The best Santa Barbara has to offer! I have trusted Steven to maintain my hair for thirty-eight years.

A great and professional salon! The gals here are very friendly and inviting, and the environment is very clean and cute. It's a lovely establishment nestled near the downtown scene. Oh, and they have a parking lot behind the business! I am definitely a novice at the whole taking-care-of-your-hair thing seeing that I only cut my hair, like, twice a year (yikes, I know), but my stylist took great care of my hair here (after we joked about how badly I take care of it). I went in to see Andrea for my first time here. I wanted to get a pretty dramatic cut to a bob, and she knew exactly how to implement the task! She is also super personable, and I felt comfortable just having a conversation with her. I learned a lot about her professional backstory and was able to come to the conclusion that she is very experienced, and I felt immediately lucky that she was doing my hair. I will definitely be coming back here as I can confidently say that I have found "the place" to get my hair done! Highly recommend this business! read more

I was very unsatisfied with the result of my hair, the color absolutely horrible and my hair was fried. My stylist Alissa seemed rushed through my entire appointment and did not take her time to care for what I wanted. As I cried for hours I struggled with how my hair was going to be fixed. While hysterically crying I was told it would not be able to be fixed the same day or next it was determined that I would never return to this salon. I was offered no refund or compensation. I found this salon & stylist very unprofessional and extremely rude. I will not return or recommend this salon to ANYONE. read more

Bravo, Stephen and Phillip. Stephen for running such a great salon -- the list of facials is very tempting!! -- and Phillip for bringing my hair back from the dead. I was in dire need of some TLC in the everything department -- my roots were almost 3/4 of an inch long, and my hair was so badly in need of a trim that it was "see through" at points. I don't tell you this to gross you out (though I appreciate that it has that effect), I tell you because the hair miracle that Phillip worked was Nothing Short of Miraculous. You would scarcely have believed the Before and After photos. Before: hair was dry as all get out, fine, splitting, several shades, in a word, it appeared "fried" even though I rarely blow dry it, try to shampoo only 2-3 times a week and so on. After: lucious chocolately brown, shorter by a couple inches, rich, healthy, seemingly thick. Like all truly great beauty experiences, it is actually making me feel like a new person. Thank you Stephen and Co. And thank you Yelpers for pointing me to this place. I shall be back. UPDATE 1: About 3 or 4 days after having this treatment, I noticed just how much I loved my hair. The cut that Phillip gave me just made a huge (positive) difference in how my hair felt, how it was to style it, how it looked off course etc. I can't say enough about how my initial appreciation of Phillip's work has only grown. UPDATE 2: In setting up an appointment to get my roots touched up (about a month later), I found that, once again, Stephen was so totally professional and available and responsive. He answers the phone starting at like 8AM on weekdays. And if you do have to leave a message, he truly gets back to you in no-time-flat. He's simply a joy. And has fun, inclusive and engaging energy. read more

I can't say enough about the professional friendly service at Avanti. Danny, my stylist is a genius at color and cut. Only one day in and three people have remarked on my spectacular hair cut. Thank You Danny!!!! read more

I have never been to this salon and I do not live in Santa Barbara. My review is based on an amazing stylist who used to do my hair twenty three to twenty six years ago in San Francisco! Her name is Samara Canfield and she was so good at what she did, I can remember very well decades later! I remember when I was maybe nineteen years old walking into a Hubert Braun hair salon needing a good haircut for some formal even and just totally lucking out that she was the one who cut my hair that day. This was when I had plenty of hair and was blown away how she could make my hair look that good and I felt really cool and got a lot of nice looks and compliments after she did my hair. Before she cut my hair I would always spend six to eight bucks on a haircut; maybe the equivalent of a sixteen to eighteen dollar cut today and going into a Hubert Braun then was a splurge and I had planned on it only being a special occasion thing but once I went Samara I could not go back and my family members; brother, sister, mom, and other friends all started going to her for our haircuts. She is so talented and did an amazing job effortlessly to give a perfect cut and a great style in a matter of minutes or seconds. About four years ago I found a little business card from Geno's For Hair; (the last place I can remember her working in San Francisco before she moved away) in a box of papers with her name on it and contacted her on Facebook in the hopes that there might be a chance she was living in the bay area again. No such luck on that but I found that same business card again and thought I would give her a review on Yelp to show my appreciation for how good she used to do my hair way back then. I wish I could find another Samara or someone with just some of her talent to cut and style my hair again. I am not sure if she still works at this salon or not but my review is for Samara. read more

Avanti Salon is fabulous . The ambiance is warm and charming - reminds me of lovely establishments I frequented when I lived in New York City. The level of professionalism is astonishing and matched by the friendly demeanor of the stylists. Everyone who works there is worthy of your time and effort . I promise ,you will not be disappointed ! The prices are more than fair . I am especially fond of the talented work of Steven , the owner of Avanti I always enjoy his sense of humor. I highly. recommend another fabulous stylist there -- Andrea B . She is very versatile in her approach. She assists many Weddings . She has a loyal clientele,and is always ready with her beautiful smile To greet you ! Hope you like Avanti as much as I Do read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. It's a renovated craftsman-style salon with lots and lots of light on Carrillo. They do nails and waxing and all sorts. Very convenient location with parking in the back. (This might not mean a lot to you, but being from LA,... ) Went in for a haircut today with Kathy and she tamed my crazy-long waves. She is such a sweetheart. She got me feeling as much like Gigi Hadid as you could without a personal trainer and a juice cleanse. She usually only does reservations, so call ahead and see if she has a spot for you. Absolutely will be coming back. Why does anyone go anywhere else? read more

Avanti has been recently remodeled and looks great. The atmosphere is relaxing and plenty of room. I followed Alissa here from Salon Bamboo. She is amazing. I have been going to her for over three years now and she has always given me a great cut. She will listen to what I want and will work with me till I'm happy. She has given me the best haircuts in my life. Parking is in the back which I love not having to find street parking and worrying about getting a ticket. Overall an excellent experience. read more

Avanti Salon is AMAZING. I had been going to another salon here in Santa Barbara when my stylist moved and it was time to try someone new. I stumbled upon Avanti from the Yelp reviews and figured it was as good a time as any to try a new place! From the moment I made the appointment to going in and getting my hair actually done it has been a great experience. They were prompt getting back to me and also moved my appointment earlier twice when they had openings! It was great! SO attentive and responsive. Phillip did my hair and he is WONDERFUL. I was there for a solid three hours so I saw a few people come and go and everyone's hair looked gorgeous when they left. Steve, the owner, was so warm and friendly. There is a great vibe there. Professional and hip, but warm and family friendly. Phillip took the time to do a consultation with me before actually diving into getting started and really took the time to explain what he was doing and determine what the best route was for my hair. I was in an inbetween, so I wanted dark chocolate brown. Having gone from bleach blonde over the summer to an ashy brown there was still a lot of white blonde and he took the time to help me get the best results. It came out gorgeous and exactly what I wanted. Would suggest this Salon with no hesitation! Ill be back! read more

I cannot say enough positive things about Daniel Van Hook. I've been dying my light brown/auburn hair blonde for 4 years with his expertise. Any my hair is still healthy! I have always appreciated Danny's attention to detail and ability to understand exactly what I want. Every so often Danny will suggest a little change just to keep my hair modern and fresh. I also adore how he puts his clients first. I often find he stays late or comes in early just to squeeze me in. He's the best in town. read more

Avanti Salon is wonderful! I've been living in Santa Barbara for only a short two years and it's been difficult finding a hair stylist that actually listens to me. After my haircut I let it grow out for a few weeks and realized that I needed a small bangs trimming. I called to make an appointment and this gentleman had no problem setting me back up with Andrea. She quickly trimmed my bangs and I feel like my hair hasn't been cut this great in a long time, i'll definitely be coming back. read more

Avanti id probably one of the best Salons I have ever gone too. The employees are nice, the atmosphere is clean, and they do a wonderful job cutting hair. I absolutely love the hair products they sell too. My hair used to fall out until I used hair stylist Steven's recommendation of Kevin Smith products. They also allow dogs, which is great and really embraces the Santa Barbara culture. I will be honest, the Salon is not cheap, but it is worth every penny spent. I recommend all to stop on by and give it a try. read more

I just started going here (to Samara) and am very pleased. I've been twice now and not only do I love my cut and color from Samara, the salon overall is very welcoming, friendly, clean, and comfortable. read more

I am so, so happy I found this place. As a UCSB student I usually head home to get my hair done down south but this year I wanted to find somewhere local. After some research on salons, I found Avanti and requested Daniel based on his awesome reviews. I clearly made a good choice thanks to other yelpers, because I had such a great time with him. Professionally speaking, I showed him a picture of what I wanted (some serious lightening, almost to a platinum blond with ashy tones) and he didn't try to dissuade me from my choice, as a few other stylists have upon seeing my dark blonde, "natural-looking" hair. He seemed happy to do as I asked and explained the whole process he was using while he worked, and seemed just as delighted with the final color as I was. Needless to say Daniel did an absolutely perfect job and everyone I've spoken to loves the color. It's not too dramatic - not a full bleach - but it was exactly what I wanted and more. The prices are very reasonable and Daniel was one of the friendliest, most entertaining stylists I've worked with. Overall an amazing experience and he suggested that if I ever had any problems with the color to give him a call immediately and he would stand by his work. I will definitely be back here! read more

Best facial I've ever had! Avanti's esthetician, Pamela is amazing & knows her stuffs. My skin glows and feels flawless after a facial from Pam! The only facial that doesn't make my skin irritated or breakout afterwords. She uses state of the art tech and up to date with the latest facial techniques. Very relaxing. She even puts your hands in these hand warmers while you lay there after she massages them. Lil on the pricey side but well worth the splurge. read more

I needed a haircut today and decided to try this place out because it got so many positive reviews. It and was close by and i didn't have a car on hand. I walked over after calling the place and taking to Steve, the owner. The overall experience was alright. He was very attentive and nice, despite the few mishaps that occurred with the clippers. He went through 3 sets of clippers before finding a set that wouldn't pull my hair while cutting it. The whole experience lasted about 40 minutes. Although Steve was very friendly and talkative, my hair ended up being shorter than I had anticipated. I probably could have been more specific to what I wanted... At $40 for a men's haircut, this place was not too bad. Worth trying out. read more

Avanti - this place has it dialed in. When you book your appointment: You have the option of a text or email reminder. You can even set up an account where you can make your reservations online! When you arrive: You walk in the door and you are immediately welcomed by friendly staff. You are offered a cold beverage and a comfy place to sit. Open floor plan with an abundance of light. Daniel always goes above and beyond to make sure you have the perfect cut and explains what he is going to do. He offers complimentary neck trims a few weeks after your initial appointment to ensure everything is looking nice and make minor adjustments if necessary. Avanti truly is a full service salon and offers only the best experience possible. Highly recommended. read more

Great Service: Friendly, Welcoming, and Professional! Daniel was the stylist I requested due to his great reviews. And, his service lived up to all the 5 stars that he's received on Yelp! Ask for him! Funny and friendly guy. He will scan your hair and then discuss options with you :D read more

I had my best haircut from Steven. He was amazing and he knows what I want. I will come back again.

This is a GREAT hair salon! I had been having my hair colored and cut by Walter Claudio at his salon for many years. However, once moving into his new bigger salon, I felt that the "familiar and personal touch" was no longer there. In the past couple of years, I tried several other salons but was never totally satisfied with either the cut or the color. After reading all of the great reviews about Daniel at Avanti, I decided to give him a try. And I am so glad that I did. After a year of coloring and cutting my short hair, it is in the best condition ever. Danny is the most detailed stylist I have ever been to. He will not let you out of your seat until both he and you are satisfied. He is a color genius and his cuts are always modern, fresh, and easy to maintain at home. After my most recent appointment I took advantage of being downtown to do a little shopping. I was approached by 2 women who said that they just had to tell me how much they loved the color of my hair. Later, another woman came up to me to tell me she loved my haircut. It doesn't get much better than that. Of course, I sang Danny's praises to them... just hope they follow-up and make appointments with him. read more

Bad service. Very little understanding of the pallet. Very slow. Too posh, but very little knowledge. Poss on the toilet and floor. Do yourself a favor and stay away. Spend your time elsewhere. read more

Awesome! Came into town and needed a hair color fix. Samara is amazing and fun. My Gorgeous hair and I are very happy with the results! What a find!!!!! read more

Samara Canfield at Avanti has been cutting and coloring my hair in Santa Barbara for several years. She does an amazing job with color and highlights. Until I had her do my hair it always had a blue or red cast to it. UGH! I love coming to the Avanti salon as well- Steve the owner is extremely nice. It is a great environment and their is a lot behind the salon. It has easy access right off the freeway- no hunting or paying for parking downtown. We moved out of Santa Barbara down to OC several months ago and I am still driving up to Santa Barbara to have her cut and color my hair. May sound a little bit insane, but she is really good and I dread looking for another stylist down here! I always tell her that is the one thing I will miss most about moving! The salon is great- I would highly recommend Avanti and Samara. read more

Patti is an excellent facialist that I have been going to for years. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for the latest treatments and a personalized experience. read more

This is the best and most friendly full service salon. While staying in Santa Barbara for a month ,I found them on Yelp. I had Kristie due my nails twice..she did an excellent job and my gel polish stayed on for over 10days. Pamela did a facial. She was amazing. The best and most relaxing 90 mins. Samara did my color, root touch up, and Steven did my haircut, mostly shaping up. They both did a great job. My hair is easier to style now. All of them were so friendly and kind plus did great work. I was so pleased with Avanti and I bet you will be too! read more

Patti at Avanti is the best esthetician. She is so knowledgeable. She is also very kind and caring. Love her!!!

Great place! Warm, inviting and clean. Nicole Grossman is fantastic. I have very difficult, thin, frizzy, wavy long hair and have never found anyone who knew how to cut and color my hair to complement it so well! It's like she knows exactly what to do to give it body and length as well as give it beautiful dimension. I like the "natural" sun kissed highlights that don't show roots when grown out and she nailed it. I get compliments on my hair regularly which never happened until I met her! Not only is she very skilled, but she's extremely friendly and genuine. I felt very comfortable and well taken care of. I will never go to anyone else! read more