Island Escape Salon & Spa

I’ve been a patron of this salon since 2007. It is under new and improved ownership now, so your best bet is to skip all the old reviews and check it out for yourself! The one constant throughout the years has been Evon! She is a fabulous! I’m never sure what to do with my hair and she somehow always perfectly creates my «vision» with the vague descriptions I give her. When I’m not feeling adventurous, she remembers «the usual» and I always leave feeling like I look like a million bucks. Prices are comparable to the area… but a BARGAIN when you consider the quality cut you are going to get, as well as the quality products they use (such as Paul Mitchell). It is never jam packed so you can relax and enjoy (very easy to schedule an appointment/​great availability). The staff is very friendly and will take your coat and offer you coffee when you walk in. I have never had even a slightly negative experience in my 9 years as a customer.

Evon has been my go-​to colorist for over 5 years. She has always given me and my daughter the best color-​both unique and completely natural. I get so many compliments. Always a pleasure to come in. Very warm and pleasant atmosphere. Everyone is very courteous. Even after moving out of RIverdale, could not imagine going anywhere else. Worth the trip.

I can’t even begin to describe the AMAZING service this all-​purpose salon offers. The owner, Shamila, game me a complete makeover for my pre-​wedding budoir shoot a few months ago. The airbrush tanning is flawless and her makeup application is perfect! I’m so grateful to have found such a gem in Riverdale!

I have been coming to Island Escape Salon since 2011 and have worked with Norma and Evon since that time. Management aside, these two ladies are knowledgeable, professional and courteous. The establishment underwent some rocky times and even closed for a couple of months. However it has been open a year now under new management and both these ladies were asked to come back (that is how loyal their customer base was.) Things now seem to be back on track and service is as good as ever. This place is polished and clean, offers great customer service and the prices are affordable. Island Escape Spa is now expanding to offer facials within the next few weeks (now I can get all my services in one place.) If you are looking for something affordable in the area with excellent service, give this place a try.

I’m new to Riverdale and I was looking for a salon. So I came across Island Escape Salon and Spa. I got my hair colored and blown out. When I first walked in the receptionist greeted me at the door and looked very professional. She even walked with me downstairs, took my coat and offered to make me a cup of coffee or tea. I loved the way my hair was colored. It was so vibrant and soft and it didn’t feel damaged. Definitely my new favorite place to get my hair done

The stylists at this place are the best. They do exactly what you want and offer suggestions when asked, unlike some other salons where the stylist will push something on you that you didn’t want. My stylist is Norma and she does everything and by everything I mean everything. Nails, toes, waxing, threading, dye jobs, hair cuts. She is very precise and considerate when doing her work on you. Besides Norma the best thing about this place is how they are considerate of time and appointments yet will accommodate you if running late.

Meh. A little pricey for what you get. Still not too expensive, mind you, but I’m also a guy paying for a men’s cut. But I live across the street, so it’s convenient. And, yeah, I know there’s a men’s barber right next door. Maybe I’ll try it soon. But Escape has a higher ratio of women to men, so I’ll stick with it for now.

i would give NONE if possible.
i am getting married on sunday. these folks were supposed to offer their services… except that they canceled TODAY. ok lets do the math. today is FRIDAY. i’m getting married on SUNDAY. RIGHT…
i felt confident with these people because we’ve been talking about my wedding hair since may. BUT don’t bother coming here. disorganized and quite frankly not a great place if they can’t figure out details up until the last second.
I AM SO LIVID…

I haven’t seen any guys review this place, so I feel like it is important that I do. Yes, I understand that mostly women go here, but they do cut men’s hair, and they did cut this guy’s hair. And they did it for a fraction of the cost that they charge for women’s haircuts. Granted there is a lot less to do, but it’s a good place, they knew what they were doing, and I got a quality haircut for 20 bucks plus tip (not pictured above). Sure for a gal it will run you 55 plus, but can you blame a guy for finding comparable value with a better deal?
Is it the best haircut I’ve ever gotten? No. Is it the nicest place I’ve ever gone to get a haircut? No. But it’s a good price for the quality, and it is conveniently located in Riverdale. I might embarrass myself by admitting to going to pricier places, much pricier places, but I have. Were they 3 times better to go along with triple the price? Hell no! I mean I’m barely spending more than I did at my barber back in high school for a cut that places in second to the most expensive salon I have ever been to. Not bad at all. Perfect, I have found a place near me where I can get a haircut that I like very much and not have my friends rip on me for spending a lot (it’s a guy thing, think John Edwards pre-​baby mama drama getting criticized for the same).
As with any place there are some ups, some downs, and some interesting moments. I called ahead and made an appointment for the next day, which they were able to accommodate easily. I had never been there before, so I wasn’t about to get picky about who was cutting my hair. When I asked over the phone how much it would cost I did get an interesting answer. I was told: «Between 20 and plus.» Between 20 and plus? Between… twenty dollars… and plus? Is plus an infinite amount? Should I split the difference and bring a billion dollars with me? I wasn’t quite sure how to take that. A very odd response indeed. To be fair, their website does say «Men’s Hair Cut … $ 20 +». However, the «between» did throw me off a little, and made for a solid joke to tell the person I was going out to lunch with all of 2 and a half minutes later. So thanks. Also, as a result of bringing it up she might be stopping in for herself, so it was a good thing it was on my mind at the time.
It’s a nice establishment. Comfortable to wait in, clean, and you can help yourself to coffee or tea. I didn’t check out the spa services for obvious reasons so you’ll have to look elsewhere for that information, but from what I could see it seemed like a place I would go to if I was looking for those services. My stylist (God I’m going to be made fun of for using that word) was about 10 minutes late for our appointment, but honestly I’m not going to pretend that it bothered me or that it hasn’t happened plenty of times before at plenty of other places. To put it simply and to focus on what really mattered, I liked her work, and the rest of the staff was also very nice.
To top it off they have these tiny envelopes for tips that make the process less awkward. I never know what to do in those situations. Flashing cash seems a bit (I hate that this sorta rhymes) crass, and palming a folded tip and passing it along «old man barber» style (with a handshake for those of you that do not follow) is: 1. Odd with a woman. 2. Is something that a lot of people don’t get including young male barbers (the tip falling to the ground because they had no idea what you were doing or why you were shaking their hand is far more of a spectacle than any other way I have ever given a tip) and 3. A little too old school. The small envelops help to make it a more civilized exchange.
I can’t really complain. Try it out, I’ll be going again.

best brazillian bikini wax ever!
Nora is so gentle
great customer service, great atmosphere, soothing music
i will be back

I was in dire need of a haircut and readying myself to drive into the city on a Sunday afternoon. I have lived in Riverdale about 18 months and since moving have gotten cuts in Manhattan at my old familiar places — Amour de Hair or Jean Claude Biguine.
So anyway, I decided to do a quick web search for Riverdale salons and found Escape spa, which is very near my house yet I had never thought to check it out.
I called and the receptionist was very friendly, and we arranged for me to come in about 30 minutes.
My stylist was Azimine, who was sweet and friendly and understood what I was looking for. She currently works only on Sundays. The haircut and blowdry turned out great… even if I won’t be able to replicate her styling on my own! Cut/​blowdry was $ 60, which is about what I am used to paying in Manhattan, maybe a little less… BUT the convenience of having a good salon in Riverdale adds so much to the value! I will definitely go back.
Escape Spa looks small and unassuming from the street… don’t let that fool you. They have a large space inside and the décor is clean and bright. They offer many services, check the website. I also got a mani/​pedi for $ 35… also very convenient since most of the local nail places are closed Sundays.

Marisol is wonderful for pedi/​mani. Overall friendly staff.

Ahhhhh Riverdale… How I loathe you.
Unless you’ve always dreamed of living on Wisteria Lane, Never Move Here.
Alas even I have my Gabriel Solis moments, and since it opened two years ago, I’ve been completely addicted to Escape Spa.
Think Manhattan quality and service at a third of the price.
Yes compared to other Bronx salons your probably paying double for a standard wash and set… but at least your hairdresser speaks English!
Facials, massages„ tanning, permanent make-​up, threading, waxing, mani/pedi’s…And best of all pilates and yoga classes!
Sometimes a girl needs to work on her exterior and this definitely a one stop beauty shop.