Curly girls look no further! This is the place to go to. Rachel the receptionist greeted me with a big smile then introduced me to Bill. He was very nice and wanted to know what I wanted done to my hair. He told me everything he was doing and showed me how to better style my curls. No push to buy any products. At the end, I got instructions a "Curly Care instructions" paper. Reasonably priced and a great job! read more

Elite Hair Design - My finished look - Hair Salons Near Me

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Love this awesome salon! They keep up with the trends and offer great products. The stylists rock!

This was my first time going here and I can say with 100% certainty that I will be going back. I got the best cut of my LIFE from Samantha Foakes, she was kind and thoughtful throughout the whole process. She took the time to explain how I could take better care of my hair and she was so focused on making sure that I walked out of the salon happy with my haircut. This salon is also ideal in the unprecedented time of covid. They keep air circulating, have people wait in their cars, and are otherwise extremely conscientious and thoughtful. I can not recommend this place enough if you have curly/wavy/or just not perfectly straight hair!!! Thank you Elite Hair Design read more

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Samantha has cut my hair twice during the pandemic, and both times have been amazing! I got my very first deva cut with her and I am never getting my curls cut any other way! She will work wonders with your hair! If I could give more stars, I would! read more

Elite Hair Design - Devacut - Hair Salons Near Me

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I am new to the Curly Girl method, and after about a month in, have been getting a lot of mixed results. After a lot of trial and error, figured my next best step was to get a proper cut that could really enhance my curls. When Yelping for curly salons within my neighborhood, Elite had the best ratings with tons of reviews from curlies of all hair types. I have super thick, waist length wavy hair. I scheduled an appointment without knowing who I'd get as a stylist, but lucked out with Sarah, who gave me a great cut. I prepped my hair before going as this was my first Deva cut, styling it so they can see how I wear it, how it lays, and removing snags and stuff as they cut your hair dry. Their website explains it. Sarah talked me through the reference pic I provided, and gave feedback on it on how it'll look on me. I loved this. She then talked me through the cut, asking questions on where I'm at in the CG method, what I'm doing so far, products I'm using, and provided tips and tricks to help me. After the cut, she walked me through styling it. Giving me further tips on what will be better for my hair vs what I'm finding online. This was super helpful as I haven't figured anything out yet. My hair was so curly afterwards. Beautiful waves that held up and looked perfect all day, and then the next day and the day after that, after sleeping on it. But the real trick was if I could style it myself. I followed Sarah's tips, and my hair turned out perfectly. Super wavy, it laid exactly how I wanted. Worth every penny. read more

Elite Hair Design - Before on the left. After on the right. Sarah added tons of layers, and cut it beautifully. - Hair Salons Near Me

Although Elite Hair Design at 2260 Palm Ave. in San Mateo has closed its doors, the stylists Sarah, Susie and Bill are still working at new locations. You may make appointments by calling 650-345-9882 or emailing elitehairdesignstudio@yahoo.com. We look forward to helping you take care of your waves and curls! read more

Went in to get a curly cut with Douglas today. I how he cut my hair. I would highly recommend him and will be going back. He was great at explaining what he was doing. Explaining how to use the products to get the best curls in my hair.Thank you so much Douglas.. read more

Elite Hair Design - Before & After LOVE it. - Hair Salons Near Me

I have been getting my hair cut here for three years now and I have to sing Sarah's praises! Before I came to her I had never had a cut I was truly happy with. My hair is super dry and tangly with varied thickness and curl patterns, so it's pretty difficult to work with. But she really understood what kind of cut I wanted and knows how to make it work best for my hair. She's also very open-minded and a cool person to talk to, and I very much appreciate that she cuts my bangs free of charge in between haircut appointments. The receptionist Rachel is also very sweet and accommodating! read more

My 13yo daughter and I had our curly hair cuts here. Sarah did such a great job. My daughter is really happy with her cut and it's so much easier for her to brush and maintain now. She also loved the shape the cut gave her. I loved my cut and was overdue for one it's so nice to have my curls back they look so healthy and added more volume as well. Sarah is very knowledgeable about curls and I'm glad we were able to find her. I have been to a few other curly hair salons in the past unfortunately they have since closed or stop cutting curls. Elite hair design is our new spot and hopefully they don't go anywhere. Really loved the friendly atmosphere and such a cute and cozy shop. We will definitely be back again! read more

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My preteen daughter has a tremendous amount of hair. She has beautiful but unruly thick curls that she would often brush out into a frizzy ponytail. I heard about Elite Hair Design from my local mothers group and decided to give it a try. My daughter was skeptical as she feels stylist rarely listen to her, cut more than she would like and treat her like "a baby". Douglas at Elite was amazing. He listened to exactly what she wanted, made her feel very comfortable and when she walked out of the salon, her hair looked more beautiful than it ever had. I cannot recommend Douglas highly enough, his talent, kindness and patience made us big fans. I'm even thinking of going in to have him cut my hair! read more

Through out COVID with closures on and off this business has managed to keep their clients updated. They update their websites, emailing lists, etc. in efforts inform clients whether or not they're open. This helps people trying to find services during these crazy times. I last visited there months ago and received a curly hair cut and dye which was a phenomenal job by a woman named Samantha. She was kind, professional, and courteous. She was also incredibly skilled and my hair was unharmed and luxurious after leaving. They have great a great location with parking and a well ventilated space. After they informed me via email they are back and ready for business I gave them a call and they immediately picked up and was able to schedule my next hair appointment. I even get to work with Samantha again which is awesome! I am sure my next visit will go well but I will be sure to update my review should anything change. Thanks Elite team! read more

Thank you Samantha for not only teaching me the right way to use Deva Curl products but for taking such amazing and gentle care of my hair!!! I had never been to a curly hair stylist and I fell in love. Wish I could take her with me to LA when I move. read more

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Sarah is hands. down. the. best! I have struggled with my hair my entire life- thick, wavy, curly and always has its own mind lol! I went to Sarah last week and she tied up 6 pony tails of 10+ inches to chop off for donation and the result was amazing. I went from super long to an A-line Bob that brushes my shoulders. It's the first hair cut I'm truly in love with! It's also the first haircut I will maintain lol. Sarah listened to all of my concerns and totally got what I meant when I said I feared "pyramid hair" or "broccoli hair." I showed her some pictures of what I would like and it turned out even better. I'm so thrilled and so happy I have found a stylist for life!!!! You cannot go wrong with Sarah! read more

What an experience! It is my first curly hair cut and I enjoyed the whole experience! Douglas is very experienced and attended to every details! Highly recommend everyone who has natural wavy curly hair to come here! Also, I appreciate Elite is still protecting their customers by wearing masks! read more

I went in for my first ever curly cut with Doug! I am blown away with how my hair looks now. He did such a great job with my hair. My hair used to never hold curls past day 1, my day 2 curls are just as curly as day 1 now. Doug is a magician with his work and I couldn't be happier with his service!! Cant wait to go back!!! Thank you so much!!! read more

Went back for a big chop! Sarah took care of me and I'm so happy how far my hair has come this place really helped me start the Curly Girl Method and now I'm rocking a short cut read more

Elite Hair Design - Before and after my big chop!! My before pic is 1000x better compared to the before pic from the 1st time I went in for a DevaCut - Hair Salons Near Me

I was surprised to learn that Suzie was trained in the "Curly Girl" cutting method and the shop now carries the DevaCurl line for wavy, frizzy, and curly-haired folks like me. I went to Danielle recently for a hair cut and was happy with her work as usual. Everyone here is always friendly, and this is a great place to go for any hair styling or coloring needs - even if your hair is straight (which mine isn't). The prices here seem pretty standard for a nice salon - not Supercuts bargain basement, but not astronomical either. read more

Elite Hair Design - receptionist (I don't know her name!), Suzie, Danielle, & Bill - Hair Salons Near Me

As a Bay Area native, I consider myself quite familiar with spots along the Peninsula San Mateo, especially since I went to elementary school there many moons ago. However, there are the rare occasions where I discover hidden gems, like Elite Hair Design, where Douglas is now a stylist. Truthfully, I've known Douglas for nearly 10 years. He's been the stylist for a close friend of mine for a long time, and have always admired his work. Whenever she had her hair cut and styled, I would feel a pang of jealousy as her hair always looked so amazing. He even did that same friend's hair and make-up on her wedding day. She looked so incredible and the most beautiful I've ever seen her, that I was literally in tears (and I know for a fact that I was not the only one). Anyway, one year, that same friend (for my birthday present) had Douglas do both my hair and make-up for my big and oh so memorable birthday bash. Let me tell you, I've never looked nor felt more wonderfully fabulous. I trusted in Douglas, and allowed him to have free reign. He didn't disappoint, and was so meticulous, and even improvised a bit, too. He gave me soft waves (and a bobby pin to hold the stray hairs in place). My make-up was absolute perfection, as it was not heavy, and felt natural. He highlighted my eyes and cheekbones to their fullest potential. Every step of the way, he asked if I was ok with this or that. I've seriously never felt so glamorous in my life, and had so many compliments on my hair and make-up, which stayed intact for most of the night (until I drunkenly fell, cried with joy, etc., and that's a whole other story)... Recently, I stopped by for a much needed hair cut and style, and once again, Douglas had the magical touch. He listened to the look I was hoping for, and to no surprise, he absolutely nailed it. My hair is fine and with a natural wave, and after the cut and blow out, you'd think I had super thick, voluminous straight hair. Elite Hair Design is a nice salon, that's easy to find, with ample parking, and friendly stylists. If you're looking for a great stylist to do both hair and make-up for any occasion, contact Douglas. You know I'll be doing so! Trust! Cheers to being and looking fabulous, my dears! read more

I went to Sarah to cut my curly hair and do my root color to match my current shade. Her cut was fine. Nothing to write home about. Fine. But the color was atrocious. I was somehow 8 shades darker than my roots and looked like a skunk. Terrible terrible terrible. Even now over 2 months after, I'm stilling dealing with trying to have the color error corrected. Do not get your hair colored by Sarah. Cut? Fine. But spare yourself the color nightmare. And since she only comes down once a month, fixing it was not an option before the salons closed again. read more

They called last minute to cancel and never called me back to reschedule. So unprofessional. I scheduled 1 month in advance when I went in for a consultation. read more

Umm...can I give six stars???? For all my fellow ethnic girls...NATARSHA is a-m-a-z-I-n-g!!!! I came here for the first time and cut nearly a foot of hair. Natarsha not only cut my hair according to my hair type, but she also taught me how to take care of my hair and embrace my natural hair...curl, frizz, and all. For years, I went to various high end salons that claimed they knew curly hair. And disappointingly, every time I left those salons, they would blow dry my hair straight, use a straightener...or my favorite...blow dry my hair straight followed by a curling iron. And boy did I try everything...I've had my hair "relaxed," I've had my hair permanently straightened, I tried using expensive and cheap hair products. And then finally I lost all hope and put my hair in a messy bun every day. I was tired of always trying to "fight" my hair. But then I met Natarsha, and she showed me there was another way!!!!! She was so passionate and knowledgeable of curly hair. It helped that she had curly hair herself (she has the most gorgeous, naturally curly hair...I couldn't stop staring), so that made me feel so much more comfortable around her...and that made me trust her even more. She talked about the science behind curly hair and how it responds to various product ingredients. She taught me using less is more. And I didn't need a blow dryer, a diffuser, a straightener, a curling iron, or any of that stuff. I also appreciated that she didn't try to "push" the salon products or extra services on me. She genuinely wanted to educate and get people to embrace their natural hair. And the results speak for itself. I LOVE my hair now. No more messy buns. Just my natural curl and an amazing haircut that compliments my face and lifestyle. And it's easy to maintain!!!! I have received so many compliments since my haircut with Natarsha. NATARSHA has helped me embrace and love my hair now...and I am so thankful I found her. I highly recommend her!!!! read more

So I waited a little over a month for my appointment . The wait was worth it. It cost a pretty penny but this was worth every single dollar spent. History on my hair type: I used to have suuuuper tight curls as a child and then one day I got a hair cut and my hair went from curly to straight then to wavy then to semi curly and bouncing between a few curls to waves. After I got the cut, rinse and cleanse , my hairs bounce came back and so did my curls. It's been a week since my hair cut and I am already seeing a huge difference in my hair. I also changed my ENTIRE hair routine ( three out all my old shampoo and conditioners) and am now using things without silicones , sulfate or para-whatever it's called. I take time to style my hair everyday in the morning ( 5 minutes tbh) and have started taking pills for hair growth/strength and applying hair masks once a week and so on so forth:) It has been amazing so far and I know this cut was a huge help. I would highly recommend it ! read more

Had my first deva cut from Bill and definitely won't be my last... I'm somewhat new to finally accepting my curls...after my cut I had no idea my hair was that curly and with minimal effort! Bill made my first time experience a great one and gave me tips and tricks to get that curl every time. It's been a couple of days since the cut and my curls are still rocking read more

Came her to cut 12 inches off my hair earlier this year. It was the first time I'd ever gotten a haircut that cost more than $15, and it was well worth the increase in quality and knowledge from the stylists. Your hair is worth investing in! And while they have great hair products that they sell, it was nice to feel like they weren't pressuring me into buying the ones they were selling there. read more

I looked and looked endlessly for a place that specialized in cutting curly hair. While my original stylist always did a great job, I wanted to try a Deva Cut, and wanted a place that had proficient understanding on curly hair. I went back and forth looking up different places, and found a lot to be booked for months, and some offered services at outrages prices. I ended up zeroing in on this salon and glad I had done so. I was assigned to the stylist, Douglas. I arrived a little early, and he arrived just on time as I was walking up to the door. He was super friendly, and when my services started I immediately felt like I was talking to an old friend. (We are both El Camino HS graduates! Wooho). He made me feel super comfortable, and immediately understood what I wanted from my hair. Everything seemed to be pretty smooth, and he effortlessly cut my locks. Oh and as a side note, I had to make sure my hair was cleaned, detangled, untied, and no products when I showed up, so you can imagine the length of lions mane I was dealing with. Once the core cutting was done, he took me over for the rinse. I had an amazing hair wash, and all of the products that he used smelled amazing. All of the products helped benefit the health of my curls. He was very diligent in all details to make sure that I loved my locks and most of all that it looked great. They gave me a sheet with directions on how to care and maintain my curls, and also a list with explanation on what was used on my hair that day. To say the least, I am very very happy with my Deva Cut service. Thank you Douglas! read more

I found Natarsha through Instagram and then looked her up here. Her reviews were great and the pictures looked awesome, but how would it all turn out? In one word: great!!! Natarsha was kind, professional, and very patient as we walked through my first Devacut. She asked questions, listened, and walked me through the process. She was attentive and kind. And her work is incredible! I loved how she walked me through the process of styling so I can get my hair looking its best on my own as well. (I did forget to ask her about refreshing hair, so if you go in, don't forget to ask her about that!) I'd absolutely recommend her and plan on going to see her again for my next seasonal cut! read more

Elite Hair Design - Before - Hair Salons Near Me

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Wow! I googled Deva Curl salons and found this gem. Truly life changing. I have been straightening my hair for years and denying my wavy hair it's natural existence. This is not a traditional method of hair cutting and care in all the best and most natural ways. This was as much an educational as well as a beauty experience. Susie truly taught me how to live and care for my hair with no brushes, combs, towels, synthetic products, irons, etc... I can't thank Susie enough for this experience. I love my hair. read more

Elite Hair Design - First time cleansing and using the Deva Curl products and method. Love it! - Hair Salons Near Me

They are great! My daughter's hair looks amazing and she gave great tips for doing your hair at home! read more

Elite Hair Design - Hair Salons Near Me

Thank you Sarah, I came in so nervous because I have never had anyone cut my curly hair proper. But Sarah was absolutely fantastic! she gave me a lot of tips and advise on how to care for my curly hair. she took her time and was very detailed with the process. My hair has never looked this great!! Thank you to all of the great yelp reviews which is what brought me in to begin with. I feel so beautiful with my new fresh curls.. I will embrace them proudly. And continue to come back!! read more

My first curly Devacut, and I love how it turned out. The cut is perfect, and I enjoyed my conversation with the stylist. He was friendly and professional and took the time to reach me how to recreate the curls at home. read more

I'm a new client and I've had great experiences here with two haircuts, both Deva cuts. I have not had highlights or color yet, but the cuts have been great - and they cost half of what I was paying in the city. But... Honestly, the prices are too low for talented stylists. Women looking for great experiences and results are going to assume that the cuts/color aren't top notch, and that hasn't been my experience. Initially, I think the only reason I came in was because I needed someone who knew how to cut curly hair, and this was the only salon that advertised Deva - otherwise I would have sought out a salon that signaled excellence with its prices. And I wouldn't have found my new favorite local place! The website is dragging this salon down, I'm sure. I recommend they bump the prices and improve the website and then give the extra money to the stylists after that. read more

I've been following Amanda around for about three years now, and I love her! Not only is she fantastic at coloring my hair (blonde highlights, sometimes red lowlights), she is also able to trim long hair. Ladies, those of you with long tresses (mine are to my waist/hips); you know how traumatizing it is when someone chops off more than you ask for -- AMANDA TRIMS ONLY WHAT YOU ASK FOR! You can just enjoy the fun of chatting with her, and feel comfortable as she snips away. She also gives me adorable/sexy bangs now and then. I've converted three other friends to her awesome services and they're all thrilled with her work! read more

I've been going to Elite for about 20 years - off and on. Susie has been doing my hair from the beginning. She has cut, colored, permed, highlighted, advised and perfected my hair style. The entire staff is knowledgable and friendly. Susie has done my hair for both my weddings (LOL). She has taken care of my mom and my sister as well. Danielle is the color expert and always has great advice. I'll never go anywhere else. Thank goodness for the staff of Elite. read more

I went here last Saturday for the first time. My stylist was Samantha. I was super excited to come here but I left disappointed. I got a shampoo, cut, and style. I love the layers in my hair but I wanted a long bob and well, my hair isn't really in a bob at all. As far as the style, I feel I went in with my curls looking more defined, curly and with more volume. I kept hearing the client next to me super excited about how her curls were looking and I was a little disappointed that I didn't get that experience. I paid $140 for a cut, shampoo and style. I lightweight feel kind of robbed for what I paid. I wasn't going to write a review but I normally would just keep it to myself but I felt I needed to share. read more

Susie is a curl genius. I had my second appointment with her today and I left super happy again. She really gets curly hair. Not only do I get a proper haircut (always dry!) with the right amount of layers, I also get an education on maintaining and styling my curls. DevaCurl is great but you need to know the steps and technique. Susie provides that guidance and expertise. read more

Natasha has the worst customer service skills, extremely rude and inconsiderate. The worst hairdresser I have ever had. If I could give zero stars I would. read more

Douglas was great. They totally revived my curly hair from a dry mess to beautiful shiny curls. I was even taught how to take care of my curly hair at home. Diva curl cuts are different because I've been able to maintain that salon look at home. Super great! read more

This is the second time I've been here and I love them just as much. It was great to see all the safety precautions and know they care about that. Samantha did my deva cut and I'm loving it!!! read more

Susie is still the best with my curls! I have also seen Sarah more recently and like how she paints in my highlights into my curls. Love getting my hair cut and not a flat iron in sight! They all appreciate our natural hair and enhance it. Their prices are fair if not a bit lower than salons downtown San Mateo. read more

I just had my first haircut by Susie and am I impressed! I have more curl, less frizz and more style than I can remember! read more

Elite Hair Design - 2nd day curls - Hair Salons Near Me