ARCHER SALON BALAYAGE
(Union Square)
archersalon.com
Archer Salon is a quiet haven just off bustling Grant Avenue. But don’t let the cozy vibe fool you— expert colorists, stylists, and aestheticians run the salon like a well-oiled machine. For baby blonde highlights, Gari Cuevas is the pro; for the balayage experience, C.K. Karkhanis knows best. —M.D.
BARROW SALON COLOR AND STYLING
(Union Square)
barrowsalon.com
Adorned with art by local Lena Wolff, this salon is a mecca for good hair on the West Coast. Proprietor and stylist Michelle Snyder has cultivated a talented team with experience from New York Fashion Week and beyond: Barbara Thompson is our color expert of choice. Sit back with a made-toorder cup of coffee or a generously poured glass of bubbly while she does all the work. —K.P.
BLOOM BLOW DRY BAR BLOW OUT
(Forrest Hill)
bloomblowdrybar.com
Bloom Blow Dry Bar (say that 10 times fast!) is our go-to when only beachy waves will do. Summon your inner surfer chick and chill out during the shampoo—only Unite’s crueltyfree products will touch your tresses in this salon— and read magazines on an iPad while they give you that perfect, tousled blow dry. When you emerge, beware of catcalls. —J.L.
COURTESY OF REVERIE
COWBOYS AND ANGELS HAIR SALON AND ART GALLERY PRECISION HAIRCUT
(Union Square)
cowboysandangelssf.com
With more than 20 years in business, Cowboys and Angels has amassed a
serious cult following for their chic cuts and team of international stylists, including owners David Tolls, Louise Baranowski, and Tracey McAllister. The bright, airy salon and laid-back vibe belie their precision haircuts, designed to help even the most unruly strands fall effortlessly into place. Imagine that—a salon-perfect style that mere mortals can replicate at home.
DIPIETRO TODD SALON HAIRCUT
(Union Square)
dipietrotodd.com
When it’s time for a chop, we need to know who we can trust. At this mainstay salon, the dependable team of well-trained stylists has a warm chairside manner and deft scissorhands that effortlessly style magazinecover worthy hairdos. —M.D.
DRYBAR BLOWOUT
(Pac Heights)
thedrybar.com
We book our appointments through DryBar’s easy-touse app. The upbeat Pac Heights salon has pop music on the stereo and classic chick flicks on the flat screen. Choose from seven styles in their lookbook, including the wavy Dirty Martini (a favorite). Enjoy coffee or champers while the stylist works on your locks for a $40 flat fee. It’s as easy, and addictive, as that. —E.H.
MADISON REED COLOR AND STYLING
(SoMa)
madison-reed.com
It’s fun to go to the hair salon, but it’s even better when the salon comes to us. Madison Reed’s $99 Color to You service sends a pro colorist to our door. If DIY is more your speed, opt for the brand’s online subscription service. Either way, you’ll get 100 percent gray coverage without
HAIR
BEST OF BEAUTY
smelling like a lab rat: Madison Reed formulas are free of ammonia, resorcinol, PPD, and parabens, and leave your hair soft and healthy. —K.P.
SPOKE & WEAL HAIRCUT
(Russian Hill)
spokeandweal.com
A haircut from soughtafter celebrity stylist Jon Reyman is akin to a religious rite: He has a deific instinct about what our hair needs and how its shape can take your look up a few notches. His unusual practice of lightningfast dry cuts is easily the best thing you could do for your locks. —S.M.
TOKYOSF BARBER & BEAUTY SHOP HAIRCUT
(Nob Hill)
tokyosf.com
Specializing in a “concave” hair cutting technique that produces that long, layered, boudoir look made famous by the Victoria’s Secret Angels, TokyoSF is operated by master coiffeurs, David Fogle and the monomonikered Tokyo. Be sure to book in advance: This popular chop shop fills up fast. —N.P.
VEER & WANDER COLOR AND STYLING
(SoMa)
veerandwander.com
Salon-meets-apothecary Veer & Wander is our go-to for expert hairstyling and artisanal skincare products, makeup, and aromatic candles. (Strike a match to the 6 Brady Street wick, redolent of black tea and sweet tobacco.) Owner and stylist Connie McGrath is a known expert in both cut and color: Pick up some of her tricks of the trade during public workshops on Tuesdays. —S.M.
Supercharge your hair while taming fly-aways with Reverie’s Milk Anti-Frizz Leave-In Nourishing Treatment ($42), a serum blended with the finest organic ingredients. —B.K. // gmreverie.com
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