I've been to Pleasure Head (PH) four times now and had amazing experiences with Jennifer (who I…read morebelieve no longer works there, but you can see a photo from my last review!) and Shawna. They were incredibly personable and made sure to check in with me throughout every step of the haircut process. They both delivered amazing results. Jennifer gave me a super edgy look and Shawna later gave me the blunt cut of my dreams, hence why I had kept returning. Now, there's A. I first went to her when my edgy look had grown out and wanted to get it refreshed. Everything was going pretty well, until the point where she accidentally used the wrong scissors and chopped off a section of my bangs. It was hard to recover from that but accidents happen and she expressed deep remorse and tried her best to fix it. It wasn't the best, haha, but it eventually grew out after several months, and I didn't want this experience to deter me from returning to my fave salon. :) Then, I went to A for a chocolatey brown balayage. We had a consultation beforehand. My hair is virgin and very dark so what I was looking for was a very subtle change to add dimensionality to my hair since I had just gotten a blunt cut by Shawna. But... what I got was not what I asked for. I have gotten balayages before and one key component is teasing the hair before applying bleach. Yes, it was being teased, but by the tiniest amount. This led to pretty much my hair being bleached solidly rather with the quintessential natural blending of the highlights which define a balayage. On top of that, the bleach application was all over the place. In some sections, it was applied so close to my roots. In others it was 3 inches away. And A decided to give me money pieces because she thought they would look cute. When I noticed the heavy bleaching, and pointed it out, she mentioned that it would become darker with the toner. I was anxious, but I wanted to trust the process. When the hair was finally done, I was devastated. It was patchy, brassy, and bleached in such a way that doesn't even come close to the definition of a balayage. I told A that I would need some time to get used to it. After several days of staring at my hair in the mirror, I reached out to A. She agreed that it wasn't at all like the inspo pics and she was willing to redo it for me. At that point, though, I was too anxious to go through another round with PH, especially after my previous experience. So, I made the decision to reach out to a hairstylist in Santa Cruz that is known for his balayages and I sent the pictures of my hair and he immediately took me in (thankfully!!) bc the hair had truly destroyed my self-esteem. After the botched hair, I literally canceled all my plans for the next week because I didn't want anyone to see me like that. He called it a hair emergency, haha. Well, that appointment went wonderfully, and he was able to color-correct the hair and achieve the results I wanted from the start. One major pro about A is that she does a great job at maintaining the health of the hair during her work. It was actually really cool and impressive to see that when she was taking off the foils after the bleaching process, little to no hair came off with it. Even though she brought my natural hair color from one of the darkest shades to such a light color. That is definitely one of her incredible strengths!! I let A know I went with another stylist and canceled my redo appointment. I also asked for a refund, considering the results were so far from what we discussed. She was completely respectful and remorseful and mentioned that she wished she had an opportunity to fix it herself. She reached out to her manager to ask about the refund, and the request was denied bc I went to another stylist and didn't let her redo it. I am not sure if that's a common policy, but I felt saddened that accountability by the salon wasn't taken in that regard. You wouldn't hire the same plumber again if their work caused your pipes to burst in the first place. Twice. Honestly, I am deeply saddened by this and it pains me to even write this review because all of my other experiences at PH have been SO positive before this. I don't think I will be visiting again, unfortunately. That being said, A is an amazing person (her hair is also SO cute!!! which already is a testament to her skills; also, she does a great job at matching the vibe, and I /STRONGLY/ believe that these were rare occurrences, especially considering all of her previous positive reviews. You can check out her work on her instagram page. Lots of people have had amazing results from her, especially with haircuts. So please don't let that deter you from hiring her. But maybe not for balayages, LOL.

Unfortunately I have to leave a bad review. I went to Leah at pleasurehead salon. I have never in…read moremy life had a haircut as bad as this. This is a SUMMER WRECKER! I asked for a dusting, I am in my sixties with very thin hair... she proceeded to cut layers everywhere when I had asked for a blunt cut with a tiny layering right above the the bottom!!! She was pretty surprised herself! I sent a message telling her how unhappy I was , not a word back! Horrible service and I'm very upset!

Absolutely the best vibes and excellent professional work. I always enjoy to have my hair done…read moreusing the best products.

Friendly and helpful with a new cut. Nice little place to get your hair done. Three different…read morestylists to choose from.

Having someone able to braid hair at Get Faded Barbershop in Santa Cruz is such a gift. Okanti is…read moremore than a professional she is a friend of the community. She is kind, generous, and such a perfectionist. You won't ever have to worry about not liking something because I trust she will catch it first. Her craft is unique and very much her own. If you have an idea or style you would like done, I recommend sending it in advance or coming in early with it and showing it. If you have hair questions, please ask. Don't forget to ask about her hair growth oil. The environment is clean, friendly, and family oriented. Not to mention, it's located downtown, so before or after your appointment, you can grab coffee, ice cream, or just walk around.

From the owner: Hi. I am a Hairstylist with over 20 years of Braiding experience. I also do Locs, color,…read morehighlights, weaves extentions, Some cuts, quick weaves, box braids, tribal braiding and so much more. With my as your Stylist you won't just be getting your hair done. You will be able to ask questions and get education on what you need for your hair in order to have maximum health and growth. With me you get what you pay for without a doubt. So relax, relate and release with Okanti at the shop Get Faded Barbershop located at 1007 Cedar St. in Santa Cruz, Ca.

I needed a last minute appt on a Sunday and was so happy to see that the salon was open and able to…read moretake me on a Sunday. Jenna gave me the best cut and color I've ever had in my life! I have a lot of gray so my hair can be hard to work with - Jenna took the time to not only consult with me but did an exceptional job with the cut and color. I will definitely be returning! The rest of the staff made for a very welcoming environment - Amanda another co - worker even stepped in to assist! That's what I call teamwork! Highly recommend this salon - and Jenna and Amanda!

Amanda I had a very…read moredisappointing experience at Fausto Hair Salon in Santa Cruz. I booked with Amanda and was very clear that I wanted to keep the same hair color I already had, cover my grays, and get a haircut. During the coloring process, I started to feel concerned when some of the foils were removed and the color was wiped off with a towel. After my hair was shampooed and rinsed, Amanda said she wanted to dry it first to see how the color looked before applying toner. Once my hair was dry, the gray around the top and hairline was still clearly visible. Amanda initially said the color looked good, and I had to point out that my grays had not been covered. She then said she would fix it by adding more highlights around my hairline. Unfortunately, after that additional process, the grays were still visible. At that point, I had already been there for about four hours. I told her I could not stay any longer for the haircut and needed to leave. What was especially disappointing was that I was still charged for the color even though the main thing I specifically asked for--covering my grays--was not accomplished. Amanda invited me to come back the following weekend for additional color work with the salon owner, if he was available, and offered a free haircut. I appreciate the offer to try to correct the situation, but after spending four hours in the salon and leaving with my grays still clearly visible, I don't feel I received the service I paid for. I expected the issue to be properly addressed before I was charged, rather than being asked to return and spend even more of my time fixing the original service. Amanda subsequently acknowledged the problem and scheduled me for a corrective appointment on Sunday. I later received an email cancelling that appointment. I received no phone call, explanation, or further offer to correct the service. I am skeptical of all the positive reviews I've read about her. It's why I took a chance and booked her. Very disappointed and would not recommend.

I've been seeing Gina for 20+ years and she is the sweetest and most talented lady! The salon is…read morealways full of friendly and welcoming people and in a great location to boot. Highly recommended!

absolute worst!…read more went in for a simple trim and ended up with a hack job. Would have been better off with a barber or my husband cutting my hair with garden shears in the backyard

Finding someone who specializes in curly hair is a challenge. Fortunately for me, in 2015 I was…read morereferred to Michaela Veglia and I have not seen another stylist since. When you find someone who can do miracles with your hair, you remain loyal if you know what is good for you and your hair. In 2015, my hair was frizzy and damaged. After nine years of hair care with Michaela, my hair is healthy. Don't take my word for it. Check out the photos of my recent cut, color and style.

Michaela gave me the best, most thoughtful curly hair cut I have ever had. She took time to analyze…read moremy curl pattern and shared how she was going to go about cutting it based on that. My hair has 5 different curl patterns which makes it difficult to give an overall cut - Michaela nailed it. She also did two hair treatments - one clarifying, one hydrating and taught me how to properly care for and maintain my curls. I found my person I will absolutely continue to go to Michaela to keep my curls looking their best and recommend you do too if you're a curly haired person. She is the absolute best.

I've been going to Arrow Beauty Bar for years and I always leave the salon feeling amazing! I get…read moremy hair done by Abby, she always follows my inspo and gives me what I want while keeping my hair heathy. I've been bleaching for years and even now thats its lighter, its still long and soft. Both locations are amazing, they are always clean and have a good vibe when I'm there, everyone is very nice!

I had an appointment with Abby, and I was very disappointed with my experience. I spent a lot of my…read morehard-earned money on my hair, and for the price I paid, I expected much more care, professionalism, and attention to detail. One of the biggest things that bothered me was leaving the salon with hair color still on my skin. To me, that says a lot about the level of care being put into the service. It comes across as sloppy, rushed, and like you aren't taking the time to be careful with your client. When I'm paying this much money for a professional service, I expect the stylist to take her time and make sure I don't walk out of the salon with dye left on my face and skin. That was a huge disappointment for me. What made it even more disappointing was looking at pictures of other clients and not seeing them leave with color on their skin. It made me wonder why that same level of care wasn't taken with me. If you aren't being careful enough to remove the color from my skin before I leave, it makes me question how much care and attention is being given to my hair as well. I also expected more highlights and dimension. My hair came out much darker than I expected, and when I looked at it afterward, it just didn't have the pizzazz I was hoping for. I felt like what I wanted wasn't completely heard. I understand that a stylist has professional opinions about what is best for my hair, but ultimately I am the client, and I want to feel included and listened to. Trust is extremely important to me when choosing a hairstylist. When I find someone who listens to me, takes care of my hair, and makes me love the result, I am extremely loyal and will continue going back regardless of the cost. I was hoping Abby could be that stylist for me, but unfortunately this experience did not give me that confidence. The haircut itself was okay, but overall I was very disappointed. For me, it's not just about the final color. It's about the care and attention you receive when you're spending your hard-earned money. Unfortunately, I didn't feel I received that level of care. Based on my overall experience, I would not return to Abby and I would not recommend her.

Not inly do i dj events here but i'm now officially a client! So i need to provide this update:…read moreOXY Salon on Cathcart is where style, music, and good vibes come together in a way that's truly unique. Not only is it the go-to spot for cutting-edge hair styling (I get my mohawk dyed platinum here!), but the energy on First Fridays is off the charts. I DJ there each month, dropping some fatty beats, and the owner sets the perfect scene by providing complimentary drinks to keep the party going. There's always a cool mix of people dancing, browsing the hip clothing selection, or getting styled. The salon transforms into a mini dance floor, and it's impossible not to get swept up in the fun. If you want a place that's got killer style, awesome tunes, and a community vibe, OXY Salon is where it's at. Highly recommend checking it out on First Fridays--it's a blast!

I went to the Santa Cruz location and could not have been more in love with the cut and color I…read morereceived at Oxy Hair SC. I had a complicated work schedule and it appears I had to change my appointment apparently too many times. Sadly for the first time in my life I was fired by my hair dresser. Make sure you don't have obligations that interfere with appointments so you too don't fall in love and get fired.

Farzaneh has been my go-to hair person for years, and we've done bobs, lobs, blunt bangs, curtain…read morebangs, undercuts, long layers, and more. Every cut feels modern and easy. I trust her to keep things the same when it's working and help me figure out how to switch it up when it's time for a change. I'm not a hair stylist, so I really appreciate Farzaneh's ability to talk through what's possible and realistic to expect for my hair type (and my preference for low-maintenance daily styling). She has recently opened up appointments earlier in the day (7 a.m. on some weekdays!) which is perfect for my work schedule. Her salon is so relaxing and private with space for one client at a time, and I love getting my hair done with a view of the little garden area outside. Great hair, great company, and a haircut experience that feels more like a self-care ritual than just checking a box on my to-do list.

I have been getting my hair styled by Farzaneh for a few years now, and I can honestly say I have…read morenever been happier! She has a great eye, and I always feel comfortable going with her recommendations. While I personally have never had my hair colored by Farzaneh, both my mom and sister do on a regular basis and they are always raving! Farzaneh has always been incredibly professional and her new studio is easily accessible and very clean. If you are looking for a new hair studio, look no further!

I saw Lauren on Saturday, and unfortunately a few things happened that were pretty off-putting…read more First, the price listed on the website was significantly lower than the price I was given by text only 24 hours before my appointment, at which point I could no longer cancel without being penalized. Second, she accidentally burned my face with the flat iron. I said "ouch" when it happened, but she didn't acknowledge it or apologize, which made the situation more uncomfortable. Lastly, she was about 10 minutes behind schedule. Other than those issues, Lauren was nice and I genuinely enjoyed talking with her. I just wish these things had been handled differently, as they took away from an otherwise pleasant experience.

Nick Saporito at Kinship Salon in Santa Cruz cut my hair, and I'm amazed at the new look--I'm in…read moremy 60s but feel like I'm in my 50s when I look at my new cut! He's prompt, professional, polite and courteous, and it's no wonder he's booked up 2 weeks in advance --he's simply that good. What impressed me most was his foresight: he thoughtfully looks at your facial structure--your forehead, jawline, the length of your hair you're considering, and the look you want to achieve. Nick can give you an image. On top of that, he's kind, open-minded, compassionate, and a great listener. He's also incredibly creative--I've never had such a haircut this great. Thank you, Nick. You can't fake fabulous! Ron