How is it that no one has written about the Lather on Montrose? You know, the one that's oh-so conveniently located fifteen paces away from the Montrose El stop? Yes, that one. It's fantastic. This salon is like my Truvy's Beauty Parlor, from "Steel Magnolias". Except the owner has considerably smaller breasts than Dolly Parton and nobody talks with a Southern drawl. I love coming here. I don't have a "regular" stylist because I trust them all. The staff is fun and friendly, the prices are fairly reasonable and I can get my bangs trimmed for FREE. You can too. I love coming here for more than the haircuts, though. I like to stop in for a hearty dose of personality. This staff could be on a reality show, they're so entertaining. I haven't been to the Damen location, but if the same stylists work there, then you know what I'm talking about. For those who haven't been to Lather, get yourselves a haircut. You won't be sorry. read more

Lather Chicago - Hair Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the Keratin Express Treatment today. I am a little concerned because the treatment was in my hair for only 15 maybe 20 minutes. There was no timer set for the actual time the Keratin was in my hair. Most of it was just flat ironing my hair. So my hair is straight now but will it be tomorrow? I know that is was Express Keratin treatment but I think that the Keratin should have been left a little longer in the hair. Everyone at the salon is really really nice but the decor of it is little drab if not plain: white walls, black mirrors and nothing else. I am really torn about Lather on Montrose. I really love the people, I hate the decor and I am not sure about the whole Keratin procedure. If anything it was a fun experience. read more

I went to Lather years ago and loved it so when I moved back to the area this year I was excited to try them out again. I don't know if it was just the stylist I had (I think her name was Mimi) or if the whole place has gone downhill, but that excitement literally turned to tears in the matter of an hour. I explained that I was growing my hair out and really just wanted a trim and a touch up to my layers. The last place I tried cut them really choppy and I wanted them to blend more. My stylist agreed about the layers and said then said she'd have to take two inches off to get rid of the dry ends. I was disappointed about losing that much length, but my hair is always a little damaged at the end of summer so I wasn't super surprised. She didn't ask me any other questions about what I wanted or how I usually wear my hair or anything, just went straight to cutting, and unfortunately, by cutting, I mean taking off a ton of length and adding in even more choppy layers than I came in with. At one point, I actually stopped her and said that it was getting too short, and she said "you're just nervous, you'll see when we're done," and then kept going. After I already felt like she'd taken off way more than I wanted, she said "ok now we'll do length, that was just to get the layers right". I almost jumped out of the chair at that point and probably should have. By the time she was done the cut looked like the Rachel from Friends and the shortest layer was above my chin (when I came in it was probably just below my shoulder). I've had cuts where the stylist has gone shorter than I wanted in the past, but never one where they've given me something so blatantly different than what I wanted. I have no idea how to style this since I don't want to go around looking like I stepped out of the 90s, it looks like a horrible choppy mess when straight, and the short pieces don't seem to hold a wave. I can't even imagine how long it's going to take me to grow out all of these stupid layers that I didn't ask for. To add insult to injury, when I left she said "if you want the layers longer next time, just say so." I literally did say so. Multiple times. And I will NEVER be back. UPDATE: As you can see below, the salon owner and manager both reached out to me to apologize for the situation, which I appreciate and have to say is pretty impressive customer service. I'm undecided about whether to try Lather again or not, but knowing that the stylist I saw no longer works there, and seeing the great reviews for other stylists, I probably will give them a second chance, and will hopefully have a god experience so that I can update my rating. read more

For nearly five years before going to Lather, I just shaved my head at home using clippers. It was a way to save money and easy to maintain when biking a lot. But with my wedding about 8 months away, I decided to grow out my hair and try something new for the wedding. Fortunately, I worked with Michael, and he was incredible. First, he was super encouraging and complimentary about my hair, which was a major self-esteem boost. He also came up with a plan to help me grow out my hair to get to the style I wanted. I put my trust in him and was so happy with the outcome. Even two months after the wedding, I'm still wearing my hair this way! read more

Big D had NOT been looking fierce these days. It was sad. I love Maggie over at the Lather on Damen. I really do, but now I must extol the talents of Shannon over at Lather on Montrose. I went in with horrid hair. It was a joke how dry my hair was. I was in desperate need of getting it cut as well. But my lazy/busy lifestyle had me putting it off and putting it off. So finally I call up Lather to see if Maggie was free for a cut. Alas,she was not but I was referred to the other location and I promptly booked with Shannon. She already had amazing yelp reviews so I figured, what the hell, why not? I'm adventurous like that. I had the first appointment on Sunday morning. Yes! Sunday hours! And Shannon was super nice and hilarious. She paid attention to detail and whipped my hair into shape. I left the salon a different woman. Ive grown from fierce to down right ferocious. Blame my ginormous ego on Shannon. read more

Edgar does an amazing job with my hair! He always makes sure I leave happy. Lather is reasonably priced, has a very friendly staff, and a super laid back atmosphere. Every time I come in, I leave looking and feeling better. So happy to have this place in my neighborhood and so happy to keep coming back to it! . read more

I went here for the first time after buying the Living Social keratin hair deal. I was a little nervous because, last time I bought a similar deal for a different salon, I had a sub par, amateurish experience. I worried for nothing though because I had a GREAT experience here! First, I had a easy time making the appointment...I was nervous because they sold a TON of the keratin deals and I was afraid they'd be booked for a while. No issues! They got me in bright and early on Saturday which was exactly what I needed. Anyone who uses Living Social or Groupon knows that sometimes you can get a little attitude or less-than-attentive service when you use it. That definitely wasn't the case here. I walked in and was immediately greeted and offered a drink and a magazine. The atmosphere at Lather is great! The staff was talkative and friendly to the clients and each other. It was very relaxed and, as someone who unfortunately works in an unglamorous field, I felt very comfortable... It wasn't like some salons that are annoyingly pretentious and too hip for their own good. That's not to say that Lather isn't hip! It is and their stylists are fun and attractive! But, they seem down to earth too. Ok...I'll admit the oldies music was a little unhip but when choosing a good salon that should be the least of your worries! My appointment was with David who, if I remember right, manages all three Lather locations. He was lovely! Very nice, very knowledgeable and very professional. It was a cool experience because, as he was doing my treatment, he was teaching another stylist getting certified in it. It was interesting to hear him describe the complexities of a seemingly simple procedure (to a non-professional) and really showed the difference between a shitty salon like the one I went to first) and one with top notch, smart, caring stylists. The whole treatment took 2.5 hours - a full 1.5 hours shorter than I expected - yet, the results were dramatically better! I felt no pressure to buy products and David was very honest about what I needed and, more importantly for the thrifty, what I didn't. I will absolutely go back and will recommend Lather to my friends! A very good experience! read more

I.Love.Shannon. Please. I have been a stylist whore my whole life. Really, who cares who you go see, right? So wrong! Recently I had my hair highlighted on a whim and the lovely woman burned the locks I was desperately trying to grow long. So I decided on an inverted type bob, but I wanted edgy. I went to three different stylists. While each gave me generally good hair cuts, they weren't exactly what I wanted. All were pretty conservative little bobs. I resigned myself to not getting what I wanted... Then I came across Lather. I harassed a girl walking down the street to share her salon secret with me. "Lather" she whispered. I looked it up on Yelp and instantly made my appointment with Shannon. When I showed up, I was instantly excited. Shannon looked like a rock star an I started praying she would understand "edgy". Sure enough, she listened. She talked. She listened some more. She suggested. She GAVE ME WHAT I WANTED!! Not only that, but the whole experience was pleasant. Nice conversation, great color tips for the future, and no pressure sales! She also didn't scold or judge me for coloring my hair at home. I heart Shannon. Even though I live in Oak Park and work Downtown, I will make this commute to see her. And at $44 bucks...sold. read more

I can't begin to express how happy I am with my hair right now. I know, everyone's loving on Lather already, but I didn't see my stylist's name mentioned, so I wanted to specifically mention how amazing Philip (I may be misspelling his name -- I didn't get a card. =( My bad!) is. I don't know if he's new to the salon or what, but someone needs to say it! He gave me the best cut I've possibly ever had. To start, they managed to get in me in last minute on a Sunday. I was the last client before they closed. In spite of this, neither Philip nor the awesomely nice front desk guy, Luke, made me feel rushed or like I was making them stick around. I work in the spa industry, so I know what it's like with that last client of the day, especially on a slow day to begin with. Philip was great from moment one. He took me back to his chair, sat me down, fiddled with my (admittedly uneven) hair. He inquired whether I wanted color -- A logical question, since my color is kind of splotchy looking. I explained that I henna my hair, so I don't really want to do anything chemical to it, for fear that it's going to turn pink or something. He agreed and said that's for the best, and asked me questions about how I wanted it styled/cut. I've never been good at explaining to people how I like my hair -- I have naturally curly hair, and it likes to go crazy when people cut it. In spite of my awkward explanation, he nodded and took me back to get my hair washed. Best. Scalp massage. Ever. And I do mean ever. I think I almost fell asleep. I think he spent a good ten minutes just washing my hair. Admittedly, I probably had some henna sediment (eeeew) in my hair from coloring it a few days prior, but if I did, he was a total pro about not making me feel like a scudmuffin. =) After said best. scalp massage. ever, he took me back to the chair, and spent a good amount of time making tiny little cuts at my hair. Initially, this freaked me out. I've had a stylist do that in the past, and leaving, I felt like my hair was the exact same as when I walked in. My fears were assuaged when he handed me my glasses back and asked what I thought. I'll tell you what I thought! Faaaantastic! =D And the best part? Morning after, my hair still looks great, even without all the product in it. He correctly assessed my hair care level as being very wash and go, and I definitely feel like I can flat iron, not flat iron, use product, not use product, even roll straight out of bed and barely run a brush through it and my hair looks fabulous. I can't say how happy I am with it. (But I'm certainly trying to!) I really look forward to coming back to see him again. I feel confident with my new cut, and very, very happy. Even though I already gave him a great big hug (very out of character for me with new people, especially where my hair is concerned), here's another great big e-hug for my new favorite stylist in the city. read more

Things to love about Lather: - Cuts for ladies start at $45, which is about $10 less than every other salon ever. - You can tip on a credit card. - There is some badass product that they put in your hair before they dry it that smells like cookies so ALL you want to do is smell your hair. - They take walk-ins. read more

Philip and I REUNITE! I met Philip when he was training at another salon downtown... and quickly grew to love him. He always recognized me and was the first to greet me, even though I wasn't really his client. In the beginning, he only shampooed, styled, and trimmed my bangs--but they were the best shampoos, styles, and bang trims I've ever had, and I'm one picky B*@$%! I knew then that he was going to grow into a creative, talented stylist. That's when I asked for him to cut my hair and I still believe it was the best cut I've had to date. Philip has a gift. He understands different hair types, textures, styles. He knows what will work. He listens. He get's it right. His departure from the downtown salon crushed my heart. I was afraid I would never see him again! But now he's at Lather! A cozy little neighborhood salon, which I certainly prefer to the overpriced foo foo salons downtown. I don't feel judged walking in the door by the size of my wallet. I don't feel forced into buying products--though Lather does offer a few I'm interested in and I just may splurge next time ;) And I love the neighborhood in which it's located! I used to live around the corner and I enjoy revisiting the shops and restaurants nearby. I'm Team Philip. And he gets 5 stars. read more

First time here. Edgar was my stylist and did a great job with my new "lob." He was very friendly and went the extra mile to give me a cut that looked great and was low maintenance (my preference). He even gave me suggestions for future cuts that would fit my face shape. read more

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My first salon experience, I have finally grown tired of the hit or miss service from places like the Hair Cuttery and Supercuts. Kassi did a great job and gave me some suggestions about my hair (I know very little). Overall a good experience, I will go back! read more

I have big curly hair. I have struggled to trust any hairstylist in cutting my hair. I have had bad experiences in the past and horrible haircuts. This time around I wanted a short look. Tim did an amazing job on the haircut. I LOVED IT!! I have moved out of town and it has been a year since I have cut my hair. I have not found anyone I can trust yet, but I do miss Tim's magic hands on my curls. Would recommend this place for all those girls who embraces their curls. read more

I made an appointment with Annie on a Tuesday evening. With the holidays quickly approaching, I knew that I at least needed to get a cut in as it had been far too long. I decided to go balls out and let Annie cut my hair short. My hair is cuter than ever! It is short but not too short. Feminine yet still flirty. The only downside is that the cut does not seem to work very well when curly. My curls pull too tight and it just looks funny and clown-like. Otherwise, I love it!! read more

After my return to Chicago, I was apprehensive that I would ever find a colorist to even compare to the fabulous one I found in Portland, OR. Thanks to the combined powers of Salon Apprentice & Lather- I totally hit the jackpot. I found Juliana through Salon Apprentice & after being a color model for her on a few occasions, I was hooked. She's a full stylist now & I'm a full fan! As long as she'll have me, I'll keep returning. She listens, understands, & respects what I want out of my hair. Even better, she always makes it happen! I carry her card in my wallet & will always be quick to recommend her talents to others. The rest of the staff here is great & always makes me feel welcome. I adore Lather & have no intentions of taking my locks elsewhere. :) read more

Lather, you sneaky, sneaky bitch. You woo'ed me into being a regular customer and then once you had your hooks in, you treated me like an asshole ex-boyfriend. As a disclaimer, this review is based upon my experience in late 2011/early 2012, and I am just getting around to posting it. I found Lather when my usual stylist (who is not in Chicago) had to cancel, and she didn't have any openings for a long time within my schedule. Since I am blond and color my hair dark brown, my roots were not going to wait that long. One location of Lather was close to my then-home, and it had good reviews on yelp, so I decided to check it out. I was SO impressed at my first appointment. Loved the cut, loved the color (although, admittedly, both are kind of hard to mess up on me) and loved the stylist! So, I booked a follow up appointment for a couple of months later, hopeful that I had found a place in Chicago and could stop sacrificing a coveted Saturday every six weeks for hair services. When I returned, I was rushed in and out as quickly as possible and the same stylist could not have been more disinterested. It was like I was one of those beauty school practice heads. I almost felt the need to apologize for cutting into gossip time with clearly more valued customers. I wasn't even asked what I wanted or if I was okay with the final product, and my trim and re-shaping was so hastily done that it didn't achieve its purpose. Sigh; lesson learned and back to the burbs for me. read more

I just left Lather after getting a cut and conditioning treatment from Kristyn, and I'm really impressed with the work she did. After discussing what I was looking for, she gave me exactly the cut and style I was looking for. This place is reasonably priced already, but they give you the kind of service you'd expect would cost much more. Before my cut I received a complimentary scalp and hand massage that made the whole experience really relaxing. Besides getting a great cut, I wasn't pressured at all to buy a bunch of expensive products at any point. I was even directed to a few inexpensive products, and that was only after I asked for something to help with my frizzy hair. This place is the best. read more

What can I say, it just wasn't that great. The 2 stars says "meh, I've had better" and it's true, I have. It's rare that I'm unsatisfied, I have always been described as "easy to please." I've had high-lights/foils done many times, and what I got here didn't really stand out, honestly I kind of couldn't tell what changed...I could see some new thin blonde streaks, but that was it. Only the very top of my head was done, and the colors don't reach down the length of my hair. Not worth 85 bucks. Another thing, is I do not have a sensitive head, but I'm usually at least asked. I felt like my stylist was way way too rough with my hair, I could seriously hear my hair breaking. I could feel it stretching, pulling, snapping with his super quick brush strokes. I said at the begining of my appointment that I wanted a trim, and he could take 2 or 3 inches of the very bottom, but not much off of my other layers because I was trying to grow them out. Welp, I'm missing about 6 inches off the bottom, I was kind of like "whatever" but a few others were surprised just how much is missing. I found it a little alarming when he started snipping chunks out of my hair to thin it out. He seemed to be doing it rather...extravagantly, it was over kill. He really should have asked before snipping large pieces of hair out because I only requested a trim. So, at the end of the day I spent 130+ for a haircut and some weak partial highlights. I've been taken better care of for an even hundred. This dude's prices are like 5 bucks higher than the others, I have no idea why. I wish I would have had a different stylist. read more

I had a great experience today at Lather. As soon as I walked through the door, I was offered tea, coffee, or water. Kristyn was absolutely amazing. She knew exactly what I wanted and had some good advice about my hair. She even gave me a hand massage while the condition was setting. Thank you! read more

I refuse to go to anyone else for my hair needs. Shannon is a total pro and always gives me exactly what I ask for. She even talked me out of shaving my head (thank god!). She even gave me bangs I like. and thats never happened before! Go here if you want to get your moneys worth, otherwise dont cry about your bad haircut you got elsewhere. You wont regret it! read more

I love Lather. I mean, I REALLY love Lather. I've been going here for about two years now, and have always had Lou cut my hair. She's hilarious, talented, and doesn't care that I always miss several spots on my head when I dye my own hair at home. She always gives me exactly what I want and will be honest with me if she thinks something won't work. $44 is extremely reasonable for a cut, blow out, and style, and I always leave the salon feeling very pretty. The whole staff there are chatty and amazing...I would really recommend all the stylists to anyone who asks. read more

I've never had such an AMAZING experience getting my hair cut. Right off the Montrose brown line stop in Ravenswood, Lather boasts warm, positive energy. I connected with the hair stylists right away; they make you feel at home. First of all, the owner, Tim, has the sweetest dog, Dexter. I walked inside and Dexter was sunbathing on the couch by the huge windows, which let in refreshing natural light. I sat right next to him, and only waited a minute before Tim called my name. Tim has owned the store for nine years and I think our neighborhood is lucky to have him and his salon. He is a great listener. He started off my haircut by asking me to smell two types of essential oils. I picked one and he asked me to inhale and exhale three times slowly. The scent made my shoulders drop and my eyes close. My body relaxed, letting out tension before he even started shampooing and conditioning my hair. The aroma of the shampoo and conditioner infused the room with a floral fragrance. After he finished washing my hair, we got to chatting about food. I told him I've been trying to not eat dairy to see if it will help clear up my skin. He told me about this book: It Starts with Food: Discover the WHOLE30 and Change your Life in Unexpected Ways by Dallas & Melissa Hartwig. It sounded like such a great read and he lent it to me. Oh yeah, and then there's Mike, another hair stylist: he offered me guacamole, peppermint tea, and two lollipops while I was there. He is wonderful! To sum it up, here are five reasons why I love this salon: 1. The wait time is minimal (and you have a sweet dog to keep you company!). 2. The hair stylists make you feel right at home; they offer you coffee, water or tea when you arrive. 3. Mike will offer you guacamole! 4. Tim gives wonderful haircuts and may even lend you a book! 5. Both Mike and Tim are genuine and give you the best advice, whether it's related to your hair or personal life. If you're looking for a hair salon, there's no place better than Lather! P.S. This was my first Yelp review! read more

After an alarmingly long amount of time going without a haircut, I reached my breaking point today. I purchased the Gilt City deal for a cut and full highlights and after calling the other two locations, I was lucky enough to get a same day appointment at Montrose. Danny was so thorough-explaining each step before he did it. I appreciated his suggestions to make my color look as good as it does. I am extremely happy and would highly recommend Danny any day. read more

I am not much of a connoisseur of fine haircuts, but I have decided at this point in my life buzz cuts aren't going to cut it anymore. (Did you see what I did there? Pun intended). So I decided to try my luck and check out a couple of the better reviewed places in the area. The experiences at the other places chased me right back out the door, but I'll save those reviews for another time. Several things surprised me about this business. First, was how amazingly polite and nice everyone was there. Second was how great my hair now looks. Finally, I felt like I ended up paying less than I expected. Right when I walked in to ask if they take walk-ins, they were supper friendly about it. They didn't smirk at me and suggest that I should have had an appointment. Instead they assured me that they could fit me in and offered me coffee tea or water and had me sit on the waiting couch. I was offered beverages at least twice more before I left and felt it was a sincere offer although I chose not to partake. My had looks great now, and that was my primary objective. Not much more to say about that. Juliana cut my hair and she did a fantastic job. She was super understanding of my strange hair requests and worked with me to get the look I wanted. She also was very nice to talk to and made for great conversation, an added bonus. Finally I expected to pay about $50 for a place like this that's a real salon, and it might be because I'm a guy or because I didn't get any fancy extras but I paid less than 30$ for the haircut. I of course rounded it up to $40 with the tip, and still paid less than I thought I would. read more

When I first moved here roughly two and a half years ago, I really struggled to find a new barber or stylist. I tried places like Halo for Men and paid $60 for a haircut and also tried lesser places where I feel like I got exactly what I paid for (not great). For no reason in particular, I stopped in Lather and haven't gone anywhere else since. The staff is incredibly warm and friendly, and the two stylists I've had did a superior job in not only doing what I asked, but also making expert suggestions. Likewise, Lather has even squeezed me in last minute a few times, which is more than appreciated. The price is a solid middle ground between what I've experience in Chicago, and I feel like I'm getting way more bang for my buck at Lather. I have nothing but great things to say about this place and would recommend Lather to anyone. read more

Shannon and Teddy are great! I admit that my hair is terrible. I don't take very good care of it and I have totally given up on the thought that it will ever look good. However those magicians over at lather have made me look like a million bucks for a very small dent in my wallett. I have gotten my hair cut by Shannon a few times and my boyfriend gets his cut by Teddy. Both do a great job and are very careful in making sure that you get not only what you want but what woud look good on you. My first time at Lather I brought in some pics from a magazine of the style that I wanted. Shannon studied the pics then studied my face... she talked to me about why she didn't think that I would be happy with the cut and then explained what she could do that would be similar but would work better with my face. She was right and I looked and felt great. I really appreciated the extra time she spent on making sure that she was giving me a cut that would work for me. 4 stars and an A+ read more

This place is great! I'd been looking for a good salon for a long time, and I finally settled on Lather, mostly based on its good Yelp reviews. Teddy did a fantastic job on my hair - everyone at work is totally amazed by how much better it looks now. The only reason I gave four stars instead of five is that my hair is actually a little shorter than I wanted it. I brought in a picture of an old haircut I liked and asked for that again. But even though I didn't get the same cut, I absolutely love the one I ended up with! I will definitely be coming back. read more

I absolutely love this salon!!! The staff is friendly and laid back and my stylist Teddy is fantastic! I've been to other salons where I felt awkward chatting with the stylist working on my hair...Not so at Lather!! I feel right at home here joking and gossiping with the hilarious staff! I've been going to them for a little under a year and would highly recommend this place for both a cut and color. Compared to other salons I've been to, their prices are quite good for the quality of service they provide. $27 for a mens haircut and $44 for a womans which includes a blow out...I've paid that much at other salons just for the blow out!! Single process color is $60 and my hair has never looked better since I've been getting it colored here. Walk ins are welcome but I recommend making an appointment if you're getting anything other than a haircut. read more

Okay- I walked into Lather on Montrose because there is a sign in the window that says "models wanted" and had a great visit with the staff and have an appointment in a week to be a hair model. I get a great deal out of it from my first experience there I'm really excited to get a new hair do... plus I'm excited to get to hang with the cool staff for an evening! I was told they are still looking for hair models for cuts or colors on tuesdays nights and saturdays + one other week night. read more

I recently had my hair cut by Jon. I have to say I was skeptical as I have had some trouble finding a stylist I like in the city, but he did a great job and he really listened to what I wanted. I will definitely be back. read more

Lather is my first "real" salon, and certainly a step up from Supercuts or the Hair Cuttery. I was a bit apprehensive about the cost at first, but I've never failed to receive a great cut from Teddy and always leave looking good and feeling the money was well spent. Lather has a great atmosphere, with a lot of banter among staff and clients and a friendly neighborhood feel while remaining undeniably hip. I actually look forward to my haircuts these days. read more

They took me as a walk-in. Price was as expected for a decent place. Very friendly staff, very cute dog on premises. I'd go again.

Finally. After four years of searching, I have found a stylist in Chicago! I was so thrilled with my experience here and with Kassi! I called to make an appointment yesterday and was definitely surprised when they were able to squeeze me in so fast for today. However, when I arrived for my appointment I realized that, in my scatterbrain-ness, I'd actually called the Damen location instead. Whoops! The women here were so nice about it. Instead of turning me away, they called the other location and explained the mix up and I got started with Kassi right away (thankfully its a Wednesday and they weren't too busy). I have to say, I've never left a hair salon so happy with the results! I just started growing my hair out a few months ago and was so ready to just have it chopped all off today: it was driving me crazy! Fortunately, Kassi talked me out of it and then proceeded to give me the best cut and style I've ever had! Thank goodness I got all mixed up this morning and came to the wrong place :) read more

My husband and I are just about to move to California, and we are soooo sad to leave our stylist of 2 years, Angela, at Lather!! How often do you find someone who can cut your husband's curly hair perfectly and do a woman's cut and color just as well? She can do anything, and we just love her. I have extremely thick, long blonde hair and she does it better than anyone. She helped my dive into getting bangs for the first time, and I never stop getting compliments on the cut! Also, if you're a guy with curly hair, she can do exactly what you want to it. The price is a lot more decent than any high end salon on Southport, too! read more

I went to Angela a few times. The first time was great- she understood how I was styling my hair and kept it in that style. The second time I told her I was growing it out and she did a great job again trying to keep it with a style. However, the third time, I really felt like she didn't cut it enough- I felt like it already felt grown out. Maybe she was just trying to help the growing out process and I can't fault her for that. It was just time for me to move on to someone else- nothing against Angela. Prices are fairly reasonable for the area. read more

I decided to go to Lather based on two recommendations - one from a good friend of mine (her stylist is Tim the owner) and the other from yelp reviewers. My last haircut was 6 months ago and I was in dire need of one! Plus it's my birthday weekend and the past few years, I treat myself to a haircut the weekend of my birthday so I have "going out" hair for my birthday celebration. So... (to make a long story longer...), I scheduled a cut with Kassi since she had several good reviews and was in my price range. I had a great experience! Kassi was very personable and helped me figure out my next cut. I had been growing my hair for the past few months, but it was getting too heavy and needed some shape and trimming. She had great recommendations and I left loving my cut! Loved the scalp massage after the shampoo as well, and all the styling products smelled awesome! Plus she styled it so I was ready for my night out later. Will definitely go back to see Kassi at Lather. As some reviewers mentioned, the salon is pretty clean but no-frills, which is fine with me. As long as the stylist does a great job on my hair and provides great customer service, I'm in! read more

Being somewhat particular about how my hair is done, I feel obligated to sing the praises of my current stylist - Jon from Lather on Montrose. With exceptional patience, Jon listens to my nonsensical requests like "natural-looking red, but not boring" and "just a trim... no, shorter... wait, maybe a bit longer" and manages to deliver exactly what I want, even when I can't articulate it myself. Regardless of how busy his day is, I never feel rushed or neglected and he gives the same quality care even while juggling multiple clients. The rest of the staff is equally kind and the space is comfortable and welcoming. Prices are beyond reasonable and I've never had trouble getting an appointment with decent notice. Right between a Starbucks and Beans & Bagels, there are plenty of opportunities to get a caffeine hit on the way into a Saturday appointment. Parking is easy, but the salon is literally 10 feet from the brown line at Montrose or 2 blocks from the Damen bus, so there's no need if driving isn't your thing. read more

Took my 9 yr old here today on a referral. He's particular about his hair. Edgar listened to him, and even pulled up a few pics on his phone to double check w/kiddo that it's what he meant. BIG HIT! My guy is styled and ready for school to start. Thanks Edgar! 6/1/17 Sadly, will have to break up with Edgar. Kiddo loves him, but I'm not spending $31 a haircut on an 11 yr old. Edgar is still awesome. Probably a better spot for adults, and will have to find a more reasonable hair spot for kiddo. read more

I really like this salon. They are always very professional, sociable and I am always happy. The stylists listen to you and make great suggestions. Highly recommend! read more