Best Hair Salon in Brockton, MA | Kimberly Messing Hair Design

A city the size of Brockton doesn't need another strip-mall salon that treats every head of hair the same way. It needs specialists who've spent decades getting one thing exactly right — and then built a team around eight more people who did the same. That's the difference between a haircut and a result, and it's the reason clients from Brockton keep making the short drive to Washington Street.

We're not going to tell you we were voted anything. What we'll tell you instead is that Kimberly Messing Hair Design has been sharpening its craft since 1986, and that the sharpening never stopped. If you're tired of generalist salons that rotate you through whoever's free, keep reading — this page is longer than most because there's a lot to actually say.

Who We Are — and How to Reach Us

Kim Messing opened her salon in 1986 with a simple bet: that clients would rather wait for the right stylist than settle for the next available one. Nearly four decades later, that bet has become the whole operating philosophy of the business. Kim herself is a board-certified colorist — a credential fewer than five percent of working colorists in the country ever pursue — and she still personally handles hair extensions and the color-correction cases nobody else wants to touch. She trains constantly with Goldwell, Redken, Keratin Complex, and Olaplex, and she's Hot Heads certified for tape-in extensions. More than anything, she's spent 38-plus years mentoring the stylists around her, which is why the team you'll meet below doesn't operate like nine separate freelancers under one roof — it operates like one trained unit.

Here's everything you need to get in touch or find us:

  • Phone: 781-817-5077
  • Email: hello@kimberlymessinghairdesign.com
  • Address: 533 Washington Street, Braintree, MA 02184
  • Hours: Monday — Closed | Tuesday 9:00am–7:00pm | Wednesday 9:00am–7:00pm | Thursday 9:00am–8:00pm | Friday 9:00am–4:00pm | Saturday 9:00am–4:00pm | Sunday — Closed
  • Book online: Book Your Appointment
  • Follow us: Facebook | Instagram

Why Brockton Clients Choose Us

Ask Maureen Lamie what makes a great foil job and she won't talk about product. She'll talk about the fifteen minutes before the foil ever touches the hair — face shape, growth pattern, cowlicks, how the client actually wears their hair on a Tuesday versus a Saturday. Twenty-five-plus years into her career, Maureen still maps every head like it's the first one she's ever done, because in a real sense it is: no two clients grow hair the same way, and treating balayage as a template is how salons end up with regrowth lines that look like a ruler drew them.

That kind of discipline doesn't happen by accident, and it isn't unique to hair. Brockton knows a thing or two about what real discipline produces — this is the city that gave the world Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, two fighters who didn't get good by accident either. We're not going to lean on that comparison too hard, but it's the right one: craft, in any form, is built from repetition most people never see. That's what you're paying for when you sit in one of our chairs.

Specialists, Not Generalists

Most salons ask one or two stylists to be good at everything. We built the opposite model. Maureen owns foiling and balayage. Janet Layden owns color correction. Laura Blaikie owns blonding. Alicia Hayward owns curl work. Jackie Shaughnessy owns precision cutting and alternative hair. When you book with us, you're not getting "a stylist" — you're getting the specific person whose whole career has been built around your specific need.

Consultations That Actually Set Expectations

Every service starts with a real conversation, not a five-minute scalp scan while someone else preps the color bowl. We talk through what your hair has been through, what your daily routine actually looks like, and what's realistic to achieve in one visit versus two or three.

One Stylist, Start to Finish

The person who consults with you is the person who cuts, colors, and finishes you. Nobody hands your foils off to an assistant halfway through. That continuity is rare in this industry, and it's been standard here since 1986.

Full Services Menu

Here's the complete rundown of what we offer, priced honestly and without hidden add-ons sprung on you at checkout.

Hair Cut

  • Barber's Cut — $35
  • Kid's Cut — $35
  • Short Haircut — $44
  • Medium Haircut — $66
  • Long Haircut — $88
  • Extra-Long Haircut — $110
  • Shampoo + Cut — $50
  • Shampoo, Cut & Blowdry — $60
  • Shampoo + Blowdry — $35
  • Perm — $105

See the full breakdown on our Hair Cut services page.

Hair Color

  • Single Process — $75
  • Double Process — $120
  • Partial Foil — $148
  • Full Foil — $185
  • Balayage — $220
  • Custom Foil (add-on) — $22
  • Color Balance — $37
  • Up-Do — $100

Full color menu and technique explanations live on our Hair Color services page.

Alternative Hair and Toppers

Jackie Shaughnessy leads these consultations personally — private, unhurried, and discreet for clients navigating thinning hair or volume loss. Because every situation is different, this service is priced after a consultation rather than off a fixed menu. Details are on the Alternative Hair and Toppers page.

Hair Extensions

Kim Messing personally handles extension consultations and application, including tape-ins through her Hot Heads certification. Like alternative hair, pricing depends on the method, the amount of hair needed, and your goals, so we quote after talking it through. More on the Hair Extensions page.

Tinting and Waxing

  • Eyebrow Wax — $20
  • Brow Tint — $20
  • Lip/Chin Wax — $25

Full details on the Tinting and Waxing page.

Meet the Team

Nine specialists, one shared standard. Here's the quick version — you'll get the longer story on each of them further down the page.

  • Kim Messing — Owner and master colorist. 38-plus years in, board-certified, and still the one clients get referred to for the hardest color puzzles.
  • Jackie Shaughnessy — Senior stylist and cutting specialist with 38 years of experience, known for cutting curly hair dry, curl by curl.
  • Maureen Lamie — Master stylist and foiling/balayage specialist with 25-plus years of strategic, mapped-out color placement.
  • Janet Layden — Color correction specialist who untangles box-dye mishaps, banding, and botched highlights.
  • Laura Blaikie — Blonding specialist working in bright, dimensional, and lived-in blonde using bond-protecting formulas at every step.
  • Alicia Hayward — DevaCurl-certified curl specialist, one of few on the South Shore trained directly by the DevaCurl team.
  • Emma Browning — Contemporary cutting specialist for trend-forward shapes, plus vivid color using Pulp Riot.
  • Judy — Senior stylist and blowout specialist with 25-plus years of experience, a favorite for weddings and galas.
  • Kat — Texture and updo specialist and salon assistant, known for braids, twists, and event-ready styling.

Browse everyone's full profile on our Meet Our Team page.

What It's Actually Like to Visit

Let's be straightforward about something: Kimberly Messing Hair Design is located in Braintree, not Brockton. We're not going to pretend otherwise, and we're not interested in vague language designed to make you think we're closer than we are. What we will say is that we've had Brockton clients making the trip up Route 24 and over to Washington Street for years, and most of them will tell you the same thing — it stopped feeling like "a drive" pretty quickly once they found a stylist who actually got their hair right.

The salon has occupied its spot on Washington Street since 1986, which by South Shore standards makes it something of an institution. That kind of longevity matters more than it sounds like it should — it means the product lines have had decades to get refined, the training has had decades to compound, and the team has had decades to build the kind of client relationships that don't happen after one visit.

South Shore hair has its own personality across the year — salt air in the summer, biting dry cold in the winter, and a humidity swing in between that can undo a blowout in twenty minutes flat. We'll get into the science of all that later on this page, but it's worth knowing upfront that this isn't a one-size-fits-all climate, and it isn't treated like one here.

What Our Clients Are Saying

★★★★★ Lynne R — "Super easy to book online and was lucky to get a same day appointment too. I had never been to this hair salon, everyone was welcoming and the place was very comfortable. My appointment was with Janet, who was friendly and listened to my babbling lol. She gave me a wonderful..." (Verified Google review)

★★★★★ Lori Murphy — "I'm so very happy with the cut & color. Kim recommended Alicia to me. She was very careful to discuss & understand all of my hair needs before the process and during as I hadn't had my hair cut in a long time and was nervous. I felt so right at home ( only way better!) I..." (Verified Google review)

★★★★★ Lisa Kelley — "1st visit to Salon. Alicia could not have been any nicer. I was making drastic changes and she totally Deserves the 5 star review! Kim the owner even introduced herself ! What a pleasant surprise. It's definitely worth giving them a try" (Verified Google review)

Read more reviews on Google

Deeper Team Bios

Kim Messing didn't just open a salon in 1986 — she built the standard everyone here still works to. Her board certification puts her in a small minority of colorists nationwide, and she treats it as a floor, not a finish line, continuing to train regularly with Goldwell, Redken, Keratin Complex, and Olaplex decades into her career. She mixes custom formulas for nearly every color client rather than reaching for something pre-mixed off a chart, because she considers "close enough" the enemy of good color work. Her Hot Heads certification means she personally leads every tape-in extension consultation, and when another stylist runs into a correction case that's genuinely stuck, Kim is who they call in.

Jackie Shaughnessy has spent 38 years learning that curly hair doesn't behave like straight hair pretending to be curly — which is why she cuts it dry, curl by curl, rather than wet and hoping the shrinkage cooperates. She also leads every Alternative Hair and Toppers consultation in the building, a role she treats with real discretion for clients working through thinning or volume loss. Beyond that, she still does color work regularly, giving her one of the broadest skill sets on the team.

Maureen Lamie approaches foiling the way an engineer approaches load-bearing structure — nothing goes in without a plan first. Before she places a single foil, she's already mapped the client's face shape, natural growth pattern, and day-to-day lifestyle, which is why her balayage work grows out soft instead of demanding a touch-up the moment new growth shows. With 25-plus years behind her, she's the one other stylists ask for a second opinion when a client's hair has been through multiple prior color histories and the placement gets genuinely complicated.

Janet Layden is who you want in the chair if your hair has a color history that went sideways — box dye that faded strangely, highlights that turned brassy, or years of root touch-ups that left visible banding. She's technically fluent in lift levels, fillers, toners, and bonding agents, and she uses that vocabulary to actually diagnose what happened before she tries to fix it, rather than guessing. She also builds layered, dimensional tone work for clients who just want depth rather than a full correction.

Laura Blaikie specializes in blonde — bright blonde, dimensional blonde, the soft lived-in kind that doesn't scream "just colored." She mixes foil work with hand-painting depending on what a head of hair actually needs, and she runs Olaplex and K18 through every lightening service as a standard practice, not an upsell. Clients moving from naturally dark hair into a significantly lighter shade tend to end up in her chair specifically because that transition is where lightening damage risk is highest, and she treats it accordingly.

Alicia Hayward trained directly with the DevaCurl team and holds a certification that's genuinely uncommon on the South Shore. Her whole approach to curly, wavy, and coily hair starts with understanding a client's actual curl pattern and daily routine before she ever picks up shears, and she cuts dry, curl by curl, so the shape she creates matches how the hair actually falls — not how it looks stretched out wet.

Emma Browning is one of the newer faces on the team, but she came in with strong foundational training and has been mentored to the exact same standard as everyone else here. She specializes in contemporary cutting — textured shags, French bobs, butterfly layers — shapes that read as trend-driven on the surface but require real technical structure underneath to actually hold up. She also works in vivid and fashion color using Pulp Riot, a line formulated specifically for longevity rather than fading out in three washes.

Judy has spent 25-plus years becoming the person people call before a wedding or a gala. She's skilled in pin curls, finger waves, French twists, and the kind of voluminous, runway-style waves that photograph well and hold up through a full night of dancing. She also does polished, low-maintenance cuts for clients who need something that looks put-together with minimal daily effort.

Kat keeps the floor running and handles texture work that most salons don't have anyone dedicated to — braids, updos, twists, and event-ready ponytails built to survive a full night out. She's steadily building a following for color work, particularly with brunette clients, and she's become one of the people newer clients get pointed toward when they want texture styling done right.

Products We Carry

We stock more than 200 products across roughly 28 professional brands, which is a lot more than most salons bother with — but the range exists because different hair problems genuinely need different chemistry. K18 handles peptide bond repair for hair that's been through lightening or heat damage. Goldwell covers both color and care, including Color Revive, Kerasilk, and Dualsenses. Redken's All Soft, Color Extend Magnetics, and Acidic Bonding Concentrate lines round out color maintenance. Keratin Complex is our go-to smoothing system, and Olaplex's No.3, No.4, and No.5 stay in near-constant rotation for bond building.

Beyond those anchor lines, we also carry Soma, Zenagen for thinning hair, Tri Design, Living Proof for frizz control, Aluram as a clean-beauty option, Design Me, Amika, Pureology, Milk_shake, Hot Like Me, Revitalash, ECRU New York, FHI Heat, Wahl, and Jon Renau for wigs and toppers. If you have a specific hair concern, odds are good we already carry something built for it.

Our Philosophy

Since 1986, this salon has run on one non-negotiable rule: one stylist per client, from the first consultation to the final blowout. We don't double-book two clients into overlapping color processing, and we don't hand your foils off to whichever assistant happens to be free. If a stylist starts your service, that same stylist finishes it.

The other half of that philosophy is honesty. If your hair needs a health-restoring treatment before it can handle the lightening service you came in wanting, you'll hear that up front — not after damage has already happened. Sometimes the right answer is "let's get there in two visits instead of one," and we'd rather say that out loud than chase a same-day result that costs you your hair's integrity.

Hair Science: Understanding South Shore Hair

Living near the coast in Massachusetts puts specific, predictable stress on hair year-round. Here's what's actually happening and what we do about it.

Hard Water Mineral Buildup

Much of the South Shore deals with hard water carrying calcium, iron, and magnesium — minerals that coat the hair shaft over time, causing dullness, brassiness in blonde and highlighted hair, faster color fade, and general product buildup that no amount of shampooing on its own resolves. Periodic chelating treatments strip that mineral layer back out and let color and moisture actually do their job again.

Humidity and Frizz

New England summers bring humidity that swells the hair's outer cuticle layer, disrupting smoothness and triggering frizz almost regardless of hair type. The fix isn't just a product — it starts with cut technique that works with your hair's natural fall, then layers in anti-humidity products and, for some clients, a keratin smoothing service that meaningfully changes how hair behaves in wet air.

Salt Air and Coastal Influence

Being close to the coast means salt air is a near-constant factor, and it dries hair out while dulling color vibrancy over time. A consistent moisture routine, UV-protective leave-ins, and a salt-lifting clarifying shampoo used periodically all help counteract it.

Winter Damage

Dry indoor heat, static, and constant friction from hats and scarves all take a toll once the temperature drops. Most clients need to shift their home care routine every fall — more moisture, less stripping — to avoid arriving at spring with brittle, over-dried ends.

Seasonal Color Strategy

Tone reads differently under winter light than it does under summer light, which is why some clients adjust their color formula twice a year rather than running the same shade on repeat. It's a small shift that keeps color looking intentional across seasons instead of slightly "off" for half the year.

Your Free Consultation

Every new service starts with a free, no-obligation consultation, typically 20 to 30 minutes. During that time, we'll go through your hair's history, its current condition and porosity, your daily routine, and lifestyle factors that affect hair more than people expect — workouts, swimming, sun exposure, sleep habits. Bring photos if you have them, both of looks you want and looks you specifically want to avoid; those are often more useful than verbal descriptions alone. By the end, you'll have a realistic sense of the outcome, an upfront cost and time estimate, and a maintenance plan for keeping the result looking right between visits.

Part of the Brockton Community

Brockton has earned its nickname the hard way. The "City of Champions" title traces back to two of the greatest boxers to ever step into a ring — Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler — both products of the same discipline-over-shortcuts mentality that, frankly, we respect in any craft. The Brockton Fair has drawn the region together for generations too, a reminder that this city has always had its own gravity on the South Shore.

We're honest that our physical home is a short drive away in Braintree, not in Brockton itself. But we've served clients from Brockton for years, and the relationship works because we don't ask anyone to compromise on quality just because they're driving a little further to get it. New England living means embracing the seasons rather than fighting them, and that's exactly the approach we bring to hair care across the South Shore, Brockton included.

Is the Drive Worth It?

Honestly — yes, and here's the actual case for it rather than a marketing line. You're getting board-certified color expertise from an owner who still personally handles the hardest cases. You're getting nine specialists instead of one or two generalists trying to be good at everything. You're getting one stylist's undivided attention for your entire appointment instead of a rotation of hands. And you're getting a client base with real staying power — people who've been coming back for years, some for decades, which tells you something products and marketing can't fake.

Logistically, it's easier than people expect too. There's a free parking lot, so no circling for a meter. Evening hours run Tuesday through Thursday for anyone working a standard schedule, and Saturday availability covers the rest.

What Clients Book Us for Most

Color leads the list by a wide margin, and for a city the size of Brockton, that's usually where search intent points first. We've got four specialists covering it from different angles: Kim handles custom formulation and the toughest correction work, Maureen owns strategic foiling and balayage placement, Janet specializes in fixing color that's gone wrong, and Laura Blaikie covers blonding specifically — bright, dimensional, or soft and lived-in, always run through Olaplex and K18 to protect the hair structure during the lift. If you're going noticeably lighter than your natural shade, Laura's chair is usually the right one, since that's the transition where lightening puts the most stress on hair and where bond protection matters most.

Cutting isn't far behind. Alicia handles curly, wavy, and coily textures with her DevaCurl training; Jackie delivers classic, precise shapes; Emma brings trend-forward cuts with real technical structure underneath; and Judy and Kat get booked heavily for event styling — weddings, galas, and anything that needs to hold up under a long night.

Rounding things out are extensions and specialty treatments: Kim's tape-in work, keratin smoothing treatments for frizz-prone or humidity-stressed hair, and Jon Renau toppers for clients dealing with thinning or medical hair loss, handled personally and discreetly.

Building a Relationship With Your Stylist Over Time

The value of working with one stylist compounds. The tenth visit is better than the first, because your stylist has learned exactly how your hair behaves — how it lifts, how it holds color, how it responds to heat, what it does in August versus February. Most clients settle into a rhythm: color touch-ups every four to six weeks, highlights or balayage every eight to twelve weeks, cuts every six to eight weeks, and treatments on a quarterly cadence. Salon-hopping resets that knowledge every time, which is part of why we push so hard on continuity — sticking with one stylist consistently beats spreading appointments across several salons chasing the lowest price or the next opening.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Kimberly Messing Hair Design a strong choice for Brockton clients?
Nine specialists instead of generalists, a board-certified colorist at the helm, and a one-stylist-per-client philosophy that's been standard since 1986.

How long does color typically last?
Single process and root touch-ups usually run four to six weeks before needing attention, highlights run eight to twelve weeks, and balayage tends to stretch to twelve to sixteen weeks thanks to its softer regrowth line.

Does coloring damage hair?
A single process is generally gentle. Lightening services carry more risk, which is why we run Olaplex and K18 through them — most serious damage we see actually traces back to salon-hopping or box dye used at home, not professional lightening done correctly.

How long should I plan for an appointment?
Single process typically runs 90 minutes to 2 hours, a root touch-up 75 to 90 minutes, partial foil 2 to 2.5 hours, full foil 2.5 to 3.5 hours, balayage 2.5 to 3.5 hours, and correction work can run 4 to 8 hours, sometimes split across two visits.

What's the difference between balayage and foil highlights?
Foil tends to produce brighter, more clearly defined lightness, while balayage gives a softer, more blended look with easier regrowth. Your consultation will help determine which fits your hair and maintenance preferences better.

How do I keep my color from fading?
Use a sulfate-free shampoo, wash every two to three days rather than daily, rinse with cooler water, use heat protectant, apply a UV leave-in, rinse hair before swimming, and if you're dealing with hard water, add a monthly clarifying treatment.

How much does a full transformation cost?
It depends entirely on your starting color, target color, and hair length, so we quote it after a free consultation rather than guessing at a number that won't hold up in the chair.

How do I know which stylist is right for me?
That's exactly what the free consultation is for — we'll match you to the specialist whose focus lines up with what you're actually trying to achieve.

What if I'm not happy with my result?
Speak up before you leave the chair if at all possible. We'll work with you on a plan to adjust it — our goal is a result you're genuinely happy with, not just one that's technically finished.

Can I bring a friend to my appointment?
Yes, we can often arrange overlapping appointment times so you're both being taken care of at once.

Extended FAQ

Do you handle medical hair loss?
Yes. Kim personally handles Jon Renau wig and topper consultations, and we keep that process private and discreet, with parking available that doesn't require walking through the main floor if that's a concern.

Do you sell gift cards?
Yes, in any amount, and they never expire.

What payment methods do you accept?
Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, debit cards, and gift cards.

What's your cancellation policy?
We ask for 24 hours' notice. Same-day cancellations or no-shows are charged 50% of the scheduled service.

Is tipping expected?
It's not required, but 18 to 22% is standard in the industry, and you can tip by cash, card, or Venmo.

Do you accept walk-ins?
We run appointment-based, but it's always worth calling to check same-day openings.

What happens if I'm running late?
Call ahead if you can. Arriving more than about 15 minutes late may mean shortening the service or rescheduling, depending on how the day's booked.

Can I bring my kids to my appointment?
Kids are welcome as long as they're seated and supervised. If they're getting their own service, they'll need an accompanying adult present.

Do you do wedding day hair?
Yes, with advance booking. Trials happen in-salon, and day-of styling is often done on location at the venue.

How do I book my first appointment?
Online or by phone — we actually recommend calling for a first visit, since it lets us match you to the right specialist before you ever sit down.

Will the same stylist do my whole appointment?
Yes, always. One stylist, start to finish, is the standard here and has been since 1986.

How often should I really be coming in?
It depends on the service — roughly every four to six weeks for color, eight to twelve weeks for highlights or balayage, six to eight weeks for cuts, and quarterly for treatments like keratin smoothing.

What should I do if my hair has a complicated color history?
Be upfront about it during your consultation, and bring photos if you have them. Complex correction cases sometimes need to be split across two appointments to protect hair health, and we'll tell you that honestly rather than rushing it.

Do you offer consultations for extensions?
Yes, Kim leads those personally, and pricing depends on the method and amount of hair needed, which is why it's quoted after discussing your goals.

Booking, Hours, and What to Expect on Your First Visit

Ready to get on the books? Book online here, or call us directly at 781-817-5077.

Hours: Monday — Closed | Tuesday 9:00am–7:00pm | Wednesday 9:00am–7:00pm | Thursday 9:00am–8:00pm | Friday 9:00am–4:00pm | Saturday 9:00am–4:00pm | Sunday — Closed

What to bring: Photos of looks you want and looks you specifically don't want, a list of the products you currently use, and any questions about your hair's history.

What to wear: Avoid white or light colors since some dampness is normal during service — we provide capes and towels either way.

Time to plan for: A cut and style usually takes 60 to 90 minutes. A single process plus cut runs about 2 to 2.5 hours. Highlights with a cut typically take 3 to 4 hours, and balayage with a cut runs similarly. Correction work varies significantly and will be discussed during your consultation.

Parking: Free lot on-site — no meters, no garage to navigate.

Check-in: You'll be greeted at the front desk, and your stylist will find you within minutes to start your consultation right away.

Also Serving Nearby Communities

Our Specialty Services

Ready When You Are

Brockton deserves better than a generalist salon shuffling you through whoever's available that day. It deserves a team that's spent decades getting specific things exactly right — Maureen's foiling, Laura's blonding, Alicia's curl work, Kim's color science — and a philosophy that puts one dedicated stylist on your hair from the first consultation to the last blowdry.

Come see the difference specialization makes. Book your appointment online or call us at 781-817-5077 — we're at 533 Washington Street in Braintree, and we'd genuinely love to meet you.