Chicago Magazine September 2011

Maxine Salon's Robert Bennett, Becca Panos and Michelle Dixon featured in Chicago Magazine September 2011Chicago

Thursday August 18th, 2011

Best Hair Salons in Chicago and the Suburbs

Great stylists and studios for men, women, and all types of hair-long, short, curly, African-American, Asian, and more

Best stylist for African American hair

Michelle Dixon at Maxine: Though Dixon is a pro at applying chemical straighteners ($95), clients who opt to stay relaxer-free say she’s also the woman to see for face-flattering cuts and a serious blowout ($95). Dixon’s Vidal Sassoon training and 12 years of experience with multicultural hair have taught her tricks to working with curly textures—she even developed a popular technique using pin curls to create waves that she calls “temptress curls.”

Best for men’s color

Robert Bennett at Maxine: A colorist with 25 years of experience, Bennett has seen a recent uptick in the number of male clients. “It’s been gangbusters,” he says. For men with gray hair, Bennett reaches for L’Oréal’s Homme Cover 5'—an ammonia-free color that won’t slip into that dreaded orangy-goldish fade from the sun ($50). But Bennett’s real specialty is longer hair (anything more than three inches), which he’ll microweave with foil and accent with some subtle salt-and-pepper lowlights ($135). “When you walk out of this salon, no one is going to know you colored it this morning,” he says.

Best for women's long cuts

Becca Panos at Maxine: Becca excels at the subtle art of interior layering (from $90).