5 Best Hair Salons in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Elara Kestrel, Health and Medical Expert · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

A bad color appointment costs weeks to grow out, which makes picking hair salons in Chicago feel higher stakes than most beauty decisions. These have logged 3,390 reviews between them, and the ratings barely move, 4.6 to 5, a spread of just 0.4. When the field is this even, the real question is which stylist's specialty matches what you're actually asking for.

Short answer: GC By George Charles in the Gold Coast leads with 4.9 stars across 1,172 reviews, the largest review base here, and is known for color work recognized at an industry level. Elegance Hair Salon & Barbershop rates a perfect 5 on 1,012 reviews and covers both salon and barbershop services under one roof. A standard cut and style across these salons typically runs $60 to $200, with color and treatments pushing past that.

Jump to a business

1. GC By George Charles
2. ELEGANCE HAIR SALON &…
3. Touss Salon
4. Saraya Salon
5. Bespoke Men's Grooming
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Chicago's top hair salons, side by side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	GC By George Charles - Salon, Spa and Nails	4.9 ★	1,172	Overall / advanced color work	View ›
2	ELEGANCE HAIR SALON & BARBERSHOP	5.0 ★	1,012	Combined hair salon and barbershop	View ›
3	Touss Salon	4.8 ★	385	Color and highlight specialists	View ›
4	Saraya Salon	4.6 ★	490	Balayage and blowouts	View ›
5	Bespoke Men's Grooming	4.8 ★	331	Men's grooming and precision cuts	View ›

Our picks, one by one

#1 Overall🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

GC By George Charles - Salon, Spa and Nails

4.91,172 Google reviews

GC By George Charles is a luxury hair salon and spa in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, offering cuts, color, extensions, and curly-hair specialists alongside facials and threading. The salon's stylists cover a wide range of techniques, from balayage to Brazilian blowouts, and one stylist has been recognized as a national Hairstylist of the Year.

What people praise

Colorists praised for handling difficult transformations, including lifting dark curly hair to blonde
Multiple stylists named individually for years-long client loyalty
Clean, luxurious salon environment reviewers repeatedly mention

Worth knowing

One reviewer had an inconsistent second visit after a great first cut, so confirm you're rebooking with the same stylist

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume1,172 · 98th

Confidencevery high

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown97% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It ranks first on the deepest review base on this page, and the reviews describe full-day, multi-service color appointments in real technical detail, not just vague praise.

Website Book now +1312-643-0345 Directions

34 E Oak St 4th floor, Chicago, IL 60611

#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

ELEGANCE HAIR SALON & BARBERSHOP

5.01,012 Google reviews

Elegance Hair Salon & Barbershop, in the Loop, offers cutting, coloring, and grooming services for a broad client base, combining a traditional hair salon with barbershop services in one location. The team handles everything from event styling to routine cuts and color.

What people praise

Stylists praised for event-day styling, including proposals and special occasions
Waxing and grooming services alongside hair get consistent praise
Staff described as attentive to first-time clients

Worth knowing

Popular for special-event bookings, so plan ahead for a specific date

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating5 / 5

Review volume1,012 · 93th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown99% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It holds a perfect rating on over a thousand reviews, tied for the top spot with GC. The range of services, from waxing to major haircuts, makes it a flexible one-stop option.

Website Book now +1312-882-8218 Directions

301 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60606

#3🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Touss Salon

4.8385 Google reviews

Touss Salon is a hair salon in the South Loop with a small team of stylists specializing in color, highlights, cuts, and styling. Reviewers consistently name individual stylists for color work, and the salon has built a base of long-term repeat clients over several years.

What people praise

Colorists praised by name for precise, well-matched highlight work
Blowouts and event styling called reliably good
Loyal, multi-year repeat clients reflected in reviews

Worth knowing

At least one reviewer described a difficult color-correction experience and pricing dispute, worth asking about correction policy upfront

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume385 · 83th

Confidencehigh

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown93% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It's strongly rated at 4.8, though the one detailed negative review about color correction and follow-up pricing is worth reading before booking a complex color service.

Website Book now +1312-877-5650 Directions

705 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605

#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Saraya Salon

4.6490 Google reviews

Saraya Salon, a locally owned salon in the South Loop established in 2013, focuses on hair color, cuts, treatments, and a dedicated blow dry bar. The salon also offers senior and happy-hour discounts, and stylists are named individually throughout its reviews for color and blowout work.

What people praise

Balayage and caramel color work praised for matching client requests exactly
Blowouts called reliably excellent, even for out-of-town visitors on a tight schedule
Stylists described as attentive with thin or textured hair types

Worth knowing

Slightly lower rating than the top names on this page, though still strong at 4.6

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume490 · 88th

Confidencehigh

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown87% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It ranks fourth here mainly on volume rather than quality; the color and blowout praise is specific and consistent across multiple stylists.

Website Book now +1312-753-3363 Directions

73 E 16th St, Chicago, IL 60616

#5🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Bespoke Men's Grooming

4.8331 Google reviews

Bespoke Men's Grooming, in the South Loop, is an upscale men's salon combining precision haircuts, beard trims, and straight-razor shaves with an in-house bar serving beer, wine, and bourbon. The shop also handles color and cut services for a broader client base, not just traditional barbering.

What people praise

Fades and beard trims praised for careful attention to detail
Color and cut services from stylists get specific, repeat-client praise
Relaxed, welcoming atmosphere reviewers call LGBTQ-friendly

Worth knowing

Smaller review base than the top names on this page

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume331 · 73th

Confidencehigh

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown94% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It has the smallest review count here, but a strong 4.8 rating and multi-year repeat clients suggest that's a matter of size, not quality.

Website Book now +1312-646-0233 Directions

529 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605

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How we score these salons

Rating is the live Google average. Review volume shows how many customers have actually rated the salon, weighed against the others on this page. Confidence blends the rating with that volume, so a strong score on over a thousand reviews carries more weight than the same score on a few hundred. Recency tracks how recently people are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change any of these numbers.

How much does a hair salon visit cost in Chicago? (2026)

Pricing varies widely by service and stylist seniority. Reviewer-reported spend on this page gives a general range for common services, from a basic cut to a full color transformation.

Job	Typical price
Haircut and blowout	$60 - $80
Single-process color or highlights	$160 - $200
Full color transformation or balayage	$200+

Ranges compiled July 2026 from customer-reported prices in Google reviews for the salons on this page.

Serving all of Chicago

These salons cluster around the Gold Coast, the Loop, and the South Loop, so a search for hair salons near me from downtown Chicago will put most of them within a short drive or an easy transit ride.

What to ask before you book

Can I book a consultation before committing to a major color change?
How long has this stylist been doing color versus cuts?
What’s your policy on touch-ups if I’m not happy with the result?
Do you require a deposit for longer color appointments?
What products do you use, and are they suitable for my hair type?
How far in advance should I book for a weekend or event appointment?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these hair salons?

We pulled real Google Business Profile data for hair salons in Chicago and ranked them on a mix of rating, review volume, and how recently people are still reviewing them.

Which Chicago salon is best for color correction?

GC By George Charles has stylists reviewers specifically credit with handling difficult, high-lift color transformations well.

Do these salons also offer men’s services?

Yes, several do, including Elegance Hair Salon & Barbershop and Bespoke Men’s Grooming, which combine full salon services with traditional barbering.

How often is this updated?

This page was last verified in July 2026 against live Google ratings and review counts.

The bottom line

GC By George Charles is the safe default for a major color change, backed by the deepest review base here and specific praise for handling difficult transformations. If you want a salon and barbershop combined for a couple’s or family trip, Elegance is worth booking instead.

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