My hair is dry from all the perming and coloring. Barely any hair salons have surprised me yet, so I wouldn't dare to try a salon for haircuts. I came across Sei Tomoko after searching on yelp. Apparently, they had two locations on 4th street, and I accidentally confused the two. The one on the east side was empty, and they wouldn't let me just do it on the east side. The massage was great and Kaori took her time blow drying my hair. But paying 50+ for a hair treatment, I expected my hair to be softer. My hair feels the same as a regular shampoo. Maybe I will come back again,... I don't know. read more

Best haircut I've ever received, and at a fantastic price. They'll also serve you delicious green tea (also, the best tea I've ever tasted), and give you a short massage. They don't use a ton of products when styling your hair either, which I really prefer. The man who cut my hair (I wish I could remember his name, but he wears a backwards cap) was super friendly and, again, the haircut was AMAZING. They have a student discount and I think my hair cut came out to be $40 before tip. Warning: they only take tips in cash. Make sure you bring some! Thanks for the excellent service, I'll most definitely return. read more

Worst place to go if you want to color your hair. When I first visited Sei Tomoko, the cut turned out to be really good so I decided to use this salon again. Since I forgot the name of the hair stylist who did my hair last time and my schedule was not flexible, I decided to go with someone who was available at that time. Bad choice..I forgot the name of the other stylist which I shouldn't have so that I will never use her again.(well I will never go back there to begin with) I showed exact color and style that I wanted but she almost forced me to choose other options because my hairs are too straight to make that style.(yet she was confident about the color..) She didn't do a great job on either of them. She couldn't even pull the style in the picture she selected! How retarded is that? (yet, she kept insisting it looked good...NO IT LOOKS FUCKING RETARDED Color? I asked for specific blonde, Britney Spears kind of blonde..I have had that color before and I have shown the picture of myself with in that color. Result? Lemonade yellow!!! MY HAIR LOOKS LIKE A FUCKING WHIG NOW! It's fucking yellow and UGLY! I couldn't believe it happened to me. I supposed to go to a really important event the next day. I almost cried.. I spent 4 hours and $157 + $20 tip for my hair... TOTALLY NOT WORTH IT. It's disgusting that hair stylist kept insisting that hair looks good while it was a complete failure. (Oh by the way, what the hell is wrong with Japanese hair stylists? they almost ignore customers' opinion on how they want their hairs done but interpret the request in their own way and make completely different style out of it.) I seriously want to give less than a star.. I want them to close down for Christ's sake read more

Came after finals for a badly needed haircut. I'd recently cut my hair really short, but it grows at a very quick rate, so it was starting to look like a mullet in the back. I have super thick Asian hair, and a lot of it, so it is pretty difficult to shape / style. I'm also trying to grow my hair back out, which placed some restrictions on how it could be cut. Yoshiko was truly excellent at understanding what I wanted during our consultation. I felt at ease talking to her. I could tell from the way that she cut my hair and the different techniques that she used that she really knew what she was doing. read more

Can't beat the student discount (which you should indicate when scheduling appointments, as I believe only certain stylists are available for this). Staff was very friendly & my stylist listened to me & gave me a great cut. I've had many times where I stressed a trim and walked out with much more cut off, I'm happy to say this was not the case here! read more

I just probably got the worst haircut of my life. So much so, that I've decided I'll be wearing a hat to cover up my hair. For guys who have long hair everybody knows about the awkward in between stage of growing it. They basically cut my hair to that stage again. read more

I had an appointment with Emi a couple of weeks ago; everyone was super friendly, the hair washing was heavenly, and my cut was super cute. Furthermore, the price was really great; $50 with tip and student discount. read more

Love this place. It's affordable (if you want the student discount, mention so when you book) and as everyone has said includes a great massage. Everyone here is so sweet, low key and professional, and the atmosphere is relaxing and unpretentious while still making you feel like you're getting pampered. I've gotten my hair cut by a different stylist every time, simply because I trust them and need to work around a schedule, and all stylists have given the exact cut I'm looking for based off my sketchy requests. This is especially a bonus since I have really thick hapa hair. I used to go to Salon Shizen which I also highly recommend, but for service, affordability, ambiance and such good neck massages, this is the place to be. read more

You can't beat this place! I have been going to Motoki for almost 4yrs now for Japanese straightening touch ups. The price and quality are unbeatable. I used to go to other salons until I found this place. Only Japanese salons for me now. Very great service with hot towels and a massage is $300 for the straightening! Cheapest I've ever found and by far the best. Got it done several other places all over the place in NYC and NY and DC and Sei Tomoko always delivers. Add on a haircut for 35-50$ . Not bad! I was going uptown and paying $130 for a cut but for $50 I get just a good a hair cut. I highly recommend this place! read more

I had a much needed haircut done by Yoshiko Miyayama : such a really great haircut that after a night's sleep it still looked great ! Everyone in the salon lovely, massages, tea and really a perfect trip to a salon. read more

gave me the hair cut I wanted excellent treatment + affordable

Emi is the BEST. She used to be at the E13 street location for a while and when she moved to W4, I did as well. She is meticulous about her work and always does a perfect job on my long asian hair. The salon is relatively small but very clean and modern, though a little too brightly lit. The staff is amazing and I always look forward to the thorough wash and back and neck massage. My cut lasts a bit longer than one's I've gotten at other places so I don't have to go as often, which is great in this economy. Not that Sei Tomoko will break the bank because $45 for all that service (2 hours!!) is a steal. read more

I've been going here for 3 years now, and liked every stylist I've tried. They all seem to know just what to do with my hair whether it's been long and straight or short and textured. The vibe at ST is perfect for people who don't want to chit chat for an hour while getting their hair done. Super relaxing. read more

Prices are reasonable and all the hair stylists do a great job, no complaints with anyone! They have great customer service and are very punctual with their appointments. read more

I have been trying to book an appointment and my expectations were exceeded. My stylist was Tomoko, she not only listened to everything I said but gave me feedback which showed me how well she understood my hair. She did a wonderful job and the woman who washed my hair gave me an AMAZING massage. This is my new hair place for sure, because aside from the phenomenal service the price is UNBEATABLE. read more

Yasuko cut my hair. I asked for a lob (long bob) and she was trying to show me the exact length it'd come out to be. She explained the process, we needed some long layers so my hair wouldn't be too poofy, could she blow dry my hair straight so she can cut more evenly, etc... She spent a good hour and 15 minutes on my hair just cutting. I've been in salons that were done with me in 30 minutes or less so this attentiveness was quite welcome. I also loved my short neck and shoulder massage. For $50, I really enjoyed the experience and my haircut! read more

I was only in town for a few days and made an appointment. They were able to squeeze me in the next day. I LOVED my haircut. My hair is super straight, flat and fussy. Despite it all, my haircut looked great and has grown out nicely. I wish I could take this hair salon back to California with me. read more

Had my haircut by Kaori today. Cost: $35 + tip for Kaori and the Shampoo girl. Length: 120 minutes Process: Chat, Shampoo, Scalp Massage, Condition, Shoulder Massage, Cut, Blow dry, Cut again, Style. And they offer you tea or water. In one word. Awesome. The only thing I could suggest is online booking system. read more

My haircut turned out to be exactly what I wanted. That in addition to the shampoo, massage, and blow dry for only $40 earns this place 5 stars. read more

Motoki, what a great cutter! I saw someone's hair in NYC asked her where she got it done? Expected the usual 150-300 per cut. Long gorgeous hair. Well this guy has it going on. Motoki is a great cutter, hands down, and get this...it's under 100 bucks?! I think it might even be 50?? But I give a 30.00 dollar tip cause he deserves it. Go here you will be happy. If you brought in a picture which I'll share my previous cuts, he can do it. And great hot towel to lay your head back on in the bowl, with a great massage pre cut;) Nice... read more

This is by far the best haircut I have ever gotten. Manson is a sweetheart and did some serious magic to transform my hair from an overgrown dead mess to an easy breezy summer look. I can't wait to refer all my friends here. Oh and did I mention it was only $40????? Unreal! Thank you so much Manson, I love my hair. read more

I miss you Tomoko!! I moved to the Bay Area 4 years ago, and for the first 2 years, I was able to swing a trip back to NYC to get my hair cut with Tomoko. The drill was this: Call Tomoko, make an appointment, then book my ticket to NYC, set up other apts in NYC - in that order. In the past year or so,I have not been able to get back to NYC, so I broke down and went to some local places recommended by friends. The results: bad, pretty bad, and the last one, downright horrible!!! I have stubborn straight asian hair, and I wear it very short. Tomoko was always able to cut it (with a razor) to make it look amazing with minimal fuss. I was constantly getting stopped in the street by people who wanted to know where I got my hair cut. I miss you Tomoko!!! I am seriously considering buying plane ticket to NYC just to get my hair cut again with you!!! read more

I wish I could say I've just paid $55+tax+tip for what was essentially a bang and nape of neck trim with Maki, but it's even worse than that. I had a pixie cut done at the E 4th location a month ago, and while my stylist sort of missed the mark for what I was asking, the results at least looked pretty good. The first cut was a little long and a little uniform in length, however, so I went to W 4th today looking to get the back and back-sides shortened, but leave my long shaggy bangs and sideburns to keep it feminine, because I wanted more length differentiation, and because eventually I want to grow it out to an angled bob. What I got: total basketball shaped hair. Helmet hair. Zero texture and thinning - reportedly because there was already thinning in the ends she couldn't thin any of the inch that has grown this month. What? That doesn't even make sense. Oh, and that scalp massage? Didn't get it. Maki was on the phone when I got there, and when she washed my hair she was constantly distracted and acted like she didn't want to be there. 15 second shoulder massage. And didn't use the cape properly or clean me up well afterwards - my sweater is covered in hair and needs to go to the cleaners now, too. Oh, and I saw several roaches crawling the walls in front of me and sat there cringing hoping they wouldn't come my way. Worst. Haircut. Ever. I went in to get shape, and came out with.... less shape. Worse? The website indicates an NYU discount, and based on my past cut and the reviews here I was expecting a bill of 35, maybe 45 if I got a senior stylist, LESS student discount. It came up to 55, and "some stylists get to choose not to offer NYU discount". Great, so my broke self just paid you way more than I bargained for to have my hair look even worse. And when I complained, nobody was interested in hearing about it - the stylist just said she was confused, and the front desk girl just awkwardly said nothing. Maybe some of the other stylists are good, but in my many haircuts at places ranging $20-100, I have never had such a bad experience. read more

Totally underestimated little gem of a salon in the W. Village! Though I'm right around the corner, I have overlooked this salon until a friend recommended it and on a whim, I decided to give it a try. Service was excellent, salon was peaceful and professional, my cut was fantastic and the best part was the price! I highly recommend this salon. read more

I have had my haircut here for twice and both hair style I got are wonderful. Pretty layers on hair. But I do notice that the little massage is shorter than one year before. read more

I have never been so in love with a hair cut until now! This place has extremely nice and courteous staff but the important thing is, their stylist knows how to cut hair! I have thick Asian hair, so my biggest problem was having hair that had no movement. My hair was so thick and shapeless, it almost felt like a mop to me. My hair was cut by an older Japanese woman with a pixie cut. My hair turned out exactly how I wanted it! A lot of movement, layers, and shape. I can't stop running my fingers through my hair. Will definitely come back next time. read more

After moving to New York this past summer I scoured the city looking for THE good-but-not-too-pricey place for a haircut. Then I came to my senses, sighed, and looked sad. And then I found Sei Tomoko on Yelp. Awesome. I've been to both the W. 4th and the E. 13th locations, and both times I was really pleased with my haircut. Service was friendly and polite. Last time Megumi at the E. 13th location cut my hair. She was great and really took the time to give me a nice cut. The neck and back massage is definitely a plus, especially if you spend the majority of your day lurching over a computer, and have become a little Quasimodo-esque in appearance. Price is cool - $43 (or something like that) plus tip. The only thing is that they tend to book up quite fast, so try to make an appointment sooner rather than later, although I guess you can always be "wait listed" if you're not too proud. Sweet. read more

Wonderful place. I walk in 10 minutes early for my appointment. Everybody says hello. I don't have to wait - I immediately go to get my hair washed. The woman who does the hair washing gives you a great scalp massage in the process of washing your hair. Very relaxing. Afterwards I was sat down in a chair. I'm not sure if my stylist wasn't ready yet, or what, but I then got a free 5 minute chair massage by that same lady. Then I show the stylist a photo of what I want, he goes over some details w/ me, and goes to work. I was very pleased with the result. Best part? I'm a student, so the entire thing cost $36.40 after tax (before tip, which they definitely deserve!) read more

I went to Sei Tomoko for the Japanese Straightening. I loved my entire experience. Everyone from the very nice man that washed my hair to Tomoko herself were wonderful. Its a long process but she explained every step in detail. She does push her products so be prepared for that. My hair was long, thick and coarse. Now its straight and smooth. I love it. G read more

I've been coming here for years for everything from hair cuts to coloring to straightening. Every stylist I've had is wonderful. I feel completely confident in all of them, so much so that when I call up to make an appointment and they ask who I want to see, I say "anyone is fine." And it's true. Their prices are also better than any place I've seen, and they give you scalp massages when shampooing and shoulder massages after the shampoo. Everyone is friendly, and there's hardly any hair on the floor because someone is coming by with a broom every few minutes. Absolutely love this place and would recommend it to anyone needing a great and affordable hair cut. read more

This salon is great. The staff is friendly and salon is clean. Ryosuke cut my hair and it came out really good. He also blew it out with volume in the end and touched up my hair. This will probably be my go to salon from now on. read more

Great place, the attention and the service really good. Yasuko was my hair stylist and she really got the color I was looking for as well as the haircut. Highly recommended! read more

Just found my new favorite hair salon! After going trying multiple places for disaster hair cuts, I came here 2 weeks ago and Yasuko(?) saved my life and my butched up hair from the last stylist that I've been trying to outgrow from. Will definitely be coming back for future hair cut needs! read more

A girl I work with came in looking AMAZING and told me she had just gone to this place and gotten a haircut from Nori. I made an appointment for the next day. Now, getting my hair cut can be a nerve wracking experience, but I couldn't have felt more comfortable. Everyone was exceptionally polite-great customer service from everyone, from the front desk to the shampoo guy (oh my god! he scrubbed my head forever and it was amazing!!! and the massage was awesome!!! And they have these reclining chairs so you don't have to hurt your neck on the sink!) to the hairdresser. There was zero attitude from anyone. At one point I actually thought, "wow, if they suddenly told me this was going to cost 3 times as much as I thought, I wouldn't care." I've learned to expect salons to try to sneak extra costs onto the bill. (They did nothing of the sort. The whole thing was $35, including the blow-out. It's almost criminal how cheap that is for what I got.) This was by far my favorite salon experience ever. Period. And that's saying a lot. Great job, guys! I will DEFINITELY be back. read more

I've only strayed from Sei Tomoko once since I moved to NYC three years ago and I won't make that mistake again. I can't say too much about the cut, I usually just get a trim, but my highlights always come out perfectly . And of course you can't beat the massage and the reasonable price. My hair always feels like silk when they are done with it as well. read more

First haircut in NYC and I was so scared. Like everyone, I am particular with my haircut and have more often than not been less than impressed with the results - that is until Sei Tomoko. For $50 I felt as if I got the star treatment. They gave the most incredible head massage with the hair wash, followed by a heavenly shoulder massage. I am used to going into new salons and the stylist commenting on how much they do not like what the previous stylist did, and I hate that because it makes me feel like shit, but not here. The stylist listened to what I wanted and that was that. She paid close attention to every strand of hair, blow-dried it to perfection and triple checked her work. The whole time I felt that I was in good hands and could 100% relax. I cannot imagine going anywhere else from now on. In fact I already booked my next appointment in 6 weeks. read more

I found Sei Tomoko through a friend and I love it. I don't get my hair cut often and normally hadn't paid over $40 for a haircut. So when I realized normal haircuts in NYC were base $60, I almost had a heart attack. But Sei Tomoko saved the day! I go to Manson at the W4 location on Sundays. He's so nice and calm and does exactly what you ask for, but better. I went in a few times with photos and he modified it to make it fit my style and face shape better. I forgot how much it is, but definitely under $50. The salon is not huge but it's not cramped. It is super clean and everyone is very nice there. read more

Got a great haircut here, and since I'm a student it was only about $40--the cheapest quality haircut I've gotten in my two years in New York. read more

Sorry to those asian hair salons I've been to in edison area--because I won't be going back anymore. I always wanted to try haircut at a japanese salon and decided sei tomoko to be my first trial after reading good yelp reviews. Peer yelpers didn't disappoint me! I didn't make any drastic change to my hair style, but just because of that I was able to tell how my hair dresser did a wonderful job (forgot to ask his name, sorry!). In the beginning he asked my needs for the cut, and the result was exactly what I want-- and I am always awful at explaining those details to hair dresser, which makes me even more amazed. I asked not to have too much thinning or high layers, and he managed to do that but still made my hair look natural wihout abrupt chops (which I have had before..). He was very attentive to details, making sure both sides of my hair are at the same length and kept working on those tiny hairs. Later when I tried to tie a ponytail it was so smooth in layers and no forgotten locks of long hairs sticking out. I am truly impressed by my new haircut and by the price. It worths the trip from nj to the city. Already made my next appointment for haircut and color and can't wait to go back! read more

Terrible service. My service today, I experienced a very rude receptionist. They had over booked for service. After waiting for fifteen minutes I asked the receptionist when I would be seated, her explanation was that I should just wait. She was rude and very inappropriate. read more