Dop Dop Salon

Profile

Though you'd never know it from its modest facade, this 3,700-square-foot, two-story former tap-dance studio is home to twenty-one stylists, nine assistants, and fifteen cutting chairs—though a chop shop it most certainly is not. Named after a popular fifties- and sixties-era French children's shampoo, the salon was founded in 1996 by veteran hair stylist and international portfolio artist Jo Blackwell-Preston, who sought to create a relaxed, sophisticated-yet-edgy environment of multicultural hair artistry. Whether you’re a Long Island housewife or an international rock star, the salon promises an egalitarian safe harbor for all. Considered one of the top corrective-color salons in New York, Dop Dop also employs the highly detailed wet/dry cutting technique and offers customized deep-conditioning treatments by Kérastase, Redken, and L'Oréal. Since half of its stylists are national educators, teaching the latest in cut and color techniques to salons throughout the US, the rest of Dop Dop’s crew, by proxy, are in on the cutting edge. Tried and true esthetes, this team proudly and actively supports other cultural mediums as well, with a consistently rotating art exhibit on their impressive 20-foot brick walls; rollaway workstations help the salon convert into an ideal space for poetry readings, dance performances, and jam sessions. — Sarah Walker

Dop Dop owner Blackwell-Preston’s expertise was showcased on the premiere episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.