I can't express how wonderful and genuinely cool the staff here are. From start to finish my experience was hospitable, high quality and fun. After a series of bad haircuts, I stumbled on this place after a stylist reached out on social media. Coincidentally I was moving to DC so was I in luck! My stylist was Cherise, who is SO talented at what she does, and just super cool overall. She gave me a beautiful haircut that I had dreamed of having for months. She asked a lot of questions to best understand my needs and really listened in the consultation. She delivered!!! I feel so confident! It was such a relief to feel trusting of a stylist, and we had such a great chat the whole appointment, really lifted my spirits. I will absolutely be back! Thank you so much for offering a great experience. read more

See all

i've had great experiences with two stylists here: i love love loved my curly cut from Lindsey! i always come in with very specific needs that usually don't make sense and she was able to understand what i wanted really quickly. it wasn't cheap but the DC curly cut market is quite pricey so i was pleasantly surprised by the price! i also got a balayage/full highlights from Aimee. again, im really bad at explaining what i wanted but she understood it so well. i asked for a purposefully streaky but subtle look and omg its amazing. ive had these highlights for 4 months now and i still am in love with how they look. watch out guys they have a perfect storm here!!! read more

I'm new to hair color and tried them out. The color came out great, the salon is cute, staff is friendly, and got a nice head massage during the rinse off. However, the amount I was quoted on the phone and the amount I was charged was a significant price difference. When I called to ask about this, the staff was so nice and professional and we figured out how the miscommunication happened. They offered a paritial refund, which I think was more than fair. So even though they are a little pricey, that experience was so pleasant and professional, and the color so good, that I will be returning. read more

To start: I had 2 good haircuts and 2 good conversations with Andi. She did thoughtful work and I felt like she took my needs seriously and evaluated my hair holistically. Bristle uses Evo products, which I love, and that is how I originally got here. I had to cancel an appointment with less than 24 hours notice because I was exposed to two different people who tested positive for COVID and just found out. During this time, it is the thoughtful thing to do to cancel an appointment with any personal service professionals, especially considering their close proximity to my face/hair/whatever. I was levied a $52 cancellation fee, even with me rescheduling the appointment, not cancelling. I respect that hair salons are in an uncomfortable position with the pandemic and that it is a financial hit whenever someone cancels. COVID cancellations are inevitable, and there should be more respect and grace given to clients, particularly when they reschedule and don't fully cancel! It is insulting to be billed for something I am doing to protect the health of my stylist, not the other way around. It shows, to me, that Bristle does not value public health. I will also add that a men's cut is now $80 which is absurd, and was not communicated to me prior to this latest appointment I had to cancel. It's dramatically overpriced, and the cancellation fee affirmed that in my mind. I have since cancelled my rescheduled appointment and will not be returning to Bristle. I would not consider myself an especially COVID conscious person beyond masking and vaxxing and generally being thoughtful. To me, though, cancelling this appointment was a no-brainer; it is sad that Bristle does not agree. read more

I will follow Cherise anywhere. I love the place, the products, and the warmth. I have been her client for... maybe ten years now.

I have been seeing Allie since she started at Bristle, and she has taken my hair from platinum blonde with pink to a more lived in blonde, to brown, to very dark brown. She is kind, patient, thorough, and extremely good at her job. There is no other way to describe her work other than art! I could never let anyone but her touch my hair again! read more

Allie is amazing!! I told her I wanted change but couldn't decide so I let her have creative freedom to do as she wished! Boy oh boy did she give me change! Love the cut, love the color and LOVE Allie. She was very professional and sweet! Will definitely be going back to see her! read more

Bristle Hairdressing - Hair Salons Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Just recently started visiting this salon. I can't recommend it highly enough. Cherise has cut my hair twice now. Great cut and wonderful atmosphere. Very welcoming. read more

I recently moved away from the salon in New England where I'd been a deva cut regular for several years. My most recent cut left me with a harsh V shape that I chose to hide in a pony tail or bun rather than asking for it to be fixed. I knew I had to find a place in DC where I felt comfortable with my stylist. After checking out other places' reviews and not being about to find an appointment for MONTHS I stumbled on reviews about Ginger's dry curly cuts. I am so thankful for her and her skills! My hair is shorter than I wanted but I expected it with the nature of curly hair. Ginger listened and gave advice but she wasn't pushy about products. This is a day of picture and I'm sure if I took as much time as she did styling it'll look like this everyday! The price is very reasonable considering what other curly salons in the city are listing. I highly recommend Ginger. read more

Bristle Hairdressing - Curly hair cut by Ginger - Hair Salons Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you have curly hair, do yourself a favor and see Cherise. Seriously. I have very thick, curly hair, that often gets unruly a month post-haircut. Three months in, my curls are still gorgeous and manageable. She removed a lot of the weight of my hair and I have never wanted to wear my hair down every day. Cherise is also a pleasure to chat with, Bristle is a cool salon (they offer you BEER), and you can't beat the Adams Morgan location. read more

Unfortunately have to find a new stylist after coming here for a couple cuts. If you're looking for the trendy shag look, you might be okay here. If you're looking for something with more precision, I would recommend against it. Also if you're a fan of the hair washing experience with your cut, be warned: that won't happen here. Overpriced for a crooked cut is not something I will be returning for. read more

I began going to Bristle Hairdressing and seeing Ginger after a fellow yelper said that she was the best at cutting curly hair! I have 2b/2c hair (straight at the root and then large loose curls), so finding someone who truly knows what they are doing and talking about can be difficult especially in DC where you don't want to pay an arm and a leg for your service, but also don't want to wait three months for an appointment. You can get an appointment fairly quickly here if you are a new client and I have begun to schedule my appointments two months in advance so that I do not have to worry about trying to make something work at the last minute. They do not have parking, but they are fairly close to the metro and there are abundant SpotHero spaces around if you prefer to drive. I have been nothing short of impressed with Ginger and Bristle Hairdressing! Everyone at Bristle is professional and welcoming; you feel like you are entering a very knowledgeable space, that is both homey and trendy. Ginger is an absolute artist - she actively listens to what you are looking for in your cut/ service and then dry cuts your hair first (which is really considered the right way to cut curly hair so that you don't end up with a triangle on you head!) and then cleanses, styles, and gets any last bits that weren't apparent the first time around. Ginger always makes my hair look amazing and I can't wait for my next appointment so that I can keep looking fabulous! Thank you so much, Bristle and Ginger - you make this curly girl a lot less anxious about getting a haircut! read more

I have very thick curly hair which most hairdressers can't really handle very well. I have an amazing hairdresser in New York City but since I've been in DC for three years I decided after a lot of research to try this salon. This was a huge mistake! My hair is currently short and I'm in the process of growing it out. I tried two different stylists here including Ginger who is skilled at cutting curly hair according to yelp reviews. My 1st cut with Ginger was OK (not great) but when I went back just to get some of the weight taken out so that my hair is manageable as it grows (a common concept among curly haired women), she really ended up butchering it. She cut it very short (like 1/4 inch) in the places that I told her to let grow. She also thinned it out to the point that it's wispy at the ends and short and no longer curls. She was also pretty arrogant about what I was asking her to do and didn't seem to respect what I wanted. I can't believe they charged me $95 for what should have just been a between cut maintenance. I asked for my money back and they gave it back to me. I'm beyond upset; my hair is buzzed in places and so short that it sticks straight out from my head. I won't be returning to the salon. Traveling to New York City for an amazing cut will just have to be the price I pay. read more

I have had two haircuts here, and both have been outstanding. I first saw Cherise. She is an expert with natural hair textures. I have never been able to wear my naturally wavy hair with confidence, and she gave me a cut that helped me feel so good in my natural hair. She was super helpful with styling and product tips as well. My second cut was with Jordan. Although I loved the natural look, I do tend to blow dry my hair straight. Jordan was really intuitive with exactly what I was asking for. I walked into the salon feeling really icky about my grown out weird hair, thinking I would need to lose a lot of length to get rid of what I thought was poor performing hair due to split ends. I ended up losing very little length and her reshaping of my hair made me feel like a million bucks. I got more compliments after both of these cuts that I ever have before, and I highly recommend both of these stylists. Also, the receptionist and people who wash my hair have always been very welcoming and fun to talk to. All around, salon owner Mel K. has created an awesome place! read more

Gabby did such an amazing job with my hair! She really understood what kind of cut I was looking for and it turned out perfect. She also gave me the best tips on styling! After bouncing around to a few salons in DC and not being happy with any of them, I'm so glad to have found such a great stylist. read more

I no joke shaved my head for 20 years. Just me in my bathroom with some cheap clippers. I decided to grow my hair out to change things up. It was looking pretty rough so I decided to get a haircut. Ginger made me feel really comfortable...I was pretty nervous. I really had no idea what I was doing. I pretty much let go and let ginger do her thing. The end result was pretty awesome. She taught me so much about how to maintain my hair. Confidence boost. I will continue to go back to ginger and can't say enough about the awesome experience she provided. Very grateful. read more

Melissa is a goddess; fully a technician and fully an artist. I looked in the mirror and I felt fully realized -- this is MY perfect haircut. On FaceTime just now my best friend said she already can't remember what I look like without this haircut because this is supposed to be my hair. My male best friend kind of snorted and said I look like Fleetwood Mac -- this is honest to god E X A C T L Y how I want men to feel about me. Knowing that there are dozens of other women in this town that feel as good about themselves as I do about myself with this haircut (and this wash!)...makes me want to find all of them, band together, and form a league of unstoppable women. I walked into this salon less than 18 hours after finding out about it on Yelp. After shooting them an email requesting the earliest appointment for a hair cut (I live nearby), they responded within 30 minutes that Melissa had an opening the next day at 11am due to a cancellation. Once I emailed back and accepted the appointment, they sent me an appointment confirmation text. I never gave them my number -- they must've grabbed it from my email signature. I also got a reminder text two hours before the appointment. All seamless. I walked in with no idea what I wanted, just that I knew my hair needed to be thinned out and shaped. I have extremely thick, heavy, semi-coarse Persian hair that grows like a weed (I am hashtag blessed -- thank u to my ancestors) in a weird triangular shape that flips up at the bottom -- real cartoon hair. But when I was waiting for Melissa (prob 3 minutes), I saw one of the other stylists with the most incredible bangs. Once in the chair, Melissa took a good look at my actual hair -- not just my hair in the mirror, like actually squatted down to my height and touched it and messed with it -- to get a sense of the texture and behavior, asked me where I part it, how often I wash it, etc. I told her I liked the other stylists' bangs and she said I could do a version of them well. Then she started throwing out words like Brigitte Bardot, volume, French, 70s, your hair will look longer, stopping to check in with me as she formed her plan. I was honestly astounded because she instantly got this vibe that I love but can only haphazardly explain and was able to explain it back to me perfectly. Ok so she sent me off for a wash and hoo boy lemme tell ya -- this was the best hair washing of! my! life! I could not tell you precisely why except that the woman (I think her name is Viv?) took her time, everything smelled so zen and amazing, the sun was out, and her hands deserve to be puppeteering a muppet for God's sake but here we are in Adams Morgan with such unfettered access to them and what a small miracle that is. (If you don't tip her you're a monster) Then Melissa gave me my perfect haircut. She was an easy listener when I rambled on about nothing important (I do this, it's who I am) and there was zero tension when I silently zoned out for ten minutes. Toward the end when the bags and face framing layers were starting to dry naturally, they already had this absurdly perfect bend to them that I have coveted from women in British crime dramas for years. HOW DID SHE DO THAT??? Y'all I was geeking out. Even she realized this was a great haircut and asked if she could photograph it at the end. Yes, bitch! And she did, with real lights and everything. And here's five more selfies of it because I realized just now you can style the bangs three ways -- iconic. The haircut cost $95.00, including the wash, cut, blowout, and styling, not including tip. They accept Venmo tips! I had to get that price from my bank app because I was deliriously blacked out from the moment I looked in the mirror until I met my friend 15 minutes later for coffee and she SQUEALED (scout's honor, her name is Elissa) when saw me and I snapped out of it and yelled I KNOW RIGHT??? read more

See all

Hi Guys! I just want to let yall know if you aint coming here what yall doing? ... YALL MISSING OUTTT!! My favorite and ONLY stylist is Alexis He is the BOMB.com , and does beautiful colors! I love him & his work! He is very straight forward with everything. I loveeee loveee going to him, I love doing fantasy colors and if he knows my hair won't lighten he will tell me and let me know and ALWAYS will try to accommodate me and what I would want. His hands are MAGICAL . He loves what he does. I literally feel like a whole NEW woman EVERYYYY time I leave his chair I always get compliments on my hair.. and even when I haven't gone in a while my color always fades beautifully. His haircuts are also the best! I just love the experience everytime! I promise you guys will not regret yall services . Prices are reasonable and yall will feel brand new once you leave the salon! TRUSST! Here are some pictures throughout the years read more

See all

I saw Gabby and she was a complete PRO! She was so kind and listened to my thoughts and concerns. I've tried for years to get this kind of haircut and every place I went told me no, or 'tried it' and it came out 'off.' This was a big change in hair cut for me and she took it slow and checked in with me every step of the way to make sure everything was turning out as I had hoped. Gabby went above and beyond and I got the BEST HAIRCUT EVER!!! She is so skilled and patient! I can't wait to go back! read more

There are only two salons I will go to in DC, Bristle and Trim. But since I've found Alexis at Bristle, I've only been going to him. He has always exceeded my expectations with both cut and color. He's amazing with fantasy colors and textured bobs. Super meticulous and will make sure you are absolutely happy with your hair before you leave. The salon itself has a fun, trendy vibe with great music. read more

Nate is a world class hair stylist and I can't recommend him enough. I just had my hair cut at Bristle Hairdressing and I was seriously impressed with the precautions they are taking w.r.t. COVID-19: mandatory masks, distance between hairdressers, every person immediately washes hands upon entry, and they are only giving dry cuts. I felt very safe getting haircut here. I was worried that a dry cut wouldn't look as good, but it truly looks just as great as ever. Nate took my long thick hair and made it much lighter and more stylish with a healthy trim and long layers. This has been an emotionally hard year and it is amazing how much better a great haircut can make you feel. I am so grateful to Nate and Bristle Hairdressing! read more

Cherise has been cutting my hair pretty much forever - even now that I live on an entirely different coast. So when I came back to DC this winter, I was so excited to visit her at Bristle. What an amazing, woman-owned salon, right in Adam's Morgan! Haircuts can be a little nerve wracking, but Cherise makes you feel comfortable the minute you arrive. She cares so much about making her clients look and feel beautiful, whether you're getting the same old trim you always do or you're venturing out of your comfort zone with something new. She's really talented and passionate. Not to mention a pretty wonderful human to sit and chat with - you might not want to leave her chair. I highly recommend Cherise. I highly recommend Bristle. I highly recommend you go get your hair cut right now. read more

Bristle is such a cute spot with a very comfortable vibe the moment you step in the door. Ive been getting my haircuts by Cherise for about 2 years now and I can't say enough wonderful things about her. She's incredibly patient, kind, and really makes you feel like she wants you to leave looking your best! I always feel like a million bucks after our visits. Its an incredible relief to find "the one" when it comes finding a hairstylist that understands you and you can trust. Thanks Bristle and Cherise, can't wait to come back! read more

This place is the most adorable. Do you have haircut anxiety? Have you ever gone home and cried because your haircut made you look like Doc from back to the future? Then fear no more, Cherise is the girl to ease your haircut fears forever. I'd follow her to the moon and back, but am super pumped she landed at Bristle. She can cut an inch off of my hair and make me look like she hasn't changed my length at all, while still making my hair look healthier than it ever has before. I went from popping a Xanax before hair appointments to going "yeah, just do what you gotta do," and leaving my hair in her more than capable hands. The staff here is SO nice (and they have beer! Stella! ...and tea, coffee, etc. of course) and they carry evo products which I also love. The culture makes you feel respected as a client and the Shop has such a nice neighborhood vibe to it, which can sometimes be lost in DC. I had my color consult here too and can't wait to have that done next time I'm in! read more

Bristle is a great new salon in DC providing incredible haircuts. They keep my curly-hair looking fabulous for work, while also staying a little creative. Melissa, the owner, is fabulous -- and she's building an awesome community here at Bristle. Melissa has been cutting my curly hair for a few years. It took me 4 years in DC to find someone who didn't ever give me a triangle cut. She keeps my curls looking good at all lengths! Did a couple years of longer hair with her, and recently cut most of it off which also went great. It's not cheap, but I haven't found anywhere affordable in DC that can deal with curls! Definitely worth the expense. The space is vintage chic, like an old school hairdressers. Very queer friendly. Unfortunately it's not super accessible -- big set of stairs. read more

Cherise is an amazing stylist. It's hard finding someone to cut my curly/wavy hair, and she always asks how I wear it, cuts it wet and dry, and then takes the time to go back through and style it just so. I always get compliments on the cuts she gives me. Excited that I am getting to follow her to a new woman-owned salon. Trying to spend my money at places I can feel good about, while still looking good :). Thanks Cherise! read more

I followed Tim from his previous salon and he is fabulous as ever. I really like the new space too. Everyone is super welcoming and it's a cute space. At first I thought Adams Morgan was so out of the way, but in fact it's a pretty short walk from the yellow/green line in Columbia Heights. Especially if you have a pixie cut, Tim is the best. He can to funky, classic, or anything in between. read more

I have waited to write this review to make sure I loved my hair as much as I thought I did when I walked out the door. I do! They listen and respected my wishes and me. I'm graying naturally and I love it. I have absolutely no interest in coloring. My hair isn't easy, straighter on top and really curly underneath. The cut accentuates the natural texture in such a beautiful way. read more

Bristle Hairdressing - A couple of weeks later and I still love it - Hair Salons Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was harsh about the downmarket decor and products (didn't like the musky male cologne smell) of this place. But the haircut I got from Cherise was outstanding and more than makes up for the momentary salon experience. It also warrants the high price of the service, despite the shabby setting (who knew DC's haircut prices for women are highest in the country?) It's the simplest bob, which I've gotten my whole life, but the execution of this style separates those with talent and skill from those just phoning it in. Weeks later I still love it. The proportion, balance and swing of the style are perfect and the cut always looks sharp and clean edged. It's the best haircut I've had since I was 14. The next time I'm in DC I'll make a special trip to Adams Morgan to get my hair cut by Cherise. But something tells me she won't be at the same place for long. read more

Horrible!!!! WORST EVER! NEVER SEE ALEXIS! Went in with blonde hair (bleached) and wanted a change so I wouldn't be damaging it so much and asked for light brown... well they left it in for way too long and went back to chat with their co-workers... flash forward my hair is BLACK with magenta tones! And I asked for light brown... I left in tears. They said wash it a few times it might get lighter... color just poured out of the shower and chunks of my hair! It's now still black and way more damaged than it's ever been. They clearly have no idea what they are doing and shouldn't be allowed near hair! read more

Based on all the 5 star reviews, I thought my experience here would be outstanding. However, this was not the case for me. Firstly, parking is really difficult if you're driving. I visited here twice, and both times I had to park at least a 10-minute walk from the salon. That could be a non-issue for me as I don't mind walking and Adams Morgan is a great neighborhood. However, the experience in the salon itself wasn't anything worth the hassle of driving around 15 minutes just to find a spot. For my first appointment, I just scheduled a bang trim because my bangs were severely grown out. I sat in the chair for ~maybe~ 3 minutes, and I was charged $20. I thought this was a little excessive for a trim, especially when I had already scheduled two other appointments for a future cut and color and planned to establish myself as a client here. When it came time for my actual cut and color, everything was going okay. That is, until the final product. I was getting my hair styled, and when she was finished, she said "that didn't turn out how I wanted it to." And then proceeded to sort of "touch it up", but it looked the same. My bangs were flat against my head, no style or shape whatsoever. The color was uneven and choppy in places. I left the salon with my hair looking worse than it did when I came in. DC has better options. read more

Melissa is just very cool and made me feel so comfortable. She gave me a super cut that was exactly what I wanted and I feel just so amazing. What a really special place and talented woman. Thank you! :) read more

Jordan is a very caring and expert colorist and stylist. I have very thin hair and balding due to lupus, and she really knows how to help me look my best! She is also very kind and fun. Cannot recommend Bristle and Jordan highly enough. read more

I was really excited about my haircut with Andi. I asked for a chin-length bob and ended up with a pixie cut. My hair is normally very curly, but it isn't really curling like it usually does and my bangs are super uneven and choppy. The website said the haircut would be around 75$, which is already the most I've ever spent on a haircut, but at the register, it ended up being 95$ without a tip. I make minimum wage so this is a lot more money than I was comfortable spending on a haircut. I have never written a review for anything before but I've also never paid so much for a haircut that has taken so much of my confidence away including my curls!! I really want to get a haircut to fix it but I can't afford it so I guess here we are writing a yelp review lol! Please, my fellow curly hair queens, go somewhere else! read more

Alexis took such good care of me. He took his time to ask me what I wanted and made sure I left the salon completely happy. He is a color genius and I couldn't have asked for my first Fantasy Color to be any better. The cut was perfect for my face and the depth of color and shine is second to none. This salon is convenient, friendly, talented and knowledgable. I was there for hours and every interaction was kind. 10 out of 10 would recommend. read more

I've been going to Jordan for both cut and color for 3 years now and she continues to do an amazing job. I've been to Bristle twice during COVID and their safety protocols are excellent. Temperature checks and require hand washing at the door, no waiting inside , never more than 2 stylists at one time, no double booking of clients and touchless check out. I felt safer getting a haircut at Bristle than I did at the doctor's office! read more

best salon in dc! No question. Great and fun staff, easy to book and cancel, super Covid safe, and a pretty convenient location.

Im a big fan of Cherise at Bristle. I've seen her for several cuts (ranging from fixing a bob, getting a regular trim, to going full pixie) and she's fantastic. My hair is coarse, straight, and I'm fussy about how I want my hair to look. Cherise is a great communicator - especially if you are too! She is approachable, listens carefully to what you ask for, and has the skill to deliver. I really appreciate how she pays close attention to details and checks in throughout the cut without ever making you feel like she's questioning or judging your request. Bristle is also one of the few salons I've experienced that operate in the 21st century with online booking, and accepting tips over Venmo. 5 stars: would cut again, have cut again! read more

I have been going to see Cherise for the past year for my hair and just wanted to drop by to say that she is Amaaazing. My hair is now a few weeks post-cut and continues to look great everyday with very little effort on my part. She is a real pro and knows just how to make a person feel beautiful and like themselves. Bristle itself is beautiful, clean and bright, and they clearly have their act together around covid-19 safety. I highly recommend this place and Cherise! read more

Been going to the owner for almost 10 years and have been very happy with the result. I find the price a bit high for spending 20 minutes cutting my hair but I'm always happy with the result. Good, friendly staff too. read more