Best Vancouver Hair Salons

We’ve all had the painful experience of growing out a bad haircut, so getting coiffed somewhere new can be daunting. But it doesn’t need to be. Hit up one of these salons and you’re guaranteed to come out with every hair in place

Vancouver has no shortage of perfectly friendly hair salons. In fact, they’re almost as ubiquitous as sushi joints and yoga studios, so prevalent are they within the city.

But know this: not all salons are created equal.

Here, in no particular order, are the ones that sit a cut above.

Bangtown Hair Saloon

Maybe it’s the fact that it calls itself a “saloon,” but there's a definite Old West feel at
Bangtown Hair Saloon, neo-Old West. But it’s a feeling that’s contrasted with the avant-garde druthers of the stylists, and with the professional end-products they deliver.

And what’s that? A complimentary beer with my cut? It turns out Bangtown's tagline —“Pretty much the best hair salon ever” — might not be too much of a stretch after all.

Barbarella

Quality is the buzz at Barbarella. Eclipsing even the the '60s pop retro vibe, it’s the quality of the services that really defines its two locations (flagship on Main St. and boutique salon in The Waldorf Hotel).

The stylists and colour technicians' wealth of experience is reinforced by the salon’s devout commitment to training and education in order to keep practices current.

Need more convincing? The original location is turning 13 this June, and you don’t get to be a teenaged hair salon without a little talent.

iDaburn Salons

Speaking of education, iDaburn ensures its stylists are kept on-trend with in-salon education sessions twice a week. Coupled with this dedication to industry knowledge and expertise is a marked pride in friendliness – and who doesn’t love that!

iDaburn is seemingly a study in contrasts; its sleek professional exterior belied by the wonderful approachability of its staff. And certainly The Georgia Straight can’t be wrong two years in a row: the rag named iDaburn one of the best salons in Vancouver in both 2010 and 2011.

Heartbreaker Salon

With its two top stylists, Deandra and Melissa, more than a decade into their careers, Heartbreaker knows what it’s doing. Its team will listen – to what you want and don’t want – and aims to please.

Like all good salons, Heartbreaker is dedicated to making sure you leave happy, and with its mix of warm décor and skilled stylists, it comes through on that promise. It’s a marriage of comfort and chic, and it is definitely working.

The Belmont Barbershop

Now this one’s for the fellas. Since 2005, when Master Barber Dustin Fishbook opened its doors, this Mount Pleasant barbershop has displayed its commitment to tradition and integrity by offering and delivering no-fuss, quality cuts and shaves.

You feel it when you walk in, the old-fashioned vibe communicating that this is no flash-in-the-pan establishment, but rather a parlour dedicated to the tried-and-true art of barbering. In a world that seems intent on forgetting its roots, let The Belmont bring you back to them.