At Substance Salon in Rutherford, NJ, we blend creativity, skill, and modern style. For over 16 years, clients throughout Bergen County and North Jersey have chosen our hair salon for beautiful results and personalized care. Located in Downtown Rutherford, we specialize in men's grooming, custom haircuts, lived-in color, hair coloring, seamless balayage, root melts, high-end blonding, blonde color, runway-quality blowouts, keratin treatments, deep conditioning, and pr...more
LIMITED AVAILABILITY, CALENDAR IS FILLING UP FOR {MONTH}- BOOK NOW!•LIMITED AVAILABILITY, CALENDAR IS FILLING UP FOR {MONTH}- BOOK NOW!•LIMITED AVAILABILITY, CALENDAR IS FILLING UP FOR {MONTH}- BOOK NOW!•
Reviews
Hear from our best customers, sharing their experiences with us!
I've been coming here for years and i love it every time. there isn't a single person i wo...more
I had an amazing experience at substance salon. My 16 year old son had not gotten a haircu...more
Substance Salon is truly my favorite—an absolute gem that has stood the test of time. What...more
Jill is the best! Glaze, cut and blowout every three months and she always does a fantasti...more
Always a wonderful experience. Great environment. JM is kind and talented....a winning com...more
One of the higher end luxury salons around. Friendly, clean, hospitable staff! Manny is th...more
Madison does great blow outs and curls!
krissy did my hair and i love it so much ! She’s so friendly i def recommend going to her ...more
Jana did an amazing balayage on me! The color is seamless, natural, and exactly what I wan...more
My stylist Jana has always done a terrific job for me… The salon is always cleaned and or...more
Krissy is amazing!! Truly a color expert, I highly recommend.
I will 100% be coming back!
Kristy was absolutely amazing and I LOVE my haircut!
First time getting a haircut here and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. M...more
First time at the salon & I got a beautiful cut by Jill. The vibes here are amazing and al...more
Had a really great experience at Substance - Jack was really attentive and took care to un...more
Krissy did my hair and it came out amazing! 10/10 service. i will be coming back to her fo...more
Loved my hair done by krissy! I came in asking for a purple ombré and lavendar money sign ...more
If you’re ever in need of of an amazing touch up or phenomenal braids/cornrolls must go he...more
Had a great experience at this barber shop! I went in with long hair and wanted a big chan...more
Great atmosphere! Jana gave me the exact blonde that I wanted, what a delightful experien...more
I went for a cut and blowout with Juanita (Jana) she is amazing, gave a service 1000/1000,...more
The cleanliness at Substance Salon & Barberspa was immaculate, from the spotless hair stat...more
Nick just got promoted to a level 2 stylist and his work shows why. Gave me an amazing hai...more
Amazing experience! Got exactly what I wanted and more!
JM is fabulous and honestly such a pleasure.
Needed a last min appointment & JM was able to squeeze me, she’s the best! She’s friendly ...more
FAQs
Have questions? We've got answers.
Substance Salon & Barberspa is located at 52 Park Avenue, Rutherford, NJ 07070 in Bergen County. We offer comprehensive services including women's haircuts (short, medium, long, curly specialized cuts), men's grooming (haircuts, signature cuts, quick cuts, beard trims, bespoke packages), hair color (balayage, babylights, foilyage, highlights, single process, color correction), smoothing treatments (Cezanne instant and classic), hair extensions (Bellamy consultation, clip-in, removal), styling (wash and blowdry, heat styling, braids, Olaplex luxury service), makeup application, waxing, kids cuts, hair replacement (Hairskeen system), and professional consultations. Full-service salon and barberspa serving Rutherford, Lyndhurst, East Rutherford, and Bergen County.
Women's haircut services include women's short/pixie haircut precision cut above shoulder length with meticulous shaping, women's medium to long length haircut with consultation, wash, and professional blowdry, women's curly haircut specialized techniques like Deva Cut or curl-by-curl method, women's curly haircut and blowdry with straightening or enhancing curls option, and premium customized pixie haircut detailed consultation with precision cutting and finishing. Professional cuts tailored to your hair type, texture, and lifestyle. Consultations ensure desired style achieved with proper maintenance guidance.
Deva Cut is specialized curly haircut technique cutting hair curl-by-curl while dry in its natural state. Rather than cutting wet hair straight across, stylist cuts each curl individually considering its unique pattern and spring. Our women's curly haircut service uses Deva Cut or similar curl-by-curl methods. Benefits include shape customized to your curl pattern, reduced bulk in right places, enhanced curl definition, and cut that grows out beautifully maintaining shape. Can be finished with blowdry straightening or enhancing natural curls. Essential technique for curly-haired clients tired of traditional cuts not working with their texture.
Men's grooming includes men's haircut standard custom cut with wash and style, signature haircut professional detailed service with signature finishing, quick cut fast service for simple cleanup or trim, beard trim professional trimming and shaping with clean lines, men's clean up neckline and edges maintenance between cuts, men's bespoke haircut and beard trim customized package for polished cohesive finish, emergency haircut service accelerated urgent appointments, men's partial perm/wave targeting specific areas for texture, men's full perm/wave chemical service adding lasting texture across entire head, and men's color camo gray-blending demi-permanent application. Complete barberspa services from quick maintenance to premium experiences.
Hair color services include balayage (face frame, partial, or full) hand-painted natural dimension, babylights (partial or full) baby-fine foils for delicate brightness, foilyage (partial or full) combining balayage with foil lifting power, teasylights (partial or full) teased sections before lightening for soft dimension, traditional foil highlights (part partial, partial, or full), single process permanent color for gray coverage or base change, double process comprehensive two-step lightening, platinum card intensive saturation and foiling service, color correction specialized adjustments, glaze/toner service refreshing and neutralizing, root smudge softening root line, root tap subtle blending, and T-bar touch up quick visible area refresh. Complete color menu from subtle to dramatic.
Balayage is hand-painted technique creating natural sun-kissed dimension with soft grow-out. Lightener painted onto surface creating gradient effect. Babylights use ultra-fine foils creating delicate subtle highlights mimicking natural childhood sun-lightening. Most natural-looking foil technique. Foilyage combines hand-painting of balayage with foil-wrapping for enhanced lifting power - gets brightness of foils with soft blending of balayage. Teasylights involve gently teasing sections before applying lightener and foiling creating soft lived-in dimension. Choose balayage for most natural low-maintenance, babylights for subtle delicate lightness, foilyage for maximum brightness with soft blend, or teasylights for textured dimensional look.
Platinum card service is our most comprehensive intensive lightening service using full saturation and intense foiling with foils placed closely together throughout entire head. Approximately 5-hour process achieving maximum blonde transformation. Designed for dramatic lightening, going from dark to platinum blonde, or clients wanting brightest possible result. Requires significant time commitment and investment but provides most dramatic transformation. Typically requires multiple sessions for very dark hair. Consultation required to assess hair condition and realistic expectations. Our premium blonde service for clients committed to ultimate blonde transformation.
Smoothing treatments include instant Cezanne smoothing treatment short-term fast-acting service reducing frizz and enhancing shine, and classic smoothing treatment comprehensive professional treatment for textured, wavy, or curly hair available in small/short, medium, or long/thick lengths significantly reducing frizz and improving manageability. Cezanne system provides varying levels of frizz control and straightening. Consultation required assessing hair texture and discussing realistic expectations. Professional smoothing lasting months reducing styling time. Classic treatment requires 2+ hours depending on length while instant treatment takes 90 minutes.
Hairskeen is professional hair replacement system providing natural-looking hair for clients experiencing hair loss or thinning. Service includes required Hairskeen service charge covering administrative and preparatory costs, and comprehensive Hairskeen installation involving custom fitting, application, and styling. Professional hair replacement solution offering full coverage and natural appearance. Requires specialized maintenance and care. Consultation determines if system is appropriate for your hair loss situation and lifestyle. Non-surgical alternative for clients seeking complete hair restoration solution.
Yes, hair extension services include Bellamy hair extension consultation discussing options and suitability with stylist assessing hair and lifestyle (also available with specific stylist Madison), clip-in extension application professional fitting ensuring extensions blend seamlessly and sit comfortably, and extensions removal safe gentle removal using specialized tools and solutions protecting natural hair. Bellamy extensions are premium quality providing natural appearance and longevity. Consultation essential determining appropriate method, length, and color. Professional application ensures seamless blend with natural hair.
Styling services include wash and blowdry full service providing smooth, sleek, or voluminous style with heat styling, luxury Olaplex wash and blowdry premium service using Olaplex products for enhanced repair and shine, formal heat styling using flat irons or curling irons creating curls, waves, or sleek looks, and formal braid creating French, box, or double braid styles. Professional styling from everyday maintenance to special occasion looks. Olaplex luxury service adds bond-building treatment during wash protecting and strengthening hair while styling.
Yes, makeup services include makeup application professional full face application ideal for special events, photoshoots, or formal occasions, just eyes makeup application focused service concentrating on eyes only for dramatic eye looks, and eyelash application professional strip lash application for temporary enhancement. Complete makeup services for events, photoshoots, or occasions when you want professional polished look. Makeup artists create looks from natural to dramatic based on your preferences and event needs.
Color correction is highly specialized time-intensive process designed to adjust or completely reverse previous color work. Addresses situations like box dye mishaps, uneven color, unwanted tones, overly dark or brassy color, or previous highlighting gone wrong. Complex process potentially requiring multiple steps including color removal, toning, and recoloring. Consultation required to assess current condition, discuss realistic expectations, timeline, and cost. May require multiple appointments for severe cases. Investment in transforming color disasters into beautiful results. Our colorists have expertise correcting even most challenging color situations.
Waxing services include lip wax quick upper lip hair removal, men's eyebrow wax specialized grooming providing clean well-defined brow shape, and lip and eye wax combo efficient service removing upper lip hair and shaping eyebrows. Professional facial waxing services for men and women. Quick efficient appointments providing smooth results lasting weeks. Particularly popular men's eyebrow grooming maintaining masculine shape while cleaning up stray hairs.
Yes, kids services include boy's haircut with consultation determining desired style like fade or trim, and girl's haircut with consultation determining style, length, and layers. Professional children's haircuts in welcoming environment. Patient stylists making experience comfortable and enjoyable for young clients. Appropriate styles for school, special occasions, or regular maintenance. Teaching kids proper hair care while providing professional cuts.
We offer complimentary consultations including color consultation discussing goals, formulation, and maintenance essential for complex transformations, haircut consultation determining desired shape, length, and style, Cezanne consultation assessing texture and expectations for smoothing treatments, and Bellamy hair extension consultation reviewing options and placement. Consultations ensure alignment between your vision and achievable results. Particularly important before major color changes, first-time services, or when uncertain about best approach. Investment in satisfaction preventing disappointment. Book consultation before committing to significant transformations.
Glaze service uses demi-permanent color to tone and refresh color, neutralize brassiness, or add shine. Applied after highlighting or as standalone service. Double glaze is two-step process where two different toners or glosses are applied sequentially for added tonal dimension or deeper color deposit. Benefits include incredible shine, neutralized unwanted tones, enhanced color depth, and refreshed vibrancy. Results last 4-6 weeks. Essential maintenance between major color services or finishing step after highlights perfecting blonde shades. Quick service providing immediate visible shine enhancement.
Substance Salon & Barberspa is located at 52 Park Avenue, Rutherford, NJ 07070 in Bergen County. We proudly serve Rutherford, Lyndhurst, East Rutherford, Carlstadt, Wood-Ridge, Wallington, North Arlington, Nutley, Belleville, and throughout Bergen County and Northern New Jersey. Conveniently located on Park Avenue in downtown Rutherford with street parking available. Full-service salon and barberspa serving Rutherford NJ and surrounding communities. Substance Salon & Barberspa welcomes you.
Substance Salon & Barberspa offers comprehensive services for women and men including specialized curly haircuts using Deva Cut techniques, advanced color services from natural balayage to platinum transformations, professional men's grooming from quick cuts to bespoke packages with beard trim, Cezanne smoothing treatments reducing frizz, premium Bellamy hair extensions with expert consultation, luxury Olaplex styling services, Hairskeen hair replacement system, makeup application for special occasions, kids haircuts, and complimentary consultations ensuring satisfaction. Expert stylists providing personalized attention in modern comfortable environment. Whether you need everyday maintenance, dramatic transformation, or special occasion styling, we provide professional services serving Bergen County and Northern New Jersey.
