October 6, 2006

Hair’s Looking at You, Kid

Tela Salon Opens

In the Meatpacking real estate horse race, it’s a dead heat between the trendoid restaurants and the loft-slick salons.

That’s about to change today, as Tela opens its doors on Little West 12th Street. The pretty, airy space is owned by scissors-whiz Philip Pelusi, a hair mogul in the waaaay outer boroughs (Pittsburgh). He’s assembled a team of stylists and will be on-site, cutting on Thursday (until 10 p.m.) and Friday. We’ve been hearing about Pelusi for years, so we took a turn in his chair to see what the fuss is about.

He’s mellow and modest, with salt-and-pepper curls slicked into a tiny ponytail. He washed our hair with shampoo that smelled so great we wanted to date it. Then he snipped. And snipped. (A lovely waiter came by with organic treats from Arium, the tea and lunch parlor next door.)

Then the compliments rolled in. Had we gone on vacation? Gotten a promotion? Lost five pounds? We look so good!

Well then, it’s decided.

The salons are winning by a hair.

Tela, 31 Little West 12th Street, between Washington and 9th Streets (212-463-8213 or telanyc.com).