Salon Oko ★9.9

About the salon

Salon Oko opened in Spring Garden in 2021 and describes itself first as a teaching salon: every stylist on the floor has been through an in-house apprenticeship in the dry-cut method before taking clients. Founder Pawel Jan Gorzelewski learned the trade in Royal Oak, Michigan, under Patti Barreault, then kept studying with J Beverly Hills, Vidal Sassoon and the Kemon Academy. A second location serves South Philadelphia.

Services

The core is dry cutting for women and men, hair sculpted in its natural fall rather than under tension. Color covers balayage, dimensional highlights, gloss and gray blending, backed by a proper consultation before the first foil. Extensions add length or density, keratin treatments handle frizz, and the salon takes editorial evening looks, makeup and bridal styling.

Technology and brands

The shelf is unusually broad for a salon this young: Davines and Kevin Murphy for gentler, plant-derived care, EVO for styling with a sense of humor, Redken and L’Oreal on the color side, and ghd irons at the stations. Olaplex and K18 are built into lightening work so bleach does not cost the hair its structure.

Team and stylists

Around a dozen stylists work alongside an apprentice, and specialties are published rather than guessed at. Pawel Jan mentors the floor in dry cutting and color theory. Juaquin Cameron brings two decades of precision cutting and editorial credits; Allie Gramlich is certified across several extension systems and works in balayage; Hector Ivan Rodriguez trained in color at the Guy Tang academy and with Redken.

The Space

Both rooms lean contemporary and uncluttered rather than plush: clean lines, good light and generous spacing between stations, which matters when the stylist keeps walking around the guest. Consultations happen at the chair before anything is washed, so the conversation starts with hair as it actually behaves.

Who it’s for

Guests who want a cut engineered to their hair rather than a template, anyone moving into or out of blonde, and people who need length or density added.

Questions and answers

Can I book online? Yes, both locations take online bookings, and the phone line handles anything complicated.

How long should I plan for? A dry cut with finish runs about an hour; balayage or extensions can take several hours.

Do you cut men and children? Men’s cutting is a standard service; ask when booking about younger guests.

Can I combine cut, color and a treatment? Yes, that is a common booking. Say so up front so the slot is long enough.

Is a gift certificate available? Yes, a gift certificate can be arranged through the salon.

Opening hours