I came here for my once a year haircut and I just moved to Gainesville so I was looking for a new salon. Avant- Garde has great reviews. When you walk in it's very clean and organized. I had Helen who was amazing since I am picky of who cuts my hair since most of the time they cut too much off than what I want. She did an amazing job and provided amazing service! I highly recommend coming here. read more

I have been going to Avant Garde Salon for a few years now. Avant Garde is a wonderful salon. It is clean and beautiful. I wouldn't go to anyone else in the world for my curly hair. I see a wonderful stylist there who specializes in curly hair. The staff at Avant Garde are friendly and kind, and knowledgeable about Aveda products. I love the energy there. It is a real treat to go to Avant Garde and get pampered every couple of months. Try it. I know you won't be sorry. read more

I'm a guy with decently long hair and just wanted a trim and shape ended up with almost all my hair chopped off and the back was uneven and than charged 65 dollars. never have I ever wanted to burn down a building this bad read more

I asked for a high dimension color, brown, honey gold highlights, etc. I was a level 10 white hair, platinum blonde. I left the salon a dark dark DARK red brown. No blonde or light color to be seen. It's bad. And it'll be maybe a year before I can safely touch it again. I normally would never leave a bad review. But oh my God, is it so bad, I cried in the salon, and I cried after. They did refund me completely and said that it just wasn't a good fit for a blonde. Well then they should have booked me with someone that fits.. and they should know their strengths and weaknesses before messing with someone's hair like that. read more

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Candice is fantastic! I love coming and seeing her! She matches your vibe if you want to chat or if you just want to be quiet / nap. I love my hair whenever she does it! read more

Great hair cut and helpful staff when I asked about salon products. Also discounts for UF staff.

I recently came to Avant Garde when the stylist who was doing my color and i-link extensions retired; two of his stylists migrated here and one of them, Shawna, does the same type of extensions that my now-retired stylist was doing. I consulted with Shawna before the move and we coordinated for my first visit to Avant Garde. Turns out, one of the front desk staff, Donovan, was someone I'd with whom I'd become acquainted five years ago when he worked the desk in another industry - he is so friendly and engaging, always upbeat and cheerful, I was so excited to be working with him again! The fact that he's been here for five years tells you how the salon treats their employees; Donovan seems very happy here. And he's great. Avant Garde is an Aveda salon and Aveda salons ALWAYS smell amazing! They have lots of great products for sale, and they have many wonderful beverages including a delicious tea for you to stay hydrated while you wait and/or receive your service. Since I was getting extensions out and back in, and getting a full color in between, Shawna and I were hanging out for quite a while. During that time, I was able to observe the other talented stylists around her station, and in turn, they came over to see these extensions Shawna was doing with me, since they don't do them! I noticed the stylists around spent a great deal of time educating their clients on how to style their hair and what styling tools and products would best help them, in a way I haven't seen too often elsewhere. Though I'd met Shawna at the other salon, this was the first time she worked with me. Leading up to and during my visit she was very patient, asked lots of questions on the style I wanted. She did a great job with the color and the extensions, as well as the cut, and I'm looking forward to continuing to work with her at her new work-home! I'd like to point out that Avant Garde is a full service salon and offers massage and nail services in addition to the hair services. For hair services, I've always found Aveda salons to be higher priced than other salons, in every city I've lived in, and that's not an exception here. Aveda products in general are a bit more expensive than other salon brands. Avant Garde is in line with that. read more

What an awesome salon! Great service and Brittany is amazing at haircuts. On top of that the salon offers a 20% discount for Shands employees - I'm sure this would come in handy if you're getting expensive treatments or products at the store. Men's haircuts are extremely reasonably priced! They offer several beverages while you wait. On top of that, they are taking Covid extremely seriously which I appreciate, being a healthcare worker myself. read more

Candice was awesome! Best hair wash ever. I about fell asleep. She was super nice and did exactly what I asked. The salon was very professional and they came through with the complimentary drinks. Good prices as well. I found a $20 off new client coupon on their website. read more

Great salon! Very welcoming and kind staff. Coffee was offered which is always a plus. Jessica cut my hair exactly how I asked. I've tried many salons since moving to GNV and this is finally the one! I would definitely recommend this salon & ask for Jessica. Their prices are affordable too. read more

Avant Garde Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I am genuinely surprised by the positive reviews for Avant Garde in here. Regrettably, I had only subpar experiences with this salon. Multiple cancellations, outrageous delays, and blunt disregard for customers' time and money. Being told your appointment is canceled because your stylist was hungover/fired/sick is very unprofessional! Plus recurrent 30+ minutes of delays, and being rescheduled with a professional that somehow charges 20% more than your original appointment, is beyond acceptable. After multiple attempts to make it work, it became clear to me that Avant Gard is simply a pretentious, overpriced, second-class business. read more

Mario is excellent. Professional cut, I'm in love with it. It's simply perfect. Exactly how I wanted and more. Lovely staff. I'm speechless, found my new salon, I'm so satisfied with my experience here and my search is over. Also impressed with the inventory of Aveda products in the shop. Quality. Thank you Mario and team for my new look! read more

Absolutely loved my hair cut last night with Rachel at Avant Garde Salon. I have been looking for a place to get a new hair cut and I don't think I need to go anywhere else. I have been to a few other salons in Gainesville recently and after this haircut with Rachel I am sold! This is where I will be getting my cut! First the men's cuts are only $25 which is amazing because of the time and effort they put into each cut. My hair cut started at 5:15 and last over an hour just because of the time and effort that was put into this haircut. We first talked about what I wanted and was looking for. Then we saw some pictures for inspiration. Finally, Rachel got to work and did a wonderful job with the cut, shampoo, and keeping the conversation going the whole entire time! It was a great cut! The salon is beautiful inside. They have a big store front that you can buy products and hair tools. They have a large reception area as well and the reception people are super friendly and nice! When you go back to get your cut, they have a large chair that is not like most hair cut places and chairs, it is more of a big seat! Avant Garde does a lot of other stuff not just hair cuts. They do nails, massages, and others as well, but I only did a haircut this time! Rachel was amazing she kept the conversation going the whole time and I can't wait to go back to her next month for color and a cut! I am sold on this place and think all should try it out! Thanks for the great service and for making my 30's hair cut look great! read more

Avant Garde Salon - Love my new hair cut! Rachel did great! - Hair Salons Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I am totally pissed off. Understand I'm not an entitled person. A mere 60 yr old wanting my hair cut and some common curtsy. I had an appointment before thanksgiving Oct. 20th and was asked to postpone until today at 6.30pm. Of course. Life happens. That I can deal with. Last evening I am asked via text if I can come at either 3.30 or 4.00 pm. I asked for 3.30. I just got up and left as it was now 3.45 and my hairdresser is shooting the shit! No word of I will be right with you! Obviously my appointment not myself are of much importance. I'm saddened. read more

Avant Garde Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I felt like an absolute queen getting ready for a ball and my stylist was my fairy godmother. They treat their customers like they are royalty! When I first walked in, I was greeted by the front desk staff and immediately offered my a beverage! I called earlier that day and booked an appointment, no problem! They had everything from sparkling water to coffee to beer! My stylist Caitlyn was an absolute gem! She gave me hair and even must-dos in different countries that she's been too! When she washed my hair, the chairs are recliners so I was able to prop my feet up and I had the best scalp massage ever! I felt as though I was traveling to heaven! She was very open and transparent about what she was doing and also kept a fun, interesting conversation going! If you want a treat yourself day, well honey treat yourself here at Avant-Garde! read more

I want to take the time to boast on my stylist, Calla. She listened to me so well. I feel I might've been difficult to work with but she acted so calm, understanding, & patient. My son just had a kidney transplant & we're only here temporarily for the time. I hadn't had my hair done in over 4 years. I felt frumpy & old despite the fact I've recently lost over 50 lbs. (I'm legitimately getting old & can't do too much about that). I didn't necessarily articulate what I really wanted initially but she read me like a book & gave my hair a balayage treatment that was absolutely perfect for me. I genuinely look forward to seeing her again. She's extremely kind & professional. Additionally, the salon is nice. It could use some decorating, however. It's completely void on their walls & makes it feel more sterile than inviting. The LAST place I wanted to feel like it was at was a Drs office or hospital waiting room. I'm assuming it's because it's run & owned by men. LOL They're extremely kind, mind you but clearly not into what relaxes the bulk of their clientele... women. One of the other ladies did my daughter's mani/pedi & again everything was perfect. She was so very sweet & yet professional toward my 9 year old. I don't think you can go wrong booking an appointment here. Especially if it's with sweet, talented Calla. She's super smart & creative!! read more

Avant Garde Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Fantastic stylists and great welcoming space, found my new go to salon in Gainesville!

I will start off with the pros. Very nice staff and they offer you a drink. Now to the cons. I have been getting a partial highlight for the last 5 years to my hair. Every stylist prior has gotten my dark brown hair to blonde. This hair dye left it brassy. I returned again for a fix up and sadly parts of it is still brassy. The stylist was very nice but sadly not the desired hair color. I also paid for a hair mask but my hair has never felt worse. Overall I will not be going back. Not because the staff was rude or anything just because the products they use are not at par and do not give the desired outcome for the price read more

Avant Garde Salon - My hair post partial. Very brassy and frizzy after a hair mask - Hair Salons Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I usually go with a certain stylist, but when i was recommended another and tried her, I asked for a trim and she cut half my hair off. I don't think she understood what a trim was, where u cut like half an inch. i'd say she cut 2 inches of hair off. I love going her but when I tried a different stylist I was given a pretty bad look that i felt like looked terrible. read more

*LGBT/QUEER FRENDLY** One of my biggest anxieties about moving from Oakland, California to Gainesville was finding a new stylist. I had been loyal to and grew to love Ami Goot at Bang and Locks, an Aveda Concepts Salon in Oakland. I began researching stylists right when I got to Gainesville. My first cut was at Salon at 716, which was mediocre at best. I attribute to lack of chemistry with the stylist I saw. It just wasn't there to the fault of no one. Avant Garde brings it from the time you walk into the door and are greeted with a beer/wibe/soda/fancy coffee, until you leave with your next appointment and a haircut that leaves you feeling fierce. My partner Shanti get her amazing cuts by Greg, the Barber at Avant Garde who recommended the AMAZING master stylist Courtney to me. All I had to do was say 4 words to Courtney: Assymetrical, Short Bangs, and Texturizing, and she ran with it, and brought it BIG TIME. Courtneys vision, technique,and intuition are golden, and I am 100% happy with my cut, and cannot wait to see how my hair evolves as she works on it. Courtney is A+. I am scheduled for color this coming week and will post photos of color then. read more

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I've only had nail services at Avant Garde Salon. The first time I got a manicure it was bad. The polish bubbled and peeled off after two days. I decided to give the place another chance. When I came back someone else was doing the nail services. Since then, I've had great experiences here. Employees are very attentive and friendly. Ask for wine while you wait. read more

Big props to Alf for totally fixing my hair! I do not live in Gainesville but desperately needed to get my hair done while visiting for work. After browsing Yelp, I saw many positive reviews for Avant Garde, so I contacted them to see if they could squeeze me in. Fortunately they were very easy to work with and were able to get me in within a few days. I always find it much easier to try to book an appointment online, so I appreciated that they offered this. I also appreciated their transparent pricing on their website. Just a tip for first time visitors since I was confused at first: their parking is in a garage behind the salon and is actually a UF parking garage with designated free spots for the salon. Upon entering the salon, I noticed how clean the salon was, and they have a very nice selection of Aveda products for sale. I was greeted and taken to my chair soon afterwards. I visited the salon for a trim, partial highlight, and because I was not happy with the overall health of my hair. I feel like I never really know how to explain very well what I want done with my hair, but Alf was able to figure out exactly what I wanted. After some recent salon disasters, I really appreciated this. I explained that my hair had recently been dry AND oily (how does this happen?!), and she was able to suggest a conditioning treatment for my hair and scalp. At other salons I've recently visited, I felt like they were just trying to sell me something, but Alf suggested a treatment that actually helped my hair. I highly recommend this treatment! I left the salon a few hours later with the color exactly how I envisioned in my head and looking way healthier. I think Alf must be a mind reader! My hair is still looking way shinier, healthier, and much more easy to style weeks later. The color has also not faded at all. I am so happy I visited this salon while out of town! For Gainesville natives or visitors, definitely visit Avant Garde for any hair or spa needs. My only complaint is I don't live nearby. I may need to find an excuse to go back to Gainesville when I need a retouch for my hair again! read more

First time I go to a Salon where they know how to handle curls. Loved Chelsea, she asked me how I wanted my haircut and did exactly what I had in mind. The styling technique she used left my curls with volume but also very defined. read more

Avant Garde Salon - Curly Haircut - Hair Salons Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Loved my haircut! I have always been skeptical to try a new stylist because I have curly hair, but Chelsea did a fantastic job. Now my hair perfectly frames my face. Chelsea really took the time to ask about what products I currently use and how I like to style my hair. She gave me tips and explained everything she was doing. Highly recommend the curly cut! read more

Michelle D. was my stylist for years until I moved away from Florida. I swear she ruined me because I have never been able to find a stylist as good as she was. (Plus, she's a wonderful person.) Now, I try to sneak in a haircut with Michelle any time I am back in town. I highly recommend her! read more

I can't say enough amazing things! This was my first time visiting the salon & my appointment was with Samantha. She was so sweet and incredibly knowledgeable. I've never dyed my hair before and after explaining what I wanted, she recommended a balayage. I love how it turned out. I've never been happier with a haircut in my life! I've tried several salons in Gainesville and this is by far the best experience I've had. read more

Avant Garde Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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LOVE THIS PLACE! I wanted to chop my hair off and was a bit scared to trust a brand new hair stylist because we're new to the area. Tyler is incredible! He listened to what I wanted and gave me better results than I could have hoped for. I definitely found my new place! Highly recommend!! read more

I don't remember the name of the girl who cut my hair, but while she was very sweet and easy to talk to, I feel like she didn't really listen to what I wanted done. When I first got there, she had me sit down and do a 10 minute consultation. One word: awkward. She asked me robotic questions and had me scaling my hair from 1-10 on dryness, volume and how much I liked it. It was really uncomfortable and felt very forced... most of the questions didn't even relate to what I wanted done. She kept prying on how I would like to color my hair if I ever did, even though I had stressed that I loved my natural color. I have curly hair and wanted some choppy layers throughout to keep my hair bouncy and fun. She took only a little off the ends, and when I asked her to go shorter around my face she seemed hesitant and then just took a tiny bit more off. She definitely did not seem comfortable working with my hair or doing anything aside from a simple trim, which made me feel like I was not getting what I was paying for. I left the salon with some uneven strands and spent the next week trimming away at my own hair every time I passed a mirror. Unfortunately I am now going to have to try another salon to try and get what I originally wanted. read more

A great experience!! From the moment I stepped in to the end I was impressed. As a former student of UF who moved to the West Coast, I was not expecting much from a rundown college town. However, this salon exceeded my expectations. The salon is very well maintained and the managers/owners are present and interact with all guests. The appointment before mine was running a bit over so they offered me a complimentary hair mask while I waited. Britney did a wonderful job on my curly hair! The staff are hilarious and truly care about the quality of work they do. Yes, appointments may run over but that is because they are doing a detailed and well done job. read more

I switched salons to Avant Garde because Orie, who had cut my hair at another salon, has moved there. Orie had left Gainesville to teach at a beauty academy elsewhere over a year ago and missing home, returned to town and started working at Avant Garde. Needless to say, I was very glad he came back to Gainesville. He is the best hair-stylist I've ever had, and I've had some very good ones in San Francisco and elsewhere. I seriously feel Orie is as good as people who have cut my hair at Cinta and Vidal Sasson's SF locations and other top-flight salons and he's less-expensive, too. Another aspect of Orie I really appreciate is that he's fast. He told me he is faster than most stylists are and some clients even felt that wasn't the best thing because they expect a high-end salon to take some time. This is not to say he is in a hurry or not as attentive as he should be: he is 100% attentive and careful and does what needs to be done with great concern, but he doesn't waste time, either. If you want your stylist to double as your therapist or best friend, maybe that would be a problem, but if you're like me and want a great haircut and not to spend forever sitting in a salon, Orie's a dream come true. He was able to wash my hair and cut it in far less than an hour whereas other stylists have taken over an hour, and with a guy's hair that's pretty silly. He's also very honest and will answer any questions you have about your hair or products in a forthright way. While he got the job done quickly, we also had ample time to speak of things I might want done in the future, color, and so on. The salon is very welcoming and as it's fairly new, the atmosphere is sleek and modern. Unlike some reviewers, I found everyone at the front desk to be very friendly, too. When I walked in, Orie and another man (one of the owners I think) were up front and I was asking Orie about his own hair (which is stunning: do we not expect stylists to have amazing hair themselves? Well, he has it). The other guy chimed in and was very outgoing, too. I'm really elated Orie is back in town: the only other stylist in Gainesville I've found of his caliber was a girl named Rose years ago who long since moved on and I've been unhappy with many other stylists I've tried, so it's refreshing to have someone who is so skilled in Gainesville. I was seriously considering going to Orlando to get my hair done before Orie came back. Now, I don't have to do that. read more

First off, I used yelp when deciding on where to go for a massage and as luck would have it, it sucked. I made an appointment for a 90 minute DEEP tissue massage with Tammy. Pros: She used scented lotion which was calming. She is a really sweet person and quite soothing. She used hot compresses on my feet which were nice as well. Cons: 1. The receptionist made me a black tea on the keurig, which I thought was nice because it was a cold day and I haven't been feeling well. I couldn't help but notice the machine hasn't been cleaned in a while, there is a layer of dirt on it, which also means the machine has probably not been descaled either.... Then my cup was stained and had a few grounds in it. I don't know how that is possible since my keurig never leaves grounds behind... Dirty cup, dirty machine, dirty drink... 2. When I got to the massage room and finally laid down, the sheets were an itchy, tough material. I found that odd since most places have smooth, soft sheets. That was annoying. 3. At first, she started really slowly and I enjoyed the instant moment of relaxation except that was her pace the entire time.... She over accentuated most of her movements making each rub overwhelmingly long, maybe to spread out time just to make it go by faster. 4. Her intervals of pacing were really off. Usually, every area is giving the same amount of time except the back or whatever you ask them to focus on. She would be slow on one part and then much quicker on the other side. Or she would have to adjust to the other side of the bed and it would just take an unnecessary amount of time for her to reposition. Even getting lotion was a 30 second delay, every time. 5. During the back portion (which I asked her to emphasize) I had to ask her to go deeper... But she never really did go deeper and I ended up having to ask her again during my leg portion to go deeper too. 6. She never isolated muscles or truly work them out. She just kept going back and forth without engaging in knotty areas. I shouldn't have to point out where my knots are for you to work them out... You are suppose to spot them and fix it... 7. I did give her permission to use Tai Chi sticks on my feet (having arch problems)- WORST idea ever. It gave her more of an excuse to just poke and play around. That is not reflexology. Reflexology is using pressure points to release tension.... Not rubbing a stick over my arch... (with little to no pressure, which I asked her to add more pressure). 8. So I asked her to stop using the stupid sticks and she agrees but then uses them on my other foot.... Enough said. 9. When going to start my legs she left the cover on for an unusual amount of time. She would press firmly down on my leg and the width of it several times - at least 3 minutes each side, which out actually doing much.. Her drapping was comical. I have had student therapists who did a better job. 10. She did next to nothing on my arms. Enough said. It was 90 mins you had enough time. 11. Then she "massaged" my eyebrows.... By lightly pinching them, slowly, softly, and strangely... 12. Then at the end my "head massage" was her just scratching my head all over for 5 mins, until my hair was a complete knot (I have very fine hair). That isn't a scalp massage. There are pressure points you should hit... 13. Then her facial massage (which most therapist don't do, I don't mind it though) was the last step.. She just slightly grazed her fingertips over my face, in a tingly sort of caress... Really pointless, a waste of time and money. 14. She never asked me how I liked it and never thanked me. 15. Then the receptionist at checkout was completely engaged in another conversation with a heavier gentleman (sorry not to be offensive). They were talking about selling memberships and who should be at the meeting. All while I am waiting to tell him my massage SUCKED. Since he barely talked to me, except to say my total and if I wanted to add a tip... I just left. (I honestly hope my tip offended her) 16. But wait there's more... I go to my car in the parking garage to find a note from a police officer that my car had been rear-ended during my massage. That my friends is the cherry on the cake. I will gladly pay more to go to a real spa, with genuine work ethic, standards and a honest brand. Biggest waste of money. The spa is my personal getaway and I won't settle for mediocre service. Gainesville might be a college town but that doesn't mean the bar is low. read more

Nice salon inside. Very upscale. Went in to get my wife a gift certificate. All I can comment on right now is the ascetics of the place, the customer service was excellent, and the prices are very good. 20% discount for Shands employees At present they had a main, pedi and 1 hour massage for $65, can't beat that. I'll update my review once my wife tells me how she does or does not like them. read more

Location is very nice , it is super clean and everything is super organized , I walked in early and the front desk clerk was very polite, friendly , and inviting . This was my first time here and honestly I've never felt so important at a barbershop or salon as I did here , they offered me drinks and gave me just an incredible experience . It was worth every penny and I've already set my next appointment. My stylist was quick and she listened to me and gave me the exact haircut I wanted. read more

Best salon in North Central Florida! The entire staff is very welcoming and friendly (even if you're not their client)! Bryan Sepp is THE BEST STYLIST AROUND!!! He listens to what you want, makes suggestions to help you achieve the best look possible for your face and skin tone and he delivers amazing service. You can tell how much he cares about his clients. Every time I go in I love my hair even more and he manages to make it "pop" in a whole new way! They have every service you could want from a spa, a membership program for discounts and free massages! And on top of everything I just mentioned they carry fanastic products that won't damage your hair, skin, or nails because they have no harsh chemicals in them. Safe for color, smoothing systems, etc. Do yourself a favor and book an appt today! read more

I've visited this salon twice. Once to chop off and donate 18 inches of hair. I was underwhelmed with the experience. The second time was to try balayage on my virgin-never-been-colored before hair. I asked for the best in their salon. I didn't care about price. Apparently the best in their salon butchers hair. There are strokes where you can see square brush. Underneath there is NO COLOR applied. It's not natural. It looks absolutely awful. They wouldn't even give me a refund and instead they want to "color correct". At this point I don't want this salon to ever touch my hair again. Stylist was Caitlyn. read more

I dreaded finding someone to cut my hair after a bad experience somewhere else in Gainesville. Jessica at Avant Garde was fantastic! She listened to what I wanted and gave me exactly what I was looking for (a trim and long layers). The environment was relaxing and she was very kind. I am pretty picky about who cuts my hair, but I will definitely be going back to Jessica and recommending her to anyone looking for someone reliable! read more

I have only used their massage service so far, and highly recommend it. The facility is very high-end looking and the massage rooms are above average. The front desk staff and massage therapists are professional. The front desk is always staffed, unlike other places where I would have to leave a message and call back at awkward times. All summer long they were moderately busy, so with school starting it may get busier. Massage table was extremely comfortable with aromatherapy candles and soothing music. Overall, I had a great experience and have been there twice already. The location is also very good with parking in the UF garage up above with validation. read more

It's extremely difficult to find a high quality hair salon in Gainesville, FL. Perhaps my standards are just different than others because I'm from LA, but this is the only place here I will trust with my hair. Before I found this place I was driving all the way to Jacksonville just for a hair cut. So glad I found this salon! The atmosphere is nice and the stylists are very skilled. P.S. My stylist is Samantha. read more

I'm so disappointed. I should've noticed the red flags when I called multiple times yesterday and no one answered, but they offer a treatment I wanted, so I tried again today. I got through to someone who was friendly and helped me make two appointments; one for a consultation tonight at 7:30 and one for the treatment next week. When I came in tonight for my consultation, I was asked COVID-related questions and had my temperature taken, which made me feel really comfortable, and then not one person acknowledged me. Not the receptionist after he had seated me to give me encouragement for the wait, not one of the three stylists who walked the previous customers out. I'm glad I walked out, clearly customer service isn't a priority. read more

So, so happy with Alf and Avant Garde Salon! It's always hard to start in a new city with a new stylist and I am so glad that I found my way here. read more