Above Ground Hair Studio

Tuesdays bring a friend (or foe) and u both get 20% off!
I’ve experienced better because the stylist get better after working with you a few times. Watch out! They raise the price by $ 5 for each visit. For example, I went there four times and my first hair cut cost $ 45. The fourth time I paid $ 60. They said there was no negotiating the cost. I am disappointed because my last haircut was poorly done. I believe he may have cut it in a way that would require I come back to the salon much sooner than I do usually.
The ambience is lovely. They have a cute waiting room that overlooks State Street. They serve you tea or coffee in a home-​style mug. The music is always hip. If you know a stylist who works there and they are willing to work with you, then it can be a fun and satisfying experience. If you are new to the salon, it may be risky.

Having just received an amazing haircut from Salon Vox, I thought it fitting to write a review of the AA salon that was bad enough to scare me away from getting a Michigan-​based haircut for a solid year.
Don’t let the trendy ethos and décor distract. I got a serious Martha Stewart (aka unbearably conventional) haircut from Above Ground despite being almost, I felt, overly emphatic about getting a razored «animé» style haircut.
I honestly didn’t get it. Aren’t they supposed to have a little pizzaz? I would have thought a customer like me, who clearly wanted something off the beaten path, would have been embraced. I’d go to Vox.

I had Anthony as my stylist. I was visiting a friend in AA, but I live on the east coast. On a spur of the moment decision I decided to try Above Ground, and I’m glad I did. Anthony was great and my hair looks fantastic. F

Have been looking for an alternative to getting my eyebrows waxed, and I found it at Above Ground.
$ 20 gets you beautifully threaded eyebrows, no risks of burnt & swollen skin, a good conversation and a few laughs.
The hair stylist that does it, Sandy, is super friendly and fantastic. I have to say though, Brow Art 23 offers threading too, and at $ 12.
If can’t make it out to Briarwood, I’d definitely come back.

I haven’t had my hair cut in a year. I’ve been growing it out so I can wear it long and curly. I read reviews of Above Ground, both good and bad, but decided to go for it.
Cookie is a magician. She’s a caring, loud, funny, over-​the-​top magician. She looked at me, sat me down and read my hair the riot act. Then proceeded to save it. All the while laughing, complaining about the music playing, telling wonderful stories about other stylists and clients, but always focused on my hair. She took a lot of time with me, but I’m so glad she did.
It was a completely dry cut. My hair is really dry and damaged and curls need lots of moisture. She put an oil on and some other conditioners, then cut the dead ends off and cut in some layers, always looking to where the curls fall. Then off to the sink for a color rinse and more conditioner. Then off to the hood dryer. Then, pincurls in the front where it isn’t as curly. Then back to the chair for another dry cut and lotion and spray and lots of wonderful smelling stuff. I stood behind the chair so she could get the back right. I absolutely loved her attention to detail. All the while chatting and laughing and being the life of the salon!
You could tell the other clients loved their stylists, each seemed to take as much time as needed to give them their best. The receptionist was warm and smiling and super stylish (as a good receptionist should be)! Prices seem to go on a sliding scale according to length of hair and the work done. The best thing, in my opinion, was that Cookie constantly told me what I need to do to take the best care of my hair, what products to use and not to use and how much time to take between applications of certain products.
This may be a long review but I’ve been searching for a good salon for curly hair and I’ve found it. I’m a Cookie fan and I think I will be for as long as she’ll tend to my curls! Let her do her thing and hopefully you’ll be satisfied. For me, I’ve over the moon!

I really like Above Ground, but there are some real weaknesses about this place worth noting. I see Cookie, FYI.
PRO’S: My stylist is hilarious and really talented. I have gotten 3 really amazing haircuts from her and one I wasn’t so thrilled about. The atmosphere is this funky attic space that’s the right combination of relaxed and trendy. Cookie cuts curly hair dry, which I also really appreciate, because it changes so much when it dries up. And she’s the only stylist who’s styling I don’t have to fix right when I get home.
CONS: Be prepared to have your vision completely reinterpreted and often ignored. I first came to the salon with long hair and left with about 10 inches less than when I started, without ever asking for that (actually, I asked to keep the length). Cookie informed me that she was just going to cut off the damaged parts… evidently I had a lot of damaged hair. Each time I have gone back, I’ve had similar luck. Once my hair was so short, I had no part and you could see my earlobes (not a good thing in my opinion). If you want something specific you have to be VERY clear and articulate what you want exactly. Otherwise, it can be a little surprising when something really different turns up. I’m ultimately ok with this because my hair looked pretty cool most of the time, but it’s definitely a buyer beware situation.

I’ve been searching for a great haircut in Ann Arbor for 4+ years now and I did get one at Above Ground.
STYLIST
I had Ashley as my first stylist and was pleased with the attention and time taken to get the details right. She knows what she’s doing and I left with the style I wanted. She is good at short cuts– that’s what I got. I’m sure she’s good at much more as well. I’ll be going back for a second run.
PRODUCTS, ETC.
They have excellent products there. I’m not a huge product user anymore, but I do love the Hemp pomade that’s pretty natural. They seem to promote a more natural-​based hair care there and that’s in line with what I do with my hair, as I avoid harsh ingredients in my shampoos and conditioners.
OVERALL
At any rate, AG is reasonably priced (at the time it cost me $ 42 for a cut and I had shoulder length hair), and everyone is friendly. The music is upbeat and the vibe is good.

I swear I thought I wrote a review awhile ago about Above Ground.
I’ve gone to Cookie (as well as Shannon and Vito — although now gone) for many years. She knows how to seriously chop out the ugly and bring in the new.
I’ve gone through many different hair styles, including those that will fit well in the corporate work place.
I love, love, love this place. I’ve since moved, but any chance I get when I’m in town I book an appointment with the crew. I’d recommend Cookie, but anyone of her knowledgeable staff is suitable. She’s very particular about who she let’s work in her shop. You have to know the drill… making people look less ugly!

THE WORST HAIRCUT I HAVE EVER GOTTEN!
I am a person who is open to new styles and cuts and have never really hated a haircut… that is, until now.
I HAD medium thick hair that was a few inches past my shoulders, with side swept bangs. I wanted an all over trim/​clean up and a specifically bang trim because they were getting unruly. I said «just don’t make it look like a mullet». What did I end up with? The closest thing to a mullet possible!!! Since Friday, I haven’t be able to shake Kid Rock’s song «Cowboy» out of my head since… I should just start dating him…
After telling my stylist what I «wanted» she then proceeded to «thin» out my pin straight hair, almost to nothingness! I now look like I am in need of 4 tracks of fake hair to fill out my head because I look like I’m loosing my hair. Additionally, she took HALF of my hair to create my «bangs», so if I blow dry it just right I look like Bert from Sesame Street.
It looks so terrible! I’ve worn it in a pony ever day since (and since she practically took a machete approach, you can only imagine that even a simple pony is difficult to pull off. All I have is an ittybitty rat’s tail hanging from my head with all these crazy strays everywhere)
I usually let myself get used to a drastic haircut and don’t get too bent out of shape, but four days and washes later… I was in tears. This cut is so completely awful and irreparable! I’m so disappointed. I will probably have to wear it in a pony for a few months. Thank goodness hair grows!
The salon itself is clean, stylish and trendy. So if you want a completely trendy look, more of the hipster, scenester-​style, then this is the place for you. Its cute and wonderful and I like the salon as a whole. It’s just not something I am able to pull off as well as some people can, I just look ridiculous.
I wish I would have said something immediately and not have wasted $ 60 for such a terrible cut. I have never felt so ugly in my life.

Came in today based off of the Unilocal reviews solely and I was not disappointed! Requested a haircut with Andrew; he was running a little behind but it wasn’t a big deal. The inside of the place was very cool, wide open spaces with a few chairs for styling. Even though he was running late, Andrew did have time to ask me what I wanted and offered some hair magazines if I wanted them (I decided not to so I can’t say about their selection).
Once Andrew was ready, he started dry cutting my hair which I’d never had before, and it turned out great! I’ve seen a bad review or 2 up here about Andrew but I had quite the opposite experience. Andrew was very thorough and a bit of a perfectionist with my hair, which I am more than fine with. I ended up loving the cut and it only cost me $ 35, I’ll definitely be coming back here next time.

I created a Unilocal account and am writing my first review just so I could RAVE about this place.
I live in LA and have been to several stylists out there who are over priced and whom I thought did a good job with my hair. And then I spent the summer in A2 and found Andrew. He is the best colorist I’ve ever met. I normally color my dirty blonde hair with copper highlights, but we talked about what would look best and he colored my hair a beautiful, deep shade of red I absolutely adore. He gave my hair so much dimension, not the choppy highlights I’ve had in the past. And the cut, totally different from what I normally get, is freaking fantastic.
I came here twice over the summer and I will find a way back. I honestly don’t want anyone but him touching my hair– I really have to convince him to move to LA.
Also, the space is awesome, the vibe is cool, and the people are so, so nice and friendly. The prices are fantastic, especially when compared to big city prices that I’m used to.
Highly, highly recommend this place. Very highly recommend Andrew, but I’ve seen Cookie give some cute cuts while I was there too.

Oh Above Ground… How I love/​hate you…
Okay, so I was a faithful AG customer for a little over a year and overall, I would totally recommend it.
The stylists are nice, the space is super cute and just what you want in a salon (hip, good magazine’s, good music, no kids), and I was always able to get an appointment within a time frame that worked for me.
Seems all good right?
Well, all good except the constant waiting around I would do when I got there. I guess I could preface by saying that I am a naturally impatient person to the core, so for some, the 30 minute waiting time that was standard upon arrival may not have been bothersome.
For me it was.
Granted, this was largely due to my stylist, who I swear to god, had not concept of time. However, what does it say about a place that allows their stylists to keep regular, paying customers waiting upwards of 30 minutes (45minutes on more than one occasion) for their scheduled appointment? If you ask me-​which nobody really did, I volunteered– not much.
Then again, it didn’t cost quite an arm and a leg, and my curly, thick hair was always beautifully handled and styled. Which is really all that matter’s…

I wouldn’t go anywhere else!
When I first moved to Michigan, I had several unfortunate hair experiences. One stylist, looked out the window AS she cut my hair, when I asked her if she was paying attention, she literally said «I check in every once in a while». Another supposedley ‘hip’ shop (turned out to be hippie shop), the stylist’s dog was annoyingly running around and getting way more attention the I was, and I was paying the dog was not!
When I found Cookie, I knew I’d found my haircutting home for the duration of my stay.
She’s fun, knowledgeable, not afraid to tell you what she thinks, and keeps the joint jumpin’ She’s GREAT with curly hair, excellent with cut and color!
Don’t expect a speedy in-​and-​out, AG is about the experience. Pamper yourself, relax, read some fashion mags, enjoy good music, and an eclectic thoughtfully hip interior an occasional ‘beverage’ and a professional FUN staff!
Also, if they do (rarely) screw up, or give you something you’re not completely happy with, they will fix it, no questions asked! However, I have learned this is rare as my wife and I have gone hear for years.

After five years of recovery from a bad haircut, I was a little hesitant to come here because the reviews on Unilocal seemed so mixed, but I figured that for half the price of Douglas J it was worth seeing if I got lucky.
My stylist was Donzel, who did an excellent job. He was super patient while I babbled a really convoluted description of what I wanted and didn’t flinch at my request that he mishmash four of the pictures I had brought together into one super-​hip impossible awesome haircut. Not only that, but he was actually able to give me exactly what I wanted! He was very careful and meticulous and did an excellent job. I’d definitely come here again.

I’ve been going to Above Ground on and off since they first opened. The only reason I took a little break from them for awhile was that my friend was going to hair school at Douglas J. (the local Aveda school), and I knew I could get a perfect, ridiculously cheap cut from him. Once he graduated, of course he moved along to AG, and I happily followed back.
Over the years I saw Andy, Vito and Shannon. I knew both Andy and Vito personally as well, but as hairstylists, they were excellent. I didn’t even need to get into much detail with Vito, he just always knew what I wanted and had great suggestions if I was a little unsure or brought multiple photos. It’s rare to have that with a stylist — friend or not — and so I’m sad that he, as both a friend, and as my ever-​favorite stylist, has moved to Portland.
However, Shannon is an expert at the short cuts — totally creative yet knowledgeable on color. We’re getting a good thing going now. She’s picked up where Vito left off. I just got color this last time, as I’m trying to grow things out a wee bit for winter (ears get chilly!), but Shannon throws in free touch ups/​trims on and necks and bangs. I appreciate this, since it’s pretty essential to keep shorter hair from looking too raggedy.
I haven’t seen too many of the other stylists, but my man has gone to Cookie, and so have many friends with hair they describe as «difficult.» I think Cookie would just see it as a challenge.
Cookie’s the master at making things happen. As hilarious and fun as she is to be around, she is also plenty serious about running a quality salon. If anyone had a gripe, I would think that Cookie would be super speedy to try to make things right.

What I like most about Above Ground? How the staff really makes you feel comfortable. It’s funky and friendly. Stylists have their own unique perspectives on hair, unlike what I’ve found at other places in A2.
Ash, a pretty bad-​ass stylist, cut the hair of my girlfriend and me in about an hour, which was pretty impressive — and she did a great job.
An interesting thing about Ash is she used a straight blade to clean the hair off my neck. I’ve never had that done before.
If you’re looking for another place to get your hair cut, check this one out, it’s a cool experience.

The only place I’ve gotten my hair cut in Ann Arbor, until I find another place that knows how to cut Asian hair even better. Two semi-​short stories.
1. The Beginning.
A co-​worker recommended AG after I moved to A2 and said I was looking for a place that knew (at least somewhat) how to cut Asian hair. (Now some people might be thinking, how hard can Asian hair be to cut? Trust me. I have very, very difficult wavy, course hair and dread getting a hair cut almost every time.) I was also desperate. I had gotten my hair permed, straightened, and colored all in one sitting while in Taiwan a few months ago. Dumb, yes. But I trusted the stylist at the time… Who knew my hair would turn itself into dreads? I needed help, ASAP. I even prayed. «Dear Lord. Please let me find someone to help mix my hair. I don’t want to go bald at the age of 22.»
And the Lord sent me Cookie.
I went into my appointment and explained what happened. «Your hair needs help,» Cookie said. «I know… Can you save it?» I asked. «Yes.» she replied. And she did. It took 3 appointments before my hair finally returned to a somewhat normal and healthy condition. I was scared to chop my hair off, but Cookie was honest in explaining the stages of how we could revive my hair, and what would happen if we deviated from the plan. Each time I went in to fix my hair, I came out with a stylish haircut that didn’t fight against the natural flow and kink of my hair. It took a few months, but I could finally run a comb through my hair, and wash my hair without clumps falling off.
2. The Straightening.
I will note, however, that as happy as I am with Cookie, I later got the Chi straightening process done, and was not satisfied with the results. The process took only 3 hours (which is about 5 hours shorter than when I get the Japanese straight perm done in other salons). The results lasted a few days, before my hair returned to its natural wavy/​course state. I later found out I was the first client they had ever used the Chi process on. I went back in and told them what had happened. Cookie said to schedule another appointment and re-​do the process again, on the house. So I did, and the results lasted slightly longer (few weeks), but eventually washed out. Now I just straighten my hair every day with a Chi straightening iron, which tends to work for the most part in keeping my hair more manageable.
Lessons learned here:
1. If you have very thick and course hair, and are looking for a permanent straightening process, don’t go to AG. However, I’m sure the process works better with those born with finer, less crazy hair than myself (grr…).
2. The stylists at AG (at least Cookie and some of the other stylists I’ve seen working… sorry, don’t remember their names) really take the time t understand your hair, and give you a cut that works with your hair rather than fights it.
3. Walk-​ins are possible, but appointments are even better.
4. Only Cookie accepts credit cards. All other stylists take cash-​only. (There’s an ATM in the ice cream place next door if you need $$).

What. The. Shit.
I finally found someone at the Douglas J student salon that did my hair just right. Then she graduated. I figured I’d graduate to a big-​kid salon, rather than rolling the dice at Douglas J again.
I came here asking for an itty bitty trim. I have short hair, and in keeping up my hair biznass, I always need more off the back than off the front, and a bang trim up. Not difficult, right?
I wish I remembered the name of the woman who did my hair. It was not the famous Cookie, or Kristen. Whoever it was, she f’ed up my hair progress. I went from progressing ever closer to an angled bob to a goddamned pixie haircut. Those layers she said she was cutting? Not layers, she straight up chopped all my hair off.
For the record, I am not even picky about my hair. I’m the person with the «eh, it’ll grow back» attitude. And it did … grow back, but when I’m dropping $ 50 on a simple haircut, next time do what I ask for, mkay? Though in this case there won’t be a next time.
For my last cut, I went back to Douglas J. Two hours and $ 15 later, my hair looks as I would have hoped. Yes, two hours is absolutely ridic for a simple cut, but I’d rather that than my botch up at Above Ground.

I come here because I come to see Vito. If you want a good hair cut you should ask for him. Almost everyone I know goes to him for a hip and trendy cut. Your going to want to make an appointment to get to him.
Above Ground is a great place for a good hair cut at a reasonable price. You know when you come here your going to get something stylish. The staff are friendly and there are plenty of magazines and comfortable couches to sit on while you are waiting.

Above Ground is hidden up above bustling State St. The space is full of personality — vibrant, full of color with soft music pulsating in the background. The hair studio accepts walk-​ins as well as appointments. I’ve been going to Sandy for several years now, who is faaabulous. She’s got a quirky, good-​natured, energetic personality. I always enjoy chatting with her as she cuts my hair, and I’m always very happy with the result.