Phyto Universe

Sadly, this magnificent place has closed. I stopped in to say goodbye on Dec 30, 2015. The doors close Dec. 31,2015. I had my hair cut here in July 2015 & Marina was just wonderful. I wish this beautiful place were staying open. It was one of the best! I just think a lot of people did not even know about it. Men & women had their hair tended to here. Also a spa. I never had a chance to go in for a facial. I believe if Phyto Universe had advertised to let folks know of their existence, I do believe the place wouldn’t be closing. Oh Santa Claus, please help Phyto Universe open up once more. I’ll post photos of the outside. PHYTO UNIVERSE, YOU WERE SO COOL, so knowledgeable –nice staff. I WILL MISS YOU & YOUR BEAUTIFUL SPACE!

I like Phyto products and their dandruff shampoo is very effective. I have however found other products that work better for my hair. Their hair treatment is good because they show you your hair follicles and you get a nice Phyto treatment, their products are really good. The facial is also quite good. I like Lierac products and use their microdermabrasion and overnight cream. However, for the actual price, the hair treatment is too expensive. I bought a Gilt voucher for hair and facial, and got them done at two different times. The Gilt voucher was for new customers, since I had not gone there for my hair for a few years I figured I could try it out again. The guy at the front desk was very nice and told me politely about the new customer voucher policy which I told him ok I won’t buy another Gilt voucher. When I went for facial, there was a woman at the front desk who basically kept repeating it over and over and despite my agreeing not to buy a voucher again since I wasn’t a new customer, repeated once more for my benefit that if I did it again I would need to give it to a friend since she would not honor it. It was a big turn off because she basically was reprimanding me over and over again, and honestly I got it the first time. So yeah neither will I buy a voucher nor will I pay full price for their services because it really is not that great that I need to pay the huge full price especially if they offer it repeatedly discounted.

Ron is probably one of the best when it comes to hair treatments. No one will take care of your damaged hair better then him! I’m so glad i discovered Phyto when my hair was completely damaged. Thank you!

My daughter and I get the relaxer and the deep treatments done here. We have curly hair that get frizzy very easy. We also both tend to have dry hair. PHYTO is the #1 place for us that makes our hair manageable and healthy. Thank you Phyto! :)

This is probably in the top 5 salons I have been to. It is absolutely GORGEOUS on the inside. The staff was well educated and helped me pick out the best treatment for my hair needs. I love the microscope scalp machine they have. It really helped me see what was going on on my scalp. They sent me home we free treatments and I will be back anytime I am in NYC!

Don’t be fooled by the entrance you walk in tucked away on 58^th street off of Lexington Avenue. The area is HUGE when you go to the 2^nd floor. The ambience is very spa-​like and clean, I would not have thought it would be a salon at all. I was a few minutes early so I waited for my stylist/​aesthetician to finish up with her previous client. I was the last client of the day.
I had Sonya, a very sweet lady who was very knowledgeable about hair and took the time to answer my questions about my oily asian hair. She started off with taking me to show me my scalp and hair magnified. The verdict was that I had very oily hair and my hair was slightly dry in addition to my loss of hair that I noticed lately. I was then escorted to a personal room where she explained the process of each oil treatment. After the oil treatment and about 15 mins of steam she washed it off and proceeded to add additional oil for my ‘hair loss’ and took the time to blow dry my hair. The results were amazing.
Overall, it was a great experience to know that I have nice normal hair with an oily scalp (now I know what shampoo to buy). However, the cost was too high for a monthly treatment thank goodness for the Gilt deal (50% off). Great place to go if you can splurge on the monthly treatments.
Cool side note, they have Caron perfume in the spa as well. Great line of perfume since I’m a perfume fanatic but that’s a whole new other review for another time…

I imagined that as I walked out of the salon, I would be able to run my fingers through my silky hair without encountering a single knot, I imagined that everyone walking past me on the street would be staring in envy at the weight and movement of my revitalized hair. This retreat’s sole purpose is to repair damaged hair and recondition it back to a healthy state– I was told it would last up to 3 weeks. It comes with a hefty price tag so expectations should be quite high. However, just one day after, I find myself constantly brushing out tangled hair knotted into a ball once again. It’s in worse condition than before I walked in. After a light shampoo and condition, I am rigorously separating big balls of knots as I am drying. I’ve had deep conditioning treatments at Cutler Salon in Soho that had me at 4 weeks of silky hair without a daily routine of using more than 2 products. I am extremely disappointed in this treatment. It is weak and you may as well spend the money on products you can use daily. Maybe it just doesn’t work on my hair. Maybe it was an off day. Regardless, I will stick to my salon downtown.

if u have thick unmanageable hair this is the spot. i tried doing the no lye relaxer myself and I’m good at these things but was not successful. they do an amazing job no burns just soft lovely hair. pricey worth every cent. good luck!

I love Phyto products. So naturally, I thought, why not a Lierac facial at Phyto? First, there’s only one aesthetician so that should have said to me that facials are not a priority at Phyto Universe. Second, the aesthetician committed my biggest facial pet peeve — leave for more than 5 minutes at a time without any explanation, and she did this about 3 times. That’s at least 15 minutes off a 50 minute facial. Don’t waste your money. Also, very pushy on products. Who wants that?

I came after purchasing a 50% off deal from Gilt City and popped in for a 90-​minute hair treatment. The space is beautiful and the experience was relaxing. After viewing my hair from root to tip and receiving a diagnosis, I stepped in for my treatment which involved bathing my scalp and hair with essential oils, then waiting under steam, followed by a blowout. The blowout last the entire day and my hair was so shiny — people kept commenting on it.
The one major downside is the cost. Even with my deal it was quite expensive and I don’t think I could ever justify getting the treatment at its full cost.

Going to Phyto Universe is like escaping New York City to a tropical resort but it’s just off the steps of the 6 train! Not only are the treatments relaxing and therapeutic, but they are healing. They’re pricey services but it’s more than relaxation.
I have thick, wavy 2b/​2c hair to be exact. My hair takes a beating as I work in fashion and styling is essential. I’ve had all sorts of products and heating tools applied to my hair (and scalp!). I come to Phyto to rejuvenate my scalp from irritation. My hair glows and my scalp calms down after going to Phyto. The head massage is amazing too and it’s perfect to melt away stress.
Prior to any of the treatments, you get to inspect your hair and scalp up close. I think it’s great because it good to know what exactly is going on with your hair and scalp. It’s also a good way to reassure that these treatments are worth it and working!
I’ve made Phyto a part of my regular «to-​do» list every year or half year. I think for someone who doesn’t have a lot done to their hair, once a year should suffice. I definitely recommend it to anyone with wavy or curly hair too. Or anyone who is looking to rejuvenate their hair if they want to start «new.»

Stopped in here with friends to grab some hair stuff with a few friends.
Phyto offers an n site hair/​scalp consultation that includes a scalp massage. I suggest you make an appointment because the whole process takes about 90 minutes.
All of the staff are great and very friendly so don’t be afraid to throw questions out there about your scalp and what services they offer.

I agree with all previous praising reviews. This place is fantastic, and my hair look now very healthy! My technician Marina is very knowledgable, skillful, and experienced professional. Moreover, her great personality makes you feel really comfortable! After only one session, my dry, damaged hair have already fabulously revived. I am definitely going to be here back the next month or two!

Basic rundown: Phyto Universe is a hair treatment spa. They do offer facials and body treatments here as well (see pics for the menu). The entrance is on E 58^th Street, in the same building with New York & Company. The theme of the spa is based on an oasis garden. There is a gorgeous living plant wall (see pic), and each client is seated in a semi-​private booth in the garden. Your assigned technician will be the only person serving you during the treatment (definitely makes tipping easier!). You also don’t need to move at all during your treatment since they have a rolling washing station that will roll up to your chair, and your chair is also collapsable for you to lean back for the washing station.
Pre-​Hair treatment: A 90-​minute treatment starts at $ 160. All of the Phyto products are made in France and botanical based. To a hair product-​snob like myself, it means quality stuff. However, I probably wouldn’t come here without my 50% off deal from Gilt City. My hair was treated by Ronald. He was warm and friendly, and he made sure I was 100% happy and comfortable during the treatment. He first sat me down in front of a hair scope that magnifies my hair shaft and scalp 200 times. Every follicle, dandruff, built ups, and split ends are displayed on a colored screen in front of you. My hair recently went through a razor cut & highlights (with bleaching), and I was happy to see that they didn’t really damage my hair at all (go Bumble & Bumble! See my reviews on them if you’re interested.). However, my hair does still feel quite dry even without the visible damage, so I get the treatment anyway (and it’s not like I can just leave at that point).
The Hair Treatment: Ronald led me to one of the semi-​private booths for the treatment after the hair analysis. The treatment is in two parts – first the scalp treatment and then the hair treatment. The 90-​minute process went basically like this:
1) Brush the scalp with a wooden paddle brush
2) Oil massage on the scalp
3) Steam for 15 – 20 minutes (technician leaves during this time)
4) Wash the oil off the hair
5) Apply mask and treatments to the hair
6) Let it soak in for 2 – 3 minutes
7) Wash the treatments off
8) Blow dry
9) You’re finished with clean and soft hair!
Ronald explained all the products before each step of the treatment, and he also advised me not to touch my hair for at least 24 hours because my hands can rub the treatment off my hair. According to him, the treatment will last about 2 weeks with normal wash and wear. He was very knowledgable with hair, and suggested a few products for me to try. No hard sell at all. I took half a star off because he was busy running between me and another client. He was very nice and all, and I was a last-​minute appointment, which they were nice enough to squeeze me in on the same day I called. However, the running back and forth kind of killed the whole serene experience of the spa for me.
Does this experience worth $ 160+tip? After doing a little research, all the products they use during the treatment can be bought at retail price. With $ 160+tip, you can purchase most, if not all the full-​sized products they use on you, and put the products on yourself at home. I doubt I’ll be back again unless I come across another coupon.
Overall, solid 4.5 star if you have extra $$ to spend.

I got a deal here from Groupon and thought why the heck not!
Been trying different hair products for years now and haven’t found anything that seem to work on my Scandinavian hair, it either dries it out or makes it oily and heavy. I booked an appointment right before Christmas and I had a really positive experience.
First of all the space is calming and serene and most importantly it’s clean! My technicians name was Marina and she was absolutely lovely, and very knowledgeable. She administered my treatment as well as making sure I felt comfortable and relaxed, although how could you not when someone is massaging your scalp for soo long I swear you’d fall asleep… amazing!
The result: My hair felt soo light and clean, I mean really clean, and it stayed that way for four days without me having to wash it!
I definitely recommend a visit to Phyto Universe!

My Groupon addiction has kind of waned and now my Gilt City voucher fixation is full on. My appointment was back in June (I am way behind on reviews and the fact that my blackberry just died didn’t help matters) I recall being surprised that I was able to get an appointment so quickly.
Phyto Universe sits on the second floor and has leaves covering the wall that faces Lexington Avenue. Marina administered my treatment and I would definitely recommend booking a service was her-​she was very professional and knowledgeable.
Most Phyto treatments include this diagnostic thing where they look at your hair and scalp magnified 200 times. I was kind of freaked out because apparently my scalp looks like something I saw a long time ago on 3−2−1 Contact.
The treatment took place in a sort of cabana like area. My hair and head were massaged, oiled, wrapped and baked under a lamp; before being washed and then dried.
I don’t have money for this kind of thing all the time but I will most definitely be back in the winter when my hair is sure to be a dry mess.
They gave me a $ 25 gift voucher (no doubt to promote my return) and I will be going to Marina and using it.

I’m experiencing mixed emotions. I’m a black woman with relaxed hair and experiencing winter hair woes which called for desperate measures. I also have an unhealthy addiction to expensive hair and face products. I’m also addicted to reading online reviews, hence my Unilocal account. This three things converged and led me to make an appointment at Phyto Universe.
I got the Vital Force treatment — which is for chemically processed coarse ethnic hair or something like that which I believe to mean it’s for black women with relaxers. I also had a hydrating protein treatment. So, oil and massage to stimulate the scalp, protein treatment, 15 minutes under the dryer, then moisturizing treatment, wash and condition, then style.
Pluses:
Marina was superb and deserves 4.5 stars. I did some research before booking my appointment and saw that most everyone sang her praises. When I met her she was friendly and very knowledgeable. We ended up sharing a few laughs and talking about life. I will admit, I was very apprehensive about a non-​black person giving me a blowout. Marina can’t necessarily work the brush like my hair stylist of four years, but she’s did a better job styling my hair than many black stylists have. I got loads of compliments after my appointment with her.
The fancy ultrazoom camera. I read tons of reviews about their camera that gives you a close up of your scalp and hair follicles. Trust me, it looks a bit on the scary side\, but it’s very informative and an excellent service added to your Phyto experience.
The atmosphere is incomparable. Very quiet. Very luxurious, but in an in touch with nature sort of way.
Minus:
Sigh. I spent $ 230, including the cost of the Vital Force, tip and the conditioning moisturizer I was easily persuaded to purchase (yes, I’m weak, as mentioned). I have never even spent this much for a relaxer and double tracks with new hair (yes, I’m a recovering trackaholic). Not even when I went to Corte Salon in D.C. for my $ 190 visit, which included a relaxer and two a la carte services, and got the cut and blowout of my life. Get me drift? Granted, the service was very comprehensive and I liked how my hair looked, but it wasn’t as gratifying as I would have hoped. Yes, the ends of my hair did feel smoother and less dry in the days following my visit. But I can get that same effect bringing my $ 75 bottle of Keratase Oleo-​Relax Conditioning Treatment to my regular stylist and paying $ 50 for a blowout. Mind you, I’ve been using that bottle of Keratase for 6 months now and it hasn’t run out yet. In addition, I’d take my Moroccan Oil over the Phyto conditioning moisturizer any day.
I wanted to love it. I wanted to be introduced to a new line of hair products that would rock my world. Neither happened, but I definitely spent in one day what I would ordinarily spend in 6 weeks.

Lilia gives one of the best – if not the best – facials I’ve ever had in Manhattan.
I’ve been using Phyto products for years and recently had a hair treatment done… Absolutely well worth it – your hair feels soft and light days after the treatment – and that’s saying something because I have thick, coarse hair.
Facilities + service is top notch. Will definitely go back.

Horrible customer service. I flew across the country and then waded through many blocks of slushy snow in the aftermath of a giant snowstorm, 15 blocks in the opposite direction from where I was going, to get here to buy some Caron perfume. At 6:45 pm I was told «we close at 7» and I was offered a pamphlet, and was told they’re open daily from 10 to 7. I said it’s 6:45 now, that is before 7, and I live in San Francisco and how are you supposed to buy perfume from reading a pamphlet? The guy in the lobby insisted they had to close early, but said someone could call me and ship it to me. This is unacceptable — if you close at 7, your customers should be able to buy something in your shop at 6:45. (and btw it really was 6:45, not 6:58).

This place was the ultimate pampering for my hair when I was relaxed. It’s the native land of my favorite relaxer Phytorelaxer Index I.
When I got it done a few years ago it was around $ 240 for a touch up (now I think it’s over $ 400! =/​) so that’s a bit more than most normally spend for relaxer, but you go for the experience.
And what an experience. You get your own little mini room off the indoor garden (please stop and look at this, it’s amazing) and your stylist whips up a perfect conditioner concotion to use after the relaxer has processed. (I saw a little of phytojoba, some oil and another thing).
An older stylist with a short cropped hair style asked me if I’d been there before because I looked like a Phyto Girl. *gush*
I’m not sure if he says that to everyone (he might) but hey it gives you a little inner giggle as you sit and watch your hair transform.
They didn’t do trims when I went though.
Oh!
Bonus. in the bathroom there are all these different fragrances for you to use from the perfumery downstairs. Luscious.