The Beehive Salon

I've never seen this place respond to bad reviews by berating the customer as I've seen lots of other places do, so in my book they're very smart and professional--good for you, Beehive, and I'll continue to be a customer! (and they do a really good job)

Pros: Cute place and easy location

Cons: Not sure

Posted 10/31/09

I've gotten 3 haircuts with Carol so far. The first time I went in, I didn't know what I wanted. Carol is really informed about what the latest fashions in hair are, and has a great eye for what will complement your specific features as well as your hair type. She talked out ideas with me and even told me what she was doing as she cut my hair. It was the best cut I had ever gotten. The latest cut I got from her was a short pixie with bangs. I've gotten so many sincere and enthusiastic complements on this haircut, to the point where people are stopping me in the hallway at work to tell me that they heard about my great new haircut! It looks beautiful! It's like an Audrey Hepburn but more modern. Carol is the best! And reasonably priced!

Pros: up to date on latest styles, communicative

Cons: none

Posted 10/30/09

Moving from LA, I was trying to find a good salon that wasn't overly expensive, but could give me a cute and fashionable look. I went on city search and found that Beehive had gotten great reviews and was voted best of city search so I gave it a shot. It was a bad decision. The stylists were rude and didn't listen to me, and the people at the desk were dismissive from the moment I got there. I really wouldn't have minded that, though, if I had gotten a good hair cut. It was without question the worst cut I've gotten in at least 7 years. It didn't complement my face at all, and just looked weird (the bangs were uneven and WAY too short). Moreover, when I went to pay, it was significantly more than what was advertised on the website. When I found another salon that I now go to and LOVE (and I'm not too picky, this was the next one that I went to), they said that the person who had done my hair before had destroyed it with the scissors and razors. I don't dye my hair or regularly straighten it so all the damage was from Beehive. Also, Beehive just sent me an email asking me to vote for them as best salon, so that might be why they have such a great ranking.

Pros: cute neighborhood and salon

Cons: rude hairsylists and horrible hair cut

Posted 10/24/09

i was looking for a salon in williamsburg so i wouldn't have to head into the city for a cut and color, upon reading all the ratings and reviews for this salon I called for an appointment. The girl who answered the phone was so rude and belittling I didn't even want to bother booking the appointment to try it out.

Cons: rude rude rude

Posted 09/18/09

I have short hair and have had the same stylist for the last 12 years. She knew exactly what I wanted every time and did a fantastic job. You can imagine that when I moved away from her to NYC I felt at a complete loss. I tried several stylists at random salons but my hair either ended up way too short or lacked any kind of edge or sophistication. That is until I stumbled onto Brandi at The Beehive Salon.

Brandi completely understands how to cut and style short hair and is incredibly skilled at it. It is not often that one finds TWO people in their lifetime that absolutely get how to do their hair AND are so affordable.

If you are looking for a tremendously talented hair stylist, especially for short hair, Brandi at The Beehive Salon is your gal!

Pros: talented, skilled stylist, affordable price

Cons: none

Posted 08/11/09

I used to go here on Lorimer Street about eight or nine years ago and I really loved it. I enjoyed the adorable dachshunds they had running around too. Is this the same place?

Pros: Great haircut

Posted 06/08/09

I had been yearning for a new edgier do for sometime. I finally decided to but my trust in Bean and was not disappointed. She gave me a cut and color I had been dreaming about. I can't wait to see what she does next!

Pros: creative, edgy, undivided attention

Cons: scarce parking

Posted 05/17/09

I have been struggling with my very curly hair since the fourth grade. Time after time I paid outrageous prices for mediocre to terrible cuts. All I asked for was curl definition and lift at the roots...simple requests that even the most experienced stylists could not accommodate.

Devacurl, a website devoted to curly hair, recommended Jeffrey from the Beehive Salon. I'd certainly had stylists recommended to me before who turned out to be disappointing, but I figured it was worth a try.

Turns out, Jeffrey was fantastic--he listened very closely to my concerns, took his time cutting my hair (he dry-cut each individual curl) and gave me easy-to-follow advice about caring for and styling my hair at home. I absolutely love my hair cut, and people constantly ask me who does my hair. If you have curly hair, Jeffrey is the only stylist you should consider seeing in New York City...or anywhere, probably.

Pros: reasonable prices, relaxed atmosphere, and JEFFREY

Cons: none

Posted 05/14/09

I live in Venice Beach, CA and happen to get an appointment with Bean for a cut. I went back home and not only did I love my cut but I kept getting compliments on my hair for MONTHS!!!
Who doesn't LOVE that!!
I had lost the person that cut my hair in LA and everyone else people "highly recommended" just fell flat of giving me a great cut.
After Bean cut my hair, I knew I was screwed, I had finally found my hair person, only problem is she's 3000 miles away!
I had to write a review because... Well I am writing this from NY after flying here to get my hair cut from Bean at her home on Long Island!
3000 miles seems like a long way to come for a cut, but honestly I can't imagine anyone else cutting my hair.

Pros: BEAN rocks! The whole experience is great!

Cons: I have to fly 3000 miles!

Posted 05/12/09

Had an excellent experience at this spa getting my hair cut (and it's almost impossible to get my hair right!) and highlighting. I'm not so good at color selection and followed the advice of the stylist, and they turned out exactly like I was hoping they would. Really enjoyed the experience and the staff, the room was vibrant and well decorated... will definitely return and try out some more of their services!

Pros: Fun decor and staff, great treat in a fun neighborhood

Pros: Fun decor and staff, great treat in a fun neighborhood

Posted 05/07/09

I have been going to the Beehive Salon for almost 3 years now. Even after moving to NJ a year ago, I still make regular appointments for highlights and trims. It's the only salon where the stylists actually listen to what you want...and deliver. After my latest appointment, and opting for a brand new hair do, I received so many compliments from strangers followed by them asking me where I get my hair done. It's a fun, cool, beautiful salon where you not only can receive a great style, but you enjoy a fabulous Brooklyn-style backyard while you wait for your highlights to finish.

Pros: Great location and interior, excellent stylists

Cons: They don't have more than 1 location.

Posted 05/06/09

I was looking for a spa that was close to home. I just needed to do something nice for myself and I needed it to not cost me $500. I checked around on the internet and thought I'd give the Beehive a try. It was the closest spa to my apartment and seemed pretty cool

It turned out to be such an amazing day. I got a fantastic facial and a massage. I ended up spending hours in there hanging out with the staff, chatting, laughing. I made new friends and left feeling about 300X better than when I got there. I'll definitely go back.

Pros: awesome spa treatments, reasonable prices, great staff

Cons: none

Posted 05/01/09

I had Bean who is absolutely FABULOUS!! She took atleast 20 minutes talking with me and getting to know me and my hair before she started to do anything to it. She really listened to what I was looking for and was able to use her expertise to advise me on how to make everything work. I am farely new to the City so I have been trying to find a good salon to stick with for over a year. I think I finally found it. Prices are a bit higher than what I usually like to pay, but I just think I haven't gotten used to City expenses yet, but a good cut/color is hard to find and should be deemed priceless!

Pros: Friendly and talented service

Cons: None

Posted 04/13/09

I don't know why all these wonderful reviews are written about Beehive ... I certainly wish I hadn't listened to them. I've gotten my hair cut at Beehive twice now, both times a disaster. I went back after the first cut thinking it must just have been that particular stylist, as everyone rants and raves about this place. I had the second cut yesterday ... and no improvement.
This place claims to be trendy, and with all the different looks on their staff, you think that you're going to get something modern. Both my cuts have been remarkably shapeless and decidedly un-stylish, with no attention paid to my hair type or anything I asked for. They cut some hair off my ends, and however it looked, it looked.
Both stylists talked a great game, nodding and agreeing with everything I asked for, explaining that they were doing things that I asked for ... and at the end of both cuts I still looked like someone had put my hair in a ponytail and used a pair of garden shears to make one lop off the ends. I repeat: no style whatsoever. They cut off the ends, and were done with their job, giving me a shapeless, unstyle-able, hot mess to deal with every morning before work.
Seriously, I wish I could put a picture up ... words cannot express how ridiculous it is that I got this haircut at any salon and not at my mom's kitchen table.

Pros: Nice atmosphere, Good products

Cons: Terrible cut

Posted 04/03/09

After years of not being able to find a stylist who can give me the cuts I'm looking for, I went to Beehive recently and came out with a great, flattering haircut from Kay. I called on a Monday as a first timer and was scheduled for Wednesday, which I thought was impressive. The atmosphere is super-laid back but the salon itself is a little sterile--I was expecting much more of a vintage-y vibe after seeing their website. Aesthetics aside, Kay really put me at ease and explained every step of the haircut like the gifted hair surgeon she is! She hacked off more hair than I wanted her to but I'm sure it was for my own good because the cut is very flattering and easy to style. I have very unforgiving hair that shows every mark of the scissor and she put it in its place! I will definitely be returning to her in the future.

Posted 01/15/09

The first time I went to Beehive, Marlene cut my hair and I was thrilled, I loved the cut, it was so cute, and fun, and something totally new for me so that was great.

I was so pleased I went back to her about a month later for highlights since the old ones had grown out. Now maybe this is because she's probably not as comfortable with color, but I was really let down. After the 3 hour process, and $200 spent with tip and everything, my hair basically looked EXACTLY the same. I told her this immediately, and she was sympathetic, and listened to what I had to say, but she didn't make any changes. A few days went by, and I was still so shocked and disappointed that no one had noticed the color, and that it looked like it hadn't been lightened at all, I decided to call the salon. I chatted with the receptionist and she basically told me that I should have asked for a different treatment, that the highlights couldn't go any lighter, and therefore there was nothing they could do. Super frustrated, I gave up reasoning with them, and decided to let it go. I haven't been back since.

Pros: Great cut

Cons: It looked like I hadn't colored my hair! :/

Posted 01/01/09

I had Carol cut my new razor bob and she listened to everything I had to say. She asked exactly how I wanted it and then suggested a little bit of experimentation to spice up my 'do and I couldn't have been happier with it. She was amazing, friendly, and the price is right. She gave me an easy haircut to maintain and it's growing out really well. PLUS....she, unlike most other hair stylists, understood why I had cut, dyed, and messed with my own hair when I was broke. She worked with what I had and left me really happy.

Pros: Experienced Staff, Eco-friendly, Nice atmosphere, Good haircut

Posted 01/01/09

I've gotten a few cuts from Bee Hive since I moved to Brooklyn and it seems like they have been steadily going downhill since I started getting my hair cut there. My first cut was with Bean and it was really great. it made my hair finally look nice and curly. Then I made the mistake to try to get my hair colored. First time I got a decent color, not great, but decent. This was with a junior stylist. My next trip I requested a more experienced stylist and got someone who didn't know how to cut curly hair and who handed me off to at least three other stylists because she "didn't have time" to finish my hair. But my most recent trip was the worst. I got a color job that makes me look like a red skunk. The color was left on my roots too long and is a lighter version of Ronald McDonald's hair color whereas the rest of the hair hardly has any new color on it at all. I was there for a total of 4 hours and wasn't even able to look over the final product with the stylist and because I was just so tired of being inside I left before realizing how bad my hair really looked. I am just going to go somewhere else to get it fixed and I'd say in the future stick to the master stylists and just get a cut which is where this salon excels.

Pros: Cute atmosphere, nice people, Master Stylists are excellent, great hair washer

Cons: embarrasing red skunk hair color, experience can varry too much from stylist to stylist

Posted 11/23/08

Trekked out to Brooklyn last week to get a cut - chose the Beehive based on the citysearch reviews. I was not disappointed. Tiffany cut my curly hair dry at first, adding shape and definition to my very overgrown, tired locks. She then washed my hair w/Deva No-poo and added a hair mask. Gave me some great tips for drying (no regular towels - paper or old T-shirt) and after sitting under a dryer for about 15 minutes, she tweaked the cut, adjusting according to how the curl looked after washing. I've since washed and styled myself with great results. Great cut, affordable price, no hard-selling the products (although I wish I bought some). Recommended!

Pros: Great cut by skilled staff - junior stylist gave a great curly cut - affordable

Cons: Decor wasn't as expected - didn't notice any screen with kitch

Posted 10/14/08

Bean, the owner of Beehive Salon, first took my naturally light brown hair to a shiny, dark and ultra dramatic hue to create my Bengali Princess look for my traditional Bengali Wedding in Central Park followed by my reception in Dhaka, Bangladesh. No one in Bangladesh would have guessed that my hair is naturally much lighter. The hair coupled with my tan had me passing for a Bollywood actress. When I returned back to New York I needed a change and wanted to go back to California blonde. Bean didn't set unrealistic expectations. We were thinking that caramel highlights might be all that were attainable for round 1 since my hair was so dark. Caramel would also have been fine, however, my hair turned out a beautiful, rich and believable blonde. It far exceeded expectations, and was a huge splash! I went back for round 2 in order to get it "perfect" for some upcoming events. I'm always very anti brassy and/or orange tints in highlights...and I know what I like. She has turned my hair into that beautiful cool, natural and glowing blonde that I adore! I have had my hair done all over the globe and by some very notable stylists in Los Angeles (Beverly Hills and West Hollywood), San Francisco, Seattle, Buenos Aires, Paris, Capetown, etc... Bean's talent is amongst these global top-level colorists. She took me from a Bengal Princess to a Swedish Barbarella. I love to be a chameleon and she certainly makes that a reality. Bean has placed Williamsburg, Brooklyn on the style circuit.

Posted 10/07/08

I am from Germany and moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn at the beginning of the year. As you can imagine it was very hard for me to find a good and reliable salon in this mega-city jungle of salons. I was very spoiled by the salon I used to go to for many years, especially when it came to color. The highlights I got there into my natural brown hair were always very nicely balanced and perfectly matched my skin tone. My first highlight sessions in New York, although I went to highly rated and expensive salons were kind of disappointing. My hair always looked to bright, to reddish or just not in balance. Despite from that it became very frizzy. All in all a less than enjoyable situation....One day I was in the need of a quick hair-fix as I was booked for a model-job the next day and I thought to myself why not give one of the neighborhood salons a try (motto: it can't get much worse). This is how I got to the Beehive. This was the luckiest thing that could happen to me. Bean, the hairstylist and I guess also one of the owners of the salon, gave me the most beautiful highlights ever. She took so much time in figuring out what I really wanted (I am not a native speaker) and explained me the different approaches she would recommend so that I could choose from one. I never got such a thorough consulting before and felt in very good hands. The best thing was that the color (she used three different honey/brown shades) turned out better than I expected and I left the salon just happy and sooo relieved! And even now two weeks after my hair looks fantastic, elegant and not frizzy at all. I am very impressed with her and her skills. On top she is a very nice and friendly person! Two Thumbs up!

Pros: Best highlights ever, very good & torough consultation, nice staff, down to earth atmosphere

Cons: can't think of one

Posted 09/28/08

I had Kay cut my hair last Monday and I absolutely loved it! I like cuts with a touch of edginess, volume, and movement. I gave her a picture of a cut I would like and expressed concerns that I may not have the face/head shape for it. She assured me that it would work and made modifications to fit the styled cut to my face/head. She was very thorough and detail oriented?it was such an enjoyable experience to watch an artist at work creating her next artistic piece. I?m a picky person who tries to find a balance between getting an amazing, fresh look without breaking the bank and have not gone to the same stylist consistently, but I will definitely go to her again.

Posted 09/24/08

went for my first haircut here yesterday and loved it. nice open space and very nice people. haircut by katie, who did an amazing job. i've had the same boring ridiculously long hair for over eight years and wanted a change. she cut the most amazing shaggy long bob that perfectly compliments my face...and was easy for me to blowdry the next day - and it looked just as good as when she did it. all i told her was i wanted to go short and gave her a ballpark length, then we talked for five or ten minutes about what she thought would be good, then she took her time and gave me the perfect haircut. very different from what i had but not shocking or overly trendy.

will DEFINITELY be going back for my next haircut!

Pros: Thoughtful stylists who take their time, good price ($50)

Cons: Bad shampoo person

Posted 09/19/08

Not only do I love my haircut but in addition the salon is comfortable and well designed, the staff is friendly, and my hairdresser Eileen was extremely knowledgeable about haircare. She listened to me and gave me exactly the cut I wanted and also added some techniques that no other hairdresser has ever done before. Throughout the cut she went above and beyond by offering some wonderful advice on how I can take better care of my hair and she answered all my questions. Highly recommended.

Posted 09/15/08

I first heard about Beehive Salon while interning last fall at BUST Magazine, and since going have not looked back. I remember their old shop on Lorimer, a cute little place with a mega-retro feel and vibe which pulled me right in (free coffee and tea always helps make a girl feel welcome too!), and their new salon has kept the retro spark while revamping it with sleek, modern elements. The big green couch in the front is a comfy place to sit and finish your lunch on your way to get your cut (the staff didn't mind me eating in the salon), and the staff were really friendly as we chatted about various vegetarian sandwiches in the area.

I have had the same person cut my hair each time I've visited the salon, Kay, and she has always done an AMAZING job. Kay's approach to hair is an artistic one, framing the hair for your face by gently taking it section by section and shaving (yes shaving! I highly recommend it! It looks hot and daring) and layering to create a unique beautiful style. I can honestly say I have seen no one else with my hair, and in New York that is saying something. I always get so many compliments on my hair, which helps with the confidence one needs when looking for a job, an internship, or just life in general.

When I first met Kay, what struck me the most (aside from her own cute haircut) about her was how much in depth she talked to me about what my ideas were for my hair before she even looked at her sissors. I told her I wanted something bold that would play up my facial features, and did I ever get it! At first, I admit, I was nervous about cutting it short (kind of a 20s short, asymmetrical, bobish inspired do) with one side of my head shaved down underneath the longer section, but now it's a look I love! I can tuck the hair behind my ear to show off part of the shave. Most important of all, Kay made me feel comfortable and after all the great work she has done on my hair I really trust her.

Pros: Great hair and cool people!

Cons: Expensive, but worth it if you want a cut from someone you trust with your hair.

Posted 08/19/08

Last August Bean at The Beehive Salon gave me a total transformation from long hair to a pixie cut. It was the best haircut I have ever had! I have been traveling around the world for the last few months and literally no where in the world has there been another salon or stylist that could give me the same quality as Bean. I am hoping to come back to NY in April and will definitely be back to Beehive to have Bean once again work her magic!

Pros: Best haircut, fun atmosphere

Cons: Too far away from me now to be my go to salon every time!

Posted 08/18/08

I went to Beehive, specifically to have my hair cut by Marlene, who had given a friend a terrific cut. I wanted a similar style -- no, I wanted the *exact same thing* (allowing for the differences in our hair type) -- and even came armed with a photograph of said friend, should my own powers of description fail me. Marlene did a beautiful job, was very personable and good humored, and gave me EXACTLY what I wanted. I'm very picky and somewhat of a control freak but I didn't even have to go into my usual spiel. It was like she read my mind. It was a truly relaxing afternoon. My only regret is not taking before and after photographs because the difference is amazing. Regarding appointments: I had one within 24 hours. Maybe I lucked out because it was summer, a weekday, before 5 pm. I was given a complimentary make-up session by Sean, who was also very nice. The music playing was groovy, the temperature comfortable. I liked the bathroom -- blue sky/clouds wallpaper. The cut cost $50. The L train $4. Very worth it. I knew about giving tips in cash from reading all the whiners here but had I not known this in advance what would the big deal have been? If I'd been short on cash I'd have gone to an ATM on Bedford Avenue, not blown a gasket. Had I more time I would have checked out the spa downstairs. My Beehive experience was perfect and I plan to repeat it. Thank you, Marlene!

Pros: Efficient and capable stylist, relaxing ambience.

Cons: None.

Posted 07/09/08

I have been going to The Beehive Salon for almost 2 years now, but I recently had my first trip to the new location off the (yupster) Bedford stop. All I have to say is 2 serious thumbs down! I became a loyal Beehive customer b/c I got an awesome cut and color for a semi responsible price, atleast by NYC standards. Well, when my double process and cut came to $195, I was shocked! I normally pay $165. When I said something to the receptionist she seemed unsure of how to answer and, though, was very pleasant, still looked at me like I had 5 (unstyled) heads. If that is the case, I suppose my old stylist (who has left) didn't charge me for toning. It would make sense for a stylist to take care of their loyal clients or hell, even to get loyal clients! The jump in price wouldn't have bothered me if I received the kind of service I am used too. I am a double process blonde which all your color-fiends know is high-risk. Forget about the damage, it doesn't always take well. It is slight but my roots are not as light as the rest of my platnium blonde locks. Also, while drying my hair, my new stylist tells me there isn't much else she can do to style my hair without using a flat iron and a flat iron is $20 extra. $20 extra for a flat iron! This is Brooklyn...who doesn't use a flat iron? I'm sorry, but that is outrageous! So basically, I left a salon paying $195 with only a mediocre root touch up, a trim, and my hair looking like I should be heading back to a salon. One is suppose to leave a salon ready to show themselves off! I on the other hand, rushed home to style my hair. What one cannot do with a hairdryer isn't my fault and I shouldn't have to pay $20, especially when you are already charging me almost $200! For the record, I blame no one but management. The staff was lovely and charming as usual. You will still get a great cut and color at Beehive, but the home sweet home vibe and high standard of customer is totally gone! It is most certainly not the same Beehive.

Pros: still good cut and color

Cons: not nearly as awesome as the old Beehive

Posted 06/18/08

CAROL gave me an awesome haircut three days ago. Waited a few days to post the review so I could be sure that the cut turned out exactly the way I wanted, and it did! Came in with long, unmanageable wavy hair and came out with a short 'do that's cute and very easy to maintain, a cross between a bob and a shaggy pixie. Carol listened to my instructions, gave helpful suggestions, and stopped throughout the cut to make sure I got the length and style that I wanted. I've never had a more flattering haircut.

I've been to the Beehive about a half dozen times now, and I've never had a bad cut, but Carol's definitely the best. Will be going back for sure.

Pros: Excellent stylists, pretty new space

Cons: In Williamsburg

Posted 06/17/08

I'm not sure if I've reviewed the Beehive here before or not-but I just got my hair cut yesterday and had to rave about it. Marlene has cut my hair half a dozen times since I came to NYC and she has really changed my look for the better. Everyone I know compliments my hair now (which believe you me-is a BIG change). Yesterday, I apprehensively decided that I wanted to go much shorter for the hot summer months. Marlene listened (as usual) to exactly what I wanted and gave me a flattering, cute style. Definitely not too short-but enough that I felt that it was different from my standard cut. I have very fine, wavy, hard to work with hair. If someone can make that work, they're some kind of magician in my book. The new location is way bigger and in what seems to be a better neighborhood. Ask for Marlene! She's super!

Posted 06/12/08

My haircut is growing out so badly that I feel compelled to repost this (originally posted on Yelp) as a warning...thankfully, it is almost grown out enough to be cut again.

"I'm not gonna lie--this was one of the worst haircuts I've ever had. I was excited to try the Beehive and to get my hair cut--I've heard good things and my hair was getting out of control. But the place was lackluster, and the hair cut was bad. First, the place: it's just fine. Not bad, not nice. Just fine. The people at the front desk are too aloof, in my opinion. And you can't add a tip when you charge, which is really annoying. But I don't even care about those things, as long as I get a good cut.

I want to be constructive because I don't like to bash, but I don't recommend Kathy for thick, curly/wavy hair. It just looks bad. I'm not overly picky and I also try to be very specific about what I want, so that there's no confusion. But she managed to cut my hair, which is normally full (but not too poofy) and gradually layered, so that it looks extremely top heavy, straight on top and curly on the bottom. Weird. It's just a very disconnected cut, almost looks like two styles in one. I love to wear my hair down but I can't until it grows out enough to get it restyled. And she gave me bangs that I didn't want, and that are way too short. I was unhappy after I left, and so I went back for a redo, thinking she could make it a bit more even throughout. The salon was pretty accommodating, which is good, but my hair somehow doesn't look any better. For $75 plus tip and two visits to Williamsburg, not to mention a hairstyle I don't feel comfortable wearing, I'm pretty disappointed.

So...while it may be very possible to get a great haircut there, be careful who you choose. Kathy may be great for some people's hair, I have no doubt, but not mine."

Posted 06/02/08

My 21-year old daughter recommended The Beehive to me and I'm glad I followed her advice. Jayna took her time and gave me a fantastic cut that suited my hair, flattered my face, and captured my style. She was upbeat and pleasant and extremely professional. I also have to mention Sean, the adorable assistant who shampooed my hair and offered excellent coloring advice. In my opinion, the sooner Sean is promoted to a stylist, the better for Beehive customers.

Overall, a 5-star experience and I recommend this salon, which is only a short hop from NYC, to the over 40 crowd who want the quality of a pricey New York cut or color, without the price or attitude that usually goes with it....

Pros: Great cut, staff and atmosphere....

Cons: none

Posted 05/23/08

I have been here several times after being a haircut-phobe for seven years. I have had three different stylists and each time have been happy with my result. The stylists aren't afraid to say, "yo, that haircut you have in mind? won't look good. but we can do something else that WILL look good!" which, obviously, is... good!

Recommended.

Pros: great new salon space, good stylists, good music! not hard to get an appointment

Cons: front desk staff were a little slow

Posted 05/23/08

The reviews here for the Beehive are very strange?people either seem to love it or hate it. I recently started going to the Beehive and had a great experience that I wanted to share. When I called to make my first appointment I told the girl on the phone that I have dyed red hair and wanted a stylist who was good with color especially red. She told me about Casey who has bright red hair and is their resident expert for red dye. My first appointment was back in January and Casey was great?she listened to what I wanted and how I like my hair styled and gave me a great single process and a cut. She recommended some products but didn?t push me to buy them. My second appointment was just last week where I was scheduled for another single process, cut and highlights. Casey looked at my hair and said she would just do a root touch up and face frame cut, which cut the price of my services in half! The highlights did not come out well--we tried to do a brighter red but they got washed out with the rest of my color and were not visible at all. She offered to have me comein a few days so I could have it fixed for free, which I did. That day happened to be my birthday (which I told Casey about the week before) and when I got there I noticed she looks very pale and sickly. I asked her if she was okay and she told me she not feeling well but had come in anyway just to fix my hair on my birthday. She re-did the highlights, this time with two different colors and the results were phenomenal! Then she spent a long time blowing out and styling my hair gorgeously for my birthday evening gratis. I tried to give her a nice tip but she refused, apologizing for making me come back and wishing me a happy birthday. Now that is service above and beyond?she is my new permanent stylist for sure!

Posted 04/03/08

They should take down the sign "beehive' and replace it with 'butcher'.
absolutely worst haircut i've ever had.
i think that the repeated 'great' reviews here are very suspect and a form of false advertising.

Pros: nothing

Cons: like having your hair look like a bowl cut?

Posted 03/06/08

I have been going to the Beehive for about 2 years now and they have never steered me wrong. In recent months I have been trying every stylist they have just for fun. So far they ALL rule! I trust them with my hair completely and I trust that if I was at all dissatisfied they would work hard to meet my needs.

This is a really well run business with friendly and talented artists.

Pros: Everyone is nice, friendly, talented, interesting and reasonably priced, good parking, convenient location, cute atmosphere

Cons: err...

Posted 02/14/08

I came in at the last minute on a Friday night, no appointment, practically in tears about a botched bang-trim earlier in the day. The receptionists were SUPER nice and welcoming and actually called in a stylist to come in and fix me! I worked with Eileen who was AMAZING -- she listened to me as I told her what I wanted in the long-term, and she came up with a creative way to cut around and hide the screwy hair until it grew out. The result was a haircut that actually looked like a style-- and not like someone cut it with a machete, which is what I looked like when i walked in. I still can't believe she was able to do that, and was so nice too! She totally understood what I wanted and gave her expert opinions, and then we came up with a plan before she started. The shampoo was great too, and the atmosphere was AWESOME! It was so cool and the music was great and as one of the earlier reviewers said, it was like visiting a friend's house. I am so thrilled, I am definitely making this my new salon in NYC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Pros: atmosphere, good attitudes of the staff

Cons: more expensive than the student haircuts i normally get, but you get what you pay for!!!

Posted 01/31/08

Very happy with my new haircut. Service was great my appt. was on time, they are very polite and even ask you if you want anything to drink.

Eric.

Posted 11/28/07

I've had both good and bad experiences at the Beehive. My husband goes to Andrea and ALWAYS comes away happy. And whenever Laura has cut my hair it's been exactly what I asked for or even better.
But once, Laura wasn't available and they railroaded me into making an appointment with Jonathan. He said he'd do "maintenance trims" and clean up my layers. Well he didn't take ME into account at all, or listen to what I described as my style. He added a ton of hair to my bangs so that they extended almost to my ears, and made my layers so drastic that I had what can only be described as an 80's rock mullet.
I had to go somewhere else and get a chin length bob in order to fix it. I don't know if he still works there, but I hope not. He gave my husband an awful cut, as well, leaving bits and pieces uncut all over his head, as well as not trimming up the back. It's like he didn't even finish the cut.
I'll still go back, but I will always be very careful not to accept anyone that I haven't had specifically recommended.

Pros: Ambience, Parking, Friendly staff

Cons: service varies widely between stylists

Posted 10/09/07

I've been going to the Beehive for almost 2 years, and have referred at least 8 people to the salon who all come away as happy with their haircuts as I always am. For the first year I saw different stylists on each visit and was always happy with the cut I got. I saw Kathy for a color treatment, and told her that I wanted to stop highlighting my hair blond and get back to my natural light brown hair color without having to deal with the roots. She talked me through everything she was doing and let me know what to expect later, eventhough I could see that she was booked for the day, she was not rushed and took her time with me. The glaze she gave me was a beautiful dark brown that I almost decided to keep instead of going back to my natural color. As Kathy had described, the glaze gradually faded over time to my natural color with no roots at all! She did such a great, and accurate job, it was exactly what I wanted but what I thought I couldn't get.

I also called one afternoon to see if I could get fit in to get my bangs trimmed. They squeezed me in with Jess. I vaguely described what I was looking for, she repeated it back to me with a bit more sense, I agreed, and she cut my bangs flawlessly and fast. I was out of there in five minutes. Love my bangs, and love this place. The Beehive has great style without the pretentiousness.

Pros: Best Cuts + Service with Friendly Staff and Quirky Environment

Cons: None

Posted 08/29/07

I had read some reviews in the past month and was skeptical about going here, only because some were negative, but the majority were very positive, I wanted to give it a try. I had my first appt. today with Kay and let me say that she is the best!

I gave her a photo of a hairdo I liked and she cut it exactly as it looked in the picture but even better, she gave me bangs I had grown out and haven't had in a long time, it actually took me back to my teenage years. I didn't have to say much, she just knew what looked best. She asked questions and gave me advice. She is very sweet and kind. I truly recommend her. Thanks Kay!

Posted 07/29/07

Although I'm normally scornful of the hipster scene in Williamsburg, I'll fight heavy traffic on the BQE to get to the Beehive for a haircut. I'm surprised at the rants some people have posted and I hope everyone at the Beehive can maintain a sense of perspective and not take them too seriously.

Kay, my stylist, is extremely attentive to detail and makes very keen aesthetic choices. She approaches her work as a creative art rather than "just a job". She exudes a great attitude and not only remembers my name but also things I might have told her a year ago.

$40 for a men's haircut is not bad these days for New York, especially a great one. Guys, get in your cars or spend an afternoon figuring out the "G" train! It's worth the effort to get out there for a haircut.

I'm moving to the West Coast after 10 years in New York, and going to the Beehive to get a haircut from Kay is one of the experiences I will miss about my old home.

Pros: the haircuts, the friendly staff, the parking

Cons: none

Posted 06/28/07

I have been getting my hair cut at the Hive for two years now and for the most part, have always been happy with the results. So I decided to try them for highlights. NEVER AGAIN! I was very specific as to what I wanted and got nothing even close to it. I had to come back 2 days later (they wanted me to wait over a week to correct it and I had to call 3 times to get it moved up). I still got nothing close to what I asked for. I now have to go somewhere else to fix it (yes, more damage for my hair and more $$$ out of my wallet). I am beside myself...6 hours, $300 and I still have to go get my hair done. And I notice the level of professionalism had declined as well, from reception to stylists to assistants (I really dont need to hear about shift change issues and who is taking up whose chair, etc). I am so disgusted with the whole fiasco that I probably wont even go back for the haircuts. Bean- dont rest on your laurels, get better employees.

Pros: Can score a good cut, on the right day

Cons: Inferior colorists

Posted 06/21/07

Seriously. I'm tired of this. Don't know why, but apparently at a certain point when a business starts doing pretty well it's time for its decline... this is the case for the Beehive. DO NOT GO. I went for a haircut, I asked for something short, not too conservative not too crazy. I had both. The back was worse than my grandma could ever have, the front was... I don't even know how to define it. Ridiculous. I simply looked ridiculous. But this is not all. Despite the fact that basically there was no more hair to do anything, this crazy hairdresser -- yes, because you can't call this a stylist, pardon me -- put so much unrequested sh#$% on it and then made me pay 10 bucks more the original price!!! Thieves. And bad taste. This is all I have to say.

Pros: I don't know anymore

Cons: Do yourself a favor, go somewhere else

Posted 06/18/07

I used to get my hair cut here for years and followed. It's been a while, but my last experience was so bad.
I was about to leave town for my wedding out of state and had booked an appointment with one of the owners a month ahead of time for cut and color. She showed up an hour late, did not apologize, and left the dye on my hair for too long (b/c she was late, she started cutting another girl's hair while waiting for the dye to set in mine). I was so upset, not just because of the stress of waiting for her to arrive and thinking I wasn't going to have good hair on my wedding day, but because I'd always loved the salon and tipped her well and was a loyal customer who referred pals to them.
I was charged the full price, which I couldn't believe and worst of all, when my sister, who is a make up artist in film and tv, was doing my hair on the day of the wedding two days later, found a chunk of hair missing on the side of my head and said it looked like the hairdresser had cut out what she had over processed (from the color being left on too long).

Needless to say I will never go back. There are plenty other places to go to in the city.

Posted 06/14/07

I went for a haircut, was looking for something new... I had heard so much about it!! So the first time I went I must say I was impressed, after so many disappointing experiences in NYC -- Laura cut my hair, she is great! Listening a lot and able to understand what I was looking for... the last time I tried someone new, I believe her name is Justine -- worst experience ever!! She seemed like she was listening but in fact she did what she wanted!! and the result was... icky!! no taste, no symmetry, basically it just doesn't make sense! I'm not sure I'll return... there should be some sort of supervision... you can't just let things like that happen, especially since it seems from previous reviews that this is the case. Tip for the owners: you need professional hair stylists, not simply hipsters in your business.

Posted 06/11/07

I love my new haircut. I went to Louie and I think he mentioned he's new to the salon so everyone should know - he does great work. I needed a lot cut off and I had no idea what to do. Louie picked out the perfect cut for me. It's really cute and really low-maintenance (perfect for summer). I've gotten so many compliments. Everyone was really nice. Also - I can't remember his name, but the guy that was assisting and shampooing was awesome. He is super smart and gives the most incredible shampoos. I ended up at Beehive because it's so close to my apartment but I will definitely be back. Best hair cut I've ever had, hands-down.

Pros: Amazing shampoos

Cons: Senior stylists are busy so sometimes it's a little tough to get in

Posted 06/07/07