L'Atelier de Laurie.   (Photo: Courtesy of L'Atelier de Laurie)

Space Salon
155 Sixth Ave., at Spring St.; 212-647-8588
Colorists Janette Bower and Lola Lorraine are best known for their personalized approach to highlighting using Schwarzkopf and Igora Royal dyes. After an extensive consultation, the pair uses different types of weaving to achieve the desired effect, from contemporary, piecey streaks to an all-over golden glow.

Louis Licari
693 Fifth Ave., fifteenth fl., nr. 54th St.; 212-758-2090
Steven Beeson was trained by Licari himself, and has been a colorist at this midtown salon for more than fifteen years. He varies foils to mimic the look of hair lightened naturally by the sun—brighter around the face and outer layers, with a richer base.

L'Atelier de Laurie
124 E. 4th St., nr. First Ave.; 212-358-8900
After working the fashion-show circuit in Paris and Milan with renowned stylist Orlando Pita for a decade, Laurie Foley opened this opulent, artsy salon in 2005. She uses fine-tipped color brushes and paintbrushes to apply dye in precise strokes, allowing her to get closer to the roots than traditional foils.

Patrick Melville Salon
45 Rockefeller Plaza, nr. 50th St.; 212-218-8650
Color director Rick Wellman favors an innovative Bio-Lights highlighting technique, which substitutes biodegradable cotton strips for foils. The method allows colorists to get closer to the roots, yielding longer-lasting effects.

Rita Hazan Salon
720 Fifth Ave., eleventh fl., at 56th St.; 212-586-4343
Hazan and her team of colorists pick and choose from various brands—including L'Oréal, Wella, and Clairol—to blend the most complementary shade of blonde for each client. Hazan is known for her deft color correction, skillfully turning brassy or botched dye jobs into rich, natural shades.