Paul Mitchell The School

Chicago, United States

3.2

Open now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 312-548-7588
Website:
chicago.paulmitchell.edu
Address:
1225 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60607
b/t 12th Pl & O Brien St
University Village
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.3 miHalsted & Taylor
0.4 miHalsted
0.5 miHalsted & Harrison
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Garage, Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
No
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Chicago) 12:23 Thursday, 12 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Haircut and Styling Services: Haircut, Blow Dry, Iron Work, Sepcialzed Up Do.

Color Bar Services: Basic Color, Full Foil Weave, Block/​Dimensional Color, Full Head Lightener, Color Correction.

Texture Services: Perm, Chemical Relaxer.

Wash House Services: Deep Conditioning and Specialty Treatments.

We Guarantee a 5-​minute stress relieving scalp massage with every haircut… or your haircut is FREE!

History

Established in 2008.

Situated on the downtown campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago as one of the premier Paul Mitchell School’s in the nation, our 16,500-square-foot school occupies a unique location in a luxury dorm. Repeatedly ranked by U.S. News & World Report and others as one of the nation’s most diverse universities, UIC boasts a multicultural student body and ample opportunities to practice on all types of hair.

As a Paul Mitchell School we are not only preparing our Future Professionals for a brilliant career in the beauty industry, but exposing them to what it means to be a contributing citizen within their community.

‘Giving Back’ is a code we live by, and since opening our doors 2 years ago, our Future Professionals have raised over $ 70,000 for a multitude of charities and organizations through bake sales, cut-​a-​thons, fashion shows, etc.

We encourage you to experience the magic at Paul Mitchell The School-​Chicago!

Peace, Love, and Happiness.

Meet the Business Owner

James S.

Business Owner

James Salerno, with 29 years of experience behind the chair, is co-​founder and co-​owner of Paul Mitchell The School — Chicago. He is a second generation stylist who has been around the beauty industry since his youth. He has operated the top Paul Mitchell salon in the State of Illinois, James Anthony Salon & Spa, in River Forest, IL, since 1991.

Steve Cowan is a third generation member of the professional salon industry. His career in beauty covers some 36 years and includes working as a salon consultant, working for a major beauty manufacturer, salon owner, distributor owner, industry coach, speaker, and now co-​owner of Paul Mitchell The School-​Chicago and Paul Mitchell The School-​Escanaba. In 1983 Steve founded PSC on the vision of changing the salon industry one hairdresser at a time. PSC has been admired by other distributors for over 25 years, and twice in that time PSC has been named to Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 500 as one of the fastest growing companies in America.

Paul Mitchell The School also recommends

James Anthony Salon & Spa

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Massage

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James S. says,

«Consistently the top Paul Mitchell salon in the State of Illinois over the past ten years. The salon is made up of mostly Paul Mitchell graduates.»

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20 reviews of Paul Mitchell The School

No registration required
Place rating: 1
Mobile, AL
Always a hit or miss. Today was a severe miss. Well, I guess it’s my own fault to think an unlicensed stylist could do a simple blow out. You know what they say, close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and atomic bombs. Atomic bomb is right considering the mess on my head Diamond left. I think the more upsetting part is the fact that she didn’t care. Her name was diamond and she wasn’t a gem. I thought people should have pride in their work and she didn’t. My hair looked awful and I can’t believe Paul Mitchell can honestly send a customer away looking their worst with no guilt. I guess integrity is overrated.
Place rating: 2
San Francisco, CA
Omg! I understand this is a school which is why I’m giving them 2 stars but this place was incredibly unprofessional!
I was seated 45 minutes late for my appointment & the girl did not touch my hair until an hour after my scheduled appointment.
My updo really looked nothing like the photos I showed her. I was very clear with my stylist multiple times that I had to leave by a certain time & was almost late to my cousin’s wedding because she either did not manage her time well or didn’t respect what I told her :(
I would give them another try but allow more time I guess…
Place rating: 1
Chicago, IL
I am a current student at this school and I DO NOT reccomend it to other people considering a career in cosmetology. You’ll find that this school is money hungry for themselves and they really do not work with you to better your skills. MOST of the teachers have NO salon experience and have just recently graduated from the institution. Very strict, unorganized, anxiety inducing, and just plain unpleasant. Wish I could’ve gotten out while I had the chance.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
I went here for a trim and am happy with the result. The reason I’m not perfectly happy is because I asked them to trim a lot shorter than they did. I asked for three inches to really clean out the split ends (I have long hair and it gets stuck everywhere) but she did maybe one. Emphasis on maybe. My phase 1 person still managed to really clean up my hair so I didn’t say anything AND she was really great at remembering what I asked for and repeated it to every teacher that came to help her.
The downsides were that she used cold water to shampoo my hair and didn’t wash the back of my head. While in the chair, she managed to get the comb, the brush and her fingers in my eyes more than once.
Still, I really liked her because she tried and she was really focused. She didn’t mess anything up, didn’t chop off half my hair and didn’t chat my ears off. Big plus!
It would be a smart idea to have some kind of evaluation system after the service so that the teachers can see what clients really think.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Nate is amazing!!! (Ask for him) Kelly is always so sweet. The facials are so relaxing. My hair always feels great when I leave. Love this place
Place rating: 1
Chicago, IL
I gave this place 2 shots and needless to say, I’ll never be back.
Both times were for color. I have grays that need covering, the ONLY reason I dye my hair. I stress that every time I sit in a stylist’s chair. For some reason, none of the students can grasp how to cover grays on a brunette’s head. Both times, I left with an OK color, but you can still see my grays (they’re more highlighted — happened both times). Not only that, but my hair is SO dry from having dye in it for nearly 2 hours, I’m forced to see my real stylist for a $ 60 cut.
The time it takes to get your hair done is seriously not worth saving the extra $ 35 you’d have to pay to get it done by professionals — especially when the finished product isn’t the best.
I expected a little more from the Paul Mitchell School, but you live and you learn. They are students, which I understand, but they shouldn’t have free range to ruin your hair. Best of luck to anyone who wants a gamble cut/​dye/​style.
Place rating: 5
Beach Park, IL
Wow! What a fun and great experience! After reading the reviews I was a little scared to walk in the door, but I am so glad I did! Ebony cut and styled my hair today, and from the start she was so professional and personable! Her and the instructor communicated with me throughout the appointment to ensure understanding of what I wanted done. She didn’t just start over confidently hacking hair of leaving in a crying mess later that day. The instructors were very attentive and engaged throughout the whole haircut. Thank you Ebony, stylist #82.
Place rating: 5
Near North Side, Chicago, IL
Sam did such a great job on my hair makeover! She was very professional and sweet. The color came out just perfect. I got so many compliments the next day at work … Thanks Sam!
Place rating: 1
Elgin, IL
I felt embarrassed to go outside after wasting 6 hours and lots of money on a hair color that i did not even ask for. It was especially redicoulous because the leader said it was MY fault that my hair was messed up because my «hair was red and i was not clear about what I wanted.» That was funny for them to say because I had shown them a picture of exactly what I wanted from the very beginning… & I understand my hair color was red and that it takes a lot to lift the color, but when someone asks for a brown/​dirty-​blond ombré/​balayage I think it’s a little ridiculous end up with a head that’s half black, half orange. When i asked the supervisor if he would be satisfied with his hair stylist if she had done the same thing to him, he even said he would not. The supervisor said that he was sorry, but told me it was my fault that it turned out that way and if i wanted it fixed I would have to come back tomorrow and pay them again. Don’t waste your time and money going here. Terrible customer service and hair styling quality.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
I had jackie. Overall it was good and relaxing. You shouldn’t expect perfection when coming to a school where students are still learning. BUT I feel the teachers could have kept a closer eye. I got a hair cut and color. The color was nice but not exactly what I wanted. Also it looks like she missed a spot. And for my haircut she only cut my length but didn’t do my layers. I had to remind her at the end. I feel if the teacher stuck around she would have noticed. I also feel like my hair cut wasn’t complete. They didn’t trim my bangs which I thought was weird. If you ask for a trim isn’t it obvious you want it on your entire head of hair? Otherwise it was not disastrous just a few things I might change.
Place rating: 2
Chicago, IL
Left looking like a Bridgeport bingo lady.
All I wanted was a razor taken to my short hair and feathered a little.
My request and my short hair should have been the easiest peasiest
cit for the shop that day,
I believe the Level 2 stylist didn’t even know how to use a razor and
tried to distract from that fact.
No I do not want to hear about your personal life!!!
I don’t care to hear about some violent (prob drug) situation the
father of you child got into.
That was the last straw of many last chances for PM for me.
I go way back here and in years past have had some great cuts and colors.
The last year or so i have had one bad cut after another. Appalling .
Many students don’t even know a basic bang cut!
Now it seems even students in LEVEL 2 don;t even know the basics?
Years past the supervisors of the student stylists were far more attentive.
Now they just pretend they are supervising the student,.
Years past the supervisor would ask each student stylist after
you sat in their chair” What are we looking for today?“
Pretend, pretend, I won’t be back.
Had my hair fixed at a nearby shop hours later.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I had a great time at Paul Mitchell The School. I came in on a Monday at noon for a simple trim. I got paired up with Macee and she did an awesome job! Asked for about an inch off because I’m trying to grow my hair long and it needed some life. She cut it perfectly and now it looks amazingly even. Not only that but she used some beautifully scented products to give my hair some shine. She also has a fun personality and easy to talk to! Everyone there is extremely helpful and quick. Great for students, I payed about $ 20 for a cut and that included the tip ($ 15 regularly). Great experience overall!
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
I’ve been coming to the school for ~ 3yrs now. You can’t beat the price for the quality product, end-​result (color and kera triplex treatment) and cost — it’s at least ½ of what you’d pay anywhere else. And because of that I’m willing to go out of my way in travel time and distance, as well as appointment length. (Be prepared for your appointment to take at least twice as long as a regular salon though — and even longer than that if you’re getting a haircut.)
In spite of the above praise, today will be my last time. Over the years a few times I’ve had my appointment canceled by the school the day before due to a school sponsored event (they didn’t know sooner they’d have to close the school for the event!?) and I often land up waiting 15 – 20 min before I get the initial consultation.
Today I was running 15−20min late and they wouldn’t take me upon arrival. I could get the color or the conditioning treatment but not both. While I recognize I was late, it’s terrible customer service that they wouldn’t accommodate a long time client who’s been willing to reschedule on multiple occasions and wait for them beyond my scheduled appointment time in the past.
I’m sure the student would have appreciated the practice and the accompanying gratuity to stay 15min longer.
Running salon is more than just doing hair. Its also about preparing the students to provide great service, customer retention and learning to be flexible and accommodating.
Place rating: 1
Chicago, IL
The first time I went there I had a great experience. However today was horrible. The student was fine but the instructors especially the second one cut my bangs an inch shorter than I told her I’m comfortable with. When I told her its too short she tried justifying it and further just asked if she can do anything else for me. And she was rude about it. I don’t understand why multiple instructors jump in throughout the haircut rather than one mentoring the student throughout. I also asked them to cut no more than 2 inches and it’s at least 3 inches shorter if not more.
I am very upset by my cut. Will not return.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Made an appointment for an updo and makeup application for a formal holiday party and was very happy with the result. Did it take a little bit longer than a normal salon appointment might? Sure, but if you’re going to a school environment, you should adjust your timing and quality expectations accordingly; I had no issues with being late by giving myself a several hour window for services.
My student stylist, Nick, was a great young guy who immediately admitted he’d be calling for backup on the makeup part. Know what you don’t know, I say. I showed him a photo of the hairstyle I was hoping for, and after checking in with his learning leader, it was off for shampooing, blowdry, and curls. The actual pinning and final style was taken over by the learning leader, and I ended up with a gorgeous sideswept messy bun of curls. The style held without being too loose or looking like a helmet, just enough product. At the end of the night, I was pleasantly surprised to find only a couple dozen bobby pins in the whole style; I had expected to be pulling pins out of my head for days afterwards, definitely a plus to know when enough is enough!
My makeup application was done by Chaquilla (sorry if I butchered that!), and I had to double check the mirror when she was done to make sure it was really me! I had a photo of the dress I was wearing to the holiday party, and after chatting about whether I wanted to look natural or «red carpet» or had anything particular in mind, she was able to give me an awesome dramatic looking gold eye makeup that really popped with the dress. Other students in between clients came over to take a peek and comment that I looked runway ready, and I agreed. BEAUTIFUL JOB! The makeup lasted through the night, with just a touch up to my lips after eating and drinking.
From start to finish, I would say I spent about 3 to 3 ½ hours at the school for updo and makeup, and was charged $ 37, minus tip. Can’t beat that bargain! The hair and makeup must have looked really great, because my boyfriend proposed that evening. Thank you Paul Mitchell School for helping me look my best for an unknowingly important night!
Place rating: 2
Chicago, IL
Great cuts buuuut $ 15 and 2 hrs later for a male haircut is waaaay too lng. You can find cheaper and equal quality elsewhere.
Probably good for women
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I come here for a fun do! Better to bring a photo for a new look with an impact. Otherwise, cut/​color has minimal impact. Be prepared for a «fluid» look — end cut/​color is different from magazine photo, BUT still flattering with the right vibe.
Be prepared to spend 5 – 6 hours. Time flies when you are catching up on current magazine readings — US, Allure, Elle.
Be prepared to have 2 – 3 individuals working on your hair.
For Bright Hair Colors — request Heat added to foil, otherwise color doesn’t stay.
Worst case scenario… bad cut/​color only stays for a month. You get a new do before you know it.
Products — you get points and rewards now for purchases. Special Pricing concurrent with other stores.
Promotions — via email, e.g., $ 5 off next appt, free cut with paid color, 10% off next appt.
Staff — amazingly nice!
Shout Out to Jim, Erica and Rhi! Hello Skyler.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
If you’re going there, you know you like it cheap cheap. Every time you go, you have to sign your life away so they know you won’t sue them. They just want to make sure you understand that students are working on your hair, so don’t expect too much.
I do like going there and I have been there several times. However, I stopped going because I could never find the time to go. If you go, be prepared to spend an eternity there. The students have to get their teacher’s approval before they start to work on you. Waiting on the teacher to approve takes the longest time. And they have to get a dozen approvals, not just one. I usually go get a cut and a dye job. I have dark black hair. In order to dye it red (fire-​engine red), they need to bleach my hair first. I usually have to stay there for 5 – 6 hours. I’m always the last customer to leave.
If you dislike your cut/​color, they will offer you a free redo. I had a redo twice. I’m always happy the second time around. I always had a Phase One student, and it’s fine. I try to get the same girl, but for some reason the ones I like are gone by my next appointment. The environment is nice. It’s clean and comfortable. Everyone is friendly there.
Every time I wanted my bangs to be trimmed, one of the teachers do it. I have never seen a Phase One student do it, so that might be a good thing.
Be patient if you decide to go there. They are still learning and they try to do their best.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
$ 15 for a good haircut — wash and blow dry also included! The school is very conveniently located in UIC’s campus, so it was perfect to be able to get a haircut in between classes. They are very professional and make everything pretty straightforward. You can schedule appointments online, the prices are great, they have a nice open space with lots of products to buy in the front of the shop.
My stylist was great! They go through a step by step process and that includes talking everything through so the stylist knows what you want and they in turn tell you how they’re going to give you what you want. Before they cut, after they cut and at the end other stylists (I’m assuming they’re master stylists or managers) check in with you and your stylist, ask you questions, make sure you’re happy. I felt super important! But they just insured that I was satisfied with everything — which I was! I would definitely recommend going here if you’re on a budget, or even if you’re not — the students here know what they’re doing!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
I was being seen by Tracy a couple of years ago (3 – 4 times) until she graduated. I took a hiatus from Paul Mitchell, but recently went in for a cut and color (ombré) and was worked on by Symyra. I have VERY long/​thick/​straight hair and always go into PM with the mindset that if anything goes wrong I can 1. always have it fixed and 2. my hair will grow back in 5 minutes anyway (I swear it grows like weeds). With that being said, I generally don’t have much anxiety about being worked on by students (phase 1 or 2).
I asked for lots of layers and movement and that was the cut Symyra gave me. I asked for a subtle ombré and that’s also what I got. I will say though, that I did contemplate going back to have her lighten the ends some more, but that is essentially my fault anyway considering I asked for «subtle.»
All in all, I would recommend Paul Mitchell if you have the patience/​time and aren’t going to have a heart attack if something doesn’t go exactly the way you envisioned. This is, afterall, a SCHOOL and you get what you pay for (which is peanuts in comparison to a «real» salon).