Primp and Tease Salon

The people that work here are very sweet, so I hesitate to write a bad review, but my experience wasn’t a great one, and I feel others should be prepared. First, I didn’t realize that my 2:30 appointment would be in the middle of someone else’s appointment — I understand time is valuable, but each client should be a priority when they’re in the chair, even if it means as a stylist there is some downtime while color processes.
Second, please ladies clean your brushes! I have never seen so much hair left in a brush at any salon. I happen to be particularly squeamish about this, if you’re not then it shouldn’t deter you. However, there is no disinfectant in sight, and when a comb is dropped on the floor (where NYC shoes walk all day,) left there for a few minutes, then picked up and wiped on a used towel and put back in my hair, I cringe. I left scratching my scalp and rushed home to wash my hair myself under scalding water.
I also understand leaving a round brush in helps to retain curl, but when you leave it tangled in my precious breakable hair, and go to wash your overlapping appointment’s hair, well that is just the last straw.
I really wanted to love this place, but my experience was unpleasant to say the least and I will not be returning.

Do not go here for a haircut. I had an appointment with Nicky and, sorry to say, my hairdresser was incompetent. Instead of listening to what I want, Nicky went on to advise what will look good on me. Afterwards, I explained how I need my hair cut. As a result, I left the salon with the haircut I did not want — my hair was much shorter when I only came here to trim and shape up the style. Not one girl wants to be experimented on in a slightest way. Most know how their hair falls best. I will not return.

They are always running late. I have waited ³⁰⁄₄₅ minutes to get a haircut when I have an appointment. They schedule too many colors and cuts and try to make it work. Every time I say I will not come back but because it is in the neighborhood, but this is it.

I love this place. I’ve gotten my hair cut by Janette ever since I moved to Long Island City. Janette gives me haircuts that work for me: a busy working mama with straight, baby-​fine hair that I wear shoulder-​length. The haircut is just-​right: a quick consult where we talk about what to do, wash, cut, blow-​dry, in about 45 minutes. The price varies based on hair length, but last time I paid about $ 65, not including tip. I like to catch up with Janette but it’s also comfortable just to take a mental break and listen to music; and the other hairdressers and customers all seem to have a nice vibe. I always go on a weekend and make an appointment first.
I will probably be going to Primp & Tease for the next 20 years, so this is probably my last hairdresser review ever! DONE! :-)

Nycki has been cutting my hair for a bit over a year. She has helped me so much as I’ve grown my hair out after losing it to chemo. The girls who work at this salon definitely tell it like it is — but I think that’s fabulous and I really trust Nycki’s judgement. I like her and the job she does more and more each time I’ve gone in. She’s always incredibly kind, never fake, never tries to sell me anything, and she does an EXTREMELY thorough job cutting and shaping my hair. The style always grows out incredibly well, which is saying a lot considering the awkward stages of growing your hair out. Also, I have chemo curl — a super frizzy curl that is new for me — and Nycki does a great job working with the curls so that my cut looks good curly or blown out. You also can’t beat the convenience of the salon if you live in Hunter’s Point, or the prices considering the crazy Manhattan prices just across the river.

Walked out with a great cut that a week later I can still style, without breaking the bank. Sarah was great and helped me make smart hair choices (i.e. avoid bangs in the summer, cut more length to show off shoulder and neck line, thin it out to keep it round etc.). She styled it in a way I could replicate, without going too far with products, heat tools, etc.
It’s also not a big salon, with 2 – 3 stylists on the floor at a time. I like this, because its more intimate and personable. Sarah and I made a great connection and had fun conversation.
If you are looking for a super frilly spa-​like experience where they serve you champagne, this is not for you. If your looking for a personable experience and are local to the neighborhood, this is your place. Though it was my first time, i felt like I had been going there for years.
(That said, what would be great on a hot summer day would be a mini fridge with cold water bottles! :))

The experience I just had with Nycki at this salon was so awful that it actually blows my mind. Here’s my first Unilocal review because I really feel an obligation to warn people. I know it’s a long story, there’s even a lot of details I’m leaving out, but it was just so bizarre.
TL;DR these folks are not great at cutting hair, but also amazingly rude and strange. Stay away!
By the way, I’m writing this because I tried to be an adult and tell Nycki how disappointed I was in person, and she reacted aggressively (more on that below). It’s clear that they don’t care what customers think, and if you don’t believe me, read the other negative reviews for this place and the bizarre, insulting, defensive responses that the owners here write to those reviewers and will likely write to me.
I showed Nycki pictures of what I wanted, we discussed it and she kind of argued with me and tried to talk me into face-​framing layers etc, but I was clear on what I like and don’t like. We didn’t talk much during the haircut. I didn’t have a chance to see what she was doing during. I trusted her enough that I didn’t feel like I needed her to blow it dry at the end and show me– my haircut is a long bob with a little layering at the bottom, not complicated, and I never really like a salon blow out and think they’re a waste of money. But she said she needed to do it to check and it was the same price either way so that was fine.
I’m glad I didn’t leave without looking at it!
It was explicitly what I said II didn’t want. It is basically very heavily layered mom hair. I told her I was concerned about the short layering and showed her, and she told me I was wrong, so I showed her again, and she argued again, so I asked her with genuine confusion «do you not understand what I’m unhappy about?»
Then she actually ripped the bib thing off me and said «I think we’re done here.» I was very, very surprised! We did not discuss payment because she was basically kicking me out of the salon for disliking my haircut.
Well, I made it down the block but I was just SO confused about what happened that I decided to go back and try to discuss it with her.
That’s when things got even weirder.
I went back in and tried to politely explain to Nycki that I was really disappointed with the haircut and how she treated me. I told her that I understood that miscommunications happen, but I was disappointed that she didn’t try to understand what I didn’t like or fix it, and just argued with me and then told me we were done. She responded that she felt I had asked her if she didn’t understand what I disliked in a «snotty and condescending» way, and that I had «brought that energy in with me from the beginning.»
I said that’s not an okay way to treat customers, and she then told me she doesn’t treat all her customers that way, and that’s why she has so many of them. (I think they have a lot of customers because they’re inexpensive and they’re fine until they freak out at you. That’s one good thing here– the prices are great!)
When I finally got home I cried. Not because of Nycki’s behavior, which is almost too weird to get really upset about, but because my haircut is so unflattering and will take so long to grow out.
In the end I think that’s the real problem– these ladies are not great at doing hair. (I’ve worked with Sara as well– the haircuts were mediocre but Nycki gave me a great bangs trim between appointments once so I thought I’d try to work with her.) They’re fine most of the time, and some of the time they’re really bad.
Here’s what’s up: I think they know they’re not great. They’re cliquey and defensive about it. I’ve never tied color here because the stylists’ color is so bad, and you’ll notice in other reviews that women have been told they can’t do a color style for «hair health» reasons (aka the stylists aren’t able to do it without damaging the hair, which it’s great that they at least admit that but talented stylists can do wonders). And if you ask for something they can’t do or don’t want to do, they try to talk you into doing something else, or just do what they think is best which… isn’t great.
And they are super, super, super sensitive about it, and have absolutely no idea how to handle a customer who isn’t thrilled with her hair, as my experience and the other reviews will attest. Stay away.

My wife and I are very happy with the service we get from Nycki and her co– owners since we moved to LIC in Feb. they do a great job on our cuts and wouldn’t go anywhere else.

My first experience at the salon and I absolutely loved it!!! Did a single process, gloss, hair cut and blow dry with Jannette. She was super nice, very knowledgeable, in tuned with latest hair color trends (like kim kardashian blonde transformation process) and counscious about hair health. Also, she was very honest that, because of my hair condition, i would not be able to achieve the results on one day, but draw a strategy on how to get there.
Cherry on top of the cake? Super affordable value that would not pay for a single process in manhattan.
Super recommend!

I’ve gone to Nycki a few times and yesterday did cut and color with Janet. I’m generally very picky, but I’ve left each appointment at Primp & Tease very happy and can honestly say that these ladies know their stuff.

Five stars for Sara Bogarin, the only person who I would let cut my hair ever. Sara has been cutting my hair for almost 9 years now, and consistency with great results. She will keep me going to her for many years to come. I suffered through 2 – 3 other stylists and unsatisfying results throughout Queens until I let Sara cut my hair, and I was relieved that she knew not only how to interpret my vague ramblings of what I was looking for in a cut, but how to make what I was expecting look even better. Plus, she is as professional as they come, and will always greet you with warmth and a smile. Definitely recommend her and anyone else at this Salon! They’re all great!

Primp & Tease is one of my favorite LIC finds! I first discovered them when I moved to the neighborhood about a few years ago, and I’ve never been disappointed. Because I tend to make appointments based on appointment time (not stylist), I’ve had experience with most of their stylists, always with great results. The cuts are great, the prices fair, the salon is very clean, and they’re honest when you ask for opinions. Then, in case I had any delusions of going somewhere else, they sold me on P&T forever. I wrote down the wrong appointment time when I scheduled a blowout before my rehearsal dinner, and arrived 20 minutes late (thinking I was early). Instead of adding to the anxiety I had just caused myself, they went above and beyond to fit me in anyway, and couldn’t have been nicer about it. I highly recommend this salon.

We called as I wanted to try their services, but were turned down because they only do adult hair. We are talking about kids that are almost 10 years old… and also had two teenagers with me. Very disappointed. If you are coming to a family-​oriented neighborhood you need to cater to the neighborhood.

I had a wonderful first time experience. Nicki was my stylist and was one of the best stylists I have ever experienced. I explained my fears of trying a new salon because of a horrible experience I had years ago. She was very understanding. She cared about my hair health and didn’t give me what I wanted because she knew that it would damage my hair. I have a lot of respect for her because of that. I will definitely come back again. Highly recommend this salon

I came in feeling a bit underdressed for the hair salon, but came out with a great, fast, and affordable haircut that feels and looks amazing. Definitely will be back.

I travel all the way from downtown Brooklyn to get my hair cut with Janette. I’ve found this to be one of the few salons in the city that does a fantastic job without breaking the bank. Janette is very knowledgeable and gives her honest opinion when I ask. I always leave loving my haircut, and it typically lasts me a good 3 months. Highly recommend this salon.

I switched from my old hairdresser to P&T about a year and a half ago, mostly due to location (its close to me :) and pricing (I save a good $ 50-​$ 100 vs my old place depending on if I get full highlights or a touchup).
Sarah is awesome and good to talk to too (if I feel like talking), if not, she let’s me sit and play my cellphone video games :)
One suggestion would be to have a k-​cup machine or mini fridge and offer some beverages — it would be a nice touch, and is one thing I do miss from my old place.
Can’t wait to see them again soon!

Got a haircut here twice and it was alright, basic.
Then I had a hair emergency (total dye damage & I was literally panicking) and when I called, the girl didn’t care one bit, she was so RUDE !
So I went to Kika Hair Design instead and guess what? It was 10 0000x better, they were nice and fit me in their very busy schedule when primp and tease told me to call another day.
At primp and tease you’re just paying a little hipper décor other then that there is nothing special and a waste of money if you ask me.

This salon is fantastic!
I have been going to P&T since August 2012 for my haircuts and the women here always do a fantastic job. I rotated between all three stylists for about a year and I’ve always left loving my haircut. Not to mention that the prices are so reasonable for a New York salon!
Then, in April 2013, after box dying my hair black for a year, I decided to go an expensive, well-​rated Manhattan salon to color correct my hair to a light brown. The stylist at the other salon ruined my hair, turning it a bright orange color (and costing me 400 $). After a visit to another salon to try and fix it, I finally returned to Primp and Tease, this time for color.
Janette advised me to use a dark glaze with an ash toner and my hair has never looked better. It feels silky, the orange color was completely gone after my second glaze, I couldn’t be happier!
This salon saved my hair. They know what they are doing, they don’t push products, they have great service.
I can’t say enough good things about them!

Love it here! It’s always so calm and relaxed in there. I hate going into salons that are huslty and bustly and make you feel rushed.
I’ve had two haircuts here, one color, and one up do. My updo was a crown braid with loose curls that was raved over, everyone just loved it, including me.
My color looks amazing, Nycki did baliage highlights and it looks incredible, so natural. I’ve never had that done but I am beyond pleased.
My haircuts have also gotten rave reviews as well. Interestingly enough mostly men have complimented my hair cut both times. Which makes me think the haircuts are pretty sexy, hehe. :)
This is the only place I have ever gone that blows my hair out and makes it look incredible not ridiculous. They even take the time to do loose curls and other blow out techniques that make you look super polished. Even looking around I’m always drooling over the other women’s cuts and color in there. Everyone walks out looking sexy and feeling fabulous. So glad I started investing more money in my hair with them.