I never liked salons or barbershops — the endless chit chat, the attitudes, the overbearing bros, it seems like everywhere I went wasn’t a good fit. So I’ve been cutting my own hair for at least 4 years now. I know what I want, and I know my hair well enough to pretty much always get the result I want. Sure, sometimes it can be a bit rough around the edges, but I always thought of that as character. Lately, however, I’ve been wanting to change it up and let someone else cut it.

After a brief search I came across Kida Salon, in NYC’s SoHo neighborhood, located at 369 Broome Street. Something of a blend between a barber shop and a salon, it seemed like kismet when I made my appointment and walked through the door. The space is warm and welcoming, industrial concrete tempered by weathered wood and a few plants; there’s even a cofffee bar in the corner. For my cut, I sat in an antique barbershop chair.

I had my hair cut by Shin, one of the owners. At one point he mentioned that in Japan it’s all about the details — and that’s definitely how he approaches his cuts. He listened to what I had to say as I explained what I usually do with my hair, how it behaves (bit of wave when it’s longer but pin straight and stubborn when shorter), and he took it all in stride and delivered a super cut in just 30 minutes.

As this was my first cut in a while, I was a bit hesitant to let go of the reins. I told him I wanted something that didn’t look like I “just had a haircut” and he totally delivered. The result is super polished, fresh, clean, and comfortable. Exactly what a good cut should be.

Already looking forward to my next cut in a few weeks, and maybe I’ll step it up a bit and do something more exciting. I know I’ll be in safe hands at Kida Salon.

I thought the price was reasonable at $40, and I left a nice tip. Do note that while you can pay for the cut on a card, they do request tips in cash.

Photos c/o Kida