by Jocelyn Jane Cox
Let’s face it, there’s a direct relationship between looking good and feeling good. Hairstyle plays a large role in this equation. At Comfort Zone Hair Salon, the stylists not only know this but they feel strongly that clients can achieve the looks they want in a comfortable, no-fuss atmosphere. This Upper East Side salon prides itself on creating a homey, neighborhood feeling while providing cutting-edge services and offering top of the line products.
In addition to a bustling local clientele of both regulars and walk-ins, customers have been coming to Comfort Zone from all over the city, Long Island, and even upstate New York since their doors opened in 2002. The business has grown mostly by word-of-mouth and also due to the convenient location, at 1566 Second Avenue between 81st and 82nd. The shop is painted with warm hues and accented with plants. It’s spotless and organized without being stuffy.
The stylists say, “it’s a great feeling to make people happy” and specifically like working in this neighborhood because it is family-oriented. In addition to business people and homemakers, there are a lot of young people on the Upper East Side who want hairstyles reflecting the latest trends. These are the clients who often bring in photos of celebrities and say, “I want my hair to look like this.” While the stylists are ready and able to fulfill these kinds of requests, they also enjoy working with a diverse set of clients with varying tastes.
They’re particularly proud of the community atmosphere at Comfort Zone. Some of their clients have become close friends through seeing each other at the salon. And two clients, women who work together in the financial industry, complimented each other’s hairstyles for years before realizing that they both got their hair done in the same place. Creating a positive environment for the staff is part of their secret. “If the workers are comfortable, the clients are comfortable.”
It’s obvious that the stylists themselves enjoy getting to know their clients over the years and styling them through life’s milestones, like birthdays and weddings. They estimate that 30 percent of their young clients have gotten married or had babies since they’ve been working with them.
Boasting an international staff of stylists from Italy, Poland, Russia and America, Comfort Zone has eight stylists, all of whom have been thoroughly trained and are accustomed to working with all different types of hair. They continually upgrade their knowledge by attending hair shows in Milan, Israel, and right here at the Jacob Javits Center. Many also take classes at Bumble & Bumble to study advanced styles and color.
A lot of the regular clients come in for color, an area in which this salon specializes. In fact, for a salon this size, they have one of the largest hair color selections around.
The staff wants their clients to feel great about their hair. But they also hope that the salon’s clean, friendly atmosphere helps their customers to feel more relaxed and re-energized than they felt before they entered the Zone…the Comfort Zone, that is.