I typically spend 25-30 on haircuts and am new to the area. After many different haircuts, atmospheres, and certainly inconsistency in styles, I was ready to find a place that was both professional and consistent. I decided to treat myself to a nice haircut and this place popped up first on Yelp. Upon walking in, I was comforted to see a smaller, homey yet upscale environment. The owner and stylist Krista is hands down incredible. Her warm spirit, welcoming smile, and detail to the haircut are among the best I've experienced. Even going further to offer a robe, so that my shirt wouldn't get hairs on it, something I was sadly used to at all the other spots I tried. In terms of the cut, I took a few images for reference of the style I wanted and Krista not only explained how to get the cut, but also told me how to get there realistically and her personal opinion on it. Normally when you go to Barbers, you tell them what you want and they just give it to you. But here, it was a perfect balance of what I want and what would look good. In terms of the price, expect a more expensive cut ($65). But you're going for the experience and the cut. Both of which Krista can provide. Ever since going to this place, I've received compliments on my hair and I myself love my cut. An amazing place overall to get a cut that you won't be disappointed in. read more

I'm sharing this review because my boyfriend's experience at M for Men was genuinely upsetting and left a lasting impression on both of us. He came in expecting a simple haircut and a professional, comfortable environment. Unfortunately, he left feeling extremely uncomfortable with the interaction and described feeling pressured by repeated questioning, unexpected challenges to his answers, and a conversation style that made him feel as though he had to defend himself. What should have been a routine grooming appointment became an emotionally exhausting experience. The stress from the visit stayed with him afterward, and we even sought support to help process how much it affected his well-being and our relationship. A salon experience should be built on trust, respect, and making clients feel welcome. I hope M for Men reflects on how communication and customer interactions can impact guests beyond the service itself. read more

Women, your men should visit For Men Salon! Lead by Krista, her army of stylists work wonders! Hair, nose, ears, back...anyone your man grows hair, they'll attack it! Have a coffee or maybe a beer. Relax and enjoy. I flew from Chicago to have Krista cut my hair before my wedding! read more

M for Men is the best! Been going here for years because: a. Best expertise mens grooming and b. Best experience as a customer - always kind courteous, listening and professional. Exceptional styling and service every time. So much better than anywhere else! read more

This is the best salon period! It's pricey but the quality and overall service makes it worth it, make an appointment and you won't regret it. read more

Krista is the best! She is a tenured professional, extremely knowledgable and will go the extra step to ensure a positive outcome. I enjoy every time I visit Krista and am always thrilled with her work. read more

Krista is fantastic! Probably the best person in OC for longer men's hair. She not only listens to what your hair goals are, she takes the time to educate you on how to maintain and style to get that perfect look. read more

Monica is very experienced and does a great job at cutting and styling long, curly hair. She used some great techniques while working on my hair and took into consideration many things that I haven't seen other stylists do. She puts a great deal of effort into determining what you want her to do to your hair, and throughout the haircut process she is constantly seeking your input so that she can perfect things even further. She also provided great guidance on how I can style my hair at home. Based on this experience, I feel like For Men is the place I can trust most when it comes to my hair. read more

Monica is thoughtful, creative and a friendly hairstylist. She is compassionate and knows the latest trend. The atmosphere of the place is relaxed and positive. I highly recommend. read more

Enjoyed a great drink with Rachel! She booked me in a day (she had a magic opening) and we got right to work for my wedding. She made me relax and feel right at home! She worked quick and was done before I could get buzzed ;) I'll share a few images of the results and I would recommend her to anybody! Just make sure you get in touch with her a week or two before your wedding (unlike me) that way she can work with your hair and prepare you for an even better hair style! :D Thanks Rachel, much love from Max and Amber~~~ Newly weds! read more

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I've been visiting Monica at M for Men going on about 3 years now, and she's absolutely fantastic. I've done my hair short & medium length, experimenting with new styles and also sticking to some tried-and-true. Highly recommend if you're looking for a barber nearby! In addition, the other stylists here are so friendly and nice. There's a mini-fridge stocked with sodas, teas, and water for guests. Parking has also never been an issue here even during the week. read more

Not sure how to message the owner of this place directly, Krista M. Like you said, I left my review on Ingrid's Yelp, In Style Men,'s Salon, as well. I'll consider the haircut from you and give your place another try. Let me know if you are still able to extend the offer. Thanks! read more

I drive all the way from Brea to Lake Forest to see Krista. She's the only hair stylist who has cut my hair in a manner that looks good. As a guy with curly hair, I've tried many other stylists but they all failed. Aside from her service, her hair styling products are also very good. I exclusively use her styling cream. read more

Monica is the best. If you want someone to just cut your hair, go to great clips where there's no convo, no hairstyle advice, and hair clippings all over your face and clothes. Monica has sound style advice, leaves you basically spotless, and can wheel this scissors like no other. You come here if you want a great cut, nice experience, and superb customer service. Only thing missing is a drink in your hand while it's being done (but I mostly get lined up during working hours, so wouldn't benefit anyway). read more

Hey Everyone. M is a great place for a great haircut and a chance to meet some great people. Monica is a wizard with her scissors and has an eye for style. Really glad I found this place. Great cut and a great experience all around. Thanks Monica and team. read more

Krista Martin owner of M For Men (Metro For Men), has been my hair stylist for over 24 years. If that doesn't speak volumes of words and reasons why she's a top, global stylist (with clients whose backgrounds include celebrities, power-players, business professionals, politicians and regular clients, like myself) and why she should be your only hair stylist, then stop reading because you won't find a better stylist and salon than Krista at M For Men in Lake Forest, CA - "The OC" Orange County, California and the entire Southern California Region. Krista has been written up, photographed, showcased and featured in the hair salon, media, celebrity and VIP arenas for decades, as one of the Top 10 Men's hair salons and stylists in the United States; because of her styling excellence and dedication to education, training, creativity and customer satisfaction in her field of diverse hairstyles and current trends. Why? She listens and communicates with her clients, and asks questions to know and understand their specific needs. And her clientele know this. Clients travel from everywhere to receive Krista's acclaimed hair styling expertise for: model photoshoots, tv appearances, on stage, walking "the runway" or "red carpet", making a presentation to closing that "big deal"; including as near as, her salon location in Lake Forest, CA, to Coto de Caza, Newport Coast, Emerald Bay, Santa Barbara / Montecito, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, the South Bay, La Jolla, La Costa, Rancho Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Palm Desert, NoCal, Jackson Hole, Vail, Dallas & Houston, NY City, Miami, Washington, DC, Hawaii, Australia, Canada, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. Krista knows a person's hair style is a reflection of their personality, tone and a moment in time, that every client wants to present and capture when with themselves, a partner, friend, family, at a special occasion, work or in a public environment. So it's not just about cutting hair to Krista, she's about servicing her clients' needs by providing matching hair styles to each client's uniqueness. M For Men Salon & Spa - Krista Martin Master Hair Stylist 10 Stars - Highly Recommend! read more

Have to say I have been more than happy with the experience here over the last few months. Ingrid has exceptional attention to detail and really takes her time to get everything just right. Will not be going anywhere else from now on. Relaxing place and super friendly, highly recommended. read more

M FOR MEN Salon | Spa - Men's Hair Salons Near Me - Lake Forest, California

**Styling!** The owner has always had a high caliber of stylists (all have done a great job, since I typically call the same day to get the first available) and consistently offer top service and quality. The salon and facilities are pristine and they are accommodating. Their prices are not those of a chain barbershop, but are reasonable and worth it, if you value how you'll look for the next month ;-) I have been coming to metro for almost 20 years to get my hair cut and have work colleagues that have become regulars too. read more

After years of trying to go here, today it finally happened Ingrid was warm & welcoming and suggested how I should cut my hair and did a fantastic job; trimmed my beard as well Monica was also welcoming & gentle; I hardly felt anything during the wax . Well worth the wait and the drive up. Will definitely be back. read more

*Update* I recently went back in only to discover that my stylist was no longer there. I was apprehensive as its really hard to find a stylist that understands my hair. I was paired up with Merissa who realized the type of hair I had and knew what needed to be done. She used a completely different technique then what I was used to and I was pleased on how it was turning out. The fact that she said "I love cutting Asian hair" made me feel more comfortable as she truly seemed to understand the complexities of Asian hair. This is where it goes sour. The owner, Krista comes up to us and takes a comb and shears and says she was going to give Merissa a few pointers. When someone says..."give a few pointers", I don't expect you to take over and completely undo what was already done. I have a pretty gnarly cow lick in the back which I've always intentionally left long to I can style it down using product. Merissa and I agreed that it was best to leave it that way. Krista proceeds to cut it shorter. Didn't say a word or say what she was going to do. In fact, no pointers were said or given. Just proceeded to cut. As she was cutting and before I realized how much she fubar'd my hair, I asked her about my previous stylist and she really didn't say much other than it was sudden. After she was done cutting and walked away..Merissa immediately saw that I was pissed at what was done to my hair and looked a bit stunned herself and apologized. The back of my head seriously looks like a peacock spread its feathers. Merissa put a ton of product to try to lay the cowlick down which really didn't help. But the damage was done. As I'm paying, Krista probably got wind of the fact that I was upset came up to me and had the audacity to say..."hey next time, let me pair you up with someone else". Uh no. Why would I want to get paired up with someone else when Merissa cut my hair the way I wanted on the first try and makes a statement "I love cutting Asian hair." You just discredited your own employee. Way to go. No effort to alleviate the situation or offer a solution. I've been coming here faithfully since the beginning of year paying $27-37 once every 2-3 weeks and it just took one action to ruin it. I'll probably not return again . read more

I haven't had a real professional haircut in a very long time. A rare visit to a barber shop if I did. I was long over due. Well I did some quick searches and found this place. I'm glad I did and there was no disappointment or any kind of regret. Krista was the person who helped me with my haircut and conditioning. I gave her the do what you think is best. I had long shoulder length hair but it was put of control. She did an amazing job to make me look my best. I highly recommend coming here to get the best you. read more

I was in search of a new place to get my haircut. As most of us know, this can be a trying experience. I decided to give M For Men Salon a try. I walked in, but you really should have an appointment. Nevertheless, they were very friendly and accommodating. Monica had a window of availability and she offered to cut my hair. Thank God she did. First, Monica listens to you. She asks you how you want your haircut and as she's cutting your hair she'll stop and show you and confirm it's being done to your liking. I'm sure we all have our peculiarities when it comes to our hair. All I can say is Monica gave me the best haircut and it was exactly to my liking. I have now gone three times with Monica and all have been amazing experiences. Thank you Monica for perfecting your craft and for your professionalism. I found my stylist and look forward to many future haircuts. read more

Buyer beware! Men: you belong at a barber. This place is a SALON. I asked for a number 3 and to keep it LOW: a gentleman's cut. She buzzed so much hair off that I'm left looking like a 12 year old trying to bring back 2014. At first, I thought maybe it was my fault for not explaining in more depth what a haircut should look like, but for the money they charge, this should be professional. I could have easily cut this myself for free. read more

M FOR MEN Salon | Spa - Men's Hair Salons Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Today was the first time I went Metro Man. Amazing. Monica did manicure, total professional, I have beautiful nails again. Because of her professionalism, I am going back next week for a facial. read more

Had a great experience for my first time there. Very inviting staff and environment. Krista was fantastic. Talking me through options, and even taking some extra time out of her busy schedule for extra little grooming details. I found my place! read more

Been coming here regularly since I moved to Irvine from Anaheim and even came a couple of times back then, as I had worked at the Great Indoors when it was across the street. Now that place is known as Walmart. Any rate, when I first came hear 3-4 years ago, I had one of the regular stylists cut my hair. She was OK, but nothing spectacular. While I admit, I am an introvert, there wasn't much conversation and I wondered if she really cared to develop clients, or if everyone was just a customer to her. Clients vs customer. Believe me, from someone in the sales, there is a very big difference. Eventually I gave the place another try when I moved to Irvine and started getting my hair cut by Krista, the owner. Night and day difference in experience. She had a warm personality, she was great at what she did, and she made me feel like she wanted me to return for years to come. Any rate, it's not a place that everyone can justify going, but for those that care about how presentable they look and understand that an appointment is necessary, I highly recommend it. read more

I have been a client of Metro For Men for over 20 years. I have always appreciated Metro for Men for getting a quality haircut along with their waxing services but after experiencing the Covid 19 quarantine I realized how good of a haircut I was getting. I typically get a haircut every 3 weeks but due to the covid shutdown, I had to wait over 2 months to get my haircut and my hair held up very well. It was manageable which showed me that I was getting a quality haircut. I highly recommend Metro For Men. read more

Krista is amazing. Period. Enough said. She has been my stylist for over a decade, and every cut/time spent has been well worth it.

I am pretty new to the Irvine area and have been trying out a few places with mixed results. But this place was great! Grace did an excellent job on my hair and she is super nice. I left happy! The service is friendly, the atmosphere is very pleasant and sure I've found my new go-to stylist. read more

While in college I never cared much about my hair and if it worked with my facial features. After starting work, I decided to finally find a place where I didn't have to explain every clip size to use on each part of my head. And after 8 years or so, I am still coming back and always leaving confident that my haircut is perfect. Ive been getting my haircut with Krista, and she's constantly coming up with creative ideas. It's always nice to try different cuts throughout each season, and I feel comfortable to give her the chance to do so. I can vouch for her knowledge in her craft, as she keeps up with all the current trends. You'll always come out with an awesome haircut! read more

This was my first time at metro for men and I made a last minute appointment. When I walked in the receptionist was so friendly and offered me a beverage. My hair stylist was Monica. She walked up to me with a huge smile. She was energetic and made me feel super welcome. She cut my hair just like I wanted!!!! She also was funny yet still very professional! I'll for sure be coming back soon!!!! Facilities were super clean and well kept. Loved the TVs with sports on as a cherry on top!! read more

M FOR MEN Salon | Spa - Men's Hair Salons Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I couldn't wait to get home and write this review and I don't typically take the time to write reviews unless something is really wrong or just great. Some background - I am 42 years old and have had the same haircut my entire life....no joke. I have never changed my comb over flat haircut during that entire time because, although I have always hated my hair, I was comfortable with it and honestly I felt like it was not very manly to go to a stylist. It was starting to show my receding hairline and just looked terrible. If the wind caught it right it would look like Trump hair flailing in the wind...embarrassing. After years of recommendations to do something with my hair from family and co-workers I got up the courage to find this place on Yelp and force myself to change. Metro for Men didn't smell like permed hair, had amazing music (zeppelin, floyd, hendrix), tv's with sports and news, and really cool reading material. I was instantly very comfortable. I had the privilege of getting Grace to work on giving me a new style. She had great ideas and was confident she could transform my old style. Grace was AMAZING and I am so thankful I came to this place and I just happened to get Grace. I also got the scalp treatment. With the music playing and how good the scalp treatment/neck and shoulder massage felt I couldn't imagine a more relaxing experience. I have seen comments on here about this being pricey. $37 for a haircut seems very reasonable especially if you want people that know what they are doing but this place is so much more than a plain ole' haircut joint. Having spent a lifetime of going only to $9 barbers maybe my expectations weren't as high as others...I don't know. What a great experience and thanks again Grace. You are my style hero and my wife greatly approves! See ya in a month :) read more

Looking to get a haircut? Need a good quality cut? By a professional? LOOK NO FURTHER! I've lived in California for 3 years. I wish I found this place earlier. Namely, the stylist Erika. She's fantastic. Best haircuts I ever had. She's incredibly talented, easy going, professional, and genuine. All things that make an experience at Metro for Men world class. I can't speak of the other stylists as I had no need to change. Do yourself a favor, if you're looking for a quality cut, call and make an appointment with Erika. read more

So I went in for a simple cut, walked out less $60+ looking like I just walked out of supercuts. The girl who cut my hair droned on endlessly about her BF and how she and all her friends party in Newport all the time but she really wanted to stop partying so much and blah blah blah, yada, yada, yada... I would have to say the atmosphere was lost on me. When I paid my bill and left no one said anything to me because the cashier was way too busy talking with someone else to do anything other than hand me my reciept, not even a bye, or come again. Hey, I just spent $60 for a guys cut and you arent going to be nice to me? I'll look elsewhere. read more

I have been going to Metro for Men for a little over 8 years now and have enjoyed many of their services. Metro for Men offers your typical haircuts, beard trims, ear and nose waxing, manicures and pedicures. They have hair coloring available and also can help with your mansacaping needs. Another plus is you can get your shoes shined while you have your hair cut. The only downfall is this service is only available Monday-Friday. Hopefully they'll add Saturdays again soon. The ambiance of Metro for Men is great. It is not your "moms" salon. They have TVs everywhere and at every station (which doesn't do me a lot of good as once I take my glasses off I am blind as a bat) But, in theory it's a great idea. They offer you beverages when you arrive and try to make you feel at home. The gals at the front desk are nice, but I truly appreciate Whitney and her ability to make you feel even more welcomed. She always has a smile on her face and genuinely seems happy you're there. One of the main things I like about Metro for Men is they invite you to change into a smock prior to getting your haircut and they not only wash your hair prior to cutting it, they also wash it once they are done cutting and before they style it which prevents those stray hairs from making an appearance on your clothes, car or home. I have had the privilege of meeting many great stylists over the years. Lynese, Alyse, Merissa and Erin were phenomenal but as with the industry, they have moved on to bigger and better opportunities. While I am happy for them, I am not a fan of needing to start over with a new stylist. I have been lucky enough, however, to meet Rachel and utilize her styling expertise for the past year or so and she is amazing. She is a feisty country gal (or at least that's how I see her) with a great personality and she makes the experience that much more enjoyable. She is actually on of the main reasons I have continued to visit Metro for Men. I highly recommend a scalp treatment or a facial at Metro for Men, they are very relaxing and give you a moment to just zone out and put the day to day stress on the back burner. I do not have a favorite stylist for a facial but I highly recommend Andrea as she provide one of the best scalp treatments I have had in a while. Metro for Men also have great styling products available such as their sports cream and deconstruct gels. I have and continue to use both depending on what my needs are in the morning as I prep for my day. Their products are also reasonably priced and do last a while as a small amount goes a long way. The main reason I only provided three stars are the prices, they are on the higher end. A typical haircut runs $37.00 and they charge extra for a beard trim etc. if you bundle your services sometimes you'll have sticker shock when it comes time to pay. Depending on the day you visit Metro for Men parking can be a problem as they are located in another one of Irvine's famous terrible parking lots. It is a good size parking lot, however if all businesses in the center are open there is not enough parking. Sometimes I do feel the stylists are rushed and are trying to assure they get as many clients through their station as possible. They are only allotted 30 minutes per cut and often no sooner do you sit down their next client is being announced. It is also a difficult project to utilize any of the promotions offered when you check in on Yelp, Foursquare, etc as they are often too busy and you seem to be a nuisance if you bring it up. Metro for Men recently hired a gentleman that oversees the day to day operations, however I feel he takes away from the experience as he he is trying to be too friendly almost feels like he is fake or being forced to "put on a show." Overall I feel Krista and her team do a great job and I am sure I will continue to visit Metro for Men for my grooming needs. read more

I haven't gotten a great haircut in six years until I went to Metro and had Elaine give me a great looking haircut. She was patient with me as well, not like other salons where you tell them you want it shorter after they spent the last 15 minutes fading the sides and they give you that look of impatience. For the price I paid, $27 + tip, I left feeling like I could conquer the professional world. That is a priceless feeling, especially when I'm in a very competitive business field. They are similar to 18/8, another salon I've been to, but they have a different atmosphere. They are much younger, and I would certainly say it is a Yuppie spot. Compared to what I paid at 18/8 - $39 + tip, Metro is definitely going to be my new hair salon from now on. read more

I really couldn't have been more disapointed with my haircut. I called in and asked for an edgy, rock and roll hair stylist. They gave me a fifth grade school boy hair cut. Booo..... At least they gave me a beer. read more

I've been to 18 8 which is a way better "high end haircut experience" than this place. This is for the most part a normal place to get your haircut, similar to sport clips with a little more of a luxury touch. 18 8 is the ultimate though in male luxury in my opinion. I decided to go here when I found out you can get a free haircut your first time. The haircut took a while because my stylist, Lo, used scissors and no clippers on the sides. I was kind of thinking that was a waste of time since everyone always just #3 fades me up no matter where I go. She used the shearing scissors which I think do a good job on me. I also got a shampoo before and after the cut and a condition. The scalp massage was average but average still feels very good. Here is the important part. When I left I told myself this place was two stars but since it was free it was three stars. Then, no joke, in the next two days 3 women independently commented that my hair looked great and one girl even thought my skin looked great. So maybe this place has some magic or maybe I am getting better looking. Or maybe I really had a bad haircut before. I don't know, but there might be something to this place so give it a whirl since the first one is free and with these female affirmations I am trending towards four stars. read more

I've had a great experience with Jessica in the past. This last visit I scheduled my appointment online but the only available stylist was Paula. I showed up a half hour early and saw that the receptionist was working hard to keep all the calls under control. They, as always provided me with a drink as I waited. My only criticism is that they go out of their way to satisfy an upset customer and end up overlooking the patient one. A gentleman came in upset that he could not be fit in immediately instead of the evening appointment he had set in advance. Paula went ahead and took him in ahead of me as I sat in the waiting room. Unfortunately I resembled Cousin It at this point so I had to go to a different barber shop to get my cut after waiting a half hour for my scheduled appointment. read more

I have been coming here for just about 10 years. This is by far, the best haircut I have ever had. Coming here for so long, I have switched stylists as they have come and gone, but somehow I always manage to get a perfect haircut from whoever replaced the last one. Also, I have never had a bad haircut here either, and I think that is the take-away. You can have complete faith in metro because you will not get a bad haircut, and if you are lucky like me, you'll get the best cut you've ever had. You come in and are seated in the waiting area where you can help yourself to a beer or soda and watch tv or read a magazine. When you're up, they put you in the locker-room and you put in a clean smock, which is nice -- you don't have to go back to your day itching and wet around the collar. Next you are shampoo'd by an expert -- if you get the right one, you get a real nice scalp message. They dry your hair off with a towel and you go for your haircut. When you're done somebody brings you a piping hot towel, and it's the best. They always re-shampoo my hair when I'm done, insuring that no stray post-cut hairs will fall on your shoulders, chest and back. They really have thought of everything. The owner is one of the nicest women I've met, and she is completely accommodating -- super cool woman-owned business. That said, all the other stuff is well done too -- people are cool, the locker-room style bathroom is pleasant and clean, the television's always on ESPN, the chairs are comfortable, like I said, they thought of everything. If you are a dude who cares about how you look and the style of your hair, or if you are not and need a change in your look, go to Metro, you will be stoked. Otherwise go to one of those $15 places and get a $15 look from some dipshit. Oh, also the stylists are all educated and experienced so you don't have to stress about that uneasy moment when you're wondering "does this chick know what she is doing with those sharp-ass-scissors?" They're all properly trained. Like I said, great haircut, great place, I highly recommend it. read more