It was and the lady did a good job asking me what I wanted and made appropriate cuts and some slight changes. I'm very happy with my haircut, I'm an Asian guy with thick non-curly hair and a big head. I think she does a good job with giving me a short buzz and trim style haircut. Also, its close to ucsf, so I can go get a haircut in between classes, read more

Just went there for the second time last night and my haircut is great! Shirley is punctual, pleasant, efficient, and more than reasonable with her pricing. Having moved closer to the inner sunset I wanted to give her a try based on the reviews and everything is true! What a refreshing experience compared to my previous Noe Valley salon which now charges a small fortune for a 30min appointment in this (post?) pandemic economy. Oh ... and she is opened on Sundays... in case you have that important Monday meeting ;) read more

I asked for an appointment and when I arrived, the lady cut my hair in a very short time. When she was finished it looked fine but when I got home, I noticed that the whole left side of my head was barely cut, the right side was fine but the left side was a disaster. I really recommend NOT going there. There is a place called Salon 837 on Irving St. (walking distance) and they are much better. I advise going to Salon 837 instead. read more

Really great experience! She listened to what I wanted, didn't cut off too much, styled it nicely, and took the time to make sure it was even. I wish I had found her earlier! read more

Go to Shirley! She kindly took me in on Sunday at 5:30 (She told me she was closing at 6:00 that Sunday) She took her time with everything and was very gentle. She massaged my head while she was shampooing and towel dried my hair by patting it instead of twisting it in a towel (other stylists in past have done that...) Her prices are very affordable too! $25 for a wash and cut. I tipped her $4. Only trouble I had was she flicked my wet hair in my face.... and didn't say anything about it. & When I called, her receptionist was her 11 year old daughter who double booked some people that Sunday. DEFINITELY call in and speak with her directly. TIP: When she asks you how much do you want to cut off your hair, she will cut that much off and then style/cut it. For me she cut 2" off first then layered my hair after. OVERALL: I'm happy with my cut and my hair was extremely soft and shiny afterward. read more

It seems like San Francisco's full of hipster places to get your hair cut. Hipster ambience with hipster prices. There's a place right down the street from where we live in the mission where a man's haircut is $45. Sheesh. Friendly Cuts is like the opposite of that. It's a tiny little storefront in the sunset where you can walk in off the street. Very unassuming, good prices, and small. I met the owner, Shirley, on a weekday morning, and I had to wait a few minutes as there was one person in front of me. No problem, I waited my turn. After waiting probably 15 minutes, Shirley gave me a great haircut that looks nice and she was quite friendly. I definitely try to stop by again in the future. read more

Shirley is amazing! She really is a gem in the neighborhood, great mens haircut, best price in the city. She is a super nice lady that let's you schedule an appointment in advance or as a walk in if available. Highly recommended! read more

In search of an affordable alternative to my last admittedly expensive haircut, I decided to finally give this place a try. I figured the Yelp reviews looked like Shirley could deliver. I came equipped with pictures (from multiple angles) of me taken during a trip after my last haircut, thinking this would be enough to replicate the hairdo. After all, it was me and my hair in the picture, proving that not only is the style I was after possible, it had been done before. So first she asks me what number for the clipper guard and I honestly didn't know since the last person to cut it didn't use one. He simply used a comb. We decided on a 1.5 to start, with the express instructions to cut the sides straight up with no flare to the sides. It was going well for a while but she kept angling the sides out. Of course, I politely asked her to bring the sides in tighter as the cut wasn't achieving the desired look. I even pointed specifically to the sections of my head that I thought should be brought in but she kept running the clippers just below where I pointed. We went through three cycles of this until I finally pulled out the pictures to point the differences out again. In the end, she ended up blaming her comb, saying that she didn't have the right one. Worst of all, she literally told me "you said you get your hair cut every three weeks right? Next time you should just go back to the person who cut it last so they can fix it." I was flabbergasted. I have been to many salons in SF now and would like to think that I treat them politely (after all, they do hold rather sharp objects close to my head). Though the haircut wasn't a disaster in the end, I was completely turned off by her demeanor and rudeness. I understand if you're frustrated but at the end of the day, I'm not only a paying customer, I also have to live with the haircut. Thankfully, it's only hair and it grows out fast enough. I guess the lesson is, if you just want a cheap, decent, no frills haircut, this is your place. But if you have a specific look in mind, another establishment is the way to go. read more

I needed a haircut so of course, I turned to Yelp. Being as lazy as I am, I picked the closest place to my house- Friendly Cuts. Good thing for me, it has high reviews too! I called in before heading over to make sure they had availability. The woman told me to come in about 30 minutes. I took her advice (came a few minutes early anyway), and just as she said, she was free at that time. She was easy going, easy to talk to, and really seemed to pay a lot of attention to the haircut. I'm not too picky anyway, but I think she did a good job. The whole hair cut took about 45 minutes and at $16 (+ tip) it can't really be beat. I'd recommend the place! read more

I've been going to Shirley since I first moved to SF in Sept. '09 and have no intention of ever leaving! She is professional and pays close attention to detail. I've moved several times around the city and I will always be her loyal customer. The fact that she only charges $16 is a steal! She puts in the extra effort and I truly appreciate her hard work. 2 Thumbs up, 5 Stars - bottom line - she gives the best hair cut value in the city. read more

Shirley operates this shop herself and seems to have many customer--they call and call and come in one after another. When she is not in a rush, she's does a wonderful job and takes her time to make sure the cut turns out nicely. I visited her 3 times and 2 out of 3, I was the first customer of the day, so she spent about 45 minutes cutting my hair, I didn't mind because I didn't have anything else to do anyways. The other time, I went there in the afternoon and she had two people waiting for a cut. Not sure if she was backed up or if they were walk ins. She took about 20-25 minutes and the cut turned out fine, but not as detailed as the other times. I think her shears are sharpened well because my hair always feels healthy after she cuts my hair. My hair can last 4-5 months after her cuts and still look decent. My hair grows fast, so I tend to visit her every 3-4 months. Also, there is not a lot of parking on Judah and I think the best times to visit Shirley are in the morning when she is not too busy so she can spend more time on your hair, also I think there is more parking in the morning. She does take walk ins, but I highly recommend calling beforehand to check, even 30 minutes before will help you and her. - CASH ONLY place read more

For the price ($18 for med/long hair), Shirley is pretty good! She is very attentive and takes her time, checking in with me throughout the haircut to make sure it was what I had in mind. I've been here twice- once for bang trim and second time for a larger cut (long hair to a-line medium bob). Sadly, my haircut wasn't "perfect" (hence the 4 stars and not 5)... the back of my hair ended up being a bit too long so it awkwardly sticks out from behind. Regardless, I had an overall positive experience and will be back! read more

I've been coming to get my hair cut from Shirley for the past few months. I've never been a believer in spending huge amounts of money for a haircut so I always try to stay under the $30 mark. Enter Friendly Cuts. At first I was a bit skeptical because of the sign and decorum (yes, sometimes I do judge a book by its cover) and the fact that it was a one-woman shop. However, after reading some of the raving reviews, I decided to give it a try. After all, hair grows back and I wasn't getting ready for an important event. Imagine my surprise getting a cheap cut around $20 with good attention to detail. While it's clearly not a $150 cut at a high quality salon, you do get what you put for. And, I think in Shirley's case, you get more than what you shill out of pocket. I've gotten tons of compliments on my haircut. She keeps it clean and simple, so bear that in mind if you're trying for some wild, super hip look. A few tips here: call ahead and see when she's available or you might be stuck waiting a few hours as she's got a pretty constant stream of clients Have a picture ready of what you want it to look like. Shirley's pretty great at living up to expectations--but only when you lay out those expectations explicitly (a tiny language barrier but nothing to be concerned about, especially with how friendly and adorable she is) Finally, this place is CASH ONLY. There's a Wells Fargo and Bank of America nearby, so no need to fret. Still, best to be prepared ahead of time :) read more

Normally I don't equate "quick" and "affordable" with "quality" when it comes to hair, but the bottom line is that Shirley rocked it today. Here's why: 1. Friendly greeting, willingness to accommodate a walk-in (weekday afternoon) before her next appointment. Lucky me! 2. Listened to cut requests, adjusted for specific needs of my hair type, checked in as needed to make sure I was happy with the progress. 3. Confident & Fast, in and out in about 30 minutes including a quick blow dry with roller brush. 4. Such a deal! $18 for a flattering cut that looks as good as some I've paid 5x more for. If it weren't for the multitude of positive reviews from fellow Yelpers, I would have never have thought to stop in at this quaint, quiet looking shop on 9th & Judah. Friendly Cuts is basically a one woman operation- it's clear that the proprietor is a seasoned veteran of the shears who cares about customer experience. read more

Shirley is the best! She gives consistent and very excellent haircuts. My go to place before any special events or holidays, since I know I'll be looking so fly. Make sure to call and schedule a cut so she'll have plenty of time to make you look good. Been going here over a year now and still walk out feeling satisfied. read more

Ugh another bad haircut. Should've stuck with my salon in LA but I had so many split ends and I decided to get a quick trim in SF. She didn't even look at the picture I brought in and randomly decided to give me short bangs (that I now have to clip up for at least a few weeks because I hate short bangs! ). I wish she took a closer look at the picture before cutting. I felt pretty rushed. Poor decision to come here. But she was really really nice and chatty so I don't want to give her only one star. Also CASH ONLY. read more

I found Shirley after my boyfriend came home one day completely transformed--from beach boy tangly hair to clean cut, younger Jude Law. Yeow! She also cuts women's hair and does an amazing job. My long thick hair was really starting to bug me so I made an appointment for a Sunday afternoon. She took her time to make sure my hair was the length I wanted, and often looked back to the photos I brought to make sure the choppy layers were as choppy as I liked. $16 (plus tip), 40 minutes later, I felt like an new person :) No bother with the shampoo and all the styling products other hair stylists try to push on you. No fuss. Super friendly lady. Perfect cut! As another reviewer mentioned, it's clear that she has a lot of faithful customers. One lady came in and waited patiently until Shirley was done fixing the tumbleweed on my head. Apparently this customer goes to Friendly Cuts every 3 weeks to get her hair trimmed--just goes to show how friendly and professional Shirley is. Highly recommended--she's a gem! read more

Recommended for Men's haircuts. Call ahead to book appointment. The owner is Shirley. Personable and accommodating. Just had one haircut and it went well. Lee Tel 650-464-7222. read more

You won't be alone on the weekends. There's always at least one person waiting to get a haircut and a few more coming when you're in the chair. I've been here for a year and don't recall getting a cut without someone coming in. Can't really dock one star for this but some people might not like this. Make an appointment!! This is a one-woman shop and she works very hard. She doesn't take shortcuts and goes over the same area multiple times with different sized trimmers and shears. This is one thing I appreciate most about getting my hair cut here. Others may not double check their work but this lady does. In the end, I'm always happy with my result because she's meticulous. I have short hair and she's sometimes spent 25 minutes on me. To keep things in perspective, another place had me out of there in 10 and I paid more. For the price, it's hard to find a better bang for the buck. I give her $25 total for a guy's cut. At this rate, I can go once a month and not feel guilty. I also find it very satisfying that she has her middle school kids there to help her out. You might see some short girls listening to music or doing their homework while you're getting your haircut. Five stars here.... when I'm able to get a seat. I don't know how busy it is on the weekdays (doubt it's as busy as the weekends). read more

I called around 12:10 to ask if there was time for a quick trim, and Shirley (the only hairstylist) told me to get there at 12:30-12:40. I got a parking spot right across the street, and ended up with a great haircut and a shampoo taking only around 30 minutes, and it was $23! Will definitely be back, Shirley is a gem. read more

Got my hair cut here after reading all the good reviews on yelp, and I'm glad they did not lead me astray! I found a spot around the corner in about 5 minutes, and had come in just in time to make my 11:30 appointment. She saw me immediately and worked on me right away! I had been dying to get my hair evened out after not cutting it for months. Shirley was a friendly enough lady although doesn't seem to smile too often, but for the price of $16 for a women's haircut..hey I'm not complaining. She paid close attention to what I wanted, and did exactly as I wished for the most part. The only thing that bothered me was that she didn't get my bangs to side sweep the way I like because she was afraid she would cut them too short, so I ended up trimming them a little myself at home...minus 1 star for that. However I probably will be returning none the less :) read more

In reality, a 4.5 star haircut based on 1. Price. 2. Flexibility 3. One of the few haircuts in my life that has not been disappointing. Flexibility--I came in around noon last Saturday for a haircut, as my hair has run down past my mid-back (hair that is too long and now, too heavy). I did not schedule an appointment (oops!). When I walked in, there was only one person working (per reviews: Shirley). She was working on a girl's haircut, and another girl was waiting. Her schedule was full that day but she squeezed me in, if I could return at 2pm..Sure. I returned at 2 pm and by this time, she was working on a kid's head, one other guy was waiting, and a lady with an appointment walked in. I, clearly, was the annoying girl who squeezed myself in for a buzz. . Price--I wanted a layered cut with a length ~1 inch below my shoulders. She cut off a ton of hair and thankfully, she didn't charge based on the original length of my hair. Some Asian salons do because the haircut occasionally requires more work. Flat rate of $17 before tip. It's a deal. Haircuts are rarely this cheap nowadays. Haircut: When she sprayed water and began cutting my hair, I seriously thought that this haircut was the ugliest one I will ever get. My hair looked so flat and lifeless!! Actually, it wasn't. Once my hair was washed and dried, there was more volume, and, Shirley managed to layer my hair such that the layers didn't flay out horizontally. I am satisfied. read more

Still friendly. I didn't go to Shirley this time, but the woman who cut my hair did an amazing job and really put a lot of time and effort into it. read more

make sure to make an appointment on weekends. it gets busy. Shirley is super friendly, fast, and does a good job with my hair every time. I've been coming here for 5 years now read more

My husband and I got our haircuts today for the first time since Feb., 2020 when SF went on lockdown because of the pandemic. We decided to grow pony tails and had fun with our new look. Today we decided to cut our hair and went to Friendly Cuts to have Shirley do her magic. We are so happy that with our cuts that Shirley has new customers for a very long time. Prices are great and service too. read more

I have my hair cut, at most, three times a year, and I'm never looking for anything particularly unique when I do. "I want it cleaned up a bit, but still somewhat long--at most it should only be an inch and a half shorter." ...and that's all. Nonetheless, those directions have many times in my past yield a near buzz-cut, unnecessarily intricate layerings, or some other example of an over-styled/under-styled catastrophe. However, my haircut here last week did not yield either of those extremes. It was perfect. Simple instructions followed precisely, with a price that matched this desired simplicity. I'll be back again. read more

Such great service! And Shirley took the time to really get to know my hair when I came there for my first cut. Now, I just sit down and she knows exactly what to do. However, this last time I went, I told her that I wanted to try something new and try to keep my hair longer and she was totally on board. She even suggested how I go about it and then we tried out a few styles together. I will definitely come back because I prefer this over Supercuts that's for sure. I highly highly recommend Friendly Cuts! read more

Shirley went above and beyond what I ever would have expected from a $16 haircut. Truly the best deal in town, possibly in the bay area. I will be going back for sure. And to think, I almost buckled and paid $70. read more

Shirley is absolutely the best. I've been going to Shirley for the past several years now, and can't imagine going to anyone else. She is skilled, professional, and incredibly nice. I just came back from Friendly Cuts today. There was a line of folks getting their hair done. I guess the word is getting out. Nonetheless, Shirley squeezed me in, and took care of me - and my hair definitely needed a good cut too. (A couple of weeks ago, I stopped by Friendly Cuts, but they were closed. So, for the first time in 3 years, I went to get my hair cut by somebody other than Shirley. They so butchered my hair that just 7 days later, I was back at Friendly Cuts, asking Shirley to please fix the mess they'd made!) If you live in the neighborhood - or, heck, even if you have to drive a long way to get to Friendly Cuts - you should make Shirley your regular stylist. read more

I just chopped off 12 inches of hair!! I showed up to Friendly Cuts this morning (Monday) around 10:15am without an appointment, just after another client walked in. Shirley was very kind and asked me to wait about 30 minutes -- no problem. I was super anxious walking because this was my first time at Friendly Cuts, and I was trusting a lady I've never had to cut off 10+ inches of hair and make my thick, wavy, permed hair look good short. Well, I was not disappointed. After sitting down and cutting off the first 12 inches (that was the hardest part), Shirley was very patient with me and helped me understand what kind of short hairstyle I wanted. I've never had my hair this short before (shoulder-length) so I didn't really even know what to ask for! After explaining to me what she was doing (ie. why she had to use the thinning scissors a little bit -- I hate those things!), I was confident I could trust her to make my hair look good :) I walked out a happy camper and probably 3 pounds lighter, lol. I would definitely recommend Shirley, but it seems like she is very busy (she got a lot of phone calls in the time I was there), so probably making an appointment would be best. The PRICE was amazing! I'm used to people up-charging me beyond the listed price because of how freakin' long and THICK my hair is, but I just paid the regular $21 for long hair and I was very, very happy with that :D I will definitely be coming back once this hair grows out! read more

Great little place. Not overbooked like some places but she is busy on the weekends so call for an appointment. Shirley is the owner and sole person working here. It seems like she has a lot of regulars who come back all the time. Great price and great cut. Just what I wanted! Coming back again, but next time with some cash. It's cash only. read more

$17, haircut for medium hair (no shampoo/conditioner/blowdrying action). This hair salon is led by one hair stylist (didn't catch her name) and she is super friendly as the store name states. She only takes appointments and I was able to book one the next day (there was an option to do same day) on a Monday at 4pm. The salon is clean, simple, and right smack in the middle of inner sunset. I asked for a 2inch trim and bang cut with long layers. She did just that and my hair now looks fuller and healthier. She respected my request for 2 inches and didn't violate that limit at all! I'm a low maintenance hair type of girl, but I do need to cut my hair every 4-5 months. If you're not willing to cash out $50+ for a haircut, not a diva, but desires a clean cut, I totally recommend Friendly Cuts! Just the neighborhood hair salon I needed. I shall return in June! read more

So glad Friendly Cuts has opened again. Best haircuts in the neighborhood, I've tried many places before finding her. She's kind, efficient and affordable. Shirley had to close for COVID and then building retrofit (terrible timing), but she's back and I will be supporting as much as possible to help her out. read more

Shirley is great! Super affordable haircuts that always leave you looking good! Full disclaimer; I have short hair that needs a pretty simple cut, but Shirley always does a great job and she does it pretty quick--usually don't need to stay in the chair for more than 20 minutes. The thing I also love about Shirley is that she's always willing to stay late and be flexible with her schedule. There have been several times I've called asking to come in after official closing hours and she'll always oblige, and even accept more customers who come in late. Super, super nice. The only gripe is that because she's so nice, she can fall behind in her scheduling, so you could have to wait a bit for your appointment. But her time management (minor) foibles are forgiven because she's great at what she does and is genuinely really nice. Buzz, buzz! read more

Stopped by today. Shirley did a great job salvaging the disaster that was my last haircut @ Great Clips in SJ. I called in earlier in the day to make an appointment and was glad I did as she had another customer right after me. Steady stream of clients is always a good sign given the multiple other salons within a 2-3 block radius. I will definitely stop by again when I'm in SF next and needing a haircut! read more

Shirley is great, and has always been willing to work me in when I forget to schedule an appointment. Very friendly and fast. I have long hair and just get a trim, so I can't speak as to shorter or more ambitious styles. Shirley actually listened to my request to keep everything long, and while she did make suggestions for things I could try she also didn't push when I said no thanks. Also, for $16, absolutely can't be beat. read more

Shirley gave me a great trim, kept my length and was friendly and professional. I paid $16 for the cut itself, which is super affordable and she had me in and out within 45 minutes. I will be going back, she did a great job framing my face and cleaning up my ends. read more

It's very rare when i want to run straight home and write a GOOD review about somewhere... I walked in a couple hours ago to get a pretty simple cut (half of my head is shaved) the lady was really welcoming and she took REALLY extensive care on asking me what size i use for each part of my head (1.5 & 1) i was impressed that she took a lot of care wiping my head and face down after, there is nothing more obnoxious than getting stabbed in the face by a bunch of tiny hairs! anyway it was well worth it and i doubt i'll be going anywhere else anytime soon! YAY! read more

This is finally a place I like getting my hair done. Supercuts? Forget it. Dude barbershop down the street, not easy to become one of the regulars and feel like you belong. This place is great! Shirely is so nice and seems to remember everyone. My haircut is super simple buzz cut but you would be surprised how many people can mess that up still. She gets it. She's quick and a great convo. She owns and runs the place, not sure what she keeps the other chairs for. Give her a shot! Great neighborhood business here. read more

What a great find. Notwithstanding the store name and stodgy font on the awning, Friendly Cuts is far from an old school barber shop or a former Super Cuts gone rogue. Rather, it's place to get a great haircut for a bargain from a friendly stylist. Based on the clientele that I observed while waiting for my turn, men and women are both pleased with their haircuts here. Though Shirley is quite popular, she managed to squeeze me in on a Saturday afternoon -- a rarity, she told me, since she is often fully booked on weekends. I don't think my hair style is particularly complicated (I aim merely to look professional), but my hair is somewhat unwieldy and I have had my share of haircut horror stories. Not so here. I gave Shirley simple instructions (to trim my hair, but not to cut the front too short) and showed her a picture of a recent haircut that I liked (which I got elsewhere near my office), and she provided exactly what I wanted in a little over half an hour. Be forewarned that due to Shirley's popularity, appointments are advised. I waited nearly an hour for my walk-in haircut. read more