The Root of the Matter

January 25, 2021

From Kieran to you: Our brand new salon blog.

"Hello, dear clients of the Kieran McKenna Salon! Thank you so much for checking out our website. It means a lot that you’re here and reading our very first blog article. I can’t wait to provide endless hair knowledge and tutorials to you all."

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INTERVIEW: Celebrity Hair Stylist, Kieran McKenna’s Upper East Side Salon Now Offers House Calls In The Hamptons

Opened in 2017 on Manhattan's Upper East Side, the Kieran McKenna Salon goes to extraordinary lengths to provide clients with a curated, bespoke experience. Over the past three years, the salon has attracted notable clients of all ages including A-list celebrities, business executives, politicians, and more. Notable clients include Kate Moss, James Van Der Beek, Kate Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Nikki Haley, Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York), Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Diane Sawyer, and many others.

The salon recently begun its new house call program, Salon2Go, for those unable to visit the salon during these trying times. The program allows clients a chance to decompress and recharge, while having their hair expertly done in the safety of their own homes. Services cover the Hamptons, all boroughs of New York City, Long Island, and parts of NY, NJ, and CT.

Health precautions are fully observed for clients throughout the hair services with the provision of a sanitized shampoo basin, towels, and chair along with all products required for haircutting, styling, color/highlights, and keratin treatments. The entire salon staff is tested for COVID-19 bi-weekly, with temperatures taken daily to ensure client and staff safety. The staff is equipped with pertinent PPE and rigorously follow recommended safety guidelines. In turn, they request the same precautions from their clients.

Clients can choose from the salon's powerhouse of professionals including Artistic Director Beth Minardi, Color Director Doug Macintosh, Creative Director Gregory Purcell, Stylist & Keratin Treatment Expert Sherdon Lavan and more, each with their own teams of talented colorists, stylists, and assistants. The Kieran McKenna Salon has provided haircutting, styling, and color services for luxury fashion and award shows including Christian Dior, Gucci, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, DKNY, the VH1 Awards, and more. Its magazine and editorial credits include Harper's Bazaar, Allure, InStyle, Forbes, Glamour, Martha Stewart, and many more.

I spoke to Kieran McKenna, the founder and head stylist of Kieran McKenna Salon, to learn more about the inspiration, goals, and future of this new traveling hair program in the East End.

It's amazing how you evolved your business in the ever changing landscape of the service industry. What was the inspiration behind Salon2Go?

KM: Salon2Go started when I realized we had clients who are immune-compromised and were fearful of leaving their houses or going out for anything right now. I greatly care about our clients and community so I reached out to them offering to do their hair at their houses on the deck or roof of their buildings with all the appropriate PPE. We soon had many clients reaching out who were in the Hamptons, Westchester County, and Connecticut so I decided to extend the services to everyone. If a client can't come to us, we will come to them. We are in a creative industry but also a service industry so what better service is there then traveling to our clients.

Why did you choose the Hamptons for this new service?

KM: Since COVID-19 began, a lot of our clients have left the city to go to their family houses, second homes, or rent primarily in the Hamptons. However, we try not to focus on just one area and to be fair to all of our clients, no matter who or where they're located in the Tri-State area. Salon2Go is currently only available for booking on Sundays and Mondays. Our Salon Manager is amazing with setting up the schedule with no conflicts.

Why do you think your salon is so beloved by those in NYC and the Hamptons? What differentiates you from the competition?

KM: Our dedication to offering high quality services in a safe, clean, and welcoming environment. The entire team is tested bi-weekly and their temperatures are taken daily to make sure that everyone is safe. In this day and age with what's going on in the world, it's important for us to be flexible, convenient, and take all of the steps to ensure our clients feel very comfortable and satisfied with our services both in the salon and now at their homes with Salon2Go.

How many hairstylists are available to travel at once? Who are they?

KM: It's usually no more than four people consisting of a stylist, colorist, keratin person, and an assistant if necessary. Just depends on the scope of services that our clients need like doing an entire family's hair in one day. Clients can select from anyone on our team including myself and our Artistic Director Beth Minardi, Color Director Doug Macintosh, Creative Director Gregory Purcell, and Stylist and Keratin Treatment Expert Sherdon Lavan.

How long will these Salon2Go services be available?

KM: It will go on as long as our clients need it. If the demand is there, we intend on providing it. The world has changed rapidly, basically overnight, so it makes sense for the hair industry to follow suit and embrace the new normal. The response has been amazing so far. Our clients are thrilled and grateful that we can travel to them and we feel the same way. It's a two-way street. At the end of the day, we make our clients feel better about themselves, because if you look better, you feel better.

Appointments can be booked online at www.kieranmckennasalon.com or via phone at 917-254-4454. Kieran McKenna Salon is located on 1100 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10028.

'Hamptons.com' raves about our 'Salon-2-Go' house calls

The salon recently begun its new house call program, Salon2Go, for those unable to visit the salon during these times. The program allows clients a chance to decompress and recharge, while having their hair expertly done in the safety of their home.

> read more> read full article

Wellness Wednesday: Kieran McKenna Salon’s Salon2Go Program

Despite the fact that New York hair salons were allowed to reopen in July, some people are still unable to return to normal. Whether you’re nervous about venturing out into the world right now or you just prefer the maximum level of convenience, there’s a new service on the East End that’s bringing the pampering to you.

Upon learning that some of his regular clients are immunocompromised and understandably apprehensive about scheduling a hair appointment right now, Kieran McKenna, owner of Kieran McKenna Salon, launched the Salon2Go house call program.

“These are our clients, and we need to take care of them, especially with everything that’s been going on right now. If they can’t come to us, we should go to them,” McKenna says. “We are a creative industry, first and foremost, but we’re also the service industry. And if this is a service that our clients require, then it’s a service we need to provide, otherwise we’re not doing our job.” With this in mind, he first offered Salon2Go only to current clients, and the feedback was so positive that it encouraged him to widen the net to cover most of the Tri-State area, including the East End.

While some hair stylists have been known to do at-home appointments during the pandemic, McKenna believes that he is the first to bring the entire salon experience to the client, including a stylist, colorist, keratin expert, portable shampoo basin and chair, hair dyes, sanitized robes and towels, depending on what his team and the client decide is needed to achieve the desired look. “It’s a luxury being able to have all the amenities they’ve come to expect from us at the salon, but literally in their garden or on their patio,” McKenna says. “If you’re a brick and mortar business, such as we are, you have to be creative, you have to be flexible. As a salon, we’re a small business, so we can be more nimble. We can change direction quickly depending on the demand from clients.” He is quick to note that the team also packs an abundance of PPE such as masks, visors and gowns to match the client’s comfort level.

To best accommodate clients and to avoid driving from New Jersey to the Hamptons to Connecticut in a single day, the team coordinates dates that work with clients and lines up appointments in a semi-linear path within a given region—starting, for example, with a morning appointment in East Hampton, then one in Bridgehampton, then Sag Harbor, then Shelter Island. The team can even drop off a colorist or a stylist along the way for less-involved appointments then pick them up after both groups have left their clients looking fabulous. “It’s a lot of time looking at maps, seeing where people live and working out the most efficient route to take to accommodate as many clients as we can,” McKenna explains. Those looking to color their hair also receive a virtual color consultation where the colorist and client can discuss what dyes to bring over video chat.

Currently, Salon2Go is offered to individuals and groups of up to 15 people on Sundays and Monday, but McKenna is considering adding Tuesdays to the schedule very soon. “It makes sense for us, as a salon, to be in line with what our clients are doing, so that means some days in the salon, some days going to people’s homes,” he says. “I think as more and more people are working from home and spending more time out East, it makes sense for us to be more available to accommodate our clients.”

For McKenna, the goal of Salon2Go is to provide a much-needed hair service, yes, but also to help improve people’s wellbeing through social interaction and confidence boosting. “When you look better, you feel better. How you look is hard-wired to your self-esteem, so it’s not just about making people look good, it’s also about making people feel good,” he says. “For some of our clients, we’re the first people outside of their immediate family that they’re inviting into their homes, because they’ve been quarantining and social distancing. That’s a big privilege for us–that people trust us enough to allow us into their homes.”

Appointments can be arranged online at kieranmckennasalon.com or via phone at 917-254-4454.

The Hamptons' 'Dan's Papers' on our new Salon-2-Go program

"If they can't come to us, we should go to them." – A new service offering house-calls to clients who are apprehensive about visiting a physical salon.

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Carmen Rollers, $80

"This set of rollers was passed down to me by the great John Frieda when I started photo shoots over 30 years ago, and I still have them. They're the best because they heat instantly. I put them in a model's hair, spray some Elnett, then leave them in while I work on another model's hair. Once I come back, all I have to do is brush their hair out, and viola! Body, bounce, and volume that lasts a whole photo shoot." —Kieran McKenna, celebrity stylist

Glamour asks Kieran about his favorite hair product

"This set of rollers was passed down to me by the great John Frieda when I started photo shoots over 30 years ago, and I still have them. They're the best because they heat instantly." —Kieran McKenna, celebrity stylist

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"I refer to Kieran as “ Da Vinci” - he is a creative genius when it comes to hair!"

Quote Valarie Overton

– Valarie Overton

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Khloe Kardashian may have hairstylists at her fingertips to make her look like she just stepped off the beach with perfect, long waves. Well, you also have a celeb stylist right here at HollywoodLife to give an easy to follow, step-by-step hair tutorial to help you get those beachy waves, just in time for summer! NYC-based stylist Kieran McKenna, who has worked with Kate HudsonRebecca Romijn and more, has mastered this carefree summer look and give you all the info you need to recreate this hair trend!

“Recreating beachy waves without going to the beach is a lot easier than it sounds. The key? Make sure your curls don’t look too perfect — you want to look like you’ve been swimming in the ocean all day,” Kieran says. “Summer is a more relaxed time of year, less clothing, less makeup because you have more color. Beachy waves are perfect for this time of year.  It replicates that sexy, relaxed beach look, giving you that perfect synergy between your hair, clothes, and makeup.  And best of all it looks good on everyone!” Ok, so how do we do it?!

“Separate a two-thirds section of hair and clip it up and out of the way, leaving the bottom third portion of your hair down,” Kieran explains. Before you put heat to your hair, the stylist recommends using the Oribe Balm D’Or ($45)hair protectant, a cream, which will help nourish your hair. Then, it’s time to start curling with a 1 or 2-inch wand! “Take a 1 or 2 inch sections of hair and wrap it around the wand, leaving the ends uncurled. After leaving your hair on the wand for a few seconds, release the section of hair and immediately tug on the end of the curl to loosen it to the desired wave to prevent super-tight curls and give off that relaxed beach look,” Kieran instructs. “Re-section your hair, ear to ear across the top of your head, dropping the back over your already waved hair. Continue to curl your hair in the same size sections, but alternate curling the sections in different directions — toward your face, away from your face — to create a messier texture, making your waves look more organic.”

“Leave the front pieces for last. Curl the face framing sections of hair away from your face for a more flattering wave,” Kieran explains. “Beachy waves need a little texture to achieve, so use Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($46)and spray your roots and strands to finish the look, and then break up your curls with your fingers to tousle your waves.” He warns not to use a brush or comb to avoid frizz and pulling out your curls! If you want to recreate this look, but don’t want to do it yourself, you can visit Kieran, yourself, at his NYC salon!

Looking for the perfect beachy waves? Read Kieran's easy-to-follow tutorial in 'Hollywood Life' by Bonnie Fuller

"Trying to get those effortless beach waves that actually take a lot of effort?! Celeb stylist Kieran McKenna has a step by step process to achieve those sexy, Khloe K.-inspired waves you want!"

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"Best Salon in NYC! Absolutely love this Salon, they pay attention to detail. The stylist/staff are friendly, accommodating & experienced. New Salon is gorgeous & very relaxing. Thank you!"

Quote Erin Elisabeth

– Erin Elisabeth

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"Kieran is the best hairstylist around. He is the “hair whisperer!” 5 stars for sure and his great personality is icing on the cake."

Quote Helen Solimine Ryser

– Helen Solimine Ryser

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"My favorite hair stylist ever. I fly from Minneapolis to NYC to get my hair cut by this superstar. I have been to the best of the best over the years but I have never found anyone who consistently gets it right every time like Kieran does. (... )"

Quote Kathy Morgan Sandy

– Kathy Morgan Sandy

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June 5th, 2018. Read the full article by Tabitha Britt here.

A few excerpts:

"(...) The easiest, lowest maintenance hairstyle for a women over 50 is a short, textured style,” McKenna adds. “This is wash and wear. Towel dry and muss the hair up with a good quality texture paste or molding wax. Fiber Groom elastic texture paste from Oribe ($40, Amazon) is ideal for breaking the hair up and giving your short ‘Parisian’ look the perfect balance of separation, gloss, and texture.”

"(...) keep short hair soft, so it maintains a more feminine feel. If the lines are too strong, it can look too hard and masculine."

"(...) Women over 50 should embrace their grey only if it is a complimentary shade of grey or silver. As you age, your skin tone becomes more ‘ashy’ and grey hair can exacerbate that ashiness and be aging. If that is the case, you can color your hair with a blonde semi-permanent color gloss. This will not change the darker hair color, only make it glossier. It will, however, give a light tint to the grey and make it warmer, giving your hair a highlighted feel and a warmer, more complimentary tone. This is a non-committal approach to color, as over time it fades back to your natural color and is far more gentle on the hair than permanent color. This avoids you having to go to the salon to get your ‘skunk stripe’ regrowth covered every month."

Photo: Helen Mirren, Getty Images (via Woman's World)

Kieran's advice in 'Woman's World': Short and Stylish Hairstyles for Women Over 50

Read Kieran's full interview. (photo: Getty Images, via 'Woman's World')

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(We love being gossip)

May 25, 2018

"Celebrity hairstylist, Kieran McKenna, ​​and a select group of highly trained stylists formally of Oscar Blandi opened a boutique ​collective salon and concierge​, aptly named​ Kieran McKenna Salon on the Upper East Side."

We're big news in the New York Post!

"Celebrity hairstylist, Kieran McKenna, ​​and a select group of highly trained stylists formally of Oscar Blandi opened a boutique ​collective salon and concierge​, aptly named​ Kieran McKenna Salon on the Upper East Side." (We love being gossip.)

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"Kieran is not only an exceptionally talented stylist but a kind and generous man. He always puts so much time and effort into creating the perfect cut and wonderful experience for his clients. (... ) No one is more precise and intuitive than Kieran."

Quote Diana Alexiou Rushin

– Diana Alexiou Rushin

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Editorial Credits

Glamour
Maxim
Harpers Bazaar
Zinc
Interview
Allure
Latina
Martha Stewart
British Bride
InStyle
JaneVogue
USA, UK & Italy
Elements
Me
Forbes
Dance

Fashion Credits

Calvin Klein
VH1 Awards
DKNY
Jill Stewart
Christian Dior
Donna Karen
Liz Lang
Gucci
Tracy Reese
Prada
Marc Jacobs

Famous clients

Stephanie Seymour
Meg Ryan
Kate Moss
Jennifer Esposito
Tilda Swinton
James Tupper
Michelle Trachtenberg
James Van Der Beek
May Stuart Masterson
Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York)
Kate Hudson
Sarah Jessica Parker
Deborah Norville
Tracy Reese
Michael Imperioli
Mick Jones
Lou Reed
Mick Jagger
Michael Caine
Dennis Quaid

Kim Cattrall
David Bowie
Nikki Haley
Diane Sawyer