This review is for Romi (I swear, unrelated to the other one :) ). I have been moving around quite a bit across countries, and hairdressers are like doctors: finding the right one for ourselves is very difficult. Especially when you have blue/colored hair and an uncommon haircut. That's not a problem for her and she is absolutely awesome to chat with. She genuinely makes sure the person understands the final result and shows the progress along the way. As a whole, the service is good at Arty, but they are super mega busy, so expect to have to plan ahead to get a haircut and not just drop by, especially during weekends. read more

Had a hair cut and color with Maiko. Excellent customer service, very easy to communicate. Easy to find street parking ( needs to pay). Clean and quiet. Maiko is professional and friendly. Pays a lot of attention to details. Not 100% the same as the photo I showed, but mostly because I have huge volume of naturally curly hair, which is always hard. So overall the haircut itself meet my expecting though not working wonders, everything else exceeded my expectation. read more

Since I personally benefited from other people sharing photos, I hope my sharing can also help someone to make decisions. I had mid-long hair but very dry lately so I decided to cut it. I was randomly assigned with Kyoko, and overall I am quite happy with the result, as this is exactly what I want. I firstly showed to Kyoko my own short hair photos one year ago and some other photos found online to explain what I like and don't like. Kyoko listened carefully, immediately understood and advised some areas to improve of my old short hair style, which I totally agree. Then she carefully but quite efficiently cut my hair into a short bob. $70 (without tip) for such a cut is a bit pricy for me. But overall I'm very happy. Would look forward to see how it grows after one month. I will go back to this place. read more

I have been looking for a new stylist as my last two have left SF. I looked at Arty in Japantown and checked the reviews for a stylist to book. I decided to ask for ROMI who has uniformly wonderful reviews. I went to her yesterday and guess what?? SHE'S EXCELLENT!!! Very detailed and precise in her cut and at a fair price for SF. Don't hesitate: call Arty and book ROMI today!!! read more

I needed a new hair stylist and am so happy I found Mako. She very knowledgeable and skilled. She recommended a modern professional A-line bob. She gave me a precision cut and the layers that haturally frame my face. I will definitely be back to see her for my next haircut. read more

Misuzu was away on vacation, but I couldn't help my urge to chop my hair and try out a short layer bob. Fortunately, Rei hooked me up and did a great job. After having so many great cuts from Arty it's really hard to even consider leaving it. Nice ambience, great music and fantastic shampoo/conditioner and head/shoulder massage. Heads up they do balayage even though it is not on their online service menu, so might need to go back this summer and test it out XD read more

Good customer service. Honest + sweet workers that value the well being of their clientele, rather than cheating them out of their money. No language barrier at all. If you don't "get something" it's your job as the client to "speak up". Went for a cut that was long overdue and it turned out great! My hair was lighter, healthier, layers were fixed up and my curls were awesome. Loved it. Second time around I went for highlights. They turned out great, even better than the pictures I was prepared to show Kyoko and on top of the curling at the end, she even gave me a waterfall braid! How sweet is that. A little pricey, but definitely worth it. :) read more

Arty - Ombre hair by Kyoko and Hiromi - Hair Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

First time at Arty this afternoon. I was fortunate to have Mako cutting my hair. She is super down to earth and made the whole experience very comfortable. She listened attentively to my thoughts on what I think I wanted and made suggestion based on my hair texture/grow pattern. She is thoughtful and took the time to make sure I am comfortable with her plans. I love love the end result. Thank you thank you thank you, Mako! read more

My friend introduced me to this place after I gave her 5+ times of compliments of her new hair cut. I made an appointment with Mako, and I love my new hair cut. People are so friendly here, and the service is really nice. Highly recommend! read more

I had good experiences with 2 Japanese women stylists for perm and hair color, but one day, a woman named Kyoko ( I have heard she is the owner's wife ) tried to do my hair-- and her skills were very very poor (she basically colored my scallop, not my hair) so I asked her if I could have the color done again with one of the ladies I had good experiences with. (these ladies were trained in Japan/but the owner's wife was only trained in California, so she does not know how to use the Japanese products well) then she told me to refund me instead, (rather than booking with another person) then later, I wanted to make another app. with that excellent woman, then Kyoko was angry and demonstrated some ugly attitude. It seems like her pride was hurt as she is the "owner" but a customer wanted to choose other stylists over her. So I am sorry to write this that the owner's wife spoiled the repetition of this salon, although there are some good stylists who were well trained in Japan. read more

As many of you know, I lost my favorite hairstylist because she decided to leave the salon she worked at to travel the globe. Don't get me wrong, its an awesome decision but I was left with no one to cut my hair. :( As i mentioned before she spoiled me big time and it left me wanting more. Finding a new stylist is a pain in the A@# but it had to be done as i was starting to look like shaggy from Scooby Doo. This brings me to Arty, after some extensive research I decided that no matter how many reviews you read, you will never know which hairstylist will you best unless you try it! One person might work wonders for your friend but they might not be what you want or need. I called and made an apt and got Kyoko san. Since my apt was early Sat morning there were not many clients in this early. Kyoko san was very nice and looked at the picture i had brought and immediately went to work to transform the haircut to fit my face. After a few cuts from Kyoko san ive realized she is very skilled in making a cut fit your face. This is important, its one thing to mirror a cut but if it doesn't look good on you or fit your face...Whats the point??? Kyoko san is very nice, cheerful and has 15yrs of experience under her belt! She is very skilled with hair and cuts very fast and incredibly accurate. She works very hard to make your hair as perfect as possible. Last but not least I wanted to give a shout out to Marie san! She gives an awesome shampoo and head massage. She took her time and almost made me fall asleep under hands!!! Simply amazing! Finisher: a pic of Kyoko san and I! http://media2.px.yelpcdn.com/photo/nnNggh-huymLutMjjj7t6Q/l Arigatou Gozaimasu! read more

Arty - Hair Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

I did my research on digital perms before I got one. I decided to get it done at Arty because of the reviews I found on yelp. The lady who did my perm and haircut was Kyoko. I thought that the haircut she gave me was cute even before the perm. In any case the process was long, but she tried her best to make me comfortable. She gathered all the magazines in english in the place for me to read. The girl who washed my hair gave me a massage too. Kyoko dried my hair, styled it a bit, and put some product on. I ended up buying a can of it while I was there. My hair after the digital perm was surprisingly soft and smelled of soap as opposed to chemicals. My hair was pretty healthy when I had the process done, and I know that makes a difference. I love the waves in it now. Kyoko gave me tips on managing it. Even without any product, I think it looks great. I don't have any complaints. I'll definitely come here again. read more

If you get your hair colored or permed, hair cut is included. What a steal! Bleach plus toner plus haircut was only $130 for short hair girl. WOW. I've docked stars because my stylist doesn't know how to cut so that it grows nicely. Just a stylist, not an artist. read more

Kyoko does it again. I love my haircut and perm even more this time than the last. For those of you who may not know what style you want, or don't have a picture that perfectly represents what you have in mind, I recommend arriving early to your appointment to flip through their Japanese fashion and hairstyle magazines. Their styles are often far superior to the ones in American hair magazines (which for some reason seem stuck in the 90s), and give you a glimpse into what is possible for Asian hair. NOTE: They do not accept debit cards, even if they are backed by credit card companies with the logo on it. read more

I love this place. Had a digital perm by Mickey a few months ago, and have been waiting to write the review in case something happened to the perm. You know. Like it stopped being curly. Or one day became frizzy. Or became so unruly that it had to be shorn off. Can you tell I have serious phobias about trying a new hair salon? Or doing anything drastic to my hair? But nothing catastrophic has happened yet. I have long hair and wanted the large, wavy, victoria's secret model curl - think Giselle hair - and Mickey made it happen. It's still soft to the touch and looks very healthy (major fear prior to the perm), and have gotten many compliments on it. The actual perm takes like 4-5 hours. She perms ALL the hair, (so at one point you look like Shirley Temple), but then straightens the part closest to the head, so the curls start where they should. Now, after you wash the hair you have two options: the easiest is to scrunch some mousse into it and blow/air dry, which gives you a pretty large wave look. The other option is to digitally enhance the perm by blow drying the curls using a highly specialized device known as THE FINGER, to get gorgeous curling iron locks. Either of these are easily do-able at home, and amazingly, the curls hold up until the next wash. It's been months and I'm still loving the curls. If you ever wanted to try a digital perm, Mickey is the one to see! read more

I absolutely do not trust getting my hair cut anywhere in NorCal. I've resulted to flying to SoCal and NYC to even do so, but Arty has brought my faith back to my hometown. In the midst of all these horrible hair salons, this place does not disappoint. I originally brought my brother here for his hair cut since I didn't need one at the time. It turns out, they did a pretty good job. Fast forward a couple months, and here I am. I hadn't gotten a hair cut in 2 months, and it was shaggy beyond means. For $65, you get your hair cut, styling, shampoo, and a back massage. Not a bad way to spend an hour right? The only pain that I see is driving all the way to Japantown and paying for parking (they don't validate). While you wait your turn to get your hair cut, they treat you to a nice cup of coffee or tea. Small tidbit, but it makes me happy. As far as the actual cut goes, the people here are really nice. They'll strike up a conversation with you, or if you don't like that, you can play with your iPhone all day as well. The stylists here only use scissors, so none of that buzz cut that you can get for $10. I had about 75% of my hair cut off, and damn it looked pretty decent! Clean cut, nice staff, and great atmosphere. What more can you ask for? This is now my spot for hair cuts in NorCal. Nothing more, nothing less. read more

I used to come to Arty to get my hair cut, and got my husband into them as well. I used to get Kudo a couple of times, but stuck with Michi afterwards, whereas my husband gets his cut done by Kudo or his wife Kyoko. My husband still goes there because he likes the atmosphere of the salon, the drink selections they have, and how nice their staff is. He finds Kyoko's haircut very thorough. However I no longer go here. I have specific requests for my hair and am really picky, and compared to the level of haircut I'm used to getting back home in Japan or in LA, Michi's cut always were... just OK. It looks nice when I walk out of the salon but somehow the layers always gave me really weird bumps on the back of my head and it wasn't looking quite right. I have since switched to Japan Center Beauty Clinic out of luck one time when I called Arty for a haircut and found out that the entire salon was closed for a few weeks due to an educational trip back to Japan. When I went to Japan Center Beauty Clinic and saw Aya, she immediately pointed out that the layers "aren't connected properly". Layers, specifically the top layer of your hair, if done right, should flow nicely from your sideswept or parted long bangs (that's the look I had back then), and "connect" to the back in a gradual, slanted line. It suddenly made so much sense to me why my hair was looking kinda iffy since I started getting cuts here, and was hard to manage. I got Aya to fix my hair, and was floored how much nicer the layers looked. That was all it took for me to ditch Arty, despite their hip atmosphere, nice people and good selection of yummy drinks. Oh and also, may I point out that Michi often skipped giving me a shoulder massage? My husband ALWAYS got massages, without fail, but I walked out without a massage and with stiff shoulders at least 3-4 times. So I have no interest in returning to Arty unless they can prove to me that they have a staff that can cut my hair better than my Aya : P (and no, I didn't quite like the way Kudo cut my hair either and he's the director). On the other hand, my husband is still a regular here. I'm giving this place 2 stars but he probably will give 4 stars. Having said, the other ironic thing is that Arty raised their prices a little this year and now, my husband's hair cut cost more than my own at JC beauty clinic (Japan Center's sister salon. Aya transfered to it last year). Men's haircut costing more than Women's haircut??? Me thinks not. read more

I've been going here regularly for the past 2 years. I've searched high and low for a regular stylist that I could call my own, and Kyoko has pretty much come close to it. When I was a newbie to Arty, I had a few moded blonde dyed chunks hidden in my hair that I wanted gone...plus I wanted a digital perm. Kyoko told me I couldn't get the digital perm until ANY dyed part of my hair completely grew out long enough to cut off. Uh.....so that would take about 10 years, I thought. At any rate, I decided to wait it out. She dyed over my blond chunks and gave me an all over even dark blackish-brown. She trimmed my split ends, gave me long layers, and nice big curly waves to end my visit. I always felt like I had an invisible Miss America sachet on when I left Arty..my hand semi-lifted up as I'd fight back doing the pageant wave.. Where could I debut my wonderful hair? How come I couldn't schedule my appointments right before a major event so that my hair was slammin when I arrived? Well, because I'd rather spend my time on odd weekday mornings getting my hair done because there's no long wait, barely anyone in the salon, and I'm outta there w/in an hour or so. (that was my tip, ladies & gents) So, even though I wasn't headed straight to a wedding or a party, I'd march my ass straight into Ichiban Kan across the street and strut my stuff around that dang store saying LOOK AT MY HAIR people! Ain't it nass!!! Then of course, I'd trip over my own two feet and knock over a bento box display. Go figure. At any rate, I highly recommend Kyoko, she's an awesome and very sweet stylist. She can be fully booked for weeks, months at a time, then sometimes by luck she could be available within the next week. In regards to payment, they don't accept Bank issued debit cards even though it has the VIsa or Mastercard Logo on it. Just for that, I'm takin off half a star. I'm giving Arty 3.5 and rounding up. OH! And it didn't take 10 years for my blonde chunks to grow out, so earlier this year I got my digital perm which I LOVE. It comes out more like a wave, but that's fine because my hair is naturally thick and has a bit of a wave to it already..so the digital perm made it more wurlier. (wave + curly) Yeeeee!!!! read more

Heard this salon was known for their infamous digital perm...so I had to see for myself. Location - In Japantown. The salon sign is not visible from the street since it's hidden within a nook of stores. The salon is located on the second floor of the building - just follow the smell of perm solution and expensive shampoo. Salon - I was greeted by everyone with "Irasshai" - which translates to 'Welcome to our store' in Japanese. I was taken aback by the white colored stations and floors that brightly lit up the room. Each station had lots of hair magazines in Japanese and some American tabloids. The receptionist was quick to escort me to my station, took my coat and purse and offered me water, tea or lemonade. Get the barley iced tea - so good. Service - haircut and digital perm Digital Perm - A digital perm uses hot rods that are heated by a machine. This process is 'healthier' for the hair because it doesn't use too many chemicals, leaving it soft and shiny. A pre-treatment step helps protect the hair, then a solution is applied only where the wave will be created. The wave usually starts from the mid-length to the bottom of the hair. This gives a more natural-looking wave. Service - My stylist was Rina and she was great! Very personable and thorough about cutting and styling my hair. Before she washed my hair, she put a paper like cloth that stuck to my forehead to shield the water. The drying process was nice- I even got a head massage and she ensured my ears were dried. At the end of my appointment, I got a 5 minute shoulder massage. YAY! WARNING - the entire process took 3.5 hours to complete. Cost - It varies depending on your hair length, but you are looking at about $200 plus tip. They only take credit card or cash. Kid friendly - No, unless they are getting a haircut. There is a waiting area in the middle of the salon, but there are so many cords nearby and hair all over the floor. There are no changing stations in the bathroom. Sad face - There was so much hair everywhere - including work stations, walls, waiting area, etc. I noticed they swept the floor only twice while I was there. Eek. There are signs posted everywhere that no cell phones are allowed. I think they just don't want clients to be talking on the phone, but texting should be ok. Misc - You need to get the key from the receptionist and the bathroom is outside the salon, down the hallway. Parking is tough, but there is a parking garage (not free) across the street. They only use and sell Asian hair products. Would I come back? Yes. Overall, I am happy with my hair and had a good experience. I'll need to save lots of money for the next visit. read more

Mai gave me the best haircut I've ever had! :) She was very thorough and careful in shaping the layers and also helped fix the bangs I'd cut myself. I'm really thankful and happy with the result :) read more

I called to make an appointment after reading some good reviews and the receptionist was very nice, she even seemed knowledgeable, but I guess she was not. I wanted a digital perm. I called and asked lots of questions, which made me feel more comfortable. I got a babysitter for the entire afternoon and was severely disappointed. The stylist had no confidence she could give me what I wanted, which was loose curls and some extensions to keep my length. She said that because there was some dye on my ends that my hair would either melt together (?!) or break off from the chemicals. Basically, she let a $500 bill go right out the door. The owner was there and didn't even make an attempt to help her/me. I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

"Fierce!" Arty is the mother lode for Asian haircuts. If you have Asian hair or an obsession with the Japanese "look", finding Arty is like stumbling upon Godzilla's long lost treasure. All of the stylists are painfully cute, authentic from-Japan Japanese and they will chop your coiff up real good. I feel like most stylists are often overly cautious when doing super layered ("deconstructed?") cuts, which is why I like getting my hair styled by Japanese girls, who are unapologetic, unworried and ready to CHOP! Beware if you're not used to Japanese haircuts... you should be prepared for some quick, no-regrets, "funky" and seemingly extreme cutting. But rest assured, they know what they're doing and you won't leave looking like a Dragon Ball Z character (unless you want to). If you're indecisive like I am, show up early 'cause they've got a plethora of Japanese hair mags to flip through. I should note, for the boys, that I have NEVER seen so many men's hair 'zines in one place in my entire life. I didn't even know men had so many options. Amazing! Special thanks to Ayako for taming my unruly mane and doing a lovely job of layering and thinning out my wild, yet luscious locks. I'll be back. read more

My digital perm today looks fantastic! Let's hope it stays this way several months from now. Here's a quick summary of my morning: I parked at the parking lot attached to the Miyako Hotel (the name of the hotel might have changed, but it's the lot that is right under the Peace Plaza). Arty is right across the street from this lot. I got to Arty at approximately 9:30am for my appointment with Michi. She is really awesome, and went through some Japanese magazines with me to select a hairstyle. After a good 3.5 hours, Michi showed me how to style the hair and what neat things I could do with it. I walked out feeling very unsure about my hair, but now after staring at it for a good while, I love it!!! It's more wavy than curly, and overall AWESOME. read more

Kudo is an amazing hair stylist who DOES speak English. He is really talented; and honestly, where has he been all my life!!! I'm sure he does an amazing job on all hair types, but he definitely knows Asian texture. Waited an extra day to write this review, to test "the day after look". And I still LOVE it!!! He books fast, but I've already got my next appointment, so go ahead call him;) Bonus: Head massage while getting my hair washed & 10 minute shoulder and neck massage while waiting for the curling iron to heat. Happy ending - for sure!!! read more

My girlfriend Pearle and I went here to get digital perms and we are both giddy as schoolgirls about our results!! **VICTORY SYMBOL** There's nothing like huge bouncy volume and a little curl to make you feel ridiculously happy. I mean... my hair is now BIG, but in a rather tasteful way *winky face*. You get a relaxed curly look with a digital perm rather than an insane out-of-control bush on top your head. They gave me a really great haircut before the perm and probably washed my hair three times to get all of the chemicals out. I also got a shoulder massage.... whaaaaat? The Japanese are the best hair people out there and Arty is the best of those Japanese hair people (for their price). There are just so many nice things they do for you. I love that they put a cloth over your eyes during the shampoo so that you can fully relax into a scalp massage, yum! If you're an Asian person, you can't go wrong with getting your hair done here. read more

Got my hair done by Mako today and the whole experience was awesome! She was very detailed and has the most delicate touch! Definitely coming back for her! read more

I've had a love-hate relationship with the Asian mullet (you know what I'm talking about) for a very long time. There's a very fine line between kind of trendy-hipster and hillbillie mullet. In my college days, I often went into a salon for the first, and came out with the latter. Yee-haa. Anyways, this brings me to my present hair state. I am over the mullet, no going back. I'm a working professional, you know? But, because of my past, the first thing I tell every Asian hairdresser is ::wildly gesticulating:: NO MULLET. This was the first thing I told my stylist Kumi when I sat down in her chair. Very confidently, she told me, 'Of course not! We'll just add a few layers and trim your bangs.' I was comfortable with that. What transpired was an 'eh' haircut. I got layers, but too many, hidden ones, which have left the front of my hair extremely thin and the back of my hair thick and heavy - slightly mullet-esque. My bangs, which were sideswept, she insisted that she didn't need to cut - and now they hang out like wings on my right side. I was on the disappointed side. I've seen Arty stylists do amazing things for my friends. My advice is to go in with a very specific style in mind and a picture. Not the pictures they have in the lobby, because they don't pay attention to the cut - they'll just give you long (maybe too thin) layers. Also, be careful who you request. I've found that some stylists are clearly better than others. Some pay attention to what you want and what looks good, others just cut a style they know - long layers with bangs. I'd definitely try my luck again with this place, but with my advice in mind. read more

At first I wasn't too happy with the service here since I got in, got a haircut with this dude. He kept walking around and talking to other people and when he did cut my hair, he just did it in 10-15 minutes and then charged me $50 for it BUTTTTT that haircut was amazing! it just turned out so well. I guess I don't mind the lack of attention so much anymore =P -1 star for customer service but definitely worth coming here for a haircut. read more

4.5 stars. I have been regressing into my high school self lately. It's not completely my fault as fashion is cyclical so I can't help it that it is again acceptable for me to wear shorts with tights and boots, plaid jackets and coats, Doc Martins, leggings, tunics, onesies and vests. I'm not saying it's age appropriate but I can't be fully blamed. So, furthering this backward trending of mine, I have curly hair again. Like the clothes that are reminescent of the 90's but are more tailored and flattering, so is my hair, after my cut at Arty. I'm growing it out but keeping it curly so I was limited in my choice of cuts but I am happy with my somewhat fobby layered cut with bangs since it is exactly what I asked for. I showed Ayako some pictures, explained the quirks I know about my hair and then let her get to work. The massage from her assistant at the end was short but much appreciated. I am going to wait a couple of weeks to see how it starts to grow out before deciding if I have found my new stylist but so far so good. read more

The cut was pretty good but the Japanese straightening totally dried out the ends of my hair. Is there a better place to do Japanese straightening? read more

3.9!? I really don't want to give Arty a three star review, but somehow there was something that bothered me here. Reading all these great reviews, and having several REALLY crappy and disturbing hair cut experiences at cheaper places that completely effed up my hair, I thought that I would give a nicer salon a try. Plus, I had a cut at a Japanese salon in LA, and I knew the quality of work is much better, so I figured - why not? So I got an appointment for a Friday morning, and skipped on down with glee during the specified time. I was greeted by many airy, floaty voices that sounded like a music box (seriously) and my bag was tucked away, as I sat waiting for my stylist Yumiko, who was very sweet and nice and took good care of me. Keeping in mind, I didn't get a cheap treatment (straight perm) she was very patient and checked back on me and always let me know what she was doing to my hair. I really appreciated that, as I get paranoid if I don't know whats happening - I'm a control freak! Let me clarify, I was quite satisfied with the haircut and the way things turned out, but I was a bit sticker shocked by the final price - $290, not including tip! Based on the website, they said for long hair straight perm was $200+, but I wouldn't have assumed that it was a full 90$ more for "long" hair? My hair isn't even THAT much longer than my shoulders....plus, according to the website a haircut is INCLUDED in the price in the perm, so I have no idea how it was almost a full $100 more...if they've changed their prices, perhaps they should reflect it on the website. According to what could only be possible, I suspect that they no longer include the price of the haircut in the treatment!? If that's so, they should update their website. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED my cut and perm and the service was great, but I really thought that the haircut was included in the perm, and having it NOT be really threw me for a loop. ...I would come back here again, but I would definitely ask about the actual price. Again, 3.9 stars, and GREAT cut, GREAT service...but just a little confused on how the pricing works? read more

I went into Arty this morning to fulfill my longtime dream of getting big, romantic curls without the daily hassle. I had been hearing feedback about the digital perm and was referred to Arty. I came in for a consultation and set an appointment with Yasuo Kudo, stylist/director. It wasn't until coming in this morning though that I presented photos of what I wanted (i.e. outward rather than inward curls). Kudo-san was very honest with me in informing me that this look cannot be created by digital perm. I am writing this review even though I didn't follow through in the end (and giving 4 stars only because I can't really say how my hair would have turned out) because I truly appreciate Kudo-san relinquishing a significant sum of business to be forthcoming with me. Thank you Kudo-san, your sacrifice and honesty are noted! Everyone else can learn from me and come more prepared to a consultation! read more

This is a review for Asian men's haircut: I came to this place with no expectations and was satisfied with the level of service and outcome of the cut. Making a reservation was easy, the staff was polite, and my stylist Mako was friendly, extremely experienced with hair, and conversational. As for the style, I would recommend this place if you're looking for a more modern take on classic men's hairstyles and don't be worried or expect something too crazy. I will for sure come back again. read more

I am a bit obsessed with my hair so I can only entrust it to a true stylist. I usually go to the one inside the mall but I decided to try something new for a change. I went to this one because it got rated second best. I wish I had not taken that leap. They used old scissors. I wanted texture, shape and movement. I didn't get them. They didn't partition enough and didn't cut inside out . I was disappointed. The process was not a work of art. It wasn't well thought out. It was like going to an ordinary salon. And the old scissors left me more split ends. read more

Ohh how I just found a new love for a new hair dresser. I am a regular permer and had my perm done by Reimi, she is meticulous when rolling my hair with so many rollers, took her time (3 hours on my hair). Checked in on me at every step. I can appreciate someone who literate each process (i.e I'm going to wash your hair, I'm going to put product in your hair, are you comfortable, is this the length and cut you like, so on and so on). In the very end, I am a very satisfied customer, will recommend for any permers out there. read more

I have to be very honest. I was very very very disappointed about the service that I got at Arty. I think the location is good and the salon has a good ambiance, but the service that I got was horrible.... It was more than a year ago when I went to Arty. I got hair extensions. I forgot who did my hair, but was not friendly at all... Even if she was not friendly, if I got my hair nicely done, I would be happy.... but... It was very expensive and one of the extensions fell in less than a week since I got it. It was really poorly done. I was so unsatisfied that a month later, I got my extension redone in Japan. I could go back to the salon to fix it, but the service was bad, so I didn't even want to go back to get it done again. I have never gone back there after that. read more

This is my favorite hair salon. Hands down. I first went in for a digital perm, and was fortunate to get Mr. Yasuo Kudo, the Director of the store. I completely loved the digital perm, and I really appreciate the little tips here and there about how to best take care of it. I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to girly stuff (hair, makeup, nails, etc), and the tips really helped! Ive been going back to him ever since, for hair cuts and colors. Last time I went in, I went in for a cut, and at the end, I asked if he had time for color. He was happy to squeeze me in, and I got my hair colored a medium brown (which i have loved since leaving the salon), and I'll be going back soon to re-touch it. It seems their prices have gone up, but I think it's worth the price when you are completely happy with the result for months and months after! read more

I had a horrible haircut at some other place in Chinatown where the guy basically took a razor to my hair and thinned it out so much I probably lost like 3 lbs. Looking for a way to remedy the situation, I found this awesome hair salon. Everyone in there is super friendly, it's really clean, and it's clear from the moment you step in they really know what they're doing (especially when it comes to Asian hair). I had Marie and told her I was thinking of getting a digital perm to try to get at least the illusion of volume back. She not only gave me honest advice on my situation, but did an amazing job on the perm itself. I really wanted just body waves (not super tight curls) and they came out exactly like that. She was also super friendly and considerate in all the little ways that most people don't notice (if she saw I was almost done with my magazine she'd get me a new one, if she saw I was almost out of tea she would ask if I needed more). Oh yeah, and that's another huge perk-- they have really delicious tea and drinks while you're getting your hair done. :D I also really appreciated that she took the time to double check exactly what I wanted-- she showed me various pictures in a book to make sure the curls were exactly as loose/big as I wanted. I've gotten bad perms before where it came out way too curly, so that was a huge relief. All in all, I'd HIGHLY recommend this place. Will definitely never go anywhere else for a hair cut again. read more

Had one of my most stylish, sophisticated and sexiest haircuts EVER! It was my first time here and I made an appointment for a cut and digital perm with Kyoko. She was honest with me, which I really appreciated (thank you Kyoko!), and told me that she didn't think the perm was a good idea for my hair, which was really long but had been through highlights, bleaches, straightening perms and hair coloring. She said it's a possibility that my hair might turn blonde in the parts that's been bleached in the perming process or even melt and she didn't recommend that I do the perm at all. So we ended up just doing a cut and deep conditioning treatment. She even gave me great assymetrical bangs that no other stylist has so far been able to. And she curled my hair with the curling iron and showed me how I can style my hair if I still wanted it curly. She took her time with my cut, which made me feel that she was really focused on what she was doing, and through everything she was very professional and sweet. I really don't mind paying $50 at all for a satisfying haircut. And even though my usual stylist is such a sweet lady too and does wonderful coloring for my hair, she lacks the creativity somehow to create modern, comtemporary hairstyles, so I think I'll be switching over to Kyoko from now on. UPDATE: Went back to ARTY today to get some red extensions put in. I initially wanted to put some highlights in so that my hair didn't look so blah color-wise. I absolutely love the cut Kyoko gave me a few weeks ago. Kyoko said perhaps to save my hair from being bleached, I could try some color extensions. They braid these extensions so it doesn't damage your hair, unlike glues and weaves, and I have more creativity and flexibility to change these extensions to another color in the future. And I do love to play with color. They last for about 2 months and it was a breeze for Kyoko and Ayuko to put them in. Took them like 30 minutes to put in 10 pieces. Compared to other hair extension places that charge a bomb, they are only $10 per piece (for both the hair and labor), and it's real hair on top of that. I'm loving my red highlights! Thanks Kyoko & Ayuko! read more

If guys are afraid of needles, women are afraid of somebody messing up their hair.... It took me 2 years to finally convince myself to find a soul to style my hair! I usually do it myself but I can only do so much. So today, I gathered enough courage to set an appointment in ARTY. The place is cool and very Harajuku Japanese style. It was a relief that the staff can speak English! At least I know that when I face my stylist, we can understand each other especially my Japanese is already rotten. Yumiko is my stylist and I saw how she did the hair of the girl ahead of me and I love it. I was hoping that she will be my stylist and thanks to the goddess of scissors and hair dryers!!! :) We spent a few minutes discussing my dilemma and daily routine and how firm I am that I will not adjust my life because of my hair style. My hairstyle should adjust with my lifestyle. Unlike other horror stories I heard about salons, Yumiko took her time to style my hair. A good one hour for a medium length hair. The result: FANTASTIC!!! The proof: A guy let me pay my groceries first even though he was ahead of me. And he asked for my name! I will definitely go back to Arty should I need a new hairstyle! The price is very reasnable: $55 for fabulous haircut with shampoo and blow dry. Extra plus for them knowing how to take care of my fine Asian hair. To Yumiko-san, Domo arigato gozai-masu!!! read more