I cannot say enough amazing things about Alyssa and Alchemy Studio! From the moment I walked in, the space felt beautiful, welcoming, and so thoughtfully put together. Alyssa is truly a gem -- she listens carefully, asks all the right questions, and somehow always delivers exactly what I'm envisioning (and usually better!). Her attention to detail, talent, and genuine care make every appointment feel like a treat. My hair has never looked or felt better, and I always leave feeling refreshed and confident. The studio itself is spotless, stylish, and has the most calming vibe. You can tell the entire team takes pride in creating an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a stylist who is skilled, kind, and truly invested in helping you look your best, go see Alyssa or any of the team members at Alchemy. Alyssa's the best -- I recommend her and Alchemy Studio 100%! read more

Margaret, thank you for the response. I want to clarify that my review was not primarily about the deposit itself, but about how the situation was handled. The Vagaro system canceled the appointment. My boyfriend did not miss an appointment as there was no appointment for him to attend. I was physically in the salon for my own haircut when I was told that, because the cancellation did not appear on your end, it would be treated as a no-show and the deposit would be forfeited. Being told that "it doesn't matter that the app canceled" felt dismissive, especially since this was a platform failure outside of our control. I completely understand protecting stylists' time and livelihoods. However, when a business chooses to rely on third-party booking software, system errors are part of that risk, and placing the full financial burden on the customer in those cases does not feel reasonable. A more flexible or empathetic approach would have gone a long way. My feedback is about tone, accountability, and fairness when technology fails, not about avoiding payment. ______________________________________ Initial review: This review is for Sonia Luque. I never go out of my way to write a negative review, but this situation truly upset me because of her lack of humility and understanding. I am a repeat customer and often refer people to this salon, but I will be sure not to do that again. I booked an appointment for my boyfriend, and the Vagaro app canceled it for some reason. Rather than understand that the appointment got canceled by the app, she decided to keep our $70 deposit, and said it would not count toward the next appointment. In the most smug way I have ever heard, she said "well I was here on time". I didn't argue that she doesn't deserve to be paid. But you're a business using an imperfect tool to book appointments, and your response to customers should reflect that. I don't appreciate smugness, and I don't appreciate being treated like a liar. Unfortunately, this salon has lost 2 customers. I'm leaving this review for anyone who has to deal with Sonia - do not expect her to be reasonable. read more

I just had a haircut with Alyssa, and I love it so much! I have also worked with Heather and had the same wonderful experience with her a few years ago. This is a classy salon with top notch service. The space is beautiful and it's a real treat to come here. It's a tad pricey (maybe?) but totally worth it in my opinion. Thank you Alyssa for a great haircut and such a wonderful experience! read more

Alchemy Studio - New Spring cut! - Hair Stylists Near Me - Oakland, California

Izzy was very professional and knowledgeable. She did a great job with styling my blow-out.

I've been getting my hair cut and colored by Margaret for over 10 years I can't recommend her enough!! She always understands what I want from my hair and executes it perfectly every time. The whole studio is bright and welcoming and always bubbling with positivity from the stylists and clients. Get your hair done at Alchemy Studio, its worth it!! read more

I usually see Alyssa for keratin treatments, and recently got a keratin treatment with Izzy. They both do great work, carefully handle my over-processed hair, and are genuinely interesting & enjoyable to be around (a big perk especially for longer appointments!) The salon has a chill, natural, airy but cozy ambiance, and is never overcrowded and loud. Go to Alchemy! read more

Love love love this place! I've been going to Alchemy for about 5 years now and I never leave disappointed. Madalynn's been my gal for my most recent cuts and color - she's amazing (everyone I've worked with in the past have all been great). What I love most about working with her is that she's really good at balancing client expectations with her recommendations / expertise on what's realistic and what looks good. I always trust her judgement because she takes the time to really listen and talk me through all the options, especially when wanting to try something new. read more

Alyssa is the best! She is very detail oriented and I always love my hair after I've been in her chair. She's also just a lovely person.

Had a fantastic first appointment with Madalynn. I initially found her on Instagram and liked her work. She helped fix and blend the shadow roots on a balayage I had previously done. The resulting color looked amazing - immediate compliments the next day! read more

Love Heather's thorough contemplative approach to figuring out what it is you are desiring for your hair. She listened compassionately and came up with a solution for a lived in blonde. The results are beautiful! The vibe was energetic, friendly and fun. read more

The atmosphere is relaxing, earthy and calming. The women are kind and welcoming. The women are very professional. I see Alex every 7 weeks or so and I have always been happy with my hair. She actively listens and never goes beyond what I ask. She is very respectful of her clients and she is fun to talk with. read more

I love Alchemy and all of the stylists here! It's a very welcoming salon with excellent customer service and care! I just got another great haircut and color with Sonia! I have been seeing Sonia for over 10 years and so appreciate her - she consistently listens carefully and asks great questions! Any of the stylists will take very good care of you! read more

I have been wanting to get my hair done for a long time but didn't know where to start. Alyssa really listened to what I wanted, gave great advice on what direction to go in and somehow made it look better than the inspo pic I showed. She was so sweet and easy to talk to plus she was efficient and quick! The vibe in the salon was super welcoming -- clean, bright, and everyone was so sweet. I've gotten nonstop compliments since. Definitely my new go-to spot! Thank you Alyssa read more

Alchemy Studio - Hair Stylists Near Me - Oakland, California

Fantastic studio with great stylists! I've worked with Margaret for many years - she always does a wonderful job!

I had my third appointment with Madalynn and she always has me walking out of the salon feeling 10x better than I walked in. My first appointment was a hair cut and she was so informative and helpful on what would suit me along the lines of what I wanted. She even diffused and styled my usually complex and unruly curls. I have never seen them look so healthy and bouncy. The cut was perfect for my texture and curl pattern. My second appointment was all over color and she helped me pick a color that would look good through each evolution of a wash. It lasted me three months and I was happy to come back for the exact same color. This time while getting my all over color she did a complimentary hair cut (part of a promotion she has until 10/31/25!) that helped reshape what grew out in the past three months and get rid of some dead ends. I love Madalynn and I'm so happy to call her my hair stylist. read more

Alchemy Studio - My hair cut and diffused curly style by Madalynn. - Hair Stylists Near Me - Oakland, California

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Today was my first visit at the salon, and my stylist Madalynn was absolutely amazing. I've had some bad experiences recently at other salons (hair damage from overbleaching, choppy unblended layers), so I came to Alchemy looking for something new. Madalynn was super knowledgeable and immediately understood the struggles I've had with my hair type, and she gave great recommendations for how to better work *with* my hair not against it. I love how my hair turned out, and I just felt really comfortable with her, which honestly can't be understated. She's absolutely my new go-to stylist, and I can't wait to get back into funky colors with her! Added bonus, the salon was also adorable and full of plants! read more

Madalynn is the absolute best! She just moved to the bay so snap up an appt w her while you still can (but don't book em all, I still want mine!!). I get highlights, gloss, root coverage and cut, and it's all quick and exactly what I needed. She adds so much dimension to my brunette color while still making it look natural. . Plus Alchemy has all the best drinks and snacks; I always walk out of there feeling fabulous. read more

Ive followed Angel and so glad I found her here ! Ive gotten my hair done twice this year at Alchemy and it's been nothing but great ! I messaged Angel couple weeks ago with balayage idea and she nailed it this past Saturday! Now let me say just spending a good chunk of time there was THERAPEUTIC! I kept laughing because Margaret is hilarious. I told her I should just come here then seeing my therapist LOL . Cant wait to go back in fall because my girl Angel will kill it once again ! read more

Alchemy Studio - Full Balayage with curtain bangs - Hair Stylists Near Me - Oakland, California

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Everything.. the ease of booking the appointment, being welcomed at the door, the pleasant surroundings and the professionalism of Margaret who gave me a great cut and styling. read more

I don't like to write negative reviews, but I rely on Yelp reviews to make choices. So, I feel I have to do my part to make the service honest. My experience with the salon was so, so. My appointment was with Alyssa who was nice enough, and the haircut was okay, but I felt products and services were being pushed. I also brought in a picture and was a little perplexed when she asked how I wanted the back cut? I thought you could see from the photo, so the question didn't inspire confidence. At the end of the appointment she said to feel free to call if I had any issues with the cut. A few days later I washed and dried my hair straight (this was after she had given me a beach wave styling), and the back did not seem even. I followed up with an email to her and got no reply. Will probably not be returning. read more

I've always wanted to do some fun hair color but I've been TERRIFIED of the end result not meeting my expectations. My friend has been going to Alchemy for a while and has done some super fun colors with Sonia. So I reached out to Sonia and we had a chat about what I was looking to do and shared some images for inspiration; I was looking to do a smoky teal. Sonia was totally game for this and took my mostly natural black hair (with some leftover bleached tips) and made my teal dreams come true! The gals at Alchemy are great and I highly recommend them for your hair dreams, big or small read more

Alchemy Studio - After! - Hair Stylists Near Me - Oakland, California

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If you are looking for expert hair care this is your spot. I get my hair colour and my extensions done here and alyssa is excellent! No one knows that i have extensions! And my color is always what i envisioned. Last time i got a little trim. Loving my maestro in blue vibes. read more

My hairstylist did the best job with my hair color. I booked last minute and they were able to take me in. You put your coat in in the coat check and they give you a robe. It's a luxury feel. He took his time and left me with an overall amazing color. They are also very professional. I was working with a blonde specialist so they really cater to your needs. read more

Alchemy Studio - Hair Stylists Near Me - Oakland, California

This review is for Alyssa! I got a haircut and color from Alyssa and was impressed by both... especially the color! I've been going lighter and I showed her a few pictures of the look I was going for. I appreciated her input and figuring what works best for me. She definitely exceeded my expectations! She gave me highlights, low lights and whatever other magic she did to make my hair look absolutely fabulous! The salon is also super cute, clean and comfortable. I love the products that they use and they smell so good! Convenient location with easy parking. Thank you so much Alyssa!! read more

Alyssa has been cutting & coloring my hair for about 10 years. Not only is she an expert at her craft, she is always honest with me how to achieve the look I'm going for. The Alchemy salon vibe is so fun & welcoming yet very professional. I love the products they use & how well the girls maintain the cleanliness of the salon. They have made sure to be very thoughtful to keep their clients safe during this pandemic. I can not recommend them highly enough! Thank you Alchemy! read more

Alchemy Studio - Hair Stylists Near Me - Oakland, California

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Alchemy Studio is a dream! I started seeing Margaret almost 2 years ago and I have never looked backed. She's so talented and knowledgeable; my hair has never looked better. When Margaret went on her weeks long honeymoon, she encouraged me to book an appointment with Sonia so I wouldn't have to have to go through a scraggly phase until she returned. I did, and Sonia is also fantastic! I love all the ladies at this studio and can't say enough about how much I enjoy having this salon as part of my self care routine. read more

Alchemy Studio - Hair Stylists Near Me - Oakland, California

Love my ladies at Alchemy. I've been lucky enough to sit in all their chairs and have always come out with great hair and a smile on my face. The team is diverse but always bring quality and style to each head they touch. Love them! read more

I have been getting my hair cut by Alyssa since 2014, and my husband has been seeing Sonia since 2015...they are both professional, kind, and incredibly skilled stylists. Alyssa has helped me keep my hair healthy through all the weird pre- and post- stages of pregnancy (not to mention a weird pre-her bang cut that I needed help growing out). Sonia is great for a scissor-cut men's style, and her work on women's cuts always seem great too! The salon is also always clean, and they just added extra space to allow for social distancing. :) read more

I have curly hair and in the past have found it super-frustrating to find a hair dresser who knows how to cut and trim my curls. I can't tell you how many times in the past I've had botched jobs. I've been getting my hair cut and trimmed by Sonia now for over a year and I am SO HAPPY to have found her!! When I first came to her I was recovering from a previous botched job. Sonia was able to reshape my hair without losing too much length. The products she uses on my curls make them look consistently fabulous - defined, shiny, with body, and without frizz. My husband has curly hair too and she's an expert at giving him a clean cut look while making the most of his beautiful curls. I would definitely recommend her to anyone with curly hair. read more

My relationship with my hair has been...a process. Many many unfortunate haircuts over the years UNTIL a year-ish ago, I moved to the neighborhood and found Alchemy Studio and Sonia. There's no one else in the world I would trust with my hair. The first time I went in, she patiently listened to me lament my bad luck and what I assumed were bad communication skills, asked me what I was looking for, and gave me the perfect short but not too short haircut. She's guided me through leveling up my hair care game, improving my scalp health, and saved me from considering bleaching my own hair mid quarantine. I finally got to live out my electric pink/magenta dreams when Alchemy got the go ahead to open again, and the wait was well worth it. Alchemy has been fantastic with COVID safety procedures - temperature checking, disinfecting, mask wearing, window open and only one client at a time. Love these ladies, their incredible talents, their hard work and their positive vibes. read more

Alchemy Studio - Hair Stylists Near Me - Oakland, California

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Have been going to Alchemy seeing Sonia since opening in 2017 following her from Calm where I was previously. Nice, small intimate salon, along with Alyssa, Margaret & Heather, who I see often cutting others hair, the vibe is nice, friendly and casual. Everything runs on time, I never have to wait, in and out promptly with a nice fizzy water. Music always appropriate, not too loud, people getting along. I see Sonia primarily with Alyssa a great back-up when Sonia's out and both of them know what I like, cut and color for an old guy with very short hair, what's left of it. They've managed to keep it looking good, as did my stylists at Calm, Ainslie and Alli who moved on to other studios. When Sonia, who did nice cuts for me when she was at Calm, said she's leaving to start her own studio, I decided to move on as well. It's been working out well! read more

Love this salon and all its staff. Not only are the hairdressers amazing at any and all types of cuts, colors and styling but they're also the owners. Girl power! They always go out of the way to talk through any new styles or color ideas I have and often I find that I have no clue what I'm talking about so thank god they do!! They're super responsive both by email and text and they will always try to make anything work. So if your schedule changes they'll fit you in another slot if they have one open and if they're schedule has to change for any reason you'll hear from them before you even leave the house. When my mom moved to the area she started seeing Margaret as well. If you're killed ok'ing for a new stylist that really invests in you...look no further Alchemy has you covered. read more

Margaret Alper at Alchemy Studio is an amazing hairstylist! For almost a decade now, I walk out of a haircut from Margaret feeling like a new person! I've never been so consistently happy with a hairstylist. Margaret is nothing short of extraordinary! While sitting in her chair I feel taken care of personally--she's helps me write speeches, recommends restaurants and doctors, gives great advice about every topic, cries with me over dogs, and contagiously laughs with me until our stomachs hurt. I've recommended Alchemy Studios to many friends and everyone has loved the experience. I wholehearted recommend Margaret and Alchemy Studio. read more

The ladies at Alchemy are wonderful! I got my hair cut by Margaret. I have had the same stylist from my home town for several years so was reluctant to make a change. Now that I live in Oakland, I decided it was time to find a local stylist. I feel so lucky to have found Margaret! She was personable and fun and she understood my vision. It is hard to describe what I want! She was able to understand and make it happen. She also made me feel beautiful. Not only will you have wonderful hair, your self-love will go up! Definitely give Alchemy a shot! read more

I hadn't gotten my hair done since early March. I got an appointment with my mom and sister and Margret was sooo accommodating. We had the place to ourselves, she had hand sanitizer at the entry of the building and at her salon, masks had to be on at all times in the salon, and she was very particular about cleaning everything between appointments. Not only did I have an awesome hair experience but I felt very safe and relaxed in the salon! read more

I can't recommend Alyssa at Alchemy Studio enough! She always asks great questions, listens, and takes care to make sure my hair dreams are achieved. Alchemy has super COVID precautions in place (only one client booked at a time, studio sanitized, masked, etc.) so I felt very safe visiting last week. It took me a long time to find a stylist in Oakland that I trusted so much and now I won't go anywhere else but Alchemy! read more

Awesome quiet salon, it's a wonderful place to relax & get pampered, they offer beverages & comfort all the stylist really concentrate on what you need & want. Prices are great & the work they all do is fabulous read more

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Margaret gave me my first haircut in 11 months and she was so great. She takes COVID safety precautions very seriously, was punctual, and spent time learning about my hair and asking questions about the style I was looking for. read more

This salon is quickly generating buzz about the quality of service and customer care. I've been seeing Margaret for almost two years. When I first went to her with my frazzled, chemically burned hair I was embarrassed. Margaret made it her quest to bring my hair back to life and help me feel better about my appearance. She has achieved success! I won't go anywhere else. Another thing that has bothered me about some other salons is that the staff seem to think nothing about strongly suggesting that the client must buy their pricey products. I have to be price conscious and I'm happy to say that everyone at Alchemy get it. So refreshing. No upselling there. So, spend locally, see any of the designers at Alchemy Studio and enjoy your attractive and healthy hair. read more

Love this place. I'm super picky but not super adventurous about my hair. I love wild styles on others but haven't patience for the upkeep. I want my hair to look good without blowdrying, or basically doing anything other than washing it, and thanks to Sonia and her magical but subtle layers, it does. She's helped me find the perfect color, too. And has assured me she won't get bored with my not changing it up all the time. (That has happened in the past. I sort of get it, but it's my hair. Let me have it the way I choose.) The setting is delightful too, in beautiful converted house. Good music, a glass of rose, fun and funny conversation -- all make me feel welcome. So happy for Sonia, Margaret and their colleagues for realizing their dream. Small businesses are awesome! As are people who take pride in their work, which everyone at Alchemy does. read more