THIS REVIEW is for MELISSA. MELISSA colored and cut my hair with perfection. MELISSA'S techniques are a masterpiece. THE salon is pristine and customer service is divine. i am blessed to find a consummate hair stylist. read more

Shelby is always wonderful and will work with me on coloring needs as well as scheduling. Honestly she cheers me up when I needed it most. The salon offers scheduling online which is a godsend because I only remember to schedule my appointments late at night or on weekends. I wish more salons would do this. Makes life so much easier to plan my glam read more

I haven't done anything with my hair in years and was excited to support a new local business. I wanted natural sun kissed highlights around my face. Melanie gave me exactly what I was hoping for and she achieved it flawlessly. She's knows her stuff and the service is amazing! read more

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Shelby was great! She did my color and all my grays were gone! She was friendly, the salon was nice, clean and new! I made my next appointment! So great to have a nice salon in the area. read more

Highly recommend this place.Melanie is the best.She is super nice but she let her work do most of the talking.First time here and i love it.Really professional and a nice vibe. Would definitely come back.. read more

Both my boyfriend and I had the worst customer service experience let alone hair salon experience here. He had to wait 1 1/2 hours for his hair cut even with an appt. I booked an appt online for highlights. I was running a few minutes late but called to let her know. When I got there I showed some photos of what I wanted, she said she would not be able to do that in the time allotted, so I asked some more questions to see what we could do. She did not seem interested in having a discussion. She did one foil then walked away to take a moment to breathe and when she returned said she didn't want to do my hair but asked that I pay half for wasting her time. I've never had such a bad interaction with someone who owns a business. read more

I've been going to the city for years to get my hair cut and colored because I was very attached to my stylist there from way back when we lived in SF. Have been looking for a high end salon locally in San Carlos where I live now, with someone skilled in cutting layered hair with a tricky texture like mine (if layered too much or not precisely, it looks terrible). I finally found the place. Melanie gave me a great cut, listened to what I wanted, but also guided me to a length and style that worked well with my hair. The color is also great, my husband who never notices these details even commented how nice the color looked. Salon is a calm, stylish place and Melanie is sweet and has a positive energy. Also sells Shu Uemura products which is a bonus. read more

I've been super pleased with my hair cut and color experience here with Adriana. The salon has a nice vibe, everyone is very attentive, and the quality is great. read more

I have been looking for a local stylist in Belmont that can deliver a quality style that is flexible for both professional and social occasions. I have been in twice for haircuts with Shelby and both have been professional cuts with precision that last for weeks and does not lose its shape as it grows out. I only tend to come in for a cut every 8-10 weeks or so how a cut grows out is very important to me. My hair is also very fine and mostly straight (some wave) and Shelby truly understands the challenges of fine hair. Additionally, I am getting some grays that are a thicker and stiffer texture than the rest of my hair; Shelby is great at incorporating these rogue hairs into my style so they blend and support my style perfectly but are not pushed aside or ignored. A rare find and I will keep coming back. read more

I'm thrilled to have Melanie back at work in Belmont. On top of being a wonderful stylist, she's also an ambitious entrepreneur who opened her own salon in Burlingame (after a stint at Salon 1322). I'm a mom, so I'm only lazy when it comes to taking care of myself, so visits out to Burlingame slowed to a crawl and eventually stopped (when I started cutting my own hair over the pandemic -- eek, do not recommend). I love her new location and continue to appreciate the thorough and thoughtful work that she does. My daughter got the first cut of the family in the new location, a short pixie to match her current androgynous style. It looks great and I know that it's going to grow out in a way that's not going to require an urgent touch up, which is perfect for a busy mom. Close to Carlmont High School / Carlmont Center / Barrett and Ralston, so an easy jaunt for a similarly time-pressed parent to go get a cut. Melanie is a mom herself and moved to Belmont to enjoy the slower pace / outdoor recreation that our lovely community allows. Please support Salon Essence and the amazing spirit of someone who clearly loves our community! read more

I had a great experience at Salon Essence. Shelby has been doing my hair for a while now but this was the first time I went to this salon! She did an amazing job helping me decide which type of blonde to make my hair based on my skin tone and everything. I love getting my hair done by Shelby and I will definitely be back! read more

Salon Essence - Hair Salons Near Me - Belmont, California

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Really love my experience at the new Salon Essence salon today. Melanie is a dream to work with - she made sure I was 100% happy before I left. The results are more than satisfying! Pictures are for half head Balayage read more

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I would follow Melanie anywhere for her precision haircuts and beautiful work with color, but Salon Essence is definitely the best spot yet. The interior is serene and spa-like and the location is very convenient. The thought and care put into the place really show. Most importantly, though, you will love what Melanie does for your hair. Strangers compliment my hair all the time since I've been going to Melanie. She is amazing! read more

Shelby at Salon Essence is a hair color genius. She really knows the science behind her craft and does amazing things with my hair color. My hair not only looks beautiful, it feels fabulous and healthy. I'm so glad to have Salon Essence in Belmont. Thanks to the owner, Melanie, for opening her very nice salon in such a great location. Thank you Shelby for the unbelievably beautiful color and great cut. You really are a true artist. P.S. loved the products you used In my hair - you knew exactly what my hair needed to get it's vibrancy and bounce back ! read more

I HIGHLY recommend Melanie & Salon Essence for all your hair needs! I've been seeing her for 5 years and have always had amazing results - highlights, balayage & more! She also offers great product recommendations that have truly improved the health of my hair. Can't say enough wonderful things about her and the service - go check her out today! read more

Salon Essence - Color & Cut by Melanie! - Hair Salons Near Me - Belmont, California

I have been seeing the owner Melanie for over 5 years now. She is an expert in color! Her haircuts are always tailored to what I ask for. I highly recommend her as starts her new business in Belmont. read more

Just had the best hair experience of my life! I had to go in for a color correction and Adriana fixed my hair to look even better than my inspiration pictures. Everyone there was so nice. This will be my salon for life! read more

So glad to be going to Melanie at Salon Essence! She does great with men's hair and gives great recommendations. You always feel like you belong, can't recommend this place enough. Great location, plenty of options for parking. read more

Melanie is amazing! I have been a client of hers for 10 years and whenever I want to change things up she is full of ideas. Everywhere I go people compliment me on my hair. She is truly talented and has a way of always knowing what you need. I recommend her to anyone and everyone wanting to not only look but feel their best. read more

It's no exaggeration...Melanie is simply theeeeee most innately talented hair stylist I have ever encountered!! I've been "away" for the last several months and her haircut from early April is still maintaining its original shape, 4+ months later!! I'm so very grateful to have discovered Melanie and to enjoy every single haircut she so effortlessly bestows upon me every time I frequent her salon :) She's all about efficiency while providing consistently high quality services to the client in every sense of the word alongside delivering on our "finicky" expectations. I give thanks for you practically every day Melanie and I'm looking forward to seeing you shortly again. Salon Essence is a chic and beautifully energized salon - a true reflection of chic and beautiful from the inside out, owner, Melanie!!!!! read more

So happy Melanie is back in Belmont! I went to her for years and was sad when she moved up a new salon Burlingame . I have very fine and hard to manage hair and she always knows how to cut my hair to make it look as full as possible . Plus she is a great human and salon owner. Love supporting women owned local businesses . read more

Melanie at Salon Essence is fantastic! Great location. Bright and polished salon. Love my cut and color every time. So hard to find a stylist that bit only listens but can provide ideas and options that really look great on you! read more

For the past year and a half I have been in search of a stylist who is a perfectionist after my former stylist, who I saw for over 15 years, retired. After giving two other stylists multiple chances, I moved on & found Melanie. What a difference a great stylist & cut make. Melanie not only does beautiful color work, but her cutting & finishing skills are fabulous! Melanie is friendly, a good listener, & her salon is tastefully done with no shortage of natural light. SO glad to have found her. She's a keeper. read more

My hair is so hard to color that I drove 3 hours to get my hair done by Shelby. I have extremely fine baby thin hair. So many other salons have made my hair fall out! My hair picks up up an orange tone even without adding any warm shades to the dye. Shelby here at Salon Essence is the only stylist that has been able to cover my almost 100% gray hair to the blonde color I love!! No orange No gold that washes out my skin color just a beautiful ash blonde that looks great!! I just had a full color service, I love the it!! Shelby does such a great job. read more

I've been following Melanie from salon to salon for 10 years until she got her very own salon. My latest cut has been phenomenal. I've received more compliments from both men & women. Mind you I have a great head of hair but the structure of the style to my head fits expertly. Layered perfectly too. Mostly it is how I want it. Give Melanie a try. You will not regret it. Salon Essence is excellence !! read more

I have not had a professional haircut since the start of the pandemic and let me tell you, this was a treat!! Melanie was so professional. My hair has grown out very long and I wanted to still be able to tie it in a ponytail but wanted it as short as possible for the least maintenence possible (I have a toddler and 1 in the way so time is limited!). She did just that and gave me beautiful layers. I look human again! One of the best haircuts I've had. I like how their website is also transparent about pricing! And syncs with my calendar with reminders to help with the busyness of the day! read more

If you are looking for a wonderful stylist, who also happens to be a wonderful person, look no further! I've been following Melanie around the Peninsula for 10 years now, and no matter where she's styling hair it's a great experience. I originally read about Melanie on Yelp as people were raving about her coloring skills, and I can attest to the fact that they were right! In the past decade, I've never been disappointed in my cut or color. And not only is Melanie is talented, but she is also extremely customer-centric. Plus, she's also someone you enjoy spending a couple of hours with while sitting in her chair! I'm incredibly proud of Melanie for following her dreams and opening Salon Essence, she is an inspiration and a role-model for so many. Don't hesitate to support this small business owner, she deserves it! read more

I've been seeing Melanie for cuts and color for over 5 years! We have done short haircuts and over the last few years, she's supported growing out my hair while looking very healthy. When coloring to cover grays, it always looks really natural so you can't even tell it's colored. I love the high-end feel of her new salon. She uses high quality hair products (kerastase, goldwell) and high end hair tools (Dyson hair dryer). Melanie is kind and I'm always happy with my results! Highly recommend! read more

If you're looking for a great haircut reach out to Shelby! She did a great job on my haircut and have gotten some compliments on the cut as well. The salon was was beautiful and clean and the location was easy to find! read more

Melanie is absolutely wonderful and so is her bright, spacious, but still somehow cozy, new salon. I love, love what Melanie does with my hair and I silently thank her each day as I style my hair. I've been her client for the past 10 plus years and what she accomplishes with my cut, color, and highlights is nothing short of magical. She is a skilled, knowledgeable, and always learning professional, but most important, she is a good person with a big heart. She inspires me with her growth mindset and ambition. I always enjoy and look forward to my time with Melanie and I especially love how I look and feel when I leave! read more