I’m going to be honest: I am a hair snob.
I have only had my haircut and colored by one stylist for as long as I can remember, (not including myself when I was little, of course) so you can imagine why the thought of a stranger handling my locks induces mild anxiety. This is why walking into Salon J, the relatively new salon that opened last March on York Street, was a bold move on my part.
Salon J was chic, well lit, and strikingly cozy as I sat down in front of a full-length mirror identical to the ones in the four other service stations next to it. The décor spared me the typical chintzy salon look and settled for one that was understatedly cute. It felt homey yet stylish, with pine walls and black accents. Messages such as “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” and “Be your own kind of beautiful” lined the walls. The atmosphere of the salon seemed realistic; they are not trying to channel an upscale high fashion vibe. The staff managed to maintain a professional manner while being universally friendly and lively.
There are many salons in New Haven, but it can still be intimidating to try a new place for the first time. Most of the upscale salons in the area set competitive prices. A women’s haircut at Jobella, Chameleon, and Karma all run about $50 and color ranges from $90-$130 depending on your hair length and thickness.
Salon J’s prices are reasonable; they charge $45 for a women’s haircut and $85 for a partial highlight. Their facial waxing prices are noticeably lower than the salons in the surrounding area; Salon J charges $12, $8, and $6 for an eyebrow, upper lip, and chin wax, respectively. The salon makes an effort to cater to Yale students by offering a 10% discount with a Yale ID. Additionally, the salon runs specials daily, although you need to swing by the storefront to get the scoop on the latest offer.
Their stylists use high end products in the salon, ranging from Moroccan Oil to Paul Mitchell, which are also for sale behind the front counter.
While Salon J’s prices do fall a little below the average, they only offer hair services and facial waxing, while many others provide spa services, body waxing, and manicures/ pedicures in addition to hair care.
Jen, the owner and principal stylist, worked on my hair. She has twelve years of experience styling hair, and commutes between her salon here in New Haven and another in Brandford, CT. Jen employs five stylists; each ones specializes in a different area of hair care and waxing. When asked what she hoped for in terms of business growth, Jen responded, “We are in the beginning stages of opening the salon in New Haven; we are just trying to get our name out there.” Indeed, when I told girls I had my hair done at Salon J, I was met with quizzical looks and unfamiliarity. Yet friends, acquaintances, Starbucks baristas, and even the Flower Lady took note of my new look and promptly gave it their stamp of approval.
I told Jen I wanted my ragged ends off and to “use her discretion” when determining how much was appropriate to trim. My usual hairdresser is very conservative with the amount she snips off, and at first I was surprised by the new look I left with. But after my trip to Salon J, my hair felt healthy, soft, and supple. Looking back on years and years of the same hairdresser, cut, and style the change feels liberating. Without the weight of my stringy, split ends, my hair finally has volume and body! Not only did I pay half of what I usually do for the same services, but I also walked away with the satisfaction that my leap of faith paid off.
Maybe you are thinking, okay, it’s just a haircut. But the real moral of the story lies in the fact that changing old looks up and trying something new is daunting no matter what form it takes. This is something Salon J recognizes, so as an incentive they are offering $5 off any service if you mention HER CAMPUS. So girls, check out what Salon J can do for you and give it a go!