The Way

Took me a while to post this because I really wanted to make sure that what I was feeling were valid feelings. Here’s why I will give my experience with Illeisha 3 stars: 1) I felt she became very impatient and exasperated with me. As someone who was a first time dyer getting my hair dyed and not really understanding the process, I felt like she got annoyed with me by the tone in her voice and the words she said to me. I didn’t particularly feel welcome to be essentially someone who was nervous about a big step. I understand that I should trust her, but trust is built over time. Just because you consider yourself a professional doesn’t mean people will always trust you immediately because of that. You earn that trust by how you make them feel from the first moment. 2) what I booked was a trim, dye and style. The booking website didn’t give an idea of what styles to choose from, so I simply requested a blown out wash n go. Since she was already impatient with me not knowing what I wanted and being nervous about the whole process, my wash n go was very rushed. She gave me a few rushed strokes to my hair with crunchy mousse and blow dried it and that was it. When I looked in the mirror I was disappointed that I paid $700 and left the salon with a style that looked like I just woke up from. It seems based on her IG that her specialty is silk press or cornrows. I wish I had known that otherwise I would not have requested a natural hair style working with my natural 4C curls. 3) I had to interject myself before almost every step to ask what was happening or about to happen to my hair. I wish I didn’t have to do that. Again, when you are dealing with someone who has never dyed their hair, you really have to walk them through every single step, and not get impatient with them. 4) the dye job itself wasn’t bad and I was happy with how it turned out, although I had some loosening of my curls that I wasn’t prepared for or told about, but I guess that’s just part of it. All in all the vibe of the studio and Illeisha was kinda off in general and it gave the feel of phony kindness.

My First Review Ever: The Way Transformed My Daughter's Hair Journey I have NEVER—and I mean EVER—written a review in my life. No cap. Not on Amazon, not on Yelp, nothing. I've been that person who benefits from everyone else's reviews but never contributes. Not sure why honestly, but that's a story for another day. Desiree's work at The Way was amazing enough to inspire my first review, and that should tell you everything you need to know. A New Approach Let me give you some backstory. My daughter has beautiful natural curly hair that we've been learning to care for properly. Like a lot of parents, I've been on a journey to understand her hair texture and what works best for it. We've tried different approaches and products along the way. When we visited The Way, Desiree brought a fresh perspective. She took time to examine my daughter's hair, asked questions about our routine, and explained her approach. A haircut and 2½ hours later, I watched my kid look in the mirror with genuine excitement. The curls were just popping and locking in a way we hadn't seen before. Beautiful, defined spirals that bounced when she moved. She couldn't stop touching them, smiling at herself in every reflection we passed on the way home. Desiree gave my daughter a real gift—confidence and pride in her natural texture. Dear Parents of Mixed Kids: Here's my real talk for parents out there, especially those with mixed kids navigating textured hair: The Way should be on your shortlist. When your kid's hair texture is different from yours, finding the right stylist who understands their specific needs makes all the difference. The Way specializes in textured hair and brings real expertise to the table. Desiree took time to explain techniques, recommended specific products, and gave me a routine we could manage at home. She treated my daughter's hair with knowledge and care. The Bottom Line Highly recommended, and we will definitely return. Thanks, Desiree. Thanks, The Way. You've made a believer out of someone who never writes reviews. Cheers!

No exaggeration—this is the best silk press and hair straightening I’ve experienced in 30 years! I sweat a lot, yet four days later, my hair is still perfectly stretched, incredibly lightweight, and full of movement. That’s saying a lot, considering I’ve been natural my whole life. In the past, getting a silk press or blow-dry always involved a lengthy, multi-step process with numerous products. Illeisha achieved these results with just a few products, a quick blow-dry, and a single pass of the flat iron—yes, just one! I’m beyond impressed. I also decided to cut about 7–8 inches off for a sleek Winter Robert (bob lol). As you can see in the photos, the precision of this cut is a 1000/10. It’s sharp, yet still full of movement. My experience at The Way was fantastic. The staff is kind, knowledgeable, and efficient. The salon’s energy is calm, fun, and genuinely welcoming—something that’s rare to find these days, even after 30+ years of salon visits. Staff 10/10, Service 10/10, Energy 10/10 & This Winter Robert 10/10!

I will never let anyone else in nyc cut my hair. Illeisha is the sweetest; she doesn’t just cut your hair but she takes the time to really educate you on your hair. Curly hair is hard and she really knows how to work with all hair types and textures.

I cannot say enough great things about IIIeisha From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. IIIeisha took the time to really listen to what I wanted, offered expert advice, and worked absolute magic on my hair. This is the best best experience I have ever had

Beware of Inconsistent Pricing and Unexpected Cancellations at The Way: I recently encountered concerning behavior at The Way. While the initial advertised price for a specific style was lower, The Way quoted me a price significantly higher upon further inquiry. Subsequently, The Way hair salon cancelled my appointment without explanation, leaving me frustrated and uncertain. It’s essential for potential clients to be cautious when booking services at this establishment. Transparent and consistent pricing, along with respectful customer service, should be standard practices. Follow up to The Way’s response: I employed polite language throughout our exchange as a matter of courtesy. Despite the apparent misunderstanding highlighted in The Way's response below, no attempt was made to directly address the customer. I maintain my position on this issue. Thank you for your time.

I had such a positive experience here. I hadn’t cut my hair since before the pandemic — so my hair was definitely in need of some TLC. The team here is so warm and gracious and the salon itself is in a prime location and has such a calming vibe. Nichole was great! She took her time and couldn’t be sweeter. (Tbh I was nervous the morning of bc I felt my hair had really been through the wringer but she assured me it was better than I thought — big confidence booster) I look forward to coming back and recommending.

Had an amazing silk press and cut with Soleil. Everything about the service was so relaxing. I have long hair that tangles easily and I was asleep for the shampoo/blowdrying process. She also made sure to double check with the length I wanted to cut off and executed what I wanted flawlessly. I will definitely be back and I am so glad I found this gem of a salon.