Aki’s Cutting Room

I called for an appointment on a Saturday and they worked me in within the hour! My mom is a hairstylist and I worked at a salon for 5+ years, so I’m picky when it comes to salons. Aki’s did not disappoint.
My stylist was Tim and he did a phenomenal job. He gave a consultation, guidance and was precise with his cutting. I could tell he is a perfectionist and it paid off. My hair looks and feels fantastic!
The shampoo was alright. I prefer a little more scrubbing, but my hair felt clean and that’s all that really matters. I do wish they would offer beverages, even water. Not a big deal though.
All around a great experience. I’ll definitely be back!

Leslie (a guy) is very thorough and very friendly! I’m female with long-​ish thin hair and he went above and beyond and did this technique with rolling my hair (for a simple blow dry!) that gave my hair va-​va-​voom!
It’s pricey though, but reasonable given similar salons in the area.

Yes, yes, and yes! I went in for the first time to have my hair cut — I really just wanted someone to redo my layers and lighten my crown cut (not color, just make the layers less heavy), and I was absolutely satisfied.
I had Leslie cut my hair — I highly recommend him! He definitely didn’t have a go-​to or standard cutting procedure that he just went ahead with; he really studied my face, my hair, my age, etc., and proceeded accordingly.
This place is a little gem, and I say that the price (s) are well worth it.

Leslie is a dear! After a miscommunication about what I wanted, he made it right and that means the world.

This is the best hair salon I’ve been to and I’ve been in NYC since 1989, extremely courteous staff, convenient hours, Chie is AMAZING. The hair wash and conditioning is fabulous since you get a massage that relaxes you right away. Chie is meticulous and checks with you about what you want, while making great suggestions about how to make your cut perfect for your hair texture etc. After the perfect blow out, they always offer a massage! This is a shiatsu type massage that ends a wonderful experience on an even better note! Very reasonable prices, note that you should pay with checks. Go to see Chie before the end of February, she’s going on vacation…

Chie is great! She really knows how to cut hair. Salon is simple and clean. No frilly stuff here.

I just called to make an appointment with Hikaru and he no longer works there! Does anyone have his contact info so I can book him elsewhere? My hair will never be the same without him!

This is a place I trust, and trust is the most important quality for a hair salon in my opinion. Aki’s Cutting Room is great in general, but my review refers more specifically to Hikaru. Hikaru’s attitude reminds me of the professionalism of master artisans of Japan, meticulous and tirelessly perfectionist like Sony products or Ichiro. I am an East Asian guy in late 20s. Hikaru easily spends an hour cutting my hair. The care that he puts is the best I’ve experienced anywhere. He also seems in tune with the latest hair fashion. For a guy who is oblivious to such things, it is great to have your hair-​stylist give you the look that’s right for you which you didn’t think of yourself. He is very polite and really gives you great service. He has taken the time to teach me how to style my hair on my own, putting up with my questions until I was satisfied. He apparently loves his work, cutting and styling hair since high school in a small village in Japan, then moving on to Tokyo for 10 years, and now in NYC. It sounded like he cut some famous people’s hair back in Tokyo, but I obviously can’t vouch for that. All I can say is, he is my go-​to hair-​stylist, whom I trust and feel at ease with. I’m always happy at the end. $ 50 might seem a little expensive for many guys, but I think it’s totally worth it, especially because the haircut he gives you stays great from day 1 to a month and a half later or more.
* Note: I think they are in temporary location for the summer, so you should call and check.

If you want to keep your hair, don’t go here. I went because of all the positive reviews on Unilocal.I talked about how I liked the style of lighter ends. So why did I walk out with the top of my hair blonde and highly damaged? I can’t even run my fingers through my hair because it’s so brittle and dry that it tangles. AND to top it off, the stylist asked me if I wanted a leave in conditioner and charged me for it. Do not go here. They clearly don’t understand how to do hair.

This place was fantastic. Normally, I don’t spend this much for a haircut ($ 50 may be standard for some, but it was a little expensive for me), but it was totally worth it. Chie cut my hair, and although I gave her very little to work with by way of instruction, she did a fantastic job.
The shampoo at the beginning was great, and the massage at the end was amazing. Even better, though, was when I was about to get up: she looked at my hair again and decided she wasn’t happy enough with it yet, worried about making sure it would still look good as it grew, and so had me stay for another ten minutes rather than just being done with me (I would have happily just been on my way). That sort of attention to detail and care about her work was well worth the price.
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edit: I just realized I should maybe say something about my hair… I’m a guy with fine, wavy (to kinda curly on top) hair. A lot of salons can make you feel like guy’s hair is not what they do, but Chie didn’t bat an eyelash and did a great job. Also, although all of the stylists are Japanese, they seem to get a wide mix of clientele and to feel completely comfortable with many different hair types.

No frills. Risky.
I don’t they keep track of the color they use, so your hair color could end up looking different every time. The past two visits Michi has used the wrong color (once too light, once too dark) and has had to fix it.
And the blowouts are totally basic (at least Michi’s). Sad because the head massages are so good — as are the prices! But they have some issues they need to fix.

Awesome place. Aya is amazing at what she does and is really nice! They will not stop until you are completely satisfied with your cut and they definitely pay attention to details.

Can’t say enough good things about Kana. Got my second cut from her yesterday and am beyond pleased. She takes direction, makes good suggestions and always delivers amazing results.
Needless to say I was devastated to hear she’ll be leaving for Japan soon!
I plan to continue to get my hair cut at Aki’s with a new stylist Kana recommended. The price is around $ 50 for a men’s haircut (before tip) which is pretty fair considering the level of service and attention to detail they provide.

Oh boy! So happy to see Kana’s name mentioned… she cut my hair in 1999. One of the best ever. I believe she went back to Japan for a while, but i’ll be stopping by for a visit soon!
UPDATE 2 – 16: Got my hair done here today as planned. STILL SUPERB. Kana mentioned here is not my original Kana but new Kana – and just as WONDERFUL. Super haircut, great salon. There is a reason they’ve been here so long. Highly recommend.

Kana has been cutting my hair for the last two years now, and she never fails to please. I’m glad Aki’s is conveniently located right by NYU, I love nothing more than to be able to squeeze in a bang trim in between classes every 3 months.
However, I’ve realized that they have raised prices since I first started going there. But I guess you can’t really complain, this is NYC afterall.

My stylist was Kana… best haircut I’ve had in ages. The salon is small, quiet and I can hardly wait to go again!

I’ve been going here for years and have never found a reason to try other salons since finding Cutting Room! I love the minimalist look and chill atmosphere. Mika always does a great job and is very sweet, highly recommended. I always tell friends to come here, especially for Asian hair, and they’ve all had great experiences at Cutting Room. Also, love the massage.
Only reason why I’m not giving it 5 stars is because they don’t accept credit card. Maybe it keeps costs down, but it’s kind of a pain to have to get so much cash, especially if I want to buy hair products too.

I love this place. I almost don’t want to write a good review for it in case it gets too popular to get appointments! They listen to you, and offer a reasonable opinion when you ask for it. The place is clean and you get all the nice Japanese salon services with your haircut (like a quick massage at the end). There are lots of Japanese hair salons in NYC, and I have tried only a few of them but I stopped shopping around when I found Aki’s.

cool japanese hair salon.
no signs only a big window on a quiet cobble stone street near washington square.
kana is who cut my not too exciting hair. made it look cool.
this place won’t make guys feel like they are in a woman’s only salon. very chill atmosphere. very professional and cheap… 50 bucks.
cash only.
made me very happy and you may very well be too. check it out.

I started coming here a couple years ago at a friend’s recommendation. I absolutely love it! It is small, clean, and friendly. Mika cuts my hair, and she is really fantastic. Prices are reasonable considering the service. I never feel rushed or stressed out here. It’s on a quiet street near NYU.