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Maria Rogersen and Jonathan Mok admit that they put in more work into creating their modern East Village salon than they did their own abode. The pair collaborated with an architect from Parsons to open the spot in April 2008, chiseling out the exposed brick walls and installing futuristic red-canvas chairs at each of the four stations. Mok manages the business and plays host, while Rogersen and two other residents stylist tend to the hair. Rogerson honed her styling skills in her native Greece as well as at Salon V nearby, and her hair-care regimen starts with the scalp. Working with Davines and Kevin Murphy products, she begins by massaging an essential oil with an energizing or relaxing aroma into the roots before shampooing. The salon caters to a funky downtown clientele, specializing in shags and choppy asymmetrical dos achieved with a dry cutting technique. Pre-appointment Q&As are extensive for coloring, whether you’re seeking basic partial highlights or a more complex dimensional-color processing. With only one or two clients in the chairs at a time, the atmosphere is intimate—it’s not uncommon for the locals to linger long after their appointments. — Randi Eichenbaum