The Harlot Salon Brings Edgy Haircuts and Color to Melrose

Photos: Courtesy of The Harlot

After debuting in Venice nearly seven years ago, The Harlot has decamped from the Westside for the outskirts of West Hollywood. The edgy-luxe hair haven is now serving up cuts, color, and more at its relocated outpost on Melrose Avenue, where stylish neighbors include Assembly Los Angeles, The Office of Angela Scott, and Orris Perfumery, to name just a few.

Open as of last November, The Harlot took over the 1,170-square-foot space formerly occupied by cult-favorite boutique Creatures of Comfort (which hopped over to Silver Lake). The salon was founded by Holland-bred, France-educated master stylist Marylle Koken, who sharpened her skills at Sebastian International and has tended to the tresses of rockers like The Germs, Nine Inch Nails' Robin Finchk, and Morrissey to A-listers like Catherine Deneuve, Juliet Binoche, Jack Nicholson, and Claudia Schiffer to reality TV stars-turned-fashion forces Kendall and Kylie Jenner, to name just a few. She explains that relocating the chop shop from its "cozy space in Venice" to its current spot was "both daunting and anxiety-provoking insofar as fearing the unknown and what to expect."

"The inspiration to move was simply related to the growth and expansion of The Harlot with respect to our team and the brand itself," Koken tells us. "[I was] thinking to myself, 'It's now or never,' and I fully believed in the incredibly talented stylists that made up my team prior to the move and now feel even more confident in the newest Harlots that recently joined the team. We all share a vision of inspirational creativity through our individual skill sets while challenging each other to achieve excellence in every service we provide, every competition we enter, and every photo shoot or fashion show we work."

The rebellious salon's interiors feature industrial-chic touches like concrete walls, decadent-yet-minimalist metal chandeliers, and monochrome wallpaper reminiscent of H.R. Giger's futuristic illustrations, giving it an upscale goth aesthetic.

"The space itself isn't overdone; it remains simple, sophisticated, and minimalist," Koken tells us. "When all of these elements come together in combination, I feel like the [salon] just becomes more dramatic, dynamic, and alive! It has this vibe of a place one would find downtown in any urban city center, but without too much distraction since the space has to be equally inviting and appealing for our extremely talented and fantastic hair stylists using the space as their workspace — a place where they can practice their craft creatively."

As far as pricing, women's cuts are $80 to $165 and up, men's cuts are $60 to $100 and up, balayage is $115 to $245 and up, single color is $100 to $140 and up, and glossing is $35 to $65. Other services include makeup, color correction (priced after consultation), keratin treatments for $250 and up and extensions for $175 per hour, to name just a few. If you want your locks to be treated by the self-proclaimed Queen Harlot Koken herself, it'll be $225 and up for women's cuts, $100 and for men, $140 and up for single-process color, and $245 and up for full highlights/balayage.

Besides being filled with talented hair pros, what else does Koken love about her buzzy new HQ? "First and foremost is the visibility and instant recognition. Besides the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Santa Monica Boulevard made famous by Sheryl Crow, Melrose Avenue is perhaps one of the most infamous and widely-recognized streets in Los Angeles not only among tourists but also within the LA scene itself," she says. "Where The Harlot sits on Melrose even attracts many people just walking down the street. [The shopping stretch] has an edgier, trendier, grittier feel and [the salon] fits perfectly in that style profile and The Harlot as a brand strives to exhibit a similar vibe and attitude."

Scroll through the gallery above to see more inside the cool space and see below for the hours and address; to book an appointment, email harlotsalon@gmail.com or give a ring to (310) 399-6525.

The Harlot Salon is open Monday from 1 to 7pm, Tuesday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm, Wednesday through Friday from 10am to 8pm, and Saturday from 9am to 6pm; (310) 399-6525.

The Harlot Salon
7971 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046