Your First Appointment at Dubé New York: What to Expect
Your first salon appointment with us starts with a conversation, not a cape. You book online, a credit card holds your time, and your stylist talks through your goals before any color or scissors come out. We're not a high volume salon, so every appointment is paced to leave room for questions, careful work and a finished style before you head home.
Key takeaways
- Book online and choose the full version of a service, since express services are for existing clients.
- Every appointment opens with a conversation about your hair, your routine and your budget.
- A card holds your appointment and our cancellation policy asks for 48 hours notice.
- If something isn't right, tell us within one week for a complimentary correction.
How do I book my first appointment with you?
You book online, any time of day. Pick your service, pick your stylist and choose a time that works. A credit card holds the appointment, and you'll see our full policy before you confirm.
One thing trips up a lot of new clients. Our express services skip the blowdry and are for existing clients only. For a first visit, book the full version of a service so there's time to consult, do the work and style your hair properly.
Not sure which service fits? Browse the Service Menu for current pricing and short descriptions, or read about each stylist's strengths on our team page. If you're booking more than one service, add them to the same booking so the time is saved for you.
Your first visit, step by step
- Book online. Choose the full version of your service and your stylist. A card holds the time.
- Talk it through. Your stylist asks about your routine, history and goals, then explains the plan and price.
- The service. We cut, color or smooth at a pace that leaves room for detail.
- The finish. Full services end with a blowdry, so you see the real result before you go.
- Aftercare. You leave with a home plan and a clear idea of when to come back.
Do I need a consultation before my first visit?
You need one if you're planning a big change, and you probably don't for a simple cut or gloss. Our consultations are complimentary, in person or by video call.
We suggest booking one first for these goals:
- Going from dark to bright blonde, or from blonde back to your natural shade
- Platinum or icy blonde
- PuraLuxe smoothing, so we can match the right strength to your texture
- Extensions, since every K-Tip, hand tied or tape in plan is priced for your hair
For a haircut, a gloss or a blowout, the conversation at the start of your appointment usually covers it. If you want help getting ready, our guide on how to prepare for a color consultation walks through photos, color history and video setup. Still choosing between balayage and foils? Our guide to balayage vs highlights helps you arrive with a clearer idea.
What should I bring, and how should my hair look when I arrive?
Bring two or three photos you love and come with your hair styled the way you usually wear it. That shows us your real routine, not a best day version.
It also helps to know your color history. Think back over the last couple of years: box dye, henna, lightening, a keratin or smoothing treatment, or color done elsewhere. Old color sitting in your lengths behaves differently from new growth, so small details change our plan.
There's one exception on hair prep. Our Dusting Haircut is a dry cut for your ends only, so come with clean, dry hair for that one.
What happens once I sit down in the chair?
We talk first. Your stylist asks how you style your hair, how often you want to come back and what you didn't like about past color or cuts.
Then we explain the plan in plain words, including anything that affects your final price. Several color and PuraLuxe services include a base amount of product, and longer or denser hair may need more. You'll hear about that before we start, not after.
Full services finish with a blowdry. Our full lightening includes toner and a blowdry, so you leave seeing your real finished color, not a guess.
We'd rather give your hair our full attention than fill every chair. Quality over quantity, every visit.
Dubé New York
What if I'm running late or need to reschedule?
Give us at least 48 hours notice and there's no charge to cancel or move your appointment. We hold a 20 minute grace period if you're running behind, so call us at (646) 533-7976 if you're stuck.
We keep a small book on purpose. Late changes leave a chair empty that another client could have used, so they carry a charge, laid out below.
Our cancellation policy at a glance
- 48 hours or more before your appointment. What's charged: Nothing.
- Between 48 and 24 hours before. What's charged: 50% of the services booked.
- Within 24 hours, or a missed appointment. What's charged: 100% of the services booked.
What if I don't love my hair afterward?
Tell us within one week and we'll book you in for a complimentary correction. That's our promise to every client, first visit or fiftieth.
Give your hair a wash or two first if you can. Toner settles and a fresh cut relaxes a little after the first few days. If something still feels off, call or email us, and describe what's bothering you. "Too warm around my face" or "heavier on one side" tells us exactly where to look.
How do I keep my results looking good after my first visit?
Ask your stylist for your home plan before you leave. Every head of hair is different, so we'll tell you which shampoo type suits your color, how to style your cut and when to come back.
Most clients book their next visit before they walk out. It's the easiest way to keep the stylist and time you like.
Your first appointment questions, answered
Can I book an express service on my first visit?
Not yet. Our express services skip the blowdry and are for existing clients only. On a first visit we want time to consult, get to know your hair and show you the finished result. Book the full version of the service online, and once you're an existing client the express options open up for maintenance visits between bigger appointments.
Why do you need a card to book my appointment?
A credit card holds your appointment because we keep a small book and plan real time for each client. The card is only used under our cancellation policy, which covers changes made with less than 48 hours notice. You'll see the full policy on screen before you confirm your booking online.
How do I choose a stylist for my first appointment?
Start with our team page, where each stylist's specialties are listed, from lived in blonde and dimensional brunettes to textured cuts, smoothing and extensions. Match your goal to the stylist whose work fits it. If you're torn between two, book a complimentary consultation in person or by video and we'll help you pick the right fit.
Is there a grace period if I'm running late?
Yes. We hold a 20 minute grace period so city traffic or a delayed train doesn't cost you your appointment. If you know you'll be later than that, call us at (646) 533-7976 as soon as you can. The sooner we hear from you, the more options we have to help you keep your visit or move it.
Can I book more than one service on my first visit?
Yes. Add every service to the same online booking, for example a haircut with full service color, so the right amount of time is saved for you. Your stylist then plans the cut and color together so they suit each other. If you aren't sure what to combine, list your goals at a complimentary consultation and we'll suggest a pairing.
Ready for your first visit?
Book online any time. If you'd like to talk it through first, start with a complimentary consultation in person or by video.