Alchemy is in my neighborhood and I had been driving to Rockville for a Deva Cut - what the heck was I thinking! I have seen both Alvina and Shereen for deva cuts and have been thrilled with the results. A deva cut is a way of cutting hair for people with naturally curly hair where it is cut dry so that the stylist can evaluate how the curls each lay against the other. The idea is it adds volume and shape and takes into account the uniqueness of how different hair curls. Shereen has become my go-to stylist! Her sense of color and cut is amazing. She really listens and asks follow ups to understand how you treat your hair and how much work you want to put into it. There is always a bit of a wait for an appointment, but that's because they are just that good! She was able to take my naturally dark brown hair, lighten it and add in some bright blue, which I have always wanted. My expectations were low because I know how hard lightening dark hair can be. She exceeded my expectations and was also super conscientious that we shouldn't over bleach it on the first time and fry my hair. Since COVID has started they have closed their waiting room. You check in by text, wait in your car and they text you when to come in. Enter, get some hand sanitizer and you are whisked off to hair paradise. The stylist's booth are adequately separated, everyone uses masks and seats and items are wiped down regularly to keep everything clean and healthy. The sinks for hair washing can't be separated but they do try to keep people from next to each other, but even if they couldn't there is a plastic partition between the seats. Highly Recommended! read more

I stopped going to Alchemy about a year or so ago. The prices were too high and I just wasn't vibing with my stylist anymore. I found a place in Howard County that is much more no-frills but they get the job done and I like the way they cut my hair. I just can't justify paying two or three times as much money at Alchemy. Also, the parking is stressful at that shopping center, which is not the fault of the Salon but is an aspect of being a customer. So I don't have to deal with that unless of course I'm going to Trader Joe's, which is in the same shopping center. read more

Found myself a GEM!! I waited 2 months to get ny appointment and it was so worthy, the profesional here know why they are doing, not your average Salon and speaking from experience I've visited a few high end salons in the DMV snd I had not been impressed till I stepped into Alchemy salon. The staff here is super friendly as soon as you walk in your being greeted by the ladies and in my case the owner was there, she was so amazing made sure I felt comfortable from the minute I walked in till I was done which was past the time of closing. My artist was Nicky the person who made me look like a super star, as you guys can see in my pictures Ku hair was horrible, I had so much growth and my grays were all coming out more, Covid made me get them!! lol..... Im so happy with her service she first took the time to explain the process. Everything she españoles she delivered and I was one happy client. In the 24 years I've been coloring ny hair Nicky has to be the Absolute Best!!! So worth the price and the time. I alway say invest in yourself with high quality ONlY because that's what you deserve!! If you live in the area or are visiting make sure and stop in and book your appointment, your won't regret the experience. read more

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I have never been more disappointed in a salon. I just left my appointment that I made after verifying on the phone that this was a curly styling appointment for a wedding when I arrived I was told it was basically just a wash and dry which I could've done myself at home for free then pay $50 to have it wash my hair. Stylist wasn't a friendly after I one asked if it was possible to straighten my hair when she said no I said no problem And made sure again this appointment was for curly styling. She said that it is a Saturday and I should've booked it for longer but when I made the phone call earlier this week it was for curly styling. Stylist was Very awkward/ frustrated. I heard the front staff already say that my stylist was going to be annoyed the minute I sat down and let my hair down which I did tell the receptionist on the phone before making an appointment that I had very curly thick hair. The stylist was also very annoyed when I asked her not to use certain products in my hair, based on past experiences. I went to a different salon for them to do an updo which was an additional cost. Money aside- I was just disappointed because I have been excited to try this salon it's by my house and family members go there and instead I really did cry in my car it just wasn't it. Note- I will say I arrived 10 minutes late for a 1:30 appointment- but how was it possible to not do an curly updo from 1:40-3:22? read more

NOPE! I went to Alchemy a few years ago and stopped going because of I echo complaints in these reviews. Decided to try them again. Booked appointment online which took a few days to get. I went to the bathroom while waiting for my stylist when I saw this shampooer who was shampooing a customer. She had the exact color I wanted. I said I loved her hair, what color was it, and this guy shampooing next to her told me to be quiet because I was disrupting the customer's service. I was stunned by how rude he was. I didn't realize that having your hair washed had turned into such a mediative ritual (like Yoga or mediation). If I had known this was a quiet zone, I would have complied. No signs were up. I should have walked out when this Jeremiah dude was so nasty to me, but knowing they had my credit card to hold the appointment and may charge me, I soldiered on. The woman I who was getting her hair washed told me that I really had interrupted her service and I profusely apologized and told her that I didn't know. I even offered to pay for her treatment but she was not receptive to my apology. I had a headful of color and truly wanted to leave the vibe was so bad in there. But I again soldiered on, got shampooed and when I sat down to get my hair cut short. The stylist told me she didn't specialize in short hair. I was shocked by this as well. Secretly relieved, I paid my $120 color fee and left. The stylist (Jeremiah) who was so disrespectful to me said something snarky as I was walking out the door, I just laughed at the total foolishness. Here is a quote from a June 15, 2023 yelp review. "He (Jeremiah) told me my energy was transferring to him and he didn't feel comfortable cutting my hair until you, 'change your energy.'" This note is for you Jeremiah: Me - Customer, You - employee, no me, no you. You don't get to pick your clients or tell them how to act. This is how the world works. This is a very sad shop, no energy, no music, not the buzz of a busy salon with blow dryers blowing, customers. More like a library. And the place is a mess in the back, the bathroom reeked of urine. I was read a for hire posting and the last qualification was must be fun. I am a low maintenance fun customer who tips well and will pay their high charges if I get good service. NOPE, not at Alchemy. Too many other salons in the area who deserve my business. read more

My hair is partially straight, other half curly. Leah spends time to work with my crazy hair so it can look good in any kind of crazy weather. read more

I have never had a more comfortable wash experience...the chairs by the sinks are MASSAGE CHAIRS! I didn't even know those existed, such a pleasant surprise for the part of a wash and cut that is literally a pain in the neck. Also, Leah is fabulous for curly hair cut and styling while it's wet! read more

Jeremiah was fantastic! Expert in working with curly hair, professional, skilled, and kind. The salon is impressive. Such a calming vibe, and attention to detail. They even have massage chairs and neck cushions in the hair washing station! I highly recommend them. read more

I'm surprised at all the rave reviews for this place. My 5-6 visits here have ranged from acceptable (barely) to downright awful. I started coming here after I moved right across the street in the North Four Corners neighborhood, and it was my last visit here that finally drove me back to my old stylist about 45 minutes away. I've used three of the stylists here. Dan highlighted my hair a couple times, with somewhat mixed experiences although he puts in a good effort. A week before I was getting ready to fly out for my Oahu wedding, he did my roots and only put some kind of glaze on it (applied on wet hair) - I had yellow roots all over by the next day and ended up toting my own mpurple dye to Hawaii (worked out fine, as my highlights matched the orchids in my hair). Otherwise he gave decent cuts. I then booked a haircut with Shideh (?) one and described to her what I wanted by added that my husband preferred something else... She ended up trying to do both and gave me an awful mullet cut that I had to hide by wearing a ponytail to work for 2 months.. Yuck! Even the stylist I went back to was wondering why she cut my hair with a blade, as the ends were already getting damaged. The nail in the coffin though, was when I went for my final color appointment to spruce up my highlights. Dan was not available so they have me Gwen, whom they claimed to be the best. It was not comforting that as I sat in the chair the other stylists exclaimed how exciting it was to do color. It should've been another red flag when Gwen started asking someone else how my hair was looking. The end result was the worst color experience I ever had. I asked for a dark cool purplish red and it came out an awful brassy bright ORANGE. Even worse, she somehow turned the highlights that the other stylist meticulously put in into thick chunky lopsided highlights. Wtf? I was so disgusted and done with his place that I didn't even try to ask them to fix it. Seriously though, I just wouldn't go here unless you're asking for something basic and straightforward. I don't care how cool you or your shampoo girls look in your hipster glasses and rainbow array of skinny jeans. I went back to my old stylist who made me feel like a million bucks again, all in less time and less money. read more

Alchemy Salon - This is the "cool red" highlights that Gwen gave me.. - Hair Salons Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I've tried Alchemy many times over the years. I will say I'm always happy with the results but every single time I leave frustrated by stylists being overbooked, running late, or rushing and needing support to finish. Today was kind of the last straw. My husband booked me a blow out with a master stylist, and even though I arrived early just in case, the stylist did not have enough time and needed to have one of the women in training (who normally shampoos) do half my hair. She did a great job, but it was NOT fun to have two blow dryers aimed at me and have two women pulling my head in different directions. When I asked about paying for just the normal blow dry, since I didn't have the dedicated expert I expected, I was shut down and told there was nothing they could do. The scheduling and time the stylists dedicate to clients need some major fixing. Quick note re: the owner's response. I'm not sure the relevance of the fact that I had one appointment for myself and one for my husband... The stylist did not ask if someone could help her-- she stated that the other woman would be assisting and they both did half of my head the entire time. And if she had asked if someone could assist, I wouldn't have assumed it meant two people pulling at my hair from different directions throughout the duration. Like I mentioned in the original review, there have been problems with timing and rushing every time I've been for the last few years. It's not worth feeling as though the stylist can't devote her full attention to you or that you are taking up someone's time. read more

I've been going to Alchemy for my cut and color for 4 years now, and I'm always very happy with their services! I have fine, straight hair, so a precision cut is a must for me! And I wear red as my color, so again, professional training is key. The vibe is very relaxed, they have a nice selection of professional-grade hair care products, and they even have a shelf up-front where local artists can sell their creations--Bonus! They are not a cheap, chain-style salon; you get what you pay for at Alchemy! I've seen many different stylists there, even an intern (with supervision, of course), and my experience has always been consistent: relaxed vibe, professional staff (ALL of the staff), and intense focus on my satisfaction overall. The salon is wheelchair-accessible, too; I went shortly after I had hip surgery when I was in a wheelchair. No problem!Tell them 'Michelle with the short red hair' sent you! read more

I've been a loyal Alchemy customer for years and LOVED my stylist. Because she's been on medical leave, I was referred to Jeremiah. He cut my hair once before and it was a good hair cut. I've been trying to get into the salon for over a month and finally managed to get a slot, but was clear with the scheduler that I only had an hour for the service - which they said should only take 45 minutes. I showed up early. Jeremiah showed up 15 minutes after my appointment was scheduled. I was visibly stressed because of the time crunch, but was calm and straightforward about what I needed. He told me my energy was transferring to him and he didn't feel comfortable cutting my hair until you, "change your energy." This rattled me further, given my tight time frame and I teared up. He offered to hug me, but he wreaked of cigarette smoke and the smell was making me sick already with him standing a few feet away. I politely declined and said I was calm and I really just wanted a hair cut and blow dry. He noted that because of the timing he wouldn't have time to blow dry my hair and suggested I schedule when my energy was better. I calmly asked him if he was capable of giving me the service I scheduled in the timeframe that was promised and he refused. I'm beyond frustrated that I was treated this way and made to feel like I was putting him out while he wasted my time and didn't deliver the service that was promised. read more

Brittney is awesome! She takes her time, very professional and is fun to talk to! I recommend her highly!

I had the pleasure of a color and blow dry today with Roxi. She is incredible and honestly worked magic on my hair. Alchemy is a well run, clean and imo, exceptional salon. I can recommend without hesitation! read more

Love this salon and everyone there! I feel safer coming to get my hair done than I do when I have to go into my office. They check your temps, everything is wiped down and spaced out. I didn't have second thoughts about coming in here once things started opening up again. :) read more

Roxi does an amazing job with my son who has sensory issues. She is incredibly patient and understanding, works quickly, and always gives him a fabulous haircut. read more

Laying on a massage chair that is slowly massaging my poor back. The chair completely allows you to lay down while getting your hair washed and getting a deep slow scalp massage with minty conditioner that makes your scalp feel some type of way. I feel like all my problems have left me. -Gwen is an expert at haircuts. No seriously. -ready for me and on time -comes with deep scalp massage hair wash and hair done (blow dried, curly, straight) -great staff, clean hipster environment -tampons in the bathroom -a bit pricey for me (also since I require "more time") but, worth it. read more

Alchemy Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

this review is about Shereen and her assistant, who i can't remember her name, but she was lovely. oh! maybe Biyanni? anyways, i have so much anxiety around going to the salon for many reasons. but i had a good, relaxed feeling immediately here, and got good vibes from Shereen right away though. i wanted to go really blonde. Like, silvery blonde, which i know is super difficult, and have tried many times to get some shade of blonde that i'm happy with. i loved that she had a positive attitude about it and said she was really gonna try her best, while still being honest with me about the process. i just really appreciate her effort and her assistant who was very sweet. the results? fantastic! i'm so happy with my hair, i can't stop looking at. my husband loves it too! read more

Alchemy Salon - blonde hair don't care! - Hair Salons Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I have been going to Roxi for about 25 years. Ever since I was 15 and she always delivers the best haircut and color ever! I can confidently say she is one of the best stylists in the DMV. She is so skilled and talented. She's like a sister to me after all of these years and I just love her. I always get so many compliments on my hair because of her and she can do anything from short hair, shoulder length, or long. I've had it all and she's the greatest! read more

Found this place on Yelp and decided to give them a chance based on the high number of 5 star reviews. Well I give Alchemy 5 Stars for the stylist and service but only 1 star for the price. $70.00 for a hair trim is ridiculous. Plus, appointment was scheduled and they were running 10-15 minutes behind schedule. Not a fan of late appointments especially when I arrived early. Definitely not worth my hard-earned money. Nothing against the stylist because she was great but nothing special. Sorry, Alchemy was a Yelp bust. read more

Alchemy Salon - Outside. Located next to Trader Joe's. - Hair Salons Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I went on Thursday and had a new student and was prepared for the three hour event for my simple haircut. I appreciated the young novice and I wasn't super picky with her. She added some layers and the cut was fine. She tried to reduce the mass on my one side which ended up lessening the amount on it and made my pony tails a little off, but was ok otherwise. read more

Shereen has become my go to stylist! Her aptitude with color is outstanding. As a former stylist myself I am very picky. But Shereen nails it each time, both cut and color. As you can imagine my curiosity being a former stylist I like to watch others at work. Watching all the stylist at Alchemy has shown me a place full of talented people. You can't go wrong here. read more

Great service, have been coming here for 15 years. I recommend Alvina, especially if you have curly hair. Won't go to anyone else.

Still a fan! Mary-Ann still does my color, and Jody still does my cuts. They're both full price, full-fledged stylists now, and have been for a while, but the prices are totally reasonable for the area, and they both throw in little add-ons occasionally and are just genuinely fun and enjoyable people to be around. Mary-Ann's indulged my severe hair color ADD (blonde, red, purple...) and always come up with something that I get compliments on. Despite all the different colors, it's always come out well - not easy, I know. Once, it came out looking good but just wasn't quite what I'd envisioned, and when I called back a couple days later, she did another color wash for me free of charge. Jody's patiently dealt with my claiming month after month that I'm growing my hair out, only to ask her to trim a little here, then there, then here, then there, then just cut it short again. She's finally helped me to get over the hair hump, and it's made it to my shoulders for the first time in years! The salon itself is modern, clean and comfortable, with a different fun music mix on every time, a competent and friendly front desk, and iced teas or infused water and cookies out for customers. Even the shampoo chairs are money - they're massagey, and the feet go out and they lean back so you can comfortably tip your head into the bowl. Best. Oh, and there's a rewards program for referrals, so feel free to mention Kristin Mink sent you! :) read more

I feel so awesome and confident with the amazing cut and dye job by Johannie!!! She's so sweet and talented. I love her. Thank you!!!! read more

Alchemy Salon - Cut and balayage by Johannie! THE BEST! - Hair Salons Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Best salon ever! I could never expect a simple salon like this to be so good! 10/10 I sincerely recommend this and I will be returning.

I can't believe that I've lived by this salon for years and never bothered trying it out...that is, until about one month ago. I made an appointment the day of and both the receptionist and stylists were extremely accommodating. Madinah is a boss when it comes to hair color (mixing the perfect blend to stamp out the reddish tones while adding some purple) and Julie made my fine hair look twice as thick with her cutting skills. They also recommended a different shampoo&conditioner (R+Co) which completely transformed the texture. It looks noticeably thicker and healthier, which says a lot considering the abuse it's been through. Abuse meaning years of red hair color, straightening, and highlights. I waited a month before posting a review to see if the results would last, and they did. My color is holding strong with very little fading, and the cut is growing out nicely. The prices are a bit steep but the quality more than makes up for it. If you want cheap, go to Hair Cuttery :P read more

Although I've been coming to Alchemy sporadically over the last 6 years, I'm a little disgusted after my last appointment. Gwen does my color and is amazing; no issue with her.. she rocks! What do women want in a salon experience? Awesome service + superb results + RELAXATION. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case w/my last experience. I got to be the guinea pig for a new shampoo assistant that started the same day. Apparently, Alchemy hadn't trained him at all because it was the WORST shampoo I've ever had at a salon. The poor young guy was just learning, I totally get it. But, he didn't know what the hell he was doing (I mean how difficult is it to shampoo & give a scalp massage?!??!). For instance, he didn't add enough water when shampooing my hair and it just matted all up. Then, he tried to give me a scalp massage with my semi-damp hair, which just knotted it even more. Once he rinsed and conditioned, he ran a brush through my wet hair and it was so tangled that it felt like he was ripping out my strands :( WTF??!?! I'm mad at myself for not speaking up during this whole experience and demanding that someone else shampoo my hair. This is really sad for a salon that has typically offered amazing service, from the friendly receptionist greeting you when you arrive, to the amazing group of experienced stylists. Alchemy, please train your new staff; people want to feel amazing when they leave a salon, not like their hair has been abused. read more

Shereen is an outstanding stylist! This was my first haircut since pre-pandemic days and it was a really enjoyable experience. Shereen put me at ease and from the moment I sat down, it was clear I was in good hands. I haven't felt this confident about my haircut in years and she gave me some great product recommendations (at my request) but didn't pressure me to buy anything I didn't think was right for me. She is a wonderful conversationalist and I will definitely be back! I was also impressed with the service I received from other members of the alchemy team. It was pouring rain as I was about to leave, so they offered me a shower cap to keep my hair dry as I ran to my car, and told me I was welcome to wait for the rain to pass. Thanks for everything, Shereen + the Alchemy team! read more

Appointment at 11:00. We were five minutes early. The receptionist did not tell us until 11:10 that the stylist was "running late." The stylist, Gwen, came out at 11:25, "Oh, so sorry, my appointment ran long." I was upset, I expressed that I was upset. I wasn't sure I wanted to stay, she wants me to "get it together" so it can be a good experience, but now the experience is cut by 30 minutes instead of the hour I had scheduled and I have work I have to get back to... she says, "What do you want to do," and I said, "Let's just get it cut." She steps back away from me, hands circling, "I don't know, now, the dynamic..." And I told my husband, whose appointment was for immediately after mine, "let's go. I don't have time for this. She is obviously incapable of cutting my hair." We have been going to Alchemy since they first opened their doors. Granted, we don't get our hair cut every month, but they've been our go-to salon from the beginning. Now, I feel it's never again. This is not rocket science, this is not life and death, this is a haircut/style. If you schedule an appointment your stylist should be ON TIME. read more

Thank You Johannie!!!! You did an Amazing color and style makeover on me!!! I really needed it! It's wonderfully be able to communicate to an artist what you want, and.....Voila! I don't know who I can trust now after Johannie!!!! read more

This salon absolutely rocks! Amazing job on my color, super nice staff, really clean inside, and convenient hours. 10/10 for vibrant/vivid colors as well! read more

Absolutely love this place. I don't have a lot of experience going to other salons, but I thought I'd try this one since it seemed good for "alternative" looks...which is what I was going for. First off, everyone was very polite and professional and the wait time wasn't long at all. It is a really cute place, and there is jewelry and products to look at while you wait in the lobby so that's nice. The shampooing/wash experience was absolutely insane. Absolutely luxurious and relaxing. It was hard not to doze off. They had massage chairs and the young lady that did my hair was wonderful. The head massages is where it's at. I went and saw Julie, and she did a WONDERFUL job. She is absolutely adorable and sweet, and extremely personable. She wasn't at all intimidated by what I was asking for (which was to have some of my hair shaved) and the end result really turned out great. It blends well, it's not choppy and she still made it look feminine like I wanted. I definitely recommend going to see her. Will definitely be returning to this salon! read more

Alchemy Salon - Undercut (clipped). Awesome job by Julie~ - Hair Salons Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Absolutely love Suzanne! She's great at listening to your vision and making it happen. I've had the cutest pixie cuts, bobs, and layered long haircuts. She had been able to nail all my styles :) Wonderful woman with amazing skills! read more

Excellent customer service. Came in for a cut and color. The shampoo was great! Attention to detail. Very friendly. When i came in receptionist was nice. Stylist was friendly an open to my ideas. Why 3 stars though? The next day, i got a horrible neck pain from the shampoo bowl. Please cushion the neck area better!! Small but spacious area. I'll be back!! First time here recommended from a friend. read more

I went back for my first color touch-up since I started getting color. Saw Val, who did an incredible job matching my roots to my existing color in my hair. She patiently explained the answer to every question I had throughout the process. Her attention to detail was wonderful. I couldn't be happier! read more

I HIGHLY recommend this salon! It's beautiful and the people are friendly. I have curly hair and they're the only people I trust to cut my hair! They're DevaCut trained so I usually end up getting a pseudo-DevaCut which I do appreciate! Even their 'junior stylists' awesome! read more

Either they don't pick up or you're on hold forever. I've called 3 times within the past week. read more

Alchemy Salon - Hold time...and still counting - Hair Salons Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Desiree is amazing with cuts and color! I have fine curly hair but the Deva cut isn't right for my hair and Desiree understands that. She gives me the exact shape and style I want. I have naturally dark hair with tons of grey coming in. I figured it was time to start embracing it. My ultimate goal is to have tons of gray highlights that will look natural as my grays come in. Because I've been coloring my hair dark for so long, I knew this wouldn't be a easy task. I first got highlights at another salon because I was impatient and Desiree wasn't available. They weren't bad, but definitely too warm and golden... The opposite of the ashy beige that I had requested. I went to Desiree about 6 weeks later and she was able to highlight the remaining darker pieces a beautiful ash blonde and tone down the previous golden highlights. I can wait to go back in anther 6 weeks for some more ashiness! I get compliments all the time on my hair. It's not where I want it to be yet, but I'm loving the process! read more

Alchemy Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Went there to get my first daring haircut and came out with such excitement to show it to everyone. My hair stylist was Jenny. So happy I did it here. read more

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