Cedar Rapids’s Top 10 Beauty Salons & Beauty Professionals

The Profile

Essence Salon opened in 2019 under founder Kindsay Elgin of Kintastic Hair and was conceived as a full-service studio that puts a modern twist on classic styles. The salon's interior aims for a home-like welcome while offering comprehensive services from precision cuts to colour and styling across a collaborative stylist team.

Essence maintains an active presence on Instagram and Facebook and directs bookings through the Phorest appointment system linked from its site, ensuring clients can preview recent work and reserve preferred stylists. The team prioritises ongoing education and international trend awareness so cuts and colours are taught to consider how results will wear day to day.

Essence lists its studio at 4201 42nd St NE #110, Cedar Rapids, with; the website also links to an online product shop for aftercare and maintenance. Staff messaging emphasises client comfort, a full-service menu and collaborative styling that adapts to each guest's personal needs.

Why It Made the List and Why It’s Our Top Pick

Essence stands out as the top pick due to founder Kindsay Elgin's visible leadership, a cohesive full-service team and a deliberate focus on ongoing stylist education that keeps approaches contemporary yet wearable. Combined with a home-like studio environment, Phorest booking convenience and an online product shop, this mix supports consistently personalised appointments.

Good to Know

Booking is handled through Phorest; clients can preview recent styles on Instagram or Facebook before reserving. The studio address is 4201 42nd St NE #110 in Cedar Rapids; are listed on the site, and an online product shop supplies recommended aftercare.

The Profile

Virtue Salon presents itself as a luxury hair and extensions lounge in Cedar Rapids, specialising in precision cuts, dimensional colour and bespoke extensions. The salon balances a sophisticated aesthetic with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and promotes personalised transformations that leave guests confident while keeping hospitality front of mind during every appointment.

Jasmin Stepanek is the owner and an Invisible Bead Extensions (IBE) Platform Educator and extension specialist, a detail the site highlights when describing the salon's approach to extensions and education. Virtue asks new clients to request an appointment or a free consultation and notes it operates largely by appointment from its 208 12th Ave SE studio.

Why It Made the List

Virtue's distinctive strength lies in owner-led extension expertise: being led by an IBE educator ensures technicians follow platform-level methods and tailored installation practices. That specialist capability matters for clients who need careful colour-matching, density planning and long-term maintenance built into extension services and consultation sessions.

Good to Know

New clients should request an appointment or a free consultation by calling 319-200-5004 or emailing; many bookings are handled by appointment only, so plan ahead if you are seeking extension installations or complex colour services.

The Profile

Acacia Salon & Spa frames appointments as joyful, celebratory moments, naming the business with a nod to the acacia or mimosa flower and the sense of special-occasion energy that accompanies wedding mornings and bridal showers. The owners emphasise a cosy, high-end space where clients are made to feel cared for and celebrated during each visit.

The salon offers dedicated bridal services alongside everyday hair and makeup appointments and highlights staff who manage wedding-day schedules efficiently. Practical contact information is provided on the site and the studio operates NE #3 in Cedar Rapids, with services including both hair and bridal makeup.

Why It Made the List

Acacia stands out for its bridal capability and time-efficient wedding-day service: the site and client feedback reference stylists who keep to schedule without rushing, producing makeup and hair that remain photograph-ready through ceremonies. That operational focus makes Acacia a practical choice for wedding parties and event preparations.

Good to Know

Acacia asks clients to cancel at least 24 hours in advance; cancellations under 24 hours, reschedules and no-shows can incur a 50% deposit or invoice and arriving more than 15 minutes late may require rescheduling so the salon can keep wedding and regular appointment blocks on time.

The Profile

MUSE salon + beauty describes itself as an upscale, urban salon in the heart of Cedar Rapids with a relaxing yet energetic feel, where stylists prioritise client welcome and comfort. The studio mentions offering refreshments such as coffee or a glass of wine while clients receive luxury treatments aimed at producing a refreshed, salon-finished result.

Muse has developed signature scents in partnership with Ev & Ivy's Blooms & Candle Co., a retail collaboration that complements the in-salon experience and allows guests to sample and purchase branded candles. The salon is located at 700 16th St NE Suite 202 and lists and (319) 929-6260 for appointments and enquiries.

Why It Made the List

Muse's distinctive offering is the combined boutique service and in-house retail collaboration: the Muse signature candle partnership adds a sensory product line to the salon visit, reinforcing a curated, lifestyle-focused approach that extends the salon experience beyond the chair.

Good to Know

For bookings and stylist matches contact the suite at 700 16th St NE Suite 202 or; expect a boutique environment with personalized stylist pairings rather than walk-in, large-floor operations.

The Profile

Refinery Salon Co highlights modern colour services, luxury extensions and hair-loss integration solutions as part of its studio offering, pairing creative colour work with technical options for clients managing thinning or density concerns. The team describes tailored consultations and a focus on delivering personalised outcomes that balance aesthetics with practical hair needs.

The salon lists a physical address at 705 3rd Ave SE in Cedar Rapids and publishes weekday hours, Monday through Thursday 10am to 7pm, Friday 10am to 6pm, and notes Saturday availability is by appointment only. Contact inquiries can be directed to for booking and consultation requests.

Why It Made the List

Refinery is notable for integrating hair-loss solutions alongside its colour and extension services, offering clients cosmetic options to address density and visual integration. That combination of technical integration and creative colour work helps clients who want both corrective and style-focused outcomes.

Good to Know

Saturday appointments are available by appointment only; weekday hours include later evenings on select days. to enquire about hair-loss integration consultations and book a suitable appointment time.

The Profile

Moods Salon and Spa operates from the NewBo District and describes itself as an elite full-service salon and spa with a team committed to high standards and continuous education. The salon mission emphasises crafting a culture that supports creative service delivery and an elevated client experience during both hair and spa appointments.

The business uses online booking via Schedulicity and provides direct contact by. The salon menu includes hair, spa and bridal services, product retail and gift cards, and the team positions itself to make each guest feel like the most important person in the room.

Why It Made the List

Moods' defining strength is the combination of full-service hair and dedicated spa treatments backed by a formal commitment to ongoing team education, which supports consistent technical standards and a dependable guest experience across stylists and treatment providers.

Good to Know

Clients can book directly through Schedulicity and should or for bridal or spa blocks; the NewBo location often schedules extended appointment times for multi-service visits.

The Profile

My Salon Suite of Cedar Rapids operates as a professional salon suite concept under the My Salon Suite brand, bringing together independent stylists who deliver polished beauty treatments and individualized service. The setting prioritises consistency and a refined finish, offering clients a quieter studio environment with one-on-one attention from their chosen professional.

The facility emphasises reliable, appointment-based visits where attention to detail and tailored results matter; appointments focus on suitability and long-term wear of styles rather than quick fixes. The suite arrangement encourages continuity with the same stylist across visits, fostering predictable results and a clear ongoing care plan for returning clients.

Why It Made the List

My Salon Suite's practical advantage is the suite-style arrangement that promotes continuity and individualised attention from a single stylist, a format that supports consistent finishes and dependable long-term care for clients who prefer one regular technician rather than rotating staff.

Good to Know

Because services are delivered by individual suite professionals, book directly with your chosen stylist and allow extra consultation time when trying a new service or stylist; the suite model is private and appointment-driven.

The Profile

Artistic Strands provides a broad salon and spa menu and makes free consultations available for all services, from precision haircuts to professional colour and formal styling. The business also offers spa options such as manicures, professional waxing and brow tinting, positioning itself as a one-stop studio for hair and beauty needs in Cedar Rapids.

The salon is particularly known for its signature dry curly cut and curl coaching: first-time curly clients are asked to arrive with first or second-day curls, minimal product and hair down so stylists can see the natural pattern. Artistic Strands uses Innersense Organic Beauty products and recommends add-on treatments to optimise curl health and styling longevity.

Why It Made the List

Artistic Strands' defining merit is its structured curly-hair programme, explicit client prep instructions, curl coaching and specific product recommendations, so curl clients receive tailored cutting and care guidance that improves daily manageability and preserves curl shape between visits.

Good to Know

First-time curly-cut clients should arrive with dry, detangled curls and minimal product; the salon recommends adding a Detox Hair Treatment when starting Innersense products. Artistic Strands is NE #104 and can be reached at 319-377-7771.

The Profile

Crave Salon presents itself as a Cedar Rapids neighbourhood salon that operates mostly by appointment so stylists can focus fully on each guest during scheduled time. The published services include haircuts and styling, sugaring hair removal, wedding and special-occasion make-up and additional salon offerings tailored for clients seeking personal attention.

The team includes named stylists such as Lori, Erica and Lonna and the salon accommodates clients via phone, text, Facebook message, email or online booking, reflecting flexible communication. The business lists its address NE for scheduling and enquiries.

Why It Made the List

Crave's practical strength is its mostly-by-appointment model that concentrates staff attention on one client at a time, creating a focused, attentive service environment useful for both routine cuts and carefully timed special-occasion styling or make-up prep.

Good to Know

Crave is mostly by appointment only; send a text or use the salon's online booking or Facebook message options to secure a time. The studio is located NE in Cedar Rapids.

The Profile

Indulge Sun Spa & Hair Studio combines salon and esthetic services at one Cedar Rapids location, offering full-service hair alongside facials, full body waxing, makeup artistry, esthetician treatments and smoothing services. The business lists its street address NE Suite 118 and a main contact number for appointments and enquiries.

The studio maintains an online booking presence, a 360 tour and posts testimonials and imagery to help clients preview services; the site also displays public contact information including. The business communicates a multi-disciplinary offering so clients can book hair and spa treatments in a single visit.

Why It Made the List

Indulge's distinguishing feature is the integrated spa-and-salon model that enables clients to schedule multi-disciplinary appointments, hair services combined with facials, waxing or smoothing treatments, under one roof which simplifies planning for clients seeking several treatment types in a single visit.

Good to Know

A 360 tour is available on the salon's website to preview the suite and services before booking; clients can also book online or. The site notes that messages sent through the contact form may be moderated and that reCAPTCHA protections are in place.