Why are most people compelled to write reviews only when they've had a poor customer service experience? Well, this is not one of them. I would be remiss if I failed to recognize good behavior. So here's some good old-fashioned positive feedback. When I was referred to Zen 2002, Jason in particular, I was reluctant to travel 25 miles just for a haircut. But because he was highly recommended by my agency and my acting coach, I took their recommendation. After all, it was in preparation for my new headshots and he was reasonably priced. Additionally, Jason had conducted a presentation to my class and I was impressed with his honest assessments of the hairstyles being sported by my classmates, and myself. He talked me out of my bouffant (all right, more like a Buddy Holly pompadour), and suggested a more contemporary hairstyle. So, I made an appointment to see Jason. After traveling the long distance and fighting heavy LA traffic the morning of the haircut, I was not in the greatest of moods. I arrived on time and was very happy to see that the salon was in a very nice part of South Pasadena. I proceeded up the stairs to the salon and through the door. I was promptly welcomed at the door by DeDe with a warm greeting, big smile, and pleasant conversation. Upon confirming my appointment, I was escorted to the waiting area where I was offered a piping hot cup of coffee "al gusto." Jason acknowledged me and indicated that he would be with me shortly. Only having had enough time to take a couple of sips of my delicious coffee, Tina came for me for my wash. She escorted me to the back room where she invited me to change into a smock (I like to think of it as a kimono) and then followed her to the wash station. I had no idea what an experience I was in for. The wash and accompanying scalp massage was enough to make me forget all about the traffic and distance. It put my mind in such a state of nirvana that I knew this was already the highlight of my day. After Tina snapped me out of my daze, she ushered me to Jason's haircutting station. Jason was pleasant and made certain I had a fresh cup of coffee. He conducted another consultation session with me and settled on the right hairstyle for me. During the haircutting activity, he kept me engaged and continually offered his expert opinion and guidance throughout. When he was done, it was like looking at a whole new MDLR (me) in the mirror. And I liked what I saw. May face was well framed and he brought me up with the current times. And all this frankness was done without bruising my ego and all the time considering what was truly best for me. My agent and I could not be happier with the results. I have also had the pleasure of having Tracee perform her waxing magic. It all seems to come so easily to this brigade, that providing excellent customer service is simply, seamless. After 3 years, I continue to see Jason for ongoing consultation and the most current hairstyle. For all this, what it really boils down to is their consistent quality of work, and sheer pleasantness of just being in their presence. To say I highly recommend this team is an understatement, but a fact nonetheless. read more

I was initially introduced to Su through Groupon but have been going to her for over a year! She is very careful and precise and her cuts are always spot on. She uses plant based color so my hair has gotten healthier over time. She is also very responsive and will answer right away to schedule appointments. Highly recommended! read more

Jason is the absolute best! I live in San Diego now, but still drive up to Pasadena whenever I need my hair done. Tina is also great; she is so attentive when I'm waiting :) read more

Zen 2002 - Most recent hairdo! - Hair Salons Near Me - South Pasadena, California

I come here whenever I want to spend money on my hair. Otherwise, I color and cut my hair myself. The cut here is precise and skilled, which is not easy, because I prefer lots of layers. My husband's haircut was done by hand, not shaver, and impeccable. The hair color is also great here as well, with good contrast, though not too wild, highlighting. read more

I always come here and see Su. She is so attentive and she takes her time getting to know your hair and your preferences. She also gives such great suggestions on the shape and style for your hair depending on your hair routine and maintenance. She also shows and explains how to care for your hair after the visit. Would recommend visiting here and seeing Su! read more

Su will give you the best haircut of your life! Not only is she thorough but her experience and positive attitude make it an absolute pleasure to get your hair cut! read more

Su was very friendly and informative. You can tell right away she loves what she does and looks out for your best interest. She took her time and cut it just the way I wanted it. Thank you Su for the fabulous haircut read more

Adriana's Body and Skin Care just joined Zen and she is AMAZING! For those of you familiar with South Pasadena you may know Adriana's former beautiful salon 'Jouissance' on Fair Oaks. Adriana is back and I'm so excited! I can honestly give a perfect review because I have been one of Adriana's clients since about 2001. Adriana's professional, thorough and excellent at Electrolysis, Waxing and Facials. read more

This is my favorite hair salon and I absolutely LOVE Su! She does an incredible job with my super thick, long hair. When I say THICK I'm talking about easily double the hair of a normal person and Su really knows how to handle it! On top of this, I love vivid, punky colors and she spent the day bleaching carefully until my hair was ready to pick up the bright pink color I wanted... best of all my hair came out looking vibrant, shiny, and healthy! Every month I come in for touch ups and Su is such a pleasure! When she shampoos she includes a scalp massage and I almost fall asleep from relaxation. Su is very sweet and friendly, I love her! In the pics I attached, the one with my makeup finished is after ONE MONTH of hair-washing, a few days before my touch up, and I still got compliments! Su is so talented! In the middle of busy LA life, this salon truly lives up to its Zen name. I highly recommend it! read more

See all

I have been going to Ya Ling for about 5 years now. Even though I moved to San Diego I still drive up to get my hair cut from her. She is absolutely amazing, patient, and knowledgable about her craft. I am very picky about hairdressers and am so glad I finally found one that makes me leave happy and confident each time I see her. I would highly recommend Ya Ling! read more

My wife and I have been their customer for over 15 years. Eleanor is very customer friendly and her hair cutting skills are excellent. The facility is very clean. There are also plenty of parking spaces available. I would highly recommend Zen 2002. read more

I came in to get my first ever perm. I wasn't really sure how the process worked or what I might expect, but Su was patient with me and explained everything I needed to know. To be honest, my perm came out a lot better than I had expected and I'm really happy I came here! read more

I am very disappointed in my hair cut by Jason. It has been the worst hair cut I have ever received in my life. I scheduled my appointment after looking up yelp reviews that idealized the man. I was apprehensive as the haircut cost over $90, however I took a chance. I was specific on the amount of hair to cut and at the end way more was cut off. He had the nerve to tell me "it will grow back." Just so you know he schedules appointments back to back. I had to wait a while before and during a lady hovered over me as Jason rushed through my botched haired cut. Worst experience in my life. Run, find another salon! read more

I loved, loved, loved my first cut. It was scary getting my hair cut short. I like the eco-friendly low upkeep wash and go style. No blow-dry, no rollers, no kidding. Jason's second and third cuts were good, but not consistent enough for the price. I have gone back to Debbie and get pretty much the same cut for much less. read more

I came here sometime last week to get my messy hair all done. It was already about 7-8 when other hair salons were closing and I called in to see if someone was available to do my hair. I came in and they treated me so nicely, they even had a separate room where you can hang a coat and put on a robe while they cut your hair. Su was my lovely stylist for the night and she was very sweet and kind! She took the time she needed to do my hair and did it very meticulously. I am so thankful! read more

Zen 2002 - Hair cut and styled perfectly by Su! - Hair Salons Near Me - South Pasadena, California

I've never had my hair done at this place however I did get a pedicure and Gel nails. At first I thought the manicurist did a nice job with my nails however a few days later all my nails started to chip and break. This was almost a month ago and now my nails are thinner then ever! My nails have never been this unhealthy. I don't know what she did but I am never going back. Unfortunately I will not be able to do gel on my nails for a while until they get healthy again. :( read more

Zen 2002 - Hair Salons Near Me - South Pasadena, California

When you come in for a hair do, you must ask for Su. Better yet, call in and make an appointment with her. She is their top hair designer. I would recommend Zen 2000 to all my family and friends. I came in for cut and highlights and was so happy with the result and great prices! So much that I came back and brought my friends. read more

I'm a 25 year old fashion savvy girl and been coming to this cozy salon since I was young. I've always had my hair cut with Jason, which is also the owner. Jason pampers me by creating one of a kind hair styles with his special touch. The friendly staff are all so pleasant and welcoming. The soothing zen-like japanese decor of this spacious salon always leaves feeling like a princess but most importantly looking like a million bucks! Jason, you are the best! read more

You want to pay to get a quality haircut, this is THE place to go! The place is clean, hip and the stylists keep up to date on the latest hairstyle trends. Jason is not only the owner of the place, but also a skilled stylist with plenty of experience under his belt, and he'll keep you entertained with a few jokes as well. Ya-Ling also knows her stuff, especially when it comes to coloring. My whole family goes to this salon, that just proves that the talent there runs the gamut as far as gender and age. read more

All of my family members and friends have been going over to Jason's for years because he always satisfy our hair with a unique touch of artistic trend, from where he has been mastering with other top stylists annually overseas across Europe and Asia. I totally trust Jason with his styling techniques and most importantly, he's an outstanding hair stylist with lots of love & PASSION! read more

Step aside Phil Jackson, because Jason has been the Zen Master of LA long before Phil came into town. No worries if you are a hair noob or a trend setter, Jason will help you find the style you are looking for. This man has tons of talent, from creativity and originality, to always being on top of the latest fashion trends. This place isn't cheap folks, but still very reasonable among the quality hair salons in the SGV. I've been coming to Zen 2002 for about 3 years now and I have nothing but compliments for Jason and his talented team. read more

Jason and Tina were wonderful. Jason is a true professional and very skilled in his craft. His wise advise as to what kind of hair cut best complemented my face structure was extremely helpful. I met Jason in my film class where he made a presentation to the students on hair and style. He was very personable and he knows the movie industry hair styles very well. I would recommend him and his staff to anyone. Josie G read more

Jason has cut my hair for years and years... My hair is wavy and curly and really requires special attention and Jason gives it that and more. Over and over again... A happy girl I am. :)) Thanks for all the great years Jason! Seriously.... read more

I finally convinced my fiance to get a hair cut here a couple weeks before our wedding since he was previously a supercuts guy and didn't want to spend the money. It was completely worth it every penny! Jason did an amazing job and my husband was shocked at all the compliments he got at work! No one had ever commented on his hair before! He looked amazing for our wedding, so of course that made for a happy bride! read more

I've been looking for a while and finally found a great stylist, Jason, for my super-thick unruly hair. He's also the owner. His assistant, Tina, gives an amazing head massage while washing your hair. Plus, their color matching is spot-on. Definitely recommended! read more

My hair stylist moved to another state, so I had to find another stylist. I search on Yelp and find this place. They have a 5 starts review, so I decided to give them a try. Su was my stylist. She was very nice and friendly! I felt I met an old friend. She spent time cutting my hair just the way I wanted. I am so happy that I find her and will definitely come back. read more

Been coming here since I was 11 years old. There's a reason why I've never switched barbers. And that's because Jason cuts mens hair like a pro. No way around it. Whatever cut you want, he'll come through no problem. And the staff is very friendly. 5 stars to Jason and Tina. read more

I've gone to Zen for four years, and am very happy with Jason and his staff. His cuts are consistently first rate and his staff is terrific. Plus, he is a very nice person and a great conversationalist and bon vivant. I have learned about some of the best restaurants in the the San Gabriel Valley from him. You can't go wrong with this salon. read more

I have been meaning to write this review for months, but the advantage of having waited this long its that I can report I am as happy with my haircut now as I was when I got it 5 months ago! I took my teenage daughter to Jason on a recommendation by a friend. She wanted to cut off her thick waist length curls into a pixie cut and I was terrified. Usually I feel a very expensive haircut is too much of an extravagance for such a young girl, but this haircut was soooo worth it. She looked stunning with the very, very short hair and it has grown out beautifully. I went back a few weeks later to have Jason cut my own hair. Very long and layered - a completely different style - and he did a wonderful job. It has also held its shape for all these months - I am just thinking that I may need to go back for a trim in the next month or so. I will definitely go back to Jason! read more

I got my hair cut here 3 weeks ago by Su. She is really friendly and professional. She took her time and payed close attention cutting my hair. Usually by now my hair is really unmanageable and difficult to style. The side of my hair would by puffy and the top an uneven mess. Su really knows her craft, I highly recommend her! read more

Most people look for a hair stylist close by. Jason at Zen 2002 is the only stylist that I will happily drive all the way from Long Beach or Palos Verdes anytime to get a hair cut. He understands texture and structure so well that he will persuade you to change a hair style that you blindly believed best suits you. You are skeptical at first, but will be amazed with the end result after entrusting him. I've also started to have my hair colored and he mixes the color so natural that it really brightens my complexion ! Since I travel a lot, I've gotten haircuts in London, Tokyo, Taipei, New York and Paris with some big name star stylists, but Jason at Zen 2002 is the only one I'd go back all the time. read more

jason zeng is amazing! he is more than a hairstylist, he is an artist. he assess your hair and creates a masterpiece! when you are in his gorgeous salon you are treated like royalty and when you leave,you look like you have stepped off the pages of vogue! his beautiful,kind assistant,tina is one in a million and my experience at zen 2002 was out of this world! thank you jason for making me beautiful! xoxo -jules fulde read more

See all

Service is fantastic! Would continue to come back. My stylist is Eleanor and I always leave satisfied. Definitely coming back.

My mom introduced me to this place several years ago! Eleanor has been cutting my hair ever since. She's very friendly and her technique is amazing. I've been there to get my hair cut, to get highlights or streaks, pretty much anything and it always looks great afterwards. I definitely recommend. read more

True to its name, Zen salon is a relaxing place to get your hair cut. Su, who has been my hair stylist for the past 3 years, is incredibly friendly and patient. Meticulous in her approach, she takes her time to cut my hair and ensure it is to my liking. It is no easy feat to cut and style my thick and curly hair but Su really does an impressive job. As someone who currently lives out of state, I always make it a point to visit Su for a haircut whenever I'm back home in LA! read more

i used to go to tramps loyally for many years before moving to the west valley. i went round and round to different hairdressers on referrals until i found jason. i'm picky because: i have very very thick, straight, coarse, shoulder length hair that doesn't hold a curl. my hair grows fast, a bad cut is hard to work with a week after leaving the salon i do not like spending time "fixing" my hair. hair like mine shows every cut line unless it is blended, blended, blended. i need a skilled technician to cut body and shape that keeps long after i leave the salon. i want a great cut every time. so why do i trust jason? consistently great cut each time. i once went 3 months without a cut or trim and it looked great! still holding its shape and easy to care for. somedays i just let it dry naturally and pass my hands through my hair every now and then and it falls into place. other days, i just use a blow dryer and brush to style it. easy and fast. i get a cut and color (non ammonia) for a comparably good price. he teaches seminars in europe and asia, which indicates to me he stays current. for me, the drive is worth every penny in time, money and the ease in getting a "good hair day" everyday. read more

I have been looking for someone for awhile (there are too many mediocre stylists out there) and i found him. Jason and his staff get 5 stars. He listened to what i wanted and took his time doing it. He is very precise and very passionate; it's so obvious. I highly recommend him and I have already told all my friends to try him out. I have never gotten such beautiful layers and such a thorough, perfect dye. read more

To start off, I went into this hair salon with very long hair that had never been cut shorter than my shoulders. I was looking to get a pixie cut like Shailene Woodley (one of my favorite actresses), which was going to be a HUGE change for me! My mom had her hair cut by Jason a couple months prior and had a good experience and she suggested I go to him for such a drastic haircut. So I made an appointment, excited yet very nervous going in to have such a different haircut than I was used to. I met Jason and told him what I wanted done, he was very pleasant and he and everyone else in the salon was so shocked and excited to hear what I wanted to have done to my hair. I showed him a few pictures but he already knew what I wanted when I told him I wanted it like Shailene so I was pleased to know that he keeps up on the hair trends amongst celebrities. The first thing he did was put my long hair in a ponytail to do the initial "chop" which was scary but as soon as it was gone I was ready for the pixie. I then had my hair washed and sat down in the chair to begin the process. Ok Jason knows EXACTLY what hes doing when it comes to hair. There wasn't a moment during that process that I thought "OMG what is he doing?!" He explained to me that with short hair, each hair can be seen so it is important that every hair is cut properly and I could tell he did just that. He also explained to me that he was trained in the European method of cutting hair (which is where the pixie cut was popularized) which is the method that the stylist who cut Jennifer Lawrence and Shailene Woodley's hair used. Then after blow-drying and some product, he was finished and the other people in the salon said it turned out great! When I took an all around look at my hair there was not one thing I wanted to change! I loved every bit of it! It was EXACTLY what I wanted and I can tell he paid attention to my head shape!! I have a round face and it is something that I was worried about because I am self-conscious about it most of the time. I was worried the cut would accentuate it. When he finished though I knew I was wrong! The style of my cut actually makes my face look thinner which makes me really happy and proves that he really did pay attention to my natural features. I usually always find something wrong with my haircuts but I cannot find a single thing wrong and I have never been soooooo pleased with a haircut!!! He did exactly what I asked but made sure to tailor it to my natural features which is what a well-trained stylist should do. I had never met Jason before I walked in to the salon that day, but I could immediately tell he could be trusted with such a drastic hairstyle and I am so glad I went to him for this cut! If you are looking for a stylist who you can trust to know what they are doing Jason is the person to go to. He is also a really nice person and made the experience pleasant. And for those of you wanting the pixie cut that is being popularized again by so many celebrities I don't think there could be anyone better to go to!! Thank you soooo much Jason!!! It has only been two days and I have gotten so many compliments on my hair by random people and I love my hair more and more every second!! read more

Su is a great hair stylist. She got me my Korean trendy haircut which I love. She takes her time and cuts your hair and doesn't rushed you out like other hair stylists. Also she gives you professional advise on how to take care of your hair. I defiantly go back to get another haircut. read more

Recently, I had my eye brow shaping and eye lash perming done with Chris. I think she is new? She is extremely patient and a perfectionist. I am very, very happy with my results! She is absolutely the best! read more