Courtesy of Sweet William
To finish off your long weekend, we rounded up five forward-thinking hair studios from across the country that are well worth checking out. Whether creating clean and classic or edgy and out-there looks for clients, the stylists behind these salons prove they truly care about the craft of haircutting. Not only do these spaces work to produce inventive hairstyles, they also often promote local art and music (and can hold some pretty enviable parties, too), proving hair studios are important players in a city’s creative scene.
Here’s our top Canadian picks:
1) Sweet William
Having opened just a few years ago, Sweet William has quickly found itself a devoted following of locals in love with the salon’s personalized and unpretentious services. One look at the graphic styles walking out of the salon and it’s clear long-time stylists and co-owners Bernardo Fernandez, Samantha Diamond and Trent Lowther share a passion for creating expressive and thoughtful cuts and colours. Even the physical salon reflects the trio’s desire for uniqueness, feeling both kitsch and contemporary simultaneously (the minimalist open-concept space is offset by antique furniture and accent wallpaper.) With a beautiful second-floor location in Montreal’s hip Mile End neighbourhood, it’s little wonder customers descend on the salon time and time again.
Location: 5337 Boulevard St-Laurent, Suite 210, Montreal
Photo courtesy of One Block Barbershop
2) One Block Barbershop
Ask any style savvy East Coaster where they get their hair done and they’ll likely say One Block Barbershop. Operating out of an intimate street level studio in the North End, owner Michael Phillips has developed a reputation for offering Halifax refreshingly contemporary cuts and colours. With a progressive and open-minded approach to hair, the shop’s young team of stylists produce bold yet wearable looks. Don’t be weary of its ‘barbershop’ title, the hairdressers at One Block serve up seriously striking women’s hairstyles for their dynamic female clientele. With cuts in the thirty and forty dollar range, the salon is the perfect place to get your hair trimmed and treated in the Maritimes.
Location: 2010 Gottingen Street, Halifax
Courtesy of Day/Night
3) Day/Night Salon
Located in the budding Dundas West neighbourhood, Day/Night is a distinctly young, modern space. A go-to for Toronto’s creative community, the salon’s stark white walls are often filled with rotating art exhibitions. On top of all things fashion and culture related, you can guarantee stylists Chanel Croker, Nikki Pereira and Ben Raine will be playing of-the-moment music compilations. Arrive early and you’ll get a chance to browse through an assortment of avant-garde fashion books and art magazines. As Day/Night is known for cutting hair with a graphic edge, we love that the stylists behind the salon are unafraid to take on daring hair trends themselves, sporting buzzed, bleached and beachy styles of all varieties.
Location: 1389 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Photo courtesy of Ian Daburn Salons
4) Ian Daburn
Having initially flourished with Toni & Guy before stepping out on his own with a namesake salon, British-born Ian Daburn has made quite a name for himself on the West Coast. Catch the sought-after stylist in his impossibly polished Yaletown studio with mirrored white walls and contemporary concrete flooring. You’ll see him working amongst a small crew of creative hairdressers with experience in art and fashion editorial styling. Constantly educating themselves and exploring new trends, Daburn’s team of hairdressers are always on the edge of what’s up-and-coming in hair and beauty.
Location: 1073 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Courtesy of The Beauty Parlour
5) The Beauty Parlour
Offering up consistently beautiful hairstyles to their loyal clientele, The Beauty Parlour brings something new and noteworthy to Edmonton: an eco-conscious and authentically individual salon experience. Priding themselves on being a beauty bar with a conscience, stylists stick to ethical hair care products with a low impact on the environment; they also offer ammonia free colouring treatments. The studio carries its ethical and eco-friendly philosophy into its physical design, too. (The floors are made of reclaimed wood from an old grain elevator and the eclectic mix of fixtures and furniture are all original or refurbished vintage pieces.) We love that The Beauty Parlour has created an inviting space that feels warm and rich in history, an ideal place to get your hair snipped, clipped and cut.
Location: 2nd Floor 10011 82 Avenue, Edmonton
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