Trim some hair off your hair or beautify your beauty zones with today's side deal. For $40, new customers get $85 worth of salon services at Cutting Image Salon in the East Village. This down-to-earth boutique provides a full menu of salon services coupled with top-notch stylists, creating a potent elixir worthy of a Critics' Pick in New York magazine.

Cutting Image offers up an array of beautifiers, including cuts, colorings, extensions, makeup, and more. Haircuts vary in price based on requested level of stylist, length and density of hair, and time required. A standard women's cut starts at $85, men's start at $55, and single-process color starts at $75. Since prices are quoted before the first snip or style, you won’t be in for any surprises, unlike that can purportedly full of delicious spring-loaded snakes that turned out to be boring old peanut brittle. If you want to go curlicue, perm it up, or travel to the opposite end of the hair pool with a relaxer transformation ($110+). If you’re happy with your headtop, spruce your facade with a brow shaping ($15) or full makeup makeover ($50+).

While CI's expert staffers are well versed in a bevy of services, the salon makes a concerted effort to not overextend its technician's talents. Keeping offerings focused allows stylists to master their craft without being spread too thin, like the time they tried to paint New York City green, but ran out after Lady Liberty. The salon also prides itself on listening to its customers’ specific wants, whether they pertain to hairstyle, makeup preferences, or a favorite romantic comedy featuring a shirtless Matthew McConaughey.

Reviews

New York magazine lists Cutting Image Salon as a Critics' Pick:

• Trendy boutiques are a dime a dozen in the East Village, but you’ll be hard pressed to find one as gracious and down-to-earth as the Cutting Image Salon… The menu of services is as modest as the salon itself—cuts, highlights, single-process color, chemical straightening, and makeup application—but it’s all heaped with good cheer and focused expertise.

Citysearchers and three Yelpers give it a perfect five stars:

• People stop me on the street to tell me how much they love my haircut. I don't want to gush, but this is the best I've ever looked…Their stylists are very experienced and well educated. In addition to being totally hot, my haircut is technically very well done and grew out nicely. I've been to a lot of "hip" salons on the Lower East Side/East Village, but I've never felt as awesome as when I walked out of this place. Everyone is incredibly friendly, and the prices are completely reasonable for the quality. – wallpapered, Citysearch