About US
Our Story
Ask Chris what Crush Studio is about and he will not talk about trends first. He will tell you it is a comfortable space where people come, get it done, and enjoy the hour they spend here. Great hair being done. Good banter. That is the whole idea, and everything else is built on top of it.
We are community based, and we say it plainly because we mean it. We give to the local schools. We donate to causes around the neighborhood through the year. We stay grounded in Astoria because Astoria is where we live and where our clients live.
We welcome everybody from every neighborhood. There is no dress code here and no right kind of client. If you walk in the door, you belong in the chair.
OUR APPROACH
How We Work
Every service starts with a conversation. Your stylist asks what you want, looks at what your hair will actually do, and tells you the truth about the gap between the two. Sometimes the honest answer is that we should get there over two visits instead of one. We would rather say that than send you home with hair that does not work.
We try to have the best customer service we can, because that is where it starts. Not with the cut. With how you are treated from the moment you walk in.
We also stay on top of what is happening in hair. The room keeps learning, all of us, from the shampoo bowl to the owner’s chair. Since 2017, Chris still says the same thing. Everyone here is trying to get better at what they do.
A room built from the top down
Chris assisted for years before he ever had his own chair, so he knows exactly what the job feels like from the bottom of the ladder. He builds this place with the staff, not over them.
His view is simple. If the foundation is not strong at the bottom, and the leadership at the top is not pleasant and encouraging, you get a hostile room. Clients feel that the second they walk in. So he keeps it warm on purpose.
Take care of your people, and they will take care of everyone else.
Hair Stylist
the Team
The people who will be looking after you. Book with whoever you like, or call and we will match you.
Chris Brescia
Founder and Stylist
Chris grew up in the East Bronx, and he was always creative. He loved art. He loved a lot of things, and he struggled to work out what to do with any of it.
What he loved most was graffiti. He came up in a neighborhood where it was everywhere, and where some of the most famous writers in the city got their start. He was honest with himself about it, though. He was never going to make a living that way. But the pull stayed. He wanted to work with his hands and his eye, and he wanted to make something people could see.
He looked at becoming a barber, then found cosmetology school and unisex hair. That was the one. He jumped in with both feet, and he never looked back
Emi Vasquez
Hair Stylist
Emi has been working as a hair stylist for over ten years. Emi started this profession in Buenos Aires, Argentina where own her very own hairsalon in her early twenties. Currently Emi is seeing clients in NYC, where she is able to transform her client’s hairs. She has extensive experience in hair cutting, hair coloring and hair styling for clients of all ages and sexes. She possesses an in depth knowledge of hair styles that are contemporary and keeps up with new trends while making sure each hairstyle is personalized to her client’s needs. Emi is friendly, talented and honest which is why she has been able to maintain the majority of her clients. Book your appointment today for the hair experience you have been waiting for!
Cate
Hair Stylist
Cate Thomas is a born-and-raised Astoria, New York native with a passion for creating hair that feels personal to each client. She attended the Arrojo Academy for cosmetology, where she trained in unique haircutting techniques and developed skills in both classic scissor cutting and razor cutting.
Cate especially loves working with curly hair and embracing each client’s natural texture to create cuts that feel effortless and individual. She’s excited to continue growing behind the chair, building relationships with her clients, and helping them find a style they feel great in.
Outside the salon, Cate loves traveling, getting lost in a good book, and—given the opportunity—talking about her cat
Need Help?
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we get asked in the chair every week, answered straight. If yours is not here, call the studio and ask us.
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?
We will always try to fit in a walk-in, and sometimes we can. Booking ahead is safer, because it holds your stylist and the right amount of time. Book online or call 718-204-2096.
What is parking like?
Street parking is usually available on Ditmars and the side streets around us. If you are taking the train, we are a short walk from the Ditmars Blvd stop on the N and W.
Do you work with curly and textured hair?
Yes, every day. Come in with your hair worn the way you normally wear it so we can see your real curl pattern before we cut.
How much is a haircut?
It depends on your hair and the service. Starting prices are on the pricing page, and your stylist confirms the exact figure at your consultation before any work begins.