04/17/09

Great Cut

by Loves2Spa

I am completely satisfied with my haircut from Hiromi a few months ago and would return, which is saying a lot because I like to try different places because I am always wondering whether I can be getting a better cut somewhere else. It is growing out very nicely. My stylist spent an hour layering, shaping and cutting my long, generally straight hair. So, while this is not a "bargain" cut (upper $70's or $80 incl tip), they really spend a lot of time getting right and if you look at it that way, by the minute, it is on the cheap side. The only downside is that it is way east on 13th which is not close to anything for me.

• Pros: precision cut
• Cons: a bit pricey

01/07/09

yet another style i get to grow out

by nysalsera71

i will say that kaori was on time, listened, discussed what i wanted, and seemed to have a grasp of how to fix the problems i was facing; uneven bangs that were too wide, and hair hanging straight down with a lot of layering at only the ends. she then proceeded to wash my hair soaking my back in the process, sat me back down in her chair, and didn't stop cutting until i literally got up out of the salon with towel and cape still on, grapped my things, and fled out the door. i left with bangs that are straight across my head making me look as if i have a unibrow, but textured just enough so that they poof up at the sides, half of a face frame which she refused to change, and again lots of heaviness at the bottom with tons of layers that are three inches shorter than before except for the last layer which hangs explicably about two inches longer so it doesn't blend at all with any of the hair above or around it.. all that for $65.00, a true bargain in nyc. hair kuwayama, you should be proud!

• Pros: on time, very polite, hair seems to be even
• Cons: sloppy shampooing, unintegrated layers, no understanding of hair style as opposed to hair cut

11/20/08

A really bad haircut that has taken months to even partly fix!

by HappyChica79

I was going to London and wanted to look fab! My normal gal wasn't available so I went to Hair Kuwayama as it was local and looked good. Big mistake. I had Nari cut my hair and I think it was the worst technical haircut I have ever had in my life. It was very short and had absolutely no shape - I felt a little like a choir boy *sob*

I had to spend 5 weeks curling my super short hair every day just so it didnt look so terrible, and then I went back to my own hairstylist who just looked at it and was confused. "You look a bit like a choir boy" she said, which by that point I was able to laugh about it. It had been thinned in all of the wrong places and far far too much.. luckily my hair is a short little bob as it will only take a few months to grow back, but i'm still not happy with how it looks because its been thinned so much!

My roommate also made the same mistake at Hair Kuwayama, also with Nari! When I showed her my cut and we realized it was the same person I had to write on here. I cant comment for the rest of the stylists obviously but I had a terrible experience and will be sticking with my own stylist from now on!

• Pros: Nice salon, local
• Cons: Terrible haircut, way overpriced for the skill level

11/08/07

very positive

by greet7

i've been at this salon for more than 5 years. eri cuts my hair and has always done a great job in listening and styling. when i ask for specific advice she gives it. i do know that with her, it seems to be a salon where if you know what you want, they can provide- but you must be able to articulate that. i have yet to know how the new space will take shape in what it provides; but as far as a haircut- they've done a great job... only once was i unsatisfied but that was because i wasn't sure what i wanted, so i returned the next day and they altered my hair. i offered to pay, and they didn't take the money. very cool. people speaking other languages around me does not bother me, I'm from NY and am used to it... they are not trying to be rude. after all they will speak to you in english and are very kind.

• Pros: they know their craft
• Cons: none

10/15/07

Thank you KAORI!

by mary77mary77

I have crazy curly hair and I do not trust anyone with my very special hair, But Kaori at person has totally changed that. It was my first time. I am really loving my hair. She has such great sense with color and shape and I feel like it is me. HAIR KUWAYAMA is Fantastic!!

09/26/07

Utterly frustrating

by mbeeney

I went to the appointment at the time I had scheduled that morning. The person at the desk told me that I had cancelled my appointment. I responded that it must be an error--I definitely didn't cancel. She said "no, we made sure it was you." I asked "how?" and then said, "let's look at the caller Id." She said, we have no caller id, but we made sure. Then she spoke in maybe japanese to another woman and they both responded that they could not give me the appointment because I cancelled. They made sure. There was no apology. I walked out that and that was it.

• Pros: who knows
• Cons: awful customer service

08/31/07

Great style, great value

by lireilly

This place is wonderful. I have gotten cuts from a number of the staff and every time, it turns out fabulous. As in people going out of their way to compliment me on my hair. The stylists spend a lot of time to do the cut, much more than would be expected for the price point ($45-60). They seem to have a particular specialty in straight hair, Asian hair and men's hair, but I've seen them do all kinds really well. The new location is very cool. People criticizing that the staff is "cold" I just don't get, unless those people are looking for Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias. Me, I just want a stylish haircut at a reasonable price in a nice atmosphere. And that's what I get at Kuwayama!

(I swear I am not related to anyone there!)

• Pros: Skilled stylists, Reasonable prices

07/02/07

not satisfied

by serenity109

I went to this salon based upon a recommendation from a friend. I didn't like the atmosphere because the stylists were talking very loudly in a foreign language. Eri was my stylist. She was confrontative and did not cut my hair the way I asked. I found this salon to be cold and unfriendly.

• Pros: clean
• Cons: unfriendly

04/20/07

Dissapointed

by bbs1919

I have been going to this place over 3 years now. It was one of my favorite places in the city, until my recent visit. It's good that they moved to nicer place and everything, but they changed the whole staff, and let me tell you, they need to get their people back who worked there before. The person that I always get my haircut from was not there anymore so they introduced me to a new person. But, trust me, this is, by far, the worst haircut I could've gotten anywhere in the world. She showed me all these nice pictures of models and explained how she's going to cut my hair, but this **** is nothing like what i was expecting. There's no doubt that I'm never going back to this place again.

• Cons: did i mention I had to wait 20 minutes, even if I made an appointment

04/04/07

Complimentary hair! great music! lots of light!

by mia233

I have been coming here for over 4 years. The new space has great energy & great light. I had a new cut and everywhere i go people stop me to ask me where I get it cut. I reccomend Sieko--especially if you like real down to earth hair stylists who are cool and conversational!

• Pros: Great cuts-for reasonable new york city prices.