Prema

I don’t tend to write reviews but I feel compelled to share my thoughts on Prema because it is so good, and finding a good hairdresser isn’t easy. Especially in a place like NYC, where it feels like they are a dime a dozen. This LES salon is the NYC outpost of a Sydney group of salons and the sunny, laid back atmosphere of the place hint at an antipodean connection. Greg gave me the kind of hair cut that people were commenting on for weeks — not only did he read the shape of my face perfectly; he also recognized my complete inability to style my hair and so cut my hair in a way that would look great with minimal/​no effort on my behalf. Hurrah! It was very well-​priced and came with a glass of wine and some good chat. The experience has been the same every time I visit. If you’re after colour I’d recommend booking Natalie. Like Greg, she intuited exactly what I was after and gave me beautiful, natural-​looking colour which will be easy to maintain. In a nutshell, if high-​quality, unpretentious and thoughtful hair styling is what you’re looking for, Prema is your place. I can’t recommend the place highly enough.

I searched Unilocal for a salon near where I was staying on a visit in NYC and was able to get an appt same day for a hair cut in an hour. I walked in and was taken care of by Gregg. He made me feel so comfortable and could see my frustration with the current odd shape of my bob and gave me a cut channeling Louise Brooks. I am so happy with my updated look and I got to have a completely refreshing conversation with a wonderful person during!

If warmth, expertise, intuition, flexibility, relationship building, fun and a sprinkle of magic are things you value in your hair care journey, then consider yourself arrived at destination.
For the past few years, Stefani and the entire team at Prema have patiently and inspiringly supported me through crazy colors and chopped cuts with professionalism and creativity.
I’m one of those neurotic stimulation junkies that condemn their hair to random chaos in between salon visits while at the same time expecting hair stylists to not only mend that chaos but also bring me back to a state of hair that is socially acceptable.
At Prema, I learned to raise my bar when it comes to expecting more from my hair stylists. Every single time I leave Prema, I don’t just leave feeling great — I arrive at any give destination showered with compliments.
I’d recommend Prema in a heartbeat to anyone who is still looking for that one spot in town they can always expect to be blown away by — pun intended :)

I’m leaving this review on behalf of my husband. I booked him a haircut at Prema last night as he was in desperate need and his usual go-​to places (Kida and Freeman’s) didn’t have availability. We’ve walked by Prema several times as we live in the neighborhood but have never ventured in. I called the day of and was able to book an appointment for that evening at 7:15. As soon as he got home he stated that it was THE BEST SALON EXPERIENCE HE HAS EVER HAD. Growing up in the industry (his father has been a hair dresser in DC for 20+ years) he is a pretty tough critic so you can imagine my surprise. The staff, the owner, the shampoo, the cut… everything was 5+ stars. Cost was $ 75 + tip but due to the length (and amount of my husbands hair) he needs more of stylist experience vs a barber. He will definitely be back and I’m now tempted to check it out.

Extremely friendly and talented staff. They made me feel very comfortable and my stylist, Natalie, did an amazing job with the balayage. Despite it being a busy day, Francesco (who’s awesome) squeezed me in without an appointment. I’ve been looking for a go-​to hair salon in NYC for the past two years and I think Prema is it for me.

Prema NYC — amazing customer service experience coupled with the best haircut I’ve EVER had :-) I had my first haircut back with Stefanie last July when I was visiting NY. Having just relocated to the US I went in to find Stefanie, not only did she remember me she remembered how she’d cut/​styled my hair from last July (9 months ago). Once again she did an amazing job, the entire Prema crew in the salon come together to ensure you feel looked after during your visit. Can’t speak highly enough of this gem of a salon — a must for anyone who is shopping for a boutique salon in NYC with consistent quality with a personal touch.

Best service i ever had. Nice friendly environment. At first i felt really nervous because in the past i had terrible experience with other salons, which made me have trust issues and haven’t had a hair cut for about 3 – 5 years. However the lovely employees at «Prema» made me feel comfortable with there professional manner.
This is my first time at «Prema» and my hair was styled by Dale. My hair was fairly long up to mid back and was planing to donate my locks. I took a big risk by wanting to try something different by having a Pixie cut. With the reference in hand, dale was able to give me the exact hair cut from the reference.
I’m so happy with my hair cut. Getting lots of compliments on it. Definitely will recommend my pals to get there hair done at «Prema». I guess I’ll be getting my hair done here and become a regular.
Thanks Dale for the awesome pixie cut
You got yourself a regular.

I found this salon online when I woke up and decided I desperately needed a haircut and couldn’t wait any longer. They were the first salon in my list of calls able to take me day-​of.
I can’t remember who colored and cut my hair (the colorist is British and the woman who cut my hair had some purple highlights at the time?) but I have gotten more compliments on my hair than I’ve ever before. In thrilled with my hair and like it even more as it grows out a bit.

Any place that offers me a glass of wine upon entering is a winner in my book. I’ve been going to Lizzy (Lizzie?) for about 4 years, and the cut, as well as the overall service, is always a wonderful experience! Everyone knows how difficult it is to find a good stylist that you feel comfortable with and trust to do whatever they want. I always walk out feeling amazing (complete with the post-​haircut casual hair flip on the street) and have no plans to try another place anytime soon.

Natalie & Steffanie are amazing! Natalie made my peach hair dreams a reality after showing her 7 different colors on Pinterest, she got me to the exact shade I had in my head! She bleached me out from dark brown with highlights so she had a lot to work with, she was so patient and wonderful to talk to while she worked. I’ll definitely be back to see her!
Stef nailed my hair cut, i love the volume. Can’t recommend these girls enough!

From the moment you walk in until the end of your visit, the nice folks at Prema will make you feel comfortable, and pampered while unleashing some next level magic on your hair.
I have followed the beautiful and immensely talented Stefani Analiese from Ludlow Blunt (formerly Tommy Guns) to her current home at Prema. She always listens, is extremely patient, and above all she wants me to feel beautiful and confident.
While waiting for color, I have seen Stefani handle all types of hair (fine, coarse, long, short, curly, etc) and she definitely gives blowouts like no other. In fact, my coarse, curly, dry hair is always smooth and frizz free after every session — sometimes even lasting a week!
Recently, I bleached my dark-​almost-​black hair a nice pale, paper white (transitioned over several months and treatments) and Natalie — a former Drawing Room colorist — methodically applied bleach to each and every inch of my new growth. It’s amazing to watch her focus — she truly cares about scalp health, hair health, and is up front about what is and isn’t reasonable. She can tone hair like nobody I’ve ever seen — and has an incredible eye for color.
Run, don’t walk to Prema and get to know the gorgeous couple that runs the salon.

Somehow, no matter how many times I’ve walked out of this place over the past three years feeling like the hottest piece in the Five Burroughs, every haircut I get here seems to be even better than the last.
My hair is extremely long and thick and then pretty curly/​wavy on top of all that. They give a great scalp massage while washing your hair and take their time at the end to give you a Red Carpet-​worthy blow out– not to mention they have beer on hand while you wait. Very relaxed and friendly vibe all around.
I’ve turned multiple friends with all different hair types, including damaged and colored, on to Prema, and they are all hooked. I highly recommend Gregg in particular for a cut.

I had an amazing experience at Préma!!! Everyone was amazing and so kind! My hair came out perfect!!! I have trust issues with my hair and trust me when I say they were amazing they were!!! Natalie colored my hair and omg she took my breath away! I have never tried anything crazy but I heard she was amazing so I stopped in to see what see had to offer. She gave me the most beautiful green! I’m so in love!!! If you want your hair colored Natalie is your girl!!!

As someone who can’t function without getting my weekly blowouts as soon as I moved next to Prema formerly known as Pimps and Pin-​ups (rip) I knew is was just a matter of time before I tried it out.
I called last Saturday morning and the nicest sounding Australian guy answered the phone. Now as a single girl I felt like I had a boyfriend for about 1 minute. I was blushing and couldn’t wait to go in just to see who I was talking to. A+ for over the phone customer service. I also didn’t have an appt and they fit me in that morning!
Literally all the guys that work at Prema are sooo fine, on top of having an incredibly handsome staff, they do great blowouts and a killer magazine selection.

Fabulous experience from start to finish. I made an appt. here very spur of the moment and last minute because I was just so fed up with my mid back length hair and butchered home cut bangs… gotta love YouTube… lol. Typically, I am a paranoid freak and will research a place/​stylist for months before I let them touch my hair but I wanted something different and fresh for my milestone birthday party, which was the following day… based on the amazing reviews, I took the risk.
When I walked in, I was greeted by the very friendly manger who sat me down and offered me a drink while I waited for my stylist. I loved the whole vibe of the place and everyone seemed really great. Some salons you feel like you are an annoyance and they won’t even really engage with you. If I am spending $ 110 for a cut, I want to feel welcomed. Great job on Prema’s end.
Anyhow, as this was my 1^st time in the salon, I didn’t have a fav hairdresser yet so I was assigned Stephanie (I THINK that was her name). She was very warm and sweet… we discussed what I was looking for, which was a lob… we decided collar bone length would be perfect (although, I wanted to go shorter initially, she made some valid points and I am glad I didn’t). She gave me a very pretty, textured look, and also showed me different ways to wave my hair to get that beachy hair look.
I LOVED my cut and was so relived that everything turned out perfectly and I will most certainly be back to update my lob in a couple of months.
I highly recommend coming here.
I attached my before and after for reference. :)

I moved to New York from Australia and have been here 1 year now! Back home I had a hair colorist for 5 years! I’ve gone from blonde to black to auburn back to my natural brown hair so my hair can be super sensitive!
I was recommended to Prema by several people and I am SO glad I went to them! It was my first experience but I will definitely be a regular. Everyone I met was super friendly and accommodating and they really took the time to listen.
Natalie did an exceptional job on my hair — she did a great color match and also brought it back to life! It’s been 5 weeks now and the color hasn’t faded. Very happy with the service and would recommend Prema to anyone :)
It was also reasonably priced, but if you’re getting your hair colored, you know price shouldn’t matter!
Thanks Prema team and see you soon!

Seriously the best blow dry I have ever had.
The staff are awesome and the salon is very cool. Loved the experience, thank you so much. So pleased you have a salon in Sydney too.

I came here today to get my hair cut. It was my first time at this salon and it will not be my last. Gregg cut my hair and he was absolutely FANTASTIC! My hair looks and feels amazing, I am very happy with the outcome. THANK YOU!

Dale gave me the perfect hair cut. He took his time discussing what I wanted, as well as with the cut itself and styling. Best cut I’ve had in NYC!

I just moved back to NYC from Europe and needed to find a new hair stylist. I had gone to so many different people… and finally, after well over a year, I stumbled upon Stefani at Prema.
She was… a god send! She actually listened to what I wanted and delivered! There isn’t a chance I would go to anyone else. I love this girl and her amazing talent with hair!
Everyone that works at Prema is so extremely nice and talented! I love coming to this place. It’s my spa and I always come out feeling amazing. It’s owned by the nicest Australian couple, and from what I gather, have done well in Australia and have now branched out into NYC.
Check this place out… you will love it and come out looking amazing ;)

Prema has the best atmosphere and the best stylists. Greg and Anna are the best.
Everyone is super friendly and professional. And fun

Was in desperate need of a haircut and I found Prema Hair Salon on a whim. Finishing an hour-​long kickboxing class, I took my sweaty locks to Prema on a humid night in NYC. Gregg was my stylist and I showed him a picture of what I wanted. He listened and made honest opinions on what would work best for my frame and hair.
Half way into the blow out, he asked where I was from and I told him I was Dominican. He then mentioned that a Dominican girl showed him how to blow-​dry hair. I told him that judging blowouts was in my blood. I was skeptical but at the end, I was very, very very impressed.
Not going to lie, it’s pricey. $ 110 for a haircut and blow out but it came with a drink and a nice scented oil-​infused scalp massage. If you’re on a budget and in constant maintenance, Prema may not be a good option for you, but if you’re like me and trim your hair twice a year, Prema is a great salon to treat yourself to.

So friendly, so professional. These people know what they’re doing, and they do it without a drop of pretense.

You will first be greeted by a crew of Australian accents, then served water that tastes like it’s been delivered by unicorns (lemon and cucumber infused). Yes, it’s real life! The haircut will begin with an epic 3 minute head and shoulder massage and a wash with shampoo/​conditioner that smells out of this world. Oh and eventually your hair gets cut, but the first 10 minutes of the one hour appointment are awesome and also go by in slow motion.
Everyone is very friendly and knowledgeable. I had my hair cut by Dale who was awesome! Will defiantly be back :).

Having recently relocated from Sydney to NYC I was so relieved to know that I could continue my amazing Prema experience in NYC. The guys in the NYC salon made me feel very welcome the minute I stepped into the salon and as usual I got the premium experience no other hairdresser but Prema delivers. Natalie got my colour on point and Greg gave me the right cut to refresh my look. I will definitely be going back.
If you’re looking for a great salon in NYC which delivers service which is second to none — look no further than Prema.

I’ve been going to this salon group for 10 years in Australia. When I found out they were opening in Manhattan, I made an appointment straight away!
I love the vibe of this salon. The staff are on point, I always leave feeling a million dollars.
Do yourself a favor, check these guys out.

Prema is actually THE greatest. Every time I visit everyone is incredibly friendly, the atmosphere is relaxing and fun, and you start feeling like you’re just hanging with friends in no time.
Obviously the most important part is they are so ridiculously good at what they do. I have been convinced since day 1 that Anna Rose is some sort of hair guardian angel. She takes the time to listen to what you want, recommend what is going to be the most realistic in that moment, then devise a game-​plan with you to get you exactly where you want to be. I don’t think I have ever trusted someone with my hair as much as I trust Anna Rose, and I’ve only been to her twice.
The prices are so reasonable for the quality and experience (plus lord knows they’re probably losing money on me with the beer I drink while I’m there). I could not possibly recommend Prema and Anna Rose more– if you love your hair, you basically owe it to yourself to pay a visit.

Prema is my happy oasis in this crazy-​urban jungle. After every visit I leave relaxed, happy, and with absolutely stunning hair. I kid you not, almost on a daily basis strangers approach me on the street to ask where I get my hair cut. I hand out Prema referral cards like it’s no body’s business.
I first started getting my hair cut at Pimps and Pinups back in 2013, and I’m still a fiercely loyal customer even after the salon’s transition to Prema. The name/​ownership may have changed, but the people who matter have not!
Gregg, Anna-​Rose and Dale are all ridiculously good at what they do. Greg is my go-​to stylist and I couldn’t recommend him more! Love our playful conversations while he effortlessly cuts my hair into such a diverse range of styles. It’s not easy to nail short hair, but Gegg is master of the pixie cut. He encourages me to be daring and try new looks, which I’ve done on a number of occasions and LOVED.
Anna-​Rose also sometimes does my color and always knocks it out of the ball park. She is a total sweet-​heart! And as for Dale, he is super friendly and ridiculously gifted with a pair of scissors.
So you basically can’t go wrong. Not only is Prema team stupidly talented, they’re also really lovely, caring people. As soon as you walk in Francesco makes everyone feel welcome, like you’re part of the Prema family.
Can’t highly recommend these guys enough! SERIOUSLY.

I have been growing my hair for 6years so I can donate it, and entrusted this epic transformation to Prema.
I am BEYONDDD happy with my decision to choose Prema. Not that I was expecting anything less, but my experience and satisfaction definitely surpassed my expectations. There was no pretentiousness, the staff was genuinely friendly, the environment felt intimate, and the haircut? AMAZING.
My appointed stylist, Gregg, and I went over the look I wanted, both Googling images and conceding upon the «right look». He helped me with some suggestions that would accentuate my features, gave me tips on how to maintain my hair and we had many laughs from start to finish. I had to hug this gentleman good bye for his dedication to providing an amazing hairstyle and experience.
I am immensely grateful to Prema for making this momentous change in my life a very pleasant one.
GO get your hair cut at Prema! You won’t be disappointed!

Let me begin by saying that I started my yep account for the sake of giving Prema Salon a review.
Also to provide additional context for my readers — Previous to my Prema experience, I had never considered spending more than 50 – 60 dollars on my hair (in a given year). And I don’t understand why anyone else would… Until the day that I decided I wanted to try A NEW LOOK!
I’ve had long brown hair my entire life. Two Saturday’s ago, about 30 minutes before Prema was due to close… I came running through the door in desperate need of someone who was willing to chop my hair off… Before the day was over (otherwise I’d probably change my mind)
They agreed!!! The two brilliantly talented, passionate visionaries who contributed to the Jennifer Lawrence inspired transformation stayed over an hour past close for me… A walk in client, with no history of salon loyalty.
Says a lot about a business, when they’re capable of changing such a conviction… During the couple hours I was there, glasses of crisp white wine later… I had met and spoke with most of the artists/​hair dressers. Because each of them came to give praise on the new look — I love the individuality of each of them… And really look forward to my next salon visit… For the people, the glamorous vibe and the work that they do. Sounds like Franco runs a tight ship… There is even a BOARD!
And the next day at work, by market close, my cheeks were on fire from smiling so big at all the compliments I was receiving… Was a true transformation, both my perspective on the importance of a good hairdresser and my outward appearance. Will be back for more :)
–M for Mermaid