Needed a last minute wax for Coachella. Gave them a call and Kimberly answered all of my questions and was able to squeeze me in 2 hours later. Kimberly was super friendly. There was a private room in the back of the salon for waxing. She made sure I was comfortable the whole time and took about 40 minutes for an eyebrow and back wax. The best part? It was super affordable! The cheapest back wax and eyebrow wax I've seen in the DTSJ area. 10/10 experience, no complaints and would recommend to book with Kimberly! read more

My first time here and my whole experience was lovely from start to finish. I had the pleasure of being helped by Vivian. She was professional but also provided comfort and nice conversation. I'm a male that was looking for a natural clean pedicure and they gave me exactly what I wanted for a great price. I will definitely be coming back. They recommend calling in case it's busy, I was lucky to come in on a very slow Saturday morning. Love love love, the whole team 5 STARS! read more

A very pleasant hole-in-the-wall location next to Nijiya Market. Nothing flashy, fussy, or very fancy, just quietly comfortable. Tammy/Phoong is the gentlest waxer I have ever encountered. My skin doesn't burn, my eyelids and upper lip aren't red for hours! The skin treated doesn't really get red. I've been getting waxed for twenty years now, and not only is Phoong better, but I can walk to see her, four blocks away. She is also now maintaining my hair. Her associate, who does hair & nails, has a similar-sounding name, but I've forgotten how it starts. I couldn't afford the transport to my last salon after we moved: it doubled the cost. I'm so glad I found Phoong. This review is about my third visit, and should have been written earlier! Except for the tiny bathroom, this is wheelchair accessible: no giant mani-pedi chairs, old-style equipment. My sister, who is hemiplegic, got her hair & nails done with no fuss. Her usual nail tech was back home for Tet, and her toenails couldn't wait three weeks, so I made an appointment for each of us. Little did we know that the rain wasn't playing to the weather app's schedule, and we arrived 45 min earlier so I could take my sister around Japantown, when it should still have been dry. We were drenched! Oops. We begged shelter while we waited our turns. Eventually ours came, and we were both very happy with the results. Both women are very pleasant to be around. It was dry out when we emerged, but we were each still damp. We'll explore another time. read more

Hi love this location! It is family owned and the staff are detailed and friendly. I have been here for many years and this is a perfect location in Japantown! read more

Took the kid in for a haircut. They accept drop ins. Done in 15 minutes. The work is ok. There wasn't much of a wait either. Price is comparable to other places. You can no longer find a $15 haircut anymore. read more

Very friendly. Wonderful haircut. Always willing to find room on their schedule to fit me in.

Been coming here since they opened over a decade ago. They provide great service and are always nice. Tammie is amazing at what she does and you should make sure to tip accordingly! read more

I usually have a rule about the places I rate 1 star: DON'T EVER GO BACK! But hey, I'm a rebel and I love to break the rules! So I'm gonna do it for this place because nice people deserve another chance! Plus, it's sooooo close to my place! I will always ask for Tammy from now on, she always does a great job waxing. If the other lady is doing the wax, I'm just gonna turn around and run! I don't want my lip burned again. I go somewhere else for my haircut but I drag my husband here before he reaches for the shaver to shave his head! It's cheap ($16) and it's pretty decent. I think Tammy does it better than the older lady he had last time. The lady cut the skin on his neck three times. In one sitting! While I was getting waxed, I heard "OW' then "OW" then "OW". I'm surprised he didn't say "GODDAM WOMAN!". Also, I wanted her to cut it shorter and she REFUSED to do it, insisting it was better longer. I should've told her what I was thinking: hair grows really fast, it will grow in a few days anyway. But whatever! She's the hairstylist and we were in a hurry that day. But I was right, after a few days he needed another haircut and it didn't grow nicely. He should've just shaved his head! The haircut he got from Tammy was so much better, I have to make sure Tammy does his hair next time, every time! read more

Call me crazy, but I returned to this place after they cut up my feet, this time for a haircut. I was in serious need of a trim and only had a couple days in town. They accommodated me with only one hour notice, which I really appreciated. The lady started off by washing my hair, and also gave me a very pleasant scalp and temple massage. I don't know whether that is standard, or whether she felt bad for me because I had a sleeping 4-month-old baby strapped in an Ergo on my chest. Then she did a careful trim, listening to my preferences. She finished by straight ironing my hair and then touching up the trim again. I left feeling tidy and pretty. And to my total shock and surprise it cost only $35, nearly half what I expected. Pleased all around, and glad I gave them a second chance. read more

Vivian took my eyebrows to another level. She always takes her time with waxing and shaping my eyebrows. I'm never going anywhere else.

For Men's haircut. I've received multiple haircuts from them now and my favorite thing about them is their scalp massages while they wash my hair. This place provides the entire haircut experience package, from cutting your hair to washing it and with final touch ups. I like how the barbers here take their time and does not rush to finish. I've received haircuts from two of the ladies and both of them are very consistent and pays attention to small details. This place is a hidden gem. read more

LOVES it. Ok, I'm a little biased because I wrote an article for them, and I think they knew it, but a good haircut is a good haircut. i mean GREAT. I went out on a limb and decided to do something drastic with my hair (cut off more than 5 inches at a place I'd never been to? i'm sayin!) First things first. The place is small. SMALL. So make sure to book an appointment in advance, otherwise you might end up waiting awhile. They offer their customers cookies and water, which i think adds a nice touch of customer service. Try the deluxe shampoo which includes a nice massage of the scalp, neck, and face (i passed on the face option because I had a dinner thing afterwards). They also do Japanese Hair Straightening at a competitive price- $250. Most start at $350-$400. So back to my experience. I brought in three pictures of the "Rihanna hair cut," (not the butch-looking one, but the bob with the longer layers in the front). Alicia did a fantastic job. At first i was nervous at how short it was, and looking down I noticed i was surrounded by 5-6 inch locks of my own hair- frightening, yes! But she took her time and made sure to ask me exactly what i wanted every step of the way. Turned out amazing and I love it. If you want to do something drastic with your hair and want to walk out feeling like Rihanna (or other celeb), make an appointment with Alicia. You will be satisfied :) read more

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Got my first haircut here after almost two years. It was affordable and got the job done. They washed my hair, cut, and styled my hair for $40 cash. After so long, it was really nice to just have your head massaged and hair cut professionally. Vivian did a great job styling and handling my hair carefully and gently. read more

Got a haircut and mani-pedi here for the first time. Definitely coming here again. Vivian took care of me the entire time. She was sweet, listened to what I wanted, and took her time with the details of my hair and nails. Hair: She gave a relaxing scalp massage while washing my hair, I almost wanted to fall asleep. This was my first haircut since the start of the pandemic, so I was due for a haircut -- I showed her some pictures on Pinterest, and described the layers and curtain bangs I wanted, and was super happy with the results. She made the cut and length fit my face and took her time perfecting the look. Nails: I got gel mani and normal pedi. Chair for the pedi has a massage feature. Again, Vivian was very attentive to details when cleaning/trimming my nails, and then when painting them. Ive been to another nail spa in Japantown, but she spent the most time perfecting my nails. Note that they had limited gel colors. The spa: The spa is small, clean and cozy, with only 2 workers at a time. The sign outside says it takes walk-ins, but I recommend to call in if you want more than one service. For all 3 things I had done, it was very reasonably priced! Thank you Vivian! Will come here again. read more

This salon is still my go to for Pedicures. They only have 2 pedicure chairs, which for some may be a no-no, but for me it's great. It allows me to enjoy some me time or have a play date with a friend. Every time I call they seem to be ready to take me or willing to have me come in 15 minutes or less. I especially like it when Vivian does my pedicure as she is very detail oriented and does a fabulous job. I also made a same day appointment with Vivian for a hair cut and she did an incredible job for the price. I paid $35 plus tip for a hair wash, scalp massage, hair cut and style. My hair cur turned out incredible and my hair feels healthy. Vivian did exactly what I asked. I love the ladies of 246 Studio Spa, they are fantastic! read more

I went to Tammy on the recommendation of my sister-in-law. My hairdresser of many years retired. Tammy has been great. She is very accommodating with her schedule. I've been going to her for a few years and she knows what I want. I am in desperate need of a haircut due to the COVID-19 virus and can't wait until salons are allowed to open. read more

Update 7/26/08: Came a second time and got Alicia as my stylist - Instead of just the light rinse with the men's cut she offered a more complete hair wash with a scalp/neck massage. Quite a nice and enjoyable toss in for the same $14 men's cut price. Really satisfied with the hair cut - she went the extra mile to make sure that everything was trimmed/cut/shaved perfect. ================ Fairly inexpensive haircuts - but with a slight language barrier problem. Being very White at a Vietnamese shop leaves me at a distinct disadvantage at specifying what I want for a haircut, and can leave me very very nervous (which is a scary thing when trying a new shop!) Cut was fairly good and they even offered some styling advice after the cut. I already knew what they were suggesting, but its nice to see a shop that's willing to help a guy out. Even so - the prices were great - $14 for a men's cut including a hair wash? Those prices felt like a steal to me, when I'm use to paying that much just for a men's cut at a traditional barber. With gas prices as they are, I can't make it out to my regular shops up the peninsula, and getting a relaxing rinse is a good way to finish things off. read more

Let's be honest. I'm Italian and well, we're not blessed with the greatest hair genes. I've got a lot of hair on my head and my eyebrows are just out of control. It's quite tragic, really. If I can find a good waxer, I'm money. I made an appointment with them yesterday for that day--I called 5 other places for an eyebrow wax and everyone was booked. Not bad to call same day and say you're coming in an hour. And the fact that it's literally around the block from me, I couldn't ask for much more. I didn't know where they were going to do my eyebrow wax since the place is really narrow--didn't look like there was much room for a private room. Well, I was right! She plopped me down right on a shampoo sink and started to do my eyebrows out in the open! I was pretty embarrassed to be out in the main area getting my disgusting body hair removed off my face. Especially when another customer walked in while the woman asked me probably 800 times "Are you okay?! Are you okay?!". Lady. I've gotten probably 30 eyebrow waxes done in my life. I'm a big girl I think I can handle the pain. But what I can't handle is putting my friggin' afro eyebrow removal on display in the front window. Could at least invest in a screen of some sort!? We're in Japantown for Christ's sake, they sell that crap everywhere! She was meticulous, I'll give her that, but she was slow as hell. And she made sure that I knew that she thought I was the hairiest woman she'd ever seen. "Ooooohhh, you are hairy! Ohhhh, your hairs are curly!". I don't need the judgment, just wax and get me out of here. In addition, she pulled off the wax a little early in one area and had to go over it again, which is awesome for my sensitive skin. And of course, as I tried to get out of there as fast as I could, the credit card machine wasn't working so ran my card using those stone age carbon copy slips. Ugh. Come. On. I snatched my reciept for my $10.00 wax and left with my bright red forehead and power walked home up the block hoping I didn't see anyone I knew. read more

I'm almost hesitant to rate and write a review for 246 Studio Spa. I feel like it's a special secret that I don't want anyone to know in fear that it will suddenly become busy and over-priced. But alas I must share my positive experience. The people must know how great this place is! Once I find a good stylist I stick with him/her and always hate the leap of faith that's involved with switching to someone new. I moved recently and was forced to make the leap and found this studio on yelp. Alicia (Quon) cut my hair and did an amazing job - she outdid my previous stylist! Yes, it's a bit strange to get a cut first and then a wash second, but whatever! She is incredibly thorough and detailed with a natural sense for hair and style. Did I mention the prices yet? They recently raised the price from $14 up to $16...um...hello?...do they realize this is 2009? Who charges so little? Go to this place, but don't tell anyone. It's a secret! read more

Vivian gives me the best hair cut that I've gotten anywhere. Seriously! Check this out: It starts with a dry cut. Then a shampoo with a scalp massage. Then a wet cut. My beard and mustache are trimmed at this point. Then the hair is styled. Vivian remains pleasant and cheerful throughout the process. All for $21! An amazing haircut! I was almost too selfish to give this review because I may be competing with new customers for an appointment slot. read more

I LOVE ALICIA :D I have gone to her to get my hair cut for the last almost 2 years..!! She is so amazing with layering and makes sure that she knows exactly what I want while also giving me her input and opinions. She pays so much attention to detail and takes her time (which is probably the one negative thing about her.. each time I go there it takes about 1.5hours just for haircut.. but it is so well worth it!) Appointments are recommended but they do take walk ins although you may have to wait. I always get appointments because I request for Alicia. read more

I got a haircut by Tammy last week. She was very sweet and I genuinely liked her. But I did not like my haircut. I requested long layers, not taking off too much length. First, I didn't need a shampoo. She cut my hair while it was dry, didn't wet it down or anything. I noticed that when she put the apron on, she left a lock of my hair tucked into the neck. I thought she had pulled it out because I didn't see it when she had finished. I thought the cut was fine and thought I might return for the next cut when I left the salon. But the next day, I found the lock of hair she had left tucked into my collar. Then, just looking at my hair over the next few days, I've noticed that the cut is very blunt, not a lot of layers, and just not flattering. It falls like a triangle around my head. I mean, it was a $25 cut, so maybe I should not be expecting too much, but I don't think I'll be back here. read more

I just discovered this gem of a salon! I called for a last minute pedicure. They accommodated me with no problems! The salon is small. You walk into the hairstylists' dome that has about 2-4 seats and then walk towards the back to Vivian's kingdom with 2 pedicure massage chairs. Vivian was quiet, which I love cz I can do without the small talk while I'm trying to relax, but very attentive to my needs. There's a door that opens up into a small back courtyard so airflow was very good. I like deep, dark red nail polish but it wasn't readily available. I suggested using a brown layer and then a red on top. That achieved the desired effect. It's simple, but you'd be surprised how some...pedicurist (what's their title??) would turn their nose up like it's an inconvenience! Apparently, those peeps don't realize that they're in customer service. Anywho, Vivian was more than accommodating and completed the job to my satisfaction. I would definitely return and also recommend her to my family and friends! read more

Went to this salon three time- twice for a full set and once for a fill. I always try a new nail salong more than once just to give them the benefit of the doubt. The first visit was uneventful however when I went for a refill, the woman who was working on me informed me that she would rather take the nails off and start fresh because she would be able to do a better job. Esthician I am not, however I have been getting my nails professionally done for about 11 years now and I know when a new set is needed. I did not need a fresh set and actually had only waited two weeks in between visits. I explained I owuld just like a refil and when she refused 3 times, I decided to leave. Fast forward 2 months later- I decided to go back and give another go since th elocation was too convienent to my apartment. Visit was uneventful however the nails fell off in 4 days! Two of them actually came off and for those of who ever have had acrylic nails know that if a nail pops off that sooner after getting them done there will mostlikely be quite a bit of pain and there was none so I guess that was the silver lining. Refused to go back after that. On a positive note they offer you baby waters and cookies when you come in. If you don't like Britney Spears though, they play the same music video dvd over and over so just think about that in advance (I happen to love her so no qualms here) read more

I get my hair cut once a month at 246, and I am typically a happy customer. Tammy usually cuts my hair and does a great job each time. One issue I have is that apparently 246 hired a new stylist and I wasn't thrilled with the hair-cut she gave me a few months back--she was very slow, and I got the sense that she didn't completely know what she was doing. I made an appointment to get my daughters hair cut, and forgot to request Tammy--when I saw the aforementioned stylist was going to cut my daughters hair, I told them I was going to reschedule. I didn't want to be rude, but I have to be confident in whoever comes near my daughters head with scissors. Overall, 246 is a professionally run Salon and Spa with excellent customer service. Request Tammy. read more

My husband and I needed a new place to get our hair done. He was cutting his hair that was a little past his shoulders short and I needed someone to cut/dye my hair. We found this place through yelp about a year ago and now are frequent flyers! I don't know the name of the lady that cuts my husbands hair but I go to Tammy and she is awesome! I'm one of those people that like to sit in the chair, read trashy mags that I would never buy, and just chill - not chat for the entire time, making small talk and she is totally cool with this. I just tell her what I want and she goes at it! The entire staff is super friendly and the hair-wash massages are wonderful -- they even massage your temple/neck. read more

I absolutely love this place. Tammy is the greatest hairstylist I've known. Not only is she great at what she does, but she's an amazingly wonderful person to know. When I first started a new job in SJ over a year ago, I was looking for a new place to get my hair done. I found this place on yelp and haven't looked back since. Tammy is super detail oriented, and doesn't let a job finish without giving it the thorough inspection. Included with the cut is a head massage which I swear, puts me in a tranced state each time. Tammy has always been good about fitting me in her schedule whether its a week or a day's notice, even though she's super busy. Don't be late though...she scolds me every time I am. read more

Yay!! Terrific haircut at an a affordable price. Much better than any of the chain salons I've ever gone to, and arguably the best cut I've ever had. I went in with a pony tail that had grown out for something like 3 years and came out with a good wash and wear do that can go several different ways and all look good. Apart from the vision, I was really impressed that Tammy did *lots* of detail work to provide overall shape. . .she more than earned the 2x tip! read more

I found the place to get my hair cut! I moved to San Jose and needed to find a new place for my haircuts. After some failed attempted, I stumbled upon this place (via Yelp). This is probably the best haircut I have had in at least the last couple years. Tammy was friendly, personable, and meticulous. She did a very thorough job and cross checked a bunch of times to make sure everything was even and neat and exactly how I wanted it. It's actually the first time I got exactly what I asked for. In terms of what I got, I couldn't be happier. The men's cut is $16 which also includes a wash. So the price was good, the people were good, and the haircut was great. It's even better than some places that charge twice as much. Overall, easily the best places I've checked out in the area. read more

So I wanted a mani-pedi and got only half of it at Sakura and had to scramble to get a manicure. Fortunately just down the street I was able to find this place and got an appointment soon. Tammy was warm, friendly, and took time to do my manicure and helped fix a few smudges that I got (because I didn't wait long enough as I needed to leave after having to waste more time finding another salon). I even got water as I sat down. I believe the employees were all Vietnamese in the two salons, but what a difference! The manicure was done in a smaller area in the back - it did not have the atmosphere of a bigger salon, but I value the actual work and the service more importantly than the foofoo stuff. Even better - they take credit cards, not cash only. read more

I came in with a head of footlong, womanly/rockstar hair. I left feeling like a distinguished gentleman. And sooooo relaxed! Tammy was really great... I showed her some photos on my iPhone of various medium-length hairstyles I liked. She was totally patient with me and as we went, she was cool with making changes and offered advice along the way. She let me decide what the best end-result would be by leaving some length at each stage. And then she washed my hair and gave me the most amazing scalp massage!! I almost drifted off into a dream. I loved the experience. Though this place is small, $20 to refine my Samson hair was well worth it. Credit cards accepted. Walk-ins welcome. read more

For $30 Tammy sure gives one hell of a scalp massage. My cut took about 40 minutes and she was able to give me exactly what I asked for. The location is small with only 2 chairs but it is a comfortable environment. I would not mind coming here again since my haircuts are pretty simple. OH and make an appointment! I saw a few people try to walk in but due to the limited space and staff I would highly recommend calling in advance. read more

Excellent attentive service. Friendly staff. Cozy Boutique feel. Great price! I've been going to this place every two weeks, all year and my hair has never looked better. $17 for a quality (male) haircut + shampoo. Thank you so much, Tammy! read more

I've been coming here for years. Great staff and very accommodating. Vivian, gives the best scalp/shampoo massage ever.

Tammy and her staff are amazing. I have been coming here for over 3 years and have not had one bad experience. They treat you like an old friend and take the time to make sure you leave with a great haircut. The scalp massage is also a nice touch to the already fabulous experience. I would recommend this place to anyone. read more

I have been going to Tammy for years. I always recommend her & 246 Studio Spa to anyone who is looking for a great salon. Tammy does such a great job when cutting & styling my hair. She also remembers all her customers. I have also gone here for waxing and my mom has gotten manicures & pedicures done by Vivian. You will always receive excellent service here! read more

I started going to 246 Studio Spa when my hairstylist, Catherine, first joined the salon. I've been going to Catherine for a good year and I can say unequivocally she is the best stylist I've EVER gone to. I've previously gone to "master" stylists, male and female, at "foo-foo" salons, and walked out very disappointed because they fail to listen to what I want in a cut.. Catherine LISTENS intently to how you want your hair to look and takes meticulous care to give you a precision cut instead of rushing through it in order to work on her next customer. She has the technical skill of an expert stylist in her cutting ability and a keen sense of what kind of cut will work best for your features and hair type. I NEVER got as many compliments on my haircuts (actually none, lol, how sad!) until I went to Catherine. I tell her that she gives a $75 haircut for half the price! I'll follow her wherever she goes! 246 Studio Spa is lucky to have her. read more

*Pedicure only* Although this place is a bit tiny it's actually very nice inside. It's small but gets the job done. My friend and I came in for a pedicure which admittedly we both aren't pro's at going to get pampered like this. I should though...but really to me it was a good experience. The women here were nice and welcoming and everything was very clean and proper. The nail section was towards the back of the place where there was a tv and dvd player to choose which movie we wanted to watch while we got pampered. Very cute. I noticed they had Opi nail polish which is another bonus in my opinion. As we sat and got our pedicures I noticed that she did a good job making sure to get my cuticles nice and all...and well I'm a runner so I know my feet aren't the "fun" ones any person wants to touch. My friend paid for our pedi's and it was on the "steeper" side of $25 which to me isn't bad. I've paid more before and didn't have that great of an experience. We weren't rushed to leave and since it's metered parking they were even nice saying if we needed more time they can put some quarters in our meter for us. read more

My hair stylist at 246 is Alicia and I adore her. Alicia is sweet, friendly, patient, and most importantly, probably the most careful/thorough hair stylist I have ever experienced. She really took her time when cutting and coloring my hair, at one point I felt that she was almost going through every strand of my hair to make sure the color was thorough. I was very impressed. I also appreciate the fact that after hearing what I wanted, Alicia offered her honest advice on what would and wouldn't work. I was very happy with the result and will definitely come back again. read more

Pleasant experience. I'm really giving this place 3.5 stars but I'll round to 4. Called and managed to get myself an appointment for an hour later. I could have probably done without the 20 minutes of straight ironing my hair considering I was just going back to my sofa that afternoon to watch Vampire Diaries, but the layers looked pretty good and I got lots of compliments from the boy. Downside: it was a little hectic with my hairdresser answering the phone and answering questions from weirdos popping in asking for boxes of dye or whether they had an appointment for them because they had no idea which salon they were supposed to go to. I brought the boyfriend for his cut the next day. He thoroughly enjoyed the complimentary shampoo/scalp massage. The only thing I don't get is why do men get a complimentary shampoo and cut for $14+ when I swear their haircuts always look way more complex! I paid 35 before tip for long layers and two inches off. 16 for his cut which was pretty swell, except he was complaining the next day that his hair was uneven. I'm not really quite sure if I'm going to go back or try a new place. My previous hairdresser in SF gave me the same cut for 16 and didn't fuss over styling my hair that much, but I guess you're paying for the spa experience? However, the staff are friendly... I noticed that one of the employees actually got their customer some kind of danish and coffee while his hair was being dyed. Also, my hairdresser emailed me a few days later to make sure I was satisfied my cut. Nice. read more