Three 125th Street beauty supply stores you need to know about
When it comes to hair care, one stop on 125th Street is all you need — here’s where to go and why!
Photography by Ming Yuan/The Barnard Bulletin
December 5, 2024
Unless you stocked up before the fall semester, you will probably need to re-purchase some of your favorite hair products and tools throughout the school year. Though it may seem simple, with the abundance of beauty supply stores on 125th Street, it’s important to compare your options to ensure you find exactly what you’re looking for on your first try since some offer more expansive inventories than others. Here is a guide to three beauty supply stores closest to Barnard’s campus: Orange Beauty Supply, Feel Beauty Wig & Hair Works, and Apollo Beauty Land.
Orange Beauty Supply
Orange Beauty Supply is the closest of the three to Barnard’s campus, being a short 20-minute walk to get there. This store was undoubtedly the busiest when visiting and the smallest — not the most ideal combination. The store has three aisles: one for hair accessories, tools, and skincare; another for hair care products; and the last for hair extensions and dye, along with a short section in the back also dedicated to hair extensions.
The middle aisle is where you can get the hair necessities like shampoo, conditioners (regular, leave-in, and deep), gels, and mousse. For this comparison, I selected two popular brands — TGIN and Mielle — so readers can easily compare prices. On average, both TGIN and Mielle products were priced at approximately $15. The gel selection in this particular store was impressive but not quite as vast as the others, and on average, the gel products were priced at $6.
Located on the left side of the store and the small section in the back, shoppers can find packs of braiding hair, bundles, hair dye, and a limited selection of hair tools. At the front, you'll find an extensive collection of false lashes and lash clusters, along with a selection of makeup products, primarily concealer, mascara, and lip gloss, for those looking to pick them up.
This was the only beauty supply store where certain products from specific brands, like As I Am and Camille Rose, were kept behind the counter. Having to ask staff for these products adds an extra step to the shopping process, making it less convenient for customers who prefer to browse and pick up items on their own without waiting for assistance. Additionally, as a heads-up, if you’re just looking to pick up something inexpensive like gel, combs, or a bonnet, it's a good idea to bring cash if you can. The store has a $10 minimum for Apple Pay and card transactions.
Feel Beauty Wig & Hair Works
Feel Beauty Wig & Hair Works is a 25-minute walk from campus and opened just a month ago. Although new to its location near the Apollo Theater, the store previously operated beside the Panda Express on 125th Street before expanding. As the newest of the three, this store is the most organized and spacious, featuring an open layout with grocery-style labeled aisles for easy navigation.
When it comes to brand and gel prices, TGIN averages $16.80, Mielle $12.70, and gel products $4.30 — making Mielle slightly less expensive and gel styling items significantly cheaper compared to Orange Beauty Supply. This store offers a larger selection of products, including the usual Black beauty care brands and popular mainstream options like Garnier, Pantene, and L'Oreal, along with shampoo jugs ideal for stocking up during the semester. They offer a wider range of hair oils, from peppermint to grapeseed, along with hair tools such as curling irons and blow dryers, plus a great selection of relaxers for those who use them.
True to the name, they have an extensive inventory of wigs displayed on mannequin heads, allowing customers to visualize the products easily. Additionally, they feature a wide variety of packed hair, including hair for passion twists averaging around $8, as well as bundles and extensions.
What sets this store apart is its selection of name-brand products not available at Orange Beauty Supply or Apollo Beauty Land. If you're looking for makeup, this store carries NYX, a famous drugstore brand, and for skincare, you'll find brands like CeraVe and Aveeno. Feel Beauty also offers a range of toiletry products, including toothbrushes, soap dishes, and menstrual products like pads and tampons for customers to purchase.
Apollo Beauty Land
Apollo Beauty Land can be found across the street from Feel Beauty, so it, too, is just a 25-minute walk away from campus. This store boasts a spacious, elongated layout thoughtfully organized for shoppers. While impressive, the store’s real standout feature is the stairway that leads to a second floor, where hairstylists braid and twist the hair of customers who just purchased their braiding hair from the first floor. It’s exceptionally convenient for those planning to get faux locs, boho braids, or passion twists and might be unsure which hair to choose. It’s also perfect for anyone looking for a simple two-in-one solution — an especially ideal option for college students.
Aside from this, the brand prices at Apollo Beauty Land average $14.80 for Mielle and $18.75 for TGIN, making them slightly more expensive than the first two beauty supply stores. Gel products here averaged around $4.50, cheaper than the Orange Beauty selection. Compared to the other stores, there are more selections of hair dye brands, hair tools, especially hot combs, and body care products like GiGi Waxing tools and the entire collection of Dr. Teal’s. This was also the only store where clip-ons were openly displayed on the sales floor. Similar to Feel Beauty, it featured an array of wigs showcased on mannequin heads, though I’d argue that Apollo Beauty Land offered a greater variety of styles.
So, what kind of audience is each store ideal for? Orange Beauty is ideal for those looking for convenience in distance, who need more general, everyday items, and who don’t mind a smaller selection.
Feel Beauty is optimal for all shoppers, whether they prefer ethnic or mainstream hair care brands. It’s perfect for those looking to save a bit at the register and for anyone seeking a one-stop shop for hair products, toiletries, makeup, and skincare.
Apollo Beauty Land is ideal for shoppers in need of hair tools, extensions, or guidance on which hair products will best suit their desired styles, with experts available on both the ground and second floors. And, of course, if you're looking for a one-stop braiding experience, Apollo Beauty Land is your best bet.
No matter your hair care needs, these three stores prove that a little stroll on 125th Street goes a long way in ensuring your looks stay on point!