Subculture Hair Studio & Spa - Philadelphia

I see Allison for facials and waxing. Allison is just phenomenal in knowledge about everything skin care and products. I have super super sensitive skin. Allison is always very conscientious about the products used during my services. I have never ever had any skin irritation let alone breaking out in hives, as has happened to me with some products. Allison always makes me feel incredibly comfortable and safe during any services. Allison is also a freaking wizard when it comes to brows and shaping. I always joke that I go so that Allison can "fix my face" - except that is really what happens. I cannot say enough positive things about Allison - as well as the warm and accepting culture and vibe of Subculture in general.

After doing research to find a salon that could achieve what I wanted, I booked an appointment here for a bleach and short, edgy cut. Not so. Unfortunately, the stylist I selected had a schedule conflict. Because I live outside of Philadelphia and had already arranged transportation, I could not reschedule. Upon the original stylist’s highly endorsed recommendation, I booked with another stylist. This stylist was very sweet, but a novice. From her first recommendation to wash my hair prior to bleaching, I felt there might be a problem. I have been getting my hair done in a similar style for more than a decade in salons from New York to Miami to Rome. So, I spoke up. She assured me that this was what the bleach product recommended. She double-bleached all of my hair twice, not just the roots. My scalp was scorched and remained tender and pink for a week.Then, she attempted to do a highly textured short style. It didn’t go well. She had to get the owner, who finished the cut, explaining that the stylist was fairly new. The cut was ok but it has not grown in well since then. Normally, my hair appointments are 2-2.5 hours. I was there 4 hours. Initially, I paid because my ride was waiting. However, once I was home, I contacted my credit card company, as well as the owner. She gave me a partial refund but did not really accept responsibility. I had tipped the stylist and treated her kindly because she was young and new. The owner asked why since I was dissatisfied. I said it was the right thing to do. This was my worst salon experience ever.

Allison is a wonderful esthetician, coming in as a Masc presenting person I really needed something to fit my face and my vibe. We talked about what would work best for my look and went with the brow tint and shaping. After I left I am feeling like a million bucks. Looking forward to curating a lasting relationship here.

I have been going to Ashley for over a year now for my double process. I found her through another stylist that went to the hair like a boss class. For a long time she did a great job. I’m not sure why the sudden change in quality, but I am extremely dissatisfied with my last service with her. I wanted a full highlight after growing my hair out for about 3 months. She said there wasn’t enough hair to do a full, but she would do a partial. The partial was literally the very tops of my hair nothing underneath whatsoever. I always get a money piece, she said she didn’t want to do it this time, so I said okay and paid $160 for literally maybe ten at most foils and that’s being generous. Mind you I wanted heavy highlights to blend my double process out. Then I go back to have sew in extensions put in. I told her I still wanted the money pieces in my hair to brighten around my face. This was only two weeks later (her soonest appointment) paid another $60 for that. So I’m total $220 for the very top of my head and face pieces to be blonde. She tried to tell me that the products she uses are expensive and that’s why it ended up costing more. I don’t require entire bottles on my head, my hair is short, and thin. There is no way that is justifiable to charge that amount of money for what I got, and I’m not even happy with the quality of the work! Now come the extensions. They were a nightmare. She ordered hair for me, I told her I wanted sew in wefts. I ended up buying the 22.5" because they were a great price. I come to find out they were a great price because they were extremely thin. Instead of recognizing they would not be enough to camouflage my short hair she installed them anyway. It took over 7 hours. They were supposed to be sewn in… some were and others I’m not sure what she did. She did tell me it was her first time doing it and that for that reason I would not be charged. I expected that it wouldn’t be perfect, but I did not expect the mess and the damage it would bring. She smashed the beads into my hair crushing them so that I could not remove them. They literally cut my hair off at the roots. It was so painful. It had been just a little over a week of having them in and they were slipping down causing tensions my my scalp and damaging the weft. It is very difficult to get a hold of her, even though she will make time to post on her social media. When I did finally get a hold of her she was not apologetic what so ever. She was very defensive and tried to justify everything, which clearly from the pictures I’ve provided is just plain bad work. She ended up giving me $150 back. I spent over $500 in total for this. Aside from learning from hair like a boss, this place is nothing special. I feel ripped off, there are plenty of other salons that are better suited.

My girl Haley always slays with her cuts. I started seeing her when I moved a year ago and haven’t needed to shop around for another salon. I’ve got wavy thick hair and she has no problem cutting and styling it. The whole crew there is so friendly and fun - best part of my month is my haircut!

Amanda is great! Been going to her for eyebrow shaping for some time now and she does a good job. Recently got my first facial (signature facial) and it was a relaxing experience and my skin is so glowy! Def will be exploring more facials in the future. She’s easy to talk to and make such a comfortable/relaxing environment.

Sophie is super talented and did my dream hair recently! She’s super professional and friendly, I highly recommend her to everyone! I’ve gotten so many compliments on my hair and I’m suuuuper happy with it. I also loved the atmosphere of the salon and how welcoming everyone was to me when I paid my visit! Definitely will be back soon!! 🥰