Kiyoko is fantastic! I absolutely love her tiny little salon in the middle of Japan Center, right…read morewhere all the action is happening! She is incredibly meticulous and detailed with her haircuts, wonderfully gentle and careful with washing, and amazing with hair color. You can tell she takes so much pride in her work and pays attention to every little detail. My hair is very difficult to cut because of years of processing, but she worked her magic. This is hands down the best haircut I've had in years! If you're looking for someone who is skilled, thoughtful, and truly cares about the quality of her work, I highly recommend Kiyoko.

I booked an appointment here a week in advance specifically for a layered hush cut after reading…read moreabout their technique. To make sure there would be no misunderstandings, I called the salon again the day before my appointment to re-confirm. During that call, the front desk asked about my hair texture, and I explicitly confirmed that I have fine, naturally wavy hair; she assured me it was not an issue and confirmed my appointment with Yuka. When I arrived today and sat down in the chair, Yuka took one look at my hair and flatly refused to cut it, stating, "I can't cut your type of hair. I never cut hair like this before." She suggested I rebook with their curly cut specialist, who was not even working today. When I reminded her that I booked a week out and specifically called the day before to confirm my wavy texture with the front desk, Yuka snapped back, "Why did you come here?" At that point, I cut my losses and walked out. It is one thing for a stylist to lack the technical skills to cut anything outside straight East Asian textures, but handling a client with that level of hostility and disrespect is inexcusable. To take time out of your week, confirm twice with staff, sit in the chair, and then be aggressively asked why you even showed up is appalling customer service. If your hair has any natural wave, curl, or texture, save your time and dignity and book somewhere that understands diverse hair types and treats clients with basic respect.

Hector Estrada; hairdresser EXTRAORDINAIRE: color, cut and…read moreshaping. I was a medium brunette. A few years later, Hector said, ""I'm going to make you a blonde, because, You have a good personality." Now, every 6weeks, I'm a little bit blonder and a lot happier. I'm constantly complimented, "Who does your hair?" Hector has transformed my life. Getting an appointment is challenging, as he's booked two months out, but, his Assistant Michael, is amazing and will work you in as soon as humanly possible. I promise.

I've been in SF for 8 years trying to find a hairstylist I actually trust, and I finally found…read moreHector. I went in not really knowing what I wanted, just vibing with some general ideas. Hector totally got it and did an amazing job. The thing that impressed me most is I wanted highlights without bleaching my hair, and he made it happen. Every other place said I had to bleach it. The salon is super clean, bright, and has a great vibe. Everyone there is really kind and helpful. Yeah, I had to wait for an appointment and send pics beforehand, but it was 100% worth it. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a great stylist!

I think the choice of barber is a very personal choice - you want to find a really good one that…read moreunderstands what you want out of a haircut, and also has to be able to construct that haircut on a bi-monthly cadence. For me, I found Kaori through Yelp. She is best reached through text, and she is responsive. The first time I showed her the haircut I was going for, she was able to understand immediately, and she was also able to work around my difficult hair (read: male pattern baldness). I have been going to Kaori for a year now and I plan to continue going!

Kaori was great! Very kind, fun to talk to, and skillful with my hair. Would come again for sure.read more

So happy I found Benji! I'd been professionally covering my grays every 3-4 weeks, fighting that…read moreharsh demarcation line as my hair got darker and darker. From the moment I sat in his chair, he made me feel completely at ease -- personable, attentive, and so easy to talk to, like catching up with an old friend. He took the time to consult with me, listen closely to my concerns, and develop a thoughtful plan to begin lightening my base and gray blending journey -- keeping the integrity of my hair a priority every step of the way. He's incredibly talented and knowledgeable when it comes to color, using modern techniques to create a natural, seamless blend with no harsh lines -- just soft, pretty color that'll grow out beautifully. A total perfectionist, he made sure I was thoroughly happy with the result before I left the chair. The whole experience felt effortless, and I haven't loved my hair like this in so long. Benji is the only person I'll trust with my color from now on -- so grateful to have found him!

As a 58 yr old woman it's nice to be noticed. Thanks to Benji I get compliments on my hair ALL the…read moretime! We've been on quite the hair journey since 2021, playing with a variety of shades of red. I've been loving being a redhead. I am 95% grey, which I have found is not easy to achieve perfect coverage. Benji's got me! I appreciate his excellent communication skills. He listens intently and asks a lot of clarifying questions to be sure that we're on the same page. He exceeds my expectations and I feel genuinely cared for in his hands. He's a sweetheart and so fun and easy to chat with during my services.

Thank you, Hung, for an amazing makeover! I have not had a real haircut in a few years, and hung…read morewas able to completely cut and tone my long/thick hair in under two hours. I highly recommend him- he is professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and his salon space is beautiful.

Casual and very relaxing once you enter through the door. Professional, creative, honest stylist…read more Newest addition is Georgie- what a beautiful pup. Highly recommend Hung for a hair cut and color, 100%

Yumiko was great! She is very nice, professional, and informative. I got a layered cut and a…read moredigital perm. She warned me that my straight, fine, virgin hair will have difficulty holding a curl after day 1, but it ALWAYS came back after a wash. The curls started to loosen at about mo 4, and lasted about 6mos. I went back for another digital perm 1yr later, and I'm going back for a third today!

I've been going to Arty for years now, and I feel as if the quality of service has declined. I went…read morein for a full highlight and haircut and I felt like it was being rushed and I didn't even get what I had asked the stylist for despite being very specific about my style. The highlights were done very well as well as the haircut, but neither were what I asked for/was expecting based on pictures and verbal requests. The haircut was rushed and I had to ask a few times for adjustments. I understand that sometimes hair takes a long time, but with the amount I paid for the session I would like for time and care to be taken to heed my requests. Unfortunately I will be searching for a new salon after this last session.

Really good experience with Lee. The place has a really calm and welcoming vibe, and it's super…read moreclean. Lee is really professional, but what I liked most is that he's honest. He'll actually tell you what he thinks instead of just doing whatever you ask or trying to sell you something you don't need. Honesty goes a long way with me. I asked for a specific haircut and he told me my hair needed to be a little longer for it to look right. He basically said, "I can do it if you want, but it's not going to look as nice. Give it a few more months and we'll do it the way you want." I really appreciated that. He takes his time, gives you his full attention, and doesn't make you feel like he's trying to rush you out for the next customer. Overall, talented guy, super honest, professional, and you can tell he actually cares about his clients. 10/10. Definitely recommend giving him a try!

Lee knows his stuff! It's a little pricier but I'd say worth it. He's even cut hair for the Squid…read moreGame main character:0 I can trust him with my perms and haircuts.

They're amazing, angels, and what it must feel like when a guy changes a woman's tire on the side…read moreof the road with a head nod as you're welcome. I walked in facing an absolute emergency after accidentally getting gum stuck in my hair while completely exhausted. Walking into a high-end salon when you're feeling at your lowest takes a lot of courage, and I was bracing for judgment. Instead, the beautician and assistant met me with pure empathy, dignity, and profound human kindness. They didn't see a problem to turn away; they saw a human being who needed help. They used the exact right professional product right off their shelf to solve the issue perfectly and with incredible care. True professionalism isn't just about technical skill--it's about heart. Thank you to the angels at Steel + Lacquer for showing me such grace when I needed it most."

Returning to The Bay after a four year hiatus, I desperately needed styling. Today I reunited with…read moremy longtime stylist, Cloe Washington. I wanted a Wolf cut, but not a mullet or a tight fade. Cloe did me right with a nice scissor fade, keeping it long on top. Trust!

My new go-to place for haircuts! I have long, thick hair and my haircut was about $30 - not…read moreincluding wash & style. Usually other places charge me double and cut more than I want. I love that it's so affordable and not too far from my workplace. Mona always cuts it at the perfect length that I say, and never more than I ask. I always leave happy with the results. Highly recommend! CASH ONLY & metered parking. Highly recommend booking an appt via phone.

WOW! I got a $25 haircut here and it took less than 30 minutes. This did not include wash and style…read morebut I was okay with that! Mona was super sweet and has been cutting hair for 20+ years. I made an appointment via the phone about a week ago. CASH ONLY!! Will definitely be returning back here.

This place just gets better every time I come by. David is…read moreamazing and so is the staff. East to make appointments they do cuts blow outs highlights and Men's cuts.

I've been going to Nielle for over a decade and from the jump she really listened to what I wanted…read more I originally came to her after a botched balayage I got in the Philippines, and she completely fixed it. From there, we did an 10 hour transformation going blonde and honestly, that appointment bonded us for life. I've never trusted anyone else since, she's basically my hairstylist and therapist hehe Her balayage is SOOOOO good. It always looks natural, grows out beautifully, and lasts forever without getting brassy. I'm pretty low-maintenance, and somehow my hair still looks put together months later because of her work. Her haircuts are also super clean, and she's actually the one who got me into curtain byayangs and I've stuck with them ever since. What I appreciate most is how much she cares about doing things the right way. When I decided to go back to my natural color, she didn't rush it or take shortcuts. She slowly transitioned me over time and kept my hair healthy through every stage. I live in Los Angeles now and will literally fly home just to see her, that's how good she is! After 11 years, she's more than just my hairstylist, she's someone I trust completely. Highly recommend!