The Story
Craft Collective Salon was founded by Derek Piekarski, a globally recognized hairdresser and Wella Professionals artist whose technical mastery was forged through training artists for seven of the industry's top hair brands. After years working at the highest levels of the profession, Piekarski brought that expertise home to Pittsburgh, opening Craft Collective's flagship studio at 2014 Babcock Boulevard in the North Hills, with a second location in Canonsburg.
The salon has quickly become the most talked-about name in Pittsburgh hair. The team specializes in dimensional balayage, precision blonding, vivid color, hand-tied extensions, keratin smoothing treatments, and corrective color for clients recovering from less fortunate salon experiences elsewhere. Craft Collective works with premium product lines including Wella, R+Co, Hail & Hush, and Aveda vegan color, giving the team the range to handle virtually any hair type, texture, or creative vision.
What separates Craft Collective from other technically excellent salons is the culture of continuous education that Piekarski has built into the studio's DNA. Every stylist on the team trains regularly, and the result is a consistency of quality that clients notice immediately. With a near-perfect rating across review platforms and a growing reputation that extends well beyond the North Hills, Craft Collective Salon has earned its place as The Pittsburgh Wire's #1 ranked hair salon in Pittsburgh for 2026.
What Makes It Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has always been a city that respects craft. From steelworkers to software engineers, the culture here values people who take their work seriously and do it at the highest level. Derek Piekarski embodies that ethos. He could have built his career anywhere, but he chose Pittsburgh, and the city is better for it. Craft Collective fits right into the tradition of world-class talent choosing to put down roots in the Steel City and building something that elevates the entire community.
Read our full feature: Best Hair Salons in Pittsburgh 2026