Short version - this is your sign. Call Michele and book an appointment. Amazing experience. I'm so happy with the results. Full version - I had done a search on yelp for curly hair stylists and this salon was suggested. I decided to call and make an appt for a haircut. (it had been 4 years since my last professional cut) I specifically booked with Michele since she was mentioned by others for her talent with wavy/curly hair. Upon arrival Michele was very nice and welcoming. We discussed lightly what I wanted done before washing my hair. Once I was back in the chair she truly listened to what I wanted. (I have super long fine hair that is curly, wavy and straight in some spots) She gave me tons of advice and pointers which I truly appreciated since I'm trying to embrace my natural hair and stop heat styling. I was very satisfied with the end result. My hair feels so much healthier. I will definitely be coming back! read more

Love coming to get my hair done by Michele! The salon is cute and has wonderful energy about it. Michele and her fellow stylists are all incredibly kind and really know what they are doing. I've gotten my hair cut by Michele twice now. For my first cut, we played it a bit safe and she helped me ring my waves to life. This time I wanted a bit more of a change and we went for the shag/butterfly cut and I'm so glad we did! Michele carefully sculpted my layers in a way that works with my hair and texture. I am obsessed! She definitely knows her way around textured hair and I couldn't be happier to have found her. Thank you, Michele! read more

Renew Salon - Wavy butterfly cut by Michele - Hair Salons Near Me - San Mateo, California

I called Michelle for a haircut based on previous reviews that she knew what to do with curly/wavy hair. To my delight, I arrived to the salon to meet Michelle for the first time and her flowing curly/wavy hair! I felt very welcome and comfortable in this clean, cute salon. Michelle asked me questions about my hair care routine and provided useful tips that I will be implementing. The cut was great and she even showed me a few styling options at the end. We had a great conversation and I look forward to going back. Thanks! read more

Very professional and expert at what they do. No one gets my hair right on the first try and Sarah did! Great salon.

I have been having a terrible reaction to hair dye and was also getting tired of my Deva cut and products for curly hair. I needed a major change. Michele the owner saw my hair and knew exactly what I needed. She immediately recommended a demi color for my hair color. Omg ! That's a game changer. It is so gentle on hair and scalp. No burning , no yucky smell and my scalp didn't get colored , which has been the case in the past with chemical hair dye. Michele saw my hair and knew exactly how it needed to be cut. I didn't want too much of my length cut off and she was very mindful of that. She rectified my last few years haircut and cleaned out all the mess giving my hair a healthy cut. My hair looks so bouncy and revitalized. Michele uses high end L'Oréal products. She knows her craft very well and is very generous in sharing her knowledge. I love the interiors of the salon, it has a very classy and elegant feel to the place. The furniture and the decor is very pleasing to the eye. I loved the black robe one changes into. You feel like an honored guest. Michele is very warm, kind, gentle and she really takes the time to connect with her clients. read more

I've been coming here for a year now. Sara is great at both cut and color, not to mention giving a great head massage when she washes my hair. I love the way everyone there seems to enjoy their clients and their coworkers. Michelle, the owner is such a character. Great conversations, as well as great stylists. read more

Just went to the eggstavaganza & my daughter has to go to the bathroom. The bathroom was on the other side of the park & our car was closer. We thought she could make it home, she couldn't. We were parked outside of Renew Salon so I asked if my daughter could use the bathroom. They were so nice & let my daughter use the restroom. It was a neat place and I will be heading there next time I need my hair cut. read more

Emi is my new/old styist that I followed from another salon after it moved out of the area. She is just fabulous! Everything from discussing what I wanted to a great scalp massage/shampoo and cut. I have long hair so I don't get it cut very often but when I do her cuts last me months which is a testament to her skill. I imagine she would also be great with kids as well because she is so gentle. The bonus to following Emi is this great little salon owned by Michele. Everyone was friendly when I walked in and made me feel very welcomed. The shop decor is warm and inviting with dutch doors at the entrance that let in all the great sounds from outside. This is my new salon and I would highly recommend them to everyone. read more

Renew Salon has a great new stylist! Elle Slusser who has been cutting and coloring my hair for years and years has moved to Renew Salon! Not only am I now getting the best hair cut and color on the Peninsula but the new Salon is very comfortale and go out of their way to make a most enjoyable experience. I look forward to being pampered when I go for the atmosphere is very relaxing and unique. Appointments are flexible and the service is superior! Give Elle a try and you will never look again for that perfect stylist! read more

It's easy to miss this place between Wells Fargo and Drager's, but once you are inside you will never look at the little strip of stores on 5th the same way again. Renew Salon is a place one feels instantly welcome and a part of a family. The decor is calming and makes me feel like I'm in a very calm, natural setting. The place is clean and organized and the music they play is hip. I followed Melissa here from another San Mateo salon (which shall remain nameless). She's hands down the best colorist I have ever had. Her customer service is above the board and her ability to connect with you on a personal, friendly level is a big plus in my mind. Melissa is also very conscious of the satisfaction of her clients and goes out of her way to make sure you are totally happy with your hair. Once she spent an extra hour fixing the tone of my hair so it was more in line with what I wanted. When she cut my bangs for the first time, she made sure I knew I could come back if I needed them fixed. FYI, my boyfriend sees her too, for a simple hair cut and Melissa does a great job. read more

Sarah was wonderful and did a fantastic job on my hair. With a newly broken arm, it has been quite difficult to wash my hair and blow it dry. I am so happy to have a local salon to go to and love how beautiful and inviting this salon is. Both Sarah and Michelle are so wonderful and really appreciate their help so that I could feel better. read more

Sarah and Yolanda are experts at color and general hair care. They have helped me grow my hair back in to a strong healthy look after many straightening events. I am glad that I have found a low pressure salon to achieve my goal of healthy looking hair. read more

Michelle is fantastic. She can cut any type of hair. Not to mention it is a cute place and she's professional and fun.

Just got highlights done by Emi. She did an excellent job! Totally natural looking~ just what I wanted. I'll definitely keep coming to Renew. Thanks! Liz read more

I recently tried this salon out for a wash and blow dry and I was not disappointed. From my phone conversation with the friendly receptionist, Paulette, to Sara who gave me an amazing blow dry, my experience was great!! I will be a repeat customer. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Renew. I've gone here twice so far and found all the staff to be very professional and pleasant. They go out of their way to make you comfortable, and they're very helpful and flexible with scheduling appointments. This is the kind of salon, and service, we need more of in San Mateo! read more

My stylist is Sara. I have to say that my hair is fine, and finicky; so much so that I don't dare try to style it on my own, and considering my job, it wouldn't do anyway. What you see is what you get. I've been seeing her since last summer. The first cut she gave me was FANTASTIC!!! Of course it takes time to learn what works, and what doesn't, but she's never given me a cut I couldn't live with until the next time, and she likes the same things about my hair that I like. The shop is clean, good music, personable service, and since we're in similar businesses, plenty to talk about. She is totally willing to learn, which I like. She is consistently good with my hair, and it's never been a problem for her to take me back if I wasn't completely satisfied. (Once). Ever since, she has cut my hair just the way I like, and I can't see going anywhere else as long as she's working. Thank you Sara, you have a client for life! read more

This review is for Emi I have followed Emi from another Salon and I must say I like the atmosphere in this salon so much more! As for Emi she is very nice and does great haircuts. I tried 5 other stylist before I found Emi and she does a great job that lasts a long time. She also listens well to what you like and makes sure that you get it as you like it - no corner cut here :-) Plus - she always make sure to get me in on the day that I need a haircut - and last time she even styled my hair as I mentioned I was going to a party! read more

First-time customer and everyone was super nice and professional. Emi was very skilled and took great care getting what was a mop to a great clean cut that still had some length. Great work and probably the best haircut I've ever had. Only thing for me was no posted prices. I didn't ask and was going off the Yelp "$$" rating. As a guy, it was more than I expected (but maybe more normal for women?). read more

After being in the Bay Area for over 2 years, and having 2 years of really horrible haircuts..I am 100% sure those days are over. I walked past Renew Salon for a year and one day when I saw Michele had curly dark hair and D'Angelo's Brown Sugar was playing.. I knew it was a sign. Michele listens.. talks and is a awesome stylist. I am so happy with my hair again!!! read more

UPDATE March 2012 - Just had another wonderful experience at Renew. Had an appointment for a hair color. As always, the receptionist greeted me as I arrived. She offered me a beverage. She was very warm and comforting. Michele was attentive and listened to my needs and wants during our consultation. She then executed my hair color perfectly. Little did I know I was in for a treat at shampooing time. The receptionist (also a licensed hairdresser) performed the most revitalizing scalp massage I have ever experienced. It literally put me to sleep. It was relaxing and invigorating. I highly recommend her for your shampoo/wash. After a blow dry session with root-lifting serum, I was in love with my hair! I love this place and highly recommend it to any woman looking for a new salon and a peaceful, relaxing, and satisfying experience. 2009 - I have been getting my hair done by Michele since 2003. It all started when I wanted to go back to my natural hair color for my wedding. I had never been to a professional salon before, so if you can imagine, my haircut was a mess and I had about 5 different colors in my hair with 4" grown out roots. She first started with a consultation to ensure we were on the same page. She continues to listen to my preference each time I go in for my appointments. She has taught me how to take care of my hair in between visits. Her new salon, Renew, has been open for a little over a year now. It is a very inviting, warm, and friendly environment. You get the 1:1 attention that we all want when we have that visit to our salon! I recommend this place to everyone, Michele has been the best hairdresser I have ever been to, she also has a very talented staff that I'm sure will fit everyone's needs. read more

I'm so excited for Elle at her new location! Renew is an excellent salon in a great location of San Mateo. Overlooking central park and just off the main streets of downtown, Renew is beautiful, upscale, crisp, and very clean. There's lots of available street parking, too! Elle Slusser has been doing my hair for several years all together. Being a hair stylist myself, I'm a very picky, very demanding client who wants lots of changes, and often. I have very high standards with my own hair, and Elle has ALWAYS managed to not only meet them, but totally surpass them. Elle has amazing color skill, as she's very well educated in her field and goes above and beyond to stay up to date and is usually before-the-trend on current fashion and styling. Her cuts are flawless every time, and if for some reason (like if you're completely a picky picky perfectionist like me) there's anything that's not exactly in place, she takes care to make it work perfectly for you and your hair type and style. Being in the industry, I've seen a lot of good stylists over the years, but I'm never quite happy with the results. I always walk away from seeing Elle feeling like I've got the most perfect style for me possible! She takes care of me completely! And not to mention, she's probably one of the nicest and most caring girls I know! read more

This place is fantastic! It is small little shop near the park in San Mateo, and the people there make me feel completely at home. Even better, they are very skilled as well as personable. As somebody who's not particularly skilled at articulating exactly what I want done with my hair, I had a hair coloring by Elle Slusser, and she was incredibly keen at deciphering what I really wanted and not only did a fantastic job, but was also very quick, efficient, and delightfully friendly. The fact that she is also an educator also makes me feel so much more at ease with her ability to do anything that I might want with keen precision. Finally I found somebody that I can keep coming back to! She comes highly recommended! They say you can tell the soul of a place by the people who operate it, and even after one visit Michelle makes me feel like I've known her for years! If you're really particular about your hair, or if you have hair that you don't know what to do with, this is the place for you! Go go go! read more

It has been half a year since I had my first haircut at Renew Salon with Sara as my stylist. I had been desperately craving change for my raggedy hair and called different places for immediate openings. The price of this hair-cut was definitely steep ($75), but seeing as my last professional hair-cut was from two years ago, I figured it was well worth the cost. Sara was super sweet and very friendly. I remember having fun just laughing and talking with her as she cut my hair. She took her time and listened to my needs. I think she did a great job! At first, when I walked out of the salon, I wasn't so sure of the way she had styled it, but a day or two later, I ended up loving it and didn't even want to wash my hair for the knowledge that it would NEVER look the same again! Hahaha. Great experience! I would go back again if I wasn't the type to try new places each time...^_^ read more

Excellent haircut! After searching for more than a year, finally found someone who can cut my hair well enough. My family has a range of hair types/ textures and they all look great. read more

Renew Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - San Mateo, California

I have been at Renew hair salon several years! The owner Michele is a fabulous hair stylist and colorist ! She is also an amazing positive person and a pleasure to spend time with. Her salon is very comfortable and decorated so warmly ! It's a very professional environment and I recommend it highly. read more

I Love SARA!!! My hair is very complicated to work with.I've been to so many salons and never got the results I wanted. But Sara did exactly what I wanted. I will definitely return to this salon. I totally recommend Sara.Schedule an appt. with her ASAP!!! read more

Michele Perkins is a highly skilled stylist. She gives great advice on new looks and is a master with the shears! Give her a try - you won't be sorry! read more

I've gone to Sara at Renew for several years now. She has always done a wonderful job with my challenging hair, particularly with color, which is the best work I've ever seen, but she also does excellent cuts and blow dry. She is always professional and very respectful of your time. The salon is a small but well appointed space downtown near the park, with plenty of street parking. My wish list is more comfy wash basins but that's a minor point. I highly recommend! read more

I have had a cut from Michelle and Sara, and they are both fantastic. Highly recommended.

GREAT Salon! I moved to the Bay Area about 10 months ago from the East Coast (NJ) and was nervous about finding a salon. I always had the same hair cut, a graduated bob. I have very thick hair and Michele suggested that I get a different cut because of the thickness of my hair. I am soo glad I listened!! I absolutely LOVE it!!!! I went back to NJ for the first time a few weeks ago and all my friends and family commented on how much they liked my new cut. Michele is both extremely knowlegable and professional. Her salon is top notch! I found my salon and I would recommend this salon to anyone! read more

I've been going to Michele for over 10 years. I have thick, wavy hair and it's hard to cut it just right. Sara is the one I go to for cut, highlights, and color and she does a beautiful job, whether I want my hair long or short. She is amazing and so is Michele! read more

Men -- get your salon on. Like most of you I grew up patronizing my local barber shop. This continued into my early thirties until my wife pointed out these relatively inexpensive cuts starting looking shabby (like a dying bush, she said) less than two weeks later. I've been seeing Yolanda at Renew ever since and can't recommend the experience and results more highly. Yes, it's more expensive but entirely worth it. Anybody can look good the day after a cut but my hair now holds up more than twice as long. So if you can do without the dirty magazines and sports chatter I highly recommend switching from barber to stylist. read more

I always look forward to my hair appointment with Michele at Renew. I love how rejuvenated I feel and look after having my hair colored and/or cut. I enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and stylish look of the salon. read more

I love Emi! I followed her from her last Salon to Renew. She is so friendly and talented! She takes her time to listen to what you want and when I ask for her opinion she always gives me great advice and my hair turns out amazing every time! Everyone that works there is very friendly as well. Great experience! read more

Just went in and Elle squeezed me in, I know this is no easy feat on a Saturday. My experience was so great, I had to write a review! I currently have "difficult" hair, trying to grow out from a less than stellar choice in styles done elsewhere. I left with hair I love even in the grow out stage! I also experienced a rarity....I washed my hair and it still styled perfectly...yes really! As for Elle herself, very professional and talented! I will stick with her! I left with great hair and found a stylist whose talent matches their personality! read more

I came to Renew Salon because Sara Calderon (now Vidal) was working there... but now I know that I would have gone there anyway! The place is fabulous, and Michelle is a kick. Both Michelle and Sara are talented stylists... they are artists really. The atmosphere at the slaon is one of friendship and professionalism. It's a smaller salon, so you really feel that you are well cared for during your stay. I love Renew Salon - it's the ladies that work there that make my visits there so enjoyable. read more

This is a first for me. I came in requesting a certain hair cut. I showed pictures of what I was after, and explained how I have fairly thick hair and I need it to be thinned out in the middle & bottom/ends. I left feeling alright about my cut, but of course it's always better when you get a professional blow-out. Over the next few days, I realized through styling my own hair, that the cut was not right. It was still way too thick and full at the ends. I called and asked for a touch up and they scheduled me for the following week. The receptionist (Pauline, I think is her name?) is very friendly and polite. I showed up for my appointment, explained what I wanted changed with the cut, and showed more pictures. Apparently I wasn't using the "correct" hairstylist terminology, and Michele (owner & stylist) started copping attitude with me because I was using "contradictory" terms to describe what I wanted. I am certainly no professional stylist, so I kept referring to the pictures I brought. I asked if maybe she could straighten my hair out (it had been in a pony tail all day so it was crimped a bit), so we could talk about exactly where the heaviness was. She said she only had 1-hour so she needed to be quick with me. One of the pics I showed her was for an A-line. Michele said that a-lines are "all one length", but that was confusing to me. She clearly didn't like me questioning that because shortly after, she said "Ya know, I just don't think I'm the stylist for you. I can refund your money, but I don't think I can help you." I wasn't going to push the issue beyond that. I accepted the refund and left feeling VERY DISAPPOINTED. I am a stay at home mom and don't have alot of time to get my hair done. I needed a hair cut that helped me feel pretty, even though I'm often running around in a pony tail most days. I felt like Michele should've taken time to understand what I was asking for, even if I wasn't using the correct terminology. She didn't consult with me. Instead, she turned me away. I will not return again, and definitely would not recommend her to anyone else. I'm giving 2-stars instead of 1-star because I got a refund. read more

I'm not wasting any time on my review! I just left my appointment with Michele, who was AMAZING! She was able to fit me in the same day, which was great. The Salon was beautiful and clean and Michele greeted me right away. She listened to everything I wanted and really took care of me! I told her that I really wanted to keep my length (I have long curly hair) and not only did she give me tips on how to take care of my hair, but she also made sure I was comfortable with how much she was taking off. I highly recommend Renew Salon to anyone looking for great customer service, great conversation and an amazing haircut! read more

After reading all the good reviews about Renew Salon, I decided to give it a try this morning. This place was clean and comfortable. Emi was very professional, gentle, and polite. She did a super wonderful job cutting my hair. Money well spent! I will definitely keep coming back to this salon. read more