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Former Vidal Sassoon creative director Cristiano Cora brings a cool, downtown sensibility to his mod West Village salon, which opened in February 2008. Designed by the architect Avi Oster, the thirteen-station salon looks akin to a chic spaceship, with stark white walls and floors, angular mirrors, and bright-red curvy chairs from Italy at the sinks in back. But despite its upscale atmosphere, the salon fosters a community vibe: The staff wears deconstructed aprons designed by students from the New School down the street, and the spot gained notoriety in the midst of the recession by offering free haircuts for the unemployed during a two-day event. The four stylists and two colorists use Davines products, and Cora leads regular cutting and coloring classes in partnership with the brand. While Cora takes one’s body shape, personality, and wardrobe into account to create an individualized style for each client—many of whom have been following him for a number of years—he is keen on creating voluminous texture, whether it’s on a head of stick-straight hair or ringlets. In addition to cuts, glosses, highlights, and weaving, the salon also offers a variety of treatments for the scalp and hair. — Randi Eichenbaum