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

Michael Potter has cut my hair many times and always does an amazing job. He also patiently listened to my requests and I would leave the salon feeling like a million dollars. His precision and attention to detail is top of the heap. You won't regret sitting in his chair. read more

If you are considering a new stylist, look no further! Jennifer Brena is the stylist you've been looking for! She has been my stylist for many years. Jen is great with consulting on new styles, color or treatments. She's open to clients requests and will spend time researching to ensure client satisfaction. Her color and cuts never disappoint and I always receive compliments on my hair. Please give her a try, you will be pleased, read more

I have been going to Summer for many years. She always does a fantastic job. My haircut and highlights always look so natural and great:). It is hard cutting and styling my very, very curly hair. Finding a hair stylist who knows how to cut this type of hair is not an easy task. Before finding Summer, I went from stylist to stylist until I was recommended to her. It was a great decision.If you have curly hair, try Summer. She can do no wrong!! read more

Mary Clare at Salon DeCota is fantastic! She listens so well and is able to really hear the message; I never know how to articulate what I want very well. I brought photos and Mary Clare explained how my hair would look, done according to said photo- then she mixed up the formula for a terrific balayage. read more

Ok just gotta say, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes.... So how could Mary Clare do such a great job on my hair the first time I saw her...could it have been luck and how did she devine exactly what I wanted before I hardly said anything...Psychic? Well it's been six weeks since Mary Clare did my beautiful blonde tortoise shellish streaky hair color. Being a novice in this professional hair coloring stuff I figured it was about time to go back for a new dye job for the holidays but honestly the way Mary Clare incorporated some of my natural platinum blonde (uh ..read white hair)into the miscellaneous colored streaks, it wasn't real obvious when the roots started growing out. So I'm thinking as much as I loved the first job she did I was feeling brave enough to want to punch up some of the color contrast. Now this is where it gets weird...first thing out of Mary Clare's mouth is "what do you think about punching up the color a little?" Ok maybe she's a witch but in a very good way. She poured me a glass of wine and went into some back room to mix up her magic potions. When my hair was colored cut and combed out I was just giggly with delight! She did another fabulous job on my hair. When I got home my husband got all goofy when I walked in the door...inspecting the color and cut and grinning with approval. Now that is weird too...he just normally isn't that into changes I make but he's loving my new hair color! Thank you again Mary Clare! I look forward to seeing you for my next appointment! read more

Tina Canale at Salon DeCota is the best! She is friendly, professional and efficient and I always leave the salon with my hair looking fabulous! I have thick, dark curly hair so she definitely has her work cut out for her when I come in and she always does a great job! The salon is so pretty and clean and the staff is always very friendly. Highly recommend Tina at Salon DeCota!! read more

I used to go here. It became harder and harder to schedule appointments. I'm talking having to call in multiple times and then it taking forever once you get someone to book the appointment. This is not because they are super busy. It's due to not not having a competent front desk. I believe she's related to the owner but she really does a poor job. I mentioned this to the stylist (the delay/lack of call backs) and she just said that's the way it was. My last appointment, my stylist had some kind of emergency (I totally get it) and the front desk woman called to tell me/cancel. I asked to rebook to the next week and she refused! She gave me some stupid excuse. I even asked if someone else could see me and she didn't want to book anyone else for me. I get it, they all have their clients. In light of this, I asked her to call me when the stylist returned. Of course she didn't. I have super thick hair so I can't wait indefinitely. I changed stylists and then was informed my hair was being thinned incorrectly. It took 6 months to grow out. Catherine Peters is also on 4th and 100 X better. read more

I've said it before and I'll say it again... Alicia is a genius. I've been going to her for two years and every time I leave there I have A big smile on my face. Sitting in her chair is so relaxing. I don't even need to tell her what I want because she already knows what cut looks best for my hair type. She does always listen when you want a change and follows the changes to a tea. She's a natural for unnatural hair... read more

I no longer have to go to San Francisco to get a beautiful color and a super pro and hip cut. Alicia gets it and she's wonderful. Woo hoo!

My experience at this salon was good. I received a wash and cut with pretty basic layers. They even served me a cup of coffee with my cut, which was a first! Everything about my experience was perfectly fine until the end. The total price was $95 (including a $15 tip). I have never paid more than $55 for a haircut! I had high hopes since I just moved back to Marin and the reviews for this salon were outstanding, but I can't afford that. Seems a little over priced, but maybe I just have to readjust to Marin prices. Also, my hair was also cut about 2 inches shorter than I wanted. I am trying to grow it out and asked for a trim. It used to be at the middle of my back and now its barley over my shoulders :( TL;DR: Nice place, but too expensive for me. Totaled at $95 for a wash and cut. Sidenote: I would give this place 3.5, but thats not an option! read more

Tina is a wonderful stylist. I have extremely difficult hair to work with -frizzy, wavy, thick... let me just say, I am rarely satisfied with anything having to do with cutting or changing my hair. Until I found Tina! She gave me my first ever set of highlights and lowlights to even out my old grown-out ombré, cut and then layered. I was so pleased when I saw my new hair, it looks so natural and healthy! She also gave me great tips and techniques to use on my hair when I want to wear it naturally wavy to control frizz. Thank you Tina you are amazing! Looking forward to our next appointment read more

Went for my first time yesterday and it was great experience. Lynae did an excellent job! I highly recommend her to anyone that is looking for great scissor skills and conversation. The salon itself is very nice and well run. I will definitely go back. read more

Alicia is amazing. I am very picky and I actually feel comfortable when she's cutting my hair. She listens too, which is a rarity among stylists. read more

Alicia is the best!! She knows how to work with my difficult hair (long, thick and lots of it!)

I love this salon! They deliver great style without the pretentiousness that so many salons seem to have. Evet is an excellent stylist as well as salon owner. She uses a safe, non-toxic product on my hair to keep my hair gorgeous & my health in tact! I love coming here for the services as well as the fun & friendly environment. read more

Alysha was awesome with cut and color. I was nervous, needing an emergency appointment, and usually going to SF or (ack) NYC for hair. Alysha is up there with the best ! So lucky to have her in San Rafael ! read more

Annie is a rock star. There is no one on the planet who does extensions like Annie. While she is not in LA working with celebs, she should be. She also does cuts and color. With Annie you never feel rushed she takes the time and pays attention to every detail. And, she is kind loving soul. read more

Alicia has been doing my hair for years now. I have followed her from different salons that she went to and I must say, this has been my favorite salon by far. Salon DeCota has a relaxing atmosphere, everyone here is really nice and they do great work. But in my opinion, Alicia is the star of the show! My hair is a light brown/dirty blonde color...but for years I wanted it to be really dark! So as I wished, Alicia always made me a beautiful brunette =) As the years pasted, I went from long hair to short hair and now long again. But I finally decided it was time to see my natural hair color again (not to mention I was tired of seeing my light roots every other month). So of course Alicia was there to grant my wish. I started getting highlights and over the past year I have almost grown out all the dark color. I must say...I am absolutely loving my new look =) No matter how many times I change my mind or don't know what look it is that I want...Alicia always knows what will look good on me. I would definitely trust her to do whatever she wanted to my hair without me even knowing. She also gives me great tips for doing my makeup and will be doing my makeup for my wedding one day... ;) She always gives great advice and we always end up having great laughs and conversation. Alicia is definitely an artist and I would recommend her to anyone =) read more

ALICIA - wow. What a pleasure it is to find a true hair stylist with a high level of integrity. She is a meticulous hair craftsman :) And she has a warm, friendly personality. Highly recommend read more

Just started going to see Evet and she is great! She works with you to get what you want and doesn't want for good conversation about sports!! That's pretty rare in the salon business--love the cut and color, the warm vibe in the salon and the professional results. Nice surroundings and very relaxing make for a great experience. Highly recommended! read more

Lovely salon! I've been following Maryclare from salon to salon since 1997 and this is by far the best salon she has graced in all my years as her loyal client. Maryclare has a great understanding of fine hair, color, and really listens to what you want. The salon carries really amazing products and the receptionist always makes you feel comfortable and welcome. Really love that they always give a reminder call the day before your appointment too! read more

I've found my person!! And my place!! After years of searching, I've found the perfect stylist and salon. Lynae is so wonderful, I can't say enough great things about her. Not only is she an *artiste* when it comes to doing a beautiful blonde highlight and haircut, but every time I see her it's like catching up with a best friend that I've known for years. The highlights blend so perfectly into my natural hair, I never have that feeling of panic when the roots start growing out, and can go a while between the appointments because my hair stays looking great. Now I look forward to sitting in the salon chair for upwards of 2 hours, whereas it used to be a chore. Lynae is just the best in every way. The salon itself is simple and sweet in all the right ways. It's calm and quiet, rather than the constant bustle that can stress me out at other salons. Sparkling clean space. They always have coffee, cookies, and fresh water which you can help yourself to. The salon is a little home away from home, and I'm so glad I finally found THE ONE. read more

Evet is the BEST! I found her about three years ago when we moved to San Rafael. Every time I'm there, I feel like I'm visiting with an old friend, which is amazing since I'm usually in the salon for a couple of hours. I've always gotten highlights and hairshaping of different varieties. I always leave feeling amazing and I know I am in the hands of a true professional. Please seek out Evet. I LOVE her!!! read more

Lisa C. is amazing. I leave the salon feeling a million bucks. That lady knows her color and she is so fun to gab with while she makes you pretty. I am so glad I found her. read more

I could only recommend this place. Annie took great care of my hair twice. I have dry thin curly hair and it has always been hard for me to find a good hairdresser. Annie was very gentle with my hair and the modeling was perfect. read more

Michael Potter is hands downs the most talented hair stylist I have ever met. I was a client in Minneapolis and I remember how lucky I felt just to be sitting in his chair. He can work magic with those scissors, he is truly one of a kind. I may have to make a trip to San Rafael for a haircut! read more

Ask for Alicia or Mary Clare ....don't let them pass you to anyone else regardless of vacations!!!

I received a great cut from Tina at Salon DeCota. I had never had a cut by her, or anyone at the salon, but when I called, she had an open appointment. She listened to what I wanted, asked good questions and then got right down to washing and cutting my hair. She also did touchups after it was dried to make sure it was perfect. I have very wavy hair, so I really appreciated this as my hair does not lay perfectly flat/straight even after being styled. I waited 2 weeks to write this review because I wanted to make sure the cut was really wearable. My hair is extremely manageable and I've gotten tons of compliments! I'll definitely go back to Tina in the future and have already told my sister about her! read more

I'm writing in response to the unfair and obvious slander against Lisa Christianson. She has cut, colored and styled my hair for years and not only is she professional, always adhering to my requests but is also the most friendly stylist I have ever had. She takes great pride in her profession and it shows through her work. Her compassion for her clients wants and needs is very evident with each visit. That lady with her ball of negativity is offensive and flat wrong. Her stories are inaccurate and her slander should go ignored. I love the results of my hair with each visit and if I didn't, I would feel very comfortable telling Lisa knowing that she would fix it to satisfy me. This lady with the burnt hair clearly has been bleaching at home from a box for too long and clearly has too much time on her hands to come to this web site and lie outright. A few words of wisdom ma'am, use your time in life wisely, a job, hobby, or even a husband and family would be a great substitute to false negative review write ups all day. Lisa is great and I'm sure she treated you with kindness and respect so grow up and reciprocate the favor. read more

The salon is so cute! Each visit starts with a "Would you like a glass of wine?" That alone, will keep me coming back! Anne did such an amazing job with my hair! It is exactly what I want! Anne is the sweetest and really understood my crazy difficult hair! And she will make sure that YOU are happy! Love her and love Salon DeCota! read more

Maryclare has been coloring and cutting my hair for over 10 years. She is truly amazing. She recommends hair styles that look great and are easy to maintain! I got married 5 years ago and she did my updo for the wedding. It was STUNNING!! When Maryclare moved from her previous salon to Salon DeCota I went with her. The salon is relaxing and everyone is so nice. I highly recommend Maryclare!! read more

Keely at Salon DeCota is awesome. First off, I should admit that I'm a bit of a blondearexic, and my girl Keely is not afraid to make me just as blonde as I need. She's a delight and I always look forward to my time with her for fresh new color and great conversation. There's something about the salon that is really different for Marin. I don't feel that internal stylist drama that is present in so many of the hoity toity salons in the area. It truly seems as though the stylists each support each other, respect each other, and are real friends. read more

Evet is fantastic and a delight to be with. Her salon is very cool and comfortable. Love my cut and color as well as the consulting Evet provides (especially when I want to do something that won't actually work with the shape of my face, etc and Evet tells me!). I highly recommend this salon. read more

Alicia did my prom for hair this past weekend and it was perfect! She did such an amazing job and I would recommend her to anyone looking to get a fancy up-do! She did an amazing job and even went into work on a Sunday (her day off) for me! read more

Keely has been my stylist for the past 8 years - she is hands down the most genius hair stylist with both cut and color techniques! She's always personable, attentive to details, time efficient, communicative and fully up to date with current cut/color trends. Keely makes you feel like you're the single-most important client in the world and unquestionably has me feeling like a million dollars by the end of my appointment! Now that she is at DeCota Salon, the high-class, professional and beautiful salon finally meets her high standards - I can't live without her and will continue to refer all my friends who deserve the best of the best ;-) read more

I love Alicia. Great cut and color. So lucky to have found her. :)

Great cut and conversation. It is nice to relax with a glass of wine and get pampered after a long day.

Alicia is amazing. I've tried to find a hair stylist in Marin for years with endless disappointment. I have short hair and always ask a stylist before I go if they're comfortable working with short hair. Alicia is the first one who actually asked me detailed questions over the phone and when I met her for my appointment she is the first who's really looked at my face and style and made suggestions as to what would suit me best. I love my cut and the subtle highlights she gave me. I'd thoroughly recommend her for any hair style as she is genuinely talented. read more