As a capital for supermodels, entertainment, and media, the city of New York is teeming with serious talent in the beauty space, and there’s certainly no shortage of hairstylists who know their stuff.

In a city infamous for a competitive, gritty, hardworking atmosphere, it really is a fact: if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, and these creatives are thriving examples of the best hairstylists that the Big Apple has to offer. 

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Out of an impressive collection of coiffeurs in the Empire City, here is our selection of stylists crushing the game from master colorists to curly hair pros.

1. Mona Baltazar of The Mona Cut® NYC

Hailing from the Philippines, Mona has over 15 years of experience in the salon industry plus a degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Although she is experienced in all textures, she specializes in bringing out the potential of curly hair by “creating a silhouette and moving shapes.” Her signature Mona Cut has become well-known from coast to coast as the go-to for anyone looking to make the Big Chop or simply revive their coils with a refreshed, stylized structure.

2. Isaac Davidson of Wigbar

Isaac grew up in Minneapolis and soon discovered that his out-of-the-box creativity would thrive best in a city like New York. After training at the Aveda Institute he made the move and quickly landed opportunities on Broadway where he learned the art of wig-making from scratch. Isaac is now co-owner of Wigbar in Brooklyn where he works with actors, pop stars, and LGBTQ+ icons, and clients including the likes of Doja Cat, Debbie Harry, and Vivienne Westwood.

3. Neal Farinah

Neal left his native country of Trinidad for the United States with no idea where his destiny would lead him, and today he is one of the industry’s most sought-after hairstylists. His mastery has been featured on tour with Beyonce, on the runways with Giorgio Armani, and within the pages of major fashion publications such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar.

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4. Rubi Aguilar Jones of SALON

Rubi has been cutting and styling hair for over 10 years on sets for fashion shoots, while also maintaining a strong clientele who admire her cuts for their low maintenance and longevity. In 2018, she founded SALON in Chinatown – a creative space reminiscent of an artist’s loft that was created with the intention to become a place for human connection centered around hair. Her boss energy continues to expand with the recent announcement of the opening of SALON STUDY – a temporary beauty research library housing and creating printed matter devoted to hair.

5. JAWARA

After years working under some of the biggest names in the industry, Jawara broke off on his own in 2013 and has since built an impressive portfolio spanning red carpet, editorial, campaign, and backstage work. His sculptural styles and intricate braid work is a nod to the artistry of hairstyling in Black culture blended with his other favorite influences such as classic films and New York City itself. Most recently, he was named Senior Beauty Editor-at-Large of i-D – the fashion bible published under VICE media – where he brings his vision of fashion and beauty to the magazine’s pages and special projects.

6. Kiki Losada of Fox and Jane

Kiki’s career began in South Florida, but she always knew she would end up in New York City. She landed at Fox and Jane, a funky and fun salon with outposts throughout the boroughs, where she quickly moved her way up as a top stylist and lead educator. With trendsetting haircuts and flawless highlights, her experience, technical expertise, and “overall radness” have earned her the Master Fox status at the salon and an ever-growing following on social media.

7. Melissa Parizot of IGK

Melissa is the go-to stylist for the cool-girl haircut à la mode. She’s the stylist responsible for the impossibly perfect wispy bangs on Hailey Baldwin and the perfectly chic chin-length bob on Hailey Beiber. She’s also a media darling and beauty expert who has been featured in Elle, Brides, Harper’s Bazaar, and more for her favorite recommendations of top-selling tools and industry-sweeping trends.

8. Kattia Solano of Butterfly Studio by Kattia S

A native of Costa Rica and third-generation stylist, Kattia believes the culture of her salon, Butterfly Studio, comes from the heart of her home country. Her deeply personal approach to hair has resonated throughout her career as an editorial stylist and educator, as she aims to transform lives by focusing on clients’ inner beauty, confidence, empowerment, and self-esteem. Over the last 20 years, her salon has grown from a live-work loft on Madison Avenue to a 4,000 square foot space on 5th ave – still led with the same warmth she started with in 2001.

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9. Joseph Boro of Curls on 5th

Joseph believes there are two ingredients to ensure your best curls: the right cut and proper hair care. With over 18 years of industry experience, his followers agree – Joseph has amassed a loyal clientele who rely on his passion and a sharp eye for glamour. Now working as an independent stylist, Joseph trained under some of the best brands in the biz – Deva, Redken, Sassoon, and L’Oréal professionals, to name a few – and he now specializes as a curly hair expert in his salon Curls on 5th.

10. Maria Barca of SelfSalon

At just 17 years old, New York native Maria Barca put herself through beauty school and at 23 she opened up her first salon in Williamsburg. Always captivated by the borough of Brooklyn, Maria’s vision with Self is to create a sense of community through local artists and a minimalistic space where clients and stylists alike can focus on beauty, without distraction. Going 16 years strong, now a mother, an educator, and full-blown entrepreneur, Maria has a second location in Bushwick with her own line of hair care products on the way.

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