Sine Qua Non – Lakeview

The husband and I both go to Carrie. She is hands down the best. Incredibly talented and equally kind. I love her ideas and love how she takes my thoughts to then create the best possible look for me. Always leave looking and feeling great. Highly recommend.

Glenn rules! Awesome cut and color. Every time. The only challenge is getting on Glenn’s schedule– usually booked out 2 – 3 weeks

I have been going to Sine Qua Non for color and cut for about 5 years. I am always happy with the results. Josie is a mega star with hair color and cuts. She takes the time before each session to discuss how i liked my hair and what i would like to do different. Frankly, i just tell her she is the pro and do whatever she wants. My hair always looks beautiful with high lites, low lites, and a trim. The staff is friendly and professional. I have never seen a bad cut or color with other customers. The salon is good for men, women, and children. The salon is up to date with the current trends. Street parking is usually available. I highly recommend Sine Qua Non.

I received a complimentary haircut with Shelly last Monday and she did an amazing job. I received a botched haircut with uneven face framing layers two months ago, so I wanted a one layer haircut this time to grow out my hair. Shelly is very attentive to detail and made the entire experience wonderful. Her instructor, Val, was also professional and communicated to me why they were cutting a certain way in order for my hair to grow out nicely. Also, my true test of a good haircut is if I can replicate similar results at home styling (a.k.a. amateur blowdrying) and my hair turns out sleek. I would defiantly recommend Shelly and can’t wait to come back!

I love the way Jenny cuts my hair. She «gets» my curls in ways few other stylists have. She helped me go from a «too short» bob to a longer, more flattering style. The focus of the salon is curls, curls, curls — great for someone like me who searched for years for someone who knew how to deal with my «mop.»

Great place with an awesome and inviting staff.
Saw Carrie for a cut and color and had my expectations exceeded! Left with my favorite color I have ever received and a big smile across my face.
So happy I have finally found a go to stylist in the city, and couldn’t recommend the salon or Carrie more!

This review is for Anne (eyebrow shaping). I’m really picky when it comes to brows — after moving to Chicago and trying places like Benefit, I got really frustrated with the bad service. I finally went to Anne at Sine Qua Non and she’s amazing. She listens to what you want and helps shape your brows (and in my case, grow them back from over waxing) so they look incredible. Highly recommend.

Came for a blowout, and loved the staff’s energy, and the cleanliness of the space. My blowout with Kelli was on point! I have a botched cut (awful layers and just awful all-​around from mixed co salon), but she managed to add beautiful texture, and subtle volume to blend the hideous cut all over.
Certainly coming back in a week, and possibly even becoming a weekly regular.

Sine Qua Non is my favorite salon in the city! Sarah R is always my stylist. She is great at listening to me while giving me her advice and guidance. My hair finally has volume! I leave feeling renewed and cared for.
Sarah R s an exceptional stylist (and a true sweetheart) and I would highly recommend!

Okay, so I generally wouldn’t give a five star review when I have a couple of criticisms to give. But the positives of this place so far outweigh the negatives that it still deserves five stars! I have finally after 10 years found my Chicago stylist!
Okay so here are the pros and cons…
Cons, starting with what I wish for a little bit different:
–I tried to book an appointment online via their online reservation system. I spent nearly an hour trying to get the system to work, uploaded the software recommended and could never get the thing to work. This was extremely frustrating. When I finally was able to call in on a day that they were open, I mentioned this issue to the receptionist who acknowledged that that was a very common problem and that the system was basically defunct and you were better off calling in to make appointments anyway. While this really not might not be an issue for most people, for me it’s a pretty big deal. I own a small business, run a nonprofit and have a toddler. All of that means… it’s really hard to coordinate everything in my life even just simply make a phone call… Let alone get a haircut :-) I need to have the peace and quiet that my toddler being asleep affords me, in order to juggle my responsibilities for work, my schedule, childcare etc. in order to book. So being able book online after bedtime when I can have uninterrupted communication with my babysitter is huge! So bottom line, my best advice is to get all your ducks in a row way in advance and call and schedule something far enough out that there’s not likely to be any problem booking that time slot.
–Once I was able to book a reservation via telephone they weren’t able to get me in at my first choice location, which was totally fine. They did get me in within the week and they told me very clearly on the phone Lincoln Park location. I even wrote it down including the address. Once I arrived, a few minutes early for my appointment I discovered that in fact I was scheduled at Lakeview. The receptionist was really nice and told me where to go and that it wasn’t very far. I hate being late for appointments, so I had intentionally arrived a few minutes early. I hate it when people arrive late for appointments with me, so I am almost never late. Anyway, all of this resulted in me being just a couple of minutes late for my appointment which I felt badly about.
–Because I am a new client, I had looked at which stylist I might like to work with at the original location I had requested. Once they moved me to a different location, they put me with a stylist who I didn’t think was a good fit. It seems to be the norm that when your new, they put you with the least experienced person in the salon. I sort of think this is a poor business practice. Giving me my first experience of your salon with someone that doesn’t have a developed skill set doesn’t seem like putting your best foot forward. While I am happy to give someone new to things a chance, I didn’t feel like it was a good fit for me given that I’m trying to grow out my hair out and was given such a terrible cut the last time I went to have it done (elsewhere). I called back after reviewing the biographies on the website for the new location, and scheduled with Jennifer.
That’s really about all I can say about the negatives!
In terms of the pros:
–the space was fine, everything seemed clean and I was really welcomed by one of the most calm, relaxed and welcoming receptionists I’ve ever met in a salon.
–the employees generally seem relaxed, comfortable and happy. No one seem to be trying too hard as they are in some salons around town.
–everyone presented themselves professionally.
–Jennifer cut my hair and did an awesome job! She was chatty and friendly, very comfortable in her own skin and disclosing about her plans for what she might like to do to my hair. I’m growing out and she was very sensitive to not cutting off too much hair while providing me with some style and some funky layers. She is everything you want hairstylist to be!
I could say other pros but fundamentally I don’t think any of them are really important… the bottom line is getting someone who you feel like you click with well enough to spend 30 minutes with, who listens to you, who is able to give you exactly what you want while providing their own professional spin on it.
I highly recommend Jennifer and the salon.

I have very thick, curly hair. I got my hair cut here a few years ago, and decided to get bangs for a change (not quite side bangs but not quite full bangs… full frontal bangs that angled across my forehead to either the right or the left). I will never forget the look on my boss’s face the next day as he stared at the uneven squirrel-​tail poof on my head. Eventually, I was able to figure out a way to style them to look good, until I went back for my free trim, and she cut them UNEVENLY.
The cut on my non-​bang hair was nothing special. It looked good at first, because she did a great job of styling the curls. But when she gave me recommendations on how to style my hair, she suggested I use something like 5 products in one sitting. Now, every curly girl knows the less products the better. I felt like she was just pushing products on me. And it turned out the cut didn’t make my curls look any better, like a good cut should.
I also feel like this salon is a bit hoity toity (for me, anyway). It’s one of those places where you feel uncomfortable if you don’t look absolutely perfect when you walk in, and they offer you some weirdly flavored water that you never quite know how to graciously accept.
I’d been told this place is good with curls, but after visiting here once, I finally learned my lesson to never trust straight-​haired girls’ recommendations for a curly cutter. That all being said, I think that the last time I checked, the stylist I had left the salon. Whether of her own accord or theirs, I don’t know.

I have been going to cheap hair salons in the past like BoRics and Super Cuts, and by contrast this was the best hair cut I have ever gotten! My stylist was very gentle with my hair, and usually because it is so long stylists have a hard time working with it (they tend to pull it and sometimes it is very painful). I got a great shampoo and conditioning treatment that came along with the cut, and the Bumble & Bumble products she used on my hair were amazing. Overall, everyone at Sine Qua Non was very hospitable, the salon itself was clean and in great shape, and my stylist cut my hair exactly as I wanted it. I was very happy with it and was definitely worth a little extra cash! ($ 50 actually wasn’t bad at all compared to other salons in the area).

Love this place! I had a botched ombré done at another salon, and a friend referred me here to get it fixed. She told me to make an appointment with Josie, and I’m so glad I did. Josie fixed my botched ombré from the previous salon I went to. She didn’t bad mouth the previous stylist, she was so polite, and just pointed out what went wrong and how she would fix it. When she was done with my hair it was perfect, and she just did an amazing job. Several months later I came back to get a haircut with Josie, and once again she killed it. My cut was great, and really exceeded my expectations. Josie is so fun and sociable, she gives great tips on products, and is just all around a great stylist! Sine Qua Non as a whole is trendy, and everyone there is so nice!

This is a good salon! Great receptionists greet you with coffee, tea, bagels. Spacious two level bustling salon with like 8 stylists cutting locks and a couple «Shampoo Girls» making the rounds. Valerie is an exceptional stylist and I would highly recommend making an appointment with her/​a true pro! Tons of great «Hair Jelly» from Aveda/​B&B/ etc. A bit more money but DEFINITELY worth it! Nothing worse than a bum cut. get dat did

Very impressed with the whole experience. Rachel was my stylist and she turned my very fine hair into something special. The Shampoo was lovely and the trust I had in her confidence even allowed me to reach outside my comfort zones with a different product line. I’m now in love with the Bb thickening Dry Spun Finish. Thank you Rachel I’ll be seeing you real soon!

I couldn’t keep my appointment and rescheduling just didn’t work out because my regular stylist was booked solid and I gotta work so I had to go elsewhere in my own neighborhood, which is fine because there’s so many great high end salons and who doesn’t like walking leisurely to the salon? Then running home quickly to hide if it ends horribly. I needed a cut so badly and there’s no way in hell I’m going to great clips or the like. Have some self respect. /​snobby font. I received a great cut elsewhere recently, keeping with my original cut but I received so many compliments at my new substitute salon about my color (which I got months ago at Sine Qua Non where it was so awesome that pictures were taken of it for my stylist’s portfolio). It was really unexpected when strangers kept on commenting about it. I have to agree that it’s fabulous color and Carrie did a fucking great job months ago when I first talked to her about my coloring needs read: low maintenance and on the subtle side. Just don’t make me look like asian trailer trash I told her. It’s a fine line between having some cool edge and skank trash mail order bride from a third world country hair, my friends. And trust me, I’ve seen some truly tragic ombré/​highlights on others. There was a girl at the new salon I went to — also a brunette and we were looking at each other while getting our hair done and I was trying to tell her with my eyes that yes, your ombré looks dreadful, I’m embarrassed for you, isn’t my color great and you want it? Haha. No really, her color was really ugly and all the curling being done to it wasn’t going to help it look better. Unless ugly was the look she asked for. Some people are into that ironic shit but she didn’t look like no hipster to me and I’m from Portlandia, so I know my hipsters. It’s been a long time since I’ve been super happy with my color and I want to go out of my way and buy Carrie lunch or coffee or whatever because she is so awesome– listens and takes the time and care to do what makes her clients look fantastic. Super talented. *high five*

I had an appointment today with Kathy, who I got in touch with through
. My initial impression of the salon: how pretty! And very clean. Friendly front desk.
Kathy gave me a great shampoo, using Bumble and Bumble products. We then had a consultation where she listened closely and asked questions. This part is always very important to me, and I felt she really obtained an idea of what I wanted in a haircut. She was sensitive to the fact that I am growing out my hair, and made sure I was OK with the amount she was taking off. I also appreciated that she gave me quite a bit of hair tips throughout the appointment (those expert tips are always useful). She mentioned that she has naturally wavy hair (I have curly hair) and gave me some great tips on styling my hair curly.
Overall I had a great experience and would recommend Sine Qua Non and Kathy to my friends.

I found the salon, along with my stylist, Jenna, on Unilocal when I was looking for reviews of stylists who are particularly awesome with short hair. There’s a fine line between a feminine short cut and looking like a guy with a buzz cut.
I’m able to get my hair cut short enough to only get it cut every 5 – 6 weeks without feeling like I’m just waiting for it to grow a bit so I can like it again. It’s cute the whole way through!
On my first visit they gave me a coupon for an eyebrow wax or conditioning treatment at my next visit as well as a sample of the product used on my hair and a sample Aveda lotion in a cute little bag. Reasonably priced for the neighborhood, $ 65 women’s cut.

Damn, I love
. Where else can you get away with amazing hair services at high end salons for little to no cost?
Desperately needing a highlight fix, I pulled up salonapprentice, found Stacia’s listing for highlights, sent a quick text, and we were on. My highlights were scheduled for Monday when the salon was closed, which I loved, since I’m one of those people who hates the weekend appointment rush. I can definitely do without the crush of people, appointments running behind, and having my service half-​assed and rushed in my stylist’s attempt to get back on schedule. So, as you can tell, I dug the relaxed vibe of the salon. And now on to the service…
Stacia was awesome. She was able to give me exactly what I wanted — bright, ashy blond highlights, but with enough contrast with my natural color so the highlights were more fun than natural. She also came up with the idea to throw in some lowlights, which made the highlights pop. Stacia was quick, and unlike the last three colorists who had to redo the color in the front because it didn’t take, it wasn’t an issue here. Oh, and my hair was in great condition after the color, and I didn’t suffer from straw hair for a week after like I usually do. Better yet, she got the color super close to my scalp, so as of a month later you still can’t see my roots. So ya, def an A++ experience.

Go to Holly. She’s only here on certain Tuesdays, but if you happen to like your hairs to look pretty (she does both cuts/​color), go to Holly. (I’m sure the other stylists are fab as well).
It’s no secret, I pretty much love all the Sine Qua Non Salons. I do. I *may* have visited every location, actually. Yes, yes I have! And I don’t have a complaint about nary a thing… a very well run operation that is not only stylish and chic, but remains approachable and down to earth with great quality services and products. (Bumble & Bumble, be still my bzzzzzzing heart!)
This location is prime, right under the Paulina Brown stop… very easy to access and metered (or even free!) street parking can be found as well.
*tips can not be left on credit cards, but they will give you cash back if you pay via debit so you can leave that (well-​deserved!) tip.
*Holly’s main salon residence is the SQN on Chicago Ave (also a 5-​star, of course).
Everyone at this location (in particular) was super sweet, cheerful and accommodating… and it was a crazy week right before Thanksgiving holidays. Kudos for that, e’eryone running around like crazy trying to pretend they keep themselves up so their families don’t start to worry.
Ps. My now-​husband also went here a few days before our wedding (thank God) instead of the random barbers he lets cut his hair usually. His head looked so much more handsome after being dealt with here. True story!