Blow by Blow: A Blow Dry Bar

Chicago has 1,523 hair salons listed here, and almost all of them can be reached by phone: 1,479 carry a number. Websites run behind at 1,219, so for a quarter of these salons the phone is the only way to ask about a stylist or a price before you book.

The counts lean north. Lakeview ZIP 60657 has 74 salons, more than any other in the city, with 60614 at 63 and 60618 at 50 behind it. That density cuts both ways: plenty of choice, and a walk-in wait on a Saturday. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labeled on the row. If you cut hair in Chicago and your entry is wrong or missing a link, claim it and put that right.