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The Best Salons in Dallas

Some like it bouncy. Others neat and straight. But everyone wants a great head of hair. We searched for the best local salons and found 10 that made the cut.
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The Do Cut and Color

The tiny, industrial-chic space is full of personality, with vintage Chicago brick walls, repurposed concrete countertops, and bright pops of color, including cherry-red blow-dryers. Owner Betty Payne is a master at examining lackluster color and recommending exactly the right shade to freshen things up. Stylists, adept at tackling long hair (Payne herself has blond, waist-length locks), give us easy-to-manage layers and on-trend waves. We also love the friendly factor. Doors, anchored between lemon trees, are always open, ladies are engaged in friendly gossip, and fresh fruit is on offer. Kellie Rasberry and Jenna Owens of Kidd Kraddick fame are fans.

Osgood O’Neil
The Osgood O’Neil beauty empire, established in 1998, simply never disappoints. Each of its three locations sports a modern yet earthy feel and a consistently talented team of stylists and colorists, to whom clients are fiercely loyal. Luxury is in the details, like the concierge greeting, fresh flowers (which are brought in daily), and massage chairs at the shampoo stations (a major bonus when you have thick hair that requires extra time to nurture). We’re also happy to hand over our faces to the capable hands of Osgood O’Neil makeup artists, who know exactly how to create the right look for the occasion.

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Photography by Elizabeth Lavin
Dear Clark
This one-stop-shop on McKinney, helmed by co-owners Holly Dear and Kaycee Clark, boasts a strong roster of stylists, colorists, and even a full-service med spa offering the seriously rejuvenating Intraceuticals Oxygen Facial, among other treatments. The space also acts as a cultural hub, hosting regular artist showcases and openings. With a client list teeming with the city’s style cognoscenti (think: fashion editors and gallery owners) all clamoring for her edgy but pretty cuts, Holly Dear is Dallas’ version of stylist-to-the-stars Sally Hershberger. Can’t wait for an appointment with her? Lucky for you, the rest of the staff is stellar, too.

Salon Lucien
Hitting the salon should feel like a luxury, and it does at this Park Cities spot, where the chandeliers sparkle, the water served is infused with cucumber, shelves brim with the very best products, and solid treatments are offered a la carte. Owner Mary Crosland has assembled a well-rounded mix of stylists highly skilled at handling varying textures and lengths. For color, we’re loyal to Tanya Nguyen, who understands and masters our complicated shade, and we swear by the round brush skills of Christen Swearengin, who sends us off with a flawless blowout. For cost efficiency, you can skip the blow-dry and do it yourself at the product- and tool-stocked styling station.

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Courtesy of vendor
The Songbird Society
Manned by hair veterans Richard Hayler (formerly of Richard Hayler Colour Salon) and J.T. Osgood (formerly of Osgood O’Neil), The Songbird Society is well-known among the hair obsessed. (Sea of Shoes’ Jane Aldridge is a fan.) It’s no secret Osgood has established a 52-week wait for one of her personalized color sessions. But we still consider the spot—named for the Beatles’ “Blackbird”—a hidden gem, due to the salon’s small but talented staff, immaculately curated by Hayler and Osgood and their combined 50-plus years of experience in the business. Products, like the decor, are a mix of modern and earthy: Sachajuan, Kérastase, and local skin care line Pure Skin Therapy.

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