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GiGi Salon Styling Studio - Aveda Concept Salon
Rating Details »
Category: Hair Salons [Edit]
Neighborhood: Long Island City3417 30th Ave
Astoria, NY 11103
(718) 777-7755
- Nearest Transit:
-
30th Ave (N, W)
- Hours:
Mon. 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tue-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
28 reviews for GiGi Salon Styling Studio - Aveda Concept Salon
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
8/9/2009
11/19/2009
10/29/2009
11/4/2009
10/28/2009
7/29/2009
8/15/2009
6/15/2009
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5/19/2008
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6/17/2009
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10/13/2008
2/26/2008
11/2/2006
11/11/2008
12/29/2008
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
Not only is the staff exceedingly friendly, but these guys really know what they're doing. I have really thick wavy hair with a mind of its own, and most stylists just can't handle it. Lorin, the stylist I had, just "got it." If you have thick or curly hair, she's your go to girl. She just has impeccable judgement. This haircut is one of the best I've ever had, and at $41, it's a steal! Especially for an Aveda salon, because Aveda products and stylists are top of the line. I've noticed some reviews saying the coloring is expensive, but I think that's because Aveda dyes are non-toxic and very high-end. It's infinitely better for your hair, but it is more expensive than conventional hair color.
I forgot to mention, you can get an appointment next day if you need, which is awesome. If you're a chatty kathy, the stylists are very nice and will definitely talk with you, but if you, like me, would rather chill out and let the stylists do their job, they're equally as accommodating. That's what really gave it an extra star for me, that everyone was laid back. I hate snobby salons.
The good news: I came in here with dark, dyed red hair and asked them to make me a platinum blonde. Karen the colorist was skeptical but determined, red is notoriously difficult to strip out and she had not anticipated a job of this magnitude during this very busy Saturday. Undeterred, though, she went to work immediately, telling me that it is a colorist's "thing" to get that "perfect blonde" and she was going to see to it that I was it. She was working three different color jobs simultaneously at one point, but between the assistants and the magazine selection I never felt neglected.
Three hours later I was platinumized. It was glorious. I paid more than I thought I would, but seriously think it was worth it. My roommate goes here for haircuts with Nem and likes him an awful lot.
The downside? I called back three weeks later to investigate touch-ups and was told Karen was no longer with them. I get the feeling that outside of the core styling staff, this place experiences a hefty amount of turnover. Which makes you wonder, right?
Either way: I'd recommend it, but am disappointed to have lost track of the best damn colorist I've ever met.
I walked in on a whim (needed a haircut like woah) and was able to get an appointment ASAP. Hooray!
Edita cut my hair, and it is amazing! The cut is cute, exactly what I wanted and even looks good when my lazy-self does nothing to it. Too many times I've left other salons with an amazing looking haircut, only to have it look like crap the next day because I just wash and run.
Edita was precise with the hair and even made my sad, in the process of growing out, bangs look like part of the style.
The owner pleasantly asked if I wanted highlights, and that's about as close as anyone came to pushing a product on me. He probably realized it was useless asking me about highlights - my hair is like a black hole, sucking in the light and reflecting pain on those that dare attempt to change the color. (Oh, the sad highlight debacle-stories I have about my hair, which is neither here nor there.)
All and all, I am pleased with the cut and the price. For under $60 including tip, I left with a cute, dry, styled look.
I've been traveling to LIC from the UWS for two years just to have Lindsay cut my hair. I discovered her after suffering a terrible haircut (elsewhere) 2 years ago. Lindsay is fantastic -- she listens to what you want, and her prices are very reasonable. In a pinch, I also had Nem cut my hair once; he did a great job, too.
The service from the support staff is a bit hit or miss -- they've asked me if I wanted something to drink, but then forgotten to bring what I requested.
Glad I found a salon in the neighborhood with a friendly staff. Not only are they fast, they are on their game. The salon has an urban feel that is both edgy and inviting. From the initial consult to the shampoo bowl, to the final blow dry and style, I was very impressed and happy to sit in Mandeep's chair and will most def be back. If you're looking for a $12 barber cut go somewhere else, but pay just a little more and get a salon experience!
I'm a typical "dude" with short hair. I live in Astoria and have been here a number of times.
3.75 is more realistic. It is pretty pricey ($25 for a regular men's cut plus tips for hair wash and coat/bag and such). However, it's a welcome addition to Astoria and it seems every time I go half of the clientele traveled from Manhattan. I also have to point out the services of a similar quality and level would be 20 - 30% more in Manhattan.
I've seen Nem and Edita - they're both great.
Their Aveda product prices are also the same as an Aveda corporate store.
finally found a good place in Queens for cut & highlights. I went here as a result of all the positive yelp reviews. I had gone to Arrojo in Manhattan for over a year, and then was going to the Aveda salon in the Queens mall and sometimes to places in Jackson Heights like Pilatos, but with mixed results.
I saw Gigi the owner both times. He did highlights, cut & color. He was fast, which I appreciate, as he did the highlights & base and had them set at the same time. He dry cuts my hair. My hair is wavy and has had great curl since he's been cutting it. I will definitely be back. He's not cheap, but it's less than Manhattan and the fact that he does cut and color and quickly, saves me a lot of time. And I look great, so it's worth it. FWIW they take M/C and visa but not Amex.
Very friendly staff, and they did a nice job with my haircut and highlights ;-)
I liked Carolina and she was pretty laid back...
I would def come back for a haircut
The only downside?
The price is a bit stiff, $170 for highlights + haircut
I have mixed feelings about this salon. On the outside it seems great - I adore aveda products, it looks trendy and very clean and the prices are incredibly reasonable.
After going to a salon in Manhattan for years, I decided that although I loved (LOVED) my stylist, I could no longer afford the steep prices. Instead of having to go months between haircuts to save some money, I thought "wouldn't it be nice to go to a reasonably priced salon where I can get my hair cut more often?"
Yes, it would.
Enter Gigi Salon. When I called up the receptionist was very nice and helpful. They were also very accommodating and were able to fit me in right away ( I think I called on a Thursday for a Sunday appointment). At my old salon, I often had to book weeks in advance. Plus Gigi Salon has great hours.
I was scheduled an appointment with Carolina. When I arrived at the salon I was taken to shampoo right away and then Carolina sat me down at the chair. Here is where I start to have mixed feelings about my experience. I think I had high hopes for this first cut at Gigi's. Unlike some, I actually like my stylist to be chatty - I feel like that means we are on the same page and that he/she knows exactly what I want. My experience with Carolina was that she was not that type. She was very brief when we went over what I wanted - which was basically a much needed trim all over- and then didn't say much to me the rest of the time except to comment that I have a lot of hair (which I do). I also thought she was too quick, like she was rushing a bit.
At the end, I got a decent cut, but it was shorter than I had hoped for (I wanted a trim of maybe 1-2 inches and got 3-4 inches, which is a significant difference). Maybe I didn't communicate enough or maybe it was because she was rushing - I don't know. Either way, all my friends and family have said my hair looks great - which it does. It also cost, half what I used to pay in Manhattan.
I will continue to go to Gigi Salon, but I think I will try another stylist. One that is more compatible with my personality and the experience I like to have in a salon. Its way to convenient to my apartment and affordable not too.
I came here on Yelp's recommendation to fix a horrible haircut I got while back at home in BFE Texas, and what do you know, they did an amazing job.
Not the friendliest salon ever, they prefer talking amongst themselves more than talking to clients, but that's okay with me. I've never needed to be super chatty with my hair person.
I've been to two different stylists, and both times I walked out looking amazing. Thanks GiGi.
I have very thick hair, and a lot it, so I occasionally end up with styles that although cut well, don't really help my hair. So, I have walked out of salons thinking my hair didn't look great, but that in about 2 weeks in would be fine.
(I've also experienced the horror end of the spectrum and once ended up with a mullet , so I tend to be conservative in what I tell a stylist I want)
That said, I was able to get an appt. right away at Gigi. (which apparently isn't always the case, but cie la vie) Before, I got my hair washed, Nem came over to check out the goods. I always appreciate when a stylist looks at my hair before its wet to see exactly how it looks naturally. We had a quick discussion about length and layering and then I was off to wash.
Nem cut my hair in under 45 minutes. And he cut it well. He didn't push any products, though he did mention my grey hair (hard to miss... and I was thinking of getting a color, but not that day).
Altogether I spent an hour at the salon, paid under $100 for a nice cut and left feeling that I could go back there when in need.
And really, that's all I need from my neighborhood salon.
I have a hard time paying for anything other than a cheap haircut. So what possessed me to try an Aveda salon, I really don't know. But I'm really glad.
I did not have the speediest experience in getting seen and seated, but before that they were attentive and nice and asked if I wanted anything to drink (I said no because I wasn't sure if it was complimentary? I normally do Supercuts, people, this was quite a shock for me). But then Lindsay came and introduced herself to me and got to work. I'd set out that I didn't want a blow-out, but when I saw what a good job she was doing, I was happy with it and decided to cough up the cash.
...Which ended up being $46, which is not how much I want to spend on my hair. But the blow-out and cut? Seriously, my hair was never so bouncy and pretty and feminine in all of my life. This is a bad, bad thing, guys. I may never be able to deal with Supercuts ever again.
I live in Brooklyn but I decided to go alllll the way to Astoria to get my hair cut since I heard such great things about this place. IT did not disappoint!!! The hairstylist I had was fabulous and she really paid attention to my requests and to what I wanted to do with my hair. She checked with me constantly to make sure I was happy with my bangs and the length and was responsive to ANY suggestions I made. It was one of the best experiences I ever had in a hair salon, especially after going to many salons that just ignore or obviously do your appreciate your own input.
Plus, she had great hair herself and had just the kind of bangs I wanted! She was so friendly and engaging and just all-around nice. I went there without an appointment on a Saturday afternoon when it was really really busy but they put me up after only a 5 minute wait. The price was MORE than reasonable for such a fabulous cut and service and I do not regret one second I went all the way to Astoria. The salon itself was a little small but had a clean-cut style and overall I am a very very satisifed customer.
I also have mixed feelings about this place. I saw a girl at my gym with really cute hair and she recommended this salon. I made an apt and my haircut was pretty good. Not great, but not bad either. the stylist, listened to what I asked for and respected my wishes to keep growing out my hair. That being said, I expressed that I wanted more of a "style" and I was left with blah. But I would rather her to be too conservative rather than cut too much off. The cut was very reasonably priced.
I went here again for highlights and was disappointed in the results. Once again the stylist played in on the conservative side, and while I am happy with the color, since when does paying $125 mean you process my hair and then hand me off to someone who clearly has no experience and finger dried my hair into an unstyled mess without any product in it (hello, it was just highlighted!)? In this state, I was sent on my way. Apparently it costs more to get it styled or blown out. I didn't expect a blow-out, but I would at least like to look nice on my way out the door - isn't that bad advertising for them?
I was prepared to dump a LOT of money into this salon. Since moving here I'd yet to find someone in the area who could give me the exact color I wanted (a navy blue). I thought Aveda might have someone who could possibly help me (or at least point me in the right direction).
Boy was I wrong.
I walk into the salon and go up to the counter. There's close to 7 women just hanging around doing nothing (that should of been the first sign to turn around and walk out). I ask them if they could do "this color" and all 7 noses suddenly turn right up into the air.
One looks at me and says "Here at Aveda we only deal with NATURAL colors". Excuse me? I walked out feeling like a complete ass. Friends of mine tell me this is my fault for asking someone in Astoria to do something like that, but hey, what do I know?
Needless to say I now have to do it myself with the help of a little product from Pravana. :(
It seems like Astoria has a ton of salons....but they all seem to be grandma type salons. So when GiGi opened a few years ago, I was excited that a modern and hip salon opened. When I went in there a few years ago, I had terrible highlights. Kristina not only fixed my hair, but gave me the best highlights of my life. I love them. And she gives great cuts. I am not sure why people complain about how the staff is snobby or pretentious. Every time I go in there, everyone is so friendly. From the stylists to the support staff, I have never had a bad experience.
I made a last-minute appointment here for a haircut. I am a lifelong lover of Aveda's products, their Rosemary Mint is the only thing that keeps my greasy mop clean but moisturized.
Anyway, my stylist was Carolina (drop-dead gorgeous Angie Harmon lookalike) and she was just great. Did a thorough cut and blow-dry, listened to what I asked, chatty without being annoying. The shampoo person was friendly too. The cut was great, just some layers and a trim. And actually blow dried it completely instead of leaving it half wet.
All in all, I would highly recommend GIGI to anyone.
You won't see many 1 star reviews from me without a long explanation. Prepare to read and know my fury.
My step-dad is a well-known hair dresser in Philadelphia. This means that for my majority of my life, not only did I not have to pay for my haircuts, but I didn't have to worry about the hassle of finding a good stylist for myself.
When I moved away from home years ago, it dawned on me that I actually needed to find my own hairdresser yet I'd still been hopping around from salon to salon. It was time for an appointment and my friend had claimed to have a great coloring experience at Gigi so I made a color and TRIM appointment. I asked the girl on the phone how much a TRIM would be and she said "oh, like $5." Great, good deal.
The salon itself is nice enough....the decor is stylish, if small, and they try to be very Manhattan with the feel of the place: Offering you wine, etc.
The color didn't turn out badly, except that they got it all over my forehead and ears...way worse than if I had done it myself at home! I mean, I came to the salon for color so that I wouldn't have that outline around my hairline. The woman tried scrubbing it off and took some skin, but the color remained.
**NOTE: The shampoo chairs at this place have got to be the most uncomfortable chairs I have ever sat in. I usually like getting my hair washed and I was in actual PAIN with my head back in this bowl. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry...I'm not even kidding. Even if you don't have any back or neck problems, you're going to have a major problem here.**
So, on to the "trim." I told the girl that I literally just wanted a 1/2 an inch taken off, no style change, etc. I have (had) side swept bangs and asked her to trim those as well, but not as much, keeping the shape.
The next part of my story is not for the faint at heart.
The woman stood in front of me the whole time she was working on the front. It was taking longer than I thought it should, but I assumed she was just being precise. She then started blow drying my hair before I could see anything. I told her I didn't want it blown dry and she said "it's part of the cut" with which I replied "I didn't want a cut, and I am not paying for a blow out." (more on this later)
When she moved away and I could see my "bangs", they looked VERY short and they were flipping in every direction. I remained calm and told myself that she just didn't know how to style my hair. She muttered something about a "cowlick" (I DO NOT HAVE A COWLICK) and I started to realize how much she took off. I literally had BANGS. But not just any bangs.
It looked like a 5 year old had taken safety scissors and cut his own bangs, BANGS.
It gets better. After she got done butchering my hair, she tells me the cut is $40. I told her I only wanted a trim...that's all I got, and I specifially told her not to blow dry my hair because it didn't need it (I have chemically straightened hair...I don't need blow-outs! See? http://www.yelp.com/bi...). They made me pay the $40 anyway, and I was of course, furious.
I got home and realized the extent of the damage. It wasn't even wearable..I had hair in my eyes on one side and short pieces halfway up my forehead on the other. The shock of it all hit me and the post-haircut trauma set-it and so did the hysteria and tears. I know this might sound dramatic to most guys..and some girls...but seriously, I looked hideous. Truth be told, I had been mildly considering getting straight across bangs, but I would have liked the decision to be mine, and for the job to be done right.
I wore a headband the next day to work and called the salon to tell them what happened and ask for it to be fixed and refunded. The girl told me I would have to come in the next day to see and talk to the owner. That's what I did.
I thought that would solve everything.
Except the owner is some self-rightous prick. He had the nerve to accuse me of asking for these bangs and showing me some fashion magazines with photos of girls with butchered bangs "walking the runway in Italy since it's the TREND." He wasn't trying to help me, he was trying to convince me that what I had on my head was stylish and acceptable. I ended up in tears again in his chair. I demanded that he fix it, and he didn't even give me a refund. You can imagine how irate I was. He didn't do a good job either, but made the bangs wearable.
It's been 2 months since that happened. I've grown into my bangs and had them fixed at another salon. If this had been handled better, I would had gotten over the careless mistake, but the way I was treated was entirely unacceptable.
End of story.
I love my hair dresser, Nam (I think that's how his name is spelled?), but I Hate Gigi salon. It's one of the most pretentious salons I've ever been to (and I've been to many-my hair is kind of a nightmare).
I got my hair done here for my wedding, but didn't inform anyone that I was getting married that day to avoid the $75 wedding day tax that everyone likes to throw on.
I've gotten 4 cuts from Nam in the past year and they've all been spectacular. I wish I could just get him to cut my hair in the privacy of his own home so I didn't have to contribute to the evilness that is Gigi.
It is actually a prerequisite that the owner of an Aveda concept salon is a complete d-bag. I used to have my hair down at Giacomo & Rondi salon in Boston until I went in one day and had an allergic fit from the puffy puppy running around the salon. Naturally, the owner of the salon was also the owner of the dog. When I said something about how it's not hygenic to have a dog in a salon environment, they told me that if I didn't like it, I could leave. So i did....wet hair and all.
Gigi is another Aveda beast. It's constantly packed on the weekends. I went once and they didn't have hot water. Instead of giving everyone a discount for the inconvenience (when I tell you the water was cold, it was COLD), they pretended it wasn't happening, which was SO obnoxious.
If I didn't love Nam so much (have I mentioned that I love Nam?), I would not come here. Maybe Nam will read this and run away to a new salon after sending me a message on Yelp about how much he loves cutting my unruly, chemically relaxed, cowlick ridden hair!!!
Since I moved to NY I have had one hair nightmare after another. It is unbelievable that colorists cannot get simple blonde highlights right. My hair has been dyed orange and green. It killed me every time I dropped approx $200 for someone to ruin my hair. So for the past year I have been dyeing it myself. Gasp! I never thought it would come to that. At least I only had to worry about losing $10 and only had myself to blame if I screwed it up.
A midwest friend of mine suggested I try out Gigi because she was convinced I was ruining my hair. So I ventured to Astoria for the first time in search of the perfect highlights.
My stylist was Melinda. She was friendly and professional and she totally nailed the highlights for a price that was surprisingly affordable. I am impressed when I can go to a NY hair salon for Kansas City salon prices. I would recommend her to anyone and I will definitely be a Gigi regular!
I have been going to this salon since I moved to NY last September. It was never anything special, but they did they job well and I enjoyed my stylist... until one fateful day. So, the management here sucks - they couldn't care less how you enjoyed your visit and when you offer a suggestion or complaint, prepare for the worst customer service ever. They wouldn't apologize or compensate me for overcharging me (fraudulently by the way), but AVEDA did. Stray away from this one people, they have no true "concept" of AVEDA's mission.
Like most girls, I am very particular about my hair. I have only found two people I trust to get the color and cut right. One of them being in Rochester, NY - the other being Kristina from GiGi's. She is truly amazing. My other experiences have left me with orange and brassy streaks in my hair. NOT WITH Kristina! She is amazing with blonde colors and makes it look natural. Not to mention that the salon is beautiful and moderately priced.
I travel from Brooklyn Heights to Astoria just to get my haircut by Kristina. That should give you a hint.
I decided to give this place a try after I came here and read a few good reviews...but what I should've kept in mind was that 1 or 2 people in a salon can be amazing while the majority can stil be horrible. I wish I could give less than 1 star. I don't normally leave such a negative comment but since I am, I won't w/out an explanation b/c I know if you're reading this you're probably doing what I was a few hours ago, searching for a decent salon nearby and you want to know the details...so here it is.
I wouldn't let BENICIO cut my hair again if they paid ME! DO NOT let him go near you or your hair unless you appreciate being disrespected and like your hair to look like a 5 year old took a pair of scissors and ran it across...thanks to him, my bangs look worse than hey did when my mom used to cut them at home when I was 5.
I probably should've left at the beginning once I experienced his snooty, rude, and disrespectful attitude...but unfortunately, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt initialy.
Once I sat down, he was rude...when I tried to explain and find a picture of what I wanted, he said he didn't have the time and just brushed it off. However, he did have the time to try and co-erce me into getting a "color rinse" for my hair (at least 3-5 times) b/c my "roots were showing" (I got my hair dyed a MONTH ago, and it was barely noticeable at 1/2 an inch, if even) that would cost over $140 and he would have the time to do that. He also continued to say that I really needed to touch up my roots and I should get it soon ALL THROUGH my hair cut.
He walks over to the sink where they wash hair immediately after I declined w/out telling me and stands there w/ his arms crossed when I look over as if I should have known/read his mind. Does the same thing when after he quickly "washed" my hair if you can even call it that and walks back to the salon chair leaving my hair dripping wet.
This is when he uses a comb to brush my hair straight and runs the scissors across like a 5 year old...both across the front and back. Luckily, he only trimmed off a bit. When I seemed unsatisfied, he asked what was wrong and when I told him I wasn't happy he flipped out and started getting all diva-esq saying "I've been doing hair for 8 years dont tell me I don't know what I'm doing" (which I didnt even do...I merely said I wasn't happy with my hair) and wouldn't even hear what I thought was wrong....then he had the nerve to accuse me of wanting a free haircut b/c I wasn't happy with what he did, but I would not get my hair cut by him/ like that again if you PAID ME to.
DO NOT GO UNLESS THEY GET RID OF BENICIO / HE'S NOT THERE unless you want to be DISRESPCTED and encounter his ARROGANT, snooty, rude character.
there was ONE upside to this whole mess: Melinda....she's a lady that works there and was extremely courteous and the job she did on another woman who I saw leave looked great. So if you're gonna go, ask for her.
i had gotten my hair done there and i was disappointed...until i realized how people could butcher your hair at other places (see giorgio)
i forget who did my hair, but my haircut was pretty good. i felt the color wasnt as intense as i would have liked. but now i realize that its all natural dyes and stuff, and i still looked hot walking out. at least i didnt look like i was stepping out of 1995.
they were really great and dyed my hair twice because i was really upset with the first go around. but all in all, i shoulda gone back there.
ok, so i had written a review and then i nixed it cuz of my bad luck.
so i needed to find a place to get my hair done, and discovered an aveda concept salon in my 'hood. being that i'm an aveda-aholic, i made an appointment. the stylist a friend recommended was great. she gave me a great cut, and after i got home and looked at the color, i wasn't satisfied with how it ended up a bit too light, so i called back. the receptionist on the phone was very nice (which i think was a different receptionist than the original one i had talked to) and today i went back and she corrected it. i've never complained about a hair thing before, and kinda felt like a schmuck walking in, but they were very nice about it. my babble= i found a pretty good aveda salon in my 'hood.
Edita at GiGi's is amazing! She's the first person I've ever had cut my hair who did even better than I"d hoped. She talked to me first about how I wanted it and made sure we were on the same page. She then cut and texturized and styled...all for $35!!! I am now a lifetime fan/addict.
I have always been happy with the haircut and the color here. Gigi can be moody sometimes, but he does his job extremely well. Highly recommend salon! Kristina is also good, but Gigi is the best!
