Best Not-So-Cheap Haircuts

Louie opened its doors 11 years ago, when co-owners Susan Daar and Joel Quinteros had all of four clients. Since then Louie (named after Susan's grandfather, who paid her a few bucks to trim his hair when she was a girl) has come a long way, expanding the modern space from one room to three, in order to accommodate a growing clientele. Nestled in a quaint alley across the street from Zuni, Louie is centrally located yet comfortably distant from the downtown bustle. The vibe here is feel-good; the 13 stylists act like best friends and treat their clients the same. Your stylist will offer you a cup of tea and carefully listen to your hairstyle request, kindly offering his creative input without deterring you from your original idea. Regulars appreciate more than the warm attitude: Louie offers specialists in both color and cut (women's and men's) and your stylist's assistant will give you an amazing scalp and neck massage as he's rinsing the shampoo out of your hair. A cut will set you back between $55 and $75, and highlights range from $85 to $200, but you'll most certainly keep a hat off your head the six weeks following. Same-day appointments are available and numerous hair care products are stocked here, including best sellers by Rene Furtier and Bumble and Bumble.