Bensimon Salon & Day Spa

This salon is everything you don’t want. the staff is rude as hell, the prices are constantly changing, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if a salon advertises a certain price and then when I’m ready to pay its a totally different price, then that’s not okay. I have lived a block away from this salon my whole life, in this location and the one before it, both salons, and through all those years, nothing has changed. terrible haircuts. I’ve gotten many cuts and colors here (not because i like the service but i was too lazy to travel) and every time i was disappointed. if it was bangs, they were uneven, if it was layers, they were choppy, and if it was color, it was mismatched and left my hair feeling like hay. there is just absolutely nothing about this salon that i would recommend.

Omg. Worst place, I do not recommend. my mother bought me a gift they had a special 4 manicures. And 4 blow-​dries. A made an appointment a week before the holiday for manicure and hair. They called me a day before telling me I cannot use it before holidays. It does not indicate anywhere on my receipt or the booklet I received that I cannot use it on holidays. I asked to speak to the manager/​owner who was Israeli her name was michal, and she was so unprofessional, with such disgusting attitude. All I was explaining to her was that it did not say it anywhere I cannot use it and she did not even let me Talk. She said that she does not need customers like me in her store that she’s always busy, and I should get my money back. When I came to get my money back she took 60 $ off my gift card and said it was a cancellation fee. Which she did not tell me about before hand. She as well threatened me that bec she knew my name she will find out where i work and come and embarrass me there. She had a very bad temper. I never even went there before, and I will never ever go there again. Such a nasty person. With a terrible atmosphere.

I’d seen an advertisement for this salon in a local newspaper and after all of those Living Social coupons, wanted to try something different for my next keratin treatment. This certainly was different!
I was advised by the stylist, whose name was Nick, to have a type of keratin treatment which was not mentioned in the ad (there were only about 10 types mentioned at about $ 100 apiece. He recommended that I needed «the Gold» type of keratin as my hair is frizzy. Frizzy?! So is the hair of every woman who comes to get a keratin treatment! My Hair is not outrageously so. I do not have «ethnic» type of hair that would require a straightener. Of course «the Gold keratin» is $ 25 more than every other type, except for Japanese straightening which isn’t keratin at all. So hard yo understand all of these keratins. What happened to perms…:)
Nick proceeded to have my hair washed and then he began to comb in the keratin, which had a lovely flowery smell — initially! I was supposed to sit for an hour with this gooey mixture on my head, but my eyes began to water. Ah — formaldehyde, cleverly disguised by a well orchestrated perfume!
After 40 minutes of applying cold, wet compresses to my tearing eyes, Nick returned to indicate that I needed to sit under a blow dryer. After about 3 minutes of being in a hot environment where more formaldehyde fumes were being released and I felt my throat was getting chemical burns, I jumped up and told the receptionist what was happening. She let the owner know and obviously, it wasn’t a crucial step, because a few minutes later, Nick used a blow dryer, and then the usual endless array of hot flat irons to which all of us who’ve been straightened are accustomed.
This was the first time I’ve been in such discomfort. I’ve had keratin treatments at some lovely high end NY salons and nothing like this has ever happened. I should mention that Nick offered me a paper surgical mask while he was blow drying and straightening y hair and that he himself wore what looked like about five cloth surgical masks, one on top of the other. I noticed that he too, at one point, had to wipe tears away.
It is sad that a salon that attempts to pass itself off as high end should use products that can cause such irritation and discomfort to both patrons and operators alike. These products should be banned.
Would I return for other services? I was not overly impressed by how Nick trimmed my bangs, according to my instructions, nor was I impressed by how he attempted to try and foist the higher end version of every product the salon offered when a less expensive alternative was available.
One other thing I did find fascinating was that the tip for Keratin only was included in the price. My theory is that after pain, no one would be inclined to tip.
The salon does offer an organic keratin (formaldehyde-​free) and my next visit would have to be Nick free as well. So it goes…

A great place to get everything you need done. Hair, nails, wax, thread, massage and facial and lunch. DONE!!! Everyone is hospitable and personable.

Had a Keratin treatment done by Nick about 5 weeks ago. My appointment was with Christina, so I was upset when no one told me she was not there and Nick just started working on my hair without introducing himself. The entire treatment took 1.5 hours start to finish. I was offered a drink (water, coffee) and/​or a muffin a number of times. Now 5 weeks in, with AMAZING looking straight, non-​frizzy hair, I am totally impressed and insanely happy. My next appointment will be with Nick, and hopefully he will be the one to take care of me!

Pros:
GREAT COLOR
complimentary bar
descent blow-​out
CONS:
TERRIBLE HAIR CUTS
RUDE staff
The owner only cares for a select few customers
long waits

Beautiful salon, HORRIBLY run. Besides for always running late and having no place to wait, the haircuts are awful (I’ve walked out twice after a haircut with split ends), and the staff are extremely rude. The «complimentary bar» is never manned, and you get a glare if you ask for coffee. This places needs a complete management overhaul.

Great place! Wonderful staff and amazing service.
The hairstylists are skilled professionals. Always feel and look great whenever I leave :)

This review is for their Salon. I simply dont need their other services. I am most often very impresed with Ben Simon Salon. The service is most often great. Once in a while there is an issue of double or overbooking and it can be frustrating. When I go for a haircut, I usually see Myrna. She is amazing. many times when I arrive she is finishing up a bride for her wedding.
While you are there, there is a complimentary snack bar with coffee and cappuchinos, which they willl come to you and offer it up.
The hair washing station has taken a decline in its service lately though. Many times you can wait, eithre no one is there and when they come, they can scratch your head off.
The service at the hair washing station is inconsistent. If they improved that, they would get all stars from me.

Horrible spa! Got a facial done recently and I had the worst red marks when I left which is somewhat ok to have after extractions however those red marks turned into the most horrific ugly pimples I’ve ever had. A facial is supposed to make my face better not worse! Two weeks later still healing. She also brought out breakouts on my neck that was never a problem area to begin with. Awful just awful and so expensive! ($ 80) I only went because I had a promotion price but I can’t believe they charge more than some manhattan places. Stick to mario badescu in the city. Much cheaper and way more professional and oh they don’t mess up your face! What a novel idea!
In addition to facials being terrible the mani pedis are the messiest I’ve ever had done. They charge $ 28 for pedicure and $ 13 for manicure. Are they insane! What a rip off! I’ve gotten my nails done twice there and both times it looks like a two yr old painted my nails! Paint on the sides of the nails and some nails are even missing polish on the sides. I could do that messy job myself. Also the area in the back where the nails are done could look a lot nicer. The tables are dirty, the chairs are ripped and the massage chairs are always broken.
I got highlights done here with a promotion as well and it was very uneven and wasn’t applied at the roots. Monday and Tuesday they have $ 18 haircuts and they are decent for the price but just as mediocre as the full price haircuts.
There are some good things here like the free food offered and the people who offer you drinks while you are getting work done. However, this does not make up for bad spa treatments. Facials, mani padis etc. are luxuries and if I’m shelling out money it is supposed to be done right!

RUN THE OTHER WAY. RUN, RUN, RUN. RUDEST SERVICE. There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe such horrible service. I have been there 4 times. Each time I’ve frequented the place the rudeness seems to increase. There is no coordination between the staff that makes the appointments and the hairstylest. The woman will tell you to go to a stylest, and then the stylest and the woman argue because he has a client already. The owner Avi is the King of rudeness who obviously does not value his greatest asset, his clientele.
Every time I have been there, I have witnessed a client having a melt down over the poor service or the bad hair treatment they received and the owner’s lack of concern. The last two times I was there the incredibly bad service seemed to clinch the deal. Two weeks ago I booked in advance blow dry, mani/​pedi. When it came time for the pedicure, the woman told me «sorry» don’t have enough time to give you a pedicure. I was appalled. And when it came time to pay, they wanted me to pay for the pedicure. I had to argue with them. Today, booked the same thing. Woman at desk told me she couldn’t give me a mani/​pedi, just blow dry. Fine. Received a blow dry and then I asked another woman if she could fit me in for the mani/​pedi. Suddenly they had an opening. But when it came time to pay. They argued and wanted to overcharge me for the service. They started screaming at me that the price was $ 63 when I told them their special says $ 50 for the services. They screamed, «prove it.» Can you believe that a place that is in business to service people tells their customers to «prove it.» Comical. I had to get their booklet and show them that their special says $ 50. They have all these specials but never want to validate them. This place will soom be out of business with such horrific service. Most people I speak with told me they have received similar treatment.

Rude staff they don’t care about you or your hair just your money. They don’t know how to do hair there cuts suck they don’t even analyze your hair befor coloring the avi is rude to his employees on the salon floor and his wife Michelle is rude to everyone else at the front desk. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone it’s poorly run and there inexperienced

Ben Simon is a salon that my entire family frequents. They even did my wedding hair & makeup at a discount price which I appreciated!
Here is what I love & hate the about the salon.
Love:
Avi cuts my hair and he does a great job!
The manicure/​pedicure is the best I’ve ever had, and it lasted over a week
Chani M. B. did my makeup and she is a total sweetheart
The shampoo girls are awesome
Hate:
The waxing. The first and last time I got an upper lip/​eye brow wax, I was so red and some spots were even bleeding. The eyebrows were uneven and I didn’t like it at all.
Definately get the coupon book or go on their website for coupons and discounts. They have a ton

R.G. 12÷7÷11
Had come from forest hills queens as a number of my friends had been using this salon for some time.
My first straightening (Brazilian blowout) went well and I was happy.
When I returned and shared that I was concerned over the negative press this treatment had been receiving, the owner avi said I have something that you will like more than the keratin and with no chemicals at all. He said that it was shea butter and assured me that it was all natural. The result was horrifying as my hair was burnt from root to end on over 75 percent of my head. I contacted Avi by phone to share with him my distress but he would not take my call and I also left several messages, but to no avail. Ultimately I just wanted my money back so that I could apply it to the cost of having another hairdresser help repair my hair, which was pretty much beyond repair. When I finally did get a hold of Avi months later, he hung up on me when I became upset. Looking back, perhaps I should have gone into the salon to show then the damage but the salon is far from my house and frankly, I was traumatized and curious that Avi would not take my phone all right after it happened. I do not recommend this salon.
When my regular forest hills hairdresser months later shared that it was criminal what had occurred, I tried to speak with avi once again he would not take my calls.
Finally a number of other friends had their hair burned while the girl who applies the treatments runs up and down from floor to floor applying treatment to between 6 and 8 different people no wonder people’s hair is being ruined.
This is an outrage !
12÷7÷11

This amazing spa DEFFINITELY deserves more than a 5 star!
The staff and workers are very proffesional and friendly.
I got a gift on my birthday for a special, the massage was to DIE for. My manicure and pedicure came out fantastic, there is a HUGE selection of nail polishes that are extremely good quality (not the ones they have that are acetoned-​down at those asian salons) They do hair amazing, the guy who did my hair was so good that he didnt even need to use a straightner for my natural curlyl frizzy hair, the way he blowed it out made it come out fantastic. They have complementary coffee and beverages. I loved the salad there as well since I got a lunch in my spa package. I came out feeling very happy, was treated so well and relaxed. And I should mention the prices are really decent compared to other spas and its beautiful inside.
Deffinitely gonna keep coming back!
The only thing is I wish it was opened Saturdays but unfortunatly its run by Orthodox Jews who observe the Sabbath

I so badly want to this salon to be good. It’s gorgeous and offers many services. I’ve been really happy with the facial services, (ask for lydia) but really unhappy with the haircuts. They gave me such bad haircuts that took months to grow back out. (i went back a second time to a different stylist to try and correct it).
So I would stay clear of the hair services… but the facials and mani/​pedis aren’t too bad.

Run, run run away from the Ben Simon Salon. The ladies who work there are some of the rudest people on the plantet. I recently tried out the salon, way out on Avenue P, because Kerastase was offering a promotion, and they had available appointments. As I entered the pleasant salon, the receptionist was on a personal call and did not even look up to great me, the customer. When she finally got off the phone, I was led to the back where herds of young «stylists» were sitting around, looking bored out of their minds. You’d think an empty salon would try to be pleasant to a new customer, let alone the only customer in the place. NOT SO. Yuck, stay away from this dreck!