Alma Salon NYC

Profile

When Alma Qeraxhiu was a young vajze growing up in Albania, she would perm her sleeping father’s hair with a wine cork and beer. Much has changed since then, and now this glamour-puss stylist helms her own full-service salon. Opened in 2000, the salon has become a regular stop for celebrities like Rosario Dawson and Keri Russell, as well as magazine offices and modeling agencies, which look to Alma for photo-shoot styling and color consultation. Alma is revered for her layered razor cuts, while her small army of stylists seeks to accommodate hectic schedules by applying color and highlights simultaneously. Cotton-lined foils prevent highlight burns, and chemical-free Redkin products explain why a growing number of pregnant women are signing up for color. The Cellulite Relief treatment gives hope to those with unsightly lumps and varicose veins, and facials using Dead Sea products by Avance attract many an acne-prone teen. With its subtle eighties-era decor—grey walls, orange sconces, Lucite chairs, large-scale art—the space boasts an overall festive atmosphere, thanks in no small part to its judicious offerings of wine and dirty martinis; for the teetotalling crowd, hot chocolate and coffee are also available. And with room for only a handful of clients at a time, the cozy space makes for an intimate experience, inebriation notwithstanding. — Sarah Walker