Overdue for a haircut but not keen to trek all the way into town? Whampoa’s rows of HDB blocks along Whampoa Drive and Whampoa West hide a small but genuine cluster of hair salons in Whampoa that residents have quietly relied on for years, tucked between wet market stalls and the void deck shops that give this estate its unmistakably heartland feel.
Sandwiched between Novena, Farrer Park and Boon Keng, Whampoa doesn’t get much love in food and lifestyle write-ups, but its salons do steady business precisely because they know their regulars by name. If you already have your eye on a fresh cut nearer the office, our roundup of hair salons in Farrer Park is worth a look too, and we’ve also covered hair salons in Novena for anyone commuting from the other side of the estate.
We spent time checking who’s actually open, what they specialise in, and whether their listed details hold up, so you can walk in with reasonable confidence instead of gambling on a random search result. Whether you’re after a quick trim between errands or someone who genuinely understands curly hair, this list should point you somewhere worth your time.
Note: This list is strictly not in order.
Quick Picks: Hair Salons In Whampoa
In This Guide
Image Credit: NearMe (illustrative image)
Best for: Curly and textured hair
Estimated price: Not published online. The salon does not list a price menu publicly, so it’s best to call ahead and confirm before booking.
Website: Not available. No official website or social media page could be confirmed; bookings can be made through the salon’s Fresha listing.
Location: 89 Whampoa Drive, #01-843, Singapore 320089
Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm
Phone number: +65 6250 6627
KM Hair Salon has built a name for itself in this part of Whampoa mainly through word of mouth, and curly hair is where it stands out. A lot of neighbourhood unisex salons treat curly or textured hair as an inconvenience to rush through, but the styling approach here leans into the texture instead of fighting it, useful if you’ve been burned before by a stylist who just wanted to blow-dry everything straight.
It’s a small, no-frills setup rather than a polished studio, which suits the estate it sits in. Regulars tend to be residents from the surrounding blocks along Whampoa Drive, plus a number from Novena and Boon Keng who’ve heard about the curly hair specialism specifically. Booking ahead through Fresha is the more reliable way in, since walk-in slots can fill up on weekend mornings.
What to note: Pricing isn’t published anywhere online, so call ahead if you want a sense of cost before committing, particularly for any chemical or specialty curly hair treatment, since these tend to vary the most from one salon to the next.
Image Credit: NearMe (illustrative image)
Best for: Quick, no-frills unisex cuts
Estimated price: Not published online. Contact the salon directly to confirm.
Website: Not available. No official website or social media page could be confirmed; bookings can be made through the salon’s Fresha listing.
Location: 81 Whampoa Drive, #01-901, Singapore 320081
Operating hours: Monday, Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 7pm; closed on Tuesdays
Phone number: +65 9819 3310
New Image Unisex Hair Salon does exactly what its name promises without much fuss. It’s the kind of salon locals pop into for a straightforward trim or wash-and-cut on the way back from the market, not somewhere you’d book for a full colour transformation. The unisex setup means it works equally well for a quick student cut or a father bringing his kid along.
Being closed on Tuesdays instead of the more common Monday closure catches some people out, so note it before planning a visit. Otherwise, the six-days-a-week schedule and central Whampoa Drive location make it an easy default for anyone who just wants competent, unpretentious service close to home.
What to note: Closed on Tuesdays rather than Mondays, so double check before making a special trip on what you might otherwise assume is a normal weekday.
Image Credit: NearMe (illustrative image)
Best for: Evening appointments after work
Estimated price: Not published online. Contact the salon directly to confirm.
Website: Alfa Unisex Saloon’s official Facebook page.
Location: 81 Whampoa Drive, #01-917, Singapore 320081
Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 8.30pm; Saturday, 10am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 10am to 5.30pm
Phone number: +65 6256 9048 (one independent business directory lists +65 6278 0335 instead; the two haven’t been fully reconciled, so confirm you’ve reached the right outlet when you call)
Alfa Unisex Saloon is part of a small local chain with a handful of outlets around Singapore, including this one on Whampoa Drive, and the chain-level consistency shows up mainly in its hours. Weekday closing at 8.30pm is later than either of the other two salons on this list, making it the practical pick if you’re coming straight from work and don’t want to rush.
It sits in the same block as New Image Unisex Hair Salon at 81 Whampoa Drive, but in a different unit, #01-917 rather than #01-901, so double-check the unit number on your way down instead of assuming they’re the same shop. The service itself covers the usual unisex range, from basic cuts to colouring and children’s haircuts.
What to note: This entry covers specifically the Whampoa Drive outlet (#01-917), not the chain’s other branches elsewhere in Singapore, since pricing and stylists can differ by outlet. As noted above, its phone number appears differently across two independent directories, so double-check you’ve reached the right outlet when you call.
Whampoa doesn’t have its own MRT station, but it’s genuinely walkable from a few different lines. Boon Keng MRT on the North East Line sits closest to the Whampoa Drive cluster, roughly a ten-minute walk, while Novena MRT on the North South Line and Farrer Park MRT on the North East Line both work as alternatives depending on which block you’re starting from. Bus services along Serangoon Road and Balestier Road also connect the estate to Toa Payoh and the wider city, so driving in isn’t strictly necessary, though street parking along Whampoa Drive can get tight on weekend afternoons.
Whampoa may not show up often on Singapore’s radar for beauty destinations, and that’s rather the point: these are salons built around regulars, not Instagram queues. If you live or work in this pocket of the city, any of the three above should get you a decent, no-drama haircut without needing to head into town.
For readers exploring a bit further afield, we’ve also covered hair salons in Farrer Park and hair salons in Novena, both a short ride from Whampoa if none of these three quite fit your schedule or the look you’re after.
Is there parking near these hair salons in Whampoa?
Yes. Whampoa Drive and Whampoa West sit within HDB estates with multi-storey and surface carparks, and most spots require payment via the parking apps used across Singapore’s public carparks. Availability is decent on weekday mornings but gets tighter on weekend afternoons when residents and visitors overlap, so building in a few extra minutes to find a lot isn’t a bad idea.
What’s the nearest MRT station to Whampoa?
Boon Keng MRT on the North East Line is the closest, about a ten-minute walk from the Whampoa Drive salons. Novena MRT on the North South Line and Farrer Park MRT on the North East Line are both reasonable alternatives depending on which part of the estate you’re coming from.
How much does a haircut cost at these salons?
None of the three salons in this list publish a full price menu online, which is fairly typical for small neighbourhood unisex salons in HDB estates. The most reliable way to know what you’ll pay is to call ahead, especially if you’re after colouring, perming or any chemical treatment, since those tend to vary the most from one salon to the next.
What’s the best time to visit for a shorter wait?
Weekday mornings and early afternoons tend to be quieter across all three salons. Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings see the most foot traffic from residents running weekend errands, so if you have flexibility, aim for a weekday visit instead.
Verification needed: KM Hair Salon: pricing not published online; operating hours sourced from a single listing (Fresha) and not independently cross-confirmed elsewhere; no official website or social media page could be found. New Image Unisex Hair Salon: pricing not published online; no official website or social media page could be found; operating hours sourced from a single listing (Fresha). Alfa Unisex Saloon: pricing not published online; phone number conflicts across two independent directories (+65 6256 9048 vs +65 6278 0335), not fully reconciled; unit number (#01-917) confirmed via two directory sources but not the salon’s own official channel. All three: exact hours and prices can shift, especially around public holidays, so calling ahead before a special trip is the safest approach.