University Hair Stylist

Terrible. I don’t know who taught them to cut hair but it was horrid. The lady had no people skills or finesse. Then when I asked her to cut my side bang she cut my bangs like your mom had them cut back in grade school. I will not be going back!

I only come here since I live close by and the short wait. I’d take short wait over a nice haircut. But, if you’re coming here for a smart look then you’d be terribly disappointed. The male stylist is just god awful and doesn’t listen. I’ve asked him to not cut my hair short and in all instances he ends up chopping way too much.
Dia, the owner, is actually fairly good. So if you can get her to cut your hair then you might come out looking OK.

I’ve really tried to give this place a fair shake. They’re located conveniently (right below by apartment) and have reasonable prices (and some student discounts).
The place is reasonably clean and most everyone is friendly.
Unfortunately that’s where the good stuff ends. I’ve gone there about 6 times in the last year, every time requesting the same thing (a simple and professional men’s cut, parted to the right), every time getting something wildly different from a different cutter.
The women have been generally better but I would still only put one of them above average. The main reason I’ve given so many chances is that whenever I get one of their cuts its just close enough to average for me to come back once more. While I think it is a pseudo-​family business the ability of the cutters makes it feel like they hire people write out of training and kick them out once they get competent.
The older man went about the cut normally, if a bit brusque. Everything looked ok until I went home and showered. Looking in my mirror is when I noticed that both my sideburns were slanted wildly, in opposite directions. Running my hands loosely through my hair I found dozens of hairs that had been uncut (1 – 2 inches longer than everything else). Was amazingly sloppy but was luckily able to touch it up myself.
The last cut I’ll have here was by a younger guy. I normally don’t like to talk too much during my cut but I’m at least used to answering some basic questions about what I want, this guy didn’t seem particularly interested in getting that. He treated my head like a ball of dough so much that I have a mild headache (grasping/​pushing/​holding far harder than necessary). I’ve never been stabbed so much by a buzzer either. I know it happens (I’ve buzzed my own head before) and its only a little pinch so no a big deal. However he couldn’t touch the buzzer to my head without nipping me, gets very old, very fast. While there isn’t anything very specifically wrong with this cut as compared to the older guy, it just looks bad/​off (unpolished, too short, no fade at all on sides)
Sadly won’t be returning.

I haven’t visited University Hair for having anything major done, but I’m satisfied with the few (largely overdue) trims I’ve received here. Seriously competitively priced and the UC student discount is a welcome advantage when it comes to needing a quick cut badly without having to leave Hyde Park.
Better yet, we’ve found that they do a seriously wonderful job with men’s cuts, so if you are a male, I imagine you might be in for your best value cut yet.
Like I said, this is a place I went for maintenance trims and the like before I grew the gumption to start treating myself to flattering cuts, layers, and textures, and now that I have, I plan to keep my new stylist in the North Side, but I know that it’s likely just the ticket for many people just needing a quick pep in their hair step.

I would not recommend this place.
I asked for Caesar cut — short on sides and a little more on top. A little. A little. Keep that in mind.
The hair stylist, a brusque older gentleman, quickly agreed to my request. Even did this nice old school shaving cream on the side burns (that’s why this is a two star review and not one).
But when it was done, it looked like the bowl haircut from the 90’s — HUGE difference between side and top. I was in a hurry but kept my cool — asked him to blend more.
He does his thing, and I look again — looked a little better but still way too long on top. I gave up — this guy just did not get it.
I needed to get a «fixer» haircut when I got back home. How do you f*** up a Caesar cut? Apparently this place knows how.
Also a side note: the other stylists were sitting around typing on their phones because it was a slow day. I get they may be bored but really? There’s nothing you could be doing? Cleaning, organizing… nothing? Just screams «we don’t care».

This review is of Milo, as I don’t have experience with the other barbers/​stylists.
Milo gives my husband a good cut. He is also personable — bonus! He also saved the day by fixing my 17 month old’s terrible, uneven, cut that he got across the street at the 57^th St. Salon. He really was wonderful with my son, who wasn’t in the best mood by that point, and fixed his hair right up. I was near tears when I went there b/​c of the terrible cut he had received, and Milo really worked wonders.

Having moved to the area recently, I was not looking forward to having to find a new hair salon — always a risky endeavor. I decided to try this place out since it is in a handy location, and I’m glad I did.
My hairdresser was friendly, efficient, and skilled. I showed him a few pictures of the cut I wanted*, and he was careful to ask for input throughout. It turned out exactly how I had asked.
The pricing was reasonable ($ 29), and the service was very fast. I had about a one-​minute wait, and the cut took maybe 35 minutes.
I will certainly be back!
*I have fine, straight hair that I wear close on the sides with some height up top.

«University Hair Stylist and Spa» is located in Hyde Park, right near Powell’s Bookstore and the Salonica diner — across the street from where the old Café Florian used to be. I usually go up north for my haircut, but this week I decided to find a local place and give them a try.
The space is more intimate than you might expect, but it didn’t feel too crowded. There is a small waiting area — along the east window — with the usual coffee table covered in reading material, but I didn’t have to wait when I arrived, which is pretty amazing for a Saturday afternoon. There is a television (it was playing the Blackhawks game), so those who like to watch TV during your cut (or while you wait) will not be disappointed if you’re into that sort of thing. (I imagine they’d even change the channel if you asked them.)
The employees were friendly and accommodating, greeting every guest as soon as they walked through the door. The service was very professional, fast (but not rushed), and the results were pleasantly surprising — the cut even looked good without using any product. In fact, it was one of the best looking cuts I’ve had in years. (Men’s haircuts are $ 17, which I find more than reasonable.) As the name suggests, they’re a full-​service salon that offers everything from unisex styling, shampooing, men’s shaving, and coloring to a variety of «European» facials and waxing services. They even offer package deals for the demanding consumer interested in more comprehensive services. Payment was easy and accurate, and the tip can be added directly to the debit/​credit slip. (This is a wonderful perk because some salons require cash tips, and many people simply don’t carry cash anymore.)
Bottom line: Unless you’re accustomed to very expensive services by «Cosmo-​esque» stylists surrounded by elegance and luxury, I highly recommend giving «University Hair Stylist» a try, particularly if you’re a Hyde Park resident. They’re fast, friendly, skilled, conveniently located, and they offer a number of services for a very moderate price.
General hours: M-​F (9 to 6), Sat (8:30 to 5)
Below is a (partial) list of their services:
Men:
Hair cuts — $ 17
Shampoo — $ 3
Beard trim — $ 7
Shaving — $ 17
Women:
Hair cut (with shampoo) — $ 24
Shampoo — $ 6
Shampoo and blow dry — $ 15+
Flat iron — $ 25+
Wash and set — $ 18+