Zalon Plus Corporation

Ben is seriously awesome!
Referred here by Tiffany T, and I’ve only been here ever since I moved to the city. Ben is very patient and listens to what you want and will suggest things when you ask for advice. He’s not extremely talkative unless you initiate conversation, but you can tell he really focuses on his work.
He takes his time and doesn’t rush you. I’ve gotten multiple haircuts and color here, and one time when the color didn’t absorb as much as wanted, he put more dye in so it’d be evened out. He doesn’t do any of the popular ombré or balayage dye styles, but if you’re looking for a fantastic haircut that won’t make you look fobby, this is the this place! A lot of times at cheaper Asian places like in Chinatown, I come out looking horrible with choppy, very layered hair and super short bangs so I’d have to be embarrassed for at least a week or two and want to hide in a hole (because I can’t pull off hats) after the haircut. I have dyed my hair an assortment of brown shades and have always walked out happy. Also, I don’t come in often because I want to keep my hair long, but the cut still looks great after months and months. I’m extremely picky about my hair and am so glad my friend referred this hidden gem in the East Village area.
If you’re looking for a new place, give this a try! I’ve referred a lot of friends here, and that’s when you know a place is good. Remember to call for an appt, even if it’s the same day, he’ll definitely work to fit you in (done this multiple times), and it’s cash only! :)

We (my sons and I) used to go to Ben when we lived in NYC.
Now that we moved far away, when we visit the city we all get a fresh cut, and I take pictures to show to stylists back home to have them try to copy. They still don’t do as good a job, but they get a little closer. He takes his time and does a great job with the scissors.

very good hairdresser. your hair style would last for a good amount of time w/​o growing out irregularly. Ben cuts your hair w/​patience and competence. check him out!

I’ve been going to Ben at Zalon Plus for 10+ years now, and realize I may have subconsciously tried to hide this great find. I’ve tried countless salons all over the city… from high end pampering salons to inexpensive beauty academies.
So I was amazed when I happened upon Ben cutting with a high-​end caliber at a very reasonable price. I was equally impressed by his close attention to detail, especially when I share ideas and he gives me advice on the kind of cut I should have. His silent focus is impeccable and the results speak for themselves.
Throughout the years, Ben has helped me change my style numerous times. Everything from a very long, traditional cut to a fresh, modern bob. He understands that my hair has a natural wave and cuts accordingly. After a cut from Ben my hair grows out so well I sometimes forget the time is up for another cut! While Ben is a gentle, quiet soul, each visit has brought more familiarity between us, and I have come to realize that I have found my hair guru for life.
If you’re picky about your style and aiming for that «just right» look, I highly recommend Ben, he’s done wonders for me.

If you’re looking for a great stylist with years of experience please go to Ben at Zalon Plus. He gives his honest opinion and advice on what hair styles best suit you. I happened to be walking past this salon one day and decided to give it a try and I am happy to say that I will definitely be back. He suggested that I color my hair a warm auburn and cut my hair in long layers because I didn’t want it too short. I have never received so many compliments on my hair as I did after Ben styled it. More pluses to coming here is that this salon is clean, modern and Ben takes the time to cut your hair in great detail and I didn’t feel rushed like I did in the past with some other salons that try and rush to give you a 20 min haircut so that they can fit as many people in as possible. If you’re looking for a quality haircut with someone who knows what they’re doing then Zalon Plus is the place.

Ben’s English is very limited so explaining to him what you want in a cut can be very frustrating. Be forewarn, he charges more for new clients and charges ridiculously less for people who were his old clientele from his previous establishment. For the price you pay as a new client you are better off going to a real stylist who know’s what they doing and who can understand and communicate back to you in English, plus give you the haircut you asked for!
The great reviews you are reading are from his friends. Staged and overrated!

I haven’t been in Ben’s chair for a couple of years, ever since I began wearing my hair in a simple buzz cut that I do myself. That said, when my hair was longer, I visited this salon on a whim because it was local to where I was working and I desperately needed to have my hair cut that day. Perhaps I was lucky. I ended up staying with Ben for my monthly to bimonthly cuts. Ninety percent of the time he did a fantastic job, and he is also extremely patient if you’re upset how the look came out. He’s willing to keep you in the chair until you’re happy, even when the fault is not his own but simply that my own fantasy for a particular style could not simply be manifested in reality. His new-​ish place on East 6^th, after the move from its NYU-​Third Avenue location, is quite small, but it works well.

I live a few doors down from this place and pass it all the time, so when I saw all the positive reviews and that they cut Asian hair, I had to try it out for myself. It’s been about two weeks since my cut, and I can safely say that it’s looking pretty good. It was also the best blow out I think I’ve ever had. Unlike in every other Asian salon I’ve ever been to, he didn’t flat iron the life out of my thin hair. Instead, he carefully round brushed it and somehow managed to make my hair both silky smooth and voluminous at the same time — a pretty rare feat in and of itself. That said, my trim took a full hour, despite the fact that the cut was basically a slightly shorter reproduction of the one I already had. While he did seem to approach my hair with more of an architectural manner than some of the larger, factory-​like salons I’ve been to in the past, the final product wasn’t markedly superior. I’ll probably be back, because it’s good and literally next door, but I’m not expecting any of the spectacular hair voodoo the previous reviewers allude to.

Without exaggeration: the WORST haircut ever. Now I will have to stay at home for a month, seriously. May be that guy is able to do smth extremely simple, but not more than that. Never ever go there!

I like the fact that he does not talk too much but focus on my hair. I came all the way from Boston to let only him to cut and dye my hair, and it has been 3 years now! I recommend everyone to come!

My family just moved to New York from Tokyo in July this summer. I noticed Zalon Plus Corporation on my way home after my first hair cut and colouring in New York from a hair salon which unfortunately dyed my crown jet black that was not even my nature colour (the jet black meant to cover my white root!!) and cut my fringe/​bangs so short that made my fringe/​bangs looks totally separated from the rest of my hair! I was mortified!
My husband also tried a hair salon elsewhere for cut and he looked like he needed another haircut just a week after went to this hair salon! I suggested my husband to try Ben, as the reviews at Unilocal have been good and it is a convenient location for us. My husband went to see Ben for a cut and was totally happy with the cut and will see Ben for cut on a regular basis in the future.
I made an appointment to see Ben and hope he could fix my bad hair cut and colouring after seeing the good result of my husband’s haircut. Ben fixed my hairstyle but could not fix my colouring due to the intensity of the black dye on my hair (I had three shades when I went to see Ben first time — white root, jet black crown and medium/​dark brown on the half bottom of my hair).
Ben asked me to wait for few more weeks for my black colour to fade out. I went back to see Ben for colouring last week and he managed to colour my hair in the same colour. I was so trilled! It is still not my original hair colour but I surely do not have 3 shades on my hair now!
I am looking forward to going back to Ben for colouring and have my fringe/​bangs fix (when it is long enough). Hoping it will get back to the colour and fringe that I once had before I moved to New York.
Good work Ben! Thank you very much!

Most awesome place EVER. OF ALL TIME. HANDS DOWN.
Do you know how hard it is to maintain an angled bob? Well… if you’re a guy or a girl with long hair, you don’t but whatever. It’s hard. And ever since I took the plunge 5 – 6 years ago and chopped off all my hair, Ben has been my go-​to stylist.
I’m super OCD and paranoid about my haircuts b/​c I feel like people never know how much to cut/​make you look super fobby/​like a bowl. This is always a risk with Asian hair. Ben however has the magic touch. If you know what you want, specify the length and instruct him on how you want it to look, it will be perfect. There are some reviews that say that he can’t really make suggestions for style, but I’ve never really come to him asking for advice so I’ve always been happy.
He really does take the time to SHAPE YOUR HAIR. This is SO important. Starting from lower layers and moving his way out, he has an incredible eye for detail and takes his time. My hair has never grown out so well — I can go several months, sometimes more without coming back to him for a cut (and that’s saying a lot for someone with short hair).
Honestly, if the length didn’t bother me, I wouldn’t have to go back for a cut. It always grows at fabulously and even MONTHS after I’ve gone for a cut, I get compliments.
This place is a no-​frills salon which is exactly how I like it. Get me in and out with an amazing cut for around $ 60 (and for the time he spends on my hair, TOTALLY worth it) and I’m a happy bunny.
Please please try him out, he’s amazing! One man shop though so be polite and make an appointment :)

It’s hard to find a person who can cut Asian hair and Ben is one of those rare finds. I accidentally went to Ben when all the Japanese salons in the East Village were busy and he’s been my NY hairdresser since. There have been a few occasions where I’ve made a special trip to NYC just to see him!

Ben is amazing and affordable. He cut my hair dry (which is great since my hair looks thick, but isn’t) and was finished in 30 minutes. No muss, no fuss, and a great cut. Definitely coming back!

Ben is really fantastic. I think he tends to specialize in Asian hair, but he’s consistently given me great cuts (and I am a young, white women with short hair). His cuts always grow out super well, and he always shows a ton of attention to detail and takes his time — makes you feel that he takes your hair seriously, which is really nice. He’s very quiet (partially I think because his English isn’t amazing), so don’t go if you just want to chat the whole time, but frankly I like when there’s no pressure to make small talk. Definitely recommend for any hair type.

Ben is a magician. He did in 30 minutes what takes others over an hour.
Fantastic cut.

Ben is awesome, he knows what he is doing.
Thank you~!

I recently moved to NY and being ultra paranoid about who touches my hair (many a bad hair experience) I Unilocaled hair salons for Asian hair. After reading all of the reviews for Zalon, I decided to give it a go. Ben stayed open late to cut my hair, even though I was a walk in. Hands down the best hair cut this Asian head has ever had! Will definitely be going back again.

This is actually my first time styling at the Zalon. Ben is definitely very knowledgeable as a hair stylist. It helps a lot if you know exactly what you want and can tell him what kind of style you want. I wasn’t quiet sure about what kind of style I want at first so I just had a (very professional) trim.
The cost is $ 40 which is around the price range of Hair Mates. So if you want to try a different salon or rather, this is your first time hearing about Zalon, definitely give it a shot. You won’t regret it.

Ben is a hair artist. He listened to what I wanted, and he gave me a beautiful style.
He’s not a talker, so if you want inane chatter, Zalon is not the place.
Moderately priced for the quality. I paid $ 70, including tip.
Conveniently located near the Kiehl’s store so I can get face cream on the way home.