Chicago’s beauty map splits in two directions, and this selection holds both. On one side are full-service houses where hair, skin and nails share a roof: GC by George Charles in the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park Hair Salon spread across a three-story townhouse, Siren Salon in Lakeview with a skin spa beside the chairs. On the other are hair-first rooms that made one craft their signature — Arsova Salon and Lira Guzi Salon in River North live on blonding, balayage and color correction, while a.salon Pilsen exists for hair that curls.
What divides them is depth rather than distance. Team scale runs from Arsova Salon’s bench of some two dozen stylists to the owner-led floors of Epoch Studio Salon and BANG! Salon in Wicker Park. Technology draws its own line: Maxine Salon holds a flagship L’Oréal Professionnel color credential and Japanese thermal reconditioning, Exsalonce Salon works with its founder’s own extension and care lines, a.salon Pilsen cuts curls by the Rezo method. Begin with the service you actually need, and the shortlist writes itself.
At a glance
| # | Place | Score | Reviews | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GC by George Charles | ⭐ 9.9 | 1 168 | Editors' pick |
| 2 | Arsova Salon | ⭐ 9.9 | 1 117 | — |
| 3 | Lincoln Park Hair Salon | ⭐ 9.9 | 662 | — |
| 4 | Exsalonce Salon | ⭐ 9.9 | 582 | — |
| 5 | Maxine Salon | ⭐ 9.9 | 574 | — |
| 6 | a.salon Pilsen | ⭐ 9.7 | 551 | — |
| 7 | BANG! Salon | ⭐ 9.9 | 483 | — |
| 8 | Epoch Studio Salon | ⭐ 9.9 | 461 | — |
| 9 | Siren Salon | ⭐ 9.7 | 377 | — |
| 10 | Lira Guzi Salon | ⭐ 9.5 | 330 | — |
Highlights
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Editors' pick:
GC by George Charles
Opening hours
Open early, from 8am or sooner: GC by George Charles, Maxine Salon, Epoch Studio Salon.
Closed on Sundays: Arsova Salon, Lincoln Park Hair Salon, Exsalonce Salon, Maxine Salon, a.salon Pilsen, BANG! Salon, Siren Salon, Lira Guzi Salon.
Check the hours before you set out — they shift on holidays and out of season.
Full ranking
1. GC by George Charles · ⭐ 9.9
(1168 reviews)
+5 photos
34 E Oak St 4th floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Set on Oak Street in the heart of the Gold Coast, GC by George Charles has grown since 2019 into a full hair, face, nail and body destination. Founder George Charles Long — a master cutter and color specialist — built the salon on three principles: education, experience and innovation, and on the belief that a great salon shapes a client's confidence.
«Effie (Efthimia) is truly the best. Her talent with color and highlights is next-level, an…»
2. Arsova Salon · ⭐ 9.9
(1117 reviews)
+5 photos
375 W Erie St #101C, Chicago, IL 60654, USA
Founded in 2013 by master stylist Anita Arsova, Arsova has become one of River North's most sought-after names for blonde and balayage. Anita built the salon to raise the bar on luxury hair care in Chicago, gathering a bench of experienced stylists around a simple promise — you should leave smiling, with bouncing hair and genuine swagger.
«When visiting Chicago seeing Keith at Arsova Salon is an absolute must. Keith is super ski…»
3. Lincoln Park Hair Salon · ⭐ 9.9
(662 reviews)
+5 photos
507/509 W Dickens Ave, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
A neighborhood fixture on Dickens Avenue since 2007, Lincoln Park Hair Salon (LP Salon & Spa) spreads a full hair-and-beauty menu across a three-story building. The salon is built on careful consultation and constant communication, with a hand-picked, international team that welcomes all genders, ages and hair types.
«I had such an amazing experience at Lincoln Park Hair Salon. From the moment I walked in,…»
4. Exsalonce Salon · ⭐ 9.9
(582 reviews)
+5 photos
2150 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618, USA
Exsalonce opened in Roscoe Village in 2000, founded by celebrated Chicago stylist Tony Odisho at just 25. Rome-trained and licensed in Chicago as a teenager, Odisho went on to create his own extension and haircare labels, and the salon still runs on the same warm, welcoming energy that made his name.
«Hidden Gem Alert!
Exsolance Salon on Roscoe Street is truly a hidden gem! The entire staff…»
5. Maxine Salon · ⭐ 9.9
(574 reviews)
+5 photos
712 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Founded in 1986 by Maxine Kroll — who trained at Vidal Sassoon from 1976 and rose to Senior U.S. Manager before opening her own doors — Maxine is one of Chicago's most decorated hair destinations. Nearly four decades on, it still runs owner-operated from a white townhouse steps off the Magnificent Mile, on the philosophy of "excellence without arrogance."
«Amy is a miracle worker – she always breathes new life into my hair and makes it look fant…»
6. a.salon Pilsen · ⭐ 9.7
(551 reviews)
+5 photos
1301 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
a.salon is a color-focused, eco-conscious hair salon that has served Pilsen since 2018 (with a second Lincoln Park location). Its whole approach is built around hair that spirals, waves and curls — and around doing beautiful color while treading lightly on the planet. The salon specializes in curly and textured cutting, alongside cuts for every hair type, dimensional color, blo…
«Had an appointment with Mayra today and I couldn’t be happier! First of all, my hair looks…»
7. BANG! Salon · ⭐ 9.9
(483 reviews)
+5 photos
1259 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA
BANG! is a Wicker Park salon that pairs creativity with care and a genuinely inclusive welcome. Led by owner and master stylist Eli Mancha — named to the 2026 Salon Today 200 for the salon's philanthropy — it's built on precision, clear communication and a room where every guest feels at home. The menu is hair through and through: classic, curly, pixie and barber-style cutting,…
«I’ve been going to Stef Cummins for the past three years and have followed her along the w…»
8. Epoch Studio Salon · ⭐ 9.9
(461 reviews)
+5 photos
1849 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA
Epoch began in 2010 as a two-chair side hustle in the corner of a Wicker Park film studio, started by three friends — Stephanie Ostby, Ben Mahoney and Beth Stock Schindler. It grew into one of the neighborhood's best-loved salons, an inclusive, sustainability-minded studio where every guest is celebrated.
«Had an amazing experience from start to finish here! The salon was really thorough in unde…»
9. Siren Salon · ⭐ 9.7
(377 reviews)
+5 photos
3143 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, USA
A Lakeview mainstay on Lincoln Avenue, Siren has grown from owner Chris Yoshimura's 1998 dream into a full hair salon and skin spa under one roof. The idea has stayed the same — a team of stylists and estheticians working together to help every client look and feel beautiful. Hair covers cutting, color, treatments, blowouts, perms, extensions, and bridal and special-event styli…
«As always Alexis did an amazing job! I was greeted by the receptionist who took my coat an…»
10. Lira Guzi Salon · ⭐ 9.5
(330 reviews)
+5 photos
472 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60654, USA
Lira Guzi is a luxury hair salon in River North, led by its namesake founder. Lira opened her first salon in Albania in 1998, straight out of beauty school, then moved to Chicago to build her career — competing in hairdressing competitions and studying under industry leaders along the way. The salon specializes in blonde and balayage, the AirTouch technique, flawless color corr…
«I genuinely plan my hair appointments around trips to Chicago just so I can see Lira. As s…»
Questions & answers
Which place tops the ranking? GC by George Charles — score 9.9/10 (Editors' pick).
How many places are in the list and how were they chosen? The selection includes 10 places chosen by our editors based on rating and reviews.
What is the average rating in the top? 9.8/10 — average score of 10 places in the list.
Which place has the most reviews? GC by George Charles — 1168 visitor reviews.
For demanding color — a correction, a slow road back to lived-in blonde — the deep end is Arsova Salon, Lira Guzi Salon and Maxine Salon: step-by-step correction, the AirTouch technique, ammonia-free color. Nails as a trip of their own belong to GC by George Charles, which keeps a nail studio beside its hair and spa floors. Brows, lashes, waxing and facials point to Siren Salon and its HydraFacial room; men’s cutting, to Maxine Salon and the barber-style work at BANG! Salon; bridal styling, in-salon or on location, to Exsalonce Salon. For a first visit, Epoch Studio Salon reads as the calmer, more personal room.
The list has honest edges. These are salons, so standalone barbershops stay outside it, and the skin work here stops at facials, waxing and HydraFacial rather than device-based cosmetology. Children’s cutting is not part of the menu, and the map leans downtown and north — Pilsen is the single entry further out. Ten rooms cannot hold a city this size.
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