Unfortunately I have to give one star to Koipod. I see a lot of other people have been pleased with their services but unfortunately I was not, even though there was potential for a much better experience. I am a brunette with long, thick, wavy hair and I take excellent care of it. I was needing a trim and hadn't colored my hair in a couple years so I decided to seek out a salon (as I am new to Portland and not familiar with where to go). After quite a bit of research (and reading a bunch of great reviews on yelp.com) I made a confident decision to buy the groupon for Koipod haircut and highlights. I called to make an appt and asked for a stylist who was experienced and could manage the length and thickness of my hair. I was scheduled with Annette who has amazing reviews so naturally I was REALLY excited for the day to come! I browsed the net for inspirational photos for the highlight colors I was looking for. I have dark brown hair and wanted to warm it up and add dimension. Since I am not a stylist I can't really describe the color well unless I use pictures, which is exactly why I sought them out. My cellphone could not accurately display the color in the inspirational photos I had chosen to bring to show Annette so instead I brought my laptop to the appt so that I could be clear about what I was going for. My inspirational photos were all within a similar color range, but varied slightly in how much of the head was dyed and to what degree/intensity of color. I even brought pictures of my past hair colors so that I could provide her with a reference to what has looked good or bad on me in the past. I knew what I was looking for and asked Ann's opinion and we both agreed on warming up my hair color to reflect one specific picture I had showed her, which was on the subtler end of the scale in comparison to the other pics. She agreed with me that other examples I brought were a little too intense. Anyhow, I got the foils put in, taken out, my long hair trimmed, and no comment from her the whole time on how it turned out, other than the fact that it looked good wet. Once it started to dry, though, I was shocked by the bursts of burgundy red in my hair (we discussed going 'warmer' and 'reddish tones' but certainly no straight "red" color, especially since that was NOT EVEN CLOSE to the inspirational photo we both chose as the goal). This made me very nervous. I mentally crossing my fingers, hoping that it'd look better once it dried all the way and I could get a closer look at it. The whole appointment was three hours long (understandable for the whole process and for the amount of hair I have) but when she was done still no mention of how the color turned out, she didn't even asked me how I liked the color. I got close up to the mirror to run my fingers through my hair and check how pervasive the red was and my heart dropped. I was so shocked and disappointed...and ready to cry...she just stood there and said nothing about this obvious color-job-gone-wrong! I felt extremely uncomfortable speaking up to say that it was not what we had agreed on (which, again, was REALLY obvious because it was completely different than the color we had chosen from the photo). And here is what hurt me most. Her reply was curt, rude and I was made to feel responsible for her mistake. Looking angry and offended she said that "I needed to be clear about what I wanted" (how much more clear could I have been?! WE BOTH agreed on a photo with subtle warm brown highlights)......and that "the photo I showed her was professionally done and could have had professional lighting that would affect the hair color" (true - it may have been professionally photographed, but that does not explain or defend the huge difference between my new red highlights and the subtle brown highlights that we both agreed we were going for). I put a lot of effort into seeking out images of what I liked and we specifically sat down to look through them and discuss it... Her response made me feel SO terrible, which I realize now that I shouldn't have felt that at fault (it's just that I was, and still am, blown away by her response). Annette's tone made me fell like I was offending her so I tried to reassure her that I appreciated her time, but I was just let down by the outcome. She had her next customer waiting so I was quickly given my purse and jacket so I could leave. I stopped at the front desk to ask about the original price of the services as I am accustomed to tipping well with groupons and in all my unnecessary guilt I left her a $20 tip (!!), while being was almost in tears about this color job that I was so looking forward to. The lady at the front desk asked how it went and I honestly said that it was not what I was looking for as I was visibly almost in tears. to be continued.... read more

continued from prior post... She encouraged me to wait a week or two, until after my hair has had a few washes to see if the color fades and assured me that I could return to have it fixed if I was still not happy. She was being really sweet and asking questions to try to find out what had disappointed me. I was about to pull out my laptop to show her when Annette stepped up to the front desk, looking surprised that I was still there, and quickly asking if there was anything else I needed. She looked at me and said something like, "she's only the receptionist so she can't do anything about your hair"...I pretty much felt like she wanted me to hurry up and leave, while really, the receptionist was just trying to help console me. I was in tears all the way home. I felt that Annette was unprofessional and rude to me. The tone of her response was unacceptable. I know that she knows that she made a mistake and the situation could have been handled so much better if she had just been honest with me. Perhaps she chose the wrong color? Perhaps the dye did not have enough time in my hair? But the outcome of my hair color is not even close to what I had asked for and I hated it every time I look in the mirror.. I cried my eyes out at home feeling really disappointed by Ann's lack of communication or better customer service. After giving it some thought I called the salon to setup an appt in two weeks to fix the color. I said I'd cancel it if the color resolves naturally through fading. But here was my dilemma... I was treated rudely, I had my nice hair messed up and to say that I was hesitant to let her touch my hair again is an understatement. There was a possibility that the hair would indeed fade and look ok after a while OR that Annette could have fixed it and I'd come out pleased...but two major things bug me. 1) I should not have been treated rudely and this alone made me not want to see her again. Honesty is the best policy and owning up to a mistake would have saved her a customer and a bad review. 2) I was too afraid to risk being disappointed a second time, doing further color damage to my healthy hair, and possibly have to go get it colored a third time and pay big money for it at some other salon. The hair trim was mediocre, the head massage while she was washing my hair was honestly really nice, but that pales in comparison to my experience as a whole. I think I looked better arriving at the salon than I did leaving. Sad :( I spoke to the manager at Koipod, his name is Kahala. He heard me out for about 20 min on the phone (a long rant, I know, and at least he was patient for that) but when I was done he came off as if defending Ann, saying that she is a good and professional worker with many years of hair experience, and that she would never intentionally make a customer feel bad. I'm thinking, "did you just hear about experience or did it go out the other ear?!". I told him that he was coming off defensive and he denied it. The manager should have been open to learning about what went wrong and instead he said that Ann must have thought that was the color I wanted. Every time I tried to help him understand how his and Ann'd responses were perceived by me, the customer, he'd cut me off saying that he "doesn't want to focus on the problem anymore, let's move on to a solution". But it'd be really difficult for me to accept their offer to fix my hair if I still felt like they hadn't understood where I was coming from and they hadn't offered a decent apology for what had happened to my hair and the way I was treated, whether OR NOT it was someone's intention to make me feel bad. Anyhow, I felt like the manager made absolutely no attempt to defend me, the customer, so I canceled the appointment I had originally made to come in and fix it. Almost a month has passed and my hair color has faded a tiny bit in intensity but it is still RED, which is not what I wanted at all. Also, it is not flattering and does not mesh well with my existing brown hair color. My hair was screwed up once there and I'd never go back. I am going to a color SPECIALIST to get it fixed. read more

Noriko at Koipod is a truly exceptional hair stylist. From the moment you walk into the salon, you are greeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere that immediately puts you at ease. Noriko takes the time to listen to your needs and concerns, and works closely with you to create a personalized style that is both flattering and functional. Noriko is a true artist when it comes to hair styling. Her cuts are precise and expertly executed, with attention to detail that sets her apart from other stylists. She takes the time to assess your hair type and texture, and provides recommendations for products and treatments that will help you achieve the look you desire. Whether you are looking for a subtle trim or a complete hair transformation, Noriko is the stylist to trust. Her skills extend beyond cutting to include coloring, highlighting, and styling. Her expertise in all aspects of hair styling ensures that you will leave the salon feeling confident and beautiful. The salon itself is clean, modern, and comfortable. The staff is friendly and professional, and the overall experience is one of relaxation and rejuvenation. Noriko's attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction make her a top choice for anyone in need of a great hair stylist. In summary, Noriko at Neko Salon in Portland is an excellent hair stylist who is dedicated to delivering exceptional results. Her skills, attention to detail, and commitment to customer satisfaction make her a standout in the industry. If you are in need of a talented and experienced hair stylist, Noriko is the one to see. read more

Very happy with my neighbors. I now have "cranial adornment specialist" named Mary who rocks!! I have been going through life one bad hair cut to the next, until Mary Spagnola. I have been to barbers, Supercuts, HairM, and pretty much any body who's availible when I need my hair out my face and I have stopped caring how bad it gets. I always get the same questions: "Are you working today?", "Oh, what do you do?", "Weather blah, blah, blah..". Then the realization I should have brought a hat to walk out in. Koipod was different. The salon is set up like a blank sheet of canvas (all white). I am told that is to make you the art. Interesting chit chat from the get go.. never work, just productive conversation and silly talk. I felt relaxed and welcomed and most importantly well taken care of. The people here are listeners and want to give the best service possible. It is obvious to this business owner that they care! Gentlemen: go see Koipod and don't bother bringing a hat. read more

As a massage therapist, yoga teacher and student, I keep my hair pulled back most of the time. That being said, having a great cut and color is important to me, especially now that I have sooooo much white (not gray) hair coming in. I used to get highlights but since moving to Portland have gone platinum, which is not as easy as it sounds---Having the appropriate tone of platinum for your skin tone is very important. I'm very happy to have found Abigail! She has over 10 years experience in cut and color and so really knows what she's doing, she listens...and she cares! I love my hair, every day, which is a feat! The atmosphere at KOIpod is lively and you can see that the clients are happy with their service. If Abigail is unavailable, Ask for Sarah, I've chatted with her and watched her with her clients, and see that is she is also excellent! read more

I love, love, love Koi Pod!! The atmosphere is really cool & stylish, yet not pretentious. The stylists, owner, & receptionists are always lovely & warm. I moved here from L.A., where I went to the same stylist for eight years, and now I've found my new stylist in Portland - Mary! I now have my sister & her boyfriend going to Mary, too. Mary is talented & honest, to say the least. She can make my straight hair very textured; she is the best at short haircuts.... and, since she now does my sister's hair too, I know she can work well with all hair types. I went to Mary as a blond & I'm now a redhead - she is fantastic with both cut & color... and she won't let you leave if you're unhappy! She even once called after my appointment to make sure I love my color:) I have definitely found my new salon & stylist! read more

I came to Koi Pod on the recommendation of a good friend who has been going to Carl for a long time. I had gone to another salon in the neighborhood and gotten what was probably the worst hair cut of my life. After a month or two of grow out, I went to see Mary Spagnola. Not only did she fix me and give me a great haircut I could be proud of, we talked long-term strategies and color. I've been going to Mary now for quite a while, and I've been exceptionally pleased with every haircut and color. I always get compliments on my haircuts, thanks to her. She is intuitive and really listens to what you want, even when you have a hard time explaining it. She is trustworthy and easy to talk to. She won't disappoint. Go see Mary! read more

One of the hardest things about moving from Seattle to Portland a couple years ago was leaving behind my beloved hair stylist. Fortunately, a good friend immediately recommended Layla Sullivan at Koi Pod. Layla is amazing. As others have noted here, she LISTENS, asks the right questions and then delivers sound advice. She's both a great colorist and a great cutter (in my experience is hard to find someone who is really strong in both areas) and she's quick too. I really appreciate the value she offers me such as trimming my bangs between appointments at no charge. And perhaps most importantly, she's hillarious and a hell of a nice person to spend a couple hours with. Go see Layla, you won't be disappointed! read more

My stylist of the last 5+ years, Mary Hoffman has made her way to Koipod and it's a wonderful thing as this salon is super welcoming, modern and full of great product to maintain any style or color you leave with. Over the years Mary has taken me from a platinum blonde to dark and back, short, long and in between. She has performed a few keratin straightening treatments on me, which I absolutely loved. Her haircuts also grow out nicely so you will enjoy your style much longer than expected. Aside from her technical skill as a hairstylist, she is very intuitive, and pragmatic, offering ideas and solutions to my hair concerns. Did I mention she's a lot of fun to hang out with? Go see her, she's the best! read more

KOiPOD is my salon of choice and I have a wonderful stylist, Kahala, who has done nothing but a wonderful job with my hair. But recently I had to make an unplanned trip out of state with very short notice and my hair, well, I had let it go a little too long... I was able to get in with a newer stylist at the salon, Tracy Killingsworth. I am over the moon with what she was able to do with the wonderful color in my hair. I have had several complements in just the day and half since the service. Worth every penny and then some. All the stylist at KOiPOD seem to really listen to their clients to find a style or color that will really work for their look and lifestyle. I can't recommend enough! read more

I had been living in PDX for years, and felt that maybe it wasn't possible to find a hair stylist that could do what I dreamed. I traipsed from one bad experience to another. I even went so far as to try a place more than once, hoping the outcome with improve with time. It did not. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon Koipod. To be honest, the modern lines and open industrial-ness turned me off initially. But, I found a hairstylist that's fantastic! I would wholeheartedly recommend Daniella! She's the hairstylist every girl dreams of. Everyone in the salon appears happy with their look, so I'm almost certain you can't go wrong. -K read more

So, this is a long time coming, but these hair arteests deserve some words. I've been going to Koipod for about two years now and I've never walked out dissatisfied. Honestly though, my appreciation must be directed to Maryam (Mary) Hoffmann! Shout out to the nicest, most down to earth stylist in the Portland area. Not only is she an amazing person who's easy to talk to, but she also knows how to listen and most importantly - execute! I'll never anyone else cut my hair, as she's receptive to my trying to explain what I want, and skilled enough to continually surprise me with the finished product. Mary, you da best! read more

In response to Margaret B. Hello Margaret, I understand your highlights were too red for you and you were not happy with your service.I did send you home at the end of your three hour appointment communicating and maintaining the position that I would redo your color service.I fully understand you were not happy.This was not my intention to trigger unhappiness in you.I maintained the position of finding a solution for you.You exercised a choice.This choice is yours and I respect your freedom to make it.I hope you find satisfaction. Sincerely, Annette G. read more

I have been going to Tony for about 6 months now...He is AMAZING!!! My hair was so brittle and damaged and he has completely turned it around. Every time I call to make an appointment the staff is so friendly and willing to work with my hectic schedule. I appreciate that they only book one client at a time, the last salon I went to the stylist's would be double and even triple booked and my appointment would take twice as long as it should have. If you're looking for a great stylist schedule with Tony...I promise you will be as thrilled as me! read more

I finally found someone to cut my hair who I simply love. Her name is Maryam Hoffmann; she woks at Koipod. Maryam pays more and better attention to my hair and what makes me look the best I can of anyone who has ever cut my hair. She just seems to have really good instincts and she listens to me and communicates very well. I also am very comfortable with her personality. She's warm and relaxed; I feel very comfortable with her and last but not least, Maryam gives me a little head massage while she's washing my hair and it is so relaxing. read more

Kiopod is a super cute solon, but I come here for Mary. She is amazing with hair color, hands down. I will follow her where ever she goes. She always listens to what I want and listens to what I don't want too. Her honesty with me is always spot on. And her confidence in what she does helps me stay relaxed when I'm trying something new. I would also highly recommend her for curly hair! She knows just how to create the perfect layers for ringlets. read more

I read some really good reviews about Koyote and decided to give Koipod a shot. I'm really glad I did because I got 8 inches cut off for a cute mid length style and I absolutely love it! My hair used to look thin and stringy with crooked bangs that kept hitting my glasses. I felt like the song Natural Woman started playing the moment I put on my glasses to see how I looked haha. I definitely recommend Koyote, she does excellent work. read more

They say diamonds are a girls best friend but in reality, Tony is a girl's best friend. I've been going to Tony for almost 7 years. He does a great job, makes sure that you're satisfied, and is a blast to hang out with. He's constantly re-inventing himself and keeps his game on point by taking classes on new techniques, styles, and trends. He specializes in color but he's great with cuts as well. I recommend him to everyone I know! read more

Just had our first visit to Koipod; we followed Mary there! Our third salon to frequent in the last few years, as we follow Mary whenever she moves to a new space! Great styles, great conversations. She's a stylist who really listens to what you're looking for, and delivers.....not a stylist who just does whatever they want to do. This salon is a cool space, true Portland ambience. read more