you vanity ;)
I had a great student (Sidney V. I hear she graduates soon) She did an excellent job taking my hair from a dark brownish-red to a light and beautiful light blonde.
It is a very very difficult process, that I don't trust many people to do. But when you have instructors coming around to ensure the student is doing the right thing, it's perfect. Rather than going to someone who will do whatever they want, possibly suck & charge you as much as they please.
The prices are good, and you pay for what you're getting up front, rather than being quoted a price and then having it changed like many other salons in the city.
They use great Aveda Products and it's actually kind of a fun environment as well.
Kudos to this place!
Carsten's has never failed me when it comes to a great hair cut and color job. I've been going there for years and am reminded each time I get my haircut how much I love it!! The students cut and color hair, but they are under great instruction. I would schedule at least an hour for a cut and 2 hrs for color, but it's worth it. And if you're short on cash a cut is only $16 bucks and color starts at $40.. . Not too shabby for NYC... Check em' out.
