Awesome! Wonderful, perfect nails every time. I am really particular about my nails and I get…read moregel fills and gel polish overlay and that is hard to find for some reason. Sindy does a perfect job every time and I don't have to worry about my nails peeling or curling early. I followed her from her SF salon then to her space at Shylock's and so glad she is still in San Rafael. (Close to the San Rafael Transit Center, so easy for me to catch a bus on the way home.) Large selection of colors for gels and regular polish. (My favorite is Perfect Match.) She also does fantastic and complex 3D nail art designs when I'm feeling more artistic. But I love the glitter! I love the new location of the salon and the boutique ambiance is super cute and relaxing! Make an appointment because she books up quickly and travels to teach. I usually book the next appointment when I go in.

Classic is amazing! First, it was very nice being able to communicate via text, as I have a 3 month…read moreold daughter and holding a phone conversation is near impossible. Through text, she was able to quote a price, squeeze me in her schedule (same day!) and tell me the best parking near her location. Second, she was very understanding of my situation, having a 3 month old who needed her passy put back in a few times and sound machine turned on. Classic was very patient-- even when I accidentally smudged a nail! And her work is flawless, just want I wanted, beautifully hand painted French tip lines and a pretty flower on the ring fingers. And a pretty rhinestone! All in all, an amazing experience and I'll definitely be back the next time I need my nails done and with my daughter when she's old enough for a mommy daughter mani!

Happy to have returned for another hair color and Noa did an amazing job. She and the team are…read moreawesome and really take their time for perfect results. I'd recommend getting your hair done at this amazing salon/school.

Had a nice stress free cut and blow out. They did not push products. Also unlike another school…read morethere is no additional charge to have your hair dried. Nice folks. I'll be back

I have been going here on and off over the last year and today I received the best service yet! Sue…read morewas absolutely amazing, personable, kind, and skilled! The prices are unbeatable and the staff is so fun. It's a relaxing environment and well equipped. I got a wash, blow dry, and flat iron and it was excellent! I highly recommend this business and be sure to ask for Sue!

I understand this is a training school and that they are learning, but I think better expectations…read moreneed to be set prior to the appointment. I came for a blowout, and right off the bat, it was evident that the trainee was not experienced with blowouts on long hair. However, I had no issues with the trainee itself. The trainer would come here and there to give some pointers, but after the wash and comb through, the trainee spent several minutes on one small section of hair while we were almost an hour into the appointment. While the trainer was there, I politely asked if it would be possible to complete the blowout in 30 minutes, as I had to be somewhere. This was on me because I have longer-than-average hair, and I should have double-checked while making the appointment. I was told that it would take about an hour when I made the appointment. The trainer got super defensive and stated that I was asking for too much, and this would technically be an $80+ blow out (my blowouts at traditional salons have never been $80+). I was surprised as to why he was so offended when I only politely asked and even offered to come back at a later time, as they close at 3 pm. Nonetheless, my event was postponed, and I was able to stay for longer, but the trainer ended up doing the blowout while the student watched. What I don't understand is why the students are made to do the service independently when they do not have much experience. The trainee was very sweet, and I understand that they were trying their best. It was overall a strange experience, and I don't think I will go back again. The results were just okay, and the curls did not last through the day.

I love this place! They have top of the line products that really perform, and the owner and staff…read moreare always a pleasure to work with! I've always received great customer service and product advice from them. They also have their own education center for stylists who want to continue excelling in their field. The owner brings in top notch educators to teach the classes, so it's some of the best education bar none.

Tonya and George have some of the best educational classes. Not to mention they carry great…read moreproducts.

Rylie cut my hair she was awesome. I got more compliments than with any other haircut. She gave…read moreme tips and information on what shampoo and conditioner works best with my hair type.

I worked for Avalon in both admissions and leadership roles and ultimately left because the…read moreorganization's values no longer aligned with my own. The most significant challenge was what I perceived as a disconnect between leadership expectations and the realities of campus operations. Admissions teams were often expected to meet aggressive enrollment goals while managing constantly shifting priorities, limited resources, and inconsistent communication. Much of my role involved translating unclear or reactive direction into something representatives could realistically execute. In my experience, enrollment volume was prioritized more heavily than retention, student preparedness, and long-term student success. This created confusion around performance expectations and what outcomes were truly valued. I observed situations where high enrollment numbers appeared to receive greater recognition than efforts focused on retention, student readiness, and long-term outcomes. I also observed inconsistencies in recognition, advancement opportunities, compensation practices, workload distribution, and communication that negatively impacted morale. Many talented employees worked extremely hard to support students and improve operations, but feedback and recommendations from frontline staff often seemed to go unaddressed despite recurring challenges. Another concern was the culture within leadership. Rather than fostering collaboration, there were times when competition, poor communication, and uneven information sharing created unnecessary tension between teams and departments. This often resulted in employees acting as intermediaries rather than being empowered to work together directly and effectively. I frequently felt that organizational decisions were driven more by enrollment growth and financial objectives than by educational outcomes, student preparedness, retention, or long-term student success. I also felt that the perspectives of employees with direct experience working with students and campus operations were not given sufficient consideration when key decisions were made. I also experienced and observed workplace interactions that I perceived as insensitive and, at times, discriminatory. As a biracial woman, there were comments and situations that made me uncomfortable and caused me to question whether all employees were being treated with the same level of respect and professionalism. These experiences negatively impacted my sense of belonging within the organization. Additionally, I had concerns regarding how employee complaints and sensitive matters were handled. In my experience, confidentiality was not always maintained in a manner that fostered trust, which made employees hesitant to raise concerns or provide honest feedback. While I cannot speak to everyone's experience, I personally experienced interactions that I perceived as dismissive, demeaning, and unprofessional. Over time, this contributed significantly to my decision to leave. I genuinely care about career education and the students these schools serve. There are many dedicated campus employees throughout the organization who work hard every day to support students and help them achieve their goals. However, I believe the company would benefit from placing greater emphasis on student outcomes, retention, employee development, transparency, accountability, and stronger alignment between leadership decisions and campus realities. Pros: Dedicated coworkers, meaningful work with students, valuable admissions and leadership experience. Cons: Heavy emphasis on enrollment metrics, inconsistent communication, frequent shifts in priorities, limited recognition of employee contributions, concerns regarding workplace culture and confidentiality, and a disconnect between leadership and day-to-day operations, main focus being securing the 20+ grand from students for tuiton and not actual education.

I just love this place, love helping the students, love the fact that they are achieving there…read moredream and people like me are helping them get there, and they do a fantastic job.

I got this Groupon bcuz I'm all about supporting other upcoming stylist. I would like to say Julia…read morewas nice but it is advertised that I would get a scalp massage, I got nothing of that sort at all. I understand this deal is pretty good which I understand but my hair is still damp and maybe the Groupon advertised a blow dry could mean no style but maybe at least getting it completely dry. Communication is everything especially since I know everyone is still learning. The haircut was a super blunt cut, I asked for an inch off, she probably only did 1/2 an inch. Which cool cool, don't want more. Thanks Julia, hopefully this helps you grow.

Relaxed atmosphere: The atmosphere was so relaxing that I actually fell asleep during my services…read more Jadyn was phenomenal in completing my waxing services. Her professionalism and courtesy were above those of a student learning. She truly cares about what she is doing and her clients' well-being. Jadyn took her time and asked questions, not only of myself, to ensure my comfort, but also got her instructor to ensure that she was doing the treatments correctly. I enjoyed her honesty and her professionalism.

The student was excellent. I've been here multiple times and they never seem to have the product…read morethey need. The last time I had to point out that someone put water in there products. That is ridiculous.

I just had my very first facial ever, and I honestly don't think there's a better human on the…read moreplanet to have experienced it with than River. From the moment I walked in, she made me feel completely at ease -- calm, welcomed, and genuinely cared for. There was zero awkwardness, zero pressure, and absolutely no rushing. River has this incredibly soothing presence that instantly makes you feel safe and comfortable, even if you're brand new to facials like I was. Throughout the entire process, River was exceptionally patient, kind, caring, and supportive. She took the time to explain everything she was doing in a way that was easy to understand and never overwhelming. She checked in constantly to make sure I was comfortable, asked thoughtful questions, and truly listened to my concerns and preferences. I never once felt like "just another appointment" -- she treated me like a priority the entire time. What really stood out to me was how thorough and intentional River was with every single step. Nothing felt rushed or mechanical. Every touch was gentle, purposeful, and incredibly relaxing. You can tell she truly cares about her craft and about the people she works with. Her attention to detail is unmatched, and she has an amazing ability to combine professionalism with genuine warmth and compassion. As someone who was nervous going into their first facial, River completely exceeded every expectation I had -- and then some. She created an environment that was peaceful, supportive, and deeply calming. By the end of the experience, I felt not only refreshed and glowing, but also confident, relaxed, and taken care of in a way that's honestly rare to find. River is the kind of person who makes you feel comfortable being exactly where you are, whether you're a first-timer or a regular. Her kindness, patience, and genuine care shine through in everything she does. I can say without hesitation that this was one of the most relaxing, positive, and reassuring self-care experiences I've ever had. If you're considering a facial -- especially if it's your first -- River is the person you want. I couldn't imagine a better introduction, and I will absolutely be coming back. She is truly incredible at what she does, and even more incredible as a human being.

They offer a wide variety services at a discount price. Unfortunately they are not good…read morecommunicators. Twice I was sent home without receiving my service because they had not told me in advance what I needed to do to prepare my skin. Professionals communicate! The third time this happened I asked the girl to go and check with her boss. She was gone 20 minutes. When her boss came to talk with me I asked what happened to the young lady. I said "has she been kidnapped by aliens?" It was a joke. After that they refused to work with me again.