- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Hair Kuwayama
Rating Details »
Category: Hair Salons [Edit]
Neighborhood: East Village406 E 13th St
(between 1st Ave & Avenue A)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 529-6977
- Nearest Transit:
-
1st Ave-14th St (L)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
62 reviews for Hair Kuwayama
A friend referred a friend, who referred a friend, who referred a friend and so on...now over 10 friends deep (maybe some acquaintances now) and 5 years later, Seiko's still got it.
She can be a little rough at the shampoo, but I think it's good for your scalp, so just take it!
Will be making my next appointment soon.
Last I checked, a blow job at an Asian establishment had nothing to do with hair and cost a sight less than $40. Apparently the hairdressers at Kuwayama are a little more prude and a little more pricey than their less legal counterparts.
I walked in looking to get my bangs cut and expecting a wash and dry thrown in gratis. No such luck. Where a bang trim costs $15, a simple shampoo and blow-dry is not on the menu for anything less than $40. All I wanted was clean hair to go with my new bangs, but at that price, I went with a dry cut and a lonesome shower.
Regardless, I had a good experience at Kuwayama. The place is glowingly clean, with none of the awful chemical stink you sometimes get in hair salons. Tall ceilings and window walls give the space a lovely open feel. The staff is very nice. I got my bangs cut quick and pretty by a sweet girl named Uta who made just enough small talk to keep things comfortable. I asked her to maintain the basic shape of my bangs but to make them look less terrible. That was all the direction I gave her and I have not hated my bangs for a whole week. Good job, Uta. While I won't be shelling out for a wash and dry any time soon, I'm not above a $15 bang job now and again.
It's all about Nari.
Every time I come here I say to her: make me beautiful. I know that isn't fair of me, cause lord knows I've showed up there lookin' BUSTED. But - true to form, she delivers...When I first met here, she told me her theory about hair styling...that: cutting hair is a lot like architecture - stylists need to work with the shape of the head, direction of hair grown, shape of face...FINALLY a stylist that GETS IT.
I admit, I've cheated on her...Since my husband got laid off, I've looked for cheaper options and checked out Delilah Salon in Brooklyn. She was good, but not as good as Nari.
Nari's a keeper
I've been recommended this place several times for my bangs that grow at a rapid pace.
I walked in, asked for a bang trim, and 5 mins later Hiromi's scissors were grazing my eyelids. She was very precise and sweet and kept asking how I thought it was coming along.
It cost $15 bucks! I will totally go back.
Well, I'm a guy who usually goes to Bumble and Bumble faithfully, but happily, no more! I found this great place thru a friend, and it really exceeded my expectations. I called on a Tuesday, and needed a cut that day, and they accomodated me.
The salon is easy to find, and the inside is calm and tranquil, not playing rock and roll music w- 25 people running around. I met Uta and she was sweet and kind, and I told her basically what i wanted and as she started, i admit, i was nervous...however, after 5 minutes, it was clear she not only new what she was doing, she understood my request..i read a magazine, peeking occasionally, and at the end, was THRILLED with the cut...short, stylish, and fun...Uta is great, and this salon is now my new home...
I have been going to my one stylist for about 10 years already and I decided I needed a change. Esp. after my stylist slaughtered my bang hair cut. After reading Yelp reviews, I decided this was the place to go. My hairstylist was Uma who was really sweet and gave me great recommendations for my hair. I didn't know it was possible but I fell in love with my haircut! (I am very picky with my hair & have never ever liked any haircuts I have ever gotten before in my life.) I will def. be coming back here again! :)
Went back to get my bangs cut by Nari. It was a super quick, but made such a difference! I went out that night and all my friends thought i had cut my hair not just the bangs. $20 + tip was well worth freshening up my look.
Going back this weekend to totally chop my hair short!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/7/2009
I had Nari cut my hair recently. This place is very cute and the hair dressers are even cuter. I had… Read more »
My FIRST time....
....and it wasn't bad @ all, but I can't usually tell until the day after if it was good or not.
Kaneko was a cute, quiet girl and knew exactly what I wanted ^_^
I just let her do her thing, cause I trusted her with her long pointy scissors.
Too bad a haircut isn't more like sex where "the morning after pill" will fix certain mishaps with the protection...you can't protect yourself like that during a haircut.
Got my bang cut by Nari.
* Can you judge a stylist's skill based on bang cut?! *
Not happy with the result =(
* Happy-o-Meter | | - - - (2/5 she's a sweet person...) *
It's karma, cos I cheated my trusted stylist...
Silly bangs. Hate it.
Not my favorite hair salon. But probably it's because of the hair stylist I chose. I don't remember her name but I just made an appointment with whoever is available since it was my first time. She's really pleasant but she couldn't really tell what I wanted. I just needed highlights and trim and thin. The highlights are great but she seems to have a hard time thinning my hair. I told her it's still thick but she mentioned there is no way to thin it unless I want to make it look awkward. I asked her to help me cut my fringe but she commented that since my hair is so soft, short fringe would end up covering my eyes! I believe she's pretty inexperienced and just disappointed that they allow inexperienced to be the hair stylist. I was very upset after the hair cut and got another one just the week later.
I did my hair cut today and I love it very much... well, although it's not like the picture I brought to the salon, my bob style hair really looks great!~
I made an appointment with kaori. She is very nice, carefully listen to you and try to understand what you want. Actually, I haven't had my hair cut for half a year as I got to the city... and the hair looks too flat, too thin, too long... anyway, after communicated with kaori, she fully understand what I want: increase the volume, perm the bangs, and cut the bottom~
That's it. It took me a little more than 2 hours, but worthy. You can find my new hair style in the profile pictures.
price: 65(cut)+80(perm)+tips
After Glenn Jason raised his rates to $90 for women's cuts, I began looking elsewhere. As much as I love him, I can't be spending that on my hair every 2 months. After some careful research, I came across Hair Kuwayama and have been seeing Nari for the past year. She is amazing, meticulous, and really understands Asian hair. I like to keep a short and choppy haircut, and she manages to do an excellent job with scissors only - no razors. Be warned though, they are very strict about being on time and your appointment is cancelled if you are past 15 minutes late.
Otherwise, it's a calm and relaxing atmosphere with very reasonable rates!
After my tried-and-true salon closed a year ago, I've been unsuccessfully salon-hopping - some were bad, others okay, but none went past the first date.
After my visit tonight with Kuwayama, I think I've finally found myself a steady relationship. And so I give this salon a full 5 stars for saving me from anymore bad first-timers.
Kaori cut my hair, and we spent the first few minutes going over how I wanted it to look - layers but not too many, shorter but not too short, fun but not too much - basically, I had no idea what I wanted except for it to be perfect. She washed my hair herself, then did her magic with careful precision.
I walked out feeling beautiful. Finally, this one's a keeper.
For once, I think I finally found a salon I will regularly go back to.
I had a really good experience with an Asian stylist in DC, so once I moved to NYC, I decided I wanted to go with another Asian stylist who would understand my hair and the "Asian style."
Uta was my stylist. She was really sweet and she did a great job with my hair. She really took the time to cut and style it. She also thinned my hair - a first for me - and I was left wondering why my past stylists never did that for my thick hair!! My head literally felt several pounds lighter afterwards.
Another thing I loved... the stylists didn't harass me to buy any of the products they carried. I hate, hate, HATE feeling pressured to buy certain styling products (i.e., my past experience at Aveda in DC), so it was great being able to get up, pay for my cut, and leave without being roped in to fork over $25 more for products I would never use.
My hair: Super straight Korean hair. I don't blow dry, dye or put styling products in it.
Style I wanted: Haircut similar to Britney Spears from the Nov or Dec 2008 cover of Glamour magazine.
My experience: Uta was my stylist and did a great job on my hair. After I showed her pictures of what I wanted, she "studied" my hair and told me how short the layers would be and how long the bottom would be. She cut my hair wet and touched up after the blow dry. She initially cut my bangs extra long and then worked her way up shorter to make sure the length was okay with me. The cut and style overall was exactly what I wanted and was very easy for me to style at home days later. I told her that I don't like to blow dry my hair and wanted a more low-maintenance cut.
Price: $65 since I had long hair. Great price for a good cut in the city.
I would definitely go back again. It's hard to find someone who knows how to cut super straight hair properly and she did a great job. Highly recommended.
Ever seen a Pantene commercial? Hair in these commercials have no limits and sway ever so gently and gracefully.
Well, I feel like one of those ladies that stars in them.
My hair is straight, thick and heavy. When it dawned on me this week that I was badly in need of a fabulous haircut, I turned to yelp and made an appointment at Kuwayama pronto.
Aya was my stylist and she took time to ask me what I wanted with various styles. My main concern was the sheer weight and lack of shape. Aya nodded and had the look of determination. Although her English isn't perfect, she tries to understand your desires and was extremely meticulous with her work.
The shampoo and conditioning of my hair might have been the best part of this! I could have been a happy camper leaving this place after this because how relaxing it was. There was no scratching of the scalp, just gentle kneading. After almost an hour later, I was much lighter and definitely shapelier.
Walking out of Kuwayama, my hair was commercial ready. Pantene - I'm all yours.
** $70 plus $14 tip.
Nari is amazing. I have really thin hair and she's been able to miraculously make it look so much thicker than it is. She understands my texture and she is very precise. she charges 60 or 65 which is reasonable for her precision. As popular as this salon is, it's really quiet and peaceful and Nari always runs on time. It's also been fairly easy for me to get an apptment when I need one.
I made a same-day appointment over the phone and I didn't specify what stylist I wanted. Also, I really wanted to try Seagull Haircutters in the West Village, but I couldn't bring myself to pay 110+ for a haircut - I'm going to a wedding next week, and although I wanted style, I knew I had a budget, and I needed something solid. Thanks yelp, for that!
It was a very calm, spacious, and clean atmosphere. My stylist was Aya, and she was very polite and professional. I got a simple cut, but she did just what I asked for, with some suggestions. Her english isn't the best, but if you're not impatient, you'll realize she just wants you to look your best, and not being short with you. She giggles a lot.
It was kind of crazy, but I was watching her, and it seemed so effortless. At first, I didn't think she was doing much, but then it revealed itself at the end. I have soft layers, and just enough body.
I had pretty long hair, it's still long, but now not so heavy - $65 plus tip. ($14).
MINUS 5 Stars!!! by the way, i had to rate it in order to post my review...but it should really be NEGATIVE STARS!!!
GO AT YOUR OWN RISK!! YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR!!!
I will NEVER go back! I read all the reviews here and thought it would be a good place to get my bangs cut. I have a regular hairdresser who is super expensive and did not want to pay full price just to get bangs. Well, lesson learned. NEVER GO CHEAP ON YOUR HAIR!!! Because now I have probably the second worst haircut of my life...im 32 so it's safe to say that I've had hundreds of haircuts.
The woman who cut my hair didn't even speak english! first sign...ignored. but i thought how hard could it be to cut bangs? i even had a picture. My hair is straight - there should have been no problem. I had a picture - there should have been no problem. who cares she couldn't speak english - she's a professional right? cutting bangs is like the first thing you learn in hair school? right?
i HATE my bangs and i am warning all of you who read this -DON"T GO!!!! i don't even know what she did. i had to stop her because she just kept cutting and cutting. i told her in the beginning do not cut above my eyebrows...and of course, she did. she also cut a big chunk of my hair that usually falls to the side. and now all i am left with is this mess of hair that makes me look so completely bad. i look soooo different - who would have thought getting bangs would do this?
next time i will go back to my super expensive guy because i'd rather pay $200 for cut i know will be excellent than $15 to ruin it all...that's what happens when you go cheap - you get what you paid for!
I was in NY for a week to attend a training class so I took the opportunity to get a haircut at a NY salon. I chose Hair Kuwayama based on Yelp reviews and very glad I did. Background: Asian, short-to-medium hair length, wash and go without any styling products. Based on past experience, it is difficult to get a good haircut when you first visit a stylist but my stylist, Chinami, gave me a stylish, cute, and modern bob. I judge haircuts based on how it looks after a couple washes and based on this criteria: I am very pleased with my haircut. Chinami spent 45 minutes on me. Cost: $50 + tip.
Similar to other reviewers, I found the salon to be modern but warm and has a calm atmosphere.
Tiny and uncomplicated, this salon gave me one of the best haircuts I've had in my life. If one day I can settle down to being a one-stylist kinda girl, I'd likely lock Kuwayama into a long-term relationship. The staff is very nice and attentive. They seem to particularly good with constructing intricate layers, whether wispy or crunchy.
I paid about $80 including tip -- i.e., within Manhattan standards. For a constrained budget, it may not be the best choice for your usual, casual trim. If you want to re-style, however, or to periodically correct the result of a series of less refined maintenance cuts, this may be the very place.
Lolz. I'll quote a shitysearch review for fun "I didn't like the atmosphere because the stylists were talking very loudly in a foreign language."
Kuwayama keeps it real and knows how to do Asian hair. I've gone to another Japanese salon that I can't name (starts with a ho and ends with and ooop) and the stylists there just didn't know how to deal with my wiry fro of a toupee.
I was tardy (on account of their moving and google/iphone telling me different things) but my stylist, Nari, still took the time to do my hair correctly, going over and holding up her next appointment. I guess that'd be crappy if I was her next appointment, but I wasn't.
I'm happy with my hair, that's all that really matters.... so cinco estrellas!
I came in with terrible ponytail-dented, bone-dry, super-thick hair and came out with light, sleek, shoulder-length hair. I had Uta as my stylist. She was really sweet and always made sure I was ok with what she was doing. I requested her to keep my length (since I'm growing my hair out) and to get rid of the volume. $70 + tip. Well worth it. She spent nearly two hours carefully thinning my hair out.
It's true what other reviewers have said about the stylists being not at all pushy about selling products. Uta nodded sympathetically about my frizzy hair woes and recommended that i use a leave-in conditioner. She was really vague about product names and even sort of strategically hid the brand label of the one she was using on my hair. i ended up buying it anyway lol.
The design of the salon is really simple, clean, modern, white, really zen. definitely coming here again --i'm so over blah flushing haircuts!
The place is clean, modern and comfortable, bt i think it is not very convenient. In the salon, I browse through the magazine for a style and the stylist gave me many suggestions too. It turns out to be a v. japanese hair style. By saying this, i mean...my hair is pretty only if hair products are applied. Bt overall experience was good. The stafff are friendly.
**Credit card is accepted, bt tips must be paid by cash.
Absolutely love this place. I had a horrible hair highlighting DIY incident and went to Hair Kuwayama the next day. They were able to fixed it without any problems. They really know how to cut and color Asian hair. I would definitely got back for my next highlight/coloring adventure.
so, for the past 3 months, i've been going back to hair kuwayama and requesting seiko (based on other peoples' reviews here). she is AWESOME! speaks perfect english so there's no lost in translation moments. she takes the time to cut everything by hand, so it's meticulous and exactly how i want it. and she is super nice to boot! will definitely keep going back to her every 3-4 weeks.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/30/2009
so i too like many of the reviewers have been trying to find a place that specializes in asian hair,… Read more »
I had Kaneko cut my hair today. It was my first time and I went based on the positive reviews on Yelp. Here's another positive review! She was very attentive to my needs. I gave her a pic of a haircut I want and she added more layers so I don't look like I'm wearing a football helmet. I have a lot of hair and I was afraid she would try to thin it out (sometimes stylists go overboard), but in the end I let her and it came out great. She stopped when I told her too, and not once did I get any attitude from the staff. The staff is ultra nice. My haircut was $70, but it's worth it considering the long mop I had on my head before. My hair looks like a sheek catherine zeta jones with side bangs.
I came to this place after calling for a last minute appointment on a Sunday. I brought my favorite magazing Nonno with me, which had a picture of the hair style I wanted.
Nari took care of me. She was great!!
I have recommended this place to a few friends and they have all equally loved it.
The place - East Village, simple design and very clean
The people - Friendly, helpful and very talented!
The price - slightly lower than normal manhattan prices, i think. I had long hair when I went in so it was $55 for wash, cut, dry and style.
I came out with super short hair. Love it!
Looking for a new salon, I chose Hair Kuwayama based on the reviews and you guys didn't lead me astray!
Nari is really sweet and took her time in consulting with me based on the photos I chose from the style book. She took into account that I don't use product and didn't shellac my hair when blowdrying it. My hair now has plenty of movement since Nari thinned it out and gave it some texture.
At $65 + tip, I calculated that it cost me just $25 more than my previous visit at V Salon in Chinatown (more helpers to tip at V). Well worth it with the nicer atmosphere and good service.
I'm not big on hair maintenance of any form. Period.
I hate pretentious salons. I hate when they try to use and sell you "product". Mostly though, I hate when I come out with mushroom hair.
Kuwayama is the opposite.
They don't make your ears bleed with gossipy gossip or techno music. The facility is clean and simple. The staff is friendly and they don't snub you or make you feel rushed.
I went in with hair down to my elbow and came out with hair above my shoulder. I always request Nari simply because we have the same hair texture. We discussed what I was looking for and showed her examples of what I wanted...I recommend doing this because these people are not mind-readers. She worked patiently, cutting through my long locks, pausing every now and then to check with me that the length was okay.
Before I started coming here I never stuck with one salon.
Nari seems to be the only one who knows how to give me short hair without it looking like a mushroom.
The only thing I didn't like was the feathered bangs. I showed her how I wanted my bangs, but for some reason she feathered them. I don't understand, but I'll take it if it means a great cut....after all, bangs grow out after a couple of weeks....mushroom hair not so much. No biggie.
I think I may've found my 'steady'. After years of going for $4 Chinatown haircuts, my girlfriend convinced me to try salons. Last year we went for cuts at Antonio Prieto (we use the "apprentice" program) and had a really nice experience (my stylist, Mari, was great). The last time I went to Prieto I tried a different stylist and he was awful (I'll avoid mentioning his name).
After a train wreck haircut in Chicago (we were there for a wedding), I needed something good. I went to Nari at Hair Kuwayama and I may've had the best hair cut ever. She is attentive, sweet and thoughtful (she remembered my girlfriend's name after mentioning her only once). She spent nearly 90 minutes with me and my hair isn't that long or difficult. The "salon experience" at Kuwayama isn't as posh as Prieto, but big deal. Their cuts are better and half the price. I'd give Prieto 4 stars and Kuwayama 5. Enough said.
Update June 08
I am still seeing Kaori. She is my Saturday morning date. Our dates are always a lovely combination of a little chat and some quiet times, which feel comfortable unlike when I have been with others. Nice one.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/19/2007
I moved from London at the start if the year and really wanted to replicate my sorely missed… Read more »
I pass this place almost every day on my way home from work and always thought about trying it. I am, however, both white and easily swayed by things I think look cute, especially if they're asian. So, I checked yelp (thank you previous reviewers) and saw all the great reviews. And I went.
I got my shoulder length straight bob cut up into a pretty steeply angled w/bangs shag. This is the first time I've had bangs since a really traumatic 11 yr old bowl and they are fantastic. This is, hands down, the best haircut I've ever had. I have a lot of hair and all the previous salons I've went to (including ones that cost twice as much) left *way* too much hair on my head. Not Nari. She spent over two hours weeding out my enormous crop of hair and now I have a cut that actually looks better than the pictures I brought in.
Moved to NYC and used Yelp to locate a hair stylist in my area. I am very picky about how my hair looks because I don't get it cut that often. I took a chance on Hair Kuwayama after reading good reviews about a particular hair stylist, Aya. The first time I went in, Aya took great care to assess my hair and face. She worked her magic on my hair and I was thrilled with the haircut. My friends and family agree... Aya is fantastic.
After two failed hair cuts I decided to leave my hair to Nari. I was undecided on what kind of hair cut I wanted but she showed me some really cool styles from a book. She took her time cutting my hair and we had a little chat about how cute I was (lol). After she cut my hair I had a really awesome bob that everyone complimented on. She knew how to cover the layers that were cut badly by the hair cutters before. Now I'm still growing my hair from that time and it is fine. Meanwhile, I gotta think of my next hair cut.
I am saddened that not one review on here mentions Hiromi. She is the coolest hair stylist at Hair Kuwayama. If I could I would just adopt her and carry her around in my pocket. Her haircuts are so absolutely perfect each and every time. She has such great style and will never make you look boring. I am amazed after all these years how many awesome haircuts she has given me, both long, short and middle ground. This chick is a master at what she does and is the prettiest little thing ever! Ask for Hiromi!
The service was excellent and my stylist was attentive to my needs. After cutting my hair, I decided to I wanted a more noticable change and wanted shorter layers. My stylist delivered!!! I received major compliments on my hair at work! This place is worth the ride out there.
Edgy with a sense of humility. In the stylists, the cut, the price. Somewhat off the beaten path, and highly recommended to me to be my "first" cut when I moved to New York. Hiromi is amazing and very patient to listening to what you want and suggestions on how to style it. Definitely not leaving this salon anytime soon, as long as I am here in NY.
Love this place. It's clean and everybody is super nice. Plus, they know how to cut hair. My hair actually has some body and movement.
I definitely recommend this place to everyone.
I thought the other reviews were too good to be true, but this place is really lovely. It was like I was back in Japan--the style, the service, the bossa nova atmosphere...
I was cut by Aya, who was so super cute and (though had a thick accent) understood me perfectly. I tried to get her to cut my hair a certain way, but she ever so gently suggested a different cut because of my current hair length. She was totally right, btw.
And I had to actually ASK what products she was using on me, as opposed to Bumble & Bumble and Cutler (my last places) that pushed things on me so i felt obligated to buy.
The ambiance of the place is amazing too. Everyone is so friendly and not pretentious, and really care about if you're comfortable. the best part is the lighting--you don't have to stare at yourself in the mirror in harsh salon lighting.
I am sick of high energy gay men telling me bangs will be easy to deal with every morning. Aya was realistic and showed me the quick easy way to do my hair in the morning.
Lastly, I am not Asian, and this is in no way an only-asian hair salon. I'd recommend it to anyone!
