For more than a quarter-century, the image-consulting experts at Thomas West Salon have shaped manes into contemporary coiffures using products by Aveda, Oribe, and Kevin Murphy. Inside their styling hub on the second floor of Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, more than 20 highly trained stylists flaunt specialties ranging from frizz-taming keratin treatments to extensions, as well as resumés that list training from institutions such as Vidal Sassoon, Frederic Fekkai, and Redken. Beyond excelling at texturizing cuts and applying cutting-edge trends such as hair tinsel or hair popcorn strings, the salon offers special-occasion styles and professional makeup for weddings or other special events.