Aura Collective in Madison, WI

Took my daughter to Baci yesterday for new cut style with Ashley and am really pleased with her work. I was in search of a last minute appt and knew nothing about Baci. Attractive salon above retail on Monroe St - very open airy space with lots of big windows with a fun view over Monroe. Minimal, bright design. Ashley Nitschke was amazing. We had a vague idea of new style but needed a lot of fine tuning, which Ashley did perfectly. She was also very reasonable in cost especially given the amount of time that she spent on my daughter's cut. We had a late start to appointment, which wasn't a big deal, but since I'd never met her, didn't know initially if she was already there but running late, or if she hadn't arrived yet. It was the former. On that note, it would have been good to be greeted upon arriving. There were two stylists, the owner and Ashley working, with several clients in various stages of major hair rehab (coloring). Eye contact was made when we arrived, but no one said anything to us while we waited about 15 minutes. On a personal note, the vibe from other clientele at salon was very bourgeois and honestly, annoying to me. Parking is a pain also, since it's on Monroe St and as a busy working single parent, these extras add up. In conclusion, I highly recommend Ashley - she is clearly skilled, quick and intentional with her styling, and checker in frequently to be sure we were on same page. Also, the owner has amazing hair!

This review applies only to Ariel, not any of the other stylists. I honestly wanted to have a positive experience here considering some of the reviews that I read. Even after being disappointed with the first hair cut (I basically was given a mullet, but was convinced to give it a try), I continued to book appointments because I know that it takes some time to get a sense of what a client wants. I even pointed out the things that I liked about his subsequent haircuts all the while explaining what didn't work, thinking that he probably wouldn't do a good job if he felt criticized. I feel like he explains what he wants to do in a way that makes you think you are going to walk out with an amazing hair style, but there were so many screw-ups and times when he obviously didn't listen to what I was asking for (which is his biggest problem, in my opinion, because a stylist should be nothing if not a good listener). I do not think he is worth the price he demands. He is mildly better than the stylists you find at the mall, but I don't think that is saying very much. I will continue my search for a great stylist elsewhere.

Best hair stylists in Madison. Erin Shea is amazing for color - she has strong artistic eye and great style. Highly recommended.