Gunther was great once I got in the chair. I love my cut.
Downside they were running about 35-45 min behind on a random weekday afternoon and they didn't seem apologetic at all that they were running behind. Kind of off putting. And they didn't tell me (and I didn't see a sign) all tips must be in cash and I didn't have any on me. So I had to walk to duane Reade on a rainy day in a freshly dried haircut to get cash for a tip. Sucked.
I came here because I wanted a design from Minka Sicklinger and she works out of this shop on certain days.
The place is very clean, the music is good, and the receptionist is nice. They are well organized.
But the star was Minka. I cannot express how amazing she is. Not only is she the best tattoo artist, she is also just a cool, easy going person. My tattoo was better than I expected and it was an overall great experience. I cannot wait to get another one by her.
Recommend by a model for their outstanding knowledge of color and alternative styles. Upon reading the other Yelp reviews I scheduled an appointment with Josh Peter for a complete recolor.
Condition of hair: Medium-dark brown, color treated with box coloring. Very fine yet thick. My hair has prominent red undertones.
Desired color was a deep purple. Using Raw's color, Josh bleached my hair to a vibrant red-orange then applied the color. After a few washes the color turned brown. He invited me back to correct this with another round of bleaching and using Manic Panic Purple haze. He told me that some strands did not hold the color so I could come back a third time to complete the job, he trimmed my damaged ends complimentary. The third time we mixed 1:1 Raw's Deep Purple with Manic Panic Purple Haze. The color has come out beautifully with total coverage, no grays or missing patches.
I am prepared for normal fading yet am thrilled by the latest color output. Josh was exceedingly patient and accommodating as my hair posed these problems. He would not let me go away without my desired color.
The people in Graceland are extremely nice and personable. They are more than happy to chat with you if you like to talk and will let you be to your book if you don't wish to socialize. The pricing was extremely reasonable for the treatment both my hair and I received.
Highly recommend Graceland.
So I've been going to Graceland for 2 years. Â I liked it fine - and then I switched stylists and landed with Gunther. Â Now, it's a dream come true. Â I show up and no matter what: bang trim, hair cut, highlights, or full color treatment and I know I'll walk out looking adorable. Â Gunther did a beautiful job with a rainbow dip dye for me last summer. Â Then for the fall I wanted something more subdued - I wasn't sure what, but he helped me come up with the perfect level of highlights to feel special, but not over the top. Â Today, I went in needing a change and it was amazing. Â The dye job came out amazing (pop rocks and all!) and the cut was subtle.
The one time I had a problem with the dye I called, was booked the next day for a touch up, and Gunther fixed it immediately, realizing I hadn't had that process before and it was his mistake.
All in all, the cuts and color I've gotten ,as well as follow up the one time there was an issue have been amazing. Â Not cheap, but who wants a "cheap" hair salon. Â I love seeing Gunther and love walking out of the salon looking ready for the new season.
I've been going to Graceland for a few years for my hair, and just recently ventured to the tattoo side of the shop for my first session with Amy Shapiro. Amy is awesome - as sweet as can be and really attentive to what you want from a custom tattoo. She has a great feminine-style, and I love the outline so far and cant wait to go back to finish it up!
Review Source:Having had the same hair stylist for 17 years, I was extremely nervous about trying somebody new. A trusted friend with very high hair standards had repeatedly raved about Josh, and I finally decided to give him a try for cut and color a year ago. I could not be more delighted with the decision, and have made regular appointments since then for him to work his magic.
I have very long thick hair, and Josh encouraged me to switch from foil to balayage highlights. It was such a terrific suggestion. He is a genius. Not only do I feel like a million bucks when I leave Graceland, but I continue to feel like a million bucks straight through to my next hair appointment - no more consternation as I watch the line of my highlights slowly grow out. Not only that, but every cut he has given me has lasted beautifully all the way through until my next appointment. I don't always have time to style my hair, and his cuts have always worn well with the far more time-efficient wash-and-go approach.
At the beginning of each appointment, Josh asks how the cut has worked out - what worked well, what didn't, whether or not I have new requests. He really listens to my feedback, and adjusts or suggests accordingly. So far I have had zero complaints, and utterly trust Josh to follow his artistic muse - as long as I'm able to keep my length.
As long as Josh is working at Graceland, I will be an enthusiastic and happy client - I simply cannot recommend him highly enough.
Love this place! From the vibe, to the music they play to the amazing velvet paintings hung on the wall. I have been there a few times once for a tattoo from Amy and handful of other times for a hair cut from my main man Gunther.
Amy spent time and handled my tattoo with the utmost elegance and care. It was a simple piece, handwritten script. She basically read my mind and put such detail into it with out over embellishment. Amy is an amazing artist, she makes it easy to trust her instincts (which is important to me, this piece will last my entire lifetime) and leaves you with your idea transformed into a tangible reality.
Gunther is officially my new hairdresser. He is an artist. To put it in his words "your hair is a couture fashion piece that you wear day in and day out". My hair carries it self in a whole new life now. He understands how to handle curly hair, knowing that I am not a person who puts shit loads of product into my look. Gunther managed to create hair style after hair style that looks good in the salon as well as a post spontaneous rain shower that strikes days later.
I would suggest anyone to go to Graceland for all their vanity driven needs!!!
I've been searching for the right hairdresser ever since moving back from overseas, and this is the place. I'm super particular about what happens with my hair, whether it's color or cut, and Josh has been unbelievably patient with my requests and use of WAY too many words to describe what I needed. AND he delivered every time, from firetruck red to flame orange to a delicate peach and then pale blonde. He did it all and I've always left happy. And I still have hair on my head, which says a lot considering how many processes I've put it through.
Unfortunately my move to SF meant I lost Josh, but I'm passing him along to all of you. He's the best. Do it.
After a consult where the artist Jonah Ellis (who also works with East side ink in the city) reassures me that he can pull off the tattoo I want, I leave a deposit and set-up an appointment for two weeks later. The day of, shortly before the tat appt he sends me an email that he's been up till 8am unable to be inspired enough to draw and casually suggests a different tattoo artist. I Get to the shop ask him why he said he could do it if he couldn't and he tells me he thought he could but realized he couldn't. I calmly get my deposit back and leave.
Later in the evening I realize he sent me a follow-up email trying to justify him being "the bad guy". So, besides the fact that what he did was unprofessional but to write me about it after the fact? I will never get another tat from East side ink (he also works out of this shop) nor think twice about using Graceland.
If you are interested in this artist make sure he gives you a sketch a few days in advance to avoid having the same experience I have.
#gracelandtattoo #eastsideink #tattoos
India Arie once sang "I am not my hair". Â Well, I am my hair and my hair is me. Â
That doesn't make much sense, but I'm trying to say that my hair is VERY important to me.
I was outside Oslo coffee on Roebling one morning when I saw a woman with an awesome haircut. Â It was piecey but long, thinned out and wavy. Â It was a beautiful cut and I wanted it. Â So, I asked her where she got her hair cut and she mentioned Gunther at Graceland. Â
Now, I've had my fair share of haircut and dying nightmares. Â I generally spend too much money on cuts, averaging out at about $100 a cut. Â I have very long hair and I like to keep it that way. Â I mention it explicitly at every salon I go to and have not returned to salons because they didn't adhere to my hair deal breaker. Â
Gunther didn't chop off my hair... exactly. Â He kept it long... sort of. Â I actually love my cut... It was the experience as a whole that I hated.
I called and made a midday appointment with Gunther. I arrived on time, and was asked to sit and wait. Â No one was getting tattooed (it's half tattoo chairs, half salon), but all of the haircutting chairs were full. Â I don't want to be mean, but at first glance the salon was not what I was expecting. It is extremely small, decorated haphazardly and doesn't give off a comfortable vibe in the slightest, unless your idea of comfort is sitting in a Sweeney-Todd-esque barber chair and praying that you and your hair won't be suffering. Â I wouldn't be surprised to see cobwebs as decoration as well as cobwebs from not cleaning.
 I waited for about 20-30 minutes, and I'm being generous and possibly underestimating the amount of time I sat on the small couch and waited.  Finally, Gunther came over, speaking to me briefly about what I wanted.  I told him my long hair thing, how I wanted to keep the length, etc.  I told him that I had curly hair and I was afraid of cutting layers.  He said ok, and brought me to the chair.  There was no place to put my things, only a coat hanger by the front door.  My bag they let me drape on a doorknob, but seriously?  You're a haircutting place/barbershop... no one wants to put their things on a floor filled with hair.  Not comfortable.  They might have offered me water, or they might not have.  I don't think I would have wanted to use a glass even if they had offered me a drink.
 The gentleman who washed my hair was the absolute sweetest, and the saving grace for the whole experience. Â
  When I sat back in the chair with Gunther for the cut, I reiterated how I had long, CURLY hair, which he kept forgetting because he kept saying "oh right".  Then, he started to cut.
  And was done in maybe 10 minutes.  This has NEVER happened to me before at any of the other $45/$90/$100/$150 haircuts I have gotten.  Maybe he is just a master and can perform magic in a few minutes, but this was not what I was expecting.  I wanted him to take his time, to relax, because he was putting me on edge which frankly, was annoying.  He cut very quickly and seemingly haphazardly.  He cut VERY SHORT layers... and I began to freak out inside.
  At the end of the 10 minutes of cutting, I told him I wanted it to be sleek, easy to run my hands through, didn't need body.  He began to blow dry my hair, in sections, and curled it with a round brush.  THE BRUSH GOT STUCK IN MY HAIR, over, and over, and over again and he kept RIPPING it out of my hair.  Painful!  I was livid and nervous and disappointed all at once.  He took a total of about 15 minutes to blow my hair (it  takes 30 everywhere else and 45 for me to blow dry, meaning he rushed) and it was still wet when he "finished".  While he was blow drying it he apologized because he had been at a party last night with the rest of the shop and they were all a little "you know... you know how that goes". (HUNGOVER). Â
  Why are you keeping your shop open the day after you're feeding your employees alcohol and charging people lots of money for cuts?  Glad I didn't get a tattoo.
Anyway, Gunther finished quickly and said a very quick bye to me. Â I hadn't even spoken to the receptionist about paying before he ran out of the shop with his dog and sped off on his motorcycle. Â At that point, I was ready to burst into tears but I finished paying and left.
I burst into tears as soon as I hit the sidewalk under the BQE.
Look... is the haircut great now, a few weeks later? Sure. Â Might I go back, despite the fact that I'm posting this review? Â Maybe. Â But if nothing else, I want to let everyone know that this is not a salon with great service. Â They might have artists, and not many people want a 2 hour haircut, but there are stylists at other salons that actually take the time to make a customer happy. Â
Leaving in tears is definitely not a happy experience.
Be careful before booking a haircut here... know what you're getting into. Â
If you come here regularly, maybe it's different but this was a rough experience.
This review is for the hair salon.
I'm really confused about my feelings for Graceland. I wanted a big change and I wanted someone to help me come up with a vision, which they did. But I'm not sure I'm happy with the outcome?
They asked me to come in for a consultation, so I made the trek to Brooklyn only to find the stylist they had booked me with (Gunther) was busy and couldn't talk to me. I waited around for a while before they sent someone else to talk to me. He spent a few minutes, didn't seem to care about my hair texture or morning routine or any of the usual questions, and told me to come back with pictures. Ok then. Time well spent.
Gunther himself was much cooler. He seemed to generally get what kind of change I was going for and gave me really cool color. The cut itself is the problem - my hair is thinned out a LOT and has extremely super short layers reminiscent of Joan Jett. So, yeah... I just wear it half up every day.
So maybe it's my fault and I should have been more specific, but he could have explained a little to me what he was going to do before he did it.
Spent 3 hours and $200 on cut and color.
This is long overdue. Corvette is a hair god. He cut curls into my roommates stick straight hair (before the cut it wouldn't even curl with an iron). Â I already have curly hair and I told him I want it bigger, wilder, sexier, and he delivered. He'll chat you up if you like. Or, if you're like me, you'll want to sit quietly and watch the master at his work. Thank you thank you thank you Corvette. You're a lovely man.
Review Source:Only giving it four stars so that my review seems more legit...
I had THE BEST experience at Graceland! I went in wanting to go from brunette to platinum, "sickboy" blond. Gunther knew exactly what I wanted. He and all the other staff were so friendly, I had to spend about three hours there with bleach burning my head, but I had the best time doing it! The best part is, my hair looks fantastic and I've gotten so many compliments. I will definitely be going back.
Got my one and only tattoo (so far) done here by Josh. Josh took his time with me so I could be positive about the placement. Â Both Josh and the shop as a whole are so inviting and relaxing that I never felt nervous. His work was excellent and I'm already considering what to get next. Â If/when there is a next time, I will be headed back to Graceland to see Josh.
Review Source:Had the best haircut of my life once with Jen, who unfortunately doesn't work there anymore. Went back a couple times because the place IS really cool, everyone is nice and the music is great. That being said, all other haircuts were pretty unimpressive. Sad to move on but will try another salon in the neighborhood.
Review Source:I just had my hair cut for the first time at Graceland, and I love it. Â Corvette cuts the hair of several of my friends (two female, one male) and I've really, really loved what he's done with all of them. Â I recently started growing my hair longer and I've had a hard time settling on a style and a stylist. Â I think I have found both.
The salon itself is very cool... less like a salon and more like somebody's giant loft where people just happen to be cutting hair, doing tattoos, playing really great and varied music on vinyl, and serving kick-ass cookies. Â Everyone is really friendly. Â I arrived five minutes before my appointment time and Corvette introduced himself and brought me over to his chair within a few minutes of my arrival. Â We talked about what I was looking for and he really listened and had good suggestions for me.
I got my hair washed by Clark... he left it a little too wet and I had drips running down my neck, but I didn't care because he was so friendly and chill (which are good words to describe just about everybody there). Â Corvette then took over and since I pretty much just gave him leave to do whatever he wanted, it was fun to watch my new hairstyle take shape. Â I told him that I needed something a little bit conservative but also stylish, and I love what he came up with. Â He explained to me how to style it on my own and it's pretty simple, which is helpful for a hair dunce like myself.
I'll absolutely be going back - best haircut I've had in a long time.
As many others before me, I got the best haircut of my life at Graceland. (Props to Gunther-he is an artist.) I love the atmosphere and the white noise of tattoo needles in the background. Yes, it's expensive. But this haircut looked great even as it grew out, and it more than paid for itself in compliments and confidence.
Review Source:Corvette makes me look and feel like a rockstar. (But, I didn't tell you that. It's already so difficult for me to get an appointment with him when I want!)
I started going to Corvette years ago when he worked at Mudhoney, and was so excited to hear that he was opening a place in my 'hood in Brooklyn. I won't let anyone else cut my hair anymore. He's pretty damn amazing.
I've tried Graceland twice--once when I had long hair and wanted a nice change, and once when I had short hair and wanted a nice change. Â The first time I got an OK haircut but ended up not feeling re-inspired in my hair so I shaved my head 2 weeks later. Â The second time I didn't end up feeling re-inspired so I went to High Horse and got it dyed platinum blonde.
Both times I've been here I've regretted spending about $100 on a haircut I didn't love. I've learned my lesson and won't be returning.
Awesome! Â My hair looks AWESOME. Â I'm incredibly pleased with Julie's work. Â Sometimes after a haircut, your hair only looks good because of the blowout, but even after a wash and air dry, my hair looks great. Â
Also, I'm Korean, and I've got typical stiff hair that easily looks blocky if the layers aren't done wisely. Â I also have 4 crazy cowlicks, 2 of which are on my front hair line, thus making my bangs a minefield for mistakes. Â My layers look great and natural and my bangs ROCK. Â
Thanks Julie! Â I'm your loyal customer for life.
Dear Graceland,
Thank you. I think I had the happiest haircut experience of my life this week. If I had known how truly hip you were, I probably wouldn't have had the courage to come in. Blissfully ignorant, I walked in at noon and signed up. The woman at the counter could not have possibly added a single element to either her hair, her tatoos, or her clothing to create a more platonically ideal vision of hipness. I'm not being snarky here, I mean it.
Everyone was incredibly gracious and helpful, and just seemed happy to be working there. I described what I wanted to Gunther and he gave me the best cut I've ever had, and probably was just the nicest dude who's ever cut my hair. Just easy-going, thoughtful, and fucking good at his work.
I won't say it was a bargain at 65 bucks because well.... I'm a guy from a small town, and it still seems slightly narcissistic to stray this far from supercuts. But what the hell, it was worth it.
Go to Graceland, Gunther is the King.
Since moving to New York roughly 18 months ago, I've been to four different salons (Graceland included). Â My experiences prior to Graceland ranged from decent to horrendous. Â I've wound up disappointed a number of times and in tears once. Â So when it came time to make an appointment for cut and color this month, I decided - once again - to try somewhere new. Â I ultimately picked Graceland because of the glowing Yelp reviews (though these are not always a good proxy) and write-ups in the New York Times and Allure. Â However, I can't lie - the half salon/half tattoo parlor thing scared me a little. Â My two closest friends were flabbergasted by my choice - "Why would you go somewhere so 'weird' when you've had so many bad hair experiences in the past year?" Â They said things like "You don't like your hair now - but you probably won't be able to go outside after your appointment" and "I feel like you going to the salon is like the kickoff at the first game of the Miami Dolphins season every year. Â So much hope, but disappointment is inevitable." Â Regardless of their commentary, I was excited. Â
I went in on Christmas Eve day and was their first customer. Â Everyone was very friendly right from the start (they gave me a glass of champagne and some chocolate while I was there). Â Color was my first stop. Â Josh and I sat down and talked about what I wanted. I had my hair dyed red a little over two months prior, and due to some "confusion" with the colorist, it had turned an awful plum color - as such, I had let it fade for a while and now wanted to neutralize the red as much as possible without going super dark. Â I also wanted a few highlights around my face. Â Josh was very upfront and realistic about what he could do with my color given what was already in my hair, but he made sure to take into account what I wanted. Â We decided on an ash gray semi permanent to tone down the red and balayage around my face to break up the color. Â He started with balayage, and let me tell you, this guy is meticulous. Â He has a great technique and is very careful not to let stray bleach get on other parts of the hair. Â He also knows exactly where to place the highlights so that you wind up with a subtle, sun-kissed ombre-type look.
After the color was done, I moved one chair over to Corvette for the cut. Â I showed him a picture of what I wanted and he went right to work. Â About midway into the cut, I started getting nervous. Â I had asked for layers, but it looked like the amount of hair coming off was way more than I wanted. Â I stopped him for a second and shared my concern, and he then talked me through what he was doing and how it was going to look when he was done. Â I decided to trust him, and I'm glad I did. Â He gave me long layers that blend really well even after I've styled my hair at home - i.e. they look good when my hair is pretty darn straight instead of curled under and out like he did.
When we finished drying my hair, Josh came over and said that he didn't think the balayage was as noticeable as it should be - which was true. Â As such, he didn't charge me for it, even though he did spend a good deal of time doing it. Â After washing my hair twice, I can see the highlights a bit more - and what I can see, I LOVE! Â So, I'm excited to go back in a month or so for more.
By the way - this is actually a 4.5 star review, but I felt like people would take me more seriously if I gave 4 stars instead of 5 (which often looks like a paid review when it comes to salons). Â The loss of half a star stems from the fact that the music they play in the salon - though enjoyable - is much too loud. Â With blow dryers and blaring music, it can be a bit headache-inducing. Â Also, given that I'm deaf in one ear, it was a struggle for me to hear anyone who tried to talk to me.
I've only been to Graceland once, but I am making a return soon! This place is just so much fun to be in, and also filled with talented staff members. Â I have a LOT of hair, so honestly $80 for a cut (but she blowdried my hair and cut it DRY, which is THE BEST THING FOR WAVY/CURLY HAIR) I definitely got my money's worth, I have a ton of hair despite the lack of length. Â I saw Julie, and she actually made conversation with me enough to open me up (I can be a bit timid at first) and while I'll never feel cool enough to fit into the 'Burg, I really dig this place. Â Strongly recommend it.
Review Source:I've always kept my hair extremely long because I am a lazy bastard and terrible about any hairstyle that requires maintenance or effort. Once it crept past my waist though, my hair and I were at odds. It got caught in everything. It drank bottles upon bottles of conditioner. It tangled and gave me a feral woodland person look (which is only what I'm shooting for 1/4 of the time).
So I was v. eager to chop it off. Which made it difficult to wait the month for my appointment with Josh. He is very very busy, but that is because he is an honest-to-goodness wizard.
I asked for my usual laundry list of unreasonable demands: shoulder length but not to flippy. Simple but interesting. Most unreasonable of all, I wanted to be able to stick to my current regimen (walking out of the house with it wet and scrunching it half-heartedly in the company bathroom) and still have it look great.
Josh patiently and meticulously gave me a cut that took into account my requests and my hair's texture (mostly straight with a few unruly waves). It looks great if I straighten it, and more importantly it looks great even when I just let air-dry.
Everyone at Graceland was lovely. The salon itself is wonderful - Â cool decor, great music. I walked out over the moon and sent my friend Lisa here a month later. She got her hair cut by Corvette, who she reports is also marvelously patient, intuitive and skilled.
I went in to Graceland out of curiosity because a friend mentioned they're having a "funday tattoo party... " Ok... sure, why not? Let's go check it out...
First of all, they're spinning vinyl. Yes, that makes a difference. The music selection was fantastic. NWA, Pixies, Lil' Kim, Prince. Yes.
All of the images the artists created to tattoo at discount prices was impressive. Everybody there was incredibly friendly...
And then Jess did a nice little tattoo for me. I wasn't sure what to expect because this was my first ink not done by another artist that I've worked with... She was fantastic. She really took her time even though it's such a little piece, was really nice to talk to
... And she was, I thought, pretty lighthanded.
In the end the tattoo looks great and I've already recommended  the shop and Jess in particular to a handful of people...
Recommended.
I will never go to another salon again! Graceland is where it's at people! I have been coming here since they opened and have consistently received excellent service. I always go to Kim who does amazing color and knows exactly how to tame my dark roots. She does the best bangs ever too. Highly recommended!!!
Review Source:I've been a regular Graceland customer for over 6 months now, being serviced by two of their tattoo artists - Patrick and his (now former) apprentice, Jess.
I'm very picky when it comes to tattooing. I've had the same artist, Rudy, work on my right arm, a full sleeve, for about two years in Paris. Moving back to NYC, I had this place where my friends went for walk-in ideas, and fillers, but I had in mind to get major pieces done, and I wanted something outstanding. A tattoo stays with you forever; it's a reflection of who you are as well as a permanent display of your standards. For two tattoo ideas that were very close to my heart, I've been directed to Graceland.
The first time I came round, the receptionist, Mai, was just absolutely adorable. She made me feel immediately at ease. It's not necessarily easy to walk in and ask for someone to create this strangely intimate relationship that is tattoo work. I was also a bit awkward because my tattoo idea - a New York City landscape - sounded dorky, and I was afraid I wouldn't wear it well. I knew I wanted it, but I was unsure of how, where, and when. Jess heard the idea and said she'd love to do it. I was immediately reassured by her enthusiasm and by the time she dedicated to making sure every step of the design was exactly the way I could imagine it to be. She is so incredibly talented, it literally blew my mind; she was exactly the way I wanted a tattoo artist to be. I knew it would require several appointments, and I left the shop on a high knowing that something fantastic would come out of it.
We are still working on it to this day, and the piece - on my back, across my shoulder blades - is something people stop me on the street to take a picture of; it earned me so much praise, all I can really say is that all the credit goes to the artist. Jess has a very unique attention to detail, and she gets to know you, taking all the time it requires, and forges a relationship ensuring you end up with what you want. She offers her professional vision and advice with the utmost respect of your original idea. She never makes you feel ignorant or like a waste of her time. To her, you're unique, you're a blank canvas on which art can be created, and for that I have to give every star Yelp can give. She also helped cover a tattoo that reminded me of a broken heart, a broken leg and a broken mind; seeing that I was very distraught at the thought of keeping it, she managed to squeeze me in-between appointments to make sure I wouldn't have to stick with it for too long. It's now impossible to tell what was there before she worked on it. She created beauty out of it. I'm so grateful.
I now also have Patrick working on me, which is a huge honor. We managed to find an appointment the day after my birthday, so it really felt like a present I was giving myself. I gave him an idea, and he ran away with it. When he presented me with the drawing he made on the spot, it exceeded every expectation. I am so proud walking around with his design on my left arm. It's bold, delicate, sophisticated, strong, empowering, and of the highest quality. Patrick is such a wonderfully gentle man, his 19+ years of tattooing experience giving you the best tattoo adventure possible. He's hard to book, but considering the quality of the work, he's worth any wait.
All in all, Graceland is also a place that feels very comfortable. Plush pillows and soft couches help you relax, the music is always absolutely excellent, the receptionists, Mai and Enrique, are very attentive, sweet and funny. New York City has strange and moody weather; and I have spent hours at Graceland staring out the window watching the rain pour over the BQE and cleaning up the streets of Greenpoint feeling warm and comfy. It's definitely one of my favorite places to come visit. I can only recommend anyone at Graceland for hair or for tattoo. Their skill, talent, professionalism, and passion for their work make it one of my fave Brooklyn hang-outs. I have always looked perfect walking out of Graceland. Treat yourself!
Graceland has been the home of my haircut for the past year. This is a lot for a girl who's a commitment phoebe. Â This is also a lot for a girl who never seems to gets consistent good style/quality at a reasonable price with someone who stays at thier salon. Â This is my lead in to Josh. Â Boy oh boy do I adore this boy. Â And he must also like Graceland, because he's been there as long as I've been seeing him, which tells me something about management. Â He's the nicest and really considers his work a craft. Â You can tell in his care and attention with each cut he does. Â I'm a little fearful of giving him this praise, as you do need to call in advance to get a cut with him, but I'll tell you what, it's worth the wait and if you book with him, and I have to wait a little longer, so be it.
With that said, I can't wait to get in the chair, listen to their good tunes, and have Josh do his thing. And if I'm thirsty, I'm bringing a 6-pack. Â I have a feeling they are not apposed to a little boozy while getting a hair cutty.
This place is simply amazing!!! Since moving to NYC (9 years ago), I have been on the hunt to find the one special person who could work magic with my hair. Well, I am happy to say that after my long search, I have found that magical person ..... Corvette! He is wonderful, and he gave me the best hair cut of my life (oh, and he's cute to boot)! I have essentially had the same hair cut for years (long layers), and I needed a change. Corvette gave me some fierce blunt bangs, and I absolutely love the entire cut!
Review Source:I had the worst haircut of my entire life at Graceland. I was fooled by the 5 stars on Yelp - after having an okay, but not great haircut elsewhere, I thought it would be worth it to try some place new, and the reviews here made me think Graceland was the place to go.
I saw a girl with blonde hair - Kim, I think, in late June. My biggest complaint with my hair was that it was not layered enough, leading to some poofiness, and that my side bangs had grown out. I just wanted to clean it up a bit, get some more layers going, and most importantly, trim my bangs. I explained this all to her, and felt comfortable knowing that she knew how I wanted my hair.
I proceeded to spend two hours receiving the worst haircut ever. There is no reason why my haircut should have taken two hours. The girl was in the middle of coloring someone's hair, so she kept leaving to check on her, and then would come back to me. This added to the time. Stopping to chat with her boyfriend who came by for a visit added to the time. Sipping wine with other employees added to the time. I wouldn't normally be bothered by these things but I can't help but think that maybe if there were less distractions, I would have ended up with a better haircut.
Cutting my bangs was the last part of the haircut. Like I said, my side bangs had grown out. I just wanted them to be shorter. I guess I got what I wanted, because I had straight across bangs grazing my eyebrow. Not side bangs. Kim(?) seemed very hesitant while cutting my bangs, and at first trimmed millimeters off. She went through a second time, trimming off millimeters again. At this point, I told her to go a little shorter, because otherwise, I'd be back for a bang trim in another week. Trimming millimeters (not exaggerating!) is not a haircut. However, I now think that maybe she just didn't know how to cut bangs and was going sooooo slowly because she didn't know what she was doing.
I left with tons of product in my hair, and my bangs shellacked to the side. It was hard to tell that my haircut had gone so terribly wrong, because my hair had been transformed into a helmet thanks to the copious amounts of gel and hairspray used.
Once I got home and washed my hair (twice, to get rid of all the product), I was left with choppy layers that didn't blend together, including layers that were far too short closer to the crown of my head. (Picture a skater boy, circa 1994, with a bowl cut, and you'll have an idea of what one level of the layers looked like.) But I was also left with bangs that made me cry. They went straight across. There were long chunks interspersed with short chunks, and they were far too thick, drawing hair from way back towards the center of my head. I literally had no options. I spent a month bobby pinning them, but they were barely long enough to fit into the bobby pins, so I had random pieces of hair falling out. Now I understand why so much product was used; otherwise I would have discovered my terrible haircut before I left Graceland.
I called up and scheduled an appointment with the owner, Corvette, to have my bangs fixed. This was a few weeks later, and they had grown out slightly. Even he admitted that they were terrible, and not side bangs like I had asked for. Once again, I was fooled upon leaving - I thought that a great change had occurred, but it was the product and styling that made me think my bangs were better. By the end of that day, I realized that he had not really made any difference.
It has been about 9 weeks since I had my haircut, and my bangs are STILL messed up. They were strangely layered when I went back for my fix up appointment, and those layers are the bane of my existence, forcing me to flat iron my bangs most morning. It took about 5 weeks for me to stop using bobby pins. There were many mornings that I wanted to cry as I got ready for work because I hated looking in the mirror.
The one star is because the receptionist was very nice each time I called, first to make an appointment and second to complain about my hair. Corvette was very nice as well, but two nice people don't make up for an awful haircut. This was not only my worst haircut but one of my most expensive haircuts. Don't be fooled by the 5 stars - stay away!
I have to change my previous review that I posted yesterday about my haircut from Julie. I was really upset about my haircut when I left the salon yesterday, but I have to say that after I had a day to get used to it -and wash it and style it, I actually really like it. It's not what thought I was gonna get, but it's actually really awesome in it's own right. Thanks Julie- sorry for the freak out!
Review Source:I am incredibly difficult and picky about my hair. Â It has to be done perfectly for me to like it; I'm pretty ocd about it. Â I have a lot of different colors, and my cut and color always takes around 4+ hours. Â So naturally, I'm really picky about who does my hair. Â I recently moved from Nashville and was really upset I had to leave my stylist (who's the only person I have let touch my hair for the past 5 years). Â
I always loved how my old stylist did my hair, and truly thought no one could live up to the standards she set. Â I am so happy to say that Kim did not only that, but completely blew past them. Â It was literally the best cut and color I've EVER had, and I've been dying my hair since I was 8. Â In short, Kim is a badass. Â She cut my hair EXACTLY like I wanted (something even my old stylist never got exactly right). Â She also did an awesome job of taking my color from platinum to blueblack. Â I've seriously never loved my hair as much as I did when I left Graceland. Â If you're really particular and refuse to settle when it comes to your hair, then you need to go here and ask for Kim.
The first and only person to cut my hair was a family friend when I was 11. When i finally moved too far to travel to him, I stubbornly tried to cut it myself...then let it grow into a wild mane.
Luckily, I read reviews and visited Kim at Graceland.
She is amazing. I'm picky about length and she gave my long hair volume and even showed me various hairstyles. I'll be going here for ever!
I recently got tattooed by Amy Shapiro not only once but twice! Amy is light handed, clean and through. She does realistic animal portraits and tattooed my deceased cat portrait. She truly captured him to the colors to the eyes to his stance. I am so happy with it. Amy's warm-hearted and professional. She had suggestions to what I initially wanted and exceeded me expectations on the tattoo. I would highly recommended. While I was there, it was a full house of tattooers, drawing, tattooing and even in consultations. They were all very supportive of each other and I liked that.
Review Source:I hadn't had my hair professionally colored or cut in two years, after my BFF hair stylist moved out of state. This place was recommended to me so I gave it a try.
Jenn, the colorist was an absolute doll! We had hilarious conversation and more importantly, my color looked AMAZING!!!! My cut was done by Bethany, who I cannot say enough about. She's an amazing stylist, an excellent listener and sweet as can be.
I've been back a few times and always get great service.
Never did I ever think I'd say a haircut was "fun"...and then I went to Graceland.
For a classic-rock-loving "old soul" like myself, this place has it ALL: kitschy Elvis decor, great music, and cool yet down to earth people. Â I booked a consultation with Julie and she was able to fit me in for the cut I wanted right then and there! Â She was hilarious, friendly, and gave me -the- best haircut I've ever had in my life. Â Nothing like getting dolled up while sharing G-train horror stories and a mutual obsession with Motown.
The only downsides to Graceland are the price ($85 for a haircut-eep!) and their appointments which book pretty far in advance (I had to wait almost two weeks to come in)...but honestly, it was worth every bit of time and money spent. Â Would recommend this place to anyone and everyone, and I'll definitely be going back!
I was a little nervous getting my haircut as I have been cutting my own hair for years and my standards are pretty high. And having short hair, you really need a stylist who has some strong technical skills because you can't hide it. That being said, Julie was awesome! She was attentive to my  specific requests. Very patient and super friendly. I had to wait 15 minutes, but she apologized profusely and even gave me a bit of a discount (very sweet).
I walked out of there with a great cut, that was exactly as I described and I reckon that I shall return in the future.
The overall vibe was pretty cool there. The entire staff was really great and there was some T-Rex rocking when I got there. What more do you need?
I'm hooked on Graceland. My hair was very long- past my shoulders. I went to Corvette for a haircut.
My hair is very curly, very frizzy, and until now I always thought of it as a bit of a burden. I knew that I wanted to embrace all of the difficult properties of my hair and go with something natural, that would essentially style itself. It does, and I get a lot of compliments.
I've been seeing Kim for all of my styling needs for the past three years. I've followed her from other salons and she's officially the longest (and best) hair relationship I've ever had. Â The woman obviously has genius flowing from her fingertips (which extends to her ethereal piano playing!)
Graceland is a dream: Â Amazing music, gorgeous ambiance, talented artists, and some of NYCs major tattoo players - all under one roof!
Go. Ask for Kim. Tell her Lucy sent you.
Tattoo shop AND a hair salon? FUCK YEAH, YES PLEASE!
I made an appointment at 5:30pm for 6pm and went right in!!! My hair stylist, Kimberly, was amazing! She was friendly, she was efficient and very detail oriented. Got to watch some dude get tattooed by some broad behind me. My bangs look fucking amaaaaaaaazing! And now I shall go and pick up men because I look hot.
I'm telling you, go get your shit cut over there, will spare you the heartache of a bad haircut.
I haven't gotten a tattoo here, or used a variety of their stylists, but I have to give props because I love Corvette. I grew up in NYC and drifted from stylist to stylist ever since I was 16 (I'm now in my very late 20s) because I couldn't find one who could give me a halfway decent cut. That changed when I found Corvette at Mudhoney five years ago. I stuck with him through his Madonna tour and waited for Graceland to open, and even now that I've moved out of NYC, because he's awesome. I have pretty challenging hair -- very fine straight Asian hair, and not a lot of it -- and each time Corvette knows exactly what to do to maximize what I have. And on top of that, he's so loyal to customers who are loyal to him: when he had a few days off the Madonna tour, he came back and cut hair, and even arranged for Mudhoney to open early so he could fit me in because he was booked solid during his regular hours. I see him every time I come back to NYC to see my family, whether it's for a new style or for him to fix up whatever my new stylist has done to the style he gave me earlier. And 85% of the time I go see him for a new style, I don't even come with a plan: I just ask him what he envisions for me, and he'll come up with something that is totally awesome an hour and half later. He has never pressured me into buying any hair products; the only ones he's recommended were stuff that I ended up buying elsewhere because his use of them in my hair totally won me over.
So in conclusion, Corvette is my hair god.
Graceland is pretty awesome too; the decor is nice without overdoing the Elvis theme, they play great music, and I love the vintage Playboys to read. They're hilarious and not even smutty; the 70s ads in them are the best! I was so amused reading them that I almost forgot I had an appointment.
Okay.....so I am one of the last people to write a Yelp review.  I figure we all have opinions and why does mine necessarily make a difference.  However, I so enjoyed the work I got at Graceland this week.  I have been waiting for a year to get the tattoo that I have wanted.  I have searched around and found a true lack of interest from most of the shops that I went into.  Most didn't even get back to me after I had a consultation.  Sad times (Saved Tattoo).  But, the work that Jonah created for me was exactly what  I was looking for.  He is a gifted artist who took my idea and truly made it fly; literally and figuratively.  5 hours went by really fast and he worked so swiftly.  And the work is beautiful.  I will be proud to wear his creation for the rest of my life.  Everyone was extremely nice and supportive.  Great experience.  Happy that I gave them my money and my time.
Review Source:Graceland is the shit, no two ways about it. The tattoo side has some of the best and most interesting artists in NYC, hands down. Combine that with the fact that overall environment is well designed, unique and welcoming always makes me want to come back.
And for the guy who gave them 1-star - you are clearly an idiot and don't have any idea what you are talking about. Sometimes things have to be rescheduled which is true of any business. And the fact that you are mad that the artist didn't clear her whole schedule for you after you had to cancel really says alot. Too bad you missed your chance, Jess is an amazing artist with killer skills who would have given you a kick-ass piece.
I had the most horrible haircut prior to walking into Graceland. I was set up with Jenn. Who is amazingly sweet and OMG she's great at what she does. She fixed my botched haircut and I walked out of there feeling like a new woman. The place was amazing! I highly recommend Graceland to everyone!!!
Review Source:I was in desperate need of a cut and highlights. A friend recommended Corvette at Graceland. I called and since I can only go in on weekends I took the one appointment they offered me. It was with Julie. She is fairly new to Graceland. I immediately felt a connection with her. She listened to what I wanted and gave great suggestions. I've had a few bad experiences with hair stylists. The main one when I was 18 and wanted to get my roots bleached (Yeah, I know. I was young...) My hair broke off and I went from shoulder length to super short. And not by choice. Anyway, after talking to Julie for a while I completely trusted her. She gave me different options for the color she could use for the highlights, but I trusted her opinion.
I walked out with a beautiful color and an amazing cut. Julie did a great job and I will definitely be back.
I have such lame hair (thin, dirty blonde, naturally curly, cowlicks and widow's peak) but somehow Josh does his magic and EVERYONE can't stop saying how killer my hair is- never before have I looked so good. Every time I go he consistently takes his time to do the perfect cut that grows out well too. This is the first time I have consistently looked chic in my life sadly!
Review Source:let's get down to business.
i have short hair. no, i don't want to grow it out and i don't really care what you think.
so, in order to maintain my look, i needed a haircut. things were getting kind of mullet-y if you know what i mean.
went in, saw jenn (who was recommended) and i left looking awesome.
just wait until you see me next, my  hair looks great. you'll see.
CONS:
-they failed to actually get me into the store
PROS:
-
ETC:
i've been looking to get a tattoo for awhile now. i mentioned this to my roomie, who told me of a girl he knows who works her. i messaged her on facebook (unconventional but it worked). we chat a little bit about what i want, if it's my first time, etc. then she says I should make an appointment. i say sure. she offers me a choice of days, i say friday. she offers one on friday. great, this works for me. i excitedly agree. but few hours into my excitement she sends me another message, asking if we can do five thirty on friday. durrrrr... before i can respond she sends me another message asking if we can do five on friday instead. i hesitantly say yes, even though this exchange was making me uneasy..
come friday it becomes clear to me that there is actually a sudden conflict of activities for me on friday at five, so i call to reschedule (a note: friday at one would have been prefect...). i get scheduled a week out, which to me is frustrating, as when i made my first appointment it was not that far out. so i make an appointment for sunday at three. i also text my artist asking if there's a sooner time we could do this ish. she doesn't respond... but why would you give me your personal telephone number if you're not going to respond? oh, you know what. she actually did respond. when she messaged me on facebook asking me if we could do one on sunday instead of three. no jessica, we cannot. alas, i am going to find someone else. someone whose life is more stable. and this christmas i am getting you a day planner.
I got my hair cut at Graceland last week and was incredibly pleased. Kim did a great job and I walked out looking even more handsome than when I went in (if I do say so myself).
Unlike practically every other barber I've ever been to, Kim really listened to what I wanted, and was very helpful discussing my hair type/length/daily schedule (or lack thereof) and how it all affected what I wanted. Cause there's nothing worse than getting a haircut that looks totally different after one shower.
All in all, probably the best haircut I've had in 10 years. Thanks Graceland, you guys rock!
As a walk-in and a novice when it comes to tattoos, I felt completely at ease walking in and meeting two of the owners at the front desk (Josh/Bethany).
The place is immaculately clean and has a lot of class twisted with a kickass turntable (Miles Davis on Vinyl can't be beat!)
They let my friend and I kick back and flip through books with different tattoo pics. There was no pressure, no rush, just friendly/cool atmosphere.
And in the end, my tattoo came out great and was told that if it ever fades (I got it on my palm), I can go back for on the house maintenance.
So if you've been mulling around with the idea of getting a tattoo or just want some advice, this place is the tops!
The KING would be proud!
WOW! A friend recommended to me to the place... wasn't sure what to expect, was just desperate for a sweet hairdo.
Found the place, walked in, to my left a girl getting a tattoo, to my right a hair salon... right away I was greeted and taken care of quickly. Jen, the hairstylist, consulted with me, felt out my hair and understood what I wanted.The guy that washed my hair really did a great job and gave me an amazing scalp massage...almost fell asleep!
So on to the cut... I have very long hair... thin, but a lot of it. My layers had grown out, and it was completely shapeless and dead looking. After Jen waved her magic scissors over my hair, I knew I was in good hands. She really took her time, and got into the zone... you can tell she really loves what she does, which really impressed me.
After chatting with her, realized she is not only a talented hairstylist, but a comedian as well ;)
AMBIANCE --- Seriously -- the Elvis, rock theme is adorable. Had so much fun listening to good music, instead of all top 40 Z100 like every other salon. The decor is so fun and different.
Customer Service -- Like I mentioned, from the second I walked in... I was greeted with a smile and taken care of in seconds. Everyone I came into contact with was a sweetheart.
Talent -- I can't say enough about Jen. I can't remember the last time I felt this amazing after leaving a salon ... I can't stop checking the mirror, OKAY? The girl has skills.
I will be back!
Not just your average tattoo parlor- truly an artists workshop! They have the most talented artists in NY and I would feel completely confident in getting any ink done there. Very clean and organized but also the kind of place you could feel comfortable hanging out in all day. Left 100% satisfied and would not go to anyone else to get any future work done!
Review Source:i used to go to corvette back when he worked at mudhoney and i always got an amazing haircut, he is super precise and really knows what flaters your face...i had to switch stylists bc he was on tour doing hair alot...
i now see bethany, she opened the salon with him....she seriosuly gives the best haircuts, i wouldnt let anyone else touch my hair ever ( except corvette) i made the mistake of going to soemone else when i couldnt get to BK and boy did i regret it, but i went back to bethany and she fixed me right up...
the place is cool and everyone there is really friendly and welcoming...all the stylists are very versatile and can create any look you want...i cant say enough good things about this place...BK may be a bit of a pain for me to get to but its worth it for the best haircut at good prices.
=)
This edgy salon has a cool vibe without the attitude. Graceland offers great cuts and color for an affordable price. Josh was meticulous in the cut he gave me and really paid attention to what I asked for but also offered suggestions for what would look good on me. A great combination. I'll be going back again and again.
It's a short ride on the L from Manhattan and it's so worth it!
I got my haircut by bethany last week - my boss recommended her - and i was not disappointed. Â I had long straggly hair and needed a change but have never really been satisfied when i try to do something drastic. Â I showed her some pictures and she told me what would look good. Â The haircut is literally exactly what i wanted but couldn't find in a picture because i've never seen it before. Â Like everyone is saying, the vibe of the salon is great. Â Not pretentious at all, very laid back, but also really cool. Â The barber chairs are amazing and so is the dog that curls up beside you on the sofa while you wait. Â Haircut is around $80 which is not bad for the amount of time and thought put into it! I would recommend Bethany to anyone.
Review Source:I used to go to Corvette at his old salon downtown. Â Even though I live in Manhattan and Williamsburg is obviously a little out of the way, the 8 minute ride on the L train is a small price to pay for the best haircut around...or even just for a bang trim. Â The new salon is so beautiful, and everyone there is as warm and professional as can be.
The service here is really personal and the even though the style is definitely edgy in an elegant way, the stylists are very versatile and can pretty much accommodate any kind of client. Â This is a place where you come to get a technically amazing haircut that you won't see on half a dozen other people every day when you walk down the street. Â I don't think you can have this kind of experience at another salon without paying upwards of $300 for a cut.
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