This was my first time here, so I was kind of nervous of changing hair stylists. But then I thought to myself that no one could possibly do worse than my previous hair stylist I've been going to for years. I was welcomed warmly into the salon and since I was one of the first appointments of the day I didn't have to wait long. I made an appointment with Christina since she the only one in my budget. Her service is $40 (for a haircut, shampoo, blowdry) which is the lowest. With the first customer discount of 25% off, her service was $30 (remember to tip too!). If you make an appointment with anyone else, their services will be more expensive than services with Christina. And of course, Torao will be the most expensive. Just keep that in mind if you don't already know that. And let me start off with, just because Christina has the lowest pricing for her services, don't let that scare you off. She did a darn good job on me if I must say so. So if you have simple hair that needs a simple cut or whatever, I suggest saving money and just going to Christina. Christina was able to suggest adding layers to my hair and sort of explained how. She was nice and would make small talk with me which I enjoyed. The service I chose (shampoo, haircut, blowdry) consisted of a complimentary scalp massage, shampooing, cut, and then blow dry in that order exactly. In the end, I really liked my hair and it was nice to try layers again. I was scared to get layers since I thought they'd end up like the ones my previous stylist gave me but thank the heavens it didn't. Turned out really subtle and nice. I also appreciated the fact that they use scissors instead of that razor thing to trim off hair. I'm thinking of coming back! Good riddance to my old hair stylist. PS. I'm 17 so if you're looking for a good salon for your teen or if you are one, this place is worth a try. read more

I had the best experience with Stacy! It was the best experience at a hair salon I have ever had. Not only was Stacy fun to talk to, she did an excellent job on my hair and took her time consulting with me in the beginning about what kind of cut would be best for me. I highly recommend seeing Stacy! read more

**update**. I'm officially in love with Sara. Been to her a handful of times now. She's a hair genius. I'd waited too long (since February, it's now July!). She gave me such a good cut that I can literally wash it, put in a bit of curl gel, and my hair dries looking fantastic. It must really look great, not some disillusion of mine-- because colleagues have been stopping me all week to say how much they love my hair. Love you Saraaaaaaaa!! -------------------------- Lovely. Called at 9:00 this Saturday morning on the off chance they'd gave an opening. Sara did! at 10! Hustled over. Now, mind you, I haven't had a proper cut on this mop in a year. This was my first visit to this salaon. And wanted a slightly different style. Sara listened and took to heart my lazy hair ways..... She gave me an awesome, low maintenance cut. Looks great. A neighbor just did a double take in the elevator. hehehe And, the price was awesome. And, and, and- first timers get a 25% discount! I will be going back. I will not wait a year. I will not wait a year. I will not wait a year. Oh. Sorry. I'm babbling. Seriously though, Sara is great! read more

I moved to the area about a year ago from NJ and had been traveling up there every couple of months to my long time hair stylist. I had been going to her since I was in high school so just about 20 years or so. However, the drive back and forth so often started to be difficult to make so often. I had been researching different salons in the area and stumbled upon Salon Enclave on Yelp. It had some awesome reviews that were also recent which was important to me. I called and made an appointment a few weeks out. I have to be honest, I was very nervous because I get partial highlights, base color, and for my cut...I have some bangs and some layering...while it doesn't seem like rocket science...the wrong layer in my hair makes it look like a bad version of a Motley Crue groupie. Anyway, I was extremely pleased with my whole experience from the moment I walked in and was greeted by the front desk coordinator! Selina (hope I'm spelling that right) who took me to my Stylist's Chair...gave me a form to fill out, asked me if I wanted anything to drink while I waited for Stacy. Stacy came over to me, introduced herself and immediately started asking me what I wanted my end result to be, what I didn't like about my hair now, etc. She really listened to what I had to say...and I was so excited and happy about the results that I will be a repeat customer. Thank you, thank you, thank you.... read more

Love, love, LOVE Salon Enclave! My stylist Karen, is the "ish"! Like the magical fairytale, Karen has spun straw into (brunette) gold with my hair. I have been going to Karen for several years now and refuse to go to anyone else. When I first started seeing her, my hair was so incredibly damaged that it was a full-scale disaster. I have fine, thin hair and previously loved to bleach the heck out of it, for that truly lovely shade of d-i-y orange. Karen suggested we go closer to my natural color to get my hair back in great shape. She transformed my hair to a lovely, shiny color and gave me an incredible cut that made me feel gorgeous. Through the years we have experimented with hi-lights and different shades, but each time one thing holds consistent--I always leave looking fabulous and receive compliments everytime I visit her (often by strangers wanting to know who does my hair!) She uses great products that are gentle and high-quality. After suffering some horrific chop jobs over the years I was also traumatized by stylists that cut off way too much hair. Karen always listens and never takes off more than I like. Although she offers amazing suggestions (she is truly an artist and has an incredible understanding of what styles and colors will look good) she also listens carefully and delivers exactly what you are looking for. If you need your hurr did, please run, don't walk, to see my girl Karen. You can thank me later for all the compliments you will receive! read more

Stacie is amazing. Does great balayage, listens and pays attention to details. So glad I found her. Super fun personality which makes the long process easier. Highly recommend her. read more

This salon was everything I expected it to be...and more! I have long hair and very blunt, straight bangs. I usually dread going to get my hair cut because everyone always screws up my bangs. I was able to get a same-day appointment here (late in the day, too! yay!) with Sara. She was wonderful!! A scalp massage, shampoo, cut, blow dry, and flat iron on my long hair took less than an hour. And the results were fabulous. Even though this salon is out of my way, I'll be coming back. What I especially liked here was that the ladies all worked together as a team. They weren't catty and only fending for themselves. One girl even helped Sara do my scalp massage and blow dry my hair to speed up the process. It was great. And like everyone said, there is a discount for first-time customers. And they let me know they have complimentary bang trims in between cuts, also! Even without the discount, the price was extremely fair. With tip, my total was about $45 for everything. If you're dreading going to get your hair cut, I bet anyone here could ease that anxiety for you. Well done, ladies! read more

Based on reviews I went to Sarah for the first time. I currently have a weave and needed layers and angled bangs.. She was patient in listening to what I wanted. She did an excellent job!! Thank you Sarah! read more

I'm a guy. I have to be honest and say that I don't know much about hair styling. For 15 years I cut my own hair; every 2 months with the clippers set at 3/8". I was into practicality over style. This changed about a year ago when I was introduced to the wonderful people of Salon Enclave through a friends recommendation. My hair has been cut and styled by my personal stylist, Sara Steigman. She takes care of all my hairstyling needs - from the actual cut and style, to helping me with tips on how to style it myself so it always looks fresh when I go out. It is a true fact that I have been complimented on how my hair looks on 6 seperate occasions! That is 6 more compliments than I got at any other point in my life, especially when I was doing my own hair "styles". It's a really great feeling to go into a place where you feel welcome, to be taken care of by true professionals, and to really enjoy the way you look when you leave. The wonderful people at Salon Enclave have given me all' these gifts, and I'm much happier for it. read more

Where do I begin?! I love love love this place! Torao did my cut, color, and style, and it's even better than I had imagined. Not only does he know what he's doing, but he's also hilarious! You can tell he has extensive experience as he was very thorough and precise. Being a new client, I was nervous, but he patiently took the time to get to know exactly what I was looking for before we started which made me feel confident that I'd get what I wanted. The prices are competitive and honestly, you get a great value for what you pay. Many salons in the area are way more expensive and I'm not sure why...As for the service, all of the staff was amazing. They made me feel welcomed and comfortable. I will definitely be going back! read more

Salon Enclave - Before and after my cut/color with Torao - Hair Salons Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

It was the most terrible experience. I book an appointment on Monday April 8TH for Saturday April 13th at 2pm. I got a confirmation and the day of the appointment they couldn't find my reservation after I change my schedule around t o be at that time. All I got was a sorry we close at 4pm but you you can take this business card and re-schedule within next two weekend. I'm so disgusted with places like this...... read more

This is one of the few places in NoVa that advertises children's haircuts. My daughter has curly hair that needs to be maintained by a professional, and not some joke at kids cuts. The store front is not in a great part of town. It is in a run-down part of Springfield. The salon itself is nice, but small. It is an efficient use of space. The stylist that cut my 2 year old's hair was good with her and patient. It was a little more than I expected to pay, but I guess that is what happens when you go to an actual salon. read more

Honestly, I thought this place would be a lot better given the reviews, but I was bitterly disappointed. I asked for three inches cut off, and they cut off 5. I went from having mid-back length hair to shoulder length, and I did not ask for that. When they did my color, I asked for subtle sun kissed hair. I got brassy gold hair with a big brass chunk right in the front of my face. When I asked to tone it down because I hated the color, I got charged an extra $60 for toner. $325 later, and I have shoulder length hair and a big blonde chunk in the front of my hair. I don't recommend this place. When I got it fixed, they noted a inch difference between each side of my face. My sister also got her hair done at Enclave. They did such a bad job that when she got her hair fixed, the fixing stylist laughed and said it was so bad! This was her hair after going to enclave. I wish I had taken photos of my hair to demonstrate how bad this place is. read more

Salon Enclave - Hair Salons Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

Update: I appreciate the apology for the confusion. Most businesses ignore there was ever an issue, but you guys did not, and I appreciate that. For that reason and the fact the Rebekah is great at what she does, I would still recommend this salon to others. Today was my first visit to Salon Enclave, and I am so happy I found them. I emailed them on Monday evening to schedule an appointment for either Tuesday or Wednesday. They responded first thing this morning and said they had an afternoon appointment available with Rebekah. With such a fast response, I already had positive expectations, and I was not disappointed. Rebekah exceeded every expectation I had. I desperately needed a color correction to a botched, self dying attempt when I got tired of previous highlights. I could not figure out why I wasn't able to get an even color myself, but Rebekah explained in a lot of detail (and in a way I was able to easily understand despite having zero knowledge of hair science) as to what I needed to do to ensure an even coverage of dark color after going so light. She also explained what she was doing and how she was going to give me a natural looking color. She also helped me pick a hairstyle that would work with my age and face shape. I had several pictures of hair styles I liked, but she was able to pinpoint the style I was leaning towards, and she gave me a beautiful haircut. She was also fun to chat with. I usually have no idea what to talk about when getting my hair done, but Rebekah was able to keep the conversation entertaining. I really enjoyed the experience and left with a new, incredible head of hair.:) And although Rebekah was my hairo (hero - sad attempt at a hair pun) today, I also have to give a shoutout to Marisol who shampooed and helped style my hair. She gave a wonderful scalp massage and also helped condition my hair so it was incredibly soft when I walked out of the salon. She was also very friendly. The entire staff seemed very upbeat and fun. They also helped each other out and seemed happy to do so. I was so impressed with this salon and the stylists. I will recommend this place to anyone who will listen. read more

Rebekah did my hair about a couple weeks ago. I have natural curly hair but wear it straight more frequently. I asked for full highlights in copper tones and the result was loved by everyone I know! It wasn't exactly what I pictured getting, but the new color grew on me after a couple days. My stylist and team were very engaging and funny while professional and thorough with my hair. Thank you for the service! (I don't have a picture to show off the color at the time of this review.) read more

I wanted to give a new place a try, so I did my research. Not really sure how I feel about this salon. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. My stylist did a great job addressing my requests and making suggestions. But it was nothing out of the ordinary. They also sell their own line. But I'm not too convinced about their products. All in all, I will probably come back sometime and revise my review when I do read more

I just moved to the area, and was like most girls who are super picky about their hair - I was SUPER nervous about going somewhere new, and trusting my precious hair with someone new. I saw Torao, and admitted to him how nervous I was. He took the time to talk to me about my concerns, and discuss different options with me. I had my hair cut and colored, and couldn't be happier! He did a fantastic job, and he was so personable and friendly, as were the junior stylists who were there. Victoria was super sweet and made me feel so comfortable. Torao told me multiple times if once I got home and wasn't happy with something, that I was welcome to come back and he would gladly fix it. But there is no need for any fixes - he did a great job cutting my hair! I highly recommend! You won't regret it! read more

What a great salon! Very professional. Nice and small so that it doesn't feel like your in some mainstream in-the-mall salon. I have been going to Karen for 2 years now and she is absolutely fantastic! I have short hair and change my style slightly every time I go in and every time I walk out I am always in love with it. She also colors my hair and it's done quite flawlessly. I would absolutely recommend Enclave to anyone! read more

Christine was my stylist. She did exactly what I asked her to do... and when i didn't like the result (such is life with curly hair) she happily adjusted until i was satisfied. I called on Monday and they had an opening the next day. The price was very reasonable - and with a first-time visit discount, i was happily surprised (I didn't even ask for the discount, they gave me the lower price at checkout!). read more

I cannot express how absolutely wonderful Salon Enclave is! I have been going there for about a year now & every time is great! The staff make you feel like you are an old friend/family as soon as you walk in the door, even on your first appointment. I have gone from blonde to red and now back to blonde and my hair color & cut has never been anything less than fabulous! I have lived all over the world & have never experienced another salon that can compare.. the talent level of the staff is awe inspiring. Northern Virginia magazine didn't get it wrong when it named Salon Enclave as a top Salon 2018! read more

I went to Salon Enclave on a chance. They had sold specials on groupon. Was very leery as to what might be the result. As a native New Yorker I have been to all types of salons and had my favorites. I AM SO ABSOLUTELY HAPPY I DID! Torao is an excellent judge in what would look good on his clients. As well as wonderful in communicating with the needs & goals of a client.. I am defiantly going back and would recommend him and Karen who did my sisters hair to everyone. read more

Today was my first visit to a salon in years and a first to Salon Enclave. I requested Torao as my stylist because of all the raving reviews he received from this Yelp page. I was not disappointed at all! He worked with me patiently and even when I was unsatisfied with the initial turn out of my hair (the colour wasn't bright enough for me) he went back and put in partial highlights/lightening in order to brighten it up. He also gave helpful input about skin tones, make up palettes, and what would go best with my skin color. My shampooist and Torao also worked hard to make me comfortable and constantly checked up on how I was doing and made small chit chat without being awkward. It was a fun experience and my hair is gorgeous! I highly recommend this place. One thing to note is that it is extremely popular and you should try to go in knowing what you want to do with your hair or a general gist of it. Lots of costumers come in and the stylists sometimes get really busy so it's best to find a good hour to book an appointment or really to direct a stylist instead of asking for recommendations to save time/quality. Towards the end of my appointment, Torao seemed a bit rushed, but I couldn't blame him since all seats in the salon were booked and not to mention there was one more client waiting! First-timers get 25% so why not give Salon Enclave a try? read more

Wow - I visited Salon Enclave after reading the Yelp reviews, and I'm blown away. I called for an appointment on Sunday, and the receptionist was super friendly and helpful. Stacey cut my hair, and Angelica washed my hair and gave me an amazing scalp massage. Stacey talked with me extensively before and throughout to make sure I was getting the cut that I wanted. I have pretty long hair and she gave me a beautiful cut with long layers. I haven't been so happy with a cut in years! Stacey and Angelica styled my hair together and it is so shiny and healthy looking with amazing shape! I was hesitant to try another salon after my stylist moved out of state, but I am so happy I came here. As a first time customer I received a 25% discount, which was great, but I will happily pay full price for the quality and customer service I received! read more

Omg I found my dc salon. I'm always making trips to see my guy in nyc to get my hair done, but that puts on a lot of mileage and well, stupid toll money (it's not like the road looks any nicer). Then one day, with the help of Google, I found T and his glam squad in Springfield, and now I harass him regularly with my hair :) love the place- you get a fabulous hair style while burning calories from all the laughing. Check out their Instagram for all the fabulous looks read more

I used to have long, gorgeous straight black hair that I wanted to get a trim of. I went to a different Salon 2 days prior and it was a disaster (way too short and unevenly cut). I found salon enclave on yelp given the very positive reviews and decided to give it a try. It was very easy to make an appointment and I was scheduled with Sara. Sara was beyond amazing. We talked about what I wanted/ways we could fix the situation. She was sweet and the conversation was easy. She gave me the best haircut and gave me tips on different ways to style it. I LOVED my haircut. It is shorter than usual but it is simply gorgeous. I am so glad I found Sara!! read more

I recently moved to the area and was looking for a new salon. Based on reveiws here, I made an appointment with Sara at Salon Enclave for this afternoon. The scalp massage was excellent. The shampoo was great...and I so love my cut/style!! I have bounce again. My hair has shape. I love my bangs. I love the shine. My hair feels healthy. I've already made my second appointment. Looks like I have found my new salon. read more

Tarao is super nice, friendly and funny! I loved the way he cut my hair, I will definitely be returning. The front desk receptionist was very nice as well. They were able to squeeze me in on a snow day which I really appreciated. read more

I went in here yesterday for the first time to get a double process color and cut and Torao was my stylist. I have to say that I never felt this good about my hair after a color before. I came in with pretty badly damaged and dry hair and came out with the softest, shiniest hair. I receive tons of compliments wherever I go. Although Torao is very talented, I thought the service was a little pricey. I usually over tip my hair stylist and the shampoo girl since I have lots of thick hair. I just can't do that here because of the cost for the service itself. I would have paid over $400 for my hair including tips if there wasn't a discount. Big shout out to Stacey for doing the heavy work (wash, blow dry, as style) and also the receptionist who helped blow drying my hair. I Nonetheless, I'm very happy with the result and will definitely return for future color service. read more

Salon Enclave - Hair Salons Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

Great friendly atmosphere and Rebekah is very knowledgeable about curly hair! I don't think I'll ever let someone else cut mine :) thank you!!! read more

I have been seeing Sara for several years for highlights and cuts. I've had long hair and short hair and she always cuts it perfect. I get compliments big time with a fresh cut and color from Sara. I have never seen anyone else at Salon Enclave but my friend sees Torao and says he is the best. If I can't get in to see Sara I use a box color and wait until I have time to see her again- it's not worth it to me to see anybody else. Prices are reasonable and salon is relaxed and fun. read more

I went in to get the Global Keratin treatment to my hair about four months ago. (Which I looked everywhere for a salon that gives GK treatments). I got my hair done by a sweet gal named Rebekah Phillips. She is very experienced in her profession and I felt very heard when it came to my hair requests. The GK treatment worked! now I have my gorgeous curls and little frizz. She also recommended some great hair products which I purchased soon after. The reason why I am posting my review four months after I got this treatment done is so I can see how my hair acts after a long period of time and so far so good. I recommend this salon! The only con is that I can't bring in my family because they wear Hijab and they do not have a designated section for women who cover their hair. read more

Enclave is the perfect name for this hidden gem. Walking in you are immediately greeted by a warm and clean interior, with staff that are professional and pleasant. I'm always nervous going to a new place because I have hair that I can either make curly or straight, but have to work one way or another. Getting a cut that will suit both styles and be something I can put up for work always seems so daunting, but both Stephanie and Sara immediately put me at ease. They were great conversationalists and Sara had me feeling bold and adventurous by the end of it. I'm still getting used to my new layers and have yet to straighten my hair but my curls are loving their time in the spotlight. I definitely plan on returning and am very thankful to have found a place that made me feel like I belonged. read more

Love this place and LOVE Sara!! Even after moving away from the area, I still have to make the trip out to have Sara do my hair. She's the best. read more

I decided to color my hair back to my original red today. This was my first visit and I was very impressed. I showed up early and Torah squeezed me in. I was a bit nervous since my original color has not been seen in over seven years. Finding a new hair pro is not the easiest task but I am very happy with my experience. Thanks so much. read more

Salon Enclave - Wowzer...red again. - Hair Salons Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

Torao is absolutely amazing. I came in for a color correction and Torao made all my hair dreams and goals come true. He took the time to consult with me prior to my appointment so that he understood exactly what I was wanting. He brought my hair back to life and made my 7 month pregnant self feel 100x's more confident. read more

The whole experience and communication were unprofessional and incredibly combative. I was made to wait beyond my appointment time for 40+ mins before I was acknowledged. The stylist does not truly dedicate time to each person, instead, he kept jumping between coloring and cutting the hair of three women at the same time. I have colored my hair literally around the world without any issues. The stylist was extremely unskilled in achieving what I was after (simple highlights). Do yourself a favor and skip this barbershop masquerading as a salon. It is beyond me how it received the recognition it has, must be the demographic of the clientele. read more

Rebekah is great!! Haven't done anything with my hair in years and I'm glad I booked the appointment with her. Couldn't be happier with the results. The entire staff is so friendly and welcoming. Will definitely be going back. read more

My curls are happy. :) This was my first visit to a salon in some years and am SO HAPPY I decided to take a chance. I've had bad experiences in the past. The challenge for me was to find a place that can handle my sporadic curls. I have literally a few different curl patterns on my head, and it's never been easy to deal with. (Much less to find a stylist who could get it right). I arrived and waited a bit until my appointment time. The place wasn't as difficult to get to as I was led to think. The shop itself is charming and the people working there were sweet. I had Rose as my stylist and adored her. She took care to look at my curls and answer any questions I had. She actually knew about curly hair and gave me advice. Not only that but she understood my curl patterns, and went back after the cut to fix the hair (Curly hair shrinks, mine does drastically in some places than others). I liked the choice of product she used because it did not weigh down my hair and it actually helped smooth my curls. For the first time in my life, I can trust someone else other than my sister to cut my hair. The girl who massaged/washed my hair was also nice and friendly. The atmosphere of the place was relaxing. My experience with this place was pleasant. I liked it. I would definitely return AND recommend this place. They know what they're doing and make you comfortable. read more

I made an appointment for the same date that I called. I Called at 11 am for an Appointment at 2:30 with Torao the owner. I arrived 20 min late due to the location and traffic on a Friday in DC. I live in Tyson's and even with GPS it was hard to spot. I came in an the owner was sitting at the reception desk. I told him who I was and he said, " oh you're late 2O min. He walked to his station and threw a piece of paper an pen and said fill this out. Torao turned with anger and attitude. Not even a hello, welcome to my salon. Clearly shocked, at his behavior, I stood there and said there is no way that I am staying for this abusive behavior. He came back, and I said," clearly you are unhappy and I think that I should leave," he said ,"its up to you"(still no apology for his abusive behavior) I said thanks but I'm leaving. He said Fine! Communication is key. If my lateness impedes on your next appointment, tell me in a professional manner . I don't need your emotional lashes. Ask to reschedule. I would have in a minute. Clearly, it's not like you were so booked, you had openings on the same day that I called. I DO understand timeliness and sometimes you can't control it especially when you don't live around that area and it's the 1st time. This was by far the most horrible experience in service that I have come across. As luck would have it, I went over a bridge and spotted Jon David salon walked in and the owner could not have been more courteous and kind. So I guess Thank You for the rudeness and bad attitude it allowed me to stand my ground and find something far superior. As far as the interior it does look worn and tired and dirty. So I agree with what the other Yelpers had to say about the $$$ charged for services not reflecting the salon. read more

My appointment at Salon Enclave was at 230 PM yesterday. It has taken me until 745 AM the following morning to complete my review. The fact that I never made it past the consultation to the cut and color and left the salon, literally, in tears, had absolutely nothing to do with the staff at the salon. New to the area, based on extensive Yelp research, I met with Torao and he was nothing but kind and understanding. But the sticker shock absolutely brought me to tears. I generally have a pixie cut, with 3 different color blockings for splash. The cost - $200. the color alone was $150. I couldn't do it....One, I usually go to a salon about every 4-6 weeks. Long term that cost is just not sustainable. And two, I can't wrap my head around an almost 330% increase from west coast pricing. I'm not naive - I knew it would be more, but I literally thought I was going to pass out. And to boot, (no offense Salon Enclave) but to walk into the place, it does not say, this is going to be a $200 experience for you. I wondered if there was another door in the salon with a room where the magic actually happened. But nope, that was it. That aside, I accept real estate is more here, and it doesn't really have any bearing on this review. Now let me get to the tears, because I was as shocked by my reaction as I'm sure Torao was, poor guy. It occurred to me in that moment, that my move to the DC area, while it held great promise for my career, the cost would be the loss of my identity. My hair means a lot to me. When I can't fit into that dress, again, or I have to choose clogs over heels, again, or I have to wear that jacket, again - my hair gets me through. It makes me feel confident and good about myself, like I can take on the world. My hair prompts complete strangers to comment to me. Literally, a week rarely goes by without a positive remark. Just in my three weeks in DC its happened. Once in my office building and once by someone on the Metro. I've had people ask to take pictures of my hair to show their hairdresser. Would anyone argue that validation doesn't feel great? It does! I traveled to Europe last summer and was mesmerized by the great looks the women were sporting. Women of all ages and sizes. That's what prompted my own move out of the monochrome mentality. And it gave me an amazing self confidence boost. But alas, I will soon become one of the masses once more. I'm an ordinary girl, with an ordinary job, making an ordinary salary. That being said, I'm no slouch. I have a JD, working on my PhD, I have a new government job and I'm earning more now than I ever have. Of course coming from 11 years in a non-profit, that wasn't hard to beat But I can't...won't....spend $150 to have my hair colored. I moved here from an area that was hit hard by the Recession. Seeing what I've seen, and knowing what I know, I just can't do it in good conscience. I would be hard pressed to believe that the color product itself sees a 300%+ wholesale cost increase between the coasts. And I am totally supportive in paying for the talent of proper application. But in these parts, I've found the pricing to be fairly commonplace regardless of talent. Hit up a beauty school where the talent has yet to be developed and you're looking at paying $75 - just for the color (Aveda DC). So now I have my answer as to why the East Coast looks so....drab. Its not because its winter (well, maybe a little). Its because no one can afford to do anything with themselves on a sustainable basis to add splash and define who they are. So we all become the same person with the same look. Good hair should not have to be an indulgence. read more