river

River opened as a private studio in October 2017 and now operates as a salon in Gowanus. It occupies a suite in an industrial building shared with other artisans, reached by one flight of stairs, with building entry by a code sent in the booking confirmation email. The salon is open by appointment on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The salon describes itself as a calm, private retreat from the city, with the aim of low-maintenance, lived-in hair. A visit is unhurried: clients may bring a laptop to work during their appointment, and tea and magazines are part of the experience. Appointments are booked online through the salon's booking site. Cancellations or changes are free up to 48 hours ahead, with fees of half the session price within 48 hours and the full price within 24 hours. Late arrivals get a 15-minute grace period, and no-shows are charged the full session fee.

Haircuts are a core service. Dry cutting, done on dry hair so the cut works with natural patterns like cowlicks and swirls, is part of the work, alongside balayage highlights, custom vivid color and Cezanne smoothing treatments. The salon says its haircut and highlight service is the one it books most. Gender-affirming and gender-free hair services are also offered. Returning clients have a transformational haircut option for those who have been away six months or more, or who want a big change, along with haircut packages that include wash and blow-dry.

The salon also offers injectables and PRF/PRP treatments. Injectables include short-acting and long-acting Botox, a Botox lip flip, and Redensity hyaluronic acid filler for lip lines, nasolabial folds, cheeks and marionette lines. The PRF/PRP menu covers hair growth, joints in the knee, ankle and shoulder, a microneedling facial, mesotherapy and add-ons. The salon says it was the first in Gowanus to offer PRF/PRP. According to the site, both PRF and PRP use the client's own blood, and PRF has a higher concentration of growth factors than PRP and uses no additives. Hair growth treatments are recommended as three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart, and the site says most clients notice improvement within three to six months of regular treatments.

Designed as a quiet, private space where the goal is hair that looks lived-in and holds its shape between visits.

Quiet and spa-like, set inside an industrial building surrounded by other artisans.