QUEENS — It's a cut above the rest.
A Kew Gardens hair studio aspiring to bring a Manhattan-like experience to its customers serves up complimentary champagne and coffee drinks, and provides them with iPads so that they can browse the Internet while waiting for a haircut.
The owners of Posh Hair Studio, located at 81-01 Lefferts Blvd., say they want to “wow their customers” while keeping prices affordable at $25 to $30 for a simple cut.
"We want to spoil them because that’s the right thing to do, but we also want to ruin them for the competition,” said Eugen Patrascu, an information technology analyst by trade who opened the salon recently with his wife Irina.
The owners said their goal was to provide not only top-notch hair services, but also to pamper customers with a soothing atmosphere and a beautiful, modern décor.
The studio, which opened last July and currently offers hair services, manicures, pedicures and waxing, is hoping to expand. The owners have plans to begin offering facials and massages as well.
Patrascu said one of the secrets is to pay attention to detail.
In the mornings, customers get complimentary muffins or biscotti with their choice of coffee, which includes cappuccino, macchiato and espresso, Patrascu said. Later in the day, the studio treats the customers with champagne and mimosas.
While waiting their turn, customers can also browse the Internet on iPads, which Patrascu calls "PoshPads."
“We even serve the bottled Coca-Cola, instead of cans,” he said.
But the most important element to success in this business, Irina Patrascu said, is to be passionate.
"I love what I do," said Irina Patrascu, a hair stylist for more than two decades.
She added that hair stylists have to keep educating themselves.
“It’s like fashion," she said. "We have to be on top of things.”
The studio is also planning to start hosting community events. The first one, organized with Moroccanoil, whose products are used in the salon, is scheduled for Friday.
Customers can expect raffles, goodie bags and free treatments, Patrascu said.
