New York's best hair stylists

Julie Dickson at Fox & Boy
Though most of her clients belong to the 25-to-35-year-old downtown set, Dickson's lengthy experience at the UES's swanky Minardi Salon and Soho's Dop Dop make her an expert at prescribing the right style for just about anybody. "It's about the entire aesthetic," she says. "If a woman on Wall Street wants an 'edgy' cut, it's an entirely different kind of edgy from someone working as a bartender on the Lower East Side." At her one-year-old Nolita shop, Dickson's sweet and sassy sensibility is reflected in everything from the colorful vintage aprons she dons to the rolling cocktail carts serving up magazines and cookies (and yes, sometimes booze, too). Cuts start at $100 for men, $100 for women. 280 Mulberry St between E Houston and Prince Sts (212-965-0369, foxandboy.com)

Selvi Hadzovic and Kate Poertner at Saloon Hair
Hadzovic and Poertner's tucked-away work stations at Saloon offer a refuge from the thumping Eurocafe culture of Astoria's 30th Avenue. Hadzovic first learned the cut-and-color trade while visiting family in her native Stockholm, and has spent the last 15 years refining her skills. Low-maintenance, natural brunette color and simple, pretty updos are her dyeing and styling specialties, and her wet-to-dry haircuts last several months. Poertner, meanwhile, is a corrective-color genius. Equally adept at producing both organic hues and Crayola brights, she's so in tune with what her clients want that you'll walk out thinking the buttery shade of those woven highlights was your idea. Bonus: Her exhaustive musical knowledge will keep your iPod ultra current. Hadzovic's cuts start at $75 for women. Poertner's single-process color starts at $55, highlights at $125, retexturizing at $110. 36--17 30th Ave between 36th and 37th Sts, Astoria, Queens (718-956-3366, saloonhaircolor.com)

Kate Schlichter at Bumble and bumble
A trip to Bumble and bumble—with its perks like massaging shampoo chairs and an in-salon cafe—is a treat no matter what. But when we need to get serious, we ask for Kate Schlichter. This woman is literally a master: A trainer at the Bumble & bumble University for the past six years, she instructs visiting stylists from all over the country. When she's not teaching, she cuts hair at both Bb's pristine midtown salon and its edgier counterpart in the Meatpacking District. As a stylist, Schlichter is a creative chameleon. "I'm not a hairdresser-y hairdresser," she says with a smile. Translation: She caters to little old ladies and mohawked skater chicks with equal ease, tailoring her approach to clients' personalities. The proof is in her subtle cuts, which get months of mileage without losing steam. Cuts start at $110 for men, $110 for women. 146 E 56th St between Lexington and Third Aves (212-521-6500, bumbleandbumble.com) * 415 W 13th St between Ninth Ave and Washington St (212-521-6500)

Katie Dolinar at Fringe Salon
Dolinar's easygoing personality paired with Fringe's vintage-cozy vibe is a match made in haircut heaven. In her four and a half years with this seven-chair Lower East Side salon, the Ohio native has perfected the stylish (without looking styled), indie-gal cut: long, layered and totally low-maintenance. Top your new 'do with Dolinar's signature fringey bangs or effortlessly sculpted side swoop and stand by for compliments from strangers. The fact that her cuts grow out ridiculously well means you won't have to lay eyes on the salon's exposed-brick walls, tiled floor and high tin ceilings for quite some time—though we're betting you'll probably want to. Cuts start at $65 for men, $85 for women; single-process color starts at $85, highlights at $150. 248 Broome St between Ludlow and Orchard Sts (212-674-8383, fringeny.com)

Masae Fukuhara at Salon de Quartier
She speaks very little English—broken is being kind. Still, this Japanese pixie has established herself as an intuitive genius, groping around the shaggy shapes of men's heads and pulling out their best selves, the ones even they can't express. (Even if we could, she'd just shake her head.) Cobble Hillians arrive at the small, stylish shop after brunching at nearby Char No. 4 and patiently wait for her to do her thing. Cuts start at $50 for men, $65 for women. 206 Smith St between Baltic and Butler Sts, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn (718-246-7244, salondequartier.com)