Unfortunately I have to leave a bad review. I went to Leah at pleasurehead salon. I have never in my 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! read more

Just moved into town and wanted to get my shaggy a*s cleaned up. Leah was great. I tend to have a pretty specific expectation and having my last barber for the past three years - I knew finding someone to match would be difficult. Couldn't be happier with the outcome. Leah did a wonderful job and the salon is clean / open with lots of nice natural light. Highly recommend. read more

I've been to Pleasure Head (PH) four times now and had amazing experiences with Jennifer (who I believe 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. read more

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Worst haircut + customer service I've ever had from a salon. I showed Angie the same picture I had shown her once before, and got an entirely different haircut than the last time. My hair looks like it had chunks taken care of it (pictures attached). My mother, sister, and boyfriend called my hair "hacked at". Though the haircut was bad, the complete lack of communication after the fact was even more disappointing. I've reached out to Angie and the salon over both email and Instagram, and have not received a response in nearly 4 weeks. Not the first haircut I haven't liked, but definitely my worst salon experience. read more

Pleasure Head Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Absolutely wonderful salon, great energy and wonderful stylists. I get my hair cut there by Shawna and she is amazing. 5/5 stars.

I had went in yesterday for a quick fix up hair cut as my last one wasn't the best. I had Angie do a quick Razor cut on me and it turned out amazing! I love how she kept checking in with me to make sure I was getting exactly what i wanted. They also had the cutest Golden Retriever named buster at the shop and he's the sweetest! I'll definitely be back (just for buster) Staff was also really chill and friendly, i felt welcomed and relaxed, thanks again! read more

I got a hair cut last Saturday at this Salon. Alfa was who took care of my hair and I just loved it. She also gave me great tips of what products to use on my hair. She was great and I'll definitely come back to cut my hair again with her. The place is very cute and beautiful. There was plenty of parking. read more

Leah is awesome! She has been doing my hair for 10 years, and I couldn't ask for a better stylist. She's also a wonderful person to chat with during the appointment, and I always leave feeling great about both the experience and my haircut. read more

Leah Anthony did a great job with coloring my hair. First try she got the color just right. I have strawberry blond hair, so that was not easy to do. She was friendly and patient. She also took extra time with me, which I was grateful for. I would highly recommend working with her. read more

I loved my haircut with Shawna Wingert. She is a really great person to get a haircut with as she looks at what you want and spends time to figure out how you feel and also to work with you. I also liked this place because it is very easy to book online. I have looked around for that and I haven't found a place where you can book online but also get an appointment quickly. read more

Pleasure Head Salon - Thank you Shawna! Great haircut. - Hair Salons Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Shawna is the best! She gives amazing haircuts and really personable and kind conversation.

Woke up this morning with the urge to cut my hair. Where are the normal walk in salons? No availability for walk ins at this place.

Really appreciated getting my haircut by Shawna. Not only was she the absolute sweetest but took time and detail to cut my hair exactly how I wanted. She's such a bubbly person and I enjoyed talking to her about T Swift and Astrology. She's a great stylist and great person read more

I have been seeing Christina Ruiz for 6 months now and not only have I had killer hair but I've gained a wonderful friend. the first time I came to her with virgin hair and a blue dream and boy did she deliver!!! Christina is so personal, kind, and thorough. She touches every strand of my hair with love + care everytime I see her. I always walk out of the salon feeling on top of the world, and I won't see anyone else! read more

I highly recommend Pleasure Head! Especially Shawna - I've gone to her twice and she's done an amazing job and is super sweet. I'm only getting my hair cut with her from now on. read more

Alfa is amazing! Her care and attention to detail when coloring and cutting my hair was wonderful. She gave great advice on products to use, took time to review her work and I honestly think my hair looked the best it ever has when I left. I already have my next appointment booked! read more

I was sadly very disappointed when i came to this salon. I came in and was very adamant about only wanting 3 inches cut off from my hair, as i had very long beautiful hair but i was in need of a trim. My hair was down to my lower back... and i left with my hair to my shoulders. Please make sure you are only cutting off what your client is asking for :( read more

So hard to find a decent hairdresser in Santa Cruz but Jenn is the best! I got curtain bangs and layers added to my trim and she was the sweetest and took very little time. The cost was not bad at all compared to other salons and the vibe of the place was so cute. Definitely coming back read more

I was a first time customer and came in for a cut and an all over color. I requested a dark brown color and instead I was given a very DARK BLACK color! I was so stunned and disappointed that I came back into the salon the next day asking for them to lighten the color to the dark brown I asked for, they said I would have to pay them AGAIN for a lightening service. As a result, I was forced to go to another salon and pay a whole new stylist to correct this color mistake. I tried to contact the salon's manager to resolve this issue but no one has gotten back to me--even when they said they would. Overall an unsatisfactory experience and poor customer service :( read more

I've been to Brenna twice now~ for color and cut* Very happy*

Angie is fantastic with edgy cuts and colors. I go to her whenever I want a new look.

went to Shawna and she was great! very friendly, quick, and gave me exactly what I wanted! thank you :)

Decided to make an appointment here because my friend had recommended it to me. Angie is wonderful! She followed exactly what I asked for and I could not be happier. Sad I didn't find this place sooner. Thank you! read more

Don't schedule an appt with this business if you value your time. They rescheduled my appt the day before. Rather than calling me to notify me they sent me an email IN THE EVENING THE DAY BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT! Girl if you wanted the day off just don't schedule ppl that day end of story read more

Kendal is the best. I came in here on a whim and it became my new go-to. I've traditionally been a laid back barber shop guy but the service, lack of attitude, and quality of haircut is just too good to pass up. read more

Meredith is an amazing hairstylist. I had been searching for someone who would listen to what I wanted and she does. My hair looks heathy and the color is perfect. I've been going to Pleasure Head Salon for 5 or 6 years now. Will never change. read more

I been to this place twice to see Angie. My hair is not your typical nice soft tame Asian hair, it's very thick, has a wave, and will frizz. I can't deal with my hair once it hits a certain length because it gets so heavy so I appreciate the layers that Angie keeps giving me. Everyone compliments how fresh my cut looks and say the layers look really nice. I've always been skeptical of getting too many layers because I'm worried about the end result but I like all the layers I got. She's also a really nice person who will actually try to have a conversation with you and if you've seen her before, she will remember you!! Her work makes my days feel much lighter and gives shape to my hair! Thanks Angie, I'll be back. read more

Let's talk hair shall we? Meredith at Pleasurehead salon in Santa Cruz is a miracle worker. Daily she takes sparrows and makes them into peacocks. I'm astonished she's not been snapped up by a larger market but their loss is Santa Cruz' gain. Every. Single. Person I've recommended to this salon has come out looking stellar. Meredith knows what to do with your hair, I'd advise not even giving input really as she's such an artist. She can even fix your hair if, say, you get it caught on fire by a Bunsen burnet & give you a shag that's the envy of everyone. She's the best in town, but please tip accordingly so we can keep her Santa Cruz's best kept secret! read more

My colleague recommended this salon and I'm so glad I took her advice! I needed a last minute appt and Kendall was available, she was great. I went in for balayage and cut. She really took the time to talk about what I wanted, we looked at photos and discussed the options and technique for awhile before we even began. Basically, she nailed it! I asked for honey carmel lift on my brunette hair- I was nervous about streaky color or too bright of blonde. It came out perfect! Just what I asked for, both the color and cut. Kendall is young but she is talented and will really listen to hear what you're going for. The salon atmosphere is cool too. Not super fancy, just modern yet artsy and very clean. Pricing is reasonable and comparatively, good for the bay area. I will be back! read more

Shawna is the best! Highly recommend her for haircuts, especially curly hair!

Awesome place and awesome owner. Known Angie for a long time, cool vibes and great cuts. Cant go wrong with this place

My stylist Amanda didn't show up for my appointment. Very disappointed. I waited in the lounge 10 minutes early, then I got a message from another worker that she had to go to the hospital for her toe. I hope she's alright, but a phone call or text would've been nice. read more

All this shelter in place hair needed some serious attention and that's what I got at Pleasure Head Salon. Christina cut my hair exactly as I requested and, although this was my first time there, I felt like a valued regular client. Highly recommended read more

Oh man, Meredith is amazing! I just moved to Santa Cruz from Orange County, where (except for a few dalliances) I've gone to the same awesome stylist since 2007. So it was a bit scary to try someone new. However, I can't go all the way back to OC, right? Lol... So I did a search on Yelp for best hair stylist in Santa Cruz and Meredith came up. Great reviews and photos of her work. I loved it! I knew I'd found the one. Went in for a highlight and cut today and was SO NOT DISAPPOINTED!! Not only is she an excellent colorist and "scissorsmith" but she's super sweet, smart and fun to chat with. Thanks, Meredith!! See you in 5 weeks! read more

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Great place from close razor shave to great stylist reasonable priced parking sucks. Good atmosphere

Meredith is very professional, skilled and has good taste as a stylist. She works hard to find the most complimentary style for her client. Twice I have received partial highlights - excellent, efficient, and look terrific. She is very enjoyable to talk with too! Thank you so much, I'll be back! read more

Hate to buck the trend, but this was one of the worst haircut experiences I've ever had. Maybe blame it on the fact it was Friday afternoon and everyone had lost motivation by that point, or that me being five minutes late screwed my karma there; from the time I walked in I was very unimpressed with the treatment I received. It took a solid minute for the woman working the front desk to break away from the conversation she was having with another stylist to even acknowledge I was there, then I was told to sit down and wait. The two continued their conversation for about five minutes while I stared at the clock and wondered who was actually cutting my hair (there was no one but the three of us in there, customers nor stylists), then finally as they started walking toward the back of the salon the Front Desk Chick said "oh, Emily will be cutting your hair, and she's... uh......" Literally, she just trailed off and walked away. Okay. Almost 20 minutes after my scheduled appointment time, Emily came bursting in from the front door. At least I assume it was Emily, as she never introduced herself, nor did she even acknowledge she was so late, just said "Are you Leslie? Alright, come sit down." While I'll admit the haircut ultimately wasn't terrible, here's the run through of other things that left me thoroughly disappointed in the whole experience: While possibly-Emily was washing my hair, the smoke from the two other stylists sitting outside blew right at me through the open door. Classy. She seemed nervous and unfamiliar with the work area, having trouble with everything from adjusting the chair so she didn't have to awkwardly reach far above my head to picking out what products to use. Not a real confidence booster as she's wielding scissors around my head. She asked "Do you want me blow dry your hair a little bit, or style it? It's your call." Umm... isn't that called finishing the haircut? Who wants to walk out of the salon with wet hair, not even sure how the cut turned out? Apparently that blow dry/ pseudo style cost me extra, since she made a point of telling Front Desk Chick that my cut included "a style." And the final straw: When I gave Front Desk Chick my credit card to pay, she made a drawn out point of saying that I need to tell her how much I want to tip before she runs the card because I can't add it afterward. So as I have both her and possibly-Emily staring at me waiting for my response, I'm wondering if this even deserved a tip at all; if anything I'll just throw a couple dollars on her station as I leave, but am I allowed to say that?! So, I offered the ambiguous "I'm fine" to buy me a minute to decide.. but when I went to sign I noticed she's added on a $5 tip! I asked about it and Front Desk Chick said "oh, didn't you say 'add five'? Oops." No apology, no offer to correct it, just a blank stare. Maybe I've just been spoiled by receiving decent customer service in the past, but I won't be coming back here again. read more

I have been going to get my hair cut my Amanda for a while now, she is very professional and does an amazing job every time. I highly recommend her read more

To start off, my hair is very hard to bleach, it always turns orange but I just love being blonde! The only person who can actually get the perfect color blonde is Amanda, I've been seeing her for years and she never disappoints! She's is very professional and truly cares about the outcome of my hair. I highly recommend her, she's the best! read more

I came in at around 5pmish and saw Emily. I have always been a friend that claims to be good with scissors/ Supercuts girl. Free to cheap was what I went for. I knew I wanted a change, I had some remaining dye along with some nasty split dead ends, but I couldn't figure out what I wanted. Emily listened to my hair history, the few important things I had figured out (I almost never style my hair, no bangs), & what I was comfortable with losing in length (my hair was mid-longish in length). Emily took time to look at how my hair wanted to lay, where my cowlicks are, where my part wants to live, & messed with it to eye different lengths against my face. She suggested an a line cut, let me determine the shortest length and really took her time to cut and style my hair. She determined my part likes to meander in certain area & worked with my cut so my part can move some without the length looking off in the front. My cut will look good brush & go as I generally operate. When I do occasionally style it, she showed me how to style it my style, fairly simply using 1 to 2 products & using a hair dryer & brush. I left with a very different & new style & I love it! It looks great on me & I feel confident in my ability to maintain it. I will definitely see Emily the next time I want a haircut. Just wanted to update this review to state the next day I have gotten nothing but rave reviews from coworkers and friends about how great my haircut is. read more