I came here for a haircut after seeing so many positive reviews. I should have known when she had so many open appointment slots for the same weekend. My experience was not great, and one I wouldn't repeat.
When I arrived, I was greeted right away, and Jessica, who washed my hair, was very friendly and did a great job. She made me feel welcome.
The salon itself was much busier than I expected. There are a lot of styling chairs in a relatively compact space, so it felt more like a Supercuts than a relaxing salon experience.
After my wash, I waited about five minutes before Sunny came over, which wasn't an issue. During the consultation, however, I found communication difficult. I showed her several reference photos--one of the look I wanted and another of what I didn't want. I explained that I wanted to keep as much length as possible while trimming the damaged ends and adding soft face-framing layers. I had to repeat myself a few times, and I wasn't sure whether it was a language barrier or simply a difference in communication style. She just asked me "what's different in your opinion." I tried explaining the differences between the photos, I was told it was "just styling," and the consultation didn't really go beyond that.
Once the haircut started, there wasn't much discussion. I was asked once at the beginning how much length I wanted taken off, but there were no questions about the face-framing pieces or opportunities to check in as the cut progressed. The haircut itself moved very quickly--about 18 minutes before she was already blow-drying and styling my hair.
The final result looked okay after styling, but it wasn't quite the haircut I had hoped for based on the "consultation". I have long hair, so the haircut was $120, which is a standard price for the area, and I still tipped 20% because it's the norm. Now I'm home, I don't love it, but it will have to do until I can go back to LA.
For me, the biggest issue wasn't the technical haircut--it was the overall experience. It is a very fast-paced and transactional, almost like moving from one client to the next, like Supercuts and Fantastic Sam's, rather than a personalized consultation/ High-end Salons where the stylist takes time to understand exactly what you're looking for.
I've been to many Korean salons in Los Angeles and Korea, and I'm used to a much more collaborative consultation, so this experience was different from what I expected. If you prefer a quick appointment, and just maybe a last minute resort, this may work well for you. If you're looking for a consultation based stylist who spends time discussing your haircut and knows your hair itself, and checking in throughout the process,definitely try somewhere else.
Personally, I won't be returning, but I hope this review helps others know what to expect. read more