NV Salon Collective

My new favorite hair salon!
Went with the recommendation from my boo, who gets his haircut by Britney. I’ve had long hair for about 10 years now but was itching for a change. I wanted an asymmetrical LOB aka long bob.
First of all, this place is awesome because you can make appointments online. Secondly, Britney is so super talented and cuts hair in that exact style you envisioned in your head. Amazing! Probably the best haircut I’ve had in a long time, and I had been to Sprout and similar places before for a while.
Referral program also gets you $ 10 discount. This is now my go-​to! Yaay!

I have been looking for a local salon that is easy to get to and focuses on hair only. I’ve tried a lot but many of them have had over 10 stylists employed and were inconveniently located for me. A friend suggested I go to her stylist, Britney, at NV.
They have a very handy online appointment scheduler where you can see all of the staff’s schedules and also their bios and head shots. Britney, sadly, was not available the week I needed her so I booked with Nikki. Her headshot on the website and her bio made her seem great and I figured that as the owner, she would know what she was doing.
While I don’t doubt that she is a skillful stylist, it seemed that she caters more towards the 45+ crowd. She herself is a little dated and did a less than fantastic job with my cut. I love angled bobs on me and have had some version of this style for a couple years. I had been growing my hair out so it was all one length when I went to NV, and I asked her for a long angled bob. She was very quizzical of me so I showed her a picture that I knew would be similar to what I could wear. She proceeded to cut my hair such that it is now in several layers and flips out at the bottom like I’m in the 1960’s. Yuck. It’s also only about ½ inch shorter in the back than in the front.
All said and done, it cost me $ 60 for the cut, $ 12 for her tip and $ 5 for the hair washer tip for a cut I dislike. I would have stopped her in her tracks and asked her to change direction during my appointment, but it was hard to tell how the haircut would look when styled and since she only blow dried it and sent me on my way (she didn’t even give me a hand mirror to check out the back or I definitely would have noticed how novice this cut looks), I didn’t realize how much I disliked it until after I attempted styling it at home. It took me 40 minutes to style it the next morning to get it to be acceptable (and this is shoulder length hair we’re talking about), and still when I saw myself in the mirror I cringed at how sloppy I looked.
Aside from not being what I want, it’s just not a flattering or well executed cut. It looks choppy and one dimensional, like something I could have done by myself. Nikki didn’t seem interested in taking instructions from her clients. For example, when I asked her to trim my side bangs when dry, she asked me why she would want to do that and told me that wasn’t going to happen. Please, you’re not Matisse, Nikki.
I had scheduled another appt in 2 weeks to get partial highlights with Britney, the girl I was originally hoping to book. I ended up cancelling the follow up because I found another place I actually love in Little Italy (go see Shelly at Scene 217!).
Also, I don’t know why people are raving about the décor. It’s small and dark and nothing special. I’m used to lattes or wine while I wait, not sharing a snug loveseat with other clients and having no place to put down my coffee (from a café, not the salon).

kinda pricey, but they were nice and took me in (quickly) without an appointment. nor did they give me any grief about having an odd haircut.

RECOMMEND HAIR COLOR ONLY!
I found NV Salon Collective through Baltimore Magazine (Best of Baltimore 2011) — Nikki (the owner) is apparently one of the top 10 hair stylists in Baltimore.
DECOR:
The décor of this salon is quite attractive. It’s bright, well lit-​up and clean.
SERVICE:
I wanted to get my hair cut done from Nikki however on calling the salon, I was told that appointments with Nikki are booked 2 – 3 weeks in advance and that currently she was not taking new clients. As an alternative to her, they recommended Debbie who is supposed to be the next best at NV. I went ahead and made an appointment with Debbie for the very next day morning.
I was greeted very politely by the lady at the front desk. I overheard her telling every customer on the phone about Nikki’s busy schedule and availability (the same spiel I had heard previously). Later on I came to know that Nikki is no one else other than our friendly receptionist! Isn’t that totally hilarious?
I wanted sun kissed highlights followed by a hair cut. I had pictures for reference and requested Debbie to match my existing highlight color. She did a great job with my hair color but I felt that her hair styling sense is not good.
Debbie doesn’t appreciate taking instructions from clients in regards to the hair cut. Basically you have to accept whatever she does. She finished my hair cut in haste as she had to attend another client. My hair cut in no way matches my brief to her or her recommendation. I already had thin hair and she cropped my bangs short and totally thinned my hair. My BF freaked when he saw me!
PRICE:
To add insult to injury, the salon charged me for full hair highlights whereas whilst doing the coloring, Debbie had clearly mentioned that she would be doing sun kissed highlights. For $ 200, this place is not worth it. I can’t even complain anywhere as the salon refused to provide me a receipt for the transaction.
I would like to get my hair cut done from Nikki once before I comment on their hair styling skills or decide to not go there ever.
Please note: I did not like my hair cut but NV’s sell Bumble and Bumble hair products which is great. I bought their prep tonic, thickening hair spray and the gel and that has really enhanced my hair texture. (The salon recommends you these products depending on your hair).

I have been going to NV for a few years, and can’t say enough about it. The staff is professional and warm. It’s always a nice experience from booking an appointment online to being greeted with a smile at the front desk to walking out the door feeling like a million bucks. Nikki, Debbie and Bethany have all given me fantastic cuts.
Every time I visit NV, I leave feeling soothed and well cared-​for, no matter what state I arrived in. Whether my appointment is before work, during lunch or squeezed in between my own work appointments, I feel like Nikki takes the time to listen to exactly what I want and knows exactly how to achieve it.
NV rocks.

I had a chance to get my hair done by Britney when she came to do a Bumble & Bumble workshop in NYC. It was for a round brush blowdry class. Britney was warm and friendly, and she worked efficiently without sacrificing the end result. My hair transformed from straight boring hair to sexy Kim K’s big wavy hair thanks to her. She was knowledgable with B&B products, and she even taught me a trick or two! Thank you, Britney! You are fabulous!

I was a client at another salon for several years until my stylist Britney moved to NV. NV is gorgeous and full of talented stylists to meet your needs. I am so pleased to be a client at NV and you should be too!

I see Nikki and have been going to NV for 5 months. I love my hair. I wanted to get out of high-​maintenance color and have an easier upkeep. I had highly processed hair when I came in. Nikki did some corrective coloring and gave me a great cut. I almost don’t have to say anything when I go in, because she really gets me and what I need. She is always professional. She is punctual. Her staff is attentive and the music is great.

If a hair salon can qualify as an artist’s paradise, this would be the place. It is a true salon in every definition of the word. That is, its millennium-​mod décor and original artwork make you feel as if you have stepped into someone’s fashionable home. The four main stylists Nikki, Debbie, Bethany, and Barbara would be the assemblage of fashionistas whose cuts, colors, highlights, and extension services could themselves be considered artistic masterpieces. The wonderful aspect to be found at this beauty shop is that these ladies are interested in not only making you look good, but getting you to feel good about your hair. They all provide tips on what products to use to keep one’s mane strong and growing long over time. In addition, they genuinely seem to care about their client’s satisfaction with their work because they are willing to consult with you before setting up an appointment. All four ladies have been in this industry for more than a decade, and during that time, the salon has received «Best of Baltimore» awards from several publications.
While this is a full-​service salon, it is not a spa. So, you will not find massage services. However, there is an esthetician on staff, Sharon, who is available for waxing and facials. She does business under her own umbrella, Charm City Skin. Her main focus is teaching people how to treat their skin with more care. So, if you are feeling adventurous talk to her about a full-​body scrub that she claims will cast off the dry skin caused by a bitter winter and leave you feeling moisturized and refreshed.
The thing to remember overall is that this is a salon, not a hair dresser and not some national chain where you get your hair cut. The unspoken goal here is to help each customer find her (his) own personal style. Therefore, the pricing reflects a more haute-​couture-​for-​the-​hair attitude. If you are used to getting your hair styled at the strip mall, you may be surprised by the pricing. Still, I found it reasonable when compared to larger markets like New York and Los Angeles.

I started getting my hair cut at NV Salon about 4 months ago, and I have to say that this is the best haircut I’ve ever had. Bethany is my stylist. She gives a more «edgy» haircut than most places that do guys’ hair. Recommended.