Nashville's Top Salons & Stylists 2015

Best Women’s Cut — Glenda Martin, Element Salon

2002 Richard Jones Rd., 615-383-2045; elementsalonnashville.com

Background

Having a “glamour queen x93 grandmother who vacuumed in high heels gave Martin all the inspiration she needed to pursue a career in the beauty industry. She has worked hard over the past 14 years to channel that effortless look into her work as a stylist. Martin moved to Nashville three years ago after spending 11 years in New York.

Fave Products

Martin says she can’t live without Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer: “It has great hold but is by far the most movable hairspray I've ever used, x93 she explains. “It also smells like 15 heavens. x93 Another tool she swears by her GHD blow dryer.

Claim to Fame

Martin works as an artist and educator for L’Oréal Professionnel, is a stylist for Food Network television shows, and is a recurring guest cook on Trisha’s Southern Kitchen.

Runners Up: Ali Ryan—The Dry House, Daryl Woods—Lather Nashville

Best Men’s Cut — Daryl Woods, Lather Nashville

3404 West End Ave., Suite 200, 615-678-7529; lathernashville.com

Background

Childhood trips to the local barber with his dad and getting his first trendy haircut (i.e., a mullet) at a fancy salon had Woods fascinated with the beauty industry from a young age. He initially chose a formal education—he got a degree in social work with a minor in psychology and then worked in HR—before deciding to pursue his love of cosmetology.

Expertise

Woods’ expertise lies in detailed men’s and ladies’ cuts, taking into consideration each client’s face shape, lifestyle, age, preferences, trends, and career. Visiting barbershops and salons across the pond in London and Dublin has influenced his eye for creating fresh, fashion-forward styles.

Claim to Fame

Woods’ has coiffed numerous Grammy, ACM, CMA, and Dove Award winners. His work can also be seen in music videos, commercials, and television shows.

Runners Up: Holly Osborne—Style House Salon, Chadd Bryant—Element SalonNashville

Best Blowout — Ali Ryan, The Dry House

2104 Crestmoor Rd., 615-678-7064; thedryhousenashville.com

Background

Even though Ryan wasn’t born in Nashville, her roots are in Music City, as both her father and grandmother are from here. The family later moved to New Jersey, which is where Ryan got her cosmetology license. She trained in New York City and has come full circle by moving back to Nashville and launching The Dry House with Cassidy Bentley.

Salon Scoop

Opening the doors of The Dry House in June 2014 was a lifelong dream come true for Ryan—she calls it the best day of her life.

Fave Products

When it comes to products, Ryan swears by the Sebastian Shaper hairspray original formula.

Runners Up: Cali Jeffries—Blowout Co.; Brenna Shell—Cherry Blow Dry Bar

Best Barbershop — The Moose

1203 16th Ave. S., 615-321-1200; moosenashville.biz

Background

Originally from California, sisters April and Amber Dixon were looking for the perfect city to start The Moose. After visiting Nashville only one time—and falling in love—they decided that opening in Music City was a no-brainer. They chose a small studio on Music Row without knowing a soul and using word-of-mouth marketing. They quickly outgrew their original location and relocated to a larger space nearby.

Expertise

Combining old traditions with a modern edge has set The Moose apart from its competition—the shop offers a masculine place for men to get cuts, straight-razor shaves, beard and mustache grooming, and gray blending along with their choice of whiskey or beer. There are also cigars for purchase and a private cigar lounge.

Salon Scoop

The Moose has racked up numerous accolades, including 2014 Best Men’s Haircut from this magazine as well as Manliest Place in Nashville by 12th and Broad and Best Place to Get a Haircut and Shave While Watching ESPN and Enjoying a Cigar by The Scene.

Runners Up: Parlour & Juke; William Edge Salon

Best Updo — Jennifer French, One10Makeup

3404 West End Ave., Ste. 203, 615-927-8940; one10makeup.com

Background

French started her styling career 12 years ago at a salon in Boston, but when a close friend introduced her to the freelance side of the industry, she was hooked. French moved to Nashville shortly thereafter and started a freelance team out of her own apartment that served the wedding, television, and editorial industries. Today, she has a professional studio on West End Avenue and manages 11 talented freelance hair and makeup artists.

Salon Scoop

While planning her wedding last year, French picked up a copy of Brides magazine and stumbled across an article titled “Best Places for Bridal Hair and Makeup in Nashville x93—having no idea that One10Makeup had been featured.

Tricks of the Trade

Tired of spending time styling your hair, only for it to come undone? For a ’do that stays perfectly in place, French suggests adding texture by using a dry shampoo or texture spray. The more texture the hair has, she adds, the less it will be able to slip out of shape.

Runners Up: Babe Beauty Bar; Leslie Ellis Hair & Makeup

Best Color — Derrick Lachney, Fresh Salon

1508 Demonbreun St., 615-739-5614; freshsalon.net

Background

Getting trendy haircuts and spending money on Aveda hair products piqued Lachney’s interest in styling during high school. He went to Belmont for a brief stint before deciding it wasn’t for him. Inspired by a friend who did hair, he went on to train at New Directions Hair Academy, Rodney Mitchell Salon, Vidal Sassoon, and Bumble and Bumble.  

Salon Scoop

Lachney moved back to Nashville from Washington D.C. to open Fresh Salon in early 2012 with six other stylists, whom he had known for years. He says it’s like working with family, which makes every day a highlight. “We love each other, we learn from each other, and we are together even when we’re not working, x93 he says.

Fave Products

For a great textured blowout, Lachney relies on sea salt spray from Davines for both personal and professional use. He also has Oribe Dry Texture Spray on hand at all times.

Runners Up: Abbie Addota—Element Salon; Sarah Behnke—Pure Organic Salon

Best Kids’ Salon — Uncle Classic Barbershop

4326 Harding Pk., Ste. 106, 615-297-6001; 330 Franklin Rd., Suite 910-D, Brentwood, 615-309-0044; 1560 West McEwen Dr., Ste. 150, Franklin, 615-472-1360; uncleclassicbarbershop.com

Background

Uncle Classic Barbershop opened its first location in Brentwood in 2008 to meet the needs of gentlemen seeking an option outside of their wife’s salon or a quick-cut franchise. The business since has expanded and is in the process of opening a fourth location in Hillsboro Village.

Expertise

Stylists here specialize in precision haircuts like the classic business cut and the perfect “right above the eyebrows x93 shag cut as well as straight-razor shaves. They are especially proud of the long-term clientele they’ve built, seeing many clients from their first haircut to their elementary school graduation day.

Fave Products

It’s hard for Uncle to keep enough 18.21 Wash in stock. Label M Smoothing Cream also comes highly recommended to keep frizz under control—it’s the perfect product for the “no product x93 guy.

Runners Up: Element Salon; Lather Nashville

Best Salon Overall — Elan Green Hills

3756 Hillsboro Pk., 615-269-0222; elannashville.com/hair

Background

Elan opened its doors in 1996 with just six chairs. Within 18 months, the demand for an appointment was so high that the salon had to move from its original 1,000-square-foot location to one that was four times as large.

Expertise

Providing top-quality services to a diverse clientele is the name of the game at Elan. It’s not uncommon to see a client with purple hair seated next to a woman with a refined bob.

Salon Scoop

Elan is experiencing its biggest growth ever after being open for nearly 20 years.

Runners Up: Lather Nashville; Element Salon; Escape; The Dry House; Studio BBC