Leonard Stephen Salon

I’m surprised to see no reviews on Stephen! I’ve been going to him for over 30 years, following him through three salons and he is a marvel. Yes they are expensive (JFK Street in Cambridge – shouldn’t be a surprise) but you absolutely get what you pay for. I’ve never been unhappy or dissatisfied. Maria is wonderful and accommodating. I get huge compliments on my hair every time I have it done. The cut and color are amazing. I’ve loved going there, I can’t at this point imagine having my hair attended to by anyone else but Steve. He is funny, unbelievably talented (sometimes I don’t know what I want and I let him simply do his magic and the hair always looks fabulous), sexy (looks like Sting), great talker, a good guy with a phenomenal sense of hair style.
On another note, saw the negative review of Lenny and I have to say, that person must have gotten him on a bad day. Steve’s chair is next to Lenny’s and I’ve never seen him disinterested nor have an unhappy customer.
JD

Calling around on a friday for a cut wasnt easy to get in that day but I was excited they had time for partial foil and quick trim. I came in and waited 35 minutes past my appointment to be seated. Once in the chair the stylist disagreed with the blond I wanted to do in my hair so she decided I should have red. I gave it a shot, but when she suggested brown low lights, I declined since I have brunette hair. Doing what she wanted I she came out with two mixing bowls which she told me after applying was brown. because she thought it was best. When her fellow stylist realized she was giving me full foil and reminded her I only wanted partial, she continue to do what she wanted. The worst part came next, I was told to wait 30 minutes to set, and an hour and 10 minutes later she came back and brought me to the sink to find another customer wanted to use it, she told them no problem I can wait… nearly in tears after being there for 4 hours with foils still in my hair I left as fast as I could get out of the chair 5.5 hours after my appointment time and was charged 230 dollars for what had been done. Needless to say the «highlights and lowlights» were the exact color of my hair and made no difference except to spend my entire friday off being treated as though I was second class and a $ 230 dollars charge. I felt disrepected and ignored the entire time and would not recommend this place to any of my friends.

I got my hair cut by David the whole time I was in school at HBS, and it was a really good experience. He listens well and is very professional. My hair is shoulder-​length and wavy; we did simple, professional-​looking stacked cuts. Let him convince you that a man can do a great job cutting a women’s hair!
Part of being professional is that David is when I had to read something, respond to email on my phone, or etc. that was fine and I didn’t feel awkward about sneaking in work during the time I was in his chair. On the days when I was relaxed and chatty David was friendly and good to talk to, and of course those days were more fun!
Thanks to David for doing a good job on my hair and making the haircut a good experience no matter how busy I was.
I also had it straightened by Stephanie once, which was great.
Another commenter said that it’s pleasant that Maria remembers people and is a warm presence when you visit the shop, and I agree.

I’ve been going to Cyndi for many years. She is a real pro, who really cares about doing a great job. Since she moved to Leonard Stephen I’ve been going there, and I think it’s a great fit. The place is relaxed, no-​nonsense, but offers great service and products without pretensions.

I have been going to this hair salon for many years and have found their services, hours and friendliness to be first rate. Specifically, I always go to Lenny (the owner) who is really nice and, more importantly, does a great job with my (sometimes challenging) hair. I have recommended this salon to many friends (female and male) and they are all regular customers of this place now. So, if you are looking for a salon in the Boston or Cambridge area, this is the place. The prices are not cheap, but they are fair.
Note that the salon is very convenient to the Harvard MBTA stop and that there is validated parking across the street (as well as on street parking if you are lucky).

I’ve been going to Leonard Stephen’s every couple months for about a decade. Calling for an appointment is always a treat because you get to talk to Maria. And when you walk in the door she greets you with such warmth that any tension you might have been experiencing gets left out in the hall.
Fay cut my hair until her untimely death about a year ago. I still get choked up sometimes when I see her work area as do her co-​workers who were also close friends when we talk about her. May she rest in peace.
And now I have a new friend. Talking to Mary while she does great work on my hair is an absolute joy. She grew up a few dozen blocks from the salon so she knows all about Cambridge. Her extensive experience at Newbury Street stylists provides insight into that world, as does her many years cutting hair for a political family associated with Harvard and Massachusetts. She is both very talented and absolutely focused on getting my hair the way I want it.
After this many years I’m known by name by the entire staff and am made to feel quite welcome. I encourage anyone who is looking for a new connection with a hair salon to give Leonard Stephen a try. And please forgive me for the way this review sounds like a TV commercial. At least I’m not saying «and there is more… for the cost of shipping and handling you can double the order.»

I never get my hair done. EVER, but when I decide to do something different, I think of leonard Stephen. So I went to make an appointment for low lights. I have super blond hair, but wanted to let my roots grow out so they could get an idea of the fall look I was going for. They seemed hesitant to even do anything, I suggested if they don’t think they can do it than we could think of something else… 5 hour later: my roots had been bleached, an ATTEMPT if low lights were rinsed out and my hair was white/​banana colored. they charged me for a hair cut, which I originally wasn’t signed up for but they had to cut my hair to sample colors on it and they charged me for the bleach which I also didn’t think would be part of the equation. $ 150 later, walking out sad and depressed about my hair they said they would call me in a few days to see how I was feeling about the style. Never did. ALSO, the woman who did my hair was super nice but she was on the verge of tears when she saw how horrible my hair was…
I just bought a box. thanks for nothing, guys!

Lenny gave me the worst haircut I’ve had in years. He didn’t seem to care at all about how the cut came out. As far as I can tell, he decided what cut to give me and then went on autopilot executing it, not paying attention to how it fit my face as he went at all. When he was done, he didn’t even bother styling it. As much as I try to find virtue in it, even weeks later the cut just looks cheap. I’ll certainly never go back again.

I came to Leonard Stephen to get a bad haircut fixed. I have long hair and every other salon wants to give me the same boring haircut, no matter what I ask them to do. Stephanie totally understood, and turned my bad haircut into something amazing! Because I’m on a budget, I then tried to go to a cheaper salon, figuring I could just ask them to trim the ends and make the same cut. No luck. I came out with the same bad, boring haircut as all the others. I went back to Stephanie– it’s totally worth the money.
They are very accommodating and have given me appointments on short notice before. Also, nobody tries to press you to buy expensive hair products. Excellent.

Oh, Leonard Stephen Salon, I wanted us to be together forever! But after a year of us being exclusive, I think it’s time that we go our separate ways. I know, I know. Breakups are never easy. You cry «Why?! Was it something I did?»
Yes, it was. You’re philosophically minded and I’m not. I just want a great haircut that I can style at home. When I asked time and again, «Can you please use more product,» you refused. «Why,» you questioned, «is my cut not good enough without it?» When I want passive aggressive I call my grandmother – but I sure as hell wouldn’t let her cut my hair!
I get that it’s your philosophy, but when I explain that my baby fine hairs will not hold the style that you can create with your professional hands *unless* I use a lot of product at home, it’d be great if you could humor me. You know, with sympathy? Understanding? Imagine just for a minute that you aren’t a professional, and show me how to style my hair with what it’s going to take for me to replicate it at home.
Your people are incredibly nice and capable. I honestly loved my stylist and her cuts were always great. But I never had that «in-​love» glow. No one ever said, «Wow, honey, your new haircut looks great!» …because no one ever noticed it had been done in the first place.
I’m tired of the sneaking around and the cheating. I’m seeing someone else, LSS. And unless you want to stop seeing anyone at all, I’d suggest that you reconsider your philosophy. I’m not the first of your exes to tell you what I want. The perpetual deflecting is tiresome. My wanting a blowdry and some product is not a personal affront. I’m sorry, LSS. I’m just not that into you.
Xoxo, Sarah

I didn’t find out about this place until three months before I moved to Los Angeles. So it goes. Stephanie cut my hair and she was superb. She listened to my fairly inarticulate vision and got it on the nose. Great location in Harvard Square and a reasonable price; free bang trims and all that.

I enjoyed my experience at this salon. David is such a nice guy — you can tell he puts allot of thought into his work. He is definitely a pro with the scissors. Although, I have to say, I wanted a bit more experience in terms of a blow-​dry and styling. I love having that salon-​look the day you go get your haircut! David was very up front about him being about a quality cut and having the cut stand on its own without a bunch of flim flam and product. But when you get your hair cut so seldom… you want that little oomf for a day, you know?

Went here this weekend — fabulous place! It’s tucked away on JFK St. above Boston Tea Stop, but very spacious all the same.
The hairdresser, Mary, was very helpful in working with me to find a good hairstyle for me. I made the terrible mistake of cutting my own hair a couple weeks ago, but Mary definitely fixed the look from what I can tell! She was very kind, gave me tips, and worked to accommodate my preferences (making my very fine hair more choppy, styling the back, etc).
Four stars because this is the only place I’ve ever tried (apart from Supercuts) and can’t judge in comparison. BUT! still amazing.

I have now been to David twice at LS Salon, and I could not be happier! He is an extremely kind, courteous, and interesting man… he never talks your ear off, or makes silence feel awkward. Overall, the space is small but everyone makes you feel comfortable, relaxed, and at home.
The haircut itself is always excellent– David spends time familiarizing himself with the texture and weight of your hair, your needs, schedule, so you REALLY get what you want. They also look great for a while, and even when they grow out. For a student’s budget, the haircuts are not cheap but so high-​quality that they last for months!

Stephen has been cutting my hair now for about 5 years. I can truly say that the haircut I get from him always looks better and lasts longer than any other haircut I have received.
The staff, especially Maria, is terrifically friendly and kind.
I would highly recommend getting your hair cut here.

I’ve gotten more compliments about my hair in the past few months than I’ve gotten in my entire life and it’s all owed to David. The last compliment I got was from a coworker this past Friday — he said he loved my hair and that I looked so much like Maude. Bea Arthur?!? No, thank goodness. He said I looked MOD, which is much better than Maude. The kicker is that my haircut was in early October and I’m still getting compliments around the time I’d usually be due for another cut. David is very sweet and super talented and just generally a lovely person to spend an hour with. Cuts aren’t cheap, but they last forever and they offer a free bang trim between appointments.

I found these folks on Unilocal when I moved to Boston last year. I’m a guy, and I wasn’t used to paying a lot for a haircut. $ 45 is an expensive haircut. BUT, the product you’re going to receive is great. Everyone in the place is friendly as hell. They’ll remember you, and treat you like a real person. None of that arrogant, artsy, elitist crap you’ll find at most other boutique operations like this. I’ve had Mary cut my hair for almost a year and I’m sorry that I can’t bring her (and everyone else in the place) with me wherever I go.
Bottom line: Great cut, reasonable price, wonderful atmosphere.

Like any native good Las Vegan, I’m always up for a good game of chance and that’s how I ended up at Leonard Stephen Salon in Fay’s chair recently.
I woke up feeling a distinct desire to chop my locks so, of course, I turned to Unilocal.My own personal game of chance is less poker and more roulette; I typed in «Asian hair» and looked for what was in walking distance.
My first call, to Leonard Stephen Salon, was answered by a charming fellow who said Fay had an opening that morning. I snapped up her eleven o’clock and strolled over.
Fay listened intently as I explain my wishes to tidy up my hair so I could continue the process of growing it out. I’m happy with the result and were I in Harvard Square again in need of a chop, I’d come right back here.

Okay, so I actually signed up on Unilocal specifically so that I could write a review for this place and sing the praises of David, my hair stylist extraordinaire.
I’ve been getting my hair cut by David for 11 years now. Insane but true. I first went to him a young undergrad, newly broken-​up and looking for one of those «oh yeah? well who needs you when I’m looking this fabulous?» haircuts. David did not disappoint.
Since then, at various times I’ve had my hair super-​short (like a boy), chin length, shoulder-​length, layered, all one layer, with bangs, with all-​over color, with blond highlights, with red highlights… you name it, David has done it, and done it fabulously. I’ve been asked where I get my hair done literally countless times, and have sent many, many friends/​coworkers/​neighbors to David over the years. Perhaps the best thing I could say is that I once went in for a cut when my hair was very long, and David said that he would cut it if I really wanted him to, but that he thought it looked amazing as it was and that he wouldn’t do anything. How many hair stylists would say that, I ask you?
The rest of the salon is also wonderful – relaxed and not at all pretentious. It’s a laid-​back, happy sort of place. Maria is the receptionist and also the color expert, and she’s very helpful and friendly.

I really like this salon. Great prices with clean and simple décor, def. not trying to be pretentious like some other over-​priced salons.
I’ve consistantly received great cuts from Fay. When I’m not sure what I want, she helps out and is always in the know of changing trends. That said, she’s wonderful at individualizing your cut to make it work for you.
Another plus, they carry Bumble and Bumble.
Downer, they charge a fee when you pay on credit card, the fee is small ~$ 2, all the same I think that it is illegal.