Capitol Hill's Premier Haircuts & Color

Emerson Salon is the best hair salon on Capitol Hill, Seattle. Our experienced hair stylists and colorists have been fusing the latest trends with top hair techniques for years. Whether you’re looking to transform your look in Seattle with a new haircut and color or just maintain your already hip style, we are here and ready to help.

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909 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122
T: 206-323-7437
@: emersonsalon@gmail.com

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Articles from ‘D’Arcy Harrison’

Saturday, January 21st, 2012

D’Arcy Hair Design is so ‘RAW’!

In a hair stylist’s career, it is always awesome to be presented with a great artistic opportunity.

D’Arcy Hair Design of Emerson Salon will have the honor of being a featured Hair Artist for RAW artists Thursday, February 9th Showcase. RAW artists is in 22 cities nationwide and works with the local arts community to create showcases, events and awards that puts a spotlight on emerging talent in fashion, makeup, performing art,modelling, film, art, photography, hair, and music. A RAW artist gets invaluable portfolio building, exposure, and will not only network and socialize but most importantly, get a chance to collaborate with peers in different fields.

“ACTIVATE,” Seattle’s first RAW showcase will be held at iMusic on 5th Ave North (across from EMP/Space Needle) and D’Arcy will be styling for Kimmi Designs (formal fashions of repurposed/recycled fabrics.)

The doors are at 8pm with a DJ, a unique visual and visceral artistic experience, 3 bars, good vibes and at 10pm there will be 2 fashion runway shows. Advance tickets are only $10!
Check out http://www.rawartists.org or BUY a TICKET to see D’Arcy Hair Design.

Come out and support our thriving creative community with us!

Post by D’Arcy

TagsD'Arcy Harrison, Events, Extreme Hair, Fashion

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Extend Your Excitement!

In the last few years, hair extensions have blossomed from a rich girl’s indulgence to a fun, reasonable change for a stylish girl with specific hair length or fullness preferences.

At Emerson Salon, D’Arcy of D’Arcy Hair Design has been wearing Babe Hair Extensions since March of 2011. Here, we show you her old look with blunt bangs and a short bob. Then, right after the extension application and haircut, Lastly, the most recent pic of her on this website. It is a dramatic transformation but it is not necessary to add length. Some finer hair ladies like to add extra density so styling looks its best and lasts longer. And others like adding pieces of the fun purple, magenta, pink, blue, green, or orange to save their hair from prelightening damage. (Darker hair needs to be prelightened in order for some vivid colors to show up the best.)

My pricing for extensions is as follows:
(The colors will be chosen during the consultation in addition to determining the number of pieces required for the desired result. The selection ranges from vivid, punk colors to natural hair colors.) You pay after the consultation for the cost of the hair and beads (wholesale).

  • Application: $70/hr (due at time of service)
  • Move up: $35/hr (due at time of service/usually every 4-6 weeks)
  • Beads: $14.00/100 beads
  • 18” straight: $38.75/ 20 pcs
  • 22” straight or wavy: $50.00/ 20pcs

It can take between 40-200 pcs depending on desired result

It is important to provide appropriate care to the extensions by:

  • Combing from the ends up
  • Use dry shampoo so oils from your scalp will not break down the hard wax on the extension tip. D’Arcy uses Alterna’s Caviar Dry Shampoo. It is a talc free powder and it rocks!
  • Scheduling regular maintenance (every 4-6 weeks)
  • Using salon quality shampoo, conditioner and styling product. D’Arcy uses Alterna Bamboo Anti Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner because it helps keep the extensions from matting up by smoothing with bamboo extract and other ingredients. She also uses Alterna Kendi oil to protect her hair while she curls it.

Be brave and try out a new look- its within your reach!

Post by D’Arcy

TagsD'Arcy Harrison, Hair Extensions, Hair Ideas, Women's Hair

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

Seattle Bridal Hair 2012


At this time of year a plethora of June, July and August brides are starting to price their summer nuptials. At Emerson Salon, we have some news for our wives to be- it is possible to have an Emerson Salon stylist onsite at your disposal at your preferred location!

My name is D’Arcy and I specialize in formal, vintage and bridal hairstyling. If you take a look at my online portfolio (DARCYHAIRDESIGN on facebook) you can see the examples I have of many joyous brides who were ecstatic with what I came up with for their big day.

I updated my price list recently and here is the latest info on my pricing:
Formal Style in salon………………………………………………………………$65-$85
Bridal Updo in salon………………………………………………………..$110.00-$140
Bridal Practice+pics in salon………………………………………………………$40.00
Formal Styling On-Site*………………………………………………………$85 per hour
Formal Styling On-Site Day Rate (12 or more hours)*…………………..$850 ($170off)
(Travel costs will be added for on-site stylings if not provided)
(*required: electrical outlet, table+chair, dry environment, $100 deposit up to 1 week before)

Consultations are always free and if you have a larger bridal party and a small amount of time- I can pull in a colleague or two to accomodate your matron/maid of honor and extra bridesmaids. We can even style the groom and groomsmen!

Whether you want to be pampered inside our salon or beyond I am sure Emerson Salon and D’Arcy Hair Design can confidently serve you!

Post by D’Arcy

TagsBridal Hair, D'Arcy Harrison, Updos, Wedding Hair

Monday, January 9th, 2012

Lifeblood of a Community

Happy New Year’s Seattle! Emerson Salon is taking part in some 2012 New Year’s Resolutions of our own and this year, our team’s goal is to become even more integral to our community’s and clients’ lives. Now more than ever, small businesses like us really bolster a local and diverse neighborhood like Capitol Hill much more than a national chain. We reinvest our energy back into you!

One major change at Emerson Salon we’ve made with the new year is that all stylists have switched over to become self-employed, renting their chairs and managing their own books. While you will still get the same great hair services from your team at Emerson Salon, this means that each stylist is working to build their own business and future. One change is that you might see is that the staff at Emerson are taking part in a new revolution in small business called Square. Through a mini-card reader, any smartphone can swipe a credit or debit card and be free of costly credit card machines and merchant-services contracts. Through Square, you can pay, sign, tip and receive email receipts in seconds, its pretty amazing!

Going forward, each stylist will be managing their own schedule and appointments and will be sure to let you know the best way to get your appointments booked, but we will still have our salon email and phone for your convenience. If you are a new client, feel free to write emersonsalon@gmail.com to book or look for contact information on a particular stylist’s profile. We appreciate your patience during the transition and we are confident the adjustment will be minimal and smooth.

An additional note, D’Arcy and Lancer have been accepted to WashingtonCash.org’s 8 week business training course at the end of January. This is a great non profit resource that provides small business entrepreneurs ongoing support with bookkeeping, tax calculations, goal setting, savings, coaching, etc.

Seattle, what are your New Year’s Resolutions? What changes will you make this year…..a hair change maybe! We sure hope so!

Post by D’Arcy

TagsCapitol Hill, Community, D'Arcy Harrison, Emerson Salon

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Rocking New Reviews for D’Arcy

Meredith recently reviewed her visit with D’Arcy on Yelp:

“D’Arcy Harrison is the BEST stylist I’ve ever been to, and I’ve certainly done my homework. First of all, she sat down with me for about 15-20 minutes the first time I came in, just to get to know my personality and my preferences. No one has ever done that with me before, but it should be required when dealing with someone’s hair. During the entire appointment, she was pretty much educating me on all things hair…I learned a ton about the balayage process, as well as other tips on how to maintain a great cut and color.

I’ve been getting balayage for the past 2 years, but no one has paid as much attention to detail as D’Arcy does. The color turned out beautifully, and the cut (a short bob) was adorable, too! I’ve gotten numerous compliments on my hair in the past few months, even from really catty girls who don’t just hand out the ‘feed goods’!! I have another appointment with her tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see what king of magic she works on me this time!” (Read full review here)

Katherine, another client at Emerson Salon, has posted an update to her review. Here is the post about her first visit: “……I was fed up and wanted my RED. I looked around and found Emerson through a simple Google search of “Red hair Seattle”. I immediately came on to yelp and started to read reviews. I found Amanda S.’s review and decided right then I would go here and try D’Arcy.

BINGO! She red bleached my hair and put a semi permanent color on that really pops! Its exactly the color I showed her. I was nervous about semi permanent seeing I had DIY red hair in high school that was awful, but I’m writing this 3ish weeks later and my hair is still the same exact red as when I walked out their door! And double bonus, although I have dyed my pillow, every towel in the house and a couple of shirts, this stuff actually washes out of fabric, something manic panic in HS didn’t. Doesn’t wash out of my hair, washes out of my clothes, I’m in heaven.”

This happy “blood” redhead was told by D’Arcy to return in 3-5 weeks in order to retouch the grow-out of her dark brown hair. It is important that this color is maintained on a regular basis to make it look its best. This is also because application can become complicated if the new growth is more than an inch due to the fact that the chemicals behave differently with the warmth of the head. If there is more than the one inch of growth- bleach or color must be applied to the area beyond the 1″ prior to applying to the root. This can take additional time and can cost more money than a straightforward retouch.

Here is the follow up on Katherine’s return:

“I got my hair re-done about a week ago ….and GREAT customer service! I’m so glad I found this place! Did I mention that my hair looks just as perfect as it did the first time?” (full reviews here)

She heeded the advice of her stylist and was rewarded with consistent color! HINT: to keep a vibrant red shade at its optimum make sure to wash in lukewarm to cold water, shampoo less frequently (we recommend using FRESH.HAIR spray dry shampoo by Kevin Murphy), and shampoo with sulfate free shampoo. Sulfates are salts that fade color.

Thanks for the props Katherine! The red looks fabu on YOU!

Essy also just posted a new review with D’Arcy on 12/2: “I have never been loyal to any hair salon let alone a single person. To be honest I never had such a haircut that I loved so much that I sought out one specific person. But I have been going to D’Arcy now for several months and love her!

In these past months i’ve seen her i’ve gone through several different looks. She has given me awesome bangs (something I always wanted but never tried) and taught me how to train them. Cut off 13 inches to donate, and given me a very stylish bob (random people would compliment me on the street). And now is helping me grow out those bangs. –yes i cant seem to keep the same look for more than a week!

I sincerely recommend D’Arcy. Best of all she listens to what you want and then tells you what will look good. Afterall SHE is the professional!” (full review)

Post by D’arcy

TagsD'Arcy Harrison, Red Hair, Reviews, Yelp

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

The Help


Last month we saw the release of the film version of the popular book “The Help,” which stars Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Viola Davis, Allison Janney and Sissy Spacek. The story chronicles a young woman in the 1960′s who decides to write a book from the controversial point of view of the African-American “help” who aid in the raising of caucasian children in a segregated South. Acting as a true to life expose, the ripples from the book end up stirring part of the Civil Rights movement.

As the lead character, Eugenia (or Skeeter), Emma Stone’s hair departed from her natural auburn shade through the use of a wig to a lighter strawberry blond. The hair color is very soft and feminine and is easier to keep up than a vibrant red shade as it’s a more neutral tone. In addition, the texture or movement to the hair is a very tight curl (like the type we saw during the 1980′s) If you don’t have natural curl it can be a process to achieve. If you wish to create this look on yourself there are some ways to go about it:

  • If your hair is a natural medium brown or auburn, ask your stylist to formulate a lifting hair color. This type of color is a custom formulation that uses a higher level of chemicals that will break up the natural pigment deep within your hair. It is not always necessary to bleach out the hair to achieve lightness on naturally pigmented hair. (If you have any artificial pigment anywhere on your hair, it is necessary to bleach.)
  • To achieve the tight curl, ask for a permanent wave service that uses small to medium rods in a corkscrew layout. This will give the most optimized curl from just below the root to the ends. Perms are much more advanced these days and there are types that can be used on colored hair, highlighted hair, resistant hair or normal hair. It is even possible to color and perm on the same day!
  • To style on permed or naturally curly hair, start with MoroccanOil Shampoo and Conditioner which are paraben and sulfate free. By prepping with the appropriate products in the shower you can minimize frizz and manageability. Once towel dried (scrunch, don’t rub), mix MoroccanOil treatment oil and the Intense Curl Cream. This will hydrate and control the curl in addition to giving it hold and bounce. Diffuse on a medium heat setting until 90% dry as drying completely can frizz up the hair. Finish with Working Spray by Alterna for a flexible hold.

This film looks like a really great conversation starter and exhibits some really awesome 1960′s hair. The performances are also amazing!
Want to maximize your hair’s performance? Come on in to Emerson Salon and receive a free product consultation with your service!

Post by D’Arcy

TagsCurly Hair, D'Arcy Harrison, Styling Tips

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Awe Inspiring

Once a year, the North American Hairstyling Awards attracts the country’s top talent in hair. It is there that anyone from student up to master stylist compete for the coveted privilege of being featured as the region’s best and most creative. This year was no exception. The awards were held at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada and really wowed us here at Emerson Salon when we saw the end results.

Jake Thompson, Avant Garde Stylist of the Year


Eli Mancha, Hairstylist of the Year


Kris Sorbie, Master Hairstylist of the Year

These hairstyles push the envelope in color and styling and to be honest, some of these styles look nearly impossible to achieve! Our stylists were racking their brains to try and figure out how the heck they did all that! These styles are definitely not ‘everyday’ hair but instead serve to inspire and revitalize the hairstyling community to stretch and challenge themselves daily.

Some go to products for any creative stylist who wants to make a big impression are:

    • Session.Spray by Kevin.Murphy: This resin based hairspray is workable when lightly sprayed twelve inches from the hair or sprayed directly for a hard hold. It has no CFC’s and contains conditioning hydrolyzed wheat proteins and a UV shield to protect color.
    • Working Spray by Alterna Caviar: This workable spray is light and flexible and contains Age Control Complex and Seasilk.
    • Rapid Repair Spray by Alterna Caviar: This no-hold finishing spray has great shine, vitamins and a fruity smell!
    • Night.Rider by Kevin.Murphy: This product is a matte texturizer with firm hold and contains beeswax which aids in its pliability. It is easy to use and sets almost on contact which is great for creating a sturdy, messy look.
    • Moroccanoil: This treatment line uses a dry argan nut oil that is non-greasy and and multifunctional. Blow dry and straighten, or scrunch and diffuse! Either way your hair will feel moisturized, controlled and conditioned.

Feeling inspired to do something to your hair that pushes the envelope? Be brave and let Emerson Salon take you outside the box!

Post by D’Arcy

TagsD'Arcy Harrison, Extreme Hair, Hair Art

Sunday, August 14th, 2011

Bursts of Color

Lately we have seen many female stars getting bolder and bolder with their hair choices. This is encouraging as the definition of beauty becomes broader and broader. This week, Dianna Agron of Glee fame shocked us all by donning a pink hue to her usually blond tresses. This color was most likely achieved through the use of a vivid semi permanent like the Pravanna Vivids we use at Emerson Salon. These products are better than Manic Panic or Special Effects colors because of their added chromasilk protein and shades formulated with botanicals and plant derived pigments.

Most hair must be pre lightened with bleach prior to applying a vivid color and this process can cause damage. The chromasilk helps to fill in the damage and aid the hair in feeling healthier. Dianna also just cut her hair into what is now being dubbed a “shab” which is a play on combining a bob and a shag. A bob is a haircut just below the ears or down to just above the shoulders. A shag is a haircut that has lots of texture, layers and movement.

Weeks ago, I did a post on pop star Katy Perry’s process to get her hair lighter. She had to live with “ginger” locks for a few weeks while on the way to blond hair so she could eventually apply the subtle lavender color you see here. Lavender is a difficult color to achieve as many vivid lines just have concentrated colors and not pastels. If I were to try to achieve this color on a client, I would bleach it to pale yellow and then create a custom color, coupling light pink with a dot or two of violet.

Last but certainly never least is the Queen of Bold- Lady Gaga! Her array of wigs gives her many options for her appearances and concerts. Here she wears an eccentric teal bob but for a few weeks we saw probably 4 or 5 different versions of teal- long, short, super high beehive, whatever! I even have a client who rocks the electric blue like Gaga and loves how it looks! She is in every 5-6 weeks to have the vivid shade refreshed.

Whatever your style you can add as much boldness as you want! Add a streak or do it all over! Book today…

Post by D’Arcy

TagsBobs, Celebrity Hairstyles, D'Arcy Harrison, Hair Color, Shab

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Current Trends in Style: the Center Part and Buns

I’ve found that center parts, buns and chignons have been this year’s most used classic modern trends. From the Miu Miu runway, to the red carpet with Mila Kunis, to the grocery store and the mall, we see these trends popping up everywhere!

Center parts are great because its a fast fix to elongate the face shape and in some cases it can visually accentuate hair length as well. A center part is great whether the hair is worn up or down. Wearing your hair down makes it seem casual and fresh, while putting it up looks elegant and sophisticated. The center part can be used for modern, straight looks as well as bohemian and wavy.


Kim Kardashian is known for her thick, raven locks that she usually prefers to wear down with a center part. She wears this look often for red carpet appearances, her tv show, interviews and so on. She’s getting married soon, do you think it will be up or down, center part or side? We can’t wait to see!
If you have a similar hair type to Kim try using these tips:

  • Prep your towel dried hair prior to washing and conditioning with Silky Sleek Brilliance Cream by Alterna Bamboo which uses an Indian Gooseberry extract. It even has minute shine particles that catch the light! (Tip:Make sure to part the hair in the center part by aligning it with the nose.)
  • Using a larger bristle round brush, blow dry the hair making sure to elevate the sections above the part for root volume. Feel free to use Body.Builder by Kevin.Murphy on the roots if your is extra thick or dense. It is a spray in mousse and can be aimed only where you need it.
  • Using a larger barrel curling iron, take larger vertical sections and slightly twist them. Start the curl near the root for lift and then roll the section horizontally making sure the ends are wrapped all the way into the curling iron.
  • Allow the curls to cool and separate lightly with Kevin.Murphy’s wide toothed anti-static comb.
  • Spray with Alterna Working Spray to finish

Buns and chignons (the french term for tightly knotted hair at the nape) are quick and easy as it only takes a hairband and a few bobby or hairpins to secure. This type of style is great to show off bridal or formal gowns in addition to casual maxi dresses as it accentuates the bare neck, decollete and shoulders. Show off some new jewelry this way or your newfound summer tan! (Tip: A fun way to spice up a bun is to move it to a side bun with loose waves. )

Gwyneth Paltrow is also known for her fine, golden locks in addition to her new vocal styling contributions on Glee. She sports the center part for her formal and casual looks, yet rarely chooses to don the upper bun style for those formal occasions. This is probably because down styles are quicker to do with 2 kids and a crazy career! Also, a down style tends to deaccentuate a squarish jaw like Gwyneth’s. Think of ways to use hair to accentuate and deaccentuate your strengths and flaws. It can’t hurt to know what enhances your look rather than the opposite!
It takes a good amount of prep to maneuver a lesser density hair type like Gwyneth’s into a sixties style bouffant bun. Here are some tips on achieving this look on a fine to medium density hair type:

  • Wash with Angel.Wash and Rinse from Kevin.Murphy, towel dry and apply Anti.Gravity oil free volumizer all over.
  • Spray Body.Builder into the roots prior to a rough blowdry.
  • Once dry, use cushion boar bristle brush to “back brush” volume into the ends and crown.This makes a soft volume that can be easily smoothed. Feel free to use Powder.Puff by KM at the crest of the head to support the backbrushing.
  • Part the hair in the middle making sure to smooth back the crown.
  • Gather all the hair slightly off center at the nape of the head and using bobby pins, hook the chignon into itself and into the hair outside the bun. Do this a few times and you will have a super sturdy bun!
  • Spray with Alterna Hard Hold Spray to finish.

With a little work, a little product and the right styling tools, you are on your way to debuting these great looks!
Wanna avoid the hassle? Book a styling session with Emerson Salon today!

Post by D’Arcy

TagsCelebrity Hairstyles, D'Arcy Harrison, Uncategorized

Sunday, July 24th, 2011

Style Shifts in Hollywood

It seems now is the time to change hair looks- from Hollywood, to New York, from music to film, and from celebrity to everyday jane!


Here we look at a fun, outside the box change with Lauren Conrad’s new blue and purple hair tips. This is an easy way to transform blond hair into a more vivacious and bold, new look! We love this spunky new addition that transforms her from her usual put together look into a more effervescent beauty!

To style: Rough blowdry with Anti.Gravity by Kevin.Murphy. Spray in Hair Resort Spray By KM and curl with a large barrel curling iron. Finish with Rapid Repair Spray for shine by Alterna.


For a few days, people thought Vanessa Hudgens was sporting a short wig for a film but alas! it was actually a drastically shorter do! Vanessa has naturally wavy hair that is very thick and dense and has been long ever since she debuted in High School Musical. This cut is great as it still softens her and actually aids in making her look taller as the petite Vanessa was visually almost overpowered by her hair length. The perimeter hits past the ears and leaves a rounded nape in addition to long layers that are pulled back away from the face.

To style: Apply MoroccanOil Glimmer Shine to towel dried hair and dry with a medium sized, round bristle brush away from the face. To finish, lightly spray Texture Master by Kevin.Murpy for movement, height and hold.


Lastly, we came to know Evan Rachel Wood’s True Blood character Queen Sophie-Anne LeClerq as a feisty, redheaded lesbian vampire. Recently, though, Evan opted to completely alter her look into a shorter do with cropped sides and a longer, textured top. She also toned down the red by “browning out” the sides and nape in addition to bleach and toning the top into a beige blond with a balayage technique.

To style: On dry hair apply Night.Rider by Kevin.Murphy to the top lengths for texture and height. Then spray with Session.Spray by Kevin.Murphy for height and hold. Tip: Using your fingers and a medium heat blow dryer will help set the hair spray when creating height.

Looking to shift your style, too? Subtle or Dramatic we are here to serve at Emerson and we give you,
“Whatcha Whatcha Whatcha Want!”( Beastie Boys)

Post by D’arcy

TagsBalayage, Celebrity Hairstyles, D'Arcy Harrison, Hair Color, Movies, Short Hair, Styling Tips, Television

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