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Celebrity Stylist Opens Lounge-Like Salon in Harlem

 Dominik Mager stands in front of the newly opened hair salon,
Dominik Mager stands in front of the newly opened hair salon, "The Club," which opened in Harlem earlier this week.
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DNAinfo/Dartunorro Clark

HARLEM — Dominik Mager wanted something new.

After nearly a decade of working in high-end salons and five star hotels across Europe, Mager, a German native, left to test his styling chops in America.

“I achieved a lot in Europe and I had many customers but it was too easy and I needed something different,” he said.

While in Europe, Mager, 33, worked as the personal hairstylist of Caroline Scheufele, the owner of Chopard, a multimillion dollar high-end European jewelry company.

In the U.S., Mager worked as a freelance stylist and, through Scheufele, continued to doll up celebrity clients for red carpet events such as the Cannes Film Festival, the Elton John White Tie and Tiara Ball and the Academy Awards, among others.

 The bar area, where clients will be served wine, coffee or water while they wait.
The bar area, where clients will be served wine, coffee or water while they wait.
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DNAinfo/Dartunorro Clark

Now, Mager, who moved to the city in 2010, is hoping his flair for hair will attract Harlem locals to his new shop, which opened earlier this week.  

The Club by Dominik Mager is a chic salon on the corner of 122nd Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.

For nearly two months, Mager said he and his two partners, Raju Dave, 46, and Radha Nadkarni, 36, worked to transform the space — formerly a flower boutique — into a hair styling oasis.

Mager aimed for a something more akin to a European lounge than a typical salon, where a client can relax at a bar in the back with a complimentary glass of wine, flavored water or a cup of coffee.

“It’s called 'The Club' because we want it to be as social as possible,” he said. “I want it to be that cool place you can come to.”

The prices range from $60 to $95 for a women's cut, which includes shampooing and styling, and $35 to $55 for a blowout. There is also a $50 annual membership, which includes 10 percent off all services. 

He said he chose Harlem, where he has lived with his husband for the past three years, because of the neighborly vibes.

“This neighborhood is so amazing, it’s so cool and upcoming,” he said. “It’s just a fantastic neighborhood.

“People care about you and care about what you do and they stop and say, ‘Hello.’”

He said he plans to be involved in the neighborhood and find ways to give back as the salon finds its footing in the area. 

For starters, he said he wants to reach out to local artists to display their work in the salon.

“I want to come up with something to support them, but I don’t know what it is yet,” he said.

The Club is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.