John Allan’s

Receptionist, the first point of contact, just ruins the whole experience. She is rude and needs training. This location gets bad reviews but John Allan’s does t make changes. Maybe the staff is a reflection of the company and not the other way around.

Great experience here the other evening, thanks Julia for an excellent haircut! I rarely give out a five star, would have to go more than once for consistency before that happens, but really good experience.

One would expect a men’s only full service establishment to be able to accommodate ALL types of hair. Why was I Not surprised when I walked into John Allen’s Saks location to schedual a cut, when the receptionists were, let’s just say, apprehensive. Even though they were quick to schedule an appointment… When I asked if someone knew how to cut hair with actual clippers, since men (no matter the race) either have their hair styled or get short haircuts, then I got uncertain looks. No surprise when the receptionist said «we don’t do ‘specialty’ hair cuts. Erm… Excuse you, hooker? You don’t do «specialty» hair cuts. Bitch please… Then… The room started spinning, I was short of breath, my vision got blurry… Then I realized what was happening… I was having… A «BLACK ATTACK»!!! This is some Mutha fucking bullshit honkies.(yes a pulled the George Jefferson ‘honky’ word out of my arsenal of micro aggression worn, black rage) «first of all, you should be ashamed of yourself john Allen in the city of NY you don’t offer a full service men’s hair stop. Oh, yes. It’s the new Jim Crow. Let’s face it. Catering only to «straight, white hair» in this day and age is tantamount to saying «white people only». It’s a micro-​aggression that we people of color get tired of dealing with. Shame on you John Allen’s. Avoid this place. And to the reception with the blonde weave I say… Your service was un– be-​weave-​ably disappointing.

How did this place fall so far? I first became a member at this location 7 years ago at this location. Monday I will cancel my membership and get a refund. They are poorly staffed, mismanaged and have no sense of service.
This is the 4^th time I was unable to get a manicure because they only staff 1 person and she is very VERY slow. With 3 stylists, 2 customers can’t be serviced and the ineptitude of the manicurist means she can only complete 1 in 5 customers.
Even my normally reliable stylist screwed up my basic cut by not listening.
Due to my new job, I am only able to go on the weekend.
When I complained, the manager’s response was «I don’t normally work here on the weekend.
Stay away!

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. You never learn! For years, you’ve been satisfied with your $ 15 haircuts — you look good, you feel good, why change it up? Oh, but sometimes, you have to be a big shot and go for the $ 70 «full service» options offered by fancy places like this. Sure, you don’t NEED the manicure or the head rub or the «free drink» that comes with that hefty price, but can you really put a price on feeling like a baller who spends that much on a haircut?
It’s easier to put a price on feeling like a chump after a mediocre haircut, which is how I felt walking out of the place. Also, I’d never gotten a manicure before, but I was fairly underwhelmed with the state of my fingernails afterwards. To top it all off, the stylist is upselling you the entire freaking time about getting the «annual package,» for the low price of $ 800, which entitles you to unlimited mediocre salon visits throughout the year. Hard pass.

I’ve been going to John Allan’s at Saks on and off for years and have now had two experiences, with two different stylists, that were so appalling that I am never going back. I gave up on them years ago as a result of a creepily flirtatious stylist and decided to try them again (with a different stylist) a couple months ago. After a handful of «decent» haircuts (seated extremely late on most occasions, mind you), I had yet another bizarre experience. After some polite small talk, my hairstylist started ranting about gays, political and corporate corruption and basically spent about 45 minutes with me, about 3 minutes of which was actually cutting hair. I tried to swerve the conversation towards lighter fare, but the stylist just kept going. I basically paid $ 80 (incl. tip) to get a horrible haircut and listen to this guy rant about the morally and ethically corrupt nature of the world as he sees it. Simply put, the place is poorly run with unprofessional stylists who give inconsistent cuts on their best day. Never, ever go here.

I was super excited to go because I read all the good reviews and was looking for a place to be a member. I went two times and both times my haircut and experience were lackluster. The receptionists aren’t very friendly, but at least my stylist was very nice. The first time I went I got a haircut that was just OK, and I went a second time thinking it would be better, but it wasn’t. I wouldn’t say they did a bad job, but my haircut was boring and lame. They do pretty much the same haircut for every guy.

Appalling! The place is dirty, as are the bottles of product they’re obviously not selling. The chair I had my shave in was broken and the whole feel of the place is «unclean». As it happens, this turned out to be the case as I had a very painful rash for 3 days after getting shaved here. I only wish I’d read the reviews before going but I figured as it was in Saks it would be OK. It isn’t; the staff are unfriendly, the place is dirty (I was flipping through their product binder and cut hair fell out, lots of cut hair!), the service (and coffee) is awful, and I think it’s unhygienic. DO NOT GO!

I have been coming to John Allan’s for years, and despite having been a fan for many of them, the magic is definitely gone. The focus on personalized service is waning. The staff has become bitter due to across the board 20% pay cuts, as the Company has struggled financially. It appears that an over aggressive expansion plan has been taken out on the employees. As a result, the mood has definitely changed and the staff unenthusiastically goes through the motions of providing «service».
In summary, if you’re lucky enough to actually be seated on time, you’re then treated to bums rush type service. The haircuts have become inconsistent as there has been a good deal of turnover.
Net-​net, there is simply nothing special about the experience. The concept has worn thin and is no longer unique.
I am sad to say this, but I will no longer be going to John Allan for my hair styling needs.
Au revoir John Allan…

Superb service and perfect place to go Friday before starting your weekend or for a Bromance.
Beer, Shoe Shine, Manicure, Haircut and Massage.
Highly recommend Theresa (Esthetician)
This review is for the Saks Fifth Avenue Location.

Feeling the urge to fulfill my metro-​sexual needs… I figured I’d get around to John Allan’s. With my Groupon in tow, I was psyched up to get my «Full Service». Granted my reservation was a bit near closing time, however I still expect to get my money’s worth. Please see my list below of outstanding issues:
1. Upon entry. No cold beer. It was a Friday evening. I want my cold beer.
2. Hairstyling/​cutting. Non existent. How can someone cut hair when the chairs are not height adjustable? I was afraid.
3. Shoe shine. What shoe shine?
4. Rushed. I was done in 15 minutes. I left like a Nascar automobile during a pit stop.
5. We’re here for a so-​to-​speak «makeover». This place could use their own makeover. It’s pretty dated looking and you don’t exactly get a luxurious feeling from sitting on dirty white couch.
I will say that the staff there was very friendly. My MAN-​icure was pretty damn good. If you find yourself feeling the urge to fulfill your metro-​sexual needs too, make an appointment during the day or perhaps visit one of their other locations. Otherwise, I wasn’t impressed.

I have visited this and the Tribecca location and have finally decided to get a «membership» which entities you to unlimited «Full-​Service» treatments for a year. The deal itself is not amazing, but worst cast you break even and its all paid for up front.
The service at the salon is great: they are always on-​time and the stylists are professional and well trained.
The next year should be a nice treat!

If you want to throw away your money, visit this place. If you want a quality cut, visit an experienced barber.

Went here last week for my cut, tried the «full service». The stylist did a nice job with my hair. The service was fawning and «how are you today, my friend», which I’m not so into, but at least they try and seem friendly.
The manicure, my first «professional» one, was a disappointment. I do a better job myself, and told them so. They apologized immediately, didn’t charge me for the manicure, and offered a complimentary manicure next time with a note in my file to do a more careful job. Whatever. I probably won’t ask for it next time. (Not that they did a bad job, just I tend my own nails very meticulously).
The shoe shine was nice, towel was nice, but these things are nonessentials in my book. I’d probably go back because I liked the cut. And the convenience of being in Saks means I can combine it with shopping.

I like this branch so much better than the one near Grand Central — because there are so many fewer stations, it feels far less hectic. Not necessarily looking for serenity with my haircut, but a little bit of calm never hurt. «Full service,» which sounds naughty but isn’t, is only $ 65 and with that you get shampoo, a hot towel over your face, a haircut, a manicure, a shoe shine, and a (non-​alcoholic) drink. The haircutters and manicurists are all attractive women, some very attractive. Also, this branch (unlike other John Allan branches) has weekend hours.

I went to John Allan’s for the first time, and I throught the full service deal was really good. It is the first time I had a manicure, so that was interesting. I really thought my stylist did a good job. Because this one is in Saks Fifth Avenue, I think they didn’t had the full layout that the other branches might have. I will have to decide which membership to join since this one is close to the office but it seems like maybe the Midtown East one has more to offer. The fact that I look up and see an unfinished ceiling distracted from the experience.