This is pricier than I'm used to, but it's also the one place in Missoula I trust. When I first moved here, I had a cut at a salon that left me with a lot of concern and anxiety about future haircuts. It was a well-reviewed salon, but people who don't have experience cutting different hair textures tend to think that since I'm Asian, my hair must be easy because it's straight. What they don't know is that it's thick and falls heavy, has stubborn-as-hell cowlicks, and it's hard to put any movement or texture into it.
I've been going to Boom Swagger for almost three years, getting haircuts from Melinda and Abby, and both cut my hair with ease, skill, and a good eye. They never overdo it on the product, I ALWAYS walk out looking great, and I get compliments every time. Even when I had a pixie cut, there'd be so much hair on the floor by the end of the cut because of how thick my hair is, but Melinda was a total pro and swept it up in the salon's super cool hair-eating machine. And when I decided to grow it out longer, I never had a single awkward phase!
Boom Swagger does a great job at low-maintenance haircuts (a popular request for Missoula, so I'm told), but my favorite thing about the place is the opposite: trusting skilled stylists has allowed me to feel safe taking what used to feel like big risks. Abby straightened my hair for the first time ever and even gave me tips on buying my own flat iron. I'm now straightening my hair semi-regularly. It's fun and easy, and thanks to Abby's knowledge, I'm doing a pretty good job keeping my hair healthy. Last year, Melinda helped me go from natural black to a cool ash blonde. It took two bleaching and toning sessions. The process took all afternoon and evening, and was NOT cheap. But I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it. I've since gone back to my natural color, and even after the bleaching, my hair looks as healthy as ever.