M Salon in the News

M Salon, at 1784 Mass. Ave. in Cambridge, has wild art on the walls (commissions available) and will create equally wild art with your hair. Haircuts start at $40 (617-876-1023). Photo: Rita Greeley

The new kid on this block, M Salon, is full of cranked-up, wonderful colors. Tali Gai, daughter of the owner, Maggie, has bedecked the walls and window with a colorful dreamscape of modern, energetic paintings. Madly painted and adorned mannequins are everywhere, creating a suggestive backdrop for Maggie's hair extravaganzas. Her hairdos, reminiscent of the "vertical presentation" of fancy restaurant creations, are often cut with a razor, with all the spice and slice that the method usually produces. The styles give each layer and strand a chance to stand out sharply, often with a surprising internal rainbow of colors. Short, punky, hair - possibly in Mohawk mode and possibly not - can have what stylists call "the messy, cool, chic, uneven, just-out-of-bed look." Long hair (or shorter hair masquerading with extensions) can be styled extravagantly, full of knots and scrunches, twists and turns, making statements both stately and daring. The salon also carries top-of-the-line hair care products available for perusal and purchase.

-Mopsy Strange Kennedy, The Improper Bostonian, July 10-23, 2002

Owner Maggie Gai stands among the eclectic decor of her M salon on Mass. Ave. Photo: Stephanie Mitchell

I just got a fabulous haircut at M salon, 1784 Massachusetts Ave., between Harvard Square and Porter Square. Whereas at the trendier salons I'm usually greeted by a handful of lounging stylists and told I can get an appointment "a week from Thursday," at M, they took me as a walk-in client without a wait. Besides a terrific haircut tailored to my hair type and face shape, Dana, my stylist, offered advice on what types of cuts would look good without a lot of maintenance, and suggested how to describe it to another stylist (not a problem since I think I'll go back there). There's no being bored while you're getting your hair cut at M, because of the eclectic decor - large antique Asian mirrors vie with bright Mexican papier mache, a broad ribboned hat sits atop a heavily ornamented seamstress's mannequin, and small art objects adorn every nook and cranny. Music in the salon reflected the surroundings, and was quiet enough to be soothing but listenable. My wash, cut and blow-dry was $40 (prices may vary). Their phone number is 617.876.1023.

-Kate Brick, The Harvard Community Resource, Harvard University Press, November, 2002