Whether you want to dye one of 2024's biggest hair trends a rich auburn, freshen it up to blonde, or soft pink or peach, it takes a talented hair colorist to fine-tune the perfect shade and tone. Choosing an inspiration photo is the easy part. But finding the best hair colorist for the job is the hard part.

"In New York, people are always trying to make a statement," says Lucille Javier, a hair makeover specialist who works at Mark Ryan Salon, a Manhattan-based gathering of color geniuses. In a way, that level of experimentation has attracted hundreds of talented people to the city. But on the other hand, a search for "best hair colorists in New York City" might yield too many results.

Not to worry: We've gathered the best of the best here, vetted by the editors of Marie Claire and members of the New York it-crowd. Keep reading to discover the best hair colorists in New York.

There is no way in the world that this list would not include Jenna Perry. Beloved by (rather famous) cool girls like Emily Rutkowski, Tommy Dorfman, and Bella Hadid, Perry works at her eponymous salon, Jenna Perry Hair Studio, in Soho and the East Village. The inventor of "hot girl hair," Perry is a master of balayage and can tackle all-over color if that's your thing (no, I can't get Hadid's dark gloss from December 2023 out of my head). Beauty editor Samantha Hollender also appreciates Perry's skill with tinted glosses in between bleaches." Jenna is able to find the perfect shade of blonde brown to match my skin tone." My hair always looks incredibly natural after she glazes it.

Address 347 W Broadway, New York, NY

Online color consultation available.

"Color has always been an innate attraction. Whenever I painted something, I always looked forward to applying color to the lines," says Javier, the go-to stylist for Julia Marzovilla, fashion e-commerce editor at Marie Claire. Specializing in color correction, double process, creative color, and freehand painting, she built much of her business on transformations that other colorists say are "too difficult."

She is not afraid of thick hair bunches or time-consuming transformations. She says, "I'm Filipino and Mexican, but after years of doing hair, I realized that in some of the places I've worked, I had to find someone who could do hair of color." 'A lot of people say no to thick, dark hair. It can take eight to 10 hours for some clients, but I really enjoy the process."

Address 135 West 20th Street, New York, NY

Book online or call 212-675-3600.

Patrick Wellington, founder of Wellington Hair Salon, has over 20 years experience in the hair industry, boasts a personalized and flawless technique. Specializing in natural, textured hair, his goal is to create "hair that glows with inner health. It's no secret that bleach can damage precious hair, but for colorists, it's a wonderful prospect.

Address 119 West 23rd Street, New York, NY

For appointments call 212-206-7962.

I miss the days when Caroline Calloway shared every aspect of her life on the Internet. Fortunately, she still offers insight. I literally go to Sally Hershberger now," this con writer told me when I asked about her favorite colorist. You have to ask Gloria Bonilla."

And what exactly does Miss Calloway ask her stylist for, "Imagine I'm a brunette surfer. I live on the beach. I'm in the sun every day. I'm swimming. I'm in the ocean. I'm passionate about surfing. But wait a minute. I'm a brunette surfer in a movie. This is a movie. I'm a brunette surfer in a movie. So imagine a natural brunette living on the beach and add a pinch of Hollywood magic on top of that and you'll look great on camera."

Address 25 W 26th St 2nd floor, New York, NY

For reservations call 212-206-8700.

Beauty Supply owner Emmalee Baum can do blonde, but she also specializes in brunettes and redheads, like Jennifer Lawrence's soft, bright strands we loved in 2023 or Scarlett on the cover of 2020's Marie Claire Johansson's blonde mastermind, Baume (who often goes by the professional name Emmalee B.) specializes in everything from dramatic transformations to subtle natural highlights.

Address 237 Centre St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY

For appointments, call 646-899-3650 or email [email protected].

Aura Friedman is a well-known color wizard who taught Javier how to double process when he worked at Sally Hershberger. Tessa Thompson, Hari Nef, and Selma Blair are among the celebrities who grace her books. Aura's approach to color is influenced by her training as an artisan, drawing inspiration from haute couture and various genres of music. She pursues understated elegance and chooses colors for her clients according to their skin tone and eye color, as well as their personality and personal style," her official bio states." Aura achieves an authentic feel by mimicking natural and natural hair tones and highlight variations, even in the most dramatic colors."

She also uses a variety of colors to achieve a more natural, natural look and feel.

Address 65 Greene St #2F, New York, NY

For appointments and consultations call 212-431-4400.

Marie Claire contributor Katherine J. Igoe first met Kimberly Cannon "about a million years ago," when she started living in New York and needed inexpensive highlights. 'Not just because she's amazing, but because she's just a wonderful person to be around. Since then, she's only gotten better and better as a colorist. No wonder she is now considered one of the best in the business. Somehow she managed to give me the softest, lightest, most dimensional blonde look of my life. She also did the highlights of my wedding. That's how much I love her."

Address 135 W 20th St Suite 400, New York, NY

For appointments call 212-675-3600.

Local color icon for over 20 years, Elizabeth Hiselot, author of Die Hot with a Vengeance (my most anticipated book for 2024) and beauty expert Sable Yeung, trusted for precious and always funky hair She is the person I trust for precious and always funky hair. The two have collaborated on striking shades (blue), tones (blue-gray), and unexpected placement of platinum pieces. 'I love my colorist. She has been coloring my hair since 2015 and always does a great job while navigating the precarious state of my chemically damaged hair," says Reiter.

Address 465 W Broadway, New York, NY

For consultations or appointments call 212-308-3838.

Michelle Hong, former founder of Brush NYC and senior colorist and educator at Fekkai, now runs NYC The Team hair salon With over 20 years of industry experience, she has worked with content creator Kelsey Barberio She has lent her talents to various celebrities and local notables, including content creator Kelsey Barberio (she once did Chef Daniel Boulud's hair). Michelle does color exceptionally well. She's the kind of stylist who can come up with a style that looks even better than what you envisioned in your head," says Barberio. 'She gets it.'

Address 135 5th Ave FL 7, New York, NY

For consultations and appointments call 929-884-5202.