I've been going to Hermosa for a few years now since I moved to the East Bay. First I saw Jenna, and since she moved away, I've now seen Chris. Both stylists have been great, and I really enjoy Chris' haircuts. He also recently did my hair for my wedding, and I got SO many compliments! The salon interior is serene and fresh-feeling, and rotating local artists' work populates the walls. Would highly recommend, noting though, that I've not seen all their stylists. read more

Wood Salon - This was my wedding hair trial. - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Joey Stevenson gave me the best haircut of my life just before lockdown. It still looks pretty good *months* later. Can't wait for salons to reopen so she can do it again! read more

Got my hair done by Bobbi Rose for the first time, and everything was perfect!! When I walked in, one of the owners right away came to me and was super friendly and professional, and directed me where to go. I really appreciated this "first impression" of the salon, since I really dislike when you walk in somewhere and nobody acknowledges you so you're not sure what to do. As for Bobbi, well she took care of me wonderfully the whole time! This was my first time EVER coloring my dark hair, so it had to get parts bleached, and purple color put in, in addition to getting re-layered. She listened to me attentively and was supportive and helped me figure out that I wanted "aggressive" purple peekaboos. She got the colors exactly to what I wanted too! We only had 3 hours, since I had another appt. to make, and even though she was working quickly to get me out on time, not once did it look or feel like she was rushing or in a hurry. Her work was on point. One of the best parts is that she thoroughly walked me through what I needed to do to take care of my new purple hair, answered my questions, and also helped me learn what what to watch out for. I seriously needed this as a newbie and am so thankful for her!! She seriously rocks!! read more

Paxton Tran is a true hair whisperer. I came in hear about a year ago after another salon gave me an unintentional Alison Brie-from-GLOW-cut. It wasn't cute. Desperate, I walked into Wood Salon and hoped for the best. Paxton happened to be at the front, and I asked her if she could salvage anything out of that mess on my head. She said yes, and from that wavy, thin, layered, 80s monstrosity, she created the cutest bob you ever did see. Now it's my forever hair. Paxton is beyond talented and a total sweetheart. It's a treat every time I come in to see her. 800000 stars. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I honestly hate having to find new salons when moving to a new place but Theresa is a hair goddess. I have never had a better haircut/color in my life and I'm not exaggerating. She is truly an artist. Plus, all of her knowledge on the history of Berkeley and everything else is so entertaining. It just felt like we had known each other forever and I had only briefly met her once before! I would recommend this salon to anyone and everyone because the atmosphere is so pleasant and I don't have one bad thing to say about it. So keep up the good work! read more

Wood Salon - Blonde balayage and cut - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

Once again: I FREAKIN' LOVE my new haircut and color! After my Oct 2014 haircut at Hermosa Salon (5-stars, thanks to Julie), I put off a new haircut and color for two years because of the cost. Yes, I've been trimming it, myself, and not very successfully, I might add. I was afraid to go to anyone new, but needed to cut costs, so I requested a stylist with lower rates. That is how I discovered Kelly. I say "discovered," because it's like I landed on some uncharted, enchanted island where hairstyle dreams come true, almost like magic. Of course, it's not by magic. It's by talent, experience, effort, good listening skills, creative passion, and a willingness to apply oneself to a stellar outcome. A stellar outcome is an understatement! Kelly achieved exactly what I hoped for and more. I left her chair with a grin so wide and compliments so effusive that I seriously risked stepping over the line into dorkdom. I then began announcing to everyone in the salon how awesome I looked, thanks to Kelly, knowing that now I was skirting the edges of egotism. But that's what Kelly can do: turn a mild mannered, self-effacing intellectual into a sassy, mirror gazing, self-confident, hair flipping, hip swinging flirt. If I weren't a psychology student, and therefore, aware of appropriate interpersonal boundaries, I would have scooped her up into a big, bear hug and spun her around a few times before leaving her a fat tip. A fat tip would have to suffice. I could hardly wait to get home to gaze at myself in every mirror of the house (different lighting, you know), take pictures of it for Facebook, show it off to friends and strangers, and write a gushing Yelp review. See that little bit of grey in front? That's not an oversight. I asked Kelly to leave me that little reminder of my life experience and intellect, since this adorable haircut might otherwise make me start to believe I'm a Hollywood starlet just playing the role of a psychology graduate student. Thank you, Kelly!! I'll be back for touchups and will not wait two years, since you made it affordable! :-) read more

Wood Salon - Kelly's awesome cut, color & style, Sept 2016. - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I went to Wood Salon after deciding it was time to change my hairstyle of several years. I wanted a stylist who wouldn't just trim and blow dry but understand the natural texture of my hair and my preferred amount of routine (I'm practical, reproducing a long routine everyday I probably won't do), and recommend a new interesting style that works. I found Deborah on vagaro (another app) and decided to book with her and messaged her a bit about my hair type and situation. She was on time and friendly. We discussed the info I sent her before and talked about what she thought would work. I trusted her and I felt great when I saw the result, and have been proud of the new do. I have had good feedbacks from friends, too. I ended up coming back again today, 2 months after my first visit, to trim and bring the shape again. She remembered me from last time! About the place: The stylists seem to prefer booking to walk-ins, but it was very easy to make an appointment. A lot of free street parking available within a couple blocks. read more

I came to Hermosa for my first haircut in five years, and Traci was fantastic. Though I braced myself for judgment on the condition of my ends, I got zero such judgment from Traci. Though I prepared myself for barely-muffled resentment over the amount of time and endurance required to blow dry two feet of thick Chinese hair, I got zero such barely-muffled resentment from Traci. In fact, in the home stretch -- half an hour of blow drying and round brushing that must be akin to the cruelest pilates -- Traci leaned over and asked ME if I was doing okay. Your hair blow dries beautifully, she tells me. You look like that model in the back of a hair magazine who says if you take these pills your hair will look just like mine, except no one ever really will. I basically asked for a cut that would keep most of the length and be suitable for a single mom who chucks her hair up for a run a few times a week, and other than that needs something that will never require a product, a hair dryer, or, indeed, a brush most days. What I got was something cute and easy. I've test-driven the ponytail on a 5-mile run, and it still looks full but doesn't require re-tying nor feel like it weighs a metric ton. I've also done the wash-and-go -- washed it in the evening, slept on it, and woke up to give it a cursory finger-brushing while eating breakfast one-handed. So, a regular morning. And it looks great. I can literally say I woke up like this. Well, my hair, anyway. I've got half a CVS on my face. read more

If you want a more complicated and specific hair dye job done, I would recommend going into the Salon before your appointment to talk. That's what I did since I wanted an ombre + balayage mix. Traci was very informative and a great consultant. She told me all the things that needed to be done and all the things I might have to worry about. Originally I had all black hair and I wanted to get it dyed (noticeably) for the first time. I had only a week ago dyed my hair with drug store dye but it barely showed because I was going for safer color. This made it difficult for Traci because the bleach could've had a hard time getting through the dye and actually affecting my hair, and she told me ahead of time - really appreciate the transparency! My hair is a lot harder to work with than it seems at first. It's thick and I've got lots of strands. I also had layered hair which made the balayage + ombre difficult. She diligently worked on my hair for around 4 hours straight and was sweet the entire time. Every time she did something she explained it to me. Another sweet thing about this salon is they always offer a selection of teas. The only caveat (which is also why I can't give 5 stars) is that my hair ended up looking nothing like the hair I had shown her a picture of. Fortunately, I love the end result although it looks very unconventional. However, that might not be the case for you so just be careful about complicated requests! read more

Wood Salon - Ombre + Balayage Job Request - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

I stopped visiting Wood Salon last year after I had a questionable and unwelcome experience with a hairstylist. I had been a client for years getting my hair both styled and colored. Due to COVID, I used brown box dye to even out my hair until salons reopened. I disclosed this to my stylist when I asked to get my hair lightened but wanted to do a test hair strip to see how the color would turn out. Not only was she hesitant to take a test hair strip but I also received a text days later instead of same day that the hair didn't lift at all with the bleach and to come back when my hair was fully grown out with no dye (this realistically would take years). When I asked for her to dye my hair darker instead and leave lighter brown pieces, she told me that this also would not take well and she would reimburse me when she got home. Confused as to why she would reimburse me when I hadn't scheduled any color appointment, I took this as her not wanting to see me as a client. My view was reinforced when I went to another salon and my hair not only was able to lift but it was able to go to blonde with no problem. read more

I've been getting my hair cut here since Julie & Helen opened this place up. I get my hair cut regularly from Helen and I just have to say she always nails it. I can never articulate what I want her to do to my hair. But she always does great work. Not only are Helen and Julie great, but any of the staff I've ever interacted with are also awesome. Before going to Helen, I never really used to think about or look forward to getting my haircut. Now I do. read more

Great spot! Steph did a fantastic job with my hair! Couldnt be happier! Definitely going back! read more

This was my first time going to Wood Salon and getting my hair done by Deborah Chai. She did an amazing job! I came in wanting a very natural caramel balayage and am obsessed with how it turned out! I showed Deborah pictures and she gave me exactly what I wanted. Would definitely recommend! read more

Another perfect bob by Theresa! She's been cutting my hair for almost a decade now and has never disappointed me. read more

Wood Salon - Bob cut by Theresa Roda - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is a long overdue review for Laurie Maceda and Stephanie Nelson @ Hermosa Salon. I hired Laurie and Stephanie to do my wedding makeup and hair in June, and they were INCREDIBLE! The two came to where I was getting ready and did hair and makeup for me, five bridesmaids, and my mom, and everyone looked so good! Stephanie totally rocked the hair styles, giving each bridesmaid a different type of curl that looked perfect all night. My MOH even sent me a midnight selfie to show how her glamorous 40's curls still looked exactly as they did when they were finished more than 13 hours earlier--so crazy. I thought this was extra amazing considering we gave no advanced warning on what my girls would want to do, they just showed her a pic or gave a loose description on the morning of, and she executed everything perfectly on the fly. I also looooved my updo, and received tons of compliments throughout the day. It remained perfect until I removed my veil and let loose on the dance floor--but even then there were still only a few small strands that managed to escape. Laurie also did an amazing job on everyone's makeup. Each of my bridesmaids has a different skin tone and makeup style, and they all looked incredible. She balanced enhancing their features while also keeping their looks fairly natural so they looked dolled up but not overdone. I had also been nervous about having her do my mom's makeup--my mom sometimes wears mascara and that's it--but Laurie used the perfect subtle touches so my mom totally glowed, but also felt completely comfortable. And as for my makeup... I felt so darn pretty =) I have a fair complexion and often look washed out in photos, so I wanted to have a look that would hold up in pictures but not be over-the-top in-person--and Laurie totally delivered. I was amazed when I looked in the mirror at the end of the night and my makeup still looked perfect, even with several hours of (sweaty) dancing. The other thing to highlight--aside from their skills--is how fun these two are =) We had so much fun chatting and joking with them, and it really helped start the day out on a great vibe. If you're looking for a team to help you look fabulous for a special event, you should definitely reach out to Laurie and Stephanie! read more

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Laurie is divine, especially with her amazing hands. I'm glad my first experience at Hermosa Salon was with Laurie. I can't complain and she did a really good job. I was skeptical at first because I usually go to Keiko at Hair Caffe in SF, but she was all booked for a while and Laurie was available. I'm very picky, but Hermosa Salon is wonderful. I had a bleach and tone done on my colored brown hair with my natural black roots peeking out. My hair went through 2.75 hours of service before I was able to nod and say WOW. The bleach made my scalp a tad bit sensitive, but overall I am a happy client. I scheduled this hair appointment an hour beforehand to have Laurie make over my hair. Service was great and so was the atmosphere. Happy thoughts. Thank you Laurie. UPDATE 9/29/2015: I changed the stars from 5 to 4, hoping there was an in-between to give 3.5, but I will just give 4/5 stars because of the good service and hospitality at Hermosa Salon. So, turns out my hair is doing well color-wise, but the chemical burn on the back of my head isn't doing so well. A portion of my head is forming strange blistering, and I'm slightly worried and concerned, but in any case that you experience this too, please don't panic. It is basically a sunburn on your scalp, depending on how bad the chemical burn is. I would suggest an aloe vera spray from your local CVS or Target, any generic brand is fine. I've been spraying on the roots of the back of my head, and luckily - my entire head is feeling much better. Today is the 2nd - 3rd day and I see improvement. But yes, I would highly recommend being careful with over exposing bleach onto scalp and hair. I'd advise to refrain from washing your hair 1-2 days prior to the hair "bleach" appointment, so your natural oils will be ready for the bleach. With that said.. I am quite of a shy and patient soul, so I did not tell Laurie that I wanted to wash the dye after 30 min of the bleaching procedure considering I should trust the person/salon artist in charge of my hair. I have a high pain tolerance, but please remember to speak up if you can folks. Better to be safe than sorry. Thus, I am very sorry to say that I do not think I will be coming back, and plan on sticking to my old hairstylist. read more

Wood Salon - Hair color/bleach by Laurie. - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

It says "walk in" but you need to make an appointment kinda wastes your time when you're looking for something on the spot. The front desk wasn't so accommodating neither and I was ignored for about 15-20 mins. read more

I had my hair done here for the first time. I got balayage and it was beautiful work done by one of the stylists here. I came back two years later recently hoping for the same result. I wanted a deep copper red all-over color (I even showed the stylists pictures of what I wanted)....and I walked out with ORANGE hair (I dont understandwhy she let me walk out like this). I was so upset I decided to dye my hair red ro try to achieve the color I wanted. My hair was already dry after the appointment and my curly texture almost nonexistent but I decided to cover the hideous orange anyways because it was really that bad. I didn't say anything at the salon because the stylist said it would get darker with time, but how???? It's already the lightest shade of orange I've ever seen so I didn't believe this. Thanks for the balayage but I wish I would have never gone in for the all-over hair color. I was honestly expecting to walk out of there a happy new me but that was not the case. I even tipped the stylist and now I feel so dumb. I guess I didn't notice how bad it was at the salon because my hair was not completely dry si the color didn't look as bad. I want my money back :( Also, as I was dying my hair, I noticed that some strands were still black! Which made me so angry because that was the point of going to a professional in the first place, to not miss any spots when bleaching my hair. Overall, a very frustrating experience. Ps. The hair stylist was also 30 minutes late and had accidentally double booked... read more

Wood Salon - Orange hair - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

Deborah is amazing at balayages....on straight hair. I took my curls to her a couple of months ago. I was super nervous because I'd never done anything to my hair before but she had such amazing reviews I didn't even think twice about seeing her. I emailed her to schedule and she replied fast and was able to see me the following week. She told me it would take 2 hours and that she understood what I wanted. It seemed she was doing it on robot mode since she has done it so much, she asked no questions and went straight to it. I was out of there in under an hour and I was like wow she's so good!! A couple of days later I noticed how bad my ends were. I had a lot of knots and they were super dry. I started conditioning more and they were a bit better but it was a pain trying to detangle it every time I brushed it. I just had to chop my hair off because the color was so uneven, half of my hair was blonde and the other was brown, and my ends were completely fried. The stylist that cut my hair was so shocked when I told her how my hair was treated. I've seen her work on straight hair but I'm not sure if she is used to handling curly hair. read more

You know you have a really amazing hair stylist when people are constantly telling you they love your hair, and being the Beauty Editor of Misscrew.com, I'm especially critical of ANY beauty service or product that crosses my path. To start, I am an Asian girl with honey blonde highlights, a difficult feat to achieve without looking brassy or too fake, however Edwin (Rivera) accomplishes perfection each time he works with my hair. We go cooler in the winter, warmer and brighter in the summer months, with people always commenting on how great it looks (see pictures). I've been a client of his since 2005, and followed him from Sole to Hermosa, which is a simple, comfortable, no-nonsense salon. *He truly is an expert on highlight and color placement - he can follow a picture (if your hair texture will allow it) or can suggest a more experimental look if you prefer. News anchor to edgy, he really can do it all. I highly recommended Edwin for anyone in the Bay Area who wants a seasoned stylist. Five stars. read more

Wood Salon - Miss M highlights - Edwin Rivera Stylist - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Joey Stevenson has been styling my curly hair for over a decade! I would follow her to the moon if she got a chair up there so I'm quite thrilled that she's at Wood Salon, which is a very pleasant environment. She's a breezy conversationalist, an expert at interpreting esoteric hairstyling requests, and her cuts grow in SO beautifully that I am currently *almost* slightly annoyed that I can't 100% justify cutting my own bangs yet because my haircut still looks really, really cool from when Joey cut it into a layered bob almost four months ago. read more

This review is for Julie (the owner). I am hoping to provide insight into my experience and prevent other salon goers from having a similar experience in the future. I went in to Wood Salon for the first time on Saturday for a haircut with Julie. After researching several salons in both San Francisco and Berkeley, I was really excited to try out Wood Salon because of all the amazing reviews. When I arrived, I was greeted by Julie and quickly attended to. She immediately guided me to an empty seat and we spent the next few minutes discussing the type of cut I wanted. I brought in several pictures of the length that I was looking for and pointed out specifically on my hair how short I wanted the cut to be. Medium length, past collarbones nearly at my chest, long enough to style, and absolutely no layers. I mentioned that I had cut my hair short in the past and wanted to keep some length for styling purposes. I also asked if we could start off a little on the longer side and cut more as necessary, but she quickly rejected this idea saying that it would be too much work. I understood and confirmed that I wanted to keep the length right above my chest. Fifteen minutes later, after a quick wash, Julie began cutting my hair. When I finally noticed just how short she was cutting it, it was too late. By the time I could see in the mirror just how much she cut off, my hair was at my shoulders. Shocked by how far off she was from the pictures I showed her, I spoke up and said "this is significantly shorter than what I wanted." She assured me that this was not the case. She compared my hair to a spring and said that the length of my hair before the cut was weighing it down and as a result, it has "sprung up" with the cut. When she finished cutting, she began to blow dry my hair with a 4-inch round brush, adding a ton of volume to the already short cut. She styled my hair so that the top had volume and the ends flicked out (think Lord Farquaad meets Lisa Rinna). IT LOOKED AWFUL. As a tried to hold back my tears, I pointed out again that my hair was way shorter than I asked. Rather than apologize, Julie further denied her mistake by saying that it was her styling that made my hair look short and after sleeping on it, my hair would be at the length I requested. This notion was absolutely absurd given that the haircut she gave me was a good 4 inches shorter than what I asked for. When I got home and looked in the mirror, I noticed that my hair was not only significantly shorter than I had asked but also completely choppy, uneven, and full of layers. Exactly the opposite of what I wanted! I am extremely disappointed by the service and lack of accountability from the owner of this salon and will be requesting a full refund for this horrible haircut! read more

I love this salon. I have returned to working 4 days a week since October. There are many factors that go into chosing and then being satisfied with a salon for both the client and the stylist. For a client the most important would be the outcome but the experience should also be a pleasure. The owners Julie and Helen strive to offer the best products , a great atmosphere, along with a talented staff. Additionaly Hermosa has added Online booking through Vagaro for the clients convenience. One of the benefits of working at Hermosa for the stylist is the continuing education offered. I can tell you that this transcends to an excitement of being able to give the best service to our clients. My clients are very important to me as I know they are to all the staff. Its not just a job. I have been doing hair for a very long time and personally for me, its a matter of pride. The true enjoyment and satifaction one gets from mastering their craft is the beauty and happiness from the experience that we can give a client. read more

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There's no point in finding a different salon and stylist anymore. I had my once-a-year cut with Theresa Rhoda and it's my second year in a row. I have to say, she did an even better job this year! Yes it's quite pricey (read: college student) but her cuts LAST. She focuses on precision and personalization. She makes sure you are in love with your hair and that it grows well. She's also a 100000/10 person, I always have the loveliest conversations with her and consider her a friend now. read more

I followed Joey Stevenson to Wood salon. I am SO glad I did. Everyone at Wood salon is friendly and delightful. The salon itself is light filled and comfy. As for Joey Stevenson? wood salon is lucky to have her. She fits right in and I'd follow her anywhere. Not only is Joey absolutely bubbly and delightful, she's the first stylist to really understand my wild curly/wavy hair. I'm no spring chicken so that's saying something. Joey didn't try to 'tame me it, thus requiring me to spend hours with styling tools... she simply cuts it I'm a way that allows me to enjoy my curls as they are. Now that we've been sheltering in place for months I am extra grateful that Joey cut my curls in a way that has lasted for months. I can't wait to come back. Thank you Joey! Thank you Wood salon. read more

5 stars for Paxton the best hair stylist ever! I needed a haircut for my short wavy hair and Paxton went above and beyond to give me a great cut and a cup of coffee at the same time. They know their stuff! read more

Stephanie was excellent! She was very realistic about what was possible for my hair, what my expectations should be, and how to keep my hair healthy. My hair is very curly and had been previously bleached. She performed a color correction and then permanent color to a very dark brown and it looks great! Im very happy with the result. read more

got my hair done at wood salon and it was such a great experience! debora was very nice and helpful and i would definitely recommend this place! great atmosphere with skilled hairstylists!! read more

Megan ROCKS! She rocked my hair out! Yay! I found a stylist in the East Bay! read more

Kelly A. is the absolute best! I went into the salon with damaged, double bleached hair from hydrogen peroxide and a balayage from 7 months ago. Other salons had told me that it would be impossible to reach a ashy brown/blonde color in one go, but she worked her magic and turned my brassy multicolored hair full of chunky streaks into a beautifully blended out ash brown balayage. She even added in Olaplex to the hair dye which ensured that my hair wouldn't be overly dry or damaged completely free of charge -- most salons charge upwards of $60 for Olaplex, but she told me she always wanted to make sure her client's hair was as healthy as possible. After the service there were still a few reddish streaks in my hair near the top due to the fact that my hair was so many colors to start off with. I texted Kelly afterwards and she was super proactive about finding a time to squeeze me in her busy schedule and fixed my hair right up! She's an amazing conversationalist and made me feel relaxed, comfortable, and engaged the whole time. Attached is a picture of my hair before she took out the reddish streaks (still looks beautiful though). Overall, I loved the ambience and vibe of Wood Salon compared to my experience at other salons. Everyone is very friendly and as soon as you walk in, you're offered some coffee/tea/water. This place is such a gem :) read more

Wood Salon - Ash brown balayage by Kelly A. (She toned out the reddish streaks near the top at my next appointment) - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

Here's the deal--I am a busy comedienne (you may have seen me on NBC's Last Comic Standing or at the Brain Wash), so obviously my hair is very important to me. I can't trust it to just anyone. I can't! But Julie Rinella earned my trust with her vision, attention to detail, and knowledge. When I place my perfectly sculpted ass in Julie's very capable chair, she always asks, "What do we want to do today?" And I answer, "No, Julie. What do YOU want me to want us to do today? And you know what? She tells me what I wants and then she does it. And then I pay and make another appointment. (Hair grows.) I want to let everyone know that Julie is amazing! Not only does she cut my hair but she also cuts ME. read more

Do you ever look at your hair/face/clothes/shoes/apartment and just think: "Something has to change around here." A few weeks ago I eSalon'd my hair. The first time I did it, I had big patches of un-colored hair that I missed because I don't have eyes in the back of my head and my arms don't bend backwards. So I did it again, really carefully this time. I got color all over my hair (and my shower). My hair looked OK and...it was a change. I walked around for a few weeks feeling a little bit like I was wearing someone else's boring head. I was also waaaaay overdue for a haircut. I'm pretty good with my hands but I didn't feel ready to start DIY-ing my own haircuts, and I clearly wasn't ready for DIY hair coloring so I made an appointment with Kimberly. We sat down, we looked at my crazy head, she whipped out some swatches of different colors. I showed her some pictures of haircuts I liked. A little while later I walked out of there with gorgeous hair. I love it. Absolutely love it! Kimberley Guerrero is my hero. Thank you thank you thank you!!! read more

I've gone to Hermosa 4 times over the last 8 years. Every 2 years I feel like its time to give someone else a shot there.Sadly, I'm always disappointed. The place reminds me of that really good looking guy in college that everyone wants a piece of. At the end of freshmen year, you find a time when you are both totally inebriated and you make out only to find that he's a horrible kisser. You write it off -- mentally pardoning him due to the alcohol. Then you run into each other again 3-4 years later and then two years after that. He's still so hot- you're willing to try and try again. And each time you walk away with a slobbery and somber face, and disheveled hair. Its akin to that. (Note: this is not based on real life events but rather general predicaments girls find themselves in.) Its got a great store front, supurb location, nice classy interior and wella products, which most salons don't carry. However, their stylists tend to be over priced and over zealous.I've had my hair hacked up multiple times (4) when I simply asked for a trim. My last experience left my fine once long hair "great clips" blunt and shoulder length. (Joy- super nice but needs to update her style.) I even went back to have it fixed and I still looked a spitting image of Ramona Quimby-- which made me want to cry. Head to Soleil on College if you need a good cut for a reasonable price. Oh and They're AVEDA so they use the use the good stuff. I'm done with Hermosa. I've learned my lesson-- looks can be deceiving. read more

Lisa is amazing! She totally rocked my cut. Holy crap, I look like a new, better, person. I never knew a haircut could do so much good. She was a pleasure to talk to, so detailed and meticulous and really made sure this was what I wanted. Lisa is a friggin artist. Seriously...if you're planning to go short, she is your lady! Also, she sent me a really cute note in the mail. Just presh! read more

Wood Salon - Before Lisa! - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Genius. This is the only word I can think of when it comes to Kate Narron. I'm notorious for loathing having my hair cut. My hair is curly. But not super curly -- just the kind of curls that like to dreadlock themselves if they have their way, and it's kind of flat on top (wow, does that make me sound like I have a mullet?). Also, I swim a lot. And I've had numerous hair cuts up and down the west coast that have made me seriously consider finding whoever Carrot Top is going to these days because heck, his hair looked better than mine. I digress. Kate is worth every cent. She is extremely knowledgeable about hair, how hair works, types of hair, and hair products. I'm shocked she's not teaching university level courses on hair-cutting because she just knows so much and is so informed and aware. Even better? She's a genius not just when it comes to hair. Our conversations span the state of education, frivolous pop culture, the sociology of image, songs that make us cry and books we love. She can converse on any topic without breaking stride. And she doesn't force conversation if her client (me) isn't feeling chatty. Sometimes I just close my eyes and sit in comfortable silence. Whenever I leave Kate's chair, I feel like I have the best haircut on the planet, and I'm convinced no one could possibly do as good a job as her. And I get the feeling I'm not the only person who feels this way. Curly, long, straight, short -- Kate's got the right stuff. read more

This is a reply to Julie Helen W.11.03.2014 comment. Dear Julie Helen W., Let me correct a couple of things: 1. When I saw you on Friday and I calmly explained you the situation, I told you that my previous hairdresser was cutting 1 inch of my length for free. I also told you that because I was a new client I wasn't expecting anything like that, so I never mentioned any price estimate for this service to finally add that it is totally understandable to have to pay for this extra service but not for a $75 haircut cost. The standard practises in the Salon industry are, as their name tends to define, just a standard, not a rule. Even if hairdressers working in a neighbourhood salon fix their haircut rates on this standard, they have a total control of their pricing policies and are able to managed them: this leaves a place for negotiation. Each client is unique with specific needs. Be able to offer a personalized service that leads to create a relationship with them is the best way of keeping them... specially with a new client. As hairdresser and hairdresser business owner, I am sure you're aware of that. Unfortunately, in my case, I never had the opportunity to negotiate anything because the full haircut rate (that I didn't know at that moment) has been directly charged to me with a $10 extra, compared to your website Kimberley's rates. 2. It never has any misunderstanding between your hairdresser and I: I clearly took an appointment to have a root touch up. Because the colour oxides and faded, hairdressers stretch the colour (1, 2 inches) 10 minutes before shampoo to avoid a demarcation. Kimberley didn't, and I obviously have a demarcation. So here, you're applying the same logic used with my so-called haircut: extend 2 inches of colour after a root touch up becomes instantaneously a whole colour service... The Salon industry standard that you mentioned earlier - and the basic common sense - imply that hairdressers fix the issue when they make a mistake. Even if you feel very sorry for me, I feel maybe a bit more to note that I never had the opportunity to benefit of this simple practise in your salon. I was the one who asked KImberley to meet her regarding the issues I had with her, and when I clearly mentioned to her the clear demarcation between my roots and the rest of my hair, she didn't say anything. You're correct, my Yelp' profile includes 2 negative experiences with hair salons but if you read my comment carefully, this is not not for the same reason as you so easily tend to conclude. You haven't precise that in these 2 cases Salon owners professionally fixed the respective situation. And what Yelp doesn't say is that I have the same hairdresser for 3 years and that I periodically go explore other Berkeley's Salons... and that each time I come back to her. To conclude dear Julie Helen W., I'm afraid that to say that in terms of services, my experience in your salon has been the worst of all. I am deeply sorry to note that this situation could easily have been avoided if supported properly... maybe because of a miscommunication with your hairdresser? Best. read more

My friend has been doing my hair for years, but when she moved away, I needed someone new. I was worried, but I shouldn't have been! Julie did an amazing job on my color. I wanted it to look natural but I needed all over color to fix my grown out roots and grays. Julie was really easy to chat with and totally understood what I wanted. I love my hair! The salon was nice and easy to find parking for my scooter. They let me know she only takes cash/check in advance, so I was prepared. I was sad to have to switch hair stylists, but Julie's great, so it'll all be okay. Phew! read more

The rating is for the salon, not the hair stylist although this first part of the review is for the hair stylist. I just got a cut from Caitlin (Jr. Stylist), and it was absolutely fabulous. I went in there just knowing I wanted to cut it short, and she found a style that she thought would suit me best. I didn't have to give her any advice, and she just worked her magic. Time will tell if the style lasts, but I have got to say that the cut is comparable to some cuts I've gotten for $85+. She was engaging the whole time and really made sure that the cut was smooth and even. Unlike most salons I've been to, she also really took her time to explain how to style my hair and helped me pick out the best styling gel for me. For her, I will definitely come to Hermosa again. Then, I went to pay. Hermosa's Yelp page was offering "$10 off ANY Service," and it did not specify any restrictions to the offer. When I told the woman at the front, she told me that "it did not apply to Jr. Stylists because their service was already discounted" and that "she couldn't do anything about what the Yelp page said." False advertisement much? I paid anyway, but I would definitely double-check over the phone next time I see an offer from Hermosa. read more

I LOVE this salon. I've followed Ashley (aka the best stylist ever) to 3 salons, and this is by far the best. Great vibe, good neighborhood, amazing products and *of course* the illustrious Ashley! One piece of advice: parking is 2 hours in the area. The ladies know, so if you're getting color or have a longer appointment, set a timer to move your car. read more

This place is wonderful. No attitude, great energy, talented stylists. I've been to a couple of stylists here over the years and they all have been great. Lately Kimberly G. has been doing my color and I love her! She is a super-experienced, talented, down-to-earth sweetheart with a great sense of style. I know I'm a hottie when I leave her chair! The owners, Rick and Ernie, have very high standards for the integrity of their stylists' work and characters. They are excellent hairdressers in their own right (yes, they've both done my hair before), and they run a tight ship. If they think a hairdresser is a dud on either count, there's no way he/she is scoring a chair at Hermosa. Oh, and did I mention the tons of free parking around the shop? Nothing like treating yourself to a day of beauty and not having run out to feed a meter with foil in your hair! read more