5 Best Hair Salons in Downtown, Madison WI
Updated 29 September 2026 · 18 salons in Downtown, Madison WI considered · Ranked from Google ratings
This guide lists five hair salons that serve Downtown Madison, WI, for anyone choosing a place for a cut, color or special-occasion styling. The ranking comes from Google ratings, weighted by how many people left a review, so a salon needs both strong scores and steady feedback to place well. Each entry uses the salon's listed hours, Google attributes and what reviewers mention, including critical comments where they appear, to help you pick a chair that suits you.
#1
Duwayne's Salon
★ 4.9 (416 Google reviews)Hair salon
Representative photo, not of this business.
Duwayne's Salon on N Sherman Ave opens at 8 am Tuesday through Saturday, with late hours until 8 pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and is closed Sunday and Monday. Reviewers mention cuts for children as well as adults, stylists who listen and deliver exactly what was asked, and a quiet, relaxing shop even with other customers in. Several say they leave feeling more confident and collect compliments afterward.
Best for: Reliable cuts for kids and adults
- Address
- 2114 N Sherman Ave, Madison, WI 53704, United States
- Hours
- Fri 8 am–5 pm; Mon Closed; Sat 8 am–2 pm; Sun Closed; Thu 8 am–8 pm; Tue 8 am–7 pm; Wed 8 am–8 pm
#2
Atelier
★ 5 (146 Google reviews)Hair salon
Representative photo, not of this business.
Atelier on E Johnson St is a women-owned salon open weekdays, closed at the weekend, where appointments are required. It offers beverages, is marked good for kids, and takes cards and mobile payments. Reviewers mention haircuts, color and balayage, with long-time clients saying they have followed their stylist for years and even drive a long way to visit. One reviewer had a poor result and found redo availability limited.
Best for: Color and balayage by appointment
- Address
- 924 E Johnson St, Madison, WI 53703, United States
- Hours
- Fri 10 am–4 pm; Mon 10 am–6 pm; Sat Closed; Sun Closed; Thu 10 am–6 pm; Tue 10 am–6 pm; Wed 10 am–6 pm
#3
Be Inspired Salon
★ 4.7 (1,013 Google reviews)Hair salon
Representative photo, not of this business.
Be Inspired Salon on Globe Dr is open Tuesday through Saturday, with evening hours until 7 pm midweek. Reviewers mention a team of stylists with different strengths, dimensional color work even on hair with a history of box dye, and bridal party styling where the team arrived early and worked quickly. One reviewer seeking a curly cut was unhappy with the result and found it expensive.
Best for: Color correction and bridal parties
- Address
- 8302 Globe Dr #100, Madison, WI 53717, United States
- Hours
- Fri 9 am–5 pm; Mon Closed; Sat 8 am–2 pm; Sun Closed; Thu 9 am–7 pm; Tue 9 am–7 pm; Wed 9 am–7 pm
#4
love+light hairdressing
★ 4.9 (139 Google reviews)Hair salon
Representative photo, not of this business.
love+light hairdressing on Williamson St is open every day, with late hours until 9 pm Tuesday through Thursday. It is listed as LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safe space, requires appointments, and has free street parking nearby. Reviewers mention a calming atmosphere, a cup of tea and a scalp massage on arrival, and attentive, detail-oriented stylists who make clients feel welcome, including people who rarely get their hair cut.
Best for: A calm, inclusive salon visit
- Address
- 1150 Williamson St Ste 105, Madison, WI 53703, United States
- Hours
- Fri 10 am–6 pm; Mon 10 am–6 pm; Sat 9 am–6 pm; Sun 12–5 pm; Thu 10 am–9 pm; Tue 10 am–9 pm; Wed 10 am–9 pm
#5
Julia Grace Salon
★ 4.7 (437 Google reviews)Hair salon
Representative photo, not of this business.
Julia Grace Salon opens six days a week, with hours until 8 pm Monday through Thursday. Reviewers mention an online quiz that matches new clients with a stylist, a greeting with coffee, and a small dog at the front. Several praise stylists who listen closely and share care tips for cuts and color. One reviewer reports a disappointing highlights appointment and a quote that did not match expectations.
Best for: Getting matched with the right stylist
- Address
- 7878 Big Sky Dr H, Madison, WI 53719, United States
- Hours
- Fri 9 am–4:30 pm; Mon 9 am–8 pm; Sat 8 am–3 pm; Sun Closed; Thu 9 am–8 pm; Tue 9 am–8 pm; Wed 9 am–8 pm
How we made this list
We looked at 18 salons in Downtown, Madison WI with a Google rating of 4.0 or higher and at least 20 reviews, then Google category “Hair salon”, ranked by weighted rating. A rating from thousands of reviews counts for more than the same rating from a handful, so a new place with a few perfect scores does not jump the queue. Ratings and hours are from public Google listings on 29 September 2026 and can change. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Tips before you go
- For an early start, Duwayne's Salon opens at 8 am.
- Hours and prices come from Google listings and change, so check the listing before a long trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest-rated salon on this list?
Duwayne's Salon ranks first, with a Google rating of 4.9 from 416 reviews. Atelier is second at 5 from 146 reviews.
Which salons in Downtown, Madison WI are open late?
None of these stays open past midnight. The latest to close is love+light hairdressing, at 9 pm.
Which of these have free parking?
Google lists free parking for love+light hairdressing.
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