Li’s Salon

I called and made an appointment same day. I got my eyelashes permed and it lasted about 3 months or so. It was really cheap and for three months of not having to curl my lashes, i thought it was well worth it. I will be definitely be coming back for a recurl.

Got my eyelashes permed after reading pretty great reviews from fellow Unilocalers.
Salon was definitely in typical Chinatown fashion. Idle stylists are always eating and chatting loudly so prepare mentally for this environment. In fact, I would recommend having your headphones and music ready. That would have made my experience so much better.
Cindy was great.
It was my first perm so I didn’t know what to expect.
The procedure took around 40 minutes and she was quite gentle cleansing, applying the foam rollers and removing the product at the end.
Loving the lashes a week later and will definitely go back!

Cindy does eyelash perms. I have been going to her for over 4 years now. The quality has gotten worse to be honest, but it’s only $ 25. After getting it done it used to last me almost 3 months, now it only last a little over a month. It also seems to take longer now as well. I used to be in and out in 35mins. Though now I can sometimes be there for over an hour. Im not sure what changed, but I still go. And yes, other Unilocalers are correct, she doesn’t have sizes, but she used to! I dont know what happened. Ha.
She is located inside of a hair salon, she has a back room where she does facials, massages, perms, etc. So it seems daunting at first but it’s not meant to be. I think it’s meant to be private/​closed off for her clients comfortability. She normally leaves at 5pm, so if you want to go late make sure you call her first.
You walk in, the salonist in the front yell out for her, she comes out and directs you to the back room, you lay down on the bed, she cleans off any makeup/​residue on your eye and begins the process. She usually covers you with a blanket to keep you warm. It is definitely loud in there and sometimes she is on the phone when she does it and that’s annoying, so don’t plan on sleeping if you’re a light sleeper ha.
Oh and there is a bathroom downstairs for the building as a whole. It is pretty gross to me actually and has never ever ever in all the years Ive gone there had soap or paper towels, Im lucky it even has toilet paper. Lol. Fingers crossed that doesn’t change too.

Cindy was great! My lashes are thick and pin straight so I was a bit skeptical that my lashes would curl. Especially for 25 $. I was raised to believe that you get what you pay for but as an adult I’ve realized that isn’t always true. This was my first time gettin my lashes permed but I am on a budget so I had to find somewhere cheap. I was so glad I went here. She doesn’t ask how you want them and she also doesn’t explain things, so I can understand as a newbie that can be a bit overwhelming. She mentioned to me that she had been doing this for over 25 years. That made me feel more relaxed. She told me it would take 30 to 40 minutes. I took a nap. If was really relaxing. After 40 minutes she went to look at how my lashes were and she noticed some unevenness (my out left eyelashes didn’t seem to want to curl. I wasn’t surprised because when I curl my lashes my putter lashes always give me the hardest time) and asked if I could give her 10 more minutes. I love that she actually cared about her work and looked at it and was detailed! After 10 minutes she cleaned off the solution and when I looked in the mirror I was sooo surprised and happy! Finally curled lashes! Will definitely be back!!!

$ 25 for a regular-​priced eyelash perm isn’t a bad deal at all and the beauty technician was super careful in tending to my eyelashes. I did not like how she kept saying «your eyelashes are SO short!» throughout the 40 minutes I was laying down. Obviously I’m not here because I already have perfect eyelashes. The end results are all right and there’s a noticeble difference, but they didn’t come out as good in comparison to how Yuki (from Lavilash) did my lashes. There isn’t a choice for how you want your lashes shaped. She just begins immediately into shaping them upwards.
They also have a manicure station in the same store that does über-​cheap manis for $ 8. It’s $ 25 for the Shellac or gel manis and $ 5 for Shellac mani removal. Overall, a good bang for the buck, but far from the best salon around.

Ive been here a few times.
It’s $ 25.
No frills eyelash perm. ~30 mins.
In a connecting room to Li’s Salon in Elizabeth center. She has 2 – 3 tables now which means less waiting!
Cindy tells you to lay down, then puts blankets on you. Close your eyes and keep em closed. She sticks on the rollers. And puts on first solution. You mini nap. She comes back and puts on the second solution. You drift back to sleep. She takes off the rollers and helps you up.
You now have brighter eyes from your newly curly lashes.
She has 3 different roller sizes so you can request a up curl vs a outward curl (bigger curler).
Cons: 1) the tips on your lashes may be slightly frizzed. 2) you may have a slight, very slight irritation on your eyelids– will fade by the next morning. 3) her hands tend to smell like food.
BUT IT’S SO CHEAP: D

Don’t make an appointment call the day before and ask for Cindy to make sure she will be there the following day AND call the day of and tell her you are coming … that’s all !!! OK so it is in the back of a hair salon and it does kinda look like you are coming in for an illegal abortion (was that wrong — did you or did you not want an honest opinion???) BUT it was not dirty, cramped yes, dirty no. She apparently does facials and microdermabrasion there as well. For $ 25 and having gorgeous dolls eyes — well worth it. Make sure you go for Dim Sum across the street afterwards!

This review is for the eyelash perm. I have gotten these before at more expensive places (like Lavilash) so I knew the drill, but if I were new (and Cindy didn’t ask if this was my first perm until at least 15 min into the process) I would have been terrified that nothing was explained to me before starting. The place was hard to find and the least relaxing salon I have ever been to, including similar places in Chinatown. There were at least 5 people gossiping loudly and laughing at unbearable decibles the whole time I had to lay there with my eyes closed. Despite this, I really wanted to like the perm itself, since the price is so good. I loved how my left eye came out… but my right eye was kinked, like the rod was not placed close enough to my lash base. Ahh! I didn’t realize how bad it was until I got home, and then it was too late to do anything about it. Good thing my bangs sometimes cover my right eye. Perhaps I got unlucky, as it seems other reviewers had good perms, but still, I would not recommend this place to anyone who is unfamiliar with hole in the wall salons and does not at least understand Chinese.

Got my first eyelash perm with Cindy last month after reading reviews here on Unilocal.
First thing about this place is I had a hard time finding it. I was looking for the neon sign, which is inside a mini mall that looks like an office building and is very easy to walk by when you’re looking for a salon.
After reading some of the reviews here describing the place like it was some third world hole in the wall, I was expecting something like a closet lit by a bare bulb hanging from a wire. Yes, Cindy works in a small back room, no it’s not a luxury spa, but not nearly as bad as the way some of the reviews make it out to be. Nothing gave me any flashing red lights that screamed unclean.
Cindy was very sweet and got right down to business. My eyelashes have not moved from the curl she put into them. I would have preferred something less curly, but as it was my first time, I had no idea what to ask for so I let her pick. I can not complain one bit for the service I received for the price paid.

came here for eyelash perm as well.
it was a hassle scheduling for an appointment.
the lady on the phone doesn’t speak good English, and the background is extremely noisy. They messed up my appointment a couple times, and heard the time wrong etc
But anyway, Cindy was pretty friendly. She did the perm in like a closet in the back of the salon. pretty shady. and throughout the whole perm, she was chatting so loudly in Cantonese with a lady sitting right next to her. So it definitely was not a relaxing or pleasant experience
My perm came out pretty nice and curvy but not curved to the base of my lash like I wanted but for $ 25 dollars, she did a pretty good job. and it’s been a month and my eyelash still looks good
so if you want a decent perm and don’t mind the shady place, this is the place for u

It’s not a place where you can relax. While waiting for my eyelash perm to be done, a couple of Chinese ladies were chatting loudly just beside the bed I was in.
Anyway, regarding the perm I think it was too curled that you won’t notice the end of my lashes anymore. The price is def cheap but I think I’ll search for somewhere else better.

After reading other Unilocalers’ reviews on Cindy, I decided to try out Cindy for eyelash perm. It was only $ 25 and I mean how bad could it be really? I got inside the Salon and wondered where the station would be because I haven’t seen a bed yet. It turned out the Cindy has a tiny room in the back where it is connected to another tiny boutique right next door.
She greeted me warmly and instructed me to lie down comfortably with blankets on top. She somehow never asked me how I wanted my perm to be and I guess there is nothing but 1 shape here. I let her determine the future of my eyelash for the next month or so.
She then began the process and to my surprise, she was really gentle and I barely feel the chemical nor the pull. I fell asleep a little bit until she woke me up and told me it was done. My lash turned out pretty curly. I wish they were more outward but for $ 25, I cannot really complain. Besides, I could probably ask her to make it more straight out next time.
The only con is she was either talking to other people in the tiny shoe box she operates in or on the phone. I couldn’t really make out what she is saying but it surely is so important she has to do it when she was giving me a perm!

All the reviews here are accurate: it is not glamorous, you are in a back room with questionable towels, but the result is good. I’ve paid double for the same procedure … lash curling for straight lashes make a world of difference. Highly suggest over extensions. Try Li’s if only for the experience.

This is the filthiest salon, no denying that. However, Cindy is the city’s best-​kept secret for lash perms, and she’s totally worth the trek and trouble. I came here for the first time after reading the Unilocal reviews, and the reviews are right on. My lashes are long and naturally stick straight and grow straight down, literally enmeshed in my bottom lashes, but you would never know it, thanks to Cindy. Yes, you have to call the day of even if you’ve made an appointment in advance, and yes, they are not polite, and the disorder in the salon is no joke, and they don’t take credit cards. BUT the bottom line is that she gets the job done better than anyone else I know, and for a rock-​bottom price. Up til now I regularly paid $ 100+ ($ 90 + tip, no exaggeration) at a famous salon on the UES and was fed up with the inconsistent results. I’m someone who spares no expense for something like this, and I still can’t believe I found this magician for less than a third of the price. I mourn all the money I wasted all these years uptown, but I am almost crying with joy and now pledge my allegiance to Cindy, and I am forever grateful to you Unilocalers, who’ve nearly changed my life! :)

They cancelled my appointment without calling to let me know!
I called to make an appointment with Cindy a day or two in advance. When I arrived there (on time), the lady told me she already left. She talked like it was nothing. she told me to come back tomorrow. not even say sorry.

i came for cindy at li salon from my friend recommendation. the salon itself is not nice or relaxing so don’t expect that but the result are amazing though.
i usually called an ask if cindy is in otherwise you can just walk in. the perm is 25 $ flat rate and the process takes about 20 minutes– during the treatments, you will hear chinese music blasting on radio and people talking really loud, and cindy might just be on the phone the whole time while she was doing your eyelash perm.
but– again, i’m here for the result not some relaxing experience. the eyelash perm will last about 2 months.
and i don’t even need to use my eyelash curler anymore!
i’ve been to other places for eyelash perm but for the price and the result, i would suggest you come for cindy, she’s really know what she’s doing!
tips:
–call ahead of time ask for cindy, sometime she’s not in.
the salon is locating inside the shopping mall building but –you can see the pink neon sign through the entrance anyway, so u cant miss it.
–cash only

Thanks to Irena for posting about the eyelash perming. Came here and saw Cindy, she was really nice and took care of me right away. And she worked her magic on my bone-​straight eyelashes for which I am so grateful! For $ 25, she does a great job. I plan on returning.

I love my stylist-​John. He uses a Japanese technique and takes his time when cutting my hair. 1.5 years of coming here so far and planning to keep it that way!

This is one of those tucked away Chinatown gems that offers reasonably priced eyelash perms. I’ve been looking all over NYC for a place that does it well and at a reasonable cost (many charge $ 40 – 50 and aren’t that great). Thanks to a recommendation by a fellow Unilocaler, I finally checked out Li’s Salon and saw Cindy, the eyelast perm specialist. She did an awesome job for $ 25.
This isn’t a spa. It’s a room in the back of a loud busy hair salon with lots of Chinese customers. It’s not sparkling clean. If you’re looking for any of that, don’t go here. But if you’re simply looking for a good eyelash perm at a reasonable price, this place is it.
p. s. You should call and make sure Cindy will be there when you want to come in. I recommend calling the same day instead of setting up appointments in advance. They run the salon like a typical third world operation where most people just walk in.