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Urban Lift Hair Salon
Rating Details »
Category: Hair Salons [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lakeview3639 N Ashland Ave
(between Addison St & Waveland Ave)
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 281-5438
Save 10% off Holiday Gift Sets!
Come into the salon to find a great gift. Save 10% off our name brand gift sets! Give your loved ones some style this holiday!
- Nearest Transit:
-
Paulina (Brown)
- Hours:
Tue-Thu. 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- By Appointment Only:
- No
119 reviews for Urban Lift Hair Salon
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
8/17/2009
10/26/2009
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7/1/2008
Updated - 8/12/2008
4/3/2009
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2/7/2008
6/3/2009
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
LOVE this place!!!
I just moved to Chicago from MI where my old roommate has been doing my hair for 4 years. So I was scared to find a new hair place or stylist.
I was paired with Lyinzie (sp?) and she was SOOO friendly, as soon as you walk in the door, from the owner to other stylists everyone is friendly and knowledgeable.
Lyinzie informed me that my hair was damaged and needed a deep condition (which I figured cause its been 2 months since a cut)
She told me exactly how everything worked with each product as well as the ingredients and what each one does for my hair and how it helps repair and rebuild the hair and minimize split ends. She went to the Paul Mitchell school so you know she is good!
On top of that she is from MI too so it was nice to relate to someone!
She was friendly and told me about each product that she used on my hair as she was straightening it, and I eventually purchased the deep conditioner that she used on my hair, I will go back for a color in the next month because she was that good! It was the best blow out/flat iron I have EVER had, even better than my beloved roommate!!!
She was great, the salon was great, and I asked if she could braid my hair to the side, the new style that everyone is rocking, and she was honest and said she didn't know how to do it BUT another stylist who had a free moment did know how to do it and came over to french braid a part of my hair, out of her own good will! SO NICE!!! It had a laid back relaxed feel, I liked how in the back they have nail polish set up so you can paint your nails while you wait under the dryer or just wait for your stylist to be ready for you!
They also give you a beverage when you come in!
SO NICE and so good!! I will definitely go back to this salon again!!
This place is amazing. I'll never go to another salon.
First of all, the salon has a great atmosphere. It's cozy and clean, and John's pups come to work with him! They are adorable and well-behaved.
Second, everyone there is really nice. And not super-smiley-creepy-fake nice, either. They are all genuinely sweet, interesting people who love what they do.
Third, Mel is amazing. She always takes a few minutes to chat about what I have in mind and offers great advice. She has always been good about helping me stay within a budget, never suggesting services that are unnecessary, and coloring and styling my hair in a way that allows for gentle outgrowth so I can space my appointments further apart.
For example, I just made the switch from a very light, highlighted blonde to dark brown. Mel told me that, if I wanted, I could now do my own color from a box, as long as I come in every few months to have her even out the color so my ends don't get super dark (a problem I used to get when I did my own color).
She knows exactly what she's doing, and she explains stuff as she goes along. And she never tries to sell me stuff, which is great. I'm able to trust her judgment completely. I was unsure whether I wanted long, blunt bangs, and Mel told me she thought they would look great, and she was 100% right. I love love love them, and I wouldn't have had the courage to go for it without her expert advice.
If you care about your salon experience, and if you care about looking great, then try out Urban Lift. You get a great discount on your first visit!
I got my hair cut here a little while back....the people were nice, the salon was cute, but the haircut was horrrrrrreeeennndous! I cried for about 2 days after that happened. I usually cut my own hair or have friends do it, as I am a professional hairstylist myself but I thought I would treat myself and I read the good reviews on here!
I was really disappointed, I wanted layers....they were uneven on one side, I wanted longer angled bangs....I got really sharp angled short short pixie bangs...and to top it off, I really only use hairspray in my hair, she put at LEAST 5 styling products into my hair! Even I know that it totally unnecessary! I don't need mousse....gel...root lifter...thickener AND hairspray! I had to wash my hair as soon as I got home it was so gross....ugh
I would suggest researching your stylist A LOT before coming here if you do, and also....don't be as nice as me! I was way too nice and tipped her like 15 bucks anyways because I know how the beauty industry is and how tipping is. So yeah...I was being nice, but the haircut sucked big time!
i got my hair cut for the first time here last week, and i am So Happy. I have the kind of hair that always takes like, 7 minutes to cut because it's so fine, and so I have a big issue with paying lots of cash for haircuts...so you could just say i'm not big into high maintenance hair. i'm cool with going to a beauty school and getting a hair cut, or a hair cuttery, or whatever. this time however i decided i wanted something new done at a nicer place, and i am so glad i made the decision to come here! reasonable prices for a salon experience.
great stylist natalie who made me feel so comfortable, even though i told her the truth about my embarrassing hair approach. i am definitely going to continue my visits there. she performed the miracle of cutting my hair so that you can't tell its shorter, but its just BETTER. looks so much better now when i leave it curly, and looks great when i decide to blow it out straight. she did a phenomenal job and it was money well spent.
Being fairly new to the city, one can imagine how frustrating it can be finding a new salon in which you can trust. Granted I've only been in Chicago as of May of this year, I've only been to two other hair salons prior to going to Urban Lift. Both salons did a decent job of cutting my thick asian hair, but the cuts were nothing to write a review about.
Typically not wanting to "break-the-bank" on a hair-do, I took a leap and tested whether or not going to a pricier salon does my head a difference. The weekends being their busiest days, the receptionist made it a point to squeeze me in their schedule the day I called. On my arrival, the salon crew was very hospitable. The woman at the counter offered me a beverage (in which I believe most legitimate style salons do anyway, but I just can never get used to such a gesture).
My stylist's name was John. After I sat down, he asked me the questions that many stylists should really ask but hardly do. Questions like, "When was your last haircut? "What type of product do you use?" "How often do you use product?" He even "fluffed" my hair to check how it lays in certain situations. The assessment on the type of hair I had and the shape of my head gave me assurance that this guy knew what he was doing.
Throughout the actual cut, John proceeded to explain the type of style that worked well for me. He made sure to cover various conditions of whether I use pomade, fiber (his suggestion), or no product, at all. But also, in the midst of all this hair talk, Jon was able to maintain a repoirte that put me at ease asking me how I've been enjoying Chicago. In the end, I was so impressed that I would make it a point to do a Yelp review of the experience. Urban Lift has made me believe spending good cash on style service is not necessarily a bad thing as long as the customer is treated right. Urban Lift has definitely earned another return-customer.
Okay, so I don't like to review a hair place until a few visits. The longevity of a haircut is just as important as it is when it's freshly cut.
LOVE this place! After searching for a salon and being disappointed from high end corporations to smaller privately owned businesses, I'd have to say I've found a home here.
First, the atmosphere is laid back and relaxed. You get offered drinks, food (if they have it), and anything else to be comfortable. The folks are in jeans and look like real people and the stylists all have their own look. No cookie cutter we-wear-all-black and have blonde wavy hair with too much hair spray in it stylists here. I hate feeling like I have to dress up to go to the salon and then feel under done next to everyone else. I could wear PJ's here and no one would care!
Second, I've been more than happy with the color and cut each time. Natalie is fabulous! I have curly hair that most stylists freeze at, give me a few layers, blow dry with a diffuser, push me out the door, and leave me with the same look I've had since I was 15 years old. Everyone is afraid to give me shaping or even help get rid of some of the bulk.
Natalie gave me shape, even some cute long bangs (that I was terrified of having before), thinned out some of the bulk so my hair didn't sit like a pyramid, and showed me how to style it straight if I ever wanted. I LOVE it! Now I can wear it curly, curled, or straight and it doesn't take me more than 15 minutes to do any of these things. It's nice to have versatility and look like I'm 25, not 15. And I get a crap load of compliments!
They always remember me, have great conversation and make me feel good about being there. I've brought a co-worker and my sister to Natalie and both were amazingly happy with the results. My sister will be coming back and my co-worker would if they were closer to her house.
Also, Natalie makes sure you are happy. She says that if you go home and don't like something about it (bangs too long, color too bright) just give her a call within the week and she'll re-do what needs to be done to make you satisfied. But you probably won't have to, since it's so good. And the hair cut grows out well, so I've never had an awkward "my hair is growing out" phase!
I definitely suggest this place!
This is a little gem of a salon. Great atmosphere--social but you are included in the fun (ahem, free wine and beer.) Melle gave me an awesome pixie cut. She was super fun to talk to and made me feel relaxed. She fixed a horrible haircut. THANK YOU MELLE!!!!
I can't believe after coming here for several years that I haven't reviewed Urban Lift. Those who know me know that I'm not the "metrosexual" type and not usually the salon "type". But I love that Urban Lift came highly recommended. John, the owner, used to cut my hair but I ended up falling in love with Melle one day when John wasn't there to cut (No offense, John!) =)
Melle talks to me about fun music stuff like Morrissey, The Cure, Death Cab, etc. and even has come to one of my band's shows. Talk about support!
The reason I like Urban Lift is that it successfully walks the line with "nice salon" but doesn't carry the pretentiousness that many salons do. There's PBR in the fridge while you wait and red wine for the non-PBR crowd. You see "uppity" types there; you see more "ruggedy" types like me there. And I tell ya, I 'm the type that feels very uncomfortable in those "uppity" places where people have daggers in their eyes if you're not swallowing Gucci pills and sucking on a spoon filled with caviar.
Urban Lift delivers great cuts and service in general. I'm a fan!
I'm always nervous about getting a haircut. What girl isn't? But this place made me very relaxed. Maybe it was the cute dogs, maybe it was the PBR (yeah in a can, what?!), but I think it was ultimately the staff.
The salon is small, but it didn't bother me one bit. They seemed to be having an interesting day (to say the least!). I believe they were short a stylist, but they made it work. They pulled it together and worked as a team. They took a situation that could have been an uncomfortable mess of too many clients and turned out some great hair. I saw two ladies leave before me looking great!
Oh, and Natalie took my sad, sad excuse for hair and gave me some Style. Thanks girl!
Also, first timers get 20% off. Love that.
Mary is gone now and Mariana is on an extended leave of absence, but Mel, Natalie, and John are still there, and they've added a great gal named Lindsey to the staff. Normally, the loss of a trusted stylist would send me into catatonic shock, but not in this case!
Lindsey took over where Mary left off and, I have to say, she gives GREAT cut. She understood exactly what I needed in my cut and delivered, just in time for a job interview. She also did a great job waxing my eyebrow's - not only do I not look like a wookie any longer, I'm looking pretty darn great.
Same amazing service and with some new staff, no less! Despite the loss of Mary, I'm as dedicated to this place as ever! Friendly, affordable, and professional, Urban Lift never fails to deliver!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/13/2007
Years ago, my "I trust you implicitly with my hair and couldn't survive without you" hairdresser had… Read more »
Not like any traditional salon you've ever been to. I have only been coming here about 6 months, to Melle, and I have to say it's been a very positive experience from the start. Staff is incredibly friendly, it doesn't hurt that they offer you a glass of wine or Pabst when you step in the door, or the fact that they are dog friendly (but not SO over the top it makes you want to gag).
Think opposite of the normal uppity, snobby, pushy sales staff you would find at the run-of-the-mill trendy Chicago salon. They are as stylish as it gets, but with out all the false pretences.
After reading one great review after another I decided to try Urban Lift for the first time today. I got an appointment with Melle, went in, and held my breath...
It was just as good as I hoped it would be! The thing that made this place (and Melle) perfect was that I genuinely felt like I was being listened to. She wanted to know how I style it, how much I like/hate to style it, what I've had in the past, what would work best for my face, etc. etc....
I'm not very hair-style savvy, so that is just the type of guidance I need!
I walked away with a super cute, low maintenance cut and I will DEFINITELY be back again soon!
Even though Melle did my cut, it was obvious interacting with others there that they are ALL friendly. A great place and reasonably priced for the fabulous job they do!
Worst haircut I've ever had in my life.
This is my first negative review on Yelp so obviously I don't take these reviews lightly. One star for the haircut and one star for me because, although I did try this place out based on Yelp recommendations, I did not specifically request any stylist by name. So that was my bad. Let me also say that I am rarely that picky about my hair. Usually I just want a simple trim. I've had pixie cuts in the past in addition to long hairstyles. I even cut my own hair for a while. So you have to REALLY mess up in order to make me upset. Oh, and she did...
I have a feeling the other two star reviewer and I had the same hairdresser. All I wanted was a trim. What I got was barely anything cut off the bottom and my entire head thinned out. I used to have beautiful thick hair. Now it is as thin as a baby's and easily damaged as a result.
Afterwards, I went to Maxine's on Rush and gladly forked over $70 for an experienced stylist to help me fix the hot mess formally known as my hair. She told me I had a ton of layers and over texturized hair and, as a result, would either need a pixie cut or to trim 3 inches off now and then again 4 months from now to fix the damage. I decided on the 3 inches now and then again later.
I never called the salon to complain. Maybe I should have, but I was so upset by the whole thing I just never want to see this place again. Other than the worst haircut of my life, the people were really nice, the place was clean and cute, they got me in right away, and the prices were reasonable. But lets face it, if the hairdresser sucks who gives a sh*t about anything else, you know? There's not enough pleases and thank yous in the world to make up for a horrible haircut.
I don't think this place is bad. I just think they have a very nice, young female there who is a horrible hairdresser. So if you go, just make sure to use someone that has been recommended by a Yelper. Don't go to just anyone like I did.
Frown Town.
I've been excruciatingly busy at work the last 4 months and literally had not a moment to consider my hair. I kind of forgot that I had it in the first place. It was one of those sad periods of pony tails and frantically trimmed bangs over the toilet. Not good times.
The folks at Urban Lift were kind enough to squeeze me in for a super last minute appointment-- made about 20 minutes before the actual appointment-- on a weeknight. The staff seemed to really get along and be cohesive, no BS salon tension that can make stuff super awkward.
That's about where the positive stuff ends. We all know that I can be a little bit awkward, especially when exhausted or in a new situation and when I got my cut I was both. I told my stylist (who I honestly don't believe habitually gives such shitty cuts so I will refrain from using their name) that I'm pretty fearless when it comes to my hair; there's no such thing as too short, there's no such thing as too funky. I also mentioned that I was pretty into keeping a normal bob and that I am a big fan of "china bangs" as I suppose they're called. We settled on a graduated bob with some kind of side swept bangs that we would play around with a bit.
What happened after that was nothing near a graduated bob. I have ultra super fine hair that you cannot dry cut and you cannot thin out. Both were done. My crown was cut down to about 2 inches with a big GNARLY hey-look-I-have-layers line that circled the back of my head with two big sad, sad, sad, sad dangly chunks in the front that kinda flopped in the front-- and were the only parts of my hair that would actually MOVE. Not only that but the right side was about an inch and a half (!!) shorter than the left and there was a gigantic notch cut out of my bangs that was about an inch shorter than the rest that I didn't notice until I got home because my bangs were very conveniently side swept to hide it-- a convenient cover up?
It was one of those "omg I can't say anything about this or I will burst into tears" moments in the chair. It didn't help that my hair was R-A-T-T-E-D when it was styled and had just about enough product in it to patch a tire. I waited until I got home until I committed to hating it and ended up crying on the phone to my mother (a former stylist).
What made matters worse; being that I work with the public daily as an on-site marketing manager for a super up and coming out-of-home digital technology and media company, upon arriving at work, my BOSS insisted that I go get my hair fixed before I came back to work the next day. It was genuinely tore-up. After examining my hair-- and providing plenty of slow, sad head-shakes and clucks of the tongue-- my new stylist (Jeff at Art and Science: Evanston! who squeezed me in even) determined the only course of action in fixing the shit pile on my head was a pixie cut. And FORTUNATELY I look, in the words of our former governor, Bleeping Golden.
I called and left a voicemail for the salon which was returned with an equally sweet voicemail message but I'm just too embarrassed and uncomfortable to really beg for my money back. I think this is just one for the books, and one for yelp, to know better for next time.
I guess there are more "pro"s to the place-- it was real cheap! And the dogs were pretty cute.
I can for sure say that I will not be back-- but I will be returning to Jeff at Art and Science in Evanston-- but I don't think that this salon is terrible. I don't even think that my stylist is terrible. It was just a super unfortunate negative experience that will make me seriously hesitate before I bestow any trust into a stylist ever again.
If you do go to Urban Lift for the first time, I strongly suggest being a little more assertive than I was capable of being. Also, it might help to not mention that you really love Wilson-Phillips, Nelson, Liz Phair or Celine Dion. Just Sayin.
Just moved to Chicago a few weeks ago and was very nervous about finding a new salon. I read a review for Urban Lift on Yelp, gave them a call and made an appointment with Lynzie last Saturday. Long story short? She did a GREAT job with my color (I didn't need a cut). Lynzie cut my 19 year old son's hair last night and it looks great.
The salon atmosphere is very friendly, relaxing and unpretentious. They even have two very sweet dogs on the premises who are the "unofficial" salon ambassadors - love that!
Great. I've lived here in Chicago for six years now, suffering through bad stylists and uncomfortable salon experiences, and 6 months away from moving out of the city, NOW I find Melle at Urban Lift. I guess better late than never.
She knew exactly what I was talking about with regard to my current hair, gave me good input about what to do with it, taught me how to style it as we went along, and made it look suuuuuper cute. She was also sweet, smart, and just a blast to chat with as she made it all happen.
I seriously will consider still getting my hair done here, even after I move 2 hours away this summer. Thanks, Melle!
If you love dogs, you'll find it hard to hate this place. Very cute but not obtrusive.
More importantly, I liked my haircut. I just moved to Chicago, and had a friend in Chicago who did hair and was AMAZING, so I was worried about having to go somewhere new. Melle was really sweet and listened and despite me holding my breath did a great job. She is really friendly and despite me being an introvert I found easy conversation with her. I'll definitely be back. Tell them I sent you and I think you get $$ off ^_-
I have finally found "my" salon!
I've gotten my hair cut twice here, the first time by Melle, and the second by John. Both times I was extremely happy with the experience and the result! My only complaint is that they are no longer open on Mondays...that is usually the only day I have off (besides Sunday, when they are also closed). I really don't want to get my hair cut anywhere else though, so looks like I'll have to take a personal day to get my hair did!
*Just got my hair cut again by Melle and wanted to profess my happiness once more. Yay!
I am in love with Urban Lift.
I went to another salon (which shall remain nameless) for my first haircut after moving to Chicago and ended up in tears in my bathroom floor that night because I hated it so much. That has NEVER happened to me before - yeah, I'm known for being a bit of a drama queen, but that was a whole new low for me. Luckily a friend recommended Urban Lift and I knew as soon as I walked in that it was going to be a much, much better experience. The place is totally chill, Mary and Marina are super super cool and do an amazing job on my hair and brows. Plus, who doesn't love a soda/glass of wine/PBR while you get your services done?
If I could give them 6 stars, I would!! Hooray!
UPDATE: Mary has left the salon. I still go to get my eyebrows waxed by Marina, though!
After all of the raves, I finally decided to check out Urban Lift. Since I had spent the whole last year trying to find a great stylist, I was a bit skeptical. That, and, being a college student, I often resorted to the $15 haircuts from the Aveda School. In August, I decided to get my hair restyled, and was fortunate enough to find Melle.
She did wonders for my hair. I usually hate it short because I find that it makes me look like a baby, but she listened to my qualms, told me exactly what she was going to do, how it worked with my face shape (which, in my opinion, not enough stylists do these days), and made sure I was ok with everything before she began. I LOVED the layers she put in my hair. And I didn't look like a small child at all. Because I'm growing my hair out until the summer, I haven't returned since; but I am STILL getting compliments on the layers.
Afterward, she taught me how to style my hair using styling wax,which I had never before used. I decided to buy some and test it out, and they were unfortunately out of stock. Instead, she grabbed the remaining of the jar she was using and just gave it to me! Since you only need to use a little each time, I still have some left!
As for the service, Melle and John, the owner, are fantastic. They make you feel so comfortable, but keep the environment really fun as well. And I love that John's dogs stick around. They're really chill and help keep the environment fun too.
Oh, and did I mention 20% off first-time customers? And they send a follow-up e-mail for another coupon for the next time you come too!
Overall, great service, great people, and most of all, quality styling!
I have to take Urban Lift down a notch because Mary left and I honestly haven't been impressed with the others who have cut my hair since. At this point I'm in an entrapped relationship with Urban Lift: I'm not totally satisfied, but I can't leave because I don't want to go through the effort to find another great stylist--and I'm not sure if I will be able to find someone better.
They've been OK cuts, but they just didn't seem to work with my hair or last very long or really be what I wanted. Don't get me wrong, they were still solid--just not rave-worthy. I think I'm going to request John (the owner) next time--I still love the vibe of this place, so they deserve another shot.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/25/2007
This is the best salon I have ever been to in my life period. If you walk in with 5 photos of… Read more »
I'm one of the lucky ones. It only took me two tries to find my Chicago salon nirvana. I found Urban Lift Salon through Yelp and couldn't be happier. I've gone to Melle for over a year now. She's perfect for the ambivalent hair person like me. I come in usually just knowing that I generally want it shorter, darker, lighter, or to grow out more. Whatever my general feeling is, Melle helps me work through it and comes up with a plan that invariably turns out to be awesome. I get compliments all the time on my hair.
The salon itself is awesome. Unpretentious, upbeat, and casual, I usually come in around noon on a Saturday and grab a diet coke and a PBR to fight off the demons from the night before. Playing with the two doggies and chatting with the staff and the other clients is always a blast.
Even when they are thrown a crisis, customer service doesn't suffer. I came in one Saturday and they were running behind. Not having anything important to do, I said I could wait for a bit so they could get back on schedule. I was only really interested in a free beer. After waiting about 20 minutes, things were back on schedule, and Melle gave me a free hair treatment for my (totally nonexistent) troubles! My hair felt fantastic for about 2 weeks afterwards. Excellent customer service!
So all you ladies (and men) in a hair rut, give Urban Lift Salon a try! If nothing else, you'll get a great haircut (and a discount for first-time customers).
i was luckly enough to live a few doors down from urban lift when i first moved to chicago, which is how i stumbled in. i've sinced moved out of that first apartment, but i keep coming back to urban lift again and again for all of my styling needs. melle has been cutting my hair since 2007 and i always walk out a happy camper.
i love the atmosphere at urban lift - i'm not sure if it's the pbr or glass of wine waiting for you when you walk in, the roaming dogs or the friendly stylists who feel like your long-lost bffs, but i always feel right at home whenever i walk in, no matter how long it's been. thanks urban lift!
Ok here's an update.
His name is John. He's extremely honest and does not promote
using chemicals on the hair. He's easy to talk to and if he doesn't
know something, he won't pretend. That has been my experience in the
past with people saying "Oh, I do ethic hair". I'm to the point where I ask "have you done a Black womans hair before, if so what did you do?".
I am still in search of a someone to cut, because John suggested I just let my hair regain some of the nutrients it lost with my last bad hair mishap. If you want more detail let me know.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/4/2009
I am so happy to have found this place. John is wonderful, patient, and quite informed about my hair… Read more »
Love it!
My friend and I moved to Chicago for school last year from the SF Bay Area and we were both needing a haircut after awhile.
Sooo we yelped, found this place and definitely were not disappointed!
I've been there twice since and I always feel so comfy and relaxed. The offered us tea, coffee, juice, soda, beer or wine. dang.
Mary did a grrreat job with my hair! I have a loot of thick wavy hair and she thinned it out/layered it soo well. love it!
I believe it is officially time to profess my love for Urban Lift and Melle. I generally like to visit salons of any type (hair, nails, spas) twice before reviewing, and trust me.... it was hard to hold out on this one. However, I don't think you can give a good review before seeing how your hair grows out and how it is addressed the next time.
Why do I love Melle so much? Well, she is the first stylist that actually said how I should cut my hair and why. She explained what could be improved from its current status, how the shape would work with my face shape, hair texture etc. It wasn't only super cute, but also ended up growing out very well, especially since I was super busy and didn't come back in for twelve weeks :(
Another plus? When I came back she asked how it worked and actually addressed some of the issues (e.g. hair flipping out instead of in)! What stylist ever does that or even knows how to?
I've seen some of the other stylists do their thang while hanging around and they all seem great as well. Everyone's super friendly and the salon is very cute.
I love getting my hair cut and can't wait to go back :)
I'm so in love with this salon! Today was my second visit (I was long overdue....) and I had Natalie transform my wild mess of hair into an awesome cut.
Hair cut/color
glass of wine
conversation
confidence boost...
all in just under 2 hours
Thank you Natalie!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/7/2008
After reading such rave reviews about Urban Lift (especially Colleen's review!) I knew this was the… Read more »
I've gone to two salons in the Chicagoland area and while both gave me a great cut and color the stylists continually bullied me to straighten my wavy hair every day. There are days I'll spend the extra 20 minutes straightening it, but usually I like to let it stay natural becase *gasp!* I kind of like my wavy hair.
Enter Urban Lift Salon and the wonderful Natalie. Natalie gave me a great cut that looks fantastic if my hair is wavy or straight. And she gets that I don't want to beat my poor hair into submission with a hair dryer every day (so nice to be accepted and not bullied). She asked about how I style my hair, how I part it and really paid attention to how it looked with my face shape.
And if I could, I'ld give Urban Lift a 6th star for the wine. Just what I needed after work.
Marina is the waxing karaoke goddess! My first professional waxing experience was actually made enjoyable, no lie. I've been a longtime self waxer; bending and stretching in ways only those with a yoga PhD would feel comfortable doing. One of my least fav ways to spend my time.
Marina took me in and made me feel instantly at ease with friendly, funny charm. She does a great job. Most importantly, NO PAIN! That's right ladies. Even in the most intimate of places, she gets in and out in a flash. She's like a great dentist, hard to find one that makes you feel so relaxed you might just fall asleep on the chair.
For the level of qaulity, the price cannot be beat. Not to mention new customers get 20% off!
Bonus in sweetness: I received a thank you card from Marina!
Ok, so technically I ended up at Urban Lift because I got a flat tire, and kadunka dunked it to Ashland Tire & Auto, about 2 blocks away from the salon. I simply could not justify squandering an entire hour while my hunka junka was getting outfitted with new shoes...
sidenote: I had been getting fiercely close to a full-fledged, raging mullet. It had to go. NOW.
So I strolled down the street, and remembered I had seen/read good things about this place. I popped in and much to my extreme pleasure they were able to fit me in. RIGHT then. John (the owner) explained that I could get a haircut with Natalie and that it would be 30 percent off the regular price (20 percent off for all new clients, an extra 10 because she's a junior stylist). Bonus! I like risks and I like discounts, even when it comes to my mullet.
The salon is this sweet balance of retro/cool/swank without the pretension (zero). The people are friendly, the space is clean and inviting...and like many of mentioned, they give you beer/wine/soda...it's just a cool place, like I want to go hang out again tomorrow. I won't for a few more weeks, but you get the gist....
Well, it just so turns out Natalie is a frickin superstar haircutter. She is adorable (and very young, but did I mention she rocks at cutting hair? she does). She listened EXACTLY to everything I needed/wanted out of my faux mullet, and she whipped it into a normal person's haircut without chopping off the length. Hallelujia! She is awesome...I suggest anyone try her. A haircut (with the 30 percent discount) was $35. HOLY CRAP. I just got a great haircut for $35. Unreal.
Then I headed down the street and signed over my soul (ok, $325 for tires). So, Urban Life was the bright side to this whole doldrum of a day ;) Highly recommended...
I. freaking. love. Melle. She is the best hairstylist I have ever had and I'm never, never leaving her. And I won't ever, ever let her leave me! (Do you hear me Melle!? You're never leaving!) She is so talented and incredibly in touch with her clients. She really gets a feel for what you like, how you style your hair on your own, etc. She gives me haircuts that are easy for me to make look cute (simple hit of the blow dryer and a tiny bit of product) and I get tons of compliments on them. I'm finally beginning to try the haircuts I've always wanted to try because I trust her so much. And, once or twice I've gotten home after my haircut and been like "hmmm....I'd rather this piece look like this", so I just pop back in and Melle happily and quickly adjusts it. At other salons I'd feel like a needy jerk for doing that, but Melle just wants to make sure you love your hair. And for that, I love Melle.
Aside from Melle's amazingness (have I mentioned Melle's amazing?), the salon itself is awesome as well. It's a cozy size, everyone is incredibly friendly in a GENUINE way (not the "WELCOME TO OUR SALON! I WILL COMPLIMENT YOU PROFUSELY AND YOU IN TURN WILL TIP ME WELL!" type of way.) They offer tasty drinks right away, the dogs are super sweet and cuddly but not at all intrusive and the front desk is always so helpful when you call.
I love Melle and Urban Lift so so much.
I went last week to get a haircut from Natalie, and am happy with the results! I am super picky about my hair and always want it to do impossible things, so that's a big compliment :) I first made an appointment with Mary, but decided to change it to Natalie because of the discount. Natalie is very careful, makes sure you are happy with every aspect of the cut, and is fun to chat with. She went to the Aveda Institute, so you know she has had good training. I would highly recommend going to see her.
The salon is a mere 5 minutes from my apartment, which is awesome. I went on a Cubs game day, so be careful of that. The game was over, but I made the mistake of getting off LSD at Belmont when I should have gone up to Wilson or Lawrence, and I was 15 minutes late. I called and it was no problem, though, as Natalie didn't have anyone scheduled after me. Parking was also not a problem. The salon space is comfy and clean, they offer you a choice of beverage, and the stylists all seem to get along well. I may still try Mary for my next appointment, but I'm just happy to have found a great salon!
Found this place through Yelp and was very glad I did. I went in January, seeking new hair to make me look cool for a trip I was going on later that month, and saw Mary.
Now, I'm not too picky about what happens to my hair -- something low maintenance that I won't need to do much more than brush to make me not look like a maniac that just rolled out of bed -- but I do like to feel like the person cutting all my hair off is comfortable with what they're doing. I usually let my hair grow out long enough to have a decent amount to donate, and then get it all cut off... which has sent more than one stylist into a panic whenever they realize I want to cut off 10-12 inches of hair. I don't want my stylist to panic and freak out that I'm doing something so drastic! I want them to cut my hair!
And I was in great hands with Mary! I sat down and said "I don't care what you do, just cut it all off". Terribly vague, but there you have it. After getting a little more specific ("ok, not all of it, my husband doesn't want me to have man-hair"), Mary got to work, giving me first a very amazing and relaxing wash, before cutting my hair down from Distant Relative of Cousin It to Cute and Sexy Librarian. Mary was excited about being able to make such a drastic change in my hair, and I knew as soon as she got excited about it that she was a keeper! She was great with asking me what I wanted, she let me keep my glasses on for most of the time so I could see what she was doing (I can't tell you how many bad or mediocre cuts I've gotten simply because I couldn't *see* what the stylist was doing.), and above all, she was great with just assessing what would work best for me and doing it.
I felt completely comfortable letting her do what she felt worked best for me and my hair. And for the first time in a long time, I actually felt like chatting with the stylist! The conversation was natural and not forced, like a lot of other places I've gone to. All the stylists and customers were talking to each other, so it felt more like hanging out with a cool group of people, some of whom happened to be wielding scissors.
Update. *Walking down Lake Street downtown.* I've got my earplugs in (as it gets kind of loud especially beneath the El tracks) and a young guy is waving and hollering at me to get my attention.
"Or you can just ignore me, that's fine!" he says, trying to be witty. I realize he is indeed talking to me, so I kindly stop and remove my ear plugs. "Oh, that's why I can't get any girls downtown to talk to me. You're all wearing ear plugs," he says with a cheesy grin. Cute. So, what the heck does he want? He says he and some other people are looking for gorgeous women around the city to essentially be guinea pigs and have their hair done and receive spa treatments for free. I admit "free" does sound nice what with the cost of hair salons and spas these days, but....
"No, thanks." I said. "I love my salon. And I don't cheat."
"Well, that's okay. You can still be my sugar mama!" He yells after me as I walk away.
The moral of the story is, I love Urban Lift, have always loved Urban Lift, and will always love Urban Lift. I may not have enough to be a sugar mama, but I'll sure as heck save my pennies to make my hair sojourn to my beloved salon. Because they're that good.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/10/2007
I am so pleased to see that Urban Lift has gotten nothing but good reviews, as they should! I live… Read more »
The day after my visit to Urban Lift I went to get some coffee at my local Starbucks. Before I even placed my order, this conversation occurred:
Starbucks Barista: You're hair looks great.
Me: Thanks.
Starbucks Barista: The cut looks good on you and the color is so natural.
Either a sign that I go to Starbucks WAY too much, or my haircut and color was so good even the Starbucks guy noticed.
Overall great experience. I went to Natalie a few months ago and she's fantastic. Love the initial discount for new customers, as well as the follow up 10% off for your next visit. I've been searching for a good salon and stylist and I've finally found one. Would highly recommend it to anyone. I'll definitely be back.
Mary is a salon goddess.
She gave me some sweet baby bangs and a beautiful golden color. We were on the same page the whole time.
Five stars, fo' sure.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/25/2008
I want to start this review off by acknowledging the fact that I have gotten along with every Mary I… Read more »
I went to Urban Lift because I saw a girl working at Anthropologie that had super fine hair like me & her hair style was adorable.
I have been going to John for years now and am a totally satisfied client. John makes recommendations (cut & color) based on his vast experience and is right on par.
The prices are very fair and there are specials all year long. I just took advantage of the $25 gloss and could not be happier.
The biggest plus is that you do not walk into a pretentious salon where everybody is dressed in black. There is music playing, the cutest dogs to greet you and if you need a beer or glass of wine they are there for the taking.
A+++++
This is salon is great. If you are new to the city or just looking for a new stylist, I highly recommend this place, especially Mary. She does my hair and she is great. I have wicked curly hair and she does an excellent job with it.
The salon is also just fun to hang out in. The staff is friendly and welcoming--None of that wearing all black, you are not hip enough to look me in the eye stuff. They offer you a beer, wine, or pop and ask you how your week was. It's like all the great things about a neighborhood beauty parlor without the cheesy, texas hairdo.
They actually just had a Valentines Day party for their clients on Saturday night, and it was really fun. Plus I met alot of Mary's other clients, and she does a great job with straight hair too. She's also really great with color--does a cute job without frying your hair, and is just really fun to sit and talk to. Really, she's the perfect stylist.
Being the non-extremist that I am,... I'm reluctant to give 5 stars to a place that I don't love.
Urban Lift deserves 5 stars. It was a great experience; made by the staff and completed by the laid-back-but-hip-and-cool atmosphere.
I went in yesterday for a trim and some red highlights (to brighten up the Chicago gloominess we've been having). My stylist, Mary, immediately took my coat and offered me something to drink. We discussed shade options, curly hair and life. She was so friendly!
The place is just my style. It isn't sterile. It doesn't feel like people are waiting on you, but you still feel pampered. It's like you're at a friend's house doing your hair,... that is, if your friend has hair equipment and is a stylist.
I never liked my hair very much until I started going to urban lift
Now I love it and can also be more adventurous because they know exactly what looks good on me
Since I've been going to UL I have been long and short, blonde,brunette and red and a mix of all and my hair always looks red carpet fabulous! They also know what looks best for my age which is super important to me - I look modern yet age appropriate and dare i say pretty darn sexy!
My husband goes there too and his hair always looks great
In addition the staff is S0 nice - they make you feel right at home
There is nothing pretentious about UL and they don't HAVE to be because their work is THAT GOOD
No airs or flairs just amazing beautiful and very healthy hair
John and melle are my stylists but everyone there is top notch
If you are ready to look your most fabulous go to urban lift now!
