I had my third appointment with Michael Potter and Salon DeCota last week and I cannot say enough how happy I am to have found them. Michael is a meticulous hair stylist. The first cut he gave me was the best cut I've had in a long time, if not my best cut ever. During that appointment Michael showed me step-by-step how to best blow dry my hair. His cut and guidance has made an incredible difference in my confidence in blow drying my hair and the results when I am done. Michael has also been doing my color. He's been awesome in paying close attention to what's working and what's not and making suggestions on how to achieve the vision he sees for my hair. Apart from my happy results from my stylist Michael, I find the vibe of the salon to be a positive influence over my overall experience. Michael is an absolute joy to spend time with and the owner Evet makes me feel appreciated as a client. My hair looks and feels like it is in the best condition that it has ever been. I attribute this to a great affordable product line that Salon DeCota supports. I highly recommend! read more

This was my second time to the salon and while the first was great the second time left me questioning my first review. I had to leave the salon with wet frizzy hair because Annie had no clue how to style curly hair. I will have to go home and style it myself to see if the cut is any good but she had no idea what she was doing and seemed very distracted. I like leaving the salon feeling beautiful. It's sad to think I have to go home and do my own hair after I just paid $80 for a trim. I should have just waited until Mary Claire was available! read more

Salon DeCota - Hair Salons Near Me - San Rafael, California

I went into Salon DeCota with a hair emergency. I let my friend dye my hair grey/silver and it came out looking like a shinny blonde. It was awful and not right for my skin tone. Alicia fit me right into her day and she transformed my hair color to just what I wanted. I was particularly struck by how collaborative the other stylists were with making sure my color was just right. I will definitely be coming back and highly recommend to anyone - she is wonderful. The owner Evet was so nice and took the time to memorize my name. Well deserved 5 stars. read more

I've followed Evet DeCota for years just because she's a freakin' hair genius (and she's honest about what will look good with my face and hair type, etc). I love Salon DeCota -- great atmosphere, everyone is super nice, street parking is easy -- and my hair always comes out beautiful, both in cut and in color. I usually go to Evet, but I've had other stylists there as well, and let me tell you -- I've never been disappointed. Always thrilled. When it comes to hair, ya gotta trust your stylist -- and Salon DeCota is totally the place to do that. Ya won't regret it. read more

The most stressful part of any move is finding a new hairdresser. Especially, when your previous hairdresser knew your locks like the back of his hand. But then I found Maryclare. She is a true artist who really listens to what you want and has a great eye. She is able to create modern looks that maintain great sophistication. What's even better is that they are easy to style and grow out perfectly. I'd recommend this professional salon and especially Maryclare to anyone looking for a reasonable, fashion-forward look in the North Bay! read more

All my experiences at Salon DeCota have been pleasant. For a person who only likes to get her hair cut once a year, I may finally be changing my mind to do more salon visits here- if not for the excellent staff, then the indulgent Davines line of hair goodies. The stylist that I have seen twice, Maryclare, is excellent at her skills and a joy to talk to- a natural extrovert. She's cut my long, over-dyed blonde hair to a shoulder-length cut, and is helping me transition to my natural dark brunette. After more than a decade of having blonde hair, this transition is a big change. Thankfully, I wouldn't want anyone else to be doing this work! Her confidence and charm make me feel at ease- even excited- at this transformation. I highly recommend her to prospective clients! read more

It feels right when you walk into a salon and everyone is smiling, laughing, and having fun! I had my haircut and highlights with Annie! She was terrific, starting with a very detailed consultation and then involving me in the highlight process throughout the appointment. My natural sunkissed highlights were exactly what I wanted and I couldn't be happier!!! read more

Salon DeCota - Sunkissed highlights by Annie! - Hair Salons Near Me - San Rafael, California

Evet has the midas touch plus more! Oh my goodness where do I even start? How about my hair was a complete train wreck and she was made it look like nothing had happened. My hair has never looked so good in my life! It looks and feels healthy. Evet is also a fabulous person. She is funny and very professional. She will ask you what you want and she will also give you her opinion. If you're not happy with something just let her know and she will take care of you. I have finally found my hair stylist... Only took me a few years! I will definitely be coming back and bring my friends and family. P.S. I'm writing this review just as I left the salon so you know that I feel very strongly about this. 100000 Stars. read more

I love you Evet!!!!! I have a ton of hair that is extremely thick and Evet knows just how to cut it. I have consistently had amazing cuts from her. She absolutely knows hair and exactly what to do and what your limits are. I can't stand when you bring a pic in to a place and they say "Sure,I can do that"...and then you look like an idiot. Evet will give you her professional opinion of how it might turnout and may recommend an alternative. But you will always walk out with amazinG hair!!! read more

I found Evet through Yelp by requesting an appointment for "an aging goth who does not want to look like a soccer mom." Evet responded with laughter, and we got along great when I came to my appointment. I had not had a haircut for over a year because of the pandemic, and I was amazed at her skill, kindness, and the incredible care she takes to make getting a haircut a safe experience when we are all worried about COVID. She has vast experience with understanding the needs and desires of her clients, and is a wonderful, funny, kind stylist. She listened to my needs, and gave me a beautiful cut that I am so happy with, and I left feeling like I'd made a friend. After moving from the city I had lived for 20 years, I have finally found someone in my new town that I want to keep going back to. read more

I hate my hair. My hair likes to turn orange....no matter WHO tries to make it look 'natural'. I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past several years (maybe a slight exaggeration) to establish some look of sophistication while maintaing a natural color and shine. Evet at DeCota is not only the best colorist I have ever met, she gave me a haircut nobody else had dared to try. I truly felt 'reinvented' and have now gone to Evet several times...always feeling like a million bucks without having to spend that much. Thank you, Evet, for your technical knowledge. I also like the cookies!!!! read more

I have a challenging head hair to work with and I never been able to get a really good haircut until I met Alicia at Salon DeCota. While I have a nice full head of hair, it is full of cowlicks that tend to make it all lay forward towards my face and it has always been a challenge to deal with. With Alicia's help we figured out a cut that not only makes me resemble George Clooney :), but it is also easy to manage throughout the month. The salon itself is very nice, well laid out and everyone there is very friendly. I have a relaxing time whenever I go there and come away with a great hair cut. read more

Wow!! I love this place. I saw Jeffery and he was amazing! It was my first time doing color and he made me and my virgin hair feel so comfortable. He listened to exactly what I wanted, explained the process, and the results were amazing! I loved it the minute he finished and I swear it looks better every day! Also the haircut he gave me was amazing. Great layers to compliment the color. I have literally gotten so many compliments on my hair since I had it done. This place has a good atmosphere and is well located. I would highly suggest Salon DeCota and Jeffery! read more

Salon DeCota did our wedding in October and they were amazing! I would highly recommend any of the stylists who worked on me or my girls. The hair and makeup was excellent and the service was just as good. Thanks for everything, Evet! http://www.fromatozoe.com/2014/02/wedding-wednesday-our-vendors.html read more

My mom in law and I came here for hair and make up for a wedding. The salon is very cute, the staff super friendly. MaryClare was so dear, easy to talk to (to vent to!), and really listens to how you want your hair, she has great taste and is quick with her fingers, a truly talented hair stylist, the hair do's maintained great shape throughout the whole wedding and it was outdoors! Alicia did our make up, she is an artist and has a very keen eye, offers great advice and relays her vision, also great sense of humor. My make up stayed on all night and even the lipstick. Like how??? We loved our experience, thank you ladies SOOO much! read more

Well I just have to agree with everyone else. You walk in and the place is very clean and well appointed. There's even a nice break room for employees...thoughtful. Lynae Marie Ades was my stylist and she was very knowledgeable and helpful. I explainted to her what I needed and she really payed attention. I was very pleased with my haircut and style. Definitely coming back! read more

Maryclare is wonderful! I wanted a completely new look and she skillfully created my vision. She guided me through the process of going from blonde to a deep rich brown. She helped translate my many reference pictures into a look that would work for my coloring, even making some suggestions I had not thought of (subtle highlights in front). She has a warm, welcoming and fun personality and I really sensed her integrity as an artist. I am delighted with my cut and new color and look forward to seeing her again in a few months. Salon Decota is elegant and unpretentious and located in a mellow part of San Rafael with ample and easy parking. A great experience overall~ Highly recommend it! read more

Evet at Salon DeCota is as good as it gets! Cut, color, style, "how to" tips and more. Been going to her for years and always feel fabulous when I walk out! read more

Went here today for the first time. Called first thing in the morning in hopes to get an appointment same day. I knew there was a slim chance that I'd get an appointment on such short notice, but I got one this afternoon! Showed up and was seen by Maryclare.. She is AMAZING!! I am totally in love with her work! I will be going to this salon from now on. Loved the experience!! :)) read more

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We just moved to San Rafael and it was that time for "my hair!" Being new is always tricky, but once again, YELP came thru for me. I "found" Salon DeCota on Yelp, and was in luck that Alisha had a cancelation. I was able to get in within a few days of my call. Alisha is very knowledgeable about what would look good for me (cut, color, style). Right down to my "cool" undertones. (She was talking about my hair, not "me!") She did a great job; easy to talk to and a great sense of humor. If you're looking for a new "holiday do," see Alisha. You'll leave with "dancing hair!" :-) Oh, and yummy "vanilla Chai tea!" :-P (Thanks for the homeopath info too, Alisha!) BTW The salon is kind of small and easy to miss. Keep your eyes OPEN! read more

Evet is a fabulous hair artist, who really listens and performs accordingly. I have had her work with my hair since this past spring and have been consistently pleased with the results. Thanks Evet for reminding me yesterday of the value of these reviews. We should never be too busy to provide a few positive words for a job well done. read more

Michael Potter is now at this salon! Honestly, one of the best ever stylists... and I've gone to many. Michael cuts hair like it's in his soul... very precise and flawless. He did the best cut I ever had... every line was perfect. He trained at Sassoon, which is still the epitomy of perfection. If you want something new, either edgy or classic, check out Michael, at DeCota read more

I came in with one of the worst hack jobs of a haircut of my life and against all odds and expectations I left that salon loving my hair! Jennifer breña is by far and away THE BEST stylist I have ever been to! From the moment i sat in the chair I felt valued and heard, she took the time to really understand what i wanted out of the functionality and style of my hair, then followed it up with a phenomenal scalp massage shampoo. As for the haircutting process, i was amazed by her meticulous attention to detail! She went over every bit of hair with so much care and diligence it blew me away! Where the haircut itself was concerned was the really amazing thing! A little background: I have always had super long hair, on the few occasions where I've had it cut shorter I've been miserable with it until it came back out to full length. I went to another salon in San Rafael and asked for a micro trim, the result was a 4 inches too short uneven mess that had me looking like Hermione Granger in the early years. In tears about the shortened length, not to mention the overall hideousness of the cut, I took a friend's advice and came to Jennifer. Somehow she managed to turn it into a truly amazing cut without taking any more length off the bottom, in fact, somehow it actually looks longer. She gave it body and movement and it it not only looks great down, but works perfectly with all the updos i have tried. Anyway, long story short, Jennifer is amazing!!! We are so lucky to have her in San Rafael!!!! read more

Mary Clare is amazing! She is quite busy so you need to book your appointment weeks in advance but this is the case with any great stylist. She listens to what you are saying and truly does a fantastic job EVERY time. Consistency is a key for me. She also keeps up on the latest trends so you know you are not stuck in last years style. I would recommend her highly:) read more

I have been going to this salon for years, and Alicia is amazing!!! I just recently decided to make a drastic change with my hair and I showed Alicia a few pictures so she could see what I was wanting, and she nailed it! I trust her to see my vision and when I left I was in love with my new style and felt like a million bucks. Alicia is very detailed, talented and an amazing stylist. Did I say I love my new look? : ) Thank you Alicia, you rock!!! read more

I've been a loyal customer of Salon DeCota for years. I've actually followed MaryClare around for decades. She takes great care of my hair, listens to exactly what i want and then delivers. I have not had a bad haircut from her. Ever. She is fantastic with color. I always get compliments on my hair - and that is all due to the cutting and styling talent of Maryclare Beyond that Maryclare is extremely accomodating, squeezing me in at times when I've had to cancel appts and rebook. She's very popular, so it's tough to squeeze in an extra client with only a couple days notice, but she's done it and made it work. With NO inconvenience to her other clients! Evet is wonderful and keeps my caterpillar eyebrows in shape. The whole DeCota staff is warm and friendly. It's a great salon where anyone with any type of hair can find the perfect stylist. I'm not a big Yelper, but Salon DeCota and Maryclare deserve a shout out! read more

This is a RARE find! Owner Evet Decota makes sure that all customers feel luxuriated as they enjoy their salon experience. She'll offer you coffee or a glass of wine while you wait. Her styling skills are awesome and it's a pleasure to chat with her. I highly recommend this salon! read more

Maryclare is terrific! She is truly an expert in her field. I had her color and highlight my hair. She examined my natural color, then she expertly took it from an overly bleached brassy blond to a very natural, warm color. She is also an great cutter and stylist - I absolutely love my new style, it makes me look much younger. It's truly a pleasure to find a professional who not only takes pride in their work, but who can back up that pride with knowledge and experience! read more

Yesterday I found an amazing salon! It located at 1522th street in San Rafael and you might walk by it if you are not careful.However once inside you are greeted by a darling group of women and the biggest selection of Davines hair products I have ever seen.The atmosphere it completely uncomplicated, quiet and relaxing..( they offer wine!) Annie colored my hair for the first time, as I was new, and did a beautiful job! She was darling along with all the other staff...I am new to Marin and Salon DeCota is my new favorite salon and Annie is my new person! Forget about all those overpriced Salons you can find all over Marin especially Magnolia in Larkspur...go to DeCota! read more

I highly recommend the stylist Alicia that works here! She has been cutting my hair for about nine months and she always does an amazing job! I have never had somebody cut my hair that has the attention to detail that Alicia has. She definitely takes her time and genuinely cares how you look walking out of there! In the past I have had too many people just want to get the job done and move on to the next customer without really checking over the job they've done to make sure it's all even etc. I can happily say that this has not been the case with Alicia. Pricing is also very affordable and another plus is that due to her attention to detail the haircuts I get from her are consistent and to date they have all come out great and I have never left unhappy! read more

Summer is the best! She always gives me exactly what I wanted ~ only better!

I had my hair done two weeks ago by Mary Clare. My hair hadn't been professionally cut or colored for two years and looked extremely dry and faded. Mary Clare did a great job on the cut and beautifully shaped the hair around my face. The color looks great, too. She covered my gray roots and highlighted the rest. She told me how to keep the gray roots covered in between appointments in a way that will not ruin her highlight job. She also showed me how to easily get rid of the always-present cowlick in my bangs (a tip that I use daily because 1) it's super easy, and 2) it works!). Apart from her hair cutting, coloring, and styling skills, Mary Clare is delightful to talk with. She's very upbeat and positive and I am so happy I found her. read more

I've been going to Lisa for over 15 years. I started with her when she was fresh out of beauty school and she was a star even then. I am a licensed cosmetologist and can promise you that everyone in that salon is qualified to do whatever it takes to get your hair in tip top shape. Lisa specializes in hair color and I adore her haircuts. She works with you every step of the way and wants to make sure you are 100% happy. What else can you want from a hairdresser? read more

They took us with very little notice and cut my daughter's bangs. Thank you.

An amazing salon! Evet Decota is a master stylist who is fantastically skilled! My wife, mother-in-law, and daughter return from her looking fantastic and feeling even better! Conveniently located in San Rafael, and totally worth the drive if you don't live in town! read more

Just had my first cut and highlights with Maryclare and it was a fantastic experience! She's an upbeat, gorgeous, fascinating person, and did a fantastic job with my hair! Maryclare had her work cut out for her, and did not even blink - she was friendly from the get go and highly skilled and attentive and fun throughout. It's been about four months since I got my (long, thin, newly gray [i am going gray very early - late 30s - so no friends to advise me, here!] on top nearly black elsewhere, kind of wavy, unruly) hair cut and 11 months since it was colored. Can you imagine the birds nest? It was bad. My previous colorist went out on maternity leave and I had a hard time finding someone I could trust--especially with color. Lately I've resorted to wearing my hair in a bun 24/7. Now, I have two events next week that I really have to look good for, so found this salon on yelp, requested Maryclare (bc I liked her reviews here and bio on their website), and she squeezed me in. It has been so long since I had gotten highlights and my hair is newly going gray so I was not sure how to proceed with a natural "sunkissed" look (dye the whole thing? Cover gray with blonde? Brown?) and deal with the gray - I had many concerns and am very very picky and type A about my hair. I requested a certain shade and procedure from Maryclare and she listened, assured me that she could achieve the shade and effect I was looking for, but and kindly advised me differently about the procedure (re: managing the gray), and also explained her thinking. I was showing her all sorts of photos and she was able to kind of create a unified idea from my scattered ones--an idea that really felt like what I wanted but couldn't quite explain, and she put me completely - completely - at ease. The end result for the color that Maryclare did is so very natural - she was an expert in creating a polished natural look. She worked in highlights, lowlights, and worked with the gray so it's hard to explain, but it just looks smooth, much more vibrant, clean, and gorgeous. As for the cut, apart from taking off some length, I was completely lost! Maryclare was happy to design something elegant, and to talk me through it in detail in advance, to see whether it sounded good. She worked with the shape of my face and cut many inches off to a perfect length and shaped it beautifully. After drying and styling it, she then worked in some fine details and it looks full and like a whole different (younger, healthier and much fuller) head of hair--and falls beautifully around my face. No more bun! Needless to say I am very happy with the result, but also the whole experience was lovely! The salon is large, beautifully decorated, and bright. You'll be offered coffee, tea, water, wine. The products are from Italy and non-toxic. What else...everyone who works there was friendly and courteous. I am very impressed and will be back, and can strongly recommend Maryclare for both cut and expert color. read more

Michael Potter is a very talented , professional hair guru! As someone else who also does hair he has been very generous with with showing me his creative techniques when i was first starting out. He will be honest with your hair needs and will let you know if the style you are thinking is right for you or not. read more

Evet has been styling my hair for about 2 years now. I started going to her after 4 disappointing years at a well-known salon in Petaluma. My hair was pretty damaged from years of coloring and blow drying, and the last few years the color was not quite right. I would bring this up at each appointment with 2 stylists at my former salon, but they could never address the problems. Finally fed up, my best friend recommended I see Evet - whom she has used for years. From the first appointment I knew everything would be great. Before starting on my hair, she asked me about my hair regime: what products and utensils I used, what vitamins I take and if I had any health conditions or took medications that may affect the health of my hair, and what the water in my house was like. From this initial interview she was able to figure out why my color was never quite right and find a correction, recommend a cut that would complement my natural hair growth and allow me to blow dry less, and suggest product to help protect my hair better from the heat of the blow dryer. The condition of my hair has improved dramatically, my color is corrected, and my cut is much more complementary to my face, my style and schedule! Evet REALLY knows her stuff. Every few appointments I show up with pictures of a new color or cut I'd like and she is fantastic at picking the one that looks best with my face shape and the level of commitment I'm willing to put into my hair on a daily basis. She's really good at asking questions to understand what you're looking for and clarifying with you before committing to something that can't be reversed. She is even confident enough to tell you when she thinks a color or cut will look really bad on you - which I appreciate greatly as I come in with crazy ideas about cuts and colors all the time. And finally, she is even happy to fix or redo a cut if after a week or so you are not happy with how it has turned out. I had this happen recently where I tried something new and it just didn't work with the texture of my hair. After giving it 2 weeks, I told her I just wasn't happy with the cut. I was back in the chair within 3 days and walked out with the best cut I've had in years. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Evet, and Salon Decota, to anyone looking for a change for the better! read more

Michael Potter has done my hair numerous times. My hair never felt or looked healthier. My hair is fine so the haircut and styling is vital to making my hair look full and healthy. I always left feeling like a super model with shiny, bouncy, sassy hair! Not only will you get a precision haircut, but you will get the best blow out in San Rafael. Michael will work with you to achieve the look you want. It's a collaboration that will have you leaving with a smile on your face and a pep in your step. read more

Good people of San Rafael, you have just been given a gift and that gift is Michael Potter. He cut my curly hair in Milwaukee for years. In fact, I used to fly in from NYC to have my hair done by Michael (no joke!) because I seriously could not find anyone in Brooklyn or Manhattan who could cut my hair like Michael could. All you curly haired people, we know how hard it is to find a stylist who gets us and Michael truly understands how to cut curly hair to perfection. Michael also takes time to get to know his clients. I'm a very no fuss kind of person and don't want to spend time on my hair and Michael respected that and always gave me a cut that was very "me". Not only is he a wizard with hair, but he's also just a wonderful human being. Sitting in his chair was always a delightful experience. I miss you, Michael! read more