Julia is the best! And, I know this because I've been seeing her for well over 5 years now. Around the time I turned 30, my skin decided that we were no longer in good terms, and I began to have what I now understand to be adult acne (*cries*). It's been challenging, but Julia has done the most amazing job at keeping my temperamental skin flawless and keeps me looking 25 with her magical abilities. I've come to her after bouts of hormonal/stress related breakouts, and she's pulled out the stops to calm my skin down and get me back to baby smooth perfection. She's also is a wizard with my unruly, thick Asian eyebrows! I don't trust anyone else with shaping them! May I also add that she's so fun to talk to and I love that she tells it like it is?! read more

I followed my stylist Kym over to Sweet Asylum and couldn't be happier! Her new location is adorable - I seriously want whoever decorated the salon to come to my house and spruce it up! Neat antiques well curated in a small space - it feels cozy and comfortable, and has a lot of fun touches. I had a haircut from Kym on my most recent and first visit to Sweet Asylum, but have used her services for years now. I've gone from very long straight hair to a long layered look (and it grew out very well) and then made a drastic change to short, pink highlighted hair since I've been with Kym. Seriously, I am like the poster girl for big change or something - and it's all due to the haircut and color! Her cuts grow out well, if I don't manage to get in to see her again right away. I've actually moved away from SF for work, but go out of my way to continue to see Kym - she's worth the 3 hour drive. I get tons of compliments on my hair, and she is an expert when it comes to color services - just the right amount of highlights to make a statement, but not overwhelming. Also, she's very nice, and the right amount of chatty (because honestly, silent stylists kinda freak me out). I recommend her to friends all the time, and even hauled my mom into Kym's former salon for a new 'do and my mom LIKED the haircut!!! It was amazing! (My mom is great, but not particularly hip, and I don't believe she's ever had a haircut that she liked - until Kym!) I'm pretty excited about Kym's move to Sweet Asylum - the neighborhood is nice, parking was easy and metered, and there was a bunch of places nearby to grab a bite while I wasn't getting my locks trimmed. And did I mention how cute the salon is? I didn't want to leave really - it was great there! Check it out - and ask for Kym - you'll love it! read more

One word Neil! Go see him - he's new to the salon and I bet he'll start to get too many clients and I'll regret letting the world know about him but seriously he's fantastic. I got a medium short bob and a highlight from him. He listen to me and gave his reccomendation an everything turned out amazing. Thank you so much. I can't wait to come back! read more

Dana was fantastic! He did a great job with the treatment. I love my hair. Sweet Asylum is a stunning place. The owner, Julia, has done a great job setting it up. Everyone was incredibly kind. In fact, they went above and beyond and gave me advice on curbing my tires to help me avoid getting a ticket. :) I would certainly go back and I would highly recommend it. read more

After moving to the city from Orange County, I still had to find a salon and hair stylist who I felt comfortable with. That is, until last night. After doing a search near my house for a salon that could do scalp and conditioning treatments, I decided to take a chance and try out Sweet Asylum. I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Kym. She was great at talking through my hair history, understanding my daily lifestyle and my hair concerns. She did a great job on my hair treatment and recommended a new hair cut to make my hair more manageable for my busy lifestyle. Kym was so sweet and thorough, I truly had a great experience and would recommend Sweet Asylum and her services to anyone. read more

Well, I finally found my neighborhood salon! I had a fantastic experience with Kym on a Sunday evening (when most salons in the city are closed). She's been cutting hair for decades but newly moved here from a salon in the Mission. Kym spent 10 minutes just talking to me about my hair and answered all my haircare questions. Then moved onto a very relaxing shampoo. I have a pretty straightedge look: layered long black hair. Just wanted a trim and a little funk. Kym managed to edge it up just a smidgen, and frequently asked if I was comfortable about the length. She also made me promise to call her if I didn't like the cut in a couple days (when you don't have a professional blowing out your hair!) and said she'd fix it up gratis. Amazing service, skill, and overall experience. read more

So last monday I randomly yelped different hair salons that were open. Sweet Asylum was and they had an appointment. Im easy when it comes to my hair just want a trim and a style! Kym greeted me at the door and was pretty awesome right off the bat. She trimmed my hair and straightened it super strait which I can never accomplish on my own. She then was super helpful and told me to text her if my very frizzy and curly hair didnt cooperate with the trim. The following day I had a photoshoot which came out swimmingly ut then washed my hair. for the last three days I have worn my hair down and curly with no hair clips or bobby pins. (this is pretty much unheard of for me) so yay Kym for making my awesome curly hair fall perfectly without looking weird or mushroomy. will definitly be coming back over and over again!!! read more

In 2008, after having to leave my last stylist due to friendship drama, I was so bummed to be without a reliable stylist who gives a great cut. But, the universe intervened, and I found Kym. I will never leave her! Finally, I have a great stylist who puts her personal touch on all my hair styles. Being that I am completely indecisive, she is very patient with me. She takes my often hard to follow descriptions of what I think I want and turns it into a totally cute, and very edgy cut. I get compliments on my hair ALL THE TIME! And what's even better, is that when my schedule is totally overloaded and 8 weeks go by without me making time for some self care, my cut still looks totally rockin' as it grows out. If you are looking for a great cut, awesome color, and an overall wonderful experience, book an appointment with Kym... it is TOTALLY worth it! read more

I love my haircut from love Kayla! I am always nervous about haircuts, but Kayla is very sweet and patient and listened to my concerns. She was absolutely right about her suggestions and my hair looks amazing! I would definitely recommend her. PS. The photo of me posted here is PRE haircut...I need a pic with my new haircut from Kayla! read more

I got my hair updated by Gina last Sunday exactly the way how I wanted! During the appointment she really took time to listen to my preferences, needs and to learn about some of my social hobbies, and how my hair could help enhance my lifestyle. I go dancing a lot and long hair with fluidity works well, constant movement on the dance floor. She also introduced me to some vegan brand hair products, I would definitely head back to pick up a couple. A friendly and attentive hair stylist who listens to your needs! Highly recommended read more

I went in for an appointment with Gina Leigh and I couldn't be happier with the results! I really needed some help with my outgrown balayage the week of NYE, and all other stylists were MIA or booked solid. Gina Leigh was featured on Gilt City for a super reasonable price, she had great reviews, and she was available that same day, so I was thrilled. Gina is so friendly and a gem of a person - my time in the chair just flew by! She also really knows what she's doing with hair and had great advice on how to maintain & keep my hair looking fabulous on my own. I absolutely love how rich my color came out and the tone that it currently is. My cut is also extremely flattering, and she styled it perfectly for me. I will definitely be back to visit Gina soon - even without the Gilt City voucher, her prices are super reasonable and her expertise is greatly appreciated! read more

The hype is true; Kayla is an AMAZING stylist! I decided to do a do that would match my lifestyle (I don't have a bunch of time in the morning to prep my hair.. I am a get up and go kinda gal) so Kayla and I found some cuts that fit my lifestyle.. An edge-y bang-y bob was on the menu and she executed it to perfection! I haven;'t had bangs in such a long time but I am really happy with the results and Kayla is suuuuuuchhh a sweet pea! She was super supportive of me taking the plunge and I am forever grateful I did! Many thanks!! read more

I LOVE MY HAIR! Neil was so great - he explained everything he was doing and really took the time to help craft a style for me based on what I had on mind and what would actually work:) Definitely going to go back. If you want an amazing hairstyle Neil is your guy! read more

Very cute, cosy salon! Ask for Holly, she's super talented, funny and so nice to talk to. Bayalage turned out amazing and looking very natural. read more

Quick Version: I am a new inmate at the Asylum. I went to Mary today for my first Brazilian Wax and she is a DREAM. Will never leave Booking: I LOVE that they have an online booking system that is so simple AND tells you how long you appointment is going to take.100% user friendly and convient. Absolutely the best. The Spa: The decore is this great mix of Art Deco and almost Victorian. It is clean with out being steril, comfortable with out being frou frou, and small enough to feel nice and private. but not cramped. Mary: A million stars for her. She walked me though the whole process giving me good before and after care instructions that really helped. She warned me about what would hurt, she was right, and she also did her best to keep that from being horrible. She clearly knew her stuff and made me feel so comfortable given she was up close and personal with my lady business. She also is VERY meticulous making sure everything is clean and ready. GO HERE!!! read more

Holly B. has been doing my blonde for about a year, and not only is she a talented and professional colorist, sitting in her chair is like hanging out with your best friend! Her charm and wit are a nice bonus in a city full of "too cool for school" hair technicians. I recommend her to everyone I know. read more

Holly is a superb colorist And does a magical blow out She really pays attention to what u want and adds great ideas I would follow her to any salon She is Also very intuitive so won't talk your ear off ;) read more

Holly B is the BEST colorist/stylist/coolest person to get your hair done with. I would give her 6 stars if i could. She has never missed a beat with my hair, I've gone from dark brown to blonde and it always comes out exactly as I had hoped. She knows what looks good with my complexion and gets the color and depth perfect. My hair comes out silky and hydrated, none of that bleached dry fuzzy hair stuff that you have to worry about with fine hair. She is also super cool to talk to and has such a chill and calming demeanor. You feel relaxed in her chair knowing she will work her magic. I constantly get compliments on my hair and I will follow her anywhere. I heart Holly B!!! read more

I got a trim from Amber. She tends to hair like a mother to a child. It was clear she focuses all her attention into this. I can feel the emotion coming out of her fingertips. It's therapy I never knew I needed. The first time I left, with my gleaming, bullet-proof haircut, it occurred to me: "I needed that." I never knew a haircut could be so important until I went back to her and I got that same replenishing feeling again. Total Pro. read more

Thao is the ONLY true manicurist in this city. The reason I get pedicures is to remove my dry skin & calluses from my heels & toes. No one else in this city uses a foot file to do that. But Thao does!!!!! Yes! She is very personable & told me some information to help with my dry skin. A real pedicure lasting 1 hr. Including a great foot massage with warm towels & lotion. Worth every penny. Im here for another month for work & Will definitely be back. 5 stars isnt enough. read more

The best facial I ever had. Julia creates a warm and comfortable environment. Her facials are the perfect mix of relaxing and cleansing. I highly recommend Sweet Asylum! I always feel fantastic after seeing Julia. read more

One word: Holly. I have seriously never met anyone so amazing and unique as she! Holly is gorgeous, hilarious and talented beyond any hair stylist I've ever known. I mean, the fact that she rocks out the most beautiful hair color I've ever had is really enough for me, but with Holly, the entire experience is magical! The world needs more Hollys! read more

What can I say... But... I love Amber!!! She is the ONLY one I trust with my hair, she is a very talented young lady. Highly recommend her to anyone. read more

P A R T 1: the color i read the reviews about holly from the last salon she worked at. she seemed to be very popular. i now see why. i have had highlights done for a very long time. i have seen it all: the good, the bad, the mediocre.... holly is the BEST that i have seen. she really has a passion for what she does and it comes through in her work. she is so meticulous. there were hundreds of foils on my head before it was over. holly really understands color. i have a background in art and design so i usually communicate fairly well about tone, hue, etc. a lot of stylists over the years have looked at me like a deer caught in the headlights when i started to talk about undertones, etc. not holly. she understood exactly what i meant. she is a true artist. she is very professional and at the same time puts you at ease. i feel like i have known her for a very long time. a far cry from some of the other stylists i have had over the years where i sat in the chair with white knuckles hoping that they were having a "good day" and would not punish my follicles for whatever issues they had going on in their lives.... P A R T 2 : the cut as if it was not great enough to find holly for color, i have now found an amazing stylist in amber. these ladies are top notch. i have never seen people so passionate and so professional. amber does color and cut and i have no doubt she is just as amazing at color as she is at styling. pretty much everything that i said about holly applies to amber as well. these ladies are top notch. they are so passionate about what they do. it is obvious that they take immense pride in their work. amber was really easy to talk to. i felt like i was hanging out with a friend!! when it comes to having my hair cut, i have to admit i can be a little resistant to anything new. i am still recovering from all the crazy things i did to my hair back in the 1980's ; D amber listened to what i wanted and then gave me something that surpassed my expectations. everything was explained to me in detail. the blowout was amazing. she took the time to make sure that i understood what she was doing and what the effect would be. i can honestly say that i learned a lot. i am so happy to have found sweet asylum! btw: the salon is very cute. it is not some slick place where they treat you like a number. it is very charming and relaxed. it has a very "etsy" vibe, if that makes sense. cute vintage furniture, etc. read more

Holly is a master hair color artist. I always leave super happy with my color. I have dirty blond hair and have always had issues with finding a colorist who can give me highlights and low lights that are convincing (yet not boring!) and still work with my natural color. She is able to do exactly that. She works my own natural blonde color into the spectrum and it comes out perfectly. Holly is definitely the one to see if you want your blonde done right, if you've got dirty blonde hair you know what I'm talking about! read more

**UPDATE**: Amber has moved to Lexington Place @ 1980 Union Street https://www.styleseat.com/m/book/s/1235358 Amber did an amazing job on my highlights, color, and cut! I had been going to different stylists and with just one look at my hair, Amber diagnosed exactly what had been done in the past and what needed to be done to make the color a perfect blonde. She is extremely knowledgable, friendly, and a blondifying expert. Highly recommended & will definitely be going back for my next color. Thanks Amber! Additionally, the salon has a fully online booking system through StyleSeat, so all your appointments can be made/adjusted/cancelled online. Super convenient! read more

I highly recommend Amber at Sweet Asylum. She is a master at coloring. Amber is obviously well-versed in various techniques, clearly communicates the options and intended results, and offers her opinion on which will achieve the desired affect. She is incredibly professional, honest, and personable. I am always confident that I will leave the salon feeling like a million bucks and for a fair cost. And the experience is always enjoyable! read more

I just went to Neil as a first time client, and walked out with an incredible cut and color. He listened perfectly as I described the look and functionality I was hoping for, and I was completely blown away by the results. Neil is attentive, and a genuinely kind and considerate person who clearly loves what he does and making his clients happy. I couldn't be more thrilled with my hair! read more

Amber totally exceeded my expectations today. I went to Sweet Asylum after finding them through Lifebooker to get highlights to transition my blonde roots into my previously dyed-red hair. I was so impressed. She totally understood what I was looking for and my hair looks so natural. She really took her time (and even ran out to my car for me to feed my meter when I had foils in my hair) and did it right. To me it looks like it's just natural strawberry blonde hair, no streaks, no two-tone. Amber really understands the science of it (she said she's a "colorist" and trained for 3 years). She listened to me to make sure we were on the same page and I'm so happy with the results. Next I'm going back for a cut! read more

Holly is simply the best! First time I saw her and I LOVE my hair! I showed her a few pictures, told her what I liked, and she kindly made recommendations to make what I envisioned and wanted into a much more satisfying reality. Holly, thanks for keeping it real. And I love, love, love my balayage / ecaille / let's be real, fixing my dreadful grown out whatever the heck that was. You're the best! read more

What an adorable spot! It was warm and inviting and just a touch medically-spooky, which is my esthetic! I love the decor and layout, but let's face it, we go to a salon for their services not their atmosphere. I wish Yelp had 6 stars! Mary Barker gives the best facials ever! I have been telling people I'm 25 for 10 years. Maybe now they'll believe me?! I can't wait for my next service. read more

I recently moved to San Francisco and really needed to get my hair colored. Based on all the rave reviews for Holly I thought I'd give her a try. I have to say she more than lived up to the hype! She gave great advice, was so pleasant to talk to and the amount she charged was so reasonable. My hair looks great and so natural. I also love how easy it was to book the appointment online. I'll definitely be back! read more

Holly is absolutely amazing. I tried three places in the city before basically crying to her on the phone about what a state my hair was in. It had basically been fried off after two visits to a unnamed salon in San Francisco. I then went to another woman who would not do anything that I asked. Holly was my last hope before flying back to Chicago to get it done from my old stylist. She fixed everything, and my hair is finally starting to grow out and look nice again! She is fantastic at highlights and listens to all of my concerns. The price is also very reasonable. Thank god for Holly and for Sweet Asylum! I look forward to my trips to the salon now! read more

I saw Amber my first time for a somewhat drastic cut. It was the first time I've showed a stylist a celeb photo of what I wanted and left with it looking exactly the way I expected. She was so easy to talk to with a mix of sweet and witty. Definitely recommend her, and will be back for touch ups and balayage soon! read more

Holly is a genius with color! Very clean and professional artsy little salon. I felt beautiful when I left.

I have been seeing Kayla for cuts and Holly for colors for years and have NEVER been disappointed!! They are now at Sweet Asylum, the cutest little salon in the city. They give the best consultations and actually LISTEN to what I am asking for. No cookie cutter stylists here. They are both excellent in their craft and well rounded. I would trust/refer them both for any cut/color on any type of hair. Not to mention they're both super spunky and easy going :)) I have referred countless clients to Kayla and have never heard anything but outstanding feedback!! LOVE THEM XO read more

Holly transformed my boring black hair into a beautiful ombre, which is very hard to do with long, tough Asian hair. Speaking as a fellow hairstylist who also does color I couldn't be any happier. I think that one of the best things in the world is knowing that you can trust your hairstylist to make you look like a million bucks all the time. Thanks Holly! read more

Very pleased. I like that the hours flex around working folks. I walked in needing a change in the hair style I've had for too long. Neil suggesting a change and I am thrilled with my new haircut and style. read more

I absolutely adore Amber at Sweet Asylum. She truly listens and gets what you're saying/asking for. She'll guide you if you want input. And she delivers an incredible cut and color every time. Seriously, consistency is not guaranteed with stylists, but Amber never lets me down. So much talent and a sincere, lovely person. Book her and prepare for compliments on your hair. read more

Amber trimmed my bangs last weekend and did such an amazing job. She also colored and cut my sister's hair and it turned out great - healthy and natural. She's truly an artist when it comes to hair cuts, face shaping and color. read more