My husband and I go to this salon and have Dawn as hairdresser. She's great. We're both very satisfied My hair isn't easy to deal with. It's bushy, thick, curly, dry, prone to tangles, very long, and finicky. But she understands how to cut it, dye it, restore it, and style it. Not too many hairdressers can do it. So, if you have hair like mine, ask for Dawn. You can book your appointment online too, which is very convenient. read more

Owner is not nice, has an attitude. He goes as far as texting customers to tell them they aren't welcome anymore. Completely unprofessional. Employees also can get attitudes with customers. Looooong waits even when you have an appointment. There is nowhere comfortable to sit and wait. Prices don't match website; they are more expensive in person. Are they making them up as they go along? Why even have a website with prices then. Employees gossip about one another in front of customers and have even admitted to showing up for work hungover or spoken about other employees using drugs, again in front of customers. To top it off, no parking. Yikes. Save yourself the headache. read more

I've been cutting my son's hair for the past two years, when my husband gently suggested it may be time for someone who knows what they are doing to take over. I was nervous, as 2 year olds aren't known for patience, and also totally unsure where to go- reviews of kid specialty studios weren't heartening, and so many adult studios just seemed annoyed by the question of whether kids cuts were doable. Cut to yesterday, when I had an appointment with Ashley(made based on super positive Yelp reviews) to cut Jack's hair. She was sweet and engaged with him the entire time, chatted with me, and did a fabulous job. Ashley worked quickly and precisely, leaving some length as we requested, but shaping it so it's clean and structured. I'm thrilled that we found Ashley and Franco's, and looking forward to taking my daughter as well! read more

Franco's Hair Studio - before Ashley worked her magic. - Hair Salons Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Franco is great - this is the only place I ever go to get my haircut! And Dawn does a great job on our 6yo kids with curly hair

Horrible experience. Made appointment with Franco. Told him I wanted zero on sides and back, and cut a bit on the top, and showed him pictures. He did the opposite, he cut almost all my hair on top, didn't do zero on sides, and his reason was because it's summer and he doesn't want me to have to style my hair ‍. I told him I don't mind taking time every day to style my hair, told him I don't want typical barber cut, I want style. He said no, he's going to give me classic look. I told him no, I want style. He didn't follow the picture and gave me the most basic default look. Ugh, I spent over a year growing my hair, now I have to start all over again. Never coming back here. He won't do the cut you ask for. Also I noticed that at the end, the reason he suddenly cut all my hair quickly was because next client as at the door. Yea. So he schedules his clients 40 minutes apart so if he's not done within 40 minutes he will rush your cut at the end but just cutting all your hair off read more

Elena was great! I had a balayage and hair cut and it came out absolutely amazing!! The cut itself was super tailored to my thin and thick hair where she made sure to give me the proper volume with a "texturizing" cut. read more

Franco's Hair Studio - Hair Salons Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I wanted to get a haircut for my 18months boy and I was very skeptical about letting someone use scissors as my boy would not sit still in one place being the toddler he is..but Ashley at Franco was great.She let him sit on my lap so that he would be comfortable and she have him an amazing haircut. She took her time and was very patient with my little one. Its a complete transformation.I would totally Recommend this place for a Kids haircut and Yes they even have a 20% discount if you check-in through yelp ..The haircut cost me just about $20 ..total win !! read more

Franco's Hair Studio - Love the new haircut ..before and after picture ..its a total transformation ..Franco"s did a great job !! - Hair Salons Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Definite meh. I was given an impromptu vacation day during the "storm" on Wednesday and wanted to get a pedicure at a salon I could walk to. Cambridge street is quite the trek, so I called up SPA 163 and discovered they do a regular pedicure for $27 or a deluxe for $37. I made an appointment for the basic version and walked on down, flip flops in tow. The girl doing my nails was really nice, and suggested a color different than the one I picked out when she saw my current color. Turned out she was right about the color...but it was dark so it didn't go on super evenly. When I mentioned this about my big toes, she was very willing to touch it up...but the paint was kinda bubbly so now I don't have a super smooth coat. Two stars may be harsh since this girl was really nice, just chatty enough, and was stuck at work on a wicked boring day. I tipped her well, but don't know if I'll be back-- $27 is a bit steep when I can get a near-perfect job at my go-to salon in Watertown. read more

I have been going to Dawn since before the pandemic. Her cuts are great! She is a great communicator and makes sure that she understands what you are looking for. I have an appointment with her later this month and I need to remember to take before and after pics. I offer 4 stars because of the difference in Men's Haircut and Women's Haircut prices. I have short hair that does not take a full hour to cut, yet I'm charged $60. A men's cut is $30. Hum. Perhaps it's time to move to gender neutral prices...razor cut, hair cut 1/2 hr, hair cut 1 hr. read more

Where else can a guy get a solid, affordable cut in about 15 minutes while listening to 90s alternative jams? Probably nowhere else in a 100-mile radius from Boston but here. Franco's the man. read more

Had to move my review to here now that Dawn is back at Francos! Back in January I was dumb and went to Supercuts because it was cheap but they RUINED my hair. I frantically called around to find someone who could fit me in to fix it. Thazar's (which was owned by Franco at the time) graciously squeezed me in. Dawn worked wonders, was so empathetic, and completely fixed my awful cut. I just had another haircut with her and it, of course, turned out perfect again. My hair feels soft, healthy, and looks amazing. Thank you so much Dawn! I won't let anyone else touch my hair. read more

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I've been getting my hair cut by Ashley for many years now. She's amazing. She also cuts my husbands hair and my 4 year old. We all just love her. Highly recommended and worth the wait for an appointment. read more

Best haircut in Cambridge! Ashley is amazing and the entire team is great. Will be going back soon.

I've been having my hair cut by Ashley at Franco's Hair Studio for over four years, and wouldn't consider going anywhere else. Even after moving out of Inman Square first to Somerville and now to Arlington, I continue coming here because her excellent cuts. When I first started seeing Ashley, I was going through the painful process of growing out a pixie cut in advance of my wedding (never again), and she took the time to thoroughly discuss what I wanted, including asking helpful questions and looking at photos I'd brought. (This is in notable contrast to the stylists I tried prior to finding Ashley, most of whom looked as they wanted to murder me no sooner than the word "photos" was mentioned, and then proceeded to blithely ignore my preferences and give me the haircut they thought would look good.) Since my hair is still relatively short (shoulder-length), I come in for a wash, trim, and blow dry approximately every six weeks, and Ashley is always thoughtful and attentive to detail. She's also just a very friendly person whom I genuinely enjoy talking to! I've recommended her to friends and enthusiastically recommend her to you, the good people of Yelp. While at first it was hard to swallow to spending $55 on a haircut after moving to Boston from Milwaukee, where haircuts are not $55, I have certainly learned through experience that you get what you pay for... and Franco's Hair Studio is absolutely worth paying for. read more

tldr; great location/facilities, personable stylist, reasonable prices, first-time customer discount, bad haircut experience I really wanted to like Franco's, and while it's possibly I had an unusual experience, I still feel the need to share. I had a women's haircut with Elena that was unpleasant and resulted in a decision that will take many months/years to grow back. My request for a drop-in appointment was satisfied in less than 30 minutes same day (amazing given it was after work!), so bonus points for availability. But, when I got there the floor around my chair was still covered in hair from the patron(s) before me. It was the end of the night so I gave them a pass. I shared I had difficult hair (wavy on bottom, straight on top) and that it had been about 6 months since I cut it. I requested a simple trim that cleaned up the bottom of my hair and Elena consented. What resulted was an agonizing 30 minutes of hair tearing. Instead of adding product to my thick, wavy hair or slowing down for tangles, Elena tugged and ripped at it with a round brush. It was painful and was clearly damaging. Elena looked at a large knot when I pointed it out and then tore at it with the brush until it ripped out. When finished, she proudly fluffed my hair (which looked limp and flat) and announced that she had thinned my hair to make it look less thick. I was furious: I specifically asked for a trim and like my hair the way it is. When I looked shocked, she ignored my reaction. I told her that was not at all what I wanted and she said that she was forced to use the thinning tool because it had been such a long time since I cut it. This is not true, and she did not apologize: instead said that she didn't thin it very much and proceeded to walk to the register. I really loved Elena, but I felt I needed to explicitly explain that it is important to warn people before you do things like thin hair. (Edited for clarity) read more

Great haircut by a great person. Love this place and would recommend to anyone/everyone! I live across the country and still make sure I visit Franco's whenever I'm in town for a holiday. read more

One of the poorer haircuts I've ever gotten, not to mention it took about 25 minutes and I was charged $60 plus tip. I had previously gotten my bangs cut, about 6 months ago at this salon and had an alright experience. When I entered the salon for my appointment I was greeted by the staff that would cut my hair. I mentioned, as I walked in the door, that I would be using a Nift Gift certificate (good for $20 off) and she promptly replied "don't worry we will deal with it after". I sat down, she shampooed my hair for about 30 seconds without using any type of conditioner. After my cut (which took about 15 minutes), she went in the back room to talk to her manager, and came out letting me know that she wouldn't be able to apply the Nift Gift because I had already been there once. Additionally, I was charged $60, not the $50 for a womens haircut as advertised on their website. At the end of the day I was baited and switched. I went in expecting to pay under $50 for a great cut and ~45 process, but instead ended up spending $70 for a terrible hair cut and uneven bangs. I feel completely disappointed, and even though I live right around the corner I will never be coming back to this salon ever again. read more

I made an appointment here yesterday for my husband to get a simple buzz cut. I typically buzz his hair at home myself, but we just moved to the area and are still waiting for many of our things to get here (therefore, no clippers). As one of the only hair salons/ shops open on a Sunday, I made him a same-day appointment online. We got there 15 mins early and waited; they took him about 10 mins after his appointment was scheduled. So this is what my husband asked for (and what I do every few weeks on my own at home): 1/8 of an inch all over. That's it. No fade, no styling, nothing. That's his "cut." The stylist buzzed it, gave him a wash, and "dried" it. He was given 20% off for being a first-time customer, and then he tipped heavily. Well, when we get home and I actually look him over, I really how poorly done this cut was. I honestly don't know how you make a buzz cut with one length look lumpy, but that's what it was. Whole sections were longer, and then there were long strands scattered throughout. His appointment had been right before they closed for the evening, so we couldn't go back to have them fix it. I spent about 10 mins with some little scissors trying to clean it up as much as possible. In the end, I think I was able to make it passable. Although the salon looked nice enough, if a stylist can't execute what has to be the easiest cut, there's no way I'd go back. I hate to leave such a negative review after only one visit, but I wouldn't be willing to spend any money here after this initial impression. read more

Reunited and it feels so good! Long ago, I lived in Cambridge and went to Franco's regularly. Ashley always did a great job and I took for granted how easy she made it seem. In 2013 I moved to Watertown and, trying to embrace my new suburban town, I thought I would just find a new hairdresser, closer to home. For the past eight years I've tried every possible salon in Watertown. Every time I have shown them previous pictures of my own hair (cut by Ashley), and explained that was how I wanted it to look. Every time I was disappointed. For eight years. Finally, after my most recent bad haircut last week I asked myself why I was putting myself through this when Ashley was still at Franco's, being awesome. Tonight I went back and I'm so happy with my hair! Ashley remembered me, we had a lovely time catching up, and she made my hair look amazing. If she can drive down from NH, I can certainly make the 20 minute trek from Watertown. Ashley, I'll never leave you again!!! read more

Franco is the best! I've been getting my hair cuts at Franco's for nearly 5 years now and he never disappoints.

First time I walked into Franco's, I told him want I wanted and he did it perfectly. Ordinarily, it takes multiple visits to teach someone what I want despite it being fairly simple (i.e. even all over and don't change my hair line). Franco was the first person in 27 years to get it right on the first try. Highly recommend. read more

I stumbled on these guys by recommendation of a friend in the Inman Square area and have never looked back. I like a good haircut, but I am never going to put "product" (what a descriptive term) in my hair. I am never going to spend more than $30 on a haircut and feel comfortable. But every time I go to Franco's, I get the best haircut I've ever had. Not a haircut that needs two weeks to grow out. Not a haircut that's all right for the price. Just a kickass haircut. Guys - you can get a far better haircut than SuperCuts gives you, and you'll pay about what you'd pay there. Maybe $5 more. It's worth it. Pro tip: ask for Franco or Mike (platinum hair, ear pierced). They're the best with men's hair, though every stylist they employ does a good job. read more

I've been going here for a while now and every single time I walk out, my haircut seems to turn heads. Every time I come in, I go to my favorite stylist, Sam, we converse a bit and figure out what look is best and then she sits down and works her magic. And the funny thing is, even though I come in with something in mind, if she makes a suggestion and I decide to leave my hair to her hands and her imagination, I come out with a hotter look every time. Even better then I planned! I'm EXTREMELY picky when it comes down to hairstylists, since I work in the beauty industry and I'm an artist, which makes me pretty anal even though I'm known to not do my makeup or hair ALL the time, so its important that I get a great haircut with the least amount of fuss. Sam is the only person I let touch my hair and will forever be the only one to touch it unless I'm feeling stupidly daring or drunk. Aside from the great hairstylist I see all the time, the place is always clean and I love the whole set up. Its definitely not your typical run of the mill hair salon so it gets 5 stars in my eyes. And this is from someone who used to spend 100+ on a good haircut. Better cut, better service AND cheaper? Mmm.. Yes please. read more

So, I probably shouldn't be putting this out there but I got my torso (that's abs and up folks) waxed here. It is the one and only time I've ever had my chest hair removed in any way and only time I've been to a salon to be waxed. But I was going to Mexico and the last time I was there one of the pool side staff referred to me as "the man in the sweater" and ladies and gentlemen I assure you....I was NOT wearing a sweater. I knew something had to be done. I'm talking Stage 5, Robin Williams, manimal (1/2 man 1/2 animal if you can't keep up) action going on. I did a Yelp search and this place looked good so I made an appointment. I was scared. I was very scared. Not just about the potential pain, my chest hairs ran deep....high school deep. I thought, repeatedly, about The 40-Year Old Virgin screaming out Kelly Clarkson's name and raining obscenities on the poor attendant and I would break out into sweats. I was also just scared about the way it'd actually look. (Not bad, but I think I'm better off not looking smooth like a seal) The truth of the matter is I was in and out in like 45 minutes. Sure it hurt a bit, but no where near what I'd expected. I didn't get the woman's name, but I got the sense she was their wax specialist. We didn't talk much. I probably preferred it that way, less distractions as she yanked the follicles out of my body. I didn't want to lose a nipple or something. She was friendly though, quick, and caring. They gave me a new customer discount that amounted to something crazy like $40 off that I was not expecting as I thought it was only haircuts they did that for. I think I ended up leaving whatever I'd expected to pay as a total and whatever was left over was the tip. It is kind of a blur. Why no 5 star? Well, it's kind of hard to give a 5-star on a one time visit for something I'm not used to. When I got home I found some stray hairs in a few places, but nothing major. The price does seem a little steep w/o the discount but then again I don't do salons, I go to a barber that charges like $15 and that's after years of having it at $13, like he felt like he was gouging us all of a sudden. Triple digit bills seem a little excessive as the hair grows back. Fortunately it took about 3 months to grow fully back, and to be quite honest it's still shorter than it was I think. We'll see. read more

It had been a year and a half since I cut my hair, and I'd been wearing flip flops consistently for about a month when I went to this place last week after reading some totally helpful reviews. Since it's in my neighborhood (Inman Sq.), not to mention the 20% off all services for first-time customers, I called up, asked some questions related to costs, and they were extremely friendly and helpful. So I made an appointment for that afternoon. I tried everything-- mani, pedi AND a haircut/dry/highlights. We started with the hair-- Michael did a FANTASTIC job. I had dyed my hair a few months ago to a reddish shade of dark brown- close to my natural hair color but not close enough. He not only was able to perfectly match my roots without completely re-dying my hair, but he was also able to match the caramel-y highlights that i wanted without completely turning me blonde. After he washed and dried my hair, there was one section of hair that was REALLY blonde, and he was happy to darken it up for me. I am EXTREMELY happy with both the cut (he gave me the PERFECT long bangs that frame my face!!) and the color. Everyone that has seen it LOVES it (or so they say-- whatever, *i* love it) While the foils were in my hair, i was escorted to the mani/pedi room where the girls working on my hands and feet chatted me up about everything from engagements to masters degrees. Michael came back from time to time to check my foils, and chime in on the conversations. It was a fantastic experience-- I was there for like 2 hours and had a great time! They're all so nice. And they have reeeally interesting fish tanks all over the place. :) read more

I was really glad to read the reviews of Franco's on Yelp, which inspired me to call and make an appointment. I generally feel uncomfortable and out of place in hair salons. I tend to put minimal effort into my hair, and only recently have begun to spend my hard earned dollars on beauty products. So the salon atmosphere generally gives me the creeps. But this was laid back, filled with young (but not over-the-top stylish) men and women. No one pressured me to buy anything, and they were very receptive to my "I'm kind of afraid of my hair" attitude. Yong (sp??) gave me a great haircut, and was very sensitive to my anxiety about switching styles. She went out of her way to give me tips on styling and hair care at home. They gave me 20% off my haircut, since I was a first-time customer, so my bill came to about $40 instead of $50. I don't fully understand the pricing, but it worked out in the end. I'm a once-or-twice-a-year haircut girl, but I'm sure I will be back for another haircut there. read more

I was drawn by the reviews, but the found the story different for me. Make sure you don't get a haircut by the woman called Julia there. She left no stone unturned in screwing up my hair. She was a bad listener and most importantly didn't know what she was doing. I asked for medium hair, and I was left with 2mm hair on my head, making my head look like an egg. Avoid this place! read more

at 12:15 today I decided that I needed a hair cut...desperately. I did my yelp research, called and made a 1pm appointment arrived 10 minutes early and Ashley sat me down right away. Waaaaay more than I expected for being super impulsive and last minute! awesome. Then... she cut my hair. awesome x 10 Thanks to Ashley, my hair looks fantastic, she was super friendly, and I was out of there by 1:30, oh! and did i mention that my hair looks fantastic? thank you yelp! I've found my new stylist! read more

I have been in Cambridge for about 3 months. And I have been to couple of salons but I always left with a feeling to never be back in that Salon. But my experience at Franco's was just awesome. Even though I was little late, I was not turned back and I got one of the best hair cut and 20 percent discount because of my first visit. I finally found an awesome place for the haircut. read more

Franco's Hair Studio is everything I was looking for in a hair stylist!!! - The best haircut I've had in years, the price is super affordable, and the online booking system is so easy to use! On top of all that - everyone at the studio is friendly and professional. I like this place so much that I've recommended it to my roommates and friends. I usually book with Dawn or Franco, and I'm always wowed by their work! read more

Franco is the best. I've been seeing him for years, and even though I've moved out of state, I still try to see him whenever I'm back. He's the only person I trust with my hair. read more

A few great things about Franco's: 1. They are open on Sunday. I called them on a Sunday and they were able to get me an appointment that day. It was wonderful. 2. I got my hair cut by Heather who is new to the Salon but has been cutting hair for a while. She was great. She really wanted to know how I liked my hair from what kind of layering I wanted to if I liked product in my hair. She's sort of a no fuss no excess kind of stylist. Doesn't try to get you to buy the latest hair products and isn't trying to suggest something outrageous. She was great. She also does nails. 3. You also get 20% off your haircut if you're a new customer. So my hair cut was $36 not including tip. I think the hair cut is usually $40. I came in with really long hair and chopped off about 6 inches and they didn't charge me extra for that as other salons usually do. 4. Overall, I highly recommend. When I was there, there was a stream of men there getting their hair dyed or getting Justin Bieber cuts. I wasn't sure what was going on but just FYI, seems like they cut men's hair well, too! read more

Had a Brazilian wax. First time at Franco's but had many a wax of my nether region. TL;DR - Worst experience, uncomfortable in every imaginable way, table has its own pubes To start, the aesthetician walks me past the hair studio and nail salon into a back room. The room is tiny with a large mirror on one wall (good thing too, it really allowed me to experience the ensuing agony from another perspective). The aesthetician didn't leave the room for me to change, just stood in the corner expectantly - which is fine considering you're about to get closer to my genitals than most folks - but was strange as I've never been required to undress before someone anywhere else. It was 85F outside and this room at the very back was hotter than the devil's underpants. I dripped sweat and stared at the ceiling fan which taunted me by never being turned on, despite making multiple comments about the stagnant air. At one point she doused me in *baby powder?* because I was sweating so much. She never told me that it was baby powder, I'm only assuming, which was also strange to not be told what's being done to me. The aesthetician never made conversation with me, despite my efforts, and only responded occasionally to my yelps of pain with "yeah that spot hurts". I have really high pain tolerance and a normal Brazilian I will sit through calmly, never feeling the urge to yell or jump at the pain even in the most sensitive areas. BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE! When it was all over, I dressed in front of the aesthetician (again, strange) while she replaced the sanitary paper on the table. When she removed the previous paper, I noticed that the table was absolutely infested with pubic hair. The fabric was so woven with course dark hairs that it crossed my mind that I had never considered that furniture could grow a beard. The only positive about the whole experience was that with the new customer discount I only paid $42. I still paid the aesthetician a $5 tip because before she ran my card she stopped and asked if I wanted to add anything to the card and gave me the same expectant stare that had previously indicated to me that I was expected to undress in front of her. SUPER UNCOMFORTABLE ALL AROUND read more

Really great experience at Franco's. I had a groupon for a mani/pedi, so I went in before a wedding. Christina was easy to talk to, and very detail oriented. Her paint job was meticulous. The ambiance was really nice and clean, with lovely fish tanks all over. I would definitely go back for a mani/pedi before my next wedding or other fancy event. read more

I didn't ask for much (just a simple trim of medium-length hair), and I didn't get much. The stylist trimmed my hair so quickly it seemed he must have missed something, but my hair ended up fine from what I could tell. What really bothered me was the way he blow-dried my hair. He was not very gentle--he hit my ear and the side of my face with the rough brush a number of times, and he kept the blow-dryer so close to my hair, I was waiting for strands to start burning. As a result, I was cringing the whole time. For a simple trim (probably took 15 minutes) and for such a painful experience, I thought $35 was way too much to charge. I am probably more selective than most when it comes to customer-service based businesses, but I ran out the door of this one as quickly as I could. read more

First, Franco you are amazing! So friendly, so welcoming, so happy! And you remember everyone too which is so so great! This salon is a pretty big salon, especially for this area of Inman, and I am definitely glad I finally checked this place out! Went here for pedicures and they were great! The chairs are comfy, the service is so accommodating, great conversation, and they have nail polish dryers you can use afterward that underneath a giant fish tank! What is cooler than letting your nails dry while you stare at a bunch of fish? It is like a lava lamp for adults or people who like fish, which I do. I haven't had that at any other salon I've been to, so yay for Franco's! Plus they do male pedicures here and for all of you men out there who have been wanting to get one but have been too chicken because they are amazing (woman's best secret ha) this place will make you feel right at home. I promise you! Plus, my boyfriend gets his hair cut here now too and their men's haircuts are so cheap! And he always comes home looking nice and clean cut :-) So thanks, Franco!!! We will definitely keep coming back! read more

The studio is great and has amazing talent in general. With the exception of Rachel scissors hand. She went hack city on my hair after I spent months growing it out. Definitely go to the studio, and avoid Rachel and you will be okay. read more

Clean salon. Affordable prices. Friendly staff. Talented stylists. Michael cut and styled my hair (looong overdue for a cut) - he was just wonderful. I'll recommend to friends and will definitely be back in six weeks:) read more

Franco is great. My appointment was unexpectedly pushed back due to a delay on their end, and I was in a rush for my next work meeting. So this started bad, but Franco, the owner, was able to solve the problem in such a kind and professional manner. read more

I have had my hair done their twice, and I'm looking forward to a third visit! Generally I will get a partial foil. This means that the stylist will dye parts of my hair with bits of foil for the "highlighted look". Most stylists will just do the top of your head, if you want anymore they will tell you to get a "full foil" which costs a lot more. I asked for a partial and I was charged for a partial, but I swear he put highlights throughout my entire head. I have thick hair too! He did mention that he was putting some in the back so that if I put my hair in the pony tail it wouldn't look tacky with the dark hair underneath. I found the people who worked there to be really pleasant, and I enjoyed chatting with my stylist. He had a lot of great stories. The place has a nice cozy atmosphere. I got a cut there right before Christmas (in my picture!) and I got so many compliments! I was told "You should always have your hair like that". I mark their price as moderate because I have got the cut/foil done at many places and their price was comparable if not a little bit lower. I didn't go to the spa area for anything though, but I would try it. read more