Sei Tomoko Salon

Echoing all the raving reviews here — I visited Sei Tomoko for the first time today and couldn’t have been happier with the service (everyone was so friendly and courteous), environment (bright & spotless) and results (yes, my hair looks GREAT).
Aya was my stylist. She was patient & thoughtful in asking my needs (pony tail or bun at work) and expectations while designing a beautiful yet low maintenance hairstyle. I also appreciated that they didn’t try to push hair products or treatments as some other salons do.
Will definitely return. :-)
p. s. tip is cash only so remember to bring enough cash for your stylist!

Great place. The staff is very nice and does a great job at a great price. Hard to find a gem like this these days! Gives a relaxing massage while shampooing, listens to exactly what you want and follows. I highly recommend!

I dread the day I have to move out of NYC — partly because I won’t have access to Sei Tomoko anymore! I’ve been coming to this salon for the past year and half, and am a huge fan of the service and quality of cut here, especially for the super affordable price. I can only speak to their haircuts (simple trims to the tune of 2−3″), but I’m sure their other services are great as well.
I’ve had several stylists here, and they are always super attentive to my concern areas etc. Love the added touches like the hot towel they rest your neck on during washing, and the quick shoulder /​neck massage!
Tip: you get a $ 5 discount if you’re a student with ID.

I had a much needed haircut done by Yoshiko Miyayama: such a really great haircut
that after a night’s sleep it still looked great ! Everyone in the salon lovely, massages,
tea and really a perfect trip to a salon.

Great price, service, ambience and location!
I called yesterday to make an appointment for today (with no particular stylist in mind), as well as to notify them that I would be using the $ 5 student discount.
Highlights:
–After my stylist (I believe her name was Aya) shampooed my hair, she slid a comfortably hot towel under my neck while she dried my hair — the heat felt so, so nice especially on a cold day like today.
–When I returned to my seat after shampooing, the stylist offered a quick neck/​shoulder massage that matched in strength and skill to my usual masseuse!
–My stylist spent an hour cutting and styling my hair after we discussed my preferences, and it came out beautifully
Everyone was incredibly cordial and I loved the background, calming music as well as the offering of hot tea/​water. Perfect from start to finish. For reference, I paid $ 47 not including tip. Will return!

They did a great job.
They re all very nice, they offered me tea and made sure all my stuff was safely stored away.
I cut about 2 feet off and they gave me the hair to donate, as they couldn’t do it themselves. I have a great short, layered bob.
Also, ask for the student discount if you’re a student. It wasn’t as expensive as I was expecting.
I would and will go back in the future.

Very satisfied with my experience today!
I called about a week and a half in advance for an appointment @ 3pm today. This was my first time ever, and originally I had wanted to see a certain stylist based on the Unilocal reviews I read. However, she doesn’t work on Sundays so I decided to give whoever would be available a shot since the reviews on here have been mostly positive.
I showed up today a few minutes late, but by the time I walked in, the receptionist and stylist were already expecting me. Yoshiko was the one who cut my hair, and she was such a lovely lady. When I sat down she gave me a run through of the two options I could do with my hair. I was going to cut about 9 inches off and going from long, straight hair to short was definitely a big change for me. I got a wash right after she chopped off that length before thin-​layering it later. The wash was quick, comfortable, and so relaxing. They give you these hot bags under your neck and on your shoulders near the end of the wash. Yoshiko did end up cutting my hair a little shorter than I had expected, but I was very satisfied with the end result.
Overall, such a friendly place; they even offer you tea! There is also a student discount which worked perfectly for me. Hope to come back next time after my hair grows itself out :)

I love this place! I’ve been going to Yamami for the longest time but now that she’s had a baby and isn’t working at ST anymore, I’ve switched to Aya, who’s just as great. Personally, I feel that every person working here takes pride in what they do and that shows — haircuts (by any of the stylists) are usually on point, the salon is immaculate (someone’s always there to sweep up the hair as soon as it hits the ground), and the hair wash/​massage is the cherry on the cake.
There’s also a student discount so do definitely bring your ID if you are one. Overall, this is my go-​to and a place that I recommend to all my friends!

Definitely check this place out! Great stylists and good prices. I’ve been going to Sei Tomoko for years and always book with Akiko-​san! She’s amazing! She’s dealt with my hair from short to long and did a great job with highlights! Not to mention she’s so sweet and down to earth :) Many of my friends have also become regulars!

Visited this place several times a year and I usually asked for Aya as she is the best in my opinion. However she was not that available any more and I am not permitted to make any future appointments until the day she calls in for work. Bummer
I took a chance another day at E 14^th street but the stylist there does not wow me, she was literally rude when she did not deliver what I had shown and asked for.
I remain a fan with the unbeatable price this place offers but continue having hard time locating the right stylist.

I have been a customer for the west 4 location for about 12 years. I loved this place and I used to loved it more!
Their service has dropped a bit in the last couple years, is hard to get an appointment and the person taking the appts is a bit rude.
The hairdressers are super nice and they really spend time taking care of your hair. I have never had a bad hair cut, maybe a couple times I was not 100% please but it was not bad.
They do have a very Asian style when cutting hair, which fits my hair. Their price has also gotten a bit higher, some people said they paid 30, ?? I have not paid $ 30in a long time, that is not the case.
The place is clean and that is very important to me.
I have also taken my daughter (11 years old) for a simple hair cut, she loved it, she gives them a 5 start rating.

Awesome haircut. Super affordable. I disagree with other poster that stated it was a tough place for a non-​Asian to communicate. Virtually all of the clients in the salon were white while I was there and it seemed like some of them had long term relationships with their stylists.
I couldn’t be more thrilled that I was referred to this gem. I’ve been getting my haircut and bumble and bumble for years and found the cut to be of equal quality (even after my own at home blow dry) and less than half the price.

I have never been so in love with a hair cut until now! This place has extremely nice and courteous staff but the important thing is, their stylist knows how to cut hair! I have thick Asian hair, so my biggest problem was having hair that had no movement. My hair was so thick and shapeless, it almost felt like a mop to me. My hair was cut by an older Japanese woman with a pixie cut. My hair turned out exactly how I wanted it! A lot of movement, layers, and shape. I can’t stop running my fingers through my hair. Will definitely come back next time.

As mentioned in one of my Unilocal posts, my budget for hair goes like this:
$ 30 (total; tips included) or less for a simple change
$ 70 (total; tips included) or less for drastic change
Sei Tomoko has met my budget and gave a student discount as well. My total came up to $ 47.10 not including tips. Today was a spontaneous moment; I wanted to go back to the short hair I had done back in May, but shorter. Due to my hair thinning and falling off, I need more volume… short hair was my only option. My stylist is quick and understanding of my needs; however, some trims are uneven and a little messy. Regardless, I am not picky and hair grows back. the messy look gives me edge; win-​win.

Takeshi delivered beyond my expectations. I basically just told him that I was looking for a professional but stylish haircut, and that I’d leave it up to him.
Excellent work, and he didn’t use a trimmer, only scissors! I definitely plan on going back.
I would rank them among any place I went while I was living in Japan.

I’ve been coming here for about a year now and get my haircut by Yasuko. I love the Japanese hospitality but also the straightforward simplicity of this place. Service is always prompt and courteous. Bonus that you also get a short but satisfying (i.e. sufficient pressure) head and shoulder massage before your haircut (have never upgraded for a proper one, which is on their menu of services).
I have pretty basic styling needs and like that they don’t even use product when drying my hair (other salons will way overdo the styling part). I like that I can come here and just get the haircut I want but also know how it will look once I’m on my own.

I wish I could give zero stars. FALSE ADVERTISING beyond explanation. I was given false pricing, false cancellation policy info, and untrue information about the hair treatment I was seeking.
I went in under the impression I was going to get a Japanese straightening that would take three hours for 300 dollars. (A bit overpriced as is because I have short, fine hair…) and that were I to cancel I would be charged 20.
I went in, found out it would take all day and cost 450. ABSURD! I chose to cancel and was charged 59 dollars.
I left with the exact same hair and fifty dollars out of my wallet. This place sucks!

I love this place. Everyone here is so friendly, it has a nice low-​key vibe, you get a nice little massage, great cuts and it’s so cheap! I’ve probably sent about 4 of my girlfriends here!
I go to Takeshi only and think he’s awesome. Highly recommend the salon!

I’ve been to plenty of hair salons and haven’t found one that I’ve liked so much that it’d be my go-​to place. This place does come close. It’s very similar to services in Asia — you get complementary tea or water, a head massage and a back massage. The woman who cut my hair started off with looking at how my hair was already cut and could tell right away how to do that if I wanted the same. They were all really courteous. Overall, would come back again.
P. S. if you pay with cash you don’t have pay taxes

Sei Tomoko is a place that offers skilled stylists, a great ambiance, and a reasonable price. This is the trifecta.
I get my hair cut by Aya, and she is very good. The most important thing about Aya is that she is a great communicator. You can give her specific directions and she will follow them to a T, or you can give her a vague idea and ask for her suggestions. You won’t ever be surprised (badly) by the result, and more often than not, you’ll be very pleased at how well she captured what you asked for, or what you collaborated on.
The ambiance is also great. it is very clean and stylish inside. The lighting is bright but soft. They constantly have people sweeping/​wiping so it all looks and feels more upscale than what you are paying for.
You can also receive complimentary water and/​or hot tea, and your haircut comes with a head and neck massage.
Finally, my haircut was $ 47.50, which I charged on my credit card at the front desk. Additional tip is cash, and you give that directly to your stylist at the end of the session.