Charles W Thomas Salon

Family-owned & operated

Consultations available

Kiyoko is fantastic! I absolutely love her tiny little salon in the middle of Japan Center, right…read morewhere all the action is happening! She is incredibly meticulous and detailed with her haircuts, wonderfully gentle and careful with washing, and amazing with hair color. You can tell she takes so much pride in her work and pays attention to every little detail. My hair is very difficult to cut because of years of processing, but she worked her magic. This is hands down the best haircut I've had in years! If you're looking for someone who is skilled, thoughtful, and truly cares about the quality of her work, I highly recommend Kiyoko.

I drove 2.5 hours to come here for a haircut and showed the hairstylist pictures of both the front…read moreand back of the hairstyle I wanted. She told me she could do it, but unfortunately, it became clear during the haircut that she did not know how to achieve the style. She cut my hair short and then tried to use a hairdryer and comb to make it look like the pictures, but it did not work. I showed her the reference photos again and asked if she could get help from someone else. She asked a colleague, who showed her how to cut the style, but she still seemed unsure how to do it. Eventually, the owner had to step in and finish the haircut for me. For a long-hair haircut that cost about $100 total ($85 for the haircut plus a $15 tip), I was very disappointed with the experience. At this price point, I expected the stylist to be able to achieve the hairstyle she had confirmed she could do, or to be upfront from the beginning if it was outside her expertise. Unfortunately, based on my experience, it was not worth the price or time.

2.4 mi•Union Square, Financial District

Ombré with cherry red!

Curly Hair Color & Hair Cut at nepenji San Francisco, Tokyo .

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Feeling to be short cut! Nepenji San Francisco.

Hector Estrada

4.7(456 reviews)

Hector Estrada; hairdresser EXTRAORDINAIRE: color, cut and…read moreshaping. I was a medium brunette. A few years later, Hector said, ""I'm going to make you a blonde, because, You have a good personality." Now, every 6weeks, I'm a little bit blonder and a lot happier. I'm constantly complimented, "Who does your hair?" Hector has transformed my life. Getting an appointment is challenging, as he's booked two months out, but, his Assistant Michael, is amazing and will work you in as soon as humanly possible. I promise.

I've been in SF for 8 years trying to find a hairstylist I actually trust, and I finally found…read moreHector. I went in not really knowing what I wanted, just vibing with some general ideas. Hector totally got it and did an amazing job. The thing that impressed me most is I wanted highlights without bleaching my hair, and he made it happen. Every other place said I had to bleach it. The salon is super clean, bright, and has a great vibe. Everyone there is really kind and helpful. Yeah, I had to wait for an appointment and send pics beforehand, but it was 100% worth it. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a great stylist!

1.2 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights

After shot!

Balayage and cut by Hector

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Style by Akela

Kaori Hair Salon

4.8(73 reviews)

I think the choice of barber is a very personal choice - you want to find a really good one that…read moreunderstands what you want out of a haircut, and also has to be able to construct that haircut on a bi-monthly cadence. For me, I found Kaori through Yelp. She is best reached through text, and she is responsive. The first time I showed her the haircut I was going for, she was able to understand immediately, and she was also able to work around my difficult hair (read: male pattern baldness). I have been going to Kaori for a year now and I plan to continue going!

Kaori was great! Very kind, fun to talk to, and skillful with my hair. Would come again for sure.read more

1.6 mi•Lower Haight, Hayes Valley

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Taylor Monroe

4.3(1.3k reviews)

So happy I found Benji! I'd been professionally covering my grays every 3-4 weeks, fighting that…read moreharsh demarcation line as my hair got darker and darker. From the moment I sat in his chair, he made me feel completely at ease -- personable, attentive, and so easy to talk to, like catching up with an old friend. He took the time to consult with me, listen closely to my concerns, and develop a thoughtful plan to begin lightening my base and gray blending journey -- keeping the integrity of my hair a priority every step of the way. He's incredibly talented and knowledgeable when it comes to color, using modern techniques to create a natural, seamless blend with no harsh lines -- just soft, pretty color that'll grow out beautifully. A total perfectionist, he made sure I was thoroughly happy with the result before I left the chair. The whole experience felt effortless, and I haven't loved my hair like this in so long. Benji is the only person I'll trust with my color from now on -- so grateful to have found him!

As a 58 yr old woman it's nice to be noticed. Thanks to Benji I get compliments on my hair ALL the…read moretime! We've been on quite the hair journey since 2021, playing with a variety of shades of red. I've been loving being a redhead. I am 95% grey, which I have found is not easy to achieve perfect coverage. Benji's got me! I appreciate his excellent communication skills. He listens intently and asks a lot of clarifying questions to be sure that we're on the same page. He exceeds my expectations and I feel genuinely cared for in his hands. He's a sweetheart and so fun and easy to chat with during my services.

Done by Benji (instagram: wooneats)

Honey blonde Balayage by Emu

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Full Balayage by Benji Pow

Project XO Salon

4.8(68 reviews)

2.3 mi•SoMa

Casual and very relaxing once you enter through the door. Professional, creative, honest stylist…read more Newest addition is Georgie- what a beautiful pup. Highly recommend Hung for a hair cut and color, 100%

The Only Stylist You'll Ever Need - Hung at Project XO Salon…read more I've been seeing Hung at Project XO Salon for 20 years. That alone says a lot. Hung doesn't just cut hair; he really understands it. I can show him a random Pinterest photo or just explain what I have in mind, and he somehow creates exactly what I didn't even know I wanted. His style and skill are unmatched. He knows how to work with your face shape, hair texture, and what fits your lifestyle, not just what's popular. Even after 20 years, I still look forward to every appointment. That doesn't happen often. Want the best proof? My kid goes to him too. Trusting someone with your hair for 20 years, and your child's as well, isn't just loyalty. It's real confidence. If you're still jumping from stylist to stylist, looking for the right one, it's time to stop. Book an appointment with Hung at Project XO Salon. You'll wish you had done it sooner.

1.2 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights

Rich brown balayage

Hung and little Georgie

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Bronde balayage for Veronica.

Arty

4.2(397 reviews)

Yumiko was great! She is very nice, professional, and informative. I got a layered cut and a…read moredigital perm. She warned me that my straight, fine, virgin hair will have difficulty holding a curl after day 1, but it ALWAYS came back after a wash. The curls started to loosen at about mo 4, and lasted about 6mos. I went back for another digital perm 1yr later, and I'm going back for a third today!

I've been going to Arty for years now, and I feel as if the quality of service has declined. I went…read morein for a full highlight and haircut and I felt like it was being rushed and I didn't even get what I had asked the stylist for despite being very specific about my style. The highlights were done very well as well as the haircut, but neither were what I asked for/was expecting based on pictures and verbal requests. The haircut was rushed and I had to ask a few times for adjustments. I understand that sometimes hair takes a long time, but with the amount I paid for the session I would like for time and care to be taken to heed my requests. Unfortunately I will be searching for a new salon after this last session.

Exactly 1 year after the digital perm. Yumiko's cut and perm make this hairstyle look good at any length.

Yumiko gave me this perfect haircut and perm to make my first trip to Turkey beyond perfection. Thank you!

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KaYea Hair & Make-Up

4.8(246 reviews)

3.5 mi•Parkside

I've been coming for more than a year for to get my hair cut and consistently love my hair every…read moretime. It's effortless - I go in and have great hair coming out! One note is that he requires a deposit in advance via Zelle to make an appointment - that sketched me out the first time, but I'm glad I went for it. It's just a minor inconvenience to get on his busy schedule that's well worth it!

My favorite hair stylist! Lee is great at giving you the haircut you want in a way that suits you…read moreand is always fun to talk to. It takes me a while to travel here, but always worth it. The atmosphere is nice and the salon is clean and bright inside. Highly recommended checking him out!

Sexy Curl Perms(?) lasted for 2+ months

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Steel & Lacquer

4.7(292 reviews)

2.0 mi•SoMa

Returning to The Bay after a four year hiatus, I desperately needed styling. Today I reunited with…read moremy longtime stylist, Cloe Washington. I wanted a Wolf cut, but not a mullet or a tight fade. Cloe did me right with a nice scissor fade, keeping it long on top. Trust!

Been looking for a new hair spot since I moved to the city and I'm so happy I found steel + lacquer…read moreon tiktok. Chrystal is so sweet, did such a thorough consultation, and very precisely gave me exactly what I wanted. She pampered me the entire time, was very helpful with all my hair questions, and will definitely be my new go to girl. Vibes were great all around and am feeling so refreshed after my visit.

I was so happy with my hair cut and beard trim!

Hair by Chrystal

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Hair by Marie

Hong Kong Mona Hair Studio

4.8(152 reviews)

1.4 mi•Inner Richmond

•$

My new go-to place for haircuts! I have long, thick hair and my haircut was about $30 - not…read moreincluding wash & style. Usually other places charge me double and cut more than I want. I love that it's so affordable and not too far from my workplace. Mona always cuts it at the perfect length that I say, and never more than I ask. I always leave happy with the results. Highly recommend! CASH ONLY & metered parking. Highly recommend booking an appt via phone.

WOW! I got a $25 haircut here and it took less than 30 minutes. This did not include wash and style…read morebut I was okay with that! Mona was super sweet and has been cutting hair for 20+ years. I made an appointment via the phone about a week ago. CASH ONLY!! Will definitely be returning back here.

1.4 mi•Alamo Square, Hayes Valley

Hours

Haircut

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Japanese Hair Straightening

David James

4.8(293 reviews)

Nielle is the best!! I'm so glad I found her, I would follow her around the Bay Area. She keeps my…read morehair looking fresh and healthy after it went through a major thinning process. A shoulder cut can quickly look crazy on me (mullet alert) but she was able to perfectly layer my hair with some face framing bangs to come out perfectly balanced. Also she's the easiest person to talk to, makes your appointment feel so relaxing and peaceful like you're catching up with a long time girlfriend - she is theeee best!!

I've been going to Nielle for over a decade and from the jump she really listened to what I wanted…read more I originally came to her after a botched balayage I got in the Philippines, and she completely fixed it. From there, we did an 10 hour transformation going blonde and honestly, that appointment bonded us for life. I've never trusted anyone else since, she's basically my hairstylist and therapist hehe Her balayage is SOOOOO good. It always looks natural, grows out beautifully, and lasts forever without getting brassy. I'm pretty low-maintenance, and somehow my hair still looks put together months later because of her work. Her haircuts are also super clean, and she's actually the one who got me into curtain byayangs and I've stuck with them ever since. What I appreciate most is how much she cares about doing things the right way. When I decided to go back to my natural color, she didn't rush it or take shortcuts. She slowly transitioned me over time and kept my hair healthy through every stage. I live in Los Angeles now and will literally fly home just to see her, that's how good she is! After 11 years, she's more than just my hairstylist, she's someone I trust completely. Highly recommend!

Cut by Sabrina.

Bleach and tone transformation by Devon.

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Bleach + tone and buzzcut on Devon, by Devon.

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Riley C.

681

7 years ago

I recently moved to San Francisco and was looking for a new place to get a haircut. Originally, I thought Charles W Thomas would be a little out of my price range but once I saw how great the customer service and talent was I knew it was worth it. I had Jon Ryan cut my hair and will be going back to him every time I need another haircut. The conversation was great and he's really the best hair stylist I've ever been to. If you want to support a great local business I highly recommend making an appointment here. Ask for Jon Ryan and I promise you won't be disappointed! Also! They have an automated booking system that is super user friendly and intuitive. It took me 1 minute to see all the stylists' availability and then choose a time slot that worked for me. So great, just call their number and you can choose to receive a text with all the booking info. read more

Hannah T.

216

4 years ago

Max gave me an awesome haircut. Every time I get my hair cut, I have a vague idea of what I want (at best), then attempt to explain it (poorly), and hope that the person cutting my hair will somehow use their experience to transform my hair into the hair of a Pantene model. Unsurprisingly, this has never led to success. That changed for the first time this week - I gave Max a vague description of what I had in mind and he created a much better looking version. He preserved the length I wanted while giving my hair much needed volume. My hair looks so much more healthy, shiny, bouncy, and happy. read more

Jason V.

2 years ago

After moving to the area, I used to go by this salon practically every day. I made an appointment for a haircut after all, and Kris Estrada-Pozzi was amazing! Not only were they really kind, but they also gave my long overdue haircut a stylish update. She was really considerate throughout, even down to the choice of shampoo for the wet weather. I am very excited to return for a new, shorter spring cut! read more

Andrew W.

7 years ago

I got my haircut. and they have cut so well. i want to suggest must go to this barber shop.Really lovely salon

Liem M.

6 years ago

Cool! This is how it should develop and change for the better!

Charles W Thomas Salon - hair - Updated September 2026

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