A Walk

Oct 25, 2023

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By Shivani Vora

Blow-dry bars have made no-appointment blowouts as easy as popping in off the street, but for more-complex hair care, planning is still required. But those days may be numbered. When RPZL opens Thursday in the Flatiron district, hair extensions will get the same kind of treatment. Women will be able to walk in and get extensions on the spot.

The hair bar is the idea of Monica Thornton, a former human rights lawyer, and Lisa Richards, who has a marketing background. The two women met eight years ago through their children, and their friendship and the idea for the business blossomed after Ms. Richards repeatedly complimented Ms. Thornton on her luscious blond tresses, which turned out to be extensions.

"I know from personal experience that they’re expensive, can be damaging and take hours to put in," Ms. Thornton said.

Unlike most salons, which rely on other companies to supply their extensions, RPZL (the name inspired by the fairy-tale character of the lustrous, long locks) makes its own using Remy human hair from India, which is considered the highest quality. That is a key to the comparatively low prices.

Clips-ins are $250; the tape variety, which stay intact for eight weeks, start at $350. But the keratin extensions ($550 to $850) are the real draw here.

Traditional extensions rely on heat. They are attached using the heat of a mini flatiron to melt the keratin glue on an extension and bond it to a small section of hair. When the glue has cooled, the stylist moves on to the next piece.

The innovation at RPZL is that there is no heat. The glue reacts to ultrasound when zapped with an applicator that resembles a purple toy gun. This makes the process faster (no waiting for an extension to cool before applying another one), and the risk of a burn is said to be minimized.

The 2,000-square-foot space, glossy white with hints of silver, is sort of futuristic, sort of girlie. Plush chairs surround a white quartz countertop set with vases of cream-colored roses and hydrangeas. RPZL employees, in stylish gray dresses or button-downs, will greet clients with free wine and Baked by Melissa mini vanilla cupcakes with silver frosting, which match the color scheme. A photo booth for selfies beckons on the way out.

"Great hair is empowering," Ms. Thornton said. "Our goal is to give women that confidence in a place that feels like a social club."

RPZL, 27 West 20th Street, 212-255-0036; rpzl.com.

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