By Julie D. Andrews This place is bumping. It’s just after 7p.m. on a Thursday night at Marianne Vera (MV) Salon at 1467 Second Avenue and East 76th Street. European music bounces about the bustling, near-hidden beauty shop. Each of the three stylists – including owners Caroline Lameda and Eszler Szabo – and two shampooers is busily rinsing or snipping away at clients’ locks. A stylist at the back swings a hairdryer rhythmically around his client’s head. Women sit cross-legged in the window, waiting for highlights to take to their foil-wrapped hair. They flip through magazines and sway their feet to the beat. They don’t peek at their watches. They’re not tapping their fingernails. Instead, most every client sips on red wine languidly, coasting into calm mode. It’s 7p.m., and it’s still happy hour at MV Salon. As if the cutting-edge do’s and tunes weren’t enough of an enticement, Caroline, 39, and Eszler, also 39, started a salon happy hour that runs weekday evenings from 5:30p.m. until 9p.m. As their tresses are trimmed, customers are offered wine. With the vino flowing so generously, it’s almost hard – save for the blowing hairdryers – to decipher this European-influenced salon from a French Bistro. “I’ve been coming here as long as they’ve been open,” says Diane Bazikian, who lives across the street. Because she used to be a hair model, Bazikian says she’s particularly selective when it comes to salons. On her first visit, she had her hair coiffed by Eszler. Since then, she’s gone to Eszler – and only Eszler – for the latest cuts and styles. “Sometimes, I don’t get what she’s trying to do at first. But, her cuts always fall into place two weeks later and then I really get it. I trust her,” says Bazikian, adding, “A lot of people in the neighborhood come here.” The clientele is largely European, including many parents from the French school around the corner, says Caroline. “Our salon has an international vibe where each person can find his or her roots.” And, the Mediterranean flavor is readily apparent. Moroccan lamps hang; French and Spanish lyrics play; stylists often speak in French. A cultural melting pot, stylists have landed here from around the globe: France, Israel, Morocco, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Spain and Brazil. This cultural meshing has long been a way of life for co-owners Caroline – who’s half-Venezuelan, half-French, and Eszler – who’s half-Hungarian, half-French. The two met when they were fifteen-year-old students at a beautician school in Paris. As is the draw of many small, privately owned businesses, the owners’ vibrant and unique personalities shine through every aspect of the business. This is no humdrum, dime-a-dozen chain. This is two people’s dream being played out in living color … with a soundtrack to boot. “We learned together, doing hair for the older, elegant, chic women in Paris,” says Eszler, who went on to complete an apprenticeship in Paris, France. Caroline – whose aunt, cousin, and grandmother were also hairdressers – completed an apprenticeship in Valencia, Spain. Some twelve years ago, Caroline made her way to the Upper East Side. After managing a store around East 89th Street and Madison Avenue for a number of years and building up a loyal clientele, she got the itch to go sola and open her own salon. She had the perfect business partner in mind. Caroline picked up the phone and called Eszler, who was still living in Paris at the time, to see what she thought of moving to the U.S. to start a salon. Eszler, on board with the idea, moved to New York shortly thereafter and the two opened shop. In February, MV Salon celebrates its third year in business. The salon specializes in color treatments and haircuts, using only European products. And, the pricing – especially compared to other Upper East Side salons – is exceedingly reasonable. A shampoo and cut combination starts at $30. Add a blow dry and pay from $60. Highlights cost from $55. And, working with a senior stylist costs upwards of $70. What’s the hot and now look? Says Caroline: Shoulder-length hair that, if it’s naturally dark, is kept dark in the back with very light and noticeable highlights placed on top. “It’s a bit more funky,” she says, because the contrast adds definition. “You would see this in the 80s a lot with short hair, and now you see it with longer hair.” Bangs, bobs and chunky highlights, she says, are also happening a lot.
View the next Uppereast.com review:La Houppa |
| ||||||||||||||||
