I have curly hair, which means I approach haircuts with the same caution most people reserve for tax season. But Berkeley Hair Studio, specifically Jenny, is the only place I've ever left feeling like my hair actually understood the assignment. Jenny is a gem. She's friendly, genuinely cares, and somehow remembers exactly what you talked about last time. Every visit feels personal, not just transactional. I told my friend in Vegas how good she was, and he literally flew out just to get a cut from her. He came in a skeptic, left a believer. Prices are super reasonable, especially for Berkeley, and there's even a discount if you pay cash. The studio's right off Telegraph, so it's super convenient to swing by without making a whole day of it. If you've got curls, or even if you don't, and you're tired of haircut roulette, this is your spot. read more

Janney is consistently disrespectful of your time. Don't even bother making an appointment, because she will not honor it. Show up on time for your appointment, wait an hour, and she'll still fit in a walk-in before you to maximize her profit over respecting your time. And she is also careless - when SO gets his hair cut, I have to clean up her misses afterward. Time is money. Don't bother. read more

During my latest visit to the studio I waited for 20 mins and there were 2 folks ahead of me which meant I had to wait over an hour. When I told I was leaving, Jenny didn't care, didn't apologize or was concerned even the slightest . Been here 3 times and every time I had to wait over an hour for my turn, even after having an appointment. I was hoping the time management would improve but it just keeps getting worse. I would rate my haircut 3.5/5, the price is decent but the wait is just unbearable. read more

Janney is finally back at her original location in Berkeley, but at a different suite (Suite A) which is located on Blake St. instead of Telegraph Ave. I've been getting my haircut from Janney for close to 20 years now, and for customers that know, Janney is the best! If you're new, I definitely recommend making an appointment. If you're a walk-in, just know that you may have to wait a bit longer. Regardless, like many of the other reviews mention, her time management may not be the best all the time, but her loyal customer base speaks for her work! read more

Berkeley Hair Studio - The entrance is located on Blake St. instead of Telegraph Ave. - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

Really affordable haircut! Really hard to get an appointment so I just got there first thing in the morning, but be expected to wait.

Was looking for a place to get a haircut for my boyfriend. Found this place and was able to come in 30 minutes later for a haircut. She did a phenomenal job cutting hair and replicating what we wanted. She was very skilled with the scissors and different trimmers. Price was very affordable- $22 cash for men's haircut. Very satisfied with the results and will be coming regularly from now! read more

Berkeley Hair Studio - Haircut - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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5 Star haircut by Janny; Great value at a reasonable price. She is conscientious and takes the time to do a very fine cut. Berkeley Hair Studio's Janny is my go-to haircutter. Peter M read more

Jenny is a fantastic hairdresser. She actually gave me great advice on how to blow-dry and style my hair. Such a bargaining reasonable price but provide great service read more

Small shop on Blake Street about 100 feet from Telegraph. The owner knows her stuff! She did a great job cutting and foiling my hair. Make an appointment for sure. She does a fantastic job, but takes in way too many people while coloring my hair. She should do appointment only. Prices are very low.. Do make an appointment and see her for a cut, color or whatever. She is fantastic! read more

I've been coming here for over 15 years. The haircuts are usually five stars. The four star rating is because you have to be careful with the appointments. If you try to walk-in, most of the time you'll have 3-4 people ahead of you, some of them appointments. If you make an appointment, you need to still prepared to wait, but its worth it. Janney makes appointments every half hour I think and tries to fit walk ins between these but it doesn't really work and slowly, throughout the day, the start times drift. You will get a high quality haircut at budget prices, but this will usually involve some waiting. Make an appointment and then bring a book. read more

The BEST VALUE haircut in Berkeley, by far! Jenny is a top-notch stylist at an unbeatable price.

I think 4 stars is a very good assessment of Berkeley Hair Studio, and basically Janney, at this moment. I know Janney on a deeper level than most because our respective families are very close. I've read other reviews, good and bad, of BHS, and I'm able to understand all opinions and how they may have been affected by Janney's personality. As a professional, Janney has cultivated her skills to an incredibly high level over the years. She's at a point in her life where she can live off of her talent and reputation around the Cal campus. She holds razor-sharp focus when tending to her clients and strives to deliver the best cuts possible because of her high standards. She is honest with people, as well as with their hair; she won't cater to people's specific requests if she doesn't think it will look good. And for the most part, her final judgment is absolutely spot-on. She just has this strong sense of what looks good on the noggin. The only way I can explain the poor time management is because of poor stress management and the desire, as I've said, to deliver the perfect cut. As a human (without revealing too much), there was not a lot of guidance or support at home and she's had to learn a lot of life lessons the hard way and on her own. She has been quite candid with many of you guys about her recent struggles and experiences. She is getting better at treating non-regular customers and people distant to her; it takes time for people to grow on her. She is great with names and small life details of a person she likes. She can be superstitious and extra cautious, but it's always for a good reason. She's been very helpful to me during my rough times. Now that I've moved back into Berkeley, I'll try to stop by when I can to help facilitate the shop by answering calls, taking appointments, and sweeping the floors so that she can focus on the hairstyles. Most likely I'll be there to help with busy Fridays, so please come by then and see if a micromanager like me can speed up the waiting periods. In short, yes. Pretty much every review here speaks the truth. She is a phenomenal hair stylist. She is terrible with time management and questionable with understanding other people's desires to have a timely haircut experience. You should make an appointment. You will be satisfied. Go, Janney, Go! read more

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Janney is still a great hair dresser. And she still has a great memory. And she could still probably get away with charging more. But over the past year, it has become apparent that the wait just isn't worth it. Her time management isn't very good, which leads to appointments overlapping. Even though she knows me, she'll tell me that I have to wait well over an hour, hour and a half, after my appointment time early in the morning. (And I tip very well too.) It's hard to justify coming here after consecutive visits like this. It's almost as if she doesn't realize that her customers have schedules too. If I were her, I'd only take appointments and leave about 45 minutes between each instead of just 30. Charge more. And open on time for goodness sakes! Until then, goodbye Berkeley Hair Studio. read more

Awesome hair cut place. I have been here twice and both times Janny cut my hair exactly to my liking. I didn't have to wait long for my turn to get my hair cut, but she does have candy/treats set out on the table and waiting area if you get the munchies while waiting, which is a nice touch that I haven't seen at any other hair cut place. As for the hair cut, she asks you what you want and then does it. She takes her time cutting and made sure my hair was at the length and style that I wanted. It took about thirty minutes and was well worth it. Berkeley Hair Studio gives topnotch hair cuts at reasonable prices. I will definitely keep getting my hair cuts here. read more

Dropping rating from 4 stars to 3. Sorry, but the bad hair has returned. I swear it looked perfectly fine after I got it cut, even for a few weeks, but now, a little over a month later, I've gotten that weird hair with the sides sticking out, so I look like I just woke up. Hell, maybe my hair just grows faster near the top, so it sticks out like that. Nevertheless, I think really good haircuts shouldn't have that problem. I will try more places to see if it's me or the stylist. read more

$13 cut? You must be kidding!?! No, every Asian Cal student has been there! I work with alumni and I could have office hours there everyday! Janney, and don't see anyone else, has been clipper cutting the "yellow peril" for years! My colleague sent me there and Janney is fabulous! Yes, there were three others ahead of me, but at $13+a generous tip, who cares! Note, there is a one hour, non-metered parking space right in front! $13!?! I spend more on lunch! read more

Hands down the BEST haircut I've ever gotten in Berkeley since I first moved here as a student in the spring of '02! Actually, I would say this is the best professional haircut I've ever received! (non-professional haircuts can be pretty damn sexy, but thats a whole different story...) Janney precisely cut my hair with the utmost confidence, skill and speed. I can't imagine why anyone would go to a $50+ hair salon when there are people like her out there to be discovered. She charges $11 for a guy haircut which is INCREDIBLE. I'm thinking about leaving a $20 tip next time, because I've gotten $30 haircuts a few times and they were not as good read more

Berkeley Hair Studio - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Janney is so sweet and cut my hair just to my liking!! I always get stressed about cutting my hair but Janney made sure to check if I was liking how the hair was being cut. I love my haircut and had a great time while getting it cut, will definitely come back again soon!! read more

Janny has been cutting hair in Berkeley for 21 years. The old Garage on Telegraph was demolished but she is back in the new building, in Studio A, on the Blake street side. I would not go anywhere else for a haircut in Berkeley. read more

I've been 4 times and they haven't F'd it up yet! They are consistent and they give good haircuts. Exactly what I wasn't getting at great clips or supercuts. I'm very happy I've found this place. Quick Tip: bring cash - it's $2 cheaper!!! read more

Berkeley Hair Studio - Jenny's favorite dog - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

Worst haircut I have EVER had. The stylist did not listen at all, so be very careful. She cut off far more than I asked, we talked about it and I specifically showed how much. This was not a trim, she cut off a ton. Now. . .even if I wanted a cut instead of a trim--the haircut was awful.. I'd be a tad more forgiving if it at least looked decent. I had no idea someone could do such an awful job. I am beyond disappointed. I don't think it's even worth the $12. If you're a boy looking for a basic cut, go for it. If you're a girl--run away from this place as fast as you can. read more

I've been coming here off and on for almost 7 years now. No one cuts my hair better in the bay, period. I've been to SF I've been to SJ, she's still the best. So anytime I happen to have business or be in the Berkeley area I always stop by for a fresh cut with Janney. Heads up bout time management, do not come here in a hurry. It's a 1 woman shop and she takes walk-ins so you might have to wait a little while even with an appointment, but she does a great job and it's worth it! read more

Jenny is still cutting my husband's hair. He's been going to her since he was 18. He's 36 now. She's cut his hair from his "Berkeley engineering" days, to his "fresh out of college" days, to his "I'm getting married" days, and now in his "middle age, receding hairline, I am tired because I work full-time and have a toddler at home" days. She has never failed to make my husband look good. Even though there is often a long wait, she still provides the best haircut for him and has adapted it to his changing hairline. Everyone knows Jenny and her hair cutting skills. She's amazing at what she does, efficient and still reasonably priced. Pretty sure my husband will remain a client until she retires. read more

Thank God Janny is back at the same corner of Telegraph and Blake. still the best.

I've been coming here on and off for a couple years now, although in the last year it's just been on. I was introduced here by a friend and I had a great first haircut here, but I also had to wait about 30 minutes for a haircut, and I spent over an hour in total for that haircut. I then tried some other places, with not as good results, which made me come back. This is basically the pattern for the first year of me knowing about this place: get great haircut - long wait times - switch somewhere else - short wait times but disappointing haircut - and now I'm back. I think I tried at least 5 alternatives to this place before I finally caved and now I always come here. The problem here is that it's just one person in a small shop, and she's extremely meticulous and takes great pride in her work. This is great if you're the one getting your hair cut, but it comes with a mindnumbingly long wait. You absolutely have to make an appointment, and even then you should expect to wait up to 30 minutes (it's occasionally been longer and more often shorter, but I would budget around a 30 minute wait). read more

I've been going to Janney exclusively for the past 5 years for her amazing, cheap, and meticulous haircuts. She is the only hair stylist I've trusted to do a perfect job each time. The wait can be long, with or without an appointment. I've had success walking in on weekdays when she opens, later in the day her schedule gets backed up. Bring a book, be prepared to wait, and once it's your turn she will give the same attention to your hair regardless of how many people are waiting. She usually takes an hour for me, first completing the main cut with wet hair, then blow dry, then trimming the dry hair. I really appreciate how meticulous she is, going over each side of my hair multiple times, sometimes even finding more to trim after the cape is off. It's clear she cares about her craft and wants you to leave fully pleased with your new look. While you wait, you'll notice how dedicated Janney's clientele is. Folks come from all over the Bay Area just to get a cut from her little studio. She remembers where you live, where you work, and asks about your family. Again and again you hear - I can't find anybody near me that gives such a great haircut! read more

Giving this a 1/5 because I can't give it a 0. This was my usual place in Berkeley to get hair cuts because of the price. They did decent jobs, but never amazing. I usually felt like the haircuts were "incomplete," like you would need a little bit more trimming afterward. And no matter who served you, it would always take at least 20 minutes for a simple job. I would've given it a 3/5 before what happened today. I went in today hoping to get a haircut, but I didn't have an appointment. There was one other guy ahead of me, and also an appointment coming in, but she told me that she would definitely have time after those two, and before her next appointment, and she gave me an estimated time of 30 minutes, so I decided to wait inside. Instead, it took her 30 minutes just to finish the walk-in directly before me, AND THEN she started her appointment. She took FOREVER trimming millimeters at a time from this guy. Around this time, someone called in and scheduled an appointment with her in an hour. I was supposed to be next after this guy, so I decided to suck it up and be patient. But no. Instead, she took half an hour with this guy and the next appointment walked in, and she repeated the same thing again. I tried being patient (it was already an hour in), since this new guy had even shorter hair and didn't want a hair wash, but it took her the same amount of time to serve this guy. At this point it had already been 90 minutes since first walking in. But then her next appointment came in (the guy who called in while I was already inside waiting) and she served him immediately and told me again that I'd for sure be next. I was fed up with hearing that again so I stormed out of there. There goes an hour and a half of my life gone to waste. I'm never setting foot in here again. read more

Haircuts are good, the place is clean. However it is a real nightmare to wait each time for more than one hour after being told it would only be 30 minutes. Some other customers try to take advantage of the system and will attempt to pass in front of you even if you arrived earlier. I don't even mention those who have appointments, show up late but still pass you. read more

One day I was talking to Janney while I waited for a haircut, and I realized that I was one of her first customers way back in 2001, so I obviously like her work... She is a super nice, professional, talented barber/stylist. There are a few things to know if you're looking to get a cut. 1. Make an appointment. 2. Even if you do make an appointment, you still may have to wait a bit. There are times when there are 3 appointments and 4 other people waiting for a cut. She does her best to get everyone cut in a timely fashion, but these things do take time. 3. Be patient. Bring a book, bring some music, chat up your neighbor, do something. 4. Try to go during off-peak times. If you go Saturday at 2PM the weekend before graduation, she will be busy, and you'll have a long wait. I always will recommend Janney to everyone I know. She's a good barber, and on top of everything, she is super affordable... $16 for a cut read more

I really want to give this place 5 stars. I really do, but I can't for the following reasons: Pros: 1. Janney is amazing at her craft. Her skills alone warrant 5 stars. It seems like everyone always waits for her even if there is another barber available. She will always give quality cuts. The other random barbers have variances in quality and do not stack up to Janney. Cons. 1. Poor Communication/waiting in line: This reason alone knocks off two stars for me. Janney is not very clear or transparent with her walk in clients. If you walk in, she may say or imply that you will be up in 15 minutes, but then at the last moment, her appointments show up and you are pushed back another 20 minutes/client. My friends and I have multiple experiences where we walk in and she tells us we'll be up in 15 minutes but we end up waiting 2+ hours because her appointments show up. We learned our lesson and we always make appointments now. Maybe she is trying to maximize her potential business but I think this is poor practice to give paying customers false expectations. I've seen many people storm out angry after waiting for hours Conclusion: Don't come to this place unless you make an appointment. It's simply not worth the risk or your time. If you do decide to walk in, make sure to ask her if she has appointments coming in so you do not raise your expectations. Other than that, she is a great barber. Just not a great businesswoman/comunicator. read more

I did not get my hair cut here, so move on if you are looking for a review of the actual hair dressers. I had an event to go to on Saturday and I needed a hair cut, bad. I had an appointment at 6:00PM on a Thursday which I booked in the beginning of the week. I got out of class at 5:00 so i figured I'd go a little early.... 5:45PM I get there and there are 2 people getting their haircuts and 2 people waiting. When Jenny/Janney finished her client, (and by then there was another person waiting too) she asked, "who has an appointment?" all four of us raised our hands. Hmm.... one guy agreed to see the other hairdresser and one person had their appointment at 5:30 and the other at 6:00. Therefore for me to see her, I'd have to wait behind two people (one being another female) and they were going to close at 7PM. I decided to leave. I dont want someone rushing to get me out so they can close. I understand it tends to get busy and I appreciate that she may have been taking her time, but it was ridiculous to make that 5:30 buy wait that long. Until I get a haircut from her, I wont be changing my review. I made an appointment elsewhere tomorrow so who knows when and if I come back to Berkeley Hair studio. read more

Janney is super awesome and does an immaculate job every time. I've been going to her every two or so weeks since I first started college and haven't been disappointed. -- PROS Janney is friendly and is good at cutting hair in a way that's complimentary to one's facial structure. The general demographic of her customers is Asian guys, who usually get some sort of short-on-the-sides-longer-on-the-top sort of style it seems, and she does a really good job with just about every single one. However, I've seen her cut other types of hair--thick, curly, wavy, etcetera--and she does an equally good job. Price is pretty reasonable and affordable, especially for a college student. For guys, I think it's currently $13 for a walk-in and $15 with an appointment (assuming you're paying with cash). She has other rates if you pay with credit card, are late for your appointment, and/or want a wash. It's pretty close to campus as well and she has a plethora of magazines and a candy dish to ease the waiting process. CONS I've noticed a lot of people commenting on the waiting time/poor time management/etcetera. Okay yes, I've personally experienced long waits here, so those individuals aren't completely wrong. During certain times of the day (usually after 4pm) and certain days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday usually) there is a lot of congestion. This is why you should definitely make an appointment. It doesn't hurt right? Although she accepts walk-ins, don't unreasonably expect to be in and out right away if there are clearly others waiting. It'll be even longer if you specifically want Janney and not her other colleague to cut your hair. In conclusion, make an appointment and the waiting time will most definitely be cut in half. Janney understands the principle of appointment making, so she naturally tends to those who have taken the initiative to call beforehand. However, she's also fair and if you're a walk-in, you might have to wait for (1) anyone who has an appointment around when you walked in or (2) anyone who walked in before you, but she does find time eventually to squeeze you in. -- Overall, great and consistent haircuts from a friendly, hard-working person! read more

Jenny gives very good haircuts, and they are cheap, but the cost of your time needs to be factored in. I went here around 12, and two people came in with appts. She said she would have to do them first, and so I left. I called for an appt. for later that day, and she said come at 4:45. I got there at 4:55, but I think the other person getting her haircut at the time had been there since before then. Then, another person who possibly had an earlier appt. was put ahead of me, and then another person who had been waiting a long time with no appt was put ahead of me. So I wound up waiting over an hour with an appt. Basically if you have an appt. late in the day, don't bother. If you factor the cost of your time, you could go to a better salon and not have to wait with an appt. read more

TLDR: Make an appointment for the best hair dresser in Berkeley. Janney is truly a fantastic hair dresser. Yes, it can be a hassle sometimes. Making an appointment can be difficult, especially on weekends, and even if you do make an appointment you may have to wait a bit. But this is because she is so amazing at what she does. She knows how to blend the side and the top so that even after a few weeks, when the hair has grown out, it looks good. I currently attend Cal, but honestly, "whether or not I will still be able to come to BHS" will play a (small) part in determining where I live after graduation. I've been to plenty of other places in Berkeley, but none match up to Janney's consistent, high quality haircuts. I feel apprehensive writing this review because this place is already too crowded and too popular. But she's awesome, detail-oriented, and kind, and she deserves more good reviews. So make an appointment, get there early, sit down, grab one of her excellent selection of updated magazines, and watch a master at work. Do not go try to walk-in without an appointment. You WILL wait, because there will be a walk-in waiting ahead of you plus back-to-back appointments. read more

This place was my first time getting a haircut in Berkeley. It wanted a pretty dramatic cut-- from shoulder length hair to pixie-- so I was nervous. But I'm very glad I came here. The hairdresser was very friendly, knowledgeable, and supportive. I love my short hair. Was also very satisfied with the price, and will come back for my next cut. read more

The studio only has Janney working this week, on limited hours. When I went in on Monday, the place was packed and I was advised to make an appointment and come back tomorrow. No problem. Came back today and again, packed. My appointment was at 3pm, but she hadn't got to her 2:30 and 2:45 yet. I patiently waited and she got to me around 3:45. I didn't have plans and I expected to wait anyway, so not a problem again. While I waited, Janney talked with a couple customers about how she hasn't been feeling well lately, so it takes her longer to cut. She also gets bad headaches, which is why she was closing at 4:30. I was nervous to get my hair cut after hearing that... Would she be rushed to finish and get to the 3 other guys waiting, all before closing? I wanted to bail. But I'm glad I didn't! Though I'm a girl and girl haircuts seem to take much longer than guys', and though there were at least 5 other people waiting (some of whom had been waiting for at least an hour and I had skipped ahead of with my appointment), she still took her time and did a fantastic job. She was very careful and methodical, it's obvious she cares about what she does. Highly recommend the studio for their careful cuts and ultimate professionalism when you're in the chair. Expect to wait a long while, even with an appointment. I strongly discourage walking in - you might wait over an hour, and then get turned away. I must've seen 4 or 5 people get turned away in the hour or so I was there. I've been coming here for about 1.5 yrs... While Janney is supposedly the best, the wait is shorter if you go with one of her assistants, and I've never had a problem with any of them. read more

Even though there are many shops in Berkeley that offer haircuts, it's very difficult to find a place that isn't ridiculously expensive AND do good haircuts. Berkeley Hair Studio, so far, has been my #1 place to go to for haircuts. Jenny is usually the only worker there, save another person on certain days. Nonetheless, she does a fantastic job whenever I go to her, and always does her best with whatever style you want. Spiky hair/fohawks usually are the best from her. After a haircut from her, I may feel like it didn't work out like I thought, but after a day or two, it turns out to be perfect. Two important things to note (like everybody else's been saying): 1) Always, ALWAYS call ahead of time to schedule an appointment! A day beforehand is recommended. 2) Make sure you have at least 1-2 hours of your schedule free. Since she tends to work alone, I would end up waiting from a mere 5 min. to 35! Have patience! read more

Like cheap haircuts and waiting a long time? This is the place for you. I walked in on a Monday afternoon. To her credit, Jenny (the proprietor and only stylist working at the time) told me that she had an appointment ahead of me and asked if I could wait. What she didn't mention was that she has two ahead of me. In fact, when I mentioned it after the first appointment was finished, someone who walked in after me also claimed to have one. Luckily for me, Jenny mistakenly thought he was supposed to be in two hours earlier, and he didn't put up a fight in letting me get in ahead of him. So, make an appointment, I guess, and put up a fight when they get it wrong. The alternative is a long wait. I guess everyone wants a mediocre haircut for $15. Never let anyone but Jenny cut your hair. The other stylist that works there can't control himself. It's like he has a social condition that only allows him to cut hair too short. read more

I've gotten my hair cut a few times here. Other places simply don't compare or just suck. There is this one salon down on university near San Pablo that charges $10 a cut. They blow donkey D. Don't be cheap, spend the $13 here and get a quality cut. Sometimes, the line can be long so try scheduling an appointment! The ladies do a good job, and are pretty quick, yet very precise with their sheers and trimmers. read more

I've lived in the Bay area for over 10 years now, and I haven't found a more skilled and friendly hair stylist than Janney. A couple tips: (1) If she has a helper working there too, they're not going to be as good as her. She's the best -- like the Shaolin master of haircutting. (2) If you can, I highly recommend making an appointment, as she always has a line, and you'll end up waiting an hour or more w/o an appointment (since she gives priority to the appointments). She's my top recommendation for the Bay Area. read more