Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa

This review is for a massage, and for service in general.
I made an appointment for a Thai massage. Impressively, they made arrangements for me to come in with only 90 minutes’ notice. This was my first visit to any Paul Labrecque location, and my first visit to such a spa.
The location’s layout was pretty confusing. There was no reception area, no one to welcome me and no one to tell me what to do. Also, nothing was labeled, and the place is a bit of a maze, so it was impossible to tell where I was supposed to go to get services. (Push on the door, or pull? Oh, who knows? Where’s the men’s locker room? Oh, it’s through this secret door in the corner.) The only clue was one door with an M on it and one with a W on it – I presume this means men and women. So, I just sat on a couch on the other side of the M door for a few minutes reading the newspaper while a few attendants rushed past me without saying anything. Another client loudly talked on the phone and paced back and forth. Not exactly the relaxing atmosphere I was hoping for.
No one approached me, and I got tired of waiting, so I went exploring. I opened the other door, the W door, and found a receptionist, who was not welcoming at all; rather, she was unpleasant, snotty, rude, condescending and impatient. She told me the masseuse I had an appointment with was attending to another client, which I found odd because the woman I spoke to on the phone before I came — very likely not the same person as the receptionist — said she had to call in the masseuse specifically for me. (To be clear, I think the receptionist was lying.) The receptionist rather impatiently led me into the men’s locker room, which was past an unlabeled door, in a corner, that was almost hidden. An attendant hurriedly gave me a robe and slippers and told me to get changed. The robe and slippers were clean, as far as I could tell, but they were pretty uncomfortable. The lining of the robe was actually pretty abrasive. I didn’t know what to do when I was ready, so I just waited on the couch again. A few minutes later, an attendant opened the door and said, «She’s waiting for you.» (Oh … I thought I was waiting for her.) So, already I could see that communication and customer service were severely lacking.
Fortunately, the massage was pretty good. The masseuse listened well, worked hard and gave me good advice. But at certain points during the massage, it was very painful. At one point she dug into my left shoulder, which really hurt. At another point, near the end, she was behind me, and I was in a sitting position. She held my arms above my head while she pulled me backward. This was extremely painful, and I made that obvious. She tried it again, so I said, «Stop! Stop! Stop!» She acted like it was my fault because I wasn’t relaxed. I asked her how much longer we had, and she said five minutes, then she said 10 minutes. (Huh?) In the end, I did not get the full 90-​minute massage I had agreed to – it was more like 75 minutes, maybe even less. (I knew I should have brought my cell phone in so I could have set the timer.)
After the massage, I couldn’t find the secret door to the men’s locker room, so I asked the snotty receptionist again. An attendant in the locker room, who was preoccupied mostly with drinking coffee and playing on his phone, had the nerve to say to me, «Can I assume that not everything went well back there?» I answered that I appreciated his concern but that I wasn’t sure it was something he should be concerned about unless he was a supervisor or manager.
When it came time to pay, the receptionist was extremely unpleasant. She repeatedly spoke over me, interrupted me and argued with me. I paid with a credit card, so I was hoping to add a tip to the receipt, but apparently they are paperless there — I think the receptionist told me three times, with a condescending tone — so I asked about adding a tip. She seemed pretty unhappy about this, and she sat working at her computer without saying anything to me. When I finally asked what was happening, she said very brusquely that she was running another transaction on my card for the tip. I asked her how to contact her supervisors, and I called the number she gave me while I was still standing in front of her. When someone answered, I asked to talk to either one of the people she mentioned, but I ended up talking to someone who identified himself as the boss. The receptionist had the nerve interrupt me, to talk over me and to argue with me as I was talking to the man on the phone. I wasn’t getting good reception in the building, so I paid and left, disgusted, and I called the boss back when I was outside, giving him some details about the behavior of the receptionist and the attendant. I daresay I won’t be going back.

Amerah’s done balayage, cut, and style for me at this PL location, and she’s 5-​star.
This review is for the brow specialist and manicurist. Wasn’t impressed with either of their work, and frankly could’ve gotten a manicure of the same quality for $ 5-​$ 7

I come here for Maggie’s hair treatments. I have long, naturally curly hair that becomes incredibly frizzy in the summer. I have done a variety of Keratin (and Keratin-​like) treatments with Maggie and have always been satisfied with the results. Maggie will recommend a treatment that works best with your hair type, which I have always appreciated.
Maggie also cuts my hair. I have had many, many experiences in the past where I walk in for a trim and walk out with layers, hair that’s shorter than what I wanted, etc. Maggie will give you more styled cuts if that’s what you’re looking for, but I have always appreciated that she understands that I just want a trim and listens.
On top of all of this, Maggie is flexible with scheduling. I had a 90 minute or so appointment today that started at 6:30 and she didn’t bat an eye.
Overall, I’ll be back many times and am relieved to have found someone in ny that I trust with my hair.

Maggie is wonderful for keratin straightening! She has a friendly personality and goes out of her way to make clients happy.

I was so sad when my ah-​mazing colorist (CK) moved to the West Coast (SF) about a year ago! But she made sure she hooked me up before she left.
Enter my new colorist recommended by CK: Amerah. I usually go to the Core Club location. She is just as fabulous as CK. And I always feel gawgeous when I see my color. Besides — she is super cool.
I’ve also been to the PL on 65^th, but I like this location better. It’s quieter and I enjoy my experience because it’s relaxing and the chill vibe makes it easy to have girl-​talk while getting beautified.
Basically, I’ll follow Amerah, so this is a review for her and the location.

Amazing Color and Blow Dry!
Went to get my highlights with Nikki who I have been searching over internet for a couple of years after she left Le Salon East! Nikki I want to thank you for your work!!! The best highlights I’ve ever had. Blow dry that I got was holding on for 3 days. Couldn’t believe myself!!!
Salon has a very inviting atmosphere, gorgeous views of private backyard and very pleasant stuff. I even had a chance to meet the owner Paul himself who complemented my hair before highlights! Thanks Paul and Nikki! I will be back for sure!!!

Unfortunately, I never even made it to the salon because when I called to inquire about a blow out the person who answered the phone responded with this… «the only person available to do the blow out today is the owner and his rate is quite costly».
If your intent is to deter any potential business then this is a good way to do it. So she assumed I can’t afford it… this is bad for your business.

Due to a scheduling mishap I ended up at this UES location (as opposed to the usual Chelsea Piers location that I frequent). The staff was gracious and very accommodating for my appointment and I was in and out super fast.

AMAZING! Went to Simone (recommended on Unilocal!) to fix a bad dye job and she was wonderful! She and her assistant, Catherine, could not have been kinder and more professional. Simone gave me the best hair color I have ever had in my life. A beautiful auburn color (think redhead Amy Adams — seriously). I went to Bloomingdales afterwards and got three THREE! compliments on my hair. Simone spent so much time on my hair to make sure it came out perfect. Highly recommend her and the salon. Expensive but worth it!

This review is for Jazz and Ivan.
A girlfriend and I requested an outcall to blow-​out our hair. So fortunate Paul Labrecque sent Jazz and Ivan. Not only did they do an amazing job, both of our blow-​outs lasted the entire night. In fact, mine is still in place right now (the next morning).
Asian hair could be extremely difficult to work with, so I am especially thrilled. Skilled stylists are hard to find. So much so, I just made an appointment with Jazz for a cut!
Totally worth the $.