Whether you’re craving a blowout or your hair is simply too long, it can be hard to trust a new hairdresser in your college town. To alleviate your worries, I have put together a list of highly-rated salons that have been praised by fellow Vanderbilt students. Opening yourself up to a new hairdresser is the only way to find your perfect hair home in Nashville. 

Element Salon

Distance: 0.4 miles

Our closest salon to main campus, Element Salon, is situated just three minutes away on Elliston Place. It sits directly next to I Love Sushi, a Taste of Nashville restaurant. Depending on where you are on campus, walking might even be more convenient than grabbing an Uber due to its proximity. 

First-year Ainslie Kell had a few praiseworthy notes regarding the salon. 

“You know it’s a good salon when they have a bunch of name-brand hair products all over the place and when it looks modern and they offer you drinks,” Kell said. “There are hair massages that come with the washings — it’s great and it’s cheap.” 

Kell also described the salon’s prices. 

“For a full head of highlights it was around $180,” Kell said. “I would say it’s on the cheaper side, but still good quality.” 

Kell described the salon as one conveniently close to campus with amenities that will make you feel pampered. Visiting Element Salon means walking out with a fresh head of hair — without breaking the bank. 

Blo Blow Dry Bar

Distance: 0.9 miles

Blo Blow Dry Bar is a salon that may be familiar due to its popularity as a national franchise. In fact, the salon prides itself on being the largest blow dry bar franchise in the United States. The salon is located in Hillsboro Village near Taste of Nashville’s Sushi 88. First-year Leighton Evans described various advantages to its location, pricing and overall quality. 

“I went there because it’s walking distance from Commons and I didn’t want to have to Uber,” Evans said. “It cut down the costs and the total time it took me to get my hair done.”

Evans described her extreme satisfaction with how her hair turned out after visiting the blow dry bar. 

“The overall result really stood out to me. I was really happy with how my hair looked and it stayed the entire night,” Evans said. “Also, the stylists were extremely kind. They asked for inspo pics to make sure they got it right.” 

Evans also had a lot to say about the thoughtfulness of her stylist. Regarding the prices, Evans described the reasonability of the cost of service at the blow dry bar. 

“I believe a blowout is around $45 without tip,” Evans said. “My roommate and I, for our semi-formal, we both got our hair blown out at different places, and I came back and she was like, ‘Where did you go, I am going there next time!’ ” 

Evans made it pretty clear that her blowout exceeded expectations, both in terms of appearance and durability. She ended the interview by noting that she already planned a trip back to the Blo Blow Dry Bar. Based on her review, this salon seems highly unlikely to disappoint.

Oxana Salon

Distance: 1.5 miles 

Our third salon, Oxana, is located just about ten minutes away from campus by car. The highly-rated salon prides itself on its “incredible treatments and unbeatable customer service.” The salon’s statement is backed up by a first-year Vanderbilt student, Ellie Rios, who has indulged in the salon’s treatment. 

“It is a very new salon — very trendy-looking. That definitely attracts a lot of people,” Rios said. “The environment is very inviting and they offer [amenities] at the front of the salon.”

A common worry among new customers is the expertise and precision of the team of stylists, especially given their high prices. 

“Yes, [the salon] is on the pricier side, but they do a really good job every time,” Rios said. “You show them pictures and get exactly what you are looking for.” 

Despite the salon’s higher prices, the level of mastery guarantees that you get a bang for your buck. For students not looking to spend a ton on a haircut, this salon may not be for you. But for a special occasion or a desperate desire for a precise trim, Oxana is guaranteed to elevate your look. 

In terms of transportation, especially for those without a car on campus, Rios provided useful information worth considering before beginning the trip to Oxana. 

“It is relatively easy to get there, but I don’t think it’s a walkable distance, just because of where you have to walk through to get there,” Rios said. “But, the Uber was quick and cheap.”

Blowout Company

Distance: 2.0 miles

The Blowout Company is a blowout bar only located in the state of Tennessee. Therefore, it is unlikely you have ever visited The Blowout Co. in your hometown if you’re from out of state. First-year Caroline Weller provided useful information covering the bases of the salon, which is located in the Gulch. 

“It is pretty easy to get there from campus, probably a 5-10 minute Uber ride,” Weller said.

The salon seems to differ in terms of size relative to other salons.

“It felt weirdly a little bit big and was pretty much unoccupied when I got there,” Weller said. “But the decorations were cute and simple, and I noticed it was very clean.” 

If you have reservations about smaller, more personal salons, the bigger environment of The Blowout Co. may tickle your fancy. 

“I told [my stylist] that I had a formal and that I preferred a curling iron, and she was like yes, of course I can do that,” Weller said. “She was thoughtful of the fact that I was getting my hair done for a special occasion.” 

Regarding pricing, Weller described the costs as being comparable to other salons. 

“The prices felt pretty on par [with] what I have paid at other salons,” Weller said. “It was maybe around $50 for a blowout, without tip.”

The Blowout Co. offers just about any beauty service you could think of. Take a trip over to this charming salon when you feel like boosting your look.  

Sisters Collective

Distance: 11 miles

The last salon is the farthest from campus, about a 20-minute car ride away. The Sisters Collective works to promote sisterhood and positivity as indicated in its name. Although the salon may be a good distance from campus, first-year Mary Meacham had much to say regarding its excellence. 

“It’s a super small salon so they know their clients pretty well,” Meacham said. “They’ll remember you and you’ll keep going back to the same person.” 

Meacham boasted about the personable feel of the salon, as well as the owner. 

“The woman who owns it is the main hairdresser so she’s very hands-on with everything,” Meacham said. 

Meacham also described the price range of the salon’s services.

“I get my hair dyed there and it’s pretty expensive,” Meacham said. “But, for haircuts, it’s very reasonably priced.” 

The Sisters Collective combines talent with a passion for hair to create the perfect go-to space for hair services. 

After reading through Vanderbilt students’ experiences with local salons, I hope that you will be able to better pick which salon suits you best. Each salon has its edge, whether it’s location, pricing or overall quality. Whichever you choose, you are bound to find your go-to salon away from home.