Hair Essentials is a mid-sized salon in Oklahoma City's Midtown district specializing in color correction, balayage, and hair extensions, staffed by stylists with 5 to 15 years of experience and positioned as a destination for clients seeking corrective work and custom color blending rather than quick cuts.
Located on Northwest 23rd Street, Hair Essentials operates as a color-focused salon with a small team of stylists who handle color work, extensions, and cut and style services. The salon does not accept walk-ins and operates by appointment only, which means chair time and consultation are protected and unhurried. The space itself is compact, seating five to six clients at a time, which limits daily volume and reflects a deliberate choice to prioritize depth over turnover. Most of the client base comes for color services or correction work, meaning stylists often spend three to five hours on a single color appointment rather than moving through multiple shorter cuts.
Hair Essentials offers balayage, color blending, root touch-ups, and full color services. A root touch-up ranges from $65 to $85 depending on how much of the head requires coverage. Full color typically runs $90 to $130. Balayage, which is hand-painted highlighting, starts at $120 and can reach $180 or higher for extensive multi-tonal work. Correction color, such as fixing an over-processed or incorrectly toned result from another salon, begins at $150 and may extend to $250 or beyond if the damage is significant; this service requires a consultation first, sometimes scheduled separately, so the stylist can assess the hair's condition and design a realistic correction plan.
Hair extensions using tape-in or clip-in application begin at $200 for the application alone, with the cost of the hair itself running $100 to $300 depending on length and quality. Cut and style services, usually booked as add-ons to color work, are $40 to $60. Prices are confirmed by phone before booking; the salon asks clients to allow extra time for their first color appointment so the stylist can discuss tone goals and hair history.
Hair Essentials differs from high-volume salons like those in the Penn Square area, which typically offer faster turnaround and lower per-service costs (root touch-ups in the $50 to $70 range) but less specialized attention to correction work. Salons targeting color-correction and extensions as a primary service, such as those in the Bricktown district, operate similarly in philosophy but often charge 15 to 25 percent higher and carry a longer waiting list. Hair Essentials positions itself in the middle: more experienced and focused than a general salon, less expensive and more accessible than high-end color specialists, and operating entirely by appointment so there is no walk-in wait. It suits clients with damaged or previously colored hair who need custom correction or those seeking extensions but do not want to travel downtown to a pricier salon. It does not suit someone needing a same-day trim or a client uncomfortable committing to a long appointment window.
This salon is the right fit for anyone whose hair has been over-processed, incorrectly toned, or damaged by a previous colorist. It also works well for clients building out extensions gradually (tape-in or clip-in applications are low-commitment compared to permanent bonding). Because all appointments are booked in advance, Hair Essentials suits people with stable schedules. It is not ideal for walk-in clients, people looking for a 20-minute appointment, or anyone uncomfortable discussing hair goals in detail before the service.
Call or message to book a consultation. If you are coming for color correction or extensions, the stylist will ask about your hair history: previous color, treatments, and what went wrong (if applicable). Many clients send photos ahead. At the appointment, expect a longer initial consultation, sometimes 20 to 30 minutes, before any service begins. The stylist will clarify tone, show swatches or sample extensions, and discuss realistic timelines. Most first color-correction visits run 3 to 4 hours; extension applications typically take 2 to 3 hours. Bring reference photos if you have them.
Hair Essentials operates Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended evening hours on Thursday and Friday until 7 p.m. The salon is closed Sunday and Monday. Parking is available in the Midtown strip lot where the salon is located, typically uncrowded. The salon can be reached by phone at the number listed on its social media; it maintains a booking calendar updated weekly. Call ahead to confirm current hours during holidays, as the salon closes for several days during major holidays throughout the year.
Hair Essentials has built its reputation in Midtown by turning down walk-ins and refusing to rush color work, a model that keeps the salon small and the stylists experienced enough to handle the damage control and custom blending that Oklahoma City clients often need after moving between salons.
