Sparrow

Susan gets it. So happy I found this place. Susan is really solid and totally perceptive about what you need. I had used a Gilt City coupon somewhere else and they really jacked up my bangs. Susan took care of it, she has a great eye and knows how to cut hair. She checked everything, like that it looks cool when styled and also when i don’t have time to style. She even helped me discover how to work with my annoying cowlick, which is life changing. I loved her simple cool style and directness. The space is also gorgeous in a simple, hip but unique way. Chic magic!

I’ve been going to Susan for 6 years now and the haircuts & color are always amazing. I’ve learned to book my appointment way ahead of time, as they book up really quickly. I can’t say enough about how great Susan and Sparrow are!

I hesitate to even call Tracey a stylist… magician, maybe, or artist, would be a more accurate depiction of the amazing things she does to my hair when I’m fortunate enough to snag some time in her chair. As a long– and virign-​haired customer, I’m always leery of haircuts/​colors because there’s no «undo,» and after Tracey spent less than an hour on my recently unruly and deeply frustrating hair, I left with it looking… not shorter at all, not super, noticeably different, but a thousand times better. My curls have shape and bounce to them they’ve never had before and for the first time my hair air-​dries perfectly, no styling needed. She’s truly a wizard and I would happily pay 10x more than they charge for this end result.

Tracey has been cutting and ruling my hair since 2009 when she was at Sine Qua Non salon. I followed her to Sparrow and have not been disappointed. I love the simplicity of the salon and the staff is always so friendly. Tracey really understands how to cut and style so many different types if hair. She even styled mine and my bridal party’s hair for my wedding. The salon 5 minutes off the highway which works so well for me since I live on the North Shore. I do recommend to plan ahead because all the stylist book up quickly. I always know that’s a good sign.

Susan has been cutting and coloring my hair for about 5 years. I drive from the north suburbs to get my best haircut ever and I have never paid $ 250.00, or close to it. Yes, the atmosphere is lovely, but what matters to me is the finished result, which for me is incredibly pleasing.

These gals are sassy and fabulous. I’ve been going here since before there was a wait list and even now: they are totally worth the wait. My cut always makes sense, my color is always flattering and Susan is an excellent listener when it comes to trying something new. Love them. I still travel from Evanston to get my hair done here.

I’d been wanting to get an appointment here for a while but was always in too much of a hurry to wait weeks. Finally got in and saw Tracey and had an excellent experience. I have straight fine hair and she patiently gave it great subtle layers. I felt $ 75 was well worth it! Gorgeous room, I’ll be back!

I had such high expectation… the place is so beautiful, people are very nice but…
I had an appointment with Tracey, unfortunately for the last 30 minutes of my appointment she was more focused on her new client waiting than on me. She let me go without fully drying my hair. I got home and I saw that my neck still has ton of brown remarks after putting the color on my hair. Details… Details… It was quite disappointing. Def won’t come back.

Upon walking in this place is a dream. Smells divine and the décor is to die for. The lady who greets you is all smiles. Everyone there is very nice and makes you feel very welcome.
However, the hair cut and color that I received was mediocre. I walked out with hair that I could have gotten for ½ of the price. I spent 250 for all over color and merely a trim with bangs. I wanted to fall over when I heard the price lol. I would recommend this place to people who are willing to spend major $. I feel bad saying this because everyone was so nice, but the prices are way out of my range.

I have been on the wait list here for 3 months. They refuse to schedule appointments out in advance. I do not understand.

Sheba has been my stylist for almost a year now. Every visit to Sparrow, I not only leave with better hair but feeling more relaxed and mellow I’m a big believer that good people and calm environments add to the over all experience at a salon and Sparrow is no exception.
Everyone who works here are fantastic which adds to the energy of the already beautifully minimalistic and unpretentious space.
I will coat tail the other reviews who praise Sheba: she really knows what looks good and has never failed me. I have naturally wavy hair and for some reason that has been a challenge for other stylists. One of Sheba’s specialties is awareness of how to cut wavy hair by adding layers and shaping that enhances the wave. She also provides styling techniques that are easy to duplicate at home. And a side note, Sheba is just cool and friendly.
I am sad that I am moving from Chicago but hopefully I’ll find a «Sparrow like» salon or a stylist as talented as Sheba out in Denver.

The first thing I thought when I walked into Sparrow was «This space was designed for me.»
I am not exaggerating at all. If I started a hair salon and decorated it myself, it would look like Sparrow.
The candle that was burning? Bamboo, from Linneas Lights. The same candle I had recently bought from Greer, over in Old Town. What are the odds? Sparrow and I like the same candles.
The magazine on display in the waiting area: Not Vogue. Not People. Not even Harper’s Bazaar. They had The New Yorker. That’s right. People who get haircuts read. We read about stuff that’s not necessarily about hair and fashion and makeup. We read books and book reviews and poetry and social commentary and news.
But was there anything to flip through if we weren’t in the mood to read — something light hearted and just to look at? Yes, there was. Books of photography. Not the same old «all the beautiful people and places from around the world» sort of photography that everyone likes to look at. Photography that’s hit or miss, but is interesting to look at even if it’s a miss. Conversation starter photography.
The visual style of the space? Vintage with a bit of industrial, and some minimalist yet feminine touches. Sort of a cleaner, unpretentious, less trendy version of Anthropologie Home.
So why does all this matter at all? It usually doesn’t. These aren’t things that I evaluate when I enter other salons. But I note it here for a reason — I think these little touches represent the way this salon feels about hair. It’s a Festivus for the rest of us. Believe it or not, some of us who are willing to put down a chunk of change on our hair are actually paying for a low maintenance, wash-​n-​go cut. We don’t want a shiny new project to fuss with. We want someone to give us good, natural looking hair so we can go on with our lives and focus on other things.
My stylist, Susan, gave me an awesome cut. A true wash-​n-​go cut. And even when I asked her to recommend products (I am intellectually aware that humans don’t need hair products to survive, but I do occasionally find myself a slave to marketing, like every good American) she insisted products weren’t necessary at all, and walked me through the process of actually air drying my hair without allowing it to dry or frizz out. Techniques that no other stylist had taught me, and techniques that worked.
And when I left, I didn’t have that glossy «just came from the salon» look. Don’t get me wrong — that look is great sometimes. That look gets compliments and head turns and more eye contact from men and is great for special events. But that day, I left Sparrow looking like a more attractive version of myself. I looked like a person who just has naturally pretty, healthy hair, and who doesn’t fuss with it because she doesn’t have to.
My haircut is as good as the best haircuts I’ve gotten. I’m not saying my haircut here is quite *better* than any haircut I’ve gotten — Aggie at Art and Science and Annie at Gold and Braid have given me haircuts of equal quality (so I do suggest them if you’re on the waiting list at Sparrow, more so than Tracy at Sine Qua Non, whom Sparrow refers customers), but I am saying that it’s of the same high quality as the best haircuts I’ve gotten.
And with all the other little details, Sparrow is a cut (get it?) above the other well reputed salons — Sparrow is the whole package.

Susan has introduced me to the pleasures of unwashed hair and I’ve discovered that what I thought was a limp, stick-​straight, body-​less mop is actually a swirl of curls.
I’ve lived HOW long without knowing this?
There are other great things about Susan. She’s super nice, knows her way around hair long and short, listens to your personal hair habits (no product for me, ever) and gives you a cut you can manage without too much fuss.
I think this is the start of a very long relationship.

Maybe my expectations were too high. That’s the trouble with a 5-​star rating. I looked forward to this cut for weeks, ready for an exceptional new look, but even from an objective point of view, Susan’s cut was uneven and funky, with a gap on one side. My coarse, wavy hair never laid right: although it was cut to dry naturally, it was bulky on one side and flat on the other. Aesthetically, the salon was very pleasing: it was heavenly to sit under the vintage dryer with a cup of hot tea on a cold, rainy spring day. However, like visiting a lovely spa for a relaxing facial then waking up the next morning with a face full of spots, the long-​term disappointment outweighed the immediate pleasure.

I love my haircut. It looks even better today, the «morning after» with a little bed head.
Sheba was fantastic. First off, I’ve never seen a cuter stylist. She has some rad fashion sense. Secondly, she was really honest and down to earth. The picture I brought in was the best representation of what I wanted, but when I explained that I thought I should go a little shorter, she totally agreed and seemed to intuitively understand exactly the length/​style I was going for.
I also like that she gave me props for not blow-​drying my hair. She made sure the cut would accommodate my wavy when air-​dried hair.
The space is really beautiful too. And of course, you’ll be treated with wine or beverage of your choice upon arrival.

I may be in the starting of my 20’s, but this is the first haircut I got without my mom with me. Obviously an event that can only be compared to riding your bike for the first time or giving birth.
The reviews are stellar but I was apprehensive only because I have been using the same hair stylist since high school in NYC and finding good hair salons doesn’t seem as dime a dozen in Chicago.
I was warmly greeted with coffee and bright eyed Susan. I’m the vague type of person that knows very little about how my hair works and what to do with it; I’m told I’m blessed with thin straight hair (thanks dad genes!). I know what I like and don’t like, but only after it’s said and done. Susan was totally into keeping my new length rather than giving me the standard bob most places force on me as well as options with how to style my hair and tips to keep it from getting gross. My 60’s Asian school girl haircut now frames my face and looks good in hats.
The student discount is also awesome for covering tip as well, you get an affordable haircut worth paying for. When I actually have some serious cash, I’ll see what they can do with crazy color.

I needed a hair change, so I decided to try a place in my neighborhood, and I’m so glad!
Susan adjusted my bob so that it’s more graphic and angled my bangs so they are more flattering to my face. They also stay in place more on their own now! Susan paid close attention to what my hair naturally wanted to do, and therefore I ended up with a better cut.
I love the quiet atmosphere and the scent of the Kevin Murphy products. I want to eat the shampoo, it smells sooo good!

Just when I’ve forgotten my inner rock star, Sparrow puts him back on display. For their level of experience and talent, this salon is both affordable and absolutely attitude-​free.
I suffer from a problem where I have no clue what I look like (the moment I close my eyes I become Johnny Depp) so I have trouble picking out a hairstyle. Instead I give Sheba some general instructions: she takes a good look at me; then she goes to work.
Last time it was «Make me an age-​appropriate grad student TA who just rolled out of bed.» Think that’s a challenge? I walked into New Wave around the corner afterwards to see what reaction I got; I swear, comely coffee drinkers batted their long eyelashes at me, ready what I should take attendance. Merveilleux!
I couldn’t be more pleased with Sparrow’s work. I think after a decade in the city, this is where I finally learned the difference between having my hair «cut» and having it styled. Be sure and take them up on their offer of a beer, a wine or a green tea: their tea is organic… and delicious!

I adore Susan. I adore Sparrow. A lovely space with always lovely customer service.
I moved to Chicago a year ago and went to Susan within my first week in Logan Square to shape up my look for job interviews. She took a look at my hair and told it straight. She chopped off my too long bangs and gave me a glorious cut that suited my face in the best of ways.
Then I decided to grow out my pixie short hair. For 6 months she shaped it up and I grew it out to bob length. Then I decided to chop it all off again. And for the last 6 months she has kept it looking fierce and classic.
I have not stopped receiving compliments on my hair since her hands have been shaping away. I frequent Sparrow about every 5 – 6 weeks to keep up my short do and the price is worth it. I have a full head of thick, super wavy/​curly hair and have seen my share of hair disasters. It is amazing to let someone have at it and trust that they will make you look like a million bucks without fail.

I have no choice but to give Sparrow 5 stars. I live in the neighborhood and was searching for a hair salon. I’m not very good about keeping up on my hair cuts; I always put is off and am not loyal to any salons in the city — until now.
I saw all these 5 star reviews on here and couldn’t ignore them. Especially when a good portion of them sounded just like my hair story — I have shoulder-​length curly hair, let it air-​dry everyday, don’t mess with it, don’t use product, etc.
I explained this to Susan and she knew exactly what to do. She knows her way around a head of curly hair! She could obviously tell that I do not keep up on my hair needs and frankly told me that we had to get rid of the triangle on my shoulders and give me some style and shape. I absolutely love the cut. It falls in delightful little tundrils with no effort on my part, and I could not be happier with this easy to manage cut.
She also convinced me to throw out my round brush (I do dry my hair in these Chicago winters) when she told me that they don’t even have one in the salon. I’ve upgraded to a paddle brush which she showed me how to use to dry my long bangs out before putting my wet hair in a bun and tossing on my bike helmet before work. The bangs will provide an anchor for the style, she informed me, and I will always remember this trick! She also taught me how to coax my fine curls into solid curls with no flyaways, without me even asking for advice.
I was offered a glass or wine or beer when I arrived, and enjoyed my Miller High Life while I waited for my turn. I sat in the chair about 15 minutes after my appointment time, which is perfect for me. I always run late but got here on time and had a chance to sit back and stare at the amazing wooden space divider that they had custom made to separate the hair washing area from the main room. The space is adorable and I have already recommened this place to friends.