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New York City boasts a large amount of hair salons, probably more than any other city in the world; but one stands out as the top - checking all the boxes in terms of style, character, product output, and understated cool-kid glam. Kinhouse, helmed by husband-wife duo Robin and Jaime Lynn Capili, sits in a giant SoHo loft on Greene Street in Manhattan and acts as more of an immersive brand experience than a simple hair salon. With its open floor plan decorated with largely reclaimed and vintage furniture pieces, and custom-blended coffee created just for the salon, clients are urged to take a seat, grab an iced latte and stay a while. Around every corner you can find one of many talented artists transforming New Yorkers, and some clients that fly-in from near and wide, into the best versions of themselves. I have been one of those clients for over a decade, long before Kinhouse ever existed, because the message and goal was always the same from the founders who met working at Sally Hershberger. The message was to be yourself, experiment with your look and, most importantly, to have fun. I followed Robin from Sally Hershberger to his first iteration of Kinhouse located inside the Todd Snyder store in the NoMad area of Manhattan, then called Kin Room, to his current house of creativity. And, in all honesty, I wouldn't let anyone else touch my hair.
As the elevators part and you step out onto floor 2 of the building, Kinhouse has a way of pulling you in. What keeps you there time and time again is the pool of talent in which you have access. The colorists are all unique and superb, and those who weild scissors work magic. Robin himself uses a combination of carefully chosen scissors, razors and trimmers to achieve my look - and we've tried a lot of looks over the years. What I know for sure is that my hard-to-cut locks are not for the faint-of-heart, and it's not easy to achieve the look I have, as simple as it may appear. But, Robin always finds a way to make it work and bring out the best of me in that way. It's for this same perspective and expertise that many of New York's most well-known fashion designers, talk show hosts, and businessmen all book his coveted appointments weeks in advance. He's not your run-of-the-mill barber.
I see Robin every 10 or 14 days, depending on my travel schedule, and I time my appointments based on planned trips and work events where I want to look my best. If he's not available for some reason, I throw on a hat until he is. As, every time I've gone rogue and tried to cut my hair with someone else in between, let's just say it hasn't worked out in my favor.
Kinhouse offers appointments all week long, except for Sundays, and for anyone coming to the salon in the afternoon or evening, they're happy to pour you a glass of their custom Kinhouse wine from Napa Valley. Or, shake up a cocktail of your choice.
Because I like to experiment with my hair and, let's face it, stand out - I also see one of Kinhouse's top colorists, Danielle Waterman. Danielle is an award-winning colorist called-upon for her unique color techniques and versatility. She can quite literally create the most creamy, buttery blonde, which she does on me, or something more extreme like lime green or mermaid, multi-color pastels. What's incredible about Danielle is that she's solution oriented and, instead of spending her time telling you why something might not work, she'll find a way to make it happen - and make it look outstanding.
I spoke with Danielle recently, after having my hair colored, about her career as a colorist and her goals moving forward. All of her creations can be seen at @DaniWatermanHair.
IC: What made you decide to go into the business of hair, and why color specifically?
DW: I claimed being a hairdresser as early as 4 years old. As a kid I was always into anything art related, and particularly fascinated by hair and beauty. When I was a teenager I started coloring my own hair with whatever I could get my hands on. After lots of self-experimentation the decision to make this my career felt natural.
IC: What has been one of your favorite projects to work on during your time as a colorist?
DW: I became very passionate about entering hair competitions a few years ago. It’s one of the only times I have 100% creative freedom to bring what’s in my mind to real life. I learned to color wigs, which served as a blank canvas for my ideas. Every collection I’ve created so far have been my favorite projects.
IC: Tell me about a particularly proud hair moment you have as a colorist?
DW: I was recently nominated as a color finalist in the North American Hairstyling Awards, which has been a dream that felt nearly impossible a few years ago. I worked very hard to put my work out there and it’s such an honor to have that work recognized.
IC: What tips or tricks do you have for blondes to keep their blonde blonde-ing between colors?
DW: Be aware of the elements that you’re exposing your hair to! A lot of people don’t realize that heat, hot water, the sun, salt water, and many other things can diminish the quality of their color. Blonde is a particularly delicate color to maintain, so don’t underestimate things like using products that have heat protection, cooler water in the shower, and wearing a hat in the sun.
IC: What can clients expect while collaborating with you on their hair color?
DW: I ask lots of questions! We’ll start with inspiration photos, and I really like to pinpoint what specific elements you’re drawn to. I also want to know what you don’t like, and any unpleasant hair experiences you’ve had in the past. My goal is always to give you a look that aligns with a level of maintenance you’re comfortable with so that you can look forward to your next appointment, whether it’s in 6 weeks or 6 months.
IC: Are there any particular career goals or achievements you’d like to accomplish in the near future?
DW: I would love to get into a role of artistic direction, eventually collaborating with brands on photoshoots for hair color campaigns. The creative process and seeing the end result is so exciting to me.
