Staff picks: Hair salons in Singapore

New Station Beauty & Hair

Where: #01-06, 441A Clementi Ave 3; 6659 4048
Nearest MRT: Clementi
I’ve been going here for about a year – I paid $16 for a year’s membership, which allows me to get haircuts for $1 any time ($3.90 without membership). The first time I went, I showed them a photo with the style I wanted, and they copied it quite well. They like me because I always leave a tip, which is usually more than the actual cost of my haircut. There are about ten barber seats and from 6pm onwards, there’s always a long queue. All of the hairstylists are from Malaysia – the girl I used to get is too popular now, so now I usually get one of the guys who has blonde hair. Anthony Gonzales, art director

Organic Hair Professional

Where: #01-97, Blk 204 Hougang St 21; 6289 9373
Nearest MRT: Kovan 
Website: organichairprofessional.blogspot.com
I use natural hair products for my daily rinses, so I try to keep my mane free of chemicals at salons as well. Organic Hair Professional uses products that are gentle yet effective, with a range of services that rival regular salons – a wash and cut starts at $28, and ammonia- and paraben-free dye sessions start at $75. They have three locations around town, but I prefer the one out in Kovan – it’s unpretentious and there’s less traffic around. Celine Asril, sections editor

Barber Minami & Erika Beauty Salon

Where: #B1-08/09 Liang Court, 177 River Valley Rd; 6338 2217
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay
On Liang Court’s basement floor, Barber Minami & Erika Beauty Salon cuts a dash among the DVD store, tailor and giant supermarket Meidi-Ya that make up Little Japan. The mostly elderly, eversmiling lady hairdressers work meticulously, and massage your scalp, neck and shoulders before treating you to a post-cut tea ($30). Banter is minimal, while comfort and professionalism are paramount – there’s a sense the ladies really enjoy their work and want to leave you looking your best. Neat and sparsely decorated, it’s like a top-end spa for the head. Even with 12 hairdressers going at a time, it’s usually filled, so reservations are recommended. Jonathan Evans, chief sub editor

Salon Vim by chez vous

Where: #04- 07/08/09 313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Rd; 6884 7757
Nearest MRT: Somerset
Website: salonvimbychezvous.com.sg
After the distressing departure of my regular hair guy – an Italian named Joe who used to talk passionately and non-stop about football – I’ve resorted to testing different places every cut. Usually it ends up with a cut that’s too short or occasionally lopsided. The one place that’s come closest to replacing Joe (nothing will, really) has been this slick salon – you get coffee and tea to sip while you’re waiting, and the occasional fashion model getting styled nearby is a bonus. Gerard Ward, assistant online editor

Kizuki + Lim

Where: #03-03 Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd; 6221 6320
Nearest MRT: City Hall
Website: lessismore.co.jp
This is a hair salon from Osaka. It’s all white and phosphorescent green, and they have these angular 3-D walls, modelled after a glacier. The design is minimalist and futuristic – very quiet, very Zen. They have one corner with art installations, made by customers; there’s usually a new installation every time I go. The magazines, organic shampoo and clientele are all largely Japanese, and there are usually only about four stylists there at a time, so you must book in advance. I get my hair cut by Yoko ($50), who always wears a Kangol hat; we chat, but it’s sometimes hard because I can’t speak Japanese. They’re planning to open a new outlet in Orchard Central soon. James Ong, online editor

Toni & Guy

Where: #03-03 The Heeren, 260 Orchard Rd; 6835 4556,
Nearest MRT: Somereset
Website: toniandguy.com.sg
I’m picky about who styles my hair, and recently gave swanky UK salon chain Toni & Guy a try. Mel, my stylist for the day ($80+), has an edgy, choppy crop, and is clearly popular – when another customer arrived halfway through my appointment, she deftly and politely whisked back and forth between us. I provided a picture of my desired style, a chin-length bob with blunt bangs, and she briskly inspected the length and texture, explaining that while my heavily layered locks wouldn’t quite achieve the same look, she would work on it. The end result was tweaked for my face shape and not exactly what I asked for, a standard comment about Toni & Guy haircuts – but ultimately it suited me more than the original inspiration. Cherylene Chan, staff writer