The Mayer Salon 88 ★9.9

About the salon

The Mayer, formerly known as Salon 88, has become one of downtown Vancouver’s busiest salons on the strength of a single specialty: smoothing. Keratin and conditioning smoothing treatments are what most guests come for, and the salon has built its name on taming frizz and cutting daily styling time for people tired of fighting their hair every morning.

Services

Alongside the smoothing work, the menu covers colour and highlights, balayage, women’s cuts with blowouts, and men’s grooming. Keratin and intensive smoothing conditioning are the signature services, positioned for anyone wanting smoother, more manageable hair rather than a full colour transformation. Styling and event blowouts round out the offering.

Technology and brands

The core technical strength is smoothing chemistry — treatments applied to control frizz and add shine, with the result timed to last through repeated washes. These services draw a smoothing-focused clientele rather than a colour crowd, and the team’s experience is concentrated there. Colour and highlight work is available as a complementary rather than headline service.

Team and stylists

The salon is led by experienced stylists working across both men’s and women’s hair, with smoothing as the house strength. Because public sources describe the leadership differently, this listing does not name a single owner — what is consistent is that the team is built around smoothing expertise and repeat clients.

The Space

The salon sits on a downtown corner at the Yaletown edge of the core, an easy walk from the surrounding residential towers. It runs as a compact, appointment-led room rather than a sprawling floor, which suits a treatment-heavy menu where each guest occupies a chair for a while.

Who it’s for

It is aimed squarely at people with frizzy, coarse or hard-to-manage hair who want a lasting smoothing result, guests looking to shorten their morning routine, and men wanting straightforward grooming. It is less a destination for dramatic colour and more for control and shine.

Questions and answers

Can I book online? Yes — appointments can be reserved through the salon’s online booking platform at any time.

How long does an appointment take? A cut or blowout is quick, but a smoothing treatment is a long service — plan for a couple of hours or more.

Do you cut men’s and children’s hair? Men’s grooming is a regular part of the menu; ask the front desk about children when you book.

Can I combine services in one visit? Yes — a colour and a smoothing treatment can be combined, though order matters, so the stylist will sequence them.

Do you sell gift cards? Ask the front desk when booking; the team can arrange a certificate.

Opening hours