Antonio Prieto Salon

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If you like the chic, comfortable intimacy of a boutique hotel, you’ll feel right at home at Antonio Prieto Salon. After more than nine years in the Flatiron District, Prieto moved to this spacious, custom-designed Chelsea storefront in 2005. The salon’s “modern organic” design, as described by Prieto himself, features a sleek minimalist space softened by natural textures like barn wood, leather, marble, and stone. Different shades of beige and brown (and a distinct lack of color) help create a rich, earthy feel, while at each styling station, an enormous full-length mirror leans against the wall facing a simple, cube-like chocolate-brown leather chair. Known for his years on the fashion circuit working with such designers as Versace, Jil Sander, and Calvin Klein, Prieto is surprisingly relaxed and unassuming, much like the salon itself; he and his top-notch, jeans-clad staff clearly put their clients first—be they newcomer or devoted regular—and exhibit no star attitude. If you’re as busy as most people, chances are you’ll be thrilled with the results of their work: Every cut, color, and style is customized to the client’s face and hair texture, and designed to look great without hours of daily prep work. — Amanda Theunissen