Kida

Just got a blow out. Was in a rush so they (Yuki and Mio) double-​teamed me. Also they gave an amazing free shoulder massage between the shampoo and the blow out, plus they gave free coffee. This is the best blow out I’ve received period– the city conditioner they used made my wavy hair sleek and shiny. Also, they are super gentle, very different from super aggressive hair stylists– you barely notice their hands and they didn’t burn me once! Also, everyone here has an awesome style, it’s like eye candy!!!

Totally random find as I was getting coffee and on my way to some Chinatown food. Mio gave me a layered cut here. It was $ 73 and no complaints here. It sounds like a lot for straight hair but when yu get a bad one, you’ll feel every $ is worth it. Cuz then I end up spending that much in hair product to correct a bad cut!

So I should begin by saying that I was a hair model here and got a free haircut (short hair models only needed) by Yuki, who is their assistant and student in the studio. So my experience may be different from others who paid full price and had the full salon experience with a member of staff.
However, I had such a great experience that I felt I should leave a review. All the staff was so lovely and accommodating, continually asking me if I was comfortable, if I was warm enough, etc. It was a very soothing atmosphere with great music. Yuki was so sweet and gave me a fantastic haircut that was just what I wanted. I keep getting compliments on it!
I will definitely be back when this one grows out! Thanks Yuki!

Both me and my fiancé have been to Kida and enjoyed the quality of cut and the service. I’ve been cut by Kumi and my fiancé went to the barber side and had Shin. He enjoyed the massage a lot. I also liked how informative they were about the products they were using. The leave-​in Kumi used smelt so good I sniffed my hair all day.

I had a great experience at Kida! I usually get cuts from Kumi but also have gotten from MJ when Kumi was unavailable.
The ambience is friendly and I always get a nice cup of tea and an iPad to read a magazine while I get my hair done. Kumi has always given me great cuts and color, including ombré highlights that look super natural and flattering.

First try of hair cut since I moved to NYC, and will be back. I had Kumi as my stylist who did a good job with my thick hair.

I met Fausto four years ago at another barber shop. He wasn’t supposed to cut my hair that day, but no one (besides Shin who is also at Kida) has cut my hair since then. I couldn’t have been happier than when Fausto and Shin came together to open Kida. I had known them both to be great barbers and great people, and I knew their shop wouldn’t be anything less than that. Kida is the most immaculate shop you can imagine, and unlike many places that try to cut corners, Kida stresses quality above all else. They have someone to assist you with everything. Each person working there takes tremendous pride in what they do, and the cool vibe among all of them can’t go unnoticed. They aim to be the best, but they do it without the pretentiousness of other places in the City. They make their customers feel like family, and their work is second to none. I’d rate them ten stars if it was possible!

Just to be clear, this is the first and likely the only Unilocal review I will ever write.
Kida is the best place, of any kind, I have found over the 4 years I have lived in New York. I followed Shin here from Neighborhood Cut & Shave (a decent barber shop, in its own right) and have been amazed at the quality of the staff and the community he and his wife have built in such a short time. I have recommended Kida to all of my friends over the past year and literally every single one of them who has come to Kida has converted immediately and continue to have their hair cut here. I legitimately have friends who have moved away from New York and still come into the city every 6 weeks or so to get their hair cut at Kida.
If you visited Kida and had any issues whatsoever, you either failed to speak up adequately or are a miserable person. From atmosphere to quality to pricing, Kida is as good as it gets.

I have followed MJ to KIDA a year ago and I love this relaxing little spot. The salon is beautifully designed with a great feel for customer comfort, and the atmosphere is professional but lighthearted.
Seeing MJ is always fun. Without any direction from me he has managed to give me amazing cuts that require minimal styling, and that look great even as they grow out.
I’m quite used now to receiving daily compliments on my hair.
The prices at KIDA are quite reasonable and much less than at comparable salons in the neighborhood. Plus, elsewhere the shampoo and massage aren’t as fabulous as they are at KIDA.

I never write reviews, but feel the need to do so and address some of the negative reviews I’ve read.
I’ve been coming to Kida ever since they opened last year after my boyfriend (who followed Fausto from a different barber shop) insisted I come check it out. Kumi is hands down the best stylist I’ve ever had. She’s also is an incredible colorist and gives the most amazing blow outs. Honestly, she is worth twice as much as what you pay here.
The reviews about poor customer service seriously blow my mind. The people who work here are not only all extremely talented, but SO nice and professional. Everything about this salon from the work they do to the décor is thoughtful and deliberate, and the way they treat their customers is no different. The bad reviews are almost funny, because they’re just so not true!

Great haircut, great chat with Shin about German soccer and other things. Would always recommend!

Now that I am growing my hair out, I figured I should find a salon again instead of the barbershop. I’ve seen MJ twice and he’s 2 for 2. The cuts basically maintain themselves because he clearly has mastered his craft. Super nice to chat with and the overall vibe of the salon is welcoming and geared towards a relaxing client experience. Fun selection of Japanese magazines to thumb through as you wait.

Shin fantastic. He is a true stylist and artist in regard to hair (and even make up). He used to be a stylist for the likes of Thom Browne and Simon Spurr. His attention to detail is extraordinary. I’m a beard guy and he took more care in trimming and layering my beard than anyone else I’ve ever worked with. My husband got his hair cut with MJ and loved him too. It’s a wonderful place with wonderful people who really understand style.

This was my second visit to Kida. The first experience I had with MJ was great from start to finish. I came in for a haircut and got charged the proper amount ($ 40), as expected. I was then told that the proceeding visits (within a reasonable amount of time) would only cost $ 25 for a trim/​shape-​up (since it was the same style and I wasn’t asking for anything over the top). Little did I know… that wouldn’t be how things would go down the second time around.
This time, I had made a reservation with Shin for a quick shape-​up. The cut turned out great and Shin was so nice and welcoming. I went to the front desk to pay only to be told that it would cost $ 40 instead of the original reservation amount which would have cost me $ 25. I don’t mind paying the extra money, but when you make a reservation and expect to be paying a fixed price, you’d think the barber would warn you when you’re approaching full-​fledged haircut territory where you’re then expected to pay more.
In the end, the message was never relayed and it left me feeling uneasy and as if I was a cheapskate… when that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I do like the place and would recommend it to others in a heartbeat, but if you’re doing more work than you think I’m paying for, then by all means — SPEAK UP — and be transparent about what’s going on.
P.S.
The shit-​talking in Japanese that ensued after I reluctantly paid for the haircut was the icing on the cake… especially when you can understand them –_​\ …I didn’t even argue about the price in the end, yet I still received shit from them. ~_​~ Thanks guys!

I loved the atmosphere of the shop and my haircut is OK, but I feel that the customer service here is lacking.
I got my haircut by the same person I did last time, but she completely forgot me and reintroduced herself. I went along with it to not make the situation awkward. My haircut is a lot shorter than I would like, but I know it’ll grow back. She told me she would only cut an inch off and next thing I know, at least three inches are gone and I look like a little boy. She even asked if she could cut more hair off of my bangs. I feel that she wanted to cut my hair more for herself than for me.
I know that sounds kind of odd since this place has raving reviews, but while I was getting my haircut, the owner walked by and said 「むかつく」basically slang to express your disgust with someone. But when he spoke English, he sounded really friendly. It’s kind of off-​putting to know that they’ll be friendly in English but talk behind your back in Japanese.
When I went to go pay, the assistant and receptionist were going back and forth on my price in Japanese (60 vs 70). They then charged me $ 70. The last time I was here, and got a haircut of the same length, it was $ 60. It doesn’t seem that they have a consistent pricing guideline, which means they can charge you whatever they want.
Basically, be more transparent with your pricing and don’t speak in Japanese (especially if your clients can understand you) because it’s rude. If you go to a nail salon, it’s frowned upon for the nail technicians to speak in a different language, it’s the same in any situation.

Thank you Kida and my hairstylist Kumi for a great experience and fear-​less journey into the land of short hair. I had been contemplating getting my hair cut short (short bob or pixie cut) and being the scaredy-​cat that I am when it comes to hair, did my research and arrived at Kida. I emerged from my hour appointment lighter-​headed and loving my new cut, thanks to the expert hands of Kumi and her recommendations and reassurances throughout. I now know who to go to when I decide to go shorter! They also have an amazingly convenient online booking tool so you can manage your appointments and reserve an appointment at your own time. The place is so trendy, enjoyed the décor as well. Five stars and two thumbs up.

The best place to get your hair did hands down. You’ll feel like part of the family coming here. Shin and his wife Megumi are amazing, along with the whole staff there!
My previous routine consisted of monthly visits to Bumble and Bumble which gets quite costly. But at Kida and the barber shop section, I get a fresh cut every other week for a fraction of the cost and same caliber of quality. Highly recommend this place for everyone for sure.

Kida is the genuine article.
First, the interior: an unflappable, rustic elegance. I think we like to call this, earthy. Succulents and other greenery punctuates the brick, wire and wood interior. Kida is perched on a corner which affords an excellent vantage point while you await your service with loads of desirous natural light.
The service: Kumi washed and cut my hair. As many have noted, the thorough massage with warm towel is a major bonus and a classy touch. What sweetness! What attention! Most importantly, Kumi did a pitch perfect ‘pixie’ cut on me. I’m a stylist, recently transplanted to NYC so it’s no joke locating a competent stylist. It was a pleasure to watch Kumi work, this girl knows what she’s doing. Her technique is thorough and elegant, a real artist who takes the time to attend to the finer details of her work.
The price: unfathomably affordable for the quality of atmosphere and skills on hand.
Kida is, in my opinion, top drawer.

I would go to Kida for the head massages alone — they give you the longest, most soothing head/​scalp massages I’ve ever had at any salon, or anywhere really.
But on top of that, Kumi is a godsend. I’ve had two haircuts with her and both times she’s managed to turn my locks into something beautiful, soft, and natural. She managed to give me these incredible waves and volume by just using the blowdryer and I woke up today with them still intact. She trims off my split ends and fixes my layers and bangs without taking any noticeable length off, which makes me happy since I’m growing my hair out.
Each haircut sets me back ~$ 70 (not including tip) but that’s not outrageous for NYC, and it’s worth it!
The salon itself is really cute, with exposed brick and hanging plants. It’s very cozy.
Big plus: Booking online is convenient and I never have a problem getting an appointment 1 or 2 weeks in advance. It seems like the clientele is male-​heavy but that might be because most of the staff are men.
To sum it up: Kida is wonderful!

I am so impressed by this salon that I’m taking some time to do a serious review.
Hands down, this is one of the most tasteful and relaxing salons in town, bright and airy with lovely décor. I have been to several salons in and around the city including other Japanese hair salons, and this is the only place I have consistently come back to more than three times, and very happy every time!
I get my cuts from Kumi. She’s fantastically skillful and does amazing work. My hair is very dense, thick, and coarse and it hasn’t been an issue at all here; her technique and eye for hair design is great.
The quality of service, product, and atmosphere at Kida is spot on. They also have an adjacent barber shop inside for the guys who like a slightly the barbar shop environment.
I very happy to find a mainstay salon that has shown to be great each time. Highly recommend you check it out!