Yann Varin Salon

Profile

French hairstylist Yann Varin first visited the States looking to stay only long enough to improve his English; instead, he relocated for good, and now oversees two Upper East Side salons that bear his name. The first, opened in 2000, takes up two floors of a townhouse and boasts a homey, intimate environment and ten service chairs. Chic cuts, color, and styling are offered at affordable prices (even a cut with Varin himself won't break the bank) thanks to Varin’s belief that you shouldn't have to pay cutthroat prices for personalized service. In 2005, a second, roomier location opened a few blocks away. Unlike the original salon, its interior is stark, modern, and broken up into a railroad-style layout. The front room is lined with ten chairs and floor-to-ceiling mirrors; the back houses what is known as the Color Café; a French café-inspired lounge area, replete with small tables and cushioned chairs, where clients can relax with lattes and magazines while they get color consultations, single processes, or painted-on Balayage highlights. (There are no mirrors in this section of the salon, so you won’t stress over your foil-adorned appearance.) In addition to hair services, Varin offers manicures, pedicures, and makeup application, and sells Redken and Kérastase products. — Trang Chuong

Free haircuts are occasionally offered during training sessions on Wednesday mornings at the Second Avenue location; call the salon for details.