Whistle

Profile

Whistle is just the kind of neighborhood salon you hope to find in New York. Small but not dumpy, stylish but not intimidating, edgy in a subtle way that doesn’t yield a do you can’t wear to the office. Not that these folks can’t deliver an avant-garde mane, if that’s what you’re into. In business since 2001, they've watched East Village tastes evolve from bright-pink Mohawks to pixie cuts, and now they do just as many soft, beautiful coifs as they do anything else. Whistle's creative versatility is its strength—their seven senior-level stylists walk the line between pretty and edgy without veering too far into either camp, but they can also deliver looks at both ends of that spectrum. Simply decorated with white and gray walls graced with quirky artworks, the space invites without being obvious. There are current details like ceramic antlers that serve as wall-mounted sconces, but the best eye candy is the pair of adorable French bulldogs that often roost under a waiting-area bench. Short on cash? Their training program doles out free cuts and $15 to $30 colors for willing models. — Edna Ishayik