come hang
we’re a small team specializing in razor cuts, lived-in cut + color, clean products, and a relaxing experience.
we lovingly serve individuals of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds. everyone is welcome here.
how did the painted pony come to be?
How did The Painted Pony come to be? It all started during the uncertainty of the 2020 lockdowns when Ally was scrolling through Instagram, contemplating a move to Albuquerque. That’s when she came across Reilley’s profile. “I was Instagram stalking the whole city,” Ally laughs, “and then I found Reilley, and I’m like, ‘Oh, a lot of vagina? That looks like someone I’d be friends with!’” A DM turned into Reilley looking at apartments for Ally, and before long, she was picking up keys and setting up a mattress in Ally’s new apartment.
Two weeks after Ally moved to Albuquerque, Reilley had a wild idea. “We should open a salon together,” she said, and four months later, we signed the lease. It was quick, sure, but it felt right—like it was meant to be. “We wanted all the same things,” Reilley explains, “a place that felt like home, where clients could just hang out, like they’re coming to our house.”
We both craved something different from the traditional salon experience. We didn’t want the drama, the competition, or the pressure to be the best. “We’re both Libras,” Reilley says. “We balance each other out. We’re flexible and understanding; it just works.” Our easy-going approach is what makes The Painted Pony a place where our clients can truly relax and be themselves.
The name, The Painted Pony, perfectly captures the eclectic, Southwestern vibe we were going for. It’s also a subtle nod to San Francisco’s Painted Ladies, those iconic colorful houses—tying in some of Ally’s roots.
“We don’t feel like we have to be the best in the city,” Reilley says. “We just need to be the best for us and our clients—and the people who want to come here.” At The Painted Pony, our focus is on creating a space that feels inclusive and welcoming, especially for our LGBTQIA+ clients. We strive to be an inclusive space for all identities, offering non-gendered services and using products that are natural, holistic, and free of synthetic fragrances.
“We’re not here to compete,” Ally adds, “We’re just here to vibe with our clients.” Whether you’re looking for a lived-in, wash-and-wear style or need advice on embracing your natural texture, we’re here to help you find what feels right for you.
At The Painted Pony, it’s not just about getting your hair done—it’s about being part of a community. “People here are down to support each other,” Ally says about living in New Mexico. “We love that you can just go up to someone and say, ‘Oh, I like your hair. Where did you get it done?’ That doesn’t happen much in other places.”
So, whether you’re a lifetime local, like Reilley, or newer to the area, like Ally, we’d love for you to come hang out with us at The Painted Pony.
reilley
Reilley’s story begins in Albuquerque, where she grew up as a proud Burqueña and self-described scenestress. Her passion for hair started in high school when she cut her friends’ hair in her kitchen. “I was a scene kid,” she divulges, “so I had to cut my own hair a lot because hairdressers didn’t always understand how I wanted to look. I’ve always felt passionate about helping other people get to look how they want—not necessarily how you think you need to look, but how you feel and what feels good for you.”
Reilley’s journey into professional hair began when she graduated from the Aveda Institute in 2013—the same year as Ally, though neither of them knew it at the time. After assisting in a large salon for six months, Reilley found herself craving more freedom and creativity, something that led her to work at Lavish for seven years. It was there she truly found her footing as a vivid fashion colorist, specializing in blonding services, vivids, and, eventually, razor cutting.
“I became a hairdresser because I didn’t want to be a normie,” she says. “I wanted to be tattooed, have fun hair, and be able to express myself. I didn’t want a 9-to-5 job. I wanted to work at 10:00 if I wanted to or till 11:00 PM if I wanted to. I just wanted freedom.” This desire for independence and self-expression led her to continually refine her skills, taking on more cutting-specific classes and mastering the art of shags, mullets, and the razor cuts that complemented her vibrant color work.
Reilley’s approach to hair is as much about the experience as it is about the outcome. She enjoys creating styles that feel effortless yet impactful. “I love lived-in hair,” she says. “I love people feeling good about themselves. I’ve always been a confident person, and what better way to live and exist in the world than to push confidence on other people? Just let it rub off, you know?”
Outside of the salon, Reilley finds peace in her garden, where she spends time with her pigs—a fun fact that never fails to intrigue her clients. “I love calmness,” she says. This laid-back, no-drama approach to life is something she’s brought into The Painted Pony, creating a space where clients can relax, be themselves, and leave feeling beautiful.
Loves: Lived-in hair, helping people feel good about themselves, her garden, her pigs, and all things colorful.
Hates: Stress, competition, rudeness, and haters.
ally
Ally’s journey into the world of hair began in San Francisco, where she worked in some of the city’s most high-end salons. A graduate of Aveda in 2013, Ally initially honed her skills in precision cutting; specifically Sassoon cutting—think harsh lines, strong shapes, and defined edges. But while she appreciated the discipline of these techniques, she always knew it wasn’t entirely her. “If you learn the rules, you can learn how to break the rules,” she says, a philosophy that’s guided her creative approach ever since.
After working at a salon on Maiden Lane, Ally realized that what she really wanted was to create something different, something more aligned with her personal style. It was at Edo Salon, under the mentorship of Jayne Mathews, that Ally began to refine her craft, focusing specifically on razor cutting and leaning even more into a natural and lived-in aesthetic. “I like dirty and messy,” Ally admits, “I like creating cool hair for people who don’t care or don’t have the energy or time to put it into their hair. I want things to be effortless.”
Her approach is holistic—Ally is passionate about scalp health, helping those with thinning hair, and using products that are clean, chemical-free, and free of synthetic fragrances. She believes in embracing natural texture and helping her clients find low-maintenance styles that work with their hair, not against it. “I’m all about helping people learn how to set their hair and air dry it to get the look they want,” she explains.
When she’s not in the salon, Ally loves spending time with her dog Odie, a 7-year-old Shih Tzu/Chihuahua. In her downtime, you’ll find her watching movies with friends or performing for them—she’s a bit of a ham. For Ally, who moved to New Mexico in 2020 and welcomed her mother here shortly thereafter, New Mexico feels like home, a place where she’s found her people and her purpose.
Loves: Wash-and-wear hair, holistic hair care, her dog Odie, couch rot, reading her diaries to her friends, and singing and dancing in the salon.
Hates: The meanness of the beauty industry, when Odie pees on her furniture, and haters.
businesses within the painted pony
desert orchid hair
Originally from Albuquerque, Alyssa got her start assisting Reilley and has been a hairstylist for over six years. She has been at The Painted Pony since winter of 2021 and is a skilled professional in lived-in color, custom extensions, vivid color, razor haircuts, grey blending, and classic/hybrid lash extensions. As an independent stylist, Alyssa invites you to visit her at The Painted Pony, where she provides a serene environment for you to unwind and enhance your natural beauty.
Click below to learn more about Alyssa and her services.
visit us
325 Candelaria Rd NE Suite B, Albuquerque, NM 87107
Hours
Wednesday - Sunday
9am - 5pm
Phone
(505) 377-5333