07/11/08

I've never felt more comfortable at a salon!!!

by BostonKris

I've lived in major cities such as Boston and Atlanta, and I've been to a variety of places in my travels- salons that catered to contemporary styles, ones suited for toned down styles, Toni & Guy in London, you name it. And I've never felt as instantly comfortable! John (owner) met me at the counter, and I was offered a beer or a glass of wine- and was a Friday, of course I accepted :-) Natalie (my stylist) and I talked about what to do, as I wanted a change, and I got a great haircut for very reasonable prices... plus a 20% first timer discount. Natalie is young, funky, and really knows what she's doing- I felt completely at ease and had a GREAT experience!

Also, if you bring in a photo, don't expect a stylist worth anything to copy it exactly- you are NOT the actress/model in the photo and do not have her features. The stylists at Urban Lift discuss everything with you (and I know they do, as I was listening to other stylists with their clients!) in a very non-bullying and open manner- you agree to it before they even pick up their scissors. If you don't like your haircut (see another review), it's your own fault for not speaking up- these guys didn't hold you captive in their chair :-) They rock too much! And one of the last things Natalie said to me was if I had any problems after washing and styling on my own, even a stray lock, to come back and she'd fix it for free.

I have gotten compliments from friends, family, and even random strangers! I'll be back, and will be bringing friends!

• Pros: Awesome atmosphere, knowledgeable and friendly staff, great experience
• Cons: Check the Cubs schedule first!

02/11/08

Nice place, awful hair cut and color

by dhansak

I got an appointment with John the owner for highlights and a cut after reading great reviews here. The salon is super cozy, the prices are reasonable (they give first time visitors a discount), and the people all very friendly, but unfortunately my hair cut and color were AWFUL.

Do you ever tip because you don't want to look cheap or rude, even though the service didn't warrant one, and then regret it afterwards? That's what I've been doing ever since my appointment with John, the owner of Urban Lift. I told him I wanted something lighter with a little red in it, and what he gave me, after telling me that he was, "known for his highlights," was the most fake red hair color I've ever seen. And not only was the color gross, but it was darker than my original color!

Then there's the cut...I had a shoulder length angle cut before. It was a good cut, but i wanted something softer, a little more fun and funky. I showed him a picture, and what he gave me looked nothing like what I had shown him. All he did was basically whack the longer front part of my hair off to match the back. It's totally blunt, without any shape, and it's so short that I can't even pull it back and let it grow out. It's awful.

I'm very low maintenance--I'm happy with how I look, and the idea that a haircut could upset me just seems silly, but I had to take some pr pictures for my job recently, and I know it sounds dumb, but I felt so vulnerable and ugly--all because of my hair.

So, I'm writing this in hopes someone else can avoid the mistake I made. Maybe I should have said something before I left the salon, given John a chance to fix it, but letting someone who just mucked up my hair have another go didn't seem like such a good idea. I definitely wish I hadn't of tipped though.

• Pros: First time discount, cozy place, nice staff and customers
• Cons: bad haircut and highlights

10/07/07

Love this place!

by solovely3

I have been looking for a place for a year now and I have fallen in love with this place!! The atmosphere is warm and friendly. Everyone is like family here. They have a little lounge area in the back and nail polish to do manicures/pedicures while you wait. I also love that first time visitors get 20% off services and, if you refer a friend, you get 10% off your next visit. Also, make sure you bring some cash for tip. I never felt rushed or uncomfortable. Urban lift is definitely a nice change from the typical stuffy salons.

I had my hair cut by Mary and she's fantastic. I went kind of short but i felt like I need a drastic change. I got exactly what I wanted with not a lot of fuss. No regrets here.

• Pros: I left feeling uplifted and fabulous!
• Cons: can't hang around more often... it's suggested to wait 6-7 weeks to get another haircut