Friends

Hair Salon

A pretty facade hiding a salon we have basically seen before.

Brick Rated Score

3.6/5

Set 41743 · 2023

Pieces401

Minifigs3

Year2023

Set number41743

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The verdict

I built this one expecting the usual Heartlake City sparkle, and the outside genuinely delivered.

Those domed skylights and the big front windows give it a fresh silhouette that stands apart from every other salon LEGO has made. Inside is where my enthusiasm cooled a bit, because the washing station, styling chair, and gumball machine are all things Friends fans have built two or three times already in cheaper sets. It is a nice display piece for someone who loves the aesthetic, but I would not call it essential if you already own an older salon.

Best for: Friends collectors who want the prettiest salon exterior LEGO has built, not the most novel interior

The full review

What it is

The first thing I noticed putting this together was the roofline. Those domed skylights are a genuine callback to older, more whimsical LEGO Friends architecture, and paired with the big glass storefront they make the building feel like an actual destination rather than a box with a door cut into it. The little exterior touches, the scooter parking spot, the hours-of-operation sign, the bench out front, all read as thoughtful rather than filler.

The catch

Here is my honest hesitation though. Once you step inside, you are looking at a washing station, a styling chair, and a gumball machine, and Friends fans have built some version of all three in salon sets going back years, including the much cheaper 41391 Heartlake City Hair Salon. At forty dollars for 401 pieces, I kept waiting for the interior to justify the exterior's ambition, and it never quite got there. The missing hair dec holes on Nadia's pink hair also stung a little, since that used to be a signature Friends touch.

Who it's for

If you are drawn to the look of this building, or you love the Paisley makeover story where her hairpiece and expression swap to reveal a new style, you will get real enjoyment out of this one. If you already have an older hair salon set on your shelf and are hoping for a meaningfully different building experience, I would let this one pass and put the money toward a set with a feature you have not built before.

The parts story

What the build is actually like, and the pieces worth knowing about.

The build itself moves fast and stays approachable, which fits the Friends line's usual sweet spot for younger or newer builders. You spend a chunk of your time on that skylight roof structure and the window walls, and honestly that is the most satisfying stretch of the whole build. The interior furniture pieces go together quickly and without much drama, which is both a strength for a relaxed evening build and part of why the set feels a little light on surprises.

The standout physical piece here is Nadia's bright pink hairpiece, distinct from prior salon owner hair colors in the theme, plus the small printed comb-and-scissors accessory tucked into her outfit that signals her role without needing a name tag. Paisley's swap pack, an alternate hairpiece and a second face printed with a different expression, is a nice little parts trick that gives the set actual narrative play value beyond just being scenery. At 401 pieces for the retail price, the part count leans more toward paying for the building's footprint and window pieces than for a huge haul of small elements, so value-per-piece hunters may want to look elsewhere first.

Fun facts

01The set includes three minidolls: Nadia, Olly, and Paisley, with Nadia established as the salon's owner.
02Paisley comes with an extra hairpiece and an alternate facial expression specifically so kids can act out her makeover reveal.
03It launched in January 2023 at $39.99 / £39.99 / €44.99 and has since been retired by LEGO.
04Despite the larger structure, Brickset's review noted the set doesn't add much beyond the much cheaper 41391 Heartlake City Hair Salon in terms of hair salon features.