Hedwig’s Hair Salon

Vanessa is hands down the best hair stylist I’ve ever had. I’ve had short hair since I was 11 and any time I’ve gone to get my hair cut the stylist usually goes, «No, you don’t want it that short.» My first time going in, I showed Vanessa a picture of the last haircut I got and she commented about how cute it was and gave me exactly the look I was going for. I saw her for a second hair cut and she asked how it worked out last time and she gave me the same thing. She remembers her customers and the haircuts they want, which is perfect.

My first visit to Hedwig’s was fantastic. The location is right in my neighborhood so I had walked by and appreciated the funky window art but it never appeared opened so I couldn’t figure out what it was. Finally, a quick google search revealed that it was a salon which was perfect because I still haven’t found a MKE salon I prefer. I called to make an appointment and played phone tag with Vanessa a few times before setting an appointment for an upcoming Saturday morning.
I walked over at my appointment time and Vanessa was ready for me. The space is very cute, love the décor. She did a nice job on my hair, 40 minutes and $ 35 for a long hair cut and style.
You can schedule an appointment online, by phone, or text. Once you schedule you receive an email confirmation and reminder of your appointment time. If you live in Riverwest (or beyond) and are looking for a new hair stylist, give Vanessa a try. I’ll definitely be back.
Bonus fun fact: Hedwig’s was the tattooing location for the Riverwest 24 this year!

I’m gonna cut right to the chase — Vanessa at Hedwig’s is the only stylist I’ve ever seen, ever, anywhere, who was psyched and also not confused when I showed her the men’s haircut I wanted. Every time I go to a stylist, I have to explain to them «no, really, I want you to cut my hair like I’m a guy. No, I really don’t want you to throw in that feminizing detail you just offered. Please just give me a man’s haircut, specifically the one I’m showing you right here.»
Hedwig’s is like a dream come true. A really awesome stylist who does a great job, is super fun to talk to, and is actually excited about what I want her to do to my hair and is excellent at doing it. She has all the old school barbering techniques down, and gives me a zero to hair fade with perfect lines. She’s awesome, and you should let her cut your hair.

I used to go to Kentucky to get my haircut by someone I trust with my not-​at-​all-​thick, fine hair. Then I found Vanessa — which was great — EXCEPT — she couldn’t take appointments. Dropping in for a haircut (which is across town for me) sometimes meant waiting a couple of hours while she cut the hairs of her adoring fans who came in before you. Not fun. BUT NOW that she has her own salon, we can all plan ahead for our fabulous cuts! On her first day of business, she cut off 1 year of living in a foreign country shagginess for me, converting it to a cute bob. I absolutely love it!

When you find a stylist that’s fun and great at what they do, you follow. You know how you get really excited after a cut only to be slightly miffed two days or a week later? Not with Vanessa! I’ve got difficultly fast growing hair and have never been disappointed with my cuts or the way that it actually grows in. I recommend Hedwig’s to everyone, great in every way!

This is the place to come for a hair cut. Not only do you get a stylish cut but also you’ll get great hair maintenance and styling advice, all with warm, bright service.

I now live in A totally different state which sucks because I can’t seem to find a trusted haircut anymore. Turns out I have to pay a good 80 $ for anyone to cut my hair as well as Vanessa does. I have to say as a girl with super thick hair that tends to react poorly to most cuts, Vanessa has never once given me a cut I didn’t absolutely love. She works magic on hair which is nice for me because when I’m home I can get my hair cut with zero fear. I am SO excited that she has opened her own salon and I have no doubt that she will be up to her ears with new and old customers. Believe me guys she’s worth it! You don’t get better than this anywhere. No really you don’t. So make the right choice :)

Easily the best place to get a great haircut in Milwaukee! Easy to make an appointment. I always leave loving my haircut!

Long story short: Hedwig’s is probably the only place I will be getting my hair cut for the foreseeable future.
Let’s start at the beginning. My friends Zach and Michael both had real nice haircuts. So nice, in fact, that I actually started noticing my friends’ haircuts on a regular basis. Not when they were fresh cuts, mind you, but their on a regular basis heads looked real good. I at the time was living in a world where I cut my own hair with dog shears. I mean, there’s a picture of dogs and cats and maybe a horse or something on these shears. But I figured shears are shears, you know? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So anyway I reached a point of full-​on admiration and I might even go as far as to say jealousy of my friends’ cuts which brought me finally to the point of asking them dude, who lifts your ears, dude? And they both independently of one another said «Vanessa.» Like this person who has one name and no last name just Vanessa. The vanguard of all other humans on whose birth certificates that name somewhere appears. The Vanessa so reputationally impressive that it was just assumed by these chums of mine that I would of course know exactly who she was, where to go, and duh of course these cuts are from Vanessa, have you seen how fresh they are? Right. It’s Vanessa, got it. Hook up some digits so I can correct the damage done by six years of animal shears, brobro.
Problem was, Vanessa worked for a long time at a place in the neighborhood that wouldn’t allow appointments. Can you believe that? It struck me as silly given how often I needed to make an appointment to fit a haircut into my schedule. Here’s what happens when your name is Vanessa and you’re the person who everyone goes to for the freshest cuts: a line forms. Sometimes like three hours of waiting because Vanessa is first come first serve cuts and you can’t make an appointment because you have to struggle and fight for a cut with Vanessa. You gotta wake up at the ass crack of dawn to get your ears lowered by this enigma. And guess what. You’re gonna like it. It’s gonna be worth it. Freshest. Cuts.
So after a good long while of this arrangement Vanessa, who by the way is a long time resident of beautiful Riverwest and in no way a tourist of the area, thank you very much, realized she could probably do better for herself and her loyal (and I mean LOYAL) customer base by going it alone. A good few months later, Hedwig’s was born, July 30, 2015 to much fanfare. It’s a cool little space, formerly the Wright Street Resource Center, which, fun fact, is the location of many of the planning meetings that birthed local institution The Riverwest Public House Cooperative. So it’s sacred ground in some ways. Let me just say Vanessa beautified the space almost as much as she beautifies clients’ heads. Nice and airy, kinda minimal with a little bit of colorful flair. Very cool atmosphere but far far far from pretentious. Vanessa has her own very pleasant and unimposing aesthetic.
I think that’s all I have to say. Pretty sure Vanessa named this place due to the obvious pun but also the huge nod to Harry Potter, of which she’s a real big fan.