Crisca Salon

Profile

Neither the grandeur of St. Patrick’s Cathedral across the street nor the high-profile Fifth Avenue salons around the corner intimidate Raul, Crisca’s soft-spoken former owner. He’s been snipping at his unisex clientele’s locks (not sniping at neighbors) since 1992, an eternity in this biz. One reason for the longevity is there simply isn’t an audience for drama (or a $200 haircut) at this low-key place; instead, it’s working stiffs, many of whom pander to nearby NBC and CBS studio execs, who come in for the wash/cut/style combos that are offered for a song. (And with twelve stylists on hand, lunchtime shape-ups are a snap.) The stark, white, bathroom-tile decor is nothing to call home about (though the pay phone near the shampoo station works, just in case you need to), but small in-wall televisions and a library’s worth of magazines are there to distract those waiting for color to set. A mini hodgepodge of beauty services dots the menu, including manicures, pedicures, and waxing; these are performed in makeshift locations by a single, meticulous technician. When you want the works, best to stop in on Monday, the salon’s slowest day. — Chanize Thorpe