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A protegee of master stylist Oribe, Eliut Rivera seems too boyishly sweet to have his own namesake salon, but in fact, has been wrangling moneyed matrons and divas like Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz, and Sheryl Crow (with whom he has traveled on tour) for almost a decade. Serenity is the salon's top priority: Located on the fifth floor of a townhouse on prime Madison Avenue real estate, the walls are painted in pleasing pastel brown and lavender, creating a very Breakfast at Tiffany's vibe. It's also not at all fussy—you'll often see clients blow-drying their own hair, a perfectly acceptable option for those who want to save on the blowout. Besides cut, color, and makeup application, the salon offers seven different Kerastase Deep Conditioning treatments at a discounted price when combined with a haircut. Despite his star-styling pedigree, Rivera's salon is not on the cutting edge, but rather a place for real women who want to treat themselves to full, sexy, feminine hair. — Cathay Che

The stylists at this salon specialize in "great-length fuse bond" extensions (small strips of glue are used instead of a weave) that last three or four months. Rivera customizes detachable extensions, which are well suited for onetime occasions like weddings. Wedding-day hair extensions prices include a trial with a 10 percent group discount. Trial runs without extensions are cheaper. Makeup is also available with a 10 percent group discount. Book one month in advance.