Private 1

We’ve been going here for years! They do a great job with men’s cuts and if you’re looking for a place that’s up-​to-​date with edgy hair trends, this is the place to go. Prices are up there, but the service included makes up for that. Tam and Andy are great! They’re very attentive with what you’re looking to achieve and give helpful advice.

Being of Asian decent, I thought my best bet for finding a hair stylist would be to go to an Asian one… What a huge miscalculation! I came here because the place looks classy, but the staff struggles with the English language. I asked for a particular type of perm to make the hair on my sides lay back. The stylist struggled to grasp what I clearly explained to him. He hands me a book of mens hairstyles. I find one I like and show it to him. The end result looks absolutely nothing like the one depicted in the photo, even though he told me he can produce said hairstyle. I reluctantly agreed to pay $ 70 even though I walked out of that salon looking exactly the same as I did before. In other words, I flushed $ 70 down a toilet.
I don’t remember my stylist’s name, but he’s the guy with the hipster glasses. This salon has really left a bad taste in my mouth. The overall atmosphere gives the sense of being rushed in and out with no consideration for customer satisfaction. After numerous lousy experiences with hair stylists, I’ve come to the conclusion that they’re akin to car salesmen. They’re only in it to syphon money out of the consumer. There is neither artistry nor work ethic involved.
If I could rate this sewer with Zero Stars, I would.

may not come back

They’re now known as PRIVATE 1 Hair Salon. Renovated the whole place but most of the stylists are still here.

I’ve typically been a big fan of going to the Aveda School in Lincoln Park (cuz it’s cheap and gets the job done) but this place might have converted me! I’ve always had problems finding new ways to do my hair just because I have very thin hair and not a lot of it. Also, it’s stick straight and doesn’t have much texture. This is pretty opposite of a lot of American hair. I came to this place with my dad on a daddy and me adventure day in Chinatown and we decided to get hair cuts together in hopes that they would be more knowledgeable about Asian hair and they were!
It was pretty packed on a Saturday afternoon but the wait was less than ²⁰⁄₃₀ minutes with about 5 people ahead of us in line. The shampoo-​ist was a little sloppy with the wash as water rolled a bit down my back but he was speedy and efficient in getting my hair prepped for cutting. I had «B» as a stylist — one of the few women there — and loved my experience with her. I told her about what length I wanted and what my normal routine was and told her to have at it with something that she thought would look good. She gave me a cut that was flattering and more inventive than the ladies at the Aveda School has ever given me… and she was quick BUT GOOD and was very attentive to detail. Total time of haircutting was about 40 minutes and that includes blowdrying and some styling. For a $ 31 haircut, I’m sold. My dad’s was $ 27.
Will definitely come again for good fast service and knowledgeable people when it comes to Asian hair!

I’ve been there couple of times. Last November I went there for hair cut, AL was my hairdresser. He said to me that my hair needed to be straightened which I did. It cost over 400 dollars but overall he did a good job. I went to cut my hair again a couple days ago, he said to me that my hair needed to be straightened. I was so surprised about his recommendation. I told him, «didn’t you remember you were the one who straightened my hair last November?» He smiled and said, «different customers everyday that he forgot.» Haha, all he wants it’s to make big $$$. Make story short, he didn’t ask my permission, and he cut my bangs very very short to an unacceptable level. When I saw it, it was too late. I complained to him. Then he cut my bangs even shorter. A bad hair cut is going to cause me embarrassed for a full month till it grow long again.
Shame on him.

I have got three haircuts at Urban Roots in total, overall I’m fine with the quality of the haircut, no major screwup and nothing extraordinary. The customer service was fine. However, I dislike being charged with 20% tip automatically without even asking, I thought that was up to me.

2 of my Asian coworkers go to this place religiously, so I had to try it. More than a year later, I still travel close to an hour from Evanston to see Eric to get my hair cut. My sister also started going to Eric regularly. So I know 4 picky women who swear by him… he can do girls styles too!
One observation is that the style varies each time we visit. We don’t mind too much, as it always looks cool. Somehow he knows exactly what to do with our hair!
Not sure why people complain about the prices, as many salons charge 60 – 100 for a wash, cut and style… seems very reasonable to me. I am long overdue for a cut and can’t wait to swing by here, and get some dim sum while I’m at it. In a nutshell, great asian haircuts!!!

It was my first time to have my hairdo at Urban Roots and it was for a wedding! Ray was very patient and innovative. My hairdo took approximately 30 minutes and he engaged me in friendly conversation. There were no hair-​straightening or curling involved, but lots and lots of hairspray as well as BOBBY PINS! He wrapped my hair in the back and twirled it into a bun. He also created a wavy section to the left and here’s where the creativity came into place. Ray asked if I had any accessories and I said no. He felt that was too boring so he proceeded to adding some 20 silver bobby pins… At the end, I felt like I had a spaceship landed on my head except it was lopsided. I would not have minded if I was attending a fashion show but this is for a wedding. Not quite the place to make a loud statement… Of course, I sneakily removed all of them the moment I left the salon. Luckily my hairdo was still intact afterwards. PHEW!
As for the prices, it’s approximately $ 65 – 85 for bridesmaids. It really depends on how complex you want it. I would try to keep it as simple as possible especially if this is a wedding held in the summer.
Note: My bangs didn’t hold together as I had hoped. It fell apart and divided into three parts mid-​day. A bit of a bummer for me.

Behind all the cute little animé shops and the fancy new fusion restaurants that are popping up left and right, the backdrop of Chinatown serves as the battleground for an underground war of hair salons that all originated at this nice little salon. Over the years, different disgruntled hairstylists have broken off from Urban Roots to start their own salons right down the street; what’s somewhat amusing is the sense of tension you get from all this «hair salon» drama. Granted, it really isn’t thaaat deep but Urban Roots Salon used to be the top dog, the Queen Bee if you will and now, from her own hive, ambitious worker drones have colonized new hives to challenge her throne (i guess drones wouldn’t be able to but for the sake of the metaphor, whaatever). Even my extended family has been torn apart (at least in the hair arena); some of my family has switched to other salons while others have remained loyal to Urban Roots. As for myself, I’ve been getting my hair cut here for about 6 – 7 years and I can honestly say that I’ve never come away disappointed. My wallet maybe. But me, never.
I’ve always had my hair cut by Ray so I can’t comment on the skills of other stylists but I highly recommend asking for Ray if you make an appointment. He’s very nice and is very good at remembering how you got your hair cut during your last appointment; definitely saves on the trouble of bringing in a picture or something. What makes this place great is how easy everything seems to flow. You walk in and within 5 minutes, they’ll take you back and wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. After a quick towel dry, you’ll have your hair cut and once your finished, they’ll wash your hair again with shampoo and dry/​style it for you, if you wish. And what’s more important is that they are very good about being on time. Rarely will they be behind schedule and make you wait and what’s more is if you know you will be late or might be in Chinatown a bit early, they will gladly switch up your appointment time if they have the room. One thing you can try to do is schedule during the weekdays or earlier on the weekends. This isn’t as much of a problem now since many other salons have slowly sapped away customers but when the schedule gets packed, most of the hair stylists will start to rush on your haircut just so they don’t fall behind. While that’s obviously annoying, you can save yourself the irritation and at the same time, you’ll get more well paced service.
The only point of contention I can think of is the price. While the haircuts are good, the cost is definitely on the high end and adding a tip for your stylist will raise the total quite steeply. However, if you’re not too worried about the pricing, I would definitely recommend this place. It’s a solid salon and will definitely treat you with great service and a good haircut.

Unfortunately, my favorite stylist, Ricky, has left the place, so I’ll be updating the review as follows:
If you’re looking for an Asian hairdresser, particularly for trendy, FOB-​ier hairstyles, Urban Roots is a very good place. Customer service of the place is very good and never once have I left the place itching. They’re a bit pricier than what I was used to in San Francisco ($ 15-​$ 20 in most salons) at around $ 30 for a wash and cut. They’re also conveniently located at the Chinatown plaza, so it’s very accessible by the CTA red line.
The quality of your haircut is very dependent on who you get. To summarize from other reviewers, if you’re a girl, stick with Andy and if you’re a guy, go with Eric or Ray. I recently went with Andy and was very pleased with the results of my cut. He was very attentive and very fast and gave me a hairdo that was super easy to manage and super flattering all at once. He is also very nice and one of the co-​owners of the shop. I also took one of my exes (a white guy) to Urban Roots a couple years back and Eric did his cut. I found Eric to be very focused and attentive, and my ex told me it was the best haircut he had in his life.
One thing to keep in mind is that the place becomes very packed on the weekends, so if you want a weekend cut, book ahead! Also, keep in mind that for anything $ 65 or under, you’d need cash and if you want to leave a tip, you’ll need to do it by cash also.
Note: I still stand by my previous review, especially regarding the difficulty in finding a good hairdresser who can handle Asian hair. However, for those who prefer less FOB looks, I highly recommend Kelly Cardenas in the Wicker Park neighborhood. If you’re living in the city of Milwaukee, I’d suggest trying The Establishment. Although both places are pricier than Urban Roots, I think they can handle Asian hair reasonably well, despite not being Asian run.

Came here for my last 3 speedy haircuts and have always been satisfied. I can’t believe I was travelling all over the north side chasing the dream haircut and it was in Chinatown the whole time! I usually go with Andy and he always cuts my hair perfectly. He’s like a genius with my hair, (I’m half asian) where as other salons can’t seem to do a simple long layered look.
Brought a friend here who’s hair is the opposite mine and she was also very pleased. I will forever be a customer here.

After trying various places, and being disappointed, I’ve settled on Urban Roots for my haircuts.
As someone who gets his hair cut about once every two months, it is very important that my hair gets cut properly. Otherwise, it gets bad after about two weeks. I have learned the hard way that Asian hair is different enough that I need to go to an Asian salon. Other places that cater towards a more Caucasian clientele don’t utilize tools, like thinning shears, which are necessary for Asian haircuts.
They provide a pre and post cut hair wash, and are very quick and efficient. However, it does get busy so you want to make reservations. This place is on the pricey side ($ 27 for men’s cut), but they do a proper job, allowing me to go 2 months without a trim. Ricky cuts my hair and he does a great job.

Been going here for a few years now. It was very convenient while living in the city taking the red line down. I now live an hr away and still drive down for hair cuts and a good meal (tons of good places to eat).
Eric does a pretty good job with my thick Asian hair. He takes his time and does exactly what you want done to your hair. I’ve had other places who cut to much off making my hair stick up in the back or charge me $ 60 for a barley noticeable trim. Urban roots will run you $ 26 plus tip which includes a precut shampoo and conditioner and wash and style after the cut… can’t beat it.

It’s a decent looking salon, I’ve had a cut there once and my brother had a few. I must say it really depends on who you get for your cut. My brother once had this guy cutting his short hair for two hours. Totally worth it if you asked me since it was a pretty awesome cut.
But personally I can’t tell who’s who since they look kind of the same. But don’t get the guy that doesn’t look like the other since my brother HATED his cut, it was a 20 min waste of time. And it cost the same amount as the two hours long session.
I do think that they do better with guys cut than girls, since I’ve seen many females getting cuts there and they all look alike… almost like they didn’t even cut it. So the one time I did get mine cut there from long to short hair, you’ll notice the difference, but I don’t see any style. So don’t think I’d recommend any female friends there.
Oh and remember you ask about the price before you get your cut. And bring cash, there’s a high minimum on the credit card usage.

I’ve gone to Urban Roots quite a few times because:
a) I have a friend who swears by this skinny metro guy there with highlights and
b) my mom won’t let me go to white people for haircuts.
On the whole, I’ve been pretty satisfied. No, I didn’t feel like Anne Hathaway in Princess Diaries when they turned the chair around, but then again no one has traced my royal lineage yet. I do like how they give you two hairwashes — one in the beginning, and one in the end. Also, the guys there are just on the verge of being sexually questionable so I trust their judgement.
However, I’m sad to say that I won’t be coming back. Each time after getting an «Urban» haircut, I always notice that I have a bunch of split ends that grow back. I’ve switched salons since, and haven’t noticed the problem again. which leads me to think that they use blunt shears. (Just don’t tell my mom.)

I’ve been to Asian salons in NorCal and Philly but the rude service here really took me aback. The cut was mediocre and really didn’t warrant the bad service.
My haircut is really simple (short bob, few layers) and I told the stylist so in both English and Cantonese. Mid-​haircut, the stylist stepped away twice without saying a thing — once to help another stylist blow dry another girl’s hair and another time to help with something in the back. Each time he got back, he was a bit flustered and wasn’t sure where he had left things so proceeded to take more off the hair he had already cut, leaving the hair too layered and a little uneven. When I got home, my roommate asked me what I had done to my hair and why in the world was there a tail in the back. –_​–
I’d say it’s a your mileage may vary situation. Didn’t request a specific stylist so probably got a trainee. It was pretty clear that there were VIP stylists and customers and non-​VIPs so maybe you just have to be in the know. Could be a decent place if you’re looking for the Asian music video style and don’t mind the service but I’ll be sticking to Aveda from now on.

I like this place, it’s trendy, affordable and entertaining.
I’ve been going there for the past 2 years and I regularly get my haircut with Norris. Weekdays are better, there are less customers so you’ll get more attention.
I strongly recommend this place if you’re looking for stylists who are familiar with asian hair.
Make sure you know what haircut you want or bring a photo if you don’t want to be disappointed.

I forgot to get cash before I came so had to go to the credit union around the corner before my appointment. (*Has to be $ 65 and up in order to use your credit card here.)
Came to see Ricky again today. He did a great job. Was in and out of there in an hour. I love how all the Asian places wash your hair after the cut and before the blow-​dry to make sure all the loose hair is out and so they can do one more final check before letting you go. Cost me $ 35 + tip. Can’t beat that.

Walked in on Sunday at 6p.m. The wash was thorough and they got to me quickly. No wait. Got a decent trim-​Eric is a very nice guy and stylist.
I will definitely go back for future cuts. He recommended products to style my hair but also told me that I don’t have to use their brand. I appreciate that.