Edris Salon

Profile

Caribbean-born Edris Nicholls got her start in the hair business as a teenager in New York, learning her first tricks of the trade in a Koch-era after-school program. After paying her dues at uptown salons like Warren Tricomi, the stylist set out on her own—along with former Tricomi colorist Francesca Montanile and makeup artist Landy Dean—in 2003, opening Edris Salon on one of the last deserted strips of the Meatpacking district. Known for her uptown/downtown aesthetic and her multicultural approach to hair styling (all staff are trained in the specific needs of African American, Asian, and mixed hair types), Nicholls’ equal-opportunity attitude is reflected in her diverse client base. Neighborhood fashion types mingle with uptown ladies and outer-borough devotees in the stunning third-floor space’s central lounge area, a comfy, Zen-chic social hub in the style of a high-rent Tribeca loft. In the color area, clients receive single and double-process treatments, as well as  drastic color changes, but it's Nicholls' haircut station that takes center stage. As long as you stay on your best behavior—sit up straight, legs uncrossed, and never touch your head while she's working—you'll leave with an eminently wearable style, and maybe a few new friends. — Carolyn Murnick