Nashville's Top Salons and Stylists

Best Women’s Cut

Elaina Karras, Lucy Pop Salon

Reading Richard Nelson Bolles’ What Color Is Your Parachute? gave Karras the incentive she needed to pursue a career in cosmetology. She traversed the country (from Indianapolis to Atlanta to L.A.) for extensive and immersive training before calling Nashville home. Her roots, though, go much deeper: On a family trip to Greece, Karras learned that the men on her father’s side of the family have been barbers for generations.

Expertise: Karras’ expertise is as vast as her training: Creative color, precision haircutting, seamless extensions, and editorial styling are among her specialties.
Trick of the Trade: This expert’s best bit of hair care advice? Use a curling wand over an iron. “It gives you a bouncy, natural curl instead of the flatter version you get with a regular curling iron, x93 she explains.
Star Clients: Karras has styled popular artists like Gavin Degraw and Jerrod Niemann for their music videos.
1921 Broadway, 615-327-3474; lucypopsalon.com

Best Women's Cut: Runner Up

Matt Fine, Lunatic Fringe

2600 Franklin Pk., #106, 615-800-6225;lunaticfringesalon.com

Best Women's Cut: Runner Up

Eric Wright, Fresh Salon

1508 Demonbreun St., 615-739-5614; freshsalon.net

Best Men’s Cut

April Dixon, The Moose Men’s Grooming Lounge

A California girl at heart, Dixon started her career in Newport Beach with an apprenticeship at TONI&GUY Salon. There, she developed an interest in men’s grooming and began planning her own shop. “I wanted to create a laid-back environment with old school décor like a retro barbershop and cater specifically to men, x93 Dixon explains. She continued honing her craft at American Crew Menswork Academy before setting up shop in Nashville.

Expertise: She nails classic barbering and advanced men’s cutting. Her repertoire includes gray blending, beard trimming, moustache shaping, and straight razor shaving, just to name a few.
Trick of the Trade: Dixon recommends The Moose’s own Beard Oil for unruly beards: “It tames facial hair, moisturizes the skin, and smells awesome! x93
1203 16th Ave. S., 615-321-1200; barbernashville.com

Best Men's Cut: Runner Up

Mike Martin, Parlour & Juke

521 8th Ave. S., Ste. #302, 615-730-8068; Seeamericagetahaircut.com

Best Men's Cut: Runner Up

Chadd Bryant, Element Salon

2002 Richard Jones Rd., 615-383-2045; elementsalonnashville.com

Best Color

Jacki Lear, Elan Hair Germantown

After attending beauty school in Douglas, Wyoming, Lear planted her roots in Nashville. She attributes her stellar work ethic to her parents, and she commends both her art teacher and her longtime hairdresser for their constant encouragement and inspiration.

Expertise: According to Lear, lengthy consultations are the key to hairstyling success. Based on their face shape, profession, hobbies, habits, and more, Lear can craft a cut and color fine-tuned to each and every client.
Trick of the Trade: Lear says it like it is: “Sorry, but there’s no miracle trick—only talented hairdressers who listen. x93
Star Clients: “Ask me that when I retire, x93 Lear laughs. “I’m too excited about my future with Elan Germantown to think backwards like that right now. x93
1201 5th Ave. N., #101, 615-255-1419; elangermantown.com

Best Color: Runner Up

Karen Percy, The Non Salon

In Brentwood, 615-460-7780; thenonsalononline.com

Best Color: Runner Up

AJ Franking, Trim Nashville

2315 12th Ave. S., 615-269-8029; trimnashville.com

Best Updo

Martha Fuentes, Babe Beauty Bar

The youngest of four girls, Fuentes was drawn to all things beauty at an early age. She took on freelance makeup and hair gigs for friends and family after high school, refining her skills and relishing the ability to make women look and feel their very best. After attending Paul Mitchell The School, Fuentes turned her pastime into a profession and joined the team at Babe Beauty Bar.

Expertise: Doing bridal hair and makeup is Fuentes’ passion. She explains, “Whether it’s beachy waves or an elaborate updo, I strive to make each bride’s dream a reality on her big day. x93
Trick of the Trade: According to Fuentes, “When it comes to hair, less is more—a little bit of product goes a long way. x93
1665 West McEwen Dr., Franklin, 615-786-9771; babebeautybar.com

Best Updo: Runner Up

Deidre DeFelice, The Blowout Co.

73 White Bridge Rd., Ste. 126, 615-353-3002; blowoutco.com

Best Updo: Runner Up

Hannah Goble, Style House Salon

3202 Belmont Blvd., 615-915-2066; stylehousesalon.com

Best Blowout

Deidre DeFelice, The Blowout Co.

Happily following in her hairstylist mother’s footsteps, DeFelice was voted “Most Likely to Be a Hairstylist x93 by her peers in eighth grade. She started charging her friends $20 per updo, and she was booked before every high school dance. DeFelice went on to attend Douglas J. Aveda Institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before making Nashville her home.

Expertise: DeFelice’s love of styling rivals her eagerness to tackle a challenge: “I love getting clients who say ‘You can’t do much with my hair’ or ‘My hair doesn’t hold curl’ and proving them wrong, x93 she says.
Trick of the Trade: Want hair like a pro? DeFelice recommends getting a good blowout at the beginning of each week. She explains, “All I have to do is comb my hair each morning if I start the week with a good blowout. x93
Star Clients: Among other accolades, DeFelice’s styling has been seen onstage at the Grand Ole Opry.
73 White Bridge Rd., Ste. 126, 615-353-3002; blowoutco.com

Best Blowout: Runner Up

Renae Morton, Lucy Pop Salon

1921 Broadway, 615-327-3474;

Best Blowout: Runner Up

Hannah Bryant, Elan Hair Green Hills

3756 Hillsboro Pk., 615-269-0222; elannashville.com

Best Barbershop

Trim Classic Barber

Working among the “super salons x93 of the ’90s, editorial hairstylist Melanie Shelley found herself craving a more intimate, vintage salon experience, one that looked—and felt—very different from the rest. Trim Classic Barber & Legendary Beauty offers just that: a feminine beauty parlor on one side and an old-school barbershop on the other, both dedicated to genuine customer service and editorial-worthy hair.

Expertise: For the men, Trim Classic Barber specializes in a hot towel steam and shave, beard trim, beard color, neck and sideburn cleanup, and expert haircut (complete with head and neck massage).
Standout Staffer: Maverick stylist A.J. Franking puts her own spin on every cut and color.
Star Clients: What do Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and the members of Kings of Leon have in common? Aside from their success in the music industry, these local stars trust their tresses to the able hands at Trim Classic Barber.
2315 12th Ave. S., 615-269-8029; trimnashville.com

Best Barbershop: Runner Up

The Moose Men’s Grooming Lounge

1203 16th Ave. S., 615-321-1200;barbernashville.com

Best Barbershop: Runner Up

Uncle Classic Barbershop

4326 Harding Pk., #106, 615-297-6001; uncleclassicbarbershop.com

Best Salon Overall

Element Salon

Late celebrity stylist Kevin Moser founded Element Salon in 2001, and the team he assembled, comprising the most talented editorial stylists from across the country, continues his vision today. Current salon owner Jason Facio acquired the company in December 2013, and his strong leadership has reinvigorated the team to achieve even greater styling success.

Expertise: Element Salon is known for a unique approach to hair color called balayage. This technique, which comes from the French word for “to sweep, x93 refers to a freehand sweeping motion used to apply hair color with a brush. Balayage creates a look that’s not only longer lasting but also more natural.
Salon Scoop: Stylists at Element Salon are committed to pursuing the best hair care available. For example, Element invests in INOA (Innovation No Ammonia) hair color to provide healthier and shinier color that improves overall hair condition.
Star Clients: For the past three years, Element Salon has represented Tennessee (and represented it well, we might add!) on Elle magazine’s “The 100 Best Salons in the Country x93 list.
2002 Richard Jones Rd., 615-383-2045; elementsalonnashville.com

Best Salon Overall: Runner Up

Elan Hair Green Hills

3756 Hillsboro Pk., 615-269-0222; elannashville.com

Best Salon Overall: Runner Up

Fresh Salon

1508 Demonbreun St., 615-739-5614; freshsalon.net

Best Salon Overall: Runner Up

Harlow Salon

1516 Demonbreun St., 615-291-9990; harlowsalon.com

Best Salon Overall: Runner Up

Lucy Pop Salon

1921 Broadway, 615-327-3474;

Best Salon Overall: Runner Up

Lunatic Fringe

2600 Franklin Pk., #106, 615-800-6225;lunaticfringesalon.com

Best Salon Overall: Runner Up

Trim Nashville

2315 12th Ave. S., 615-269-8029;trimnashville.com

Best Kids’ Cut

Snip-its

Robert Goldstein opened the Franklin Snip-its shop in 2004 before Gail and Norman Stalarow took it over earlier this year. After a series of updates—an expanded, improved party room and extensive inventory among them—this salon is on par with a number of the Stalarows’ other Snip-its franchises. Looking ahead, the entrepreneurial duo hopes to open more Snip-its locales throughout Middle Tennessee.

Expertise: Snip-its is the go-to spot for kids’ haircuts, but that’s not all it has to offer. The list of services includes parties and spa treatments specifically geared toward children.
Salon Scoop: The ongoing training of Snip-its’ staff also sets this salon apart. Beyond styling and cutting, every Snip-its stylist is certified to work with autistic children.
790 Jordan Rd., Ste. 108, Franklin, 615-771-3633; snipits.com

Best Kids’ Cut: Runner Up

Divas & Dudes

430 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin, 615-771-0707; divasanddudessalon.com

Best Kids’ Cut: Runner Up

Trim Classic Barber

2315 12th Ave. S., 615-269-8029;trimnashville.com