Kelly Hair Salon

A one $ that really is a one $. 8 bucks for a cut!
Peter does my hair right. Even factoring in train fare, this place is a steal and worth the trip to Chinatown for some accompanying lunch, bubble tea and grocery shopping.

My barber works here, and he has done countless blessings to my hair. This is my spot to go, I’m a guy and I get fades with a part, it’s a great deal!

I’ve been coming here every month for about a year and half now and the service here definitely doesn’t disappoint. This is a insanely popular place for young people so be prepared to wait a while especially on the weekends.
I always get my haircuts from an older lady stationed near the back because she used to cut my hair at a different barber shop before she came here. I would get the usually number 1 – 2 fohawk every time. She’s a great person to talk to in Cantonese as she would usually ask you what you’ve been up to. She also offers to wash your hair and give you a shape up. so that’s a +1!

10-​star hair cut, every single time, at such an amazing value too! Kelly Hair Salon is my favorite hair salon ever — I’ve lived in 7 different cities and have never managed to find someone who can give me that perfect hair cut… until these guys! I’ve been going to these guys for 3 years. Even when I moved out of state, I still went to Kelly’s at each opportunity when I was back in NYC. Now that I’m back for good, this is my go-​to place now and forever!
Even my skeptical husband was converted into a huge fan after his first hair cut — just can’t beat the great service and price. They also take their time carefully washing, blow-​drying, shampooing and making sure that your hair cut is just perfect. I always feel very well taken care of :) It’s like getting the service of a $ 65 haircut at a fraction of the price — I always make sure to tip handsomely since they do such an AMAZING job each time and I’ve never ever had one bad experience with them.
Sure, they may speak spotty English but as long as you bring pictures to show them, they’re usually able to deliver what you want.
So in love with my new summer bob, I can’t even! You just HAVE to try them for yourself. Love this place so much!

If you need to pay for a haircut in Manhattan, why spend $ 14 — $ 19 plus tip anywhere else when you can go to chinatown and spend $ 4 — $ 10 (for an Asian haircut). Even in Chinatown, there are a lot of choices, but I’ve gone here about 10 times and always come back because of price, cleanliness, friendly customer service, and above average english skills making the overall experience 4stars. Would probably give this place 5 stars if they finished off with a short head, shoulder, scalp massage like they do in some parts of Asia.

I came here for a quick trim and some layers one morning and got exactly what I wanted I walked in here and was seated immediately. The lady who cut my hair was very nice and worked hard to make sure I was satisfied. I had to turn down the wash because I didn’t have a lot of time, so she cut my hair dry and was finished in about 15 minutes. I paid $ 12 for the cut plus a few bucks for tip — well worth it, in my opinion, for the quick service. I would definitely come back here for another haircut.

Always get my cut here and have never had a problem! Peter is my man! Always know his customers well and never need to ask what the customers want because its obvious and he knows them! A few of my friends come here and he is the man! I had a cut yesterday and some lady came out of no where and asked to take a picture of my hair because it looked good. I have to say, Peter does a good job for me!

Ok for your guy friend or your boyfriend looking to get a quick hair cut.
The good — $ 8 for a men’s cut, cheap, and the lady cutting his hair was fairly quick ~25 mins
The bad — not a great hair cut

This place is great. I don’t really have a specific barber, but they know how to cut asian hair.
$ 9 for hair cut, $ 11 with shampoo, I tip about $ 4 so $ 15. Pretty good experience everytime!

$ 16 for a ladies’ cut with wash and blow dry. this is by far not the best looking salon on what I am now pegging salon row, but it is cheap. we had a bit of a communication barrier so it was a fairly quiet session but he understood what I was looking for. he was very precise and continually asked me if the length was okay. the blow dry was also very meticulous. he spent close to 30 minutes just blow drying my hair curling the ends to add volume.
the hair wash though was a bit rough and messy. I do not enjoy holding my hair up for over a minute while she scrubs my neck area. owww… but for hair washes I have my place in flushing.
overall, good cheap place to pop in for an in-​between trim.

I’ve been going here for as long as I can remember. Lisa is my go to person, but everyone here is great. $ 18 for a cut and wash, you can’t go wrong.
I’ve been here for cuts and I’ve been here for styling, everytime leaving with what I wanted. If you aren’t happy, they’ll make it right for free. I’ve never had my hair colored here, but if you’re looking for a full head of color or basic highlights, they’ll likely give you what you want.

Peter is the man there! Been going here since my old barber retired. This guy is quick and loves his job and is good at it

I have been going to this place every month for the last few years. I agree with most reviewers that this place is probably better suited for male hair cuts and not so much for female hair cuts. This is a plce where you can get a quality cut for a very reasonable price. It used to be $ 7 for a cut and $ 2 for a shampoo but now it is $ 8 and $ 3 respectively. Yes, you can find cheaper in the surrounding area. Still a great deal, even though it is a little out of the way for folks that don’t live nearby. As another reviewer said, it is hard to find a barber shop where you are comfortable. I have had several people cut my hair but I stick with the one that I like, which as of now is chair no. 3 (counting from the entrance to the back). He’s a mandarin guy (I don’t speak a lick of mandarin) but he’s consistent, which I can’t say the same for Chair no. 2 (Peter). and also, Peter is not the owner. Based on deductive reasoning the bald guy in chair no. 1 is the owner (just look at the picture by the counter and his bling!). I have used the bald guy before to cut my hair and it wasn’t very good. I have also used the heavy set lady in the back, but she coughed on me once and that was that. The lady that I want to cut my hair no longer works there, but the person who took over her chair (no.3) is pretty good and I use him now. As another reviewer pointed out, he ended up getting the same hair cut at two different times. Not surprising because I believe chair 2 cuts the same hair style 99% of the time: high fade and short top. He doesn’t cut consistently so that’s why I am not using him anymore. My friend has a complicated layered style and still uses him, so go figure. He gets a lot of customers b/​c he speaks English, but don’t be fooled. The quality is in the scissors and I found that he used the electric hair clipper way too much. A quality cut demands a good amount of scissor work. The shampoo people are usually hit or miss (some provide a better head massage than others. Some like to dig their nails into your scalp. But I find it is difficult to pick your hair washer b/​c it is just usually whoever is available). Also, the no frills comment applies because this place isn’t the cleanest out there. The people who wash your hair also usually sweep the floor, so if that grosses you out, then you probably won’t like this place. The hot towel after the hair wash is a nice touch. Not sure how clean that is either. Haven’t had any warts on my face yet (knock on wood). Overall, this is my favorite place to get a cut, despite the politics and all (for me anyway).

the best hair salon that I’ve ever been in America. Although the barber that cut me doesn’t look like a barber at all, he actually did a very good job doing my hair. For the first time I have my hair cut exactly as I expected, he understands my description very well! the much more amazing part is the hair wash, the madam gave me an amazing hair rub during both foaming and rinsing, it was very comfortable and last quiet a long time.
After all, the price is only $ 11 before tip. a super good deal!

Kelly is great. The hair salon, not the person — I don’t even know who Kelly is.
But like others have mentioned here, it’s only great if you speak Chinese and have Asian hair. They know what they’re doing (for Asians), and for $ 8… c’mon, you really can’t complain.
The one slightly overweight lady is definitely my favorite, but sometimes she just sits in the back and watches other people cut. Maybe she’s Kelly!!! Anyway, I got her once and she was cracking jokes the whole time — in Chinese, obviously. And then I realized I had no cash (by the way, it’s cash-​only) and after disclosing this to her, she actually trusted me to run to the bank, get money, and come back to pay her. Kelly’s awesome. If that’s even who she is.

I visit again for the first time in 3 months.
A different person cutting my hair. A different request for how I wanted my hair. A different time of day (the person who did it last time wasn’t even there).
And somehow I still manage to leave with the exact same haircut I got 3 months ago.
huuuh.
It’s not a bad cut – it’s decent – but also not quite what I was looking for. I think I have a long facial shape so I don’t really like hairstyles where my sides are shaved really short and the top is left longer. When I suggest that my hair cutter make the top a little shorter, he was pretty much against that idea.
The reason I came back is that ultimately, you want to trust that the people that cut your hair know what they’re doing and have experience doing it. Kelly Hair Salon seems to have the the youngest clientele that I’ve seen in the area. Surprisingly, not all of them come out with the same hairstyle I do. I think I need to figure out their secret the next time I come in 3 months.

As an Asian dude in NY you have a few options when you’re in need of a haircut:
a) Go to a Japanese/​Korean salon and have them give you a meticulous haircut using only scissors and thinning shears, but will set you back $ 50 WITHOUT tip
b) Go to a Chinese salon and get a decent haircut that’s probably a little too fashion forward, but will only leave your wallet $ 20 – 30 lighter
c) Go to a non-​Asian place and get your hair butchered by someone who’s never cut hair with the consistency of steel wire
d) Go to Pell and Doyer streets for the infamous $ 6 – 8 haircut. Caveat emptor.
After reading reviews by the fine folks on Unilocal,I decided to try out Kelly’s this past weekend. Upon entering, I waited precisely three seconds before being pounced upon by the first available barber (I hesitate to use the word ‘stylist’). I indicated that I wanted a cut and wash, so I found it a bit odd that they waited until the very end to wash my hair — all the Korean/​Japanese places and even the Chinese salons seem to do it before the cut.
I asked her for a trim and to not cut it too short, so naturally my resulting haircut looks like I was just discharged from the Marine Corps. High and tight, a little longer on top. Most people would be pissed, but I actually don’t think it looks all that bad. One consolation is that it only set me back $ 11 before tip.
Oh, and the other reviewers are right — speaking Chinese is a definite plus, unless you feel like playing Charades or speaking to the barbers like you’re hooked on phonics.

Seriously bro. It’s $ 7 for a haircut. Unless you have long flowy styled hair, I truly do not understand how much better or necessary a $ 30 – 50 haircut is.
If you can speak Chinese, then bam you can request any style you want.
What’s even better is that because it’s in Chinatown, after your haircut you can explore a ton of delicious cheap Chinese restaurants!
Cash only.

Great place for an asian male to get a haircut
$ 9 includes the cut + a shampoo/​head massage + hot towel
It’s the only place I trust to get my hair done. The owner is a master at his craft and very meticulous with your hair. Look for the big asian dude, with stylish hair and black rimmed glasses — he’s the owner.
If you’re squeemish about cleanliness or atmosphere, I’d stay away. This is an asian haircut place and the semi-​dirty environment is essential to the experience.

Having tried a multitude of barbershops along Pell and Doyer Street for the last ten years, Kelly Hair Salon has become my favorite for the the last 3 years. Prices have remained the same at $ 7 for a man’s cut and an extra $ 2 for a quick and relaxing shampoo and wash. I have had my haircuts given by Kelly’s owner for a long time. He is a friendly guy who will take his time and be very meticulous with your hair.
To be perfectly honest, the recent quality of haircuts will vary as you are not always paired with your barber of choice. In the past year, there has been quite a bit of turnover, and I have received a haircut from a different barber for each of my last four visits! At that point, consistency and reliability is just a crap shoot, and you will just have to hope they listen to instructions and execute them correctly.
But in the end, Kelly remains a very economical choice for a solid cut for both ladies and gents. The barbers and the hair-​wash ladies are very courteous and approachable. If you speak Cantonese, they’ll make you feel right at home. If you do not speak a Chinese language, English works just fine.