Easel Hair Studio

Megan gave me an amazing haircut! I got the livingsocial deal, and got an appointment for the next day. I had very long hair, a bit short of elbow length, and it was too long and driving me crazy. I told Megan this, and that my biggest fear in a haircut was emphasizing how young my face looks. I told her I wanted something much shorter, but professional looking, and that I had bad experiences with chin-​length cuts and razors. She listened to all of my concerns, sketched out a plan with me, and gave me the best haircut of my life! I’ve got to nice salons (generally with living social deals) in Boston before, but nothing this great! My hair looks perfect even if I just wash it and air dry, and I’ve gotten tons of compliments. Megan knows what she’s doing and I look forward to going back (even without a LS deal).

Based on all these fantastic reviews, I decided to buy a google offer for Easel Hair Studio. The staff was really friendly and welcoming when I arrived. And the stylist I had Meghan was really friendly too. But I don’t go to a salon because people are nice, I go because I want my hair to look good. The best haircut I ever got was from a mean Chinese lady that grunted and didn’t speak English. One thing was clear from this visit to Easel — Meghan does not know how to cut thick hair. An hour later, my hair looked like it got a trim — and absolutely nothing like the picture. I only get my haircut twice a year, and take the experience pretty seriously. Haircuts are expensive, so doing a good job is really important! How bad was it? This is the FIRST time I’ve ever gotten a haircut and had no one notice or compliment me after. That’s bad. When I told people, they said, «you got a haircut?» Then I showed them the picture on my phone, and they were all like «yeah your hair looks nothing like that». How embarrassing. When I said something to Meghan at the end of the cut, she defensively says, «well this is what you wanted». No, I wanted the picture — I understand that hair will never look exactly like the picture, but in this one the model’s hair was heavy at the top and thinner at the bottom. None of that happened with me. The final straw were my bangs — I’ve had bangs for a good 4 years and they’ve always looked good. She cut them long, so I asked her to cut them above my eyelashes since they grow so fast. She cut them instead above my EYEBROWS. My bangs are so short. I am so disappointed I’m stuck with this boring child-​like haircut until my hair grows out to where I can go somewhere else with the same photo I’ve been carrying around for 5 months to get the edgy look I wanted. Even $ 35 for the offer is too much money for this look.
So in short, if you have thick hair and want an edgy cut, do not go to Meghan. I don’t know about the other stylists there, but that was my experience.

I have been looking for a new person with whom I will trust my hair since I moved to DC many months ago. When I saw the Living Social deal, I figured I would give Easel a try. I was very pleased with the result. I explained how my hair needed to fluctuate between wavy/​curly to straight and the general length I was looking for, and Shawn gave me the perfect cut. I have received many, many compliments on this cut (both curly and straight!). Additionally, Shawn was very easy to talk to the whole time. I had a great experience and will definitely go back.

I had a great experience with Easel Hair Studio, and weeks later I am still very much enjoying my haircut. I also came with a Living Social deal in tow and had no trouble making a Saturday morning appointment less than a week in advance. I arrived and was introduced to John, whom they said would be my stylist. I had actually never before had my hair cut professionally (I know… I know…) and told him this, but he seemed excited about the idea of giving me my first real haircut. He talked me through the whole process and discussed carefully with me about what I wanted to do with my hair. I told him that I didn’t want all that much length taken off but that my main goal was to finally get layers.
The woman who washed my hair was extremely sweet and made the experience very relaxing for me. I was happy to learn that they were using all-​natural products as I am extremely sensitive to a lot of chemicals and have to be careful of what I use or else I break into hives. She then returned me to John, who perfectly cut and very patiently blow-​dried my hair in the exact style I was hoping for. The entire time, he was so friendly and talkative, and he had really great stories to tell about his life and some professional adventures in California. I found that the time flew by talking to him, and before I knew it my cut was complete. I left very excited about my new look, and I remain very happy with the quality of the work he did on my hair. I will definitely be back!

I went to Easel because of the living social deal and got a cut by John. I was a bit late but luckily the salon wasn’t packed so I didn’t feel rushed. John recently moved back to the DC area and it seems Easel did not update their website yet with his information.
I had gotten my past 2 cuts over in Asia (digital perm in Korea, then cut in Japan), but it was long past due for another cut. I loved my cut from Japan and had asked John to have something around that style. He did just that, but had then blow dried my hair and styled it in a way that made it look a bit messier than my personal preferences. Anyways, I went along with it and after I got home, waited a few days to settle into my new cut, it looks nice– and how I wanted it.
I wore my hair down at work (which I don’t normally do I guess) and I’ve gotten a few compliments! So my living social deal paid off!

Love this little salon. I started going about a year ago on a Living Social deal and have stuck with it ever since. It’s a cute, quaint little salon and I think their prices are reasonable for the high quality of service. From the beginning I was struck by how the staff remembered me after just one visit. I can’t say enough good things about my colorist Susan and my hair stylist Cara. Susan has done a fantastic job on my hair when I was getting blonde highlights and now that I’ve been getting single process red. It looks so natural, best coloring I’ve ever had. I haven’t asked Cara to do anything dramatic with my cuts yet, but the layering looks great. I’m glad I’ve found a salon I can call home in DC!

I’ve been going to Easel for about 5 years now and can’t say anything but positive things about it! I am incredibly picky about my short, highlighted hair and could not have landed at a better place! Shawn knows exactly what’s hip and in and gets it right every time. It’s amazing how many styles I’ve walked out of there with in my time at Easel.
I’ve tried some of the other stylists when Shawn’s been out on vacation, and they’re fantastic as well. Kristen and Susan are great choices
The atmosphere is very laid back, yet professional. Easel makes «hair day» my favorite day of the month!

This is my go-​to hair salon. I always get a great cut and I like the laid-​back atmosphere. Everyone who works there is really friendly, fast, and attentive, but not overly so. The one and only thing I can criticize is there seems to be high turnover — I always seem to get a different stylist because the last one moved or left the salon. But that hasn’t been a problem for me so far, I always get a great cut, and I never get too attached to my stylist. The prices are not low, about the going rate for DC (~$ 65 for shampoo and cut with a mid-​level stylist), but it’s worth it here. I have not had coloring or any other services so can’t comment on that.

Like other reviewers, I was rescheduled multiple times. In retrospect, I kinda wished they’d just up & canceled my appointment, the results were so disappointing.
The first time I came to Easel, the stylist, Shawn Leonard, argued with me so much I left. Even after I showed him a picture of how I wanted my perm to look and explained what I was going for, he condescendingly told me that I «didn’t know what I wanted». I knew exactly what I wanted (a perm & a cut, in that order), I just didn’t want to do it his way.
The next week I returned for a fairly drama free appointment, and was estatic with the results of my perm. I had more gorgeous ringlets than Georgetown jewlers. Shawn told me not to wash it for two days (I went unwashed for a full four just in case). But here’s where it all went downhill: by day 2, the ringlets were starting to soften, by day 3, my hair was almost completely back to its normal texture. After I called Easel about the dekinking, they told me that another customer had also complained of a impotent perm, and that they would reperm me for free.
The second perm was even worse than the first. Somehow Shawn managed to dump a bunch of water/​shampoo/​perming solution beneath the protective smock, and my shirt was soaked. The trip from Easel to the metro was freezing, and the water only enhanced the cold. Undergoing two perms within a month — which Shawn assured me would not harm my hair — serverly damaged my strands. I had a head full of frizz.
If frizz is your idea of a successful perm, come to Easel (although you do better– and cheaper– to wrap your hair in rollers and bang your head on a hot element). If not, save your hair and don’t come here.
Oh, and their wash basins are more uncomfortable than a taking a karate chop to the nape ofthe neck. In other words, super uncomfortable.

It doesn’t matter if it’s Dubai, Durban or D.C. I’ve never had a better haircut or experience than at Easel. I’ve been going here since my mate told me about Shawn Leonard. I have curly hair which I hate and can never do anything with, when I asked my mate who teaches people to cut hair who was the best person he had ever taught, he pointed me in Shawn’s direction without a seconds thought. Shawn’s the only person that’s ever been able to do anything decent with it.
First time I went in, I sat down, told him my problem, and he quickly told me what he was going to do, and what product I should be using. And In short order I came away with my best, and easiest to manage haircut ever. I’ve since moved to the west coast and Shawn is still the only person I trust to give me a bang on haircut every single time.
Not only is Shawn spot on, the place itself is great. Ambience is always there, music is always chilled and the selection is always something good, and the staff are always friendly and courteous, and theres some great artwork on the walls always by local people.
But what nails it for me with this place is how socially conscious the place is, it’s not just a business. These guys do so much for the community, and social projects it amazes me from cutting hair at Walter Reed, to aids charity functions and fundraising. I’m not sure you’ll ever find another place quite like it.
I miss D.C. and I miss Easel.

I had a fantastic experience at Easel. Like many others, I came with a Living Social coupon for $ 75 worth of services. I scheduled a late appointment on a Wednesday night and saw Meghan, who previously cut hair on capitol hill. I hadn’t gotten a haircut in about 5 months, so my hair was long and full of split ends. Meghan spent quite a bit of time talking to me about my hair and what I wanted, and immediately seemed professional and knowledgeable. I mentioned that I wanted bangs, and she was quick to point out that I would have to maintain them daily; it was clear she wanted me to understand the amount of effort I would have to put in to make my cut look good after leaving the salon. I really appreciated this, I have never had a stylist thoroughly talk through decisions with me like she did, and I have been to quite a few nice salons in the area.
In addition to being professional and knowledgeable about my hair, Meghan walked the fine line between being overly sales-​y about products, and educating me about what products she believed would be good for my hair. The salon uses Kevin Murphy products, which are all natural, and sulfate and paraben free. I have a sensitive scalp, and she said it could be due to using products that have these elements, which can be very harsh for your skin. I felt an immediate difference when she washed my hair using Kevin Murphy shampoo and conditioner, so I asked a lot of questions about the products, and ended up buying them. They have made a huge difference in my hair, so I am very happy I did. Meghan seemed genuinely passionate about his line, rather than just trying to sell me something to make a commission.
My haircut is fantastic, and I could not be happier. I can honestly say my experience at Easel with Meghan was the best experience I have had at salons in DC, and it was certainly not the most expensive. The cut and blow dry came to $ 65. I will definitely be back!

Horrible experience. My friend and I made appointments weeks in advance and the front desk kept trying to upsell us services and changing the times. I called the day before to confirm the time and it had been changed again. When I showed up for my appointment ON TIME, I was told that he would not have enough time to color my hair. I did not want highlights or a blow out, just a single uniform color for my whole head! My friend had the exact same experience. What a Mickey Mouse operation! I will NEVER go back. So much for the money I paid my baby sitter and for parking. Lesson learned! FYI, the people leaving the salon after their services looked terrible!

The atmosphere is cheery and comfortable and the staff members are welcoming. However, when I balked a bit at chunks of hair being chopped off despite that I had asked to keep the length, apparently I wasn’t the first person to have this reaction; my hair dresser cheerfully told me of another person that reacted the same way when too much was cut off.
Tip to the staff: When someone says they are trying to grow their hair out long, that means she doesn’t want it to «look» long, she wants it to actually be long. Now I’m stuck with layers that are so short, they barely fit back into a ponytail.

*sigh* I had really high hopes for my experience at Easel. I just knew I would leave the place looking done and fresh, ready to go. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
I purchased the Living Social deal, and in need of a haircut, called to make an appointment. When I called, I *specifically* asked for someone who could 1) cut short hair, and 2) could style African-​American hair. The gentleman says that I need to see Shawn, so that is who I booked an appointment with.
I arrived at the salon with my hair wrapped in a black scarf, as I had washed it that morning before I came in. When I checked in and then sat with Shawn, I told him that I had cut my hair short a few months ago, and that I was trying to work with the whole «short hair» thing. I explained that I wanted to cut my hair shorter on the sides, and keep the length on top. I was thinking about a pixie style (a la Carey Mulligan), and/​or Halle Berry (cliché, but that’s the short, textured, look I wanted). He seemed like he understood what I wanted, and said that we would wash it, then cut it, dry it, and then he’d go through again with scissors, to piece it out.
Well, here’s what happened: wash, cut, blow dry, and flat iron. When he cut the hair, it didn’t seem like he took enough off, but I figured that he was going to go through it again (as he said he would). I didn’t get nervous until he started flat ironing my hair. At that time I noticed that he was flat ironing my hair to flip up. I thought, «well, maybe he has a plan,» and tried to talk myself into being patient. When he finished and then flipped me around, I was shocked. All my hair was flipped up – I looked like a CLOWN.
I was still composed at this point, and told him that I preferred my hair closer to my face. He went back over with a flat iron, curling it down, but it was still pretty unattractive, at that point. Then I asked him if he could work through with the scissors once more, as he had said he would. I told him that I wanted it short on the sides, long on top, and pointed to the sides of his head as an example of how short I wanted to go. He went through and cut my hair once more, and I could tell at that point, that the shape was what I was looking for and that the haircut was more on target. Inside I was trying to rally, thinking that he’d finish and then I’d come full circle with this experience.
Only he didn’t – and this is when things went WAY south. He cut my hair, smoothed his hands over it (no product), whipped off my black cape, and pronounced it done, mumbling something about how it would probably lay down later when I put a scarf on it.
He had another appointment, so I was up from the chair and at the front, exchanging my Living Social deal for the non-​hairdo that I had. «you’re done!» said the receptionist. Yes. I. Am. I went to the bathroom to check it out… and after seeing how unfinished it was, and how bad it looked, I wrapped my hair in the SAME BLACK SCARF that I had walked into the salon with.
I walked down the street in a daze… at a certain point I felt tears well up in my eyes. I couldn’t believe that I came to get my hair done and came out looking like I hadn’t gotten my hair done! I specifically asked for someone who knew how to do African-​American hair. No hairstylist who is even remotely familiar with black hair would have let me walk out of the salon looking like I did.
I walked further down the street and stood across from Aveda Salon. I decided to try and salvage the situation, as I refused to walk around with this black scarf on, after I’d «had my hair done». I went to the receptionist and asked if there was anyone available to flat iron my hair. THANKFULLY, there was a lovely woman by the name of Brooke who flat ironed my hair, put some pomade in it, combed it through, and lightly styled it. I left looking how I thought I would look when I left Easel. Brooke and I agreed that the cut was good, but the previous stylist hadn’t bothered to style or finish my hair.
I had hoped that I would like this salon and perhaps find a new stylist. Instead I had one of the worst hair experiences, ever. I wouldn’t recommend the salon to anyone, but I would especially urge anyone with black hair to stay far, far away. Save yourself some heartache and possible tears.

I should preface this review by saying that the hair cut that I did receive was done well, that is why I have given two stars, not one. But, the hair cut that I received is most definitely not what I wanted, and my experience with Cara at Easel was far less than stellar. I purchased a living social coupon for Easel a few weeks ago, and promptly made an appointment to get my hair cut.
I don’t know if it was because I wasn’t paying the full going rate for the cut, but something put Cara, in a bad mood. She was cold and unfriendly, and even sharp at times. When I first sat down in her chair, she asked me what I would like done.
I have been growing my hair for three years, starting from a pixie cut. I finally had the long hair that I have been patiently waiting for, but, after avoiding a hair cut for six months in the hopes that it would grow faster, the ends really needed trimming. I told her right off the bat that I have been trying to grow my hair, and that I really only wanted a small trim, about a half-​inch at the most; just enough to make it look neat and healthy again. She immediately shot back, «so an inch,» to which I responded, «again, I’m trying to grow it, so as little as possible is best.» She again insisted on an inch, I repeated that I wanted less, and left it there.
Then she moved on to the pieces that used to be my bangs, asking what I wanted for them. I said, just a tiny trim, I am trying to grow them. Her response, word for word and in a very snappy tone, was «well do you want them to scraggly and awful while they are growing?» I responded that I wanted them to look neat, but to keep the length.
After 45 minutes in the chair, and a very quiet 45 minutes at that, because, despite my best efforts, Cara is not much of a chatter, she had lopped at least two inches off, more like two and a half in the front. After she finished the wet cut she asked how I liked it, to which I responded that I couldn’t really tell, because it was still wet, but it looked a bit shorter than I had asked for. She gave me a look, dried it, then cut even more!
After she had finished the cut, dry, and style, she asked me again how I liked it (at this point how short it really was had become obvious), and I told her the truth, that was a nice cut, but it was shorter than I wanted. And she argued with me about it!
I’m a nice person! I don’t usually give bad reviews, in fact I tend to love most places that I try, but you can’t completely ignore my requests, treat me like you would rather be doing anything else but cutting my hair, then argue with me when I respond honestly to your question about how I like the cut! I understand that I am paying below your normal rate, but I am still forking over 45 bucks for a hair cut! After reading all of the positive reviews, I was expecting to really this salon, and possibly make them my go-​to salon in DC. Instead I walked away seriously regretting ever making an appointment to go there.

4.5 stars for Easel.
Oh Easel… how much I miss you! having moved to Boston 5 years ago, i still can’t find a stylist i like. Sean is a great stylist. He would spend like forever getting my hair perfect. perfect cut and style and color, all while being super cool and approachable.
the salon is pretty cool, and only took a half star off cause it was out of the way from my work/​home at the time.

I purchased a Living Social Deal for a cut here otherwise I would have been drowning in figuring out how to afford a hair cut (and I will not go to Super Cuts).
The appt making process was good for me because I had to switch it several times (the big snow storm really wrecked my schedule for weeks to come) and they even took me 30 minutes early when I showed up.
The hair washing was really a relief to me in terms of seating and positioning because I didn’t have my head tilted back to the point of pain and forced to worry about having a stroke with the oxygen cut off to my brain (why do hair salons not realize how painful that 90 degree head back position is and react with disbelief when I tell them I actually need a booster seat! haha). Anyways, there was what seemed like an air pocket or leak in the pipes because the whole time the water was on, it wasn’t exactly relaxing to hear the pipes moaning and groaning in my ear.
The space is bright and sunny and open. The «easels» that the stylists use as their stations seem really impractical for them– they don’t actually use them. Not a big deal, and it doesn’t really affect this review at all, it was just a detail that I noticed.
Now the haircut. I have a really bad habit with twirling my hair, and razoring and texturizing the edges may further contribute to split ends and that texture that invites me to twirl. So, we discussed not razoring the ends to try something a bit chunkier and less damaging to my hair. I really appreciated the hair analysis– he clearly picked upon that I didn’t blow dry it often, it had been razored, it was several months since my last cut, and my highlights were natural. He obviously knew his hair.
They took a little too much off and it’s a little less wispy than I would have liked, I think because I’m so used to the lightweight of the razored ends. I do, however, think it’s going to grow out nicely. I’d go back, but my budget forces me to rely on coupons from Living Social nowadays so wherever the next Living Social deal takes me is where I’ll be getting my hair cut…
I think I hesitate to give another star because I think of what another $ 5 or $ 10 on a hair cut would give me. Easel tiers their pricing depending on the stylist (up to $ 80 I believe). For example, $ 90 at Molecule gives me an espresso or cappuccino, cookies, a nicer scalp massage, and the blow dry is little nicer.

Went at 10am. Salon mostly empty (1 other customer). Julia sat down with me and talked about my hair, style, routine, etc. Then washed my hair and massaged my scalp.
Her cut was great. Clean lines, still looks good a few weeks later.
She also waxed my eyebrows while I was there! I’ll definitely be back.

I’ve been going to Easel for a few months now and seeing Kristen for my cuts (she’s helping me grow my hair out). I’ve been really happy with her work and Kristen has the calm and confident attitude that I like (overly chatty hairdressers make me uncomfortable).
The salon is convenient to where I live and not out of my budget like most Georgetown places.

So Shawn Helton left and went to Urban Style Lab in Dupont Circle-​which is much closer to me.
If you still want a good colorist-​check him out at USL in Dupont!