Hair salons - not Garubo or Chelsea Set archived

Why won't you go to Garubo and why would you switch from someplace you like? Is this about cost, being more trendy, hours of business, etc? Without that kind of info, maybe hard to make a better recommendation for you.

Yet another Please Help thread that immediately sinks into "Why won't you do it this way?"

I go to Subway Salon in Millburn, where I love Alex -- best haircuts I've ever had. Not cheap, however.

Paula at RBA Salon, 116 Essex Street in Millburn does my color and cuts. She's terrific and her phone number is 973-379-7886.

Images in Millburn - I love Karina but Carla and Anthony are wonderful too. And reasonable and not stuffy but lovely.

93 Main St
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 376-1162?

Ms. Bikefixed has come to like Just Salon on Millburn Ave. Andrew is her fave.

Subway is decent--sinks are not comfortable for washing though and it can be very noisy. But Alex does do good haircuts and Frank and Joseph are both good, very experienced colorists. I'd give it a recommendation but not a rave review.

Just Salon is VERY expensive--Edwin charges 175 for a cut. But it feels a bit more luxurious than Subway--Saks versus Nordstrom perhaps.

HUH??? I thought information about the reason why she wanted to switch might be helpful. For example, if cost is the issue at Chelsea or Garubo, then I wouldn't recommend Just Salon or Castagno in Millburn because they are the same or even higher priced (but a neighbor goes there and her hair looks great!). If the issue was that the cuts were too young and trendy, I would have a different recommendation than if her current cuts were too "old-fashioned". For example, place on Ridgewood Rd in Maplewood seems to cater more to an older set with more traditional styles. There are places that cater to thin, fine hair vs. curly hair. I can think a person looks great with her long, thick, curly hair but her stylist may suck for people like me with thin, shorter, very fine, pin straight hair. In this case, the details really do matter.

Kim at Fringe on Springfield Ave.

What features are important to you in choosing a new salon?

conandrob240, the reason I didn't explain about Chelsea Set is because it's unlikely to be relevant at any other salon. It's mostly personal, and I'd rather not discuss, as we'd be going off into unproductive territory. The issue with Garubo is that I had the worst customer service experience of my life there - it was a long time ago, but still raises my blood pressure when I think about it. I never, ever intend to walk into there ever again.

The Millburn salons sound like good places to check for now. Thanks everybody for these tips - I'll make some calls and do drive-bys to get a "feel" for these places.

That's fine. What I meant was more along the lines of the way Peggy phrased it- what specifically are you looking for? Knowing price wasn't necessarily the big sticking point actually helps a lot.

And Conandrob, apologies if I came off snarky -- bad day today.

I also recommend Images in Milburn. I've made the same rounds from Garubo to Chelse Set and now to Images. I like the cut a lot and (even better) I actually enjoyed the relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. I really hate salons, so this is big for me).

My cut was $45 and she cut my 13 yr/old son for $20.

Can I ask how much a haircut/wash/blow dry costs these days? I've been going to someone for a really long time and I don't even know if she charges me normal price any more because I've been going there so long (it's not around this area).

I'm just curious after reading about the $175 haircut (above).....which shocked the hell out of me.

What's "normal" and what's "expensive"??

kim or ANY of the gals at FRINGE. topnotch and a great group of people.

try Moods in Hair in SO - 2nd and Academy I think. The owner Phil is a GREAT guy (and a HS friend of ours) and all the ladies there are nice. They do a great and aren't snooty or strange and they've been there for years (and years) - I think Phil took over for his dad 24 years ago.

Oldstone-any of those women at Fringe are going to be topnotch with you around, you HUNKA, HUNKA BURNING MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Respectfully submitted,
bgs

alg- I think you are right...his Dad dropped dead in his late 50's-massive heart attack...we used to go there always....Did not know that the same family still owned it.
b

Posted By: TigerLillyWhat's "normal" and what's "expensive"??

There's a huge range these days... I used to go to Aura in Caldwell and would pay close to $180 for cut and color together. Then, after an exercise in godawful customer service, I moved to The Parlour in Montclair, where I pay $115 for a cut and color. Very similar results, nice laid-back place, good stylist who is also good company, and for $65 less than I used to pay. Go figure.

Thanks again. I am looking for a place that is friendly to middle-aged ladies who have never been high-style fashion plate types, or care to ever be one - but still want a decent cut & color; and want not to be treated like dirt because they're not the most stylish chicks in town (which was part of the issue at Garubo, and this was 100% explicit; the hairdresser said I "embarrassed her." But this was not the cause of the eventual writing-off of the place.).

I'm not going to say that money is no object at all, but I can afford to pay for a good cut. Price was not an issue at Garubo or Chelsea Set - they're both in the range I'm willing to pay, or maybe a bit higher if necessary.

Holy cow. Speaking of salons, I decided to visit the web site for Bangz, a salon that recently moved to a renovated church in Montclair, to see what it's like, and I stumbled on THIS:

BRAVO OPEN CASTING, TUESDAY
Date Posted: 06/03/2009

Are You A TRUE Jersey Princess?


CASTING TUESDAY , JUNE 9TH, 12:00-8:00pm

Want to be the next reality TV star? Are you a fabulous young woman who's 21 or older with a lifestyle others only dream about? Do you work hard, and play even harder? Can we find you in the trendiest nightclubs turning the heads of the hottest guys with your fabulous fashion and killer style? Is the only thing you need a television show to showcase your life and how you live it?

If you're a real-life Princess from Jersey or Staten Island, then the producers behind Bravo's The Real Housewives of New Jersey want to hear from you.

We're casting a new docu-series for a major cable network, and we're searching for a group of Jersey's finest young ladies who know what they awnt, and know how to get it! If this is your story, then we need to hear from you and your equally fabulous friends.

Please send the following information via e-mail to:

Sirens.Jersey.Casting@gmail.com

*An e-mail describing why you're a perfect match for our show
*Pictures of you and your friends.



CLK, I just read your last post... I can't believe any stylist would say such a horrible thing to you. That would have been more than sufficient for me to ditch a salon, after complaining to the owner/manager.

Peggy I SOOOOO want to read the entries they get from the women who think they have "a lifestyle others only dream about." WOW....what I wouldn't give to read those....

I know... I find that whole ad very frightening. Wouldn't you love to watch the casting call from a safe distance? It will be Diva Central.

Another rec for Fringe. Cut will run you about $55 or so. I go to Kim but she is very busy and I have recommended friends who use other stylists there and love it, for the friendly atmosphere, the tea AND the haircuts. (And you can pay by charge which helps.) Actually, a good friend of mine enjoyed her visit so much she recommended it to 2 friends who are new Maplewood residents and they are thrilled too.

PeggyC, that is totally for real and this happened several times - I have no idea why I put up with it so long. Then one day I showed up ON TIME for an appointment - the prior client was half an hour late, had just got there, hadn't been shampooed or anything. Stylist told me that I would "have to" come back 3 hours later.

I ripped her a new one, in the most spectacular breach of manners I have ever demonstrated in my life. If anybody was in the waiting room, they probably still remember it. I never, ever lose my temper with people in retail-type situations but I did that day, hoo boy.

FWIW I'm not a cheap tipper, I tend to be on the too-generous side if anything.

If this sounds familiar to anybody, I've described it on MOL before. Anyway it happened a very long time ago now.

Another vote for Images. Anthony cuts and colors my hair and has for several years. I feel thirty but I guess I am middle aged. I always feel comfortable there and I am not a fashion plate by a long stretch. It has the feel of a treat while not costing as much as you might expect. It is extremely convenient to go to Images as often I go straight from there to my other more regular outing with other middle age fashion plates- - the Shop Rite.

edited to remove slightly inappropriate remarks

Oh and Images advertises on MOL.

Posted By: bgsOldstone-any of those women at Fringe are going to be topnotch with you around, you HUNKA, HUNKA BURNING MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Respectfully submitted,
bgs

down girl, down. :cool:

I have a client that has hair similar to yours. She goes to Jenny at Just. I think it costs her about $70.

Posted By: CLKThe issue with Garubo is that I had the worst customer service experience of my life there - it was a long time ago, but still raises my blood pressure when I think about it. I never, ever intend to walk into there ever again.

CLK, I am in no way trying to sway you to Garubo, but I did want you to know that I also had several horrible experiences at Garubo some years ago (not as bad as what you describe however)--probably talking 9 or 10 years ago now--and, like you, I swore I would never darken their door, ever again. Then I started noticing quite a few folks I knew who had great hair, and came to find they pretty much all went to the same stylist at Garubo. By then I had been floundering around from place to place trying to find someone, anyone, who would give me a cut and color I was happy with--aside from the guy I had been going to in Paramus since my early 20's! I had tried Chelsea, and not been happy. I tried Images, it was O.K., but not O.K. enough to endure the discussion about my stylist's very personal (ahem) piercings. Can you say TMI!!!

So I decided to give it one more go at Garubo and I haven't been sorry. Everyone there is nice and I have been treated well. I think the place has changed. And, believe me, I had an exceptionally bad taste in my mouth about them too.

Do you know if this horrible person is still working there?

Anyhoo, like I said, I'm not trying to sway you, just wanted to share my similar experience.