If you’ve ever walked out of a salon with “blended” hair that somehow resembles zebra stripes — or watched your expensive blonde turn traffic-cone orange the second you step outside — you are so not alone.
I’ve spent an unreasonable amount of time (and money) testing this city’s top colorists, and here’s the truth: almost everyone talks a big game about dimension. Very few actually deliver it.
The Blonde List is my personal highlight reel — literally. It’s a no-B.S. edit of salons and colorists in NYC who get it. The ones who understand tone, placement, grow-out and how to make blonde feel expensive — not overprocessed.
Whether you’re after soft foilage, face-framing baby lights, rooty “I vacation in Europe” energy or full bombshell transformation, these are the people you book when your hair can’t afford a mistake.
Every name here is vetted — by me or by people whose hair I’ve aggressively interrogated on Instagram. No brass. No excuses. Just really, really good color.
Who to ask for: Tia Rotenberg
Who to ask for: Natalie Rotger
Who to ask for: Danielle Waterman
Who to ask for: Michelle Hong
Who to ask for: Stephanie Brown
Who to ask for: Becca Kraeger
Who to ask for: Maddy Davies
Who to ask for: Kim Le
Who to ask for: Alex O'Neill
Who to ask for: Temur Hamilton
Who to ask for: Lamont Gonzales
Who to ask for: Dana Iotano
Who to ask for: Lexi Pavlides-Tobin
Who to ask for: Madison Roulan
Who to ask for: Olivia Lumsden
Who to ask for: Giancarlo Carollo