Beehive

I’ve moved from Carrboro to Durham, but I changed salons before I left. I was never unhappy with my haircuts. Meredith-​Gray (now in Seattle) and Tonya are both talented stylists and did a great job on my hair. I’ve updated my review because after six years and referring no less than seven of my friends to The Beehive, I was asked to pre-​pay my haircut after missing an appointment due to an emergency. (Full disclosure: I missed one other appointment this year.) When I asked the receptionist, Nikki, to have the owner, Diane, contact me so I could talk to her about it and then wrote an email to the salon asking to talk about it, I got no response. I was very disappointed because I’ve been an extremely loyal customer who told everyone to go to the Beehive, I’m an EXCELLENT tipper, and was just going through a rough month. The complete lack of attention to my inquiry and compassion for my situation has led me to find someplace else. I switched to Ceremony when I was still living in Carrboro, and Annie did a fabulous job on my hair. Now that I am in Durham, I go to Brad at Arrow Studio, and he is amazing. If you’re looking for a good haircut, I’m certain the Beehive can do that for you. Their whole team of stylists are excellent. If you’re looking to also receive good customer service and a reply when things go wrong, there are tons of good salons in town these days including Ceremony, To The Woods, Syd’s, and Moshi Moshi. I have friends who go to all those places whose hair looks very nice. I’m genuinely sad to have to write a review like this about a place where I felt like I had good relationships. Oh, well. I am now enjoying my fabulous hair in Durham!

Attention other middle-​aged ladies: Do not, I repeat, do not be intimidated by the youthful hipness of The Beehive’s exterior. This place is for you too. You will not be the only client there managing a decline in estrogen. I’ve had my hair cut and highlighted by Alison 3x and I am now, in my mind, a devoted regular who books her next appointment ahead of time at check-​out. Honestly, there is nothing not to like about the unpretentious Beehive. Friendly front desk, yum cup of good tea, skilled stylists, and, for Carrboro, very easy parking. (Public lot next to Bank of America, cross Main St. on foot @ Jade Palace, then right onto Weaver St. & voilà!)

Had a great haircut at Beehive today! I walked in and was able to get an afternoon apt because of a cancellation. When I returned, they greeted me by name. I had to wait a bit, but it’s a pleasant place to sit with lots of fun magazines. My hair (wavy, short, female) was cut by Michelle. She was really nice and friendly. She also did a great job! I’m not very picky and just wanted my hair to look better, so she and I talked through the planned cut. She did a great job describing what she thought would work best for my hair, face, and hair. The haircut was efficient but thorough. It looks really great and I’m incredibly happy.

I wanted to write an update since:
1) Meredith-​Gray has now moved out of state– sadness!
2) Melissa, who did my hair for my wedding, still works there. Woo!
I was pleased with my updo experience at the Beehive. On the day of the hair trial, Melissa looked at the photos I brought in and really took the time to understand what I wanted. When the big day came, she meticulously styled my hair and everything went off without a hitch– no delays, so I wasn’t rushed to get to the venue.
The best part was that my hair stayed up the whole night, even after an outdoor ceremony and a couple of hours of crazy, sweaty dancing. I was a little afraid after the trial because my layered hair started coming down, so I told Melissa and she assured me that she would make sure everything would stay in place. Even though my hair was fixed securely in place, it didn’t look stiff. I am definitely pleased I decide to stick with the Beehive on my big day. :)

I have had the best haircuts and haircare of my life from Meredith-​Gray, after living in Boston, New York, and Washington, among other places. She really cares about her work and treats it as a craft. She can understand what a customer is after — even if, like me, the customer is not so articulate about hair — and make it happen. Her cuts look good immediately — no boom-​I-​just-​got-​a-​haircut effect — and grow out amazing well. (I have a lot of hair, and it’s straight and fluffy, so grow-​outs are a problem unless the underlying cut is really artful.)
She schedules her cuts for a full hour and will use it if you need it. She’s also been very flexible when I’ve been running late or have needed to get out fast. Her free on-​the-​side advice for healthy hair is invaluable, too: After a year with her, I have a much better idea of how to keep things flourishing on top.
I’m very sad that she’s leaving the area. It’s typical of her that she’s thinking carefully about where to refer me. If I ever spend time in Seattle (her new home) again, scheduling a haircut with her will be on my to-​do-​list.

Gotta love this no nonsense hair salon. So, I’ve been back three times now and I’ve finally remembered to write a most favorable review. The past two times were less inspiring to me, I suppose. They were not at all bad visits, just okay, but third time’s a charm. Funny enough I’ve seen Melissa every time and not that I didn’t like my haircuts before, but I think we have just finally built a sort of rapport, because I guess I have become sort of a regular. She chatted me up like an old friend and just nailed the «hot cut» I brought a picture of for her to reference.
I love the roughly-​hewned décor and that they seem to have a constant stream of local art on the walls! Thanks, Melissa, for a great haircut over and over and over, as well as making me feel like one of the gals :)

I have been a client at the ‘Hive for many years. I always, and i mean *every* time, enjoy my appointment time with Tonya. Her natural instincts with my hair (and other clients of hers who I know) have been spot-​on track with my desires. Even if I’m not quite sure what to do with my hair, she helps me to figure it out. I’ve found the front desk service at the Beehive over the years to be laid back, welcoming, honest, knowledgable, and fun. Tonya has colored my hair anywhere from conservative to punk – whatever I am feeling. I appreciate the time, thoughtfulness, and creativity she has put into my hair over the years. ALSO! BEST HAIR WASH YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE!

Meredith-​Gray is an artist. Seriously, she actually has a degree in art. She’s a musician, a visual artist, and holy wow, is she an awesome hairstylist. Full disclosure: Many many years ago, Meredith and I attended beauty school together. I was completely in awe of her, even as a student, and would try to sneak a peak at all of her clients when they left her chair.
Over the years, I’ve had many of my fellow cosmetologists cut my hair, and I know some really talented stylists, but I always end up coming back to Meredith. I think she’s sort of a goddess. I love any excuse to about her latest adventures and she’s always doing something amazing. The salon is super hip but doesn’t have a snotty vibe at all. It’s a little bit of a tight squeeze so Meredith keeps the chair swiveled to the side while cutting. I actually love this– it’s a relief to not have to look at yourself for an hour and how satisfying is the great reveal?
This last cut was particularly amazing. My hair had gotten out of control long. I’m a grad student and came in completely sleep deprived and rushing to turn a paper in. In my delirium, I sort of slurred out some basic requirements, telling her I trusted her style. I said I wanted rock star hair (bangs, layers, style) but I needed to be able to look professional at work. Meredith asked me a bunch of really important and valid questions about the details of my requirements but I was pretty much useless-​, telling her «I trust you. Go.»
The results: When I’m at work, everyone raves about how sexy and professional my hair is. When I’m out, everyone tells me I have rock star hair. In fact, I recently attended an event in which my boyfriend performed– when he pointed me out to his teacher, the guy said, «oh wow, she looks like a rock star!» I’ve had people stop me on the street to tell me how much they love this haircut (which to me, is always a sign of a truly good cut). So, yes, I’m completely biased, I adore Meredith. But still, girl can cut the hell out of some damn hair. I really just don’t trust anyone else with my hair anymore.

I took my teenage daughter to see Meredith-​Gray for a haircut and consultation for getting a colored streak put in her hair. We both enjoyed our time there from the kitschy retro feel to the warmness of the employees and the twirling disco ball above the hair washing station. It is a small homey salon with 4 chairs and people from all ages were there.
I was really pleased with the amount of detail and time that Meredith-​Gray spent with her. She washed, cut, shaped and then did a nice blow out. Her consultation skills were really spot on. (Yeah, we watch a lot of Tabatha’s Salon Takeover) She was able to ask the right questions to give her the hair cut she wanted without us bringing in a photo and the results were exactly what she wanted.
After the hair cut she brought out some different color clip ins to try out in terms of where she might like it placed and the upkeep involved in each. My daughter definitely wants to go back to her. It’s a fun, funky place where you can go simple or edgy and you can just be yourself and not feel like you have to have any particular hipster skills to partake in this hip place.

Very disappointed. I clearly went in with blind faith thinking I’d get a good haircut based on some positive online reviews. I am glad people have better experiences than I did. I know that finding a great hairstylist is a personal, individualized experience, and Meredith was not the best fit for me. First, I wasn’t greeted warmly. I was also called by the wrong name. Meredith kept me turned from the mirror pretty much the whole time, so I could never see what was going on. She didn’t converse at all (which is fine by me, but it felt a little awkward as other clients were chatting away with their hairstylists), stating she is quiet if she is «excited» about what she’s doing. I brought in a picture, asking for tousled layers, but I ended up looking nothing like the picture I brought in. I know what my hair can do, given I have long, wavy hair and lots of it. She counseled me that I shouldn’t flat iron my hair much yet ended up flat ironing my hair AND blow drying it at the end (even though the picture I brought showed flippy, wavy layers). When I did catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I kept hoping I wouldn’t be leaving the salon looking the way I did — my hair looked puffy and frizzy. I had asked to have my cut be wearable parted down the middle or the side. However, she didn’t pay attention to symmetry, and I ended up with blunt, asymmetric layers around my face (instead of the flippy layers I wanted). I clearly could no longer wear it parted down the middle since both sides looked different. Meredith said when I came back in the future, she would «texturize» my hair then. I was already thinking I wouldn’t be back to find out what that would be like. A larger chunk of hair was cut out on one side than the other, with the longest layer of my hair starting further back around my head than it should have. I also ended up with layers in the back of my head that were too short and therefore made my hair look bulky in the middle of my head. The longest layer was way too thin. I examined the cut carefully after I left and was so disappointed in the lack of skill displayed and how strange and uneven it looked. I found lots of split ends when I went home and my hair did not look like it was in better condition. Sure, I’m up for a funky cut and trusted Meredith to «do her thing» given her reviews, but I just looked bad! When I went to pay someone else who worked there, she didn’t thank me or say goodbye, which just further left a bad taste in my mouth. To her credit, Meredith offers to have you come back to fix your hair if you are disappointed, but if you’re already upset, why would you come back to be butchered some more? Needless to say, I wore my hair pulled back a lot and waited almost a year for it to grow out before I went to see Rashelle at J&F Gemelli in Cary. Rashelle had done a great job with my hair once before, but I had hoped to find a salon closer to my home (which is why I tried the Beehive). Rashelle is consistent and ended up fixing my botched haircut from Meredith at the Beehive, and I finally looked like the picture I brought in and was happy with my hair again.

I like The Beehive because they not only give awesome haircuts, but the staff there are friendly and caring. It’s a great local establishment not only because of the services they offer, but also because they support other local businesses in the Carrboro/​Chapel Hill area. When I went onto their website looking for information on haircuts I was pleasantly surprised to see that they offer affordable hair cuts and that they have a ‘Friends’ tab which links me to other local businesses that I may be interested in. Being new to town I thought it was great that I could find a hair place and learn about other local businesses at the same time. I think The Beehive is just fabulous and I am definitely going there next time I need a haircut.