Coco & Co has so many rave reviews that it seemed redundant to add another... except I get my hair done in "fantasy colors" and I've had experience with color correction by Antonio, so I can speak to both in particular. I've been getting my hair cut and colored by Antonio for over two years now.
I used to do my own hair color with bright Manic Panic hair dyes. Having natural black hair, I had to bleach my hair first to get any kind of bright effect. I'd feel mildly ill for days afterward, but was determined.
Once, I bleached my hair then dyed it blue during a sabbatical from work. I knew I'd have to tone it back down for work so I tried bleaching it back down to blonde for my return. Result: serious color disaster. There were uneven, greenish patches and random streaks of a sickly blue hue all over my hair. I have never been picky about my hair color, but for the first time, I actually took efforts to hide my hair - it looked that bad. Despite having rarely been to any kind of salon, I gave in and searched for a color correction specialist.
Antonio did the most stunning job of turning my patchy, discolored hair into a gorgeous, healthy-looking blonde/light brown with perfect highlights.
Since then, my hair color has continued to evolve as I got a new job that allowed me to try more daring colors. Each appointment, I describe my new hair color idea to Antonio, who discusses the logistics and helps me tailor it to something doable. Antonio mixes colors specifically for whatever idea we decide upon and the result of our collaboration is always gorgeous; usually better than I could have imagined.
I'm always amazed by how Antonio can morph one color scheme into another. He took my blue ombre hair and turned it into a fiery ombre of sorts, going from my natural black to red to orange to yellow (both are shown in the photos section).
It always lasts and fades out beautifully. When I did my own hair, it rarely stuck around for more than a few weeks. At Coco, they started using the Elumen line, which gives those wild colors longevity. It fades slowly but evenly and I always like it just as much as the initial color. You wouldn't believe how many people ask me if I've gotten my hair done again just because it has faded and is different from the start, but it still looks great, like I just got back from the salon. (Advice: If it seems too intense at first, wait a few washes. Antonio plans for how the color will look long-term rather than just the initial look.)
Manic Panic was fun and is great for those on a budget, but AS SOON AS you can afford to get your hair done at a salon, going to Coco is an absolute must. I get approximately five zillion compliments on every hair color scheme Antonio does for me - some people have even told me they were inspired to add a wild color to their hair for the first time.
I always book appointments with Antonio, but one of my more drastic changes required a second session to fix patches that didn't quite bleach down enough and apply more color. Antonio is booked extremely far in advance, so I came in for a session with Lili, who did a stunning job of evening out the blonde and applying the color so that it mixed in nicely to the color I already had from the first session.
Everyone at the salon is friendly, helpful, talented, and conscientious. Nathan does a great job of running the business. He also brews a delicious vanilla chai latte. Did I mention they serve a selection of complimentary Starbucks drinks? Also, I'm always really pleased by how my side-swoop bangs turn out, and they offer free bang trims for clients, to keep those pesky bangs in line between appointments.
My hair inevitably takes some damage from being bleached and colored frequently, but it is in great condition considering everything I put it through. Antonio is always very careful to ensure it doesn't get really damaged. I use the Aveda hair repair line (shampoo, conditioning, intensive restructuring, and daily hair repair (to keep my hair nice and soft. I also get it trimmed by Antonio when I'm in to minimize damage to the ends. My hair cuts are usually the same and always look fantastic (Antonio cuts layers to show off the various colors).
If you couldn't tell from everything I've written above, I highly, highly recommend Coco & Co! Even if Antonio isn't available, he and Nathan really know quality and only ever have great, talented stylists work at the salon. Plus, Antonio frequently consults with the other stylists before they start hair color work on their clients.
For pricing, I'm not going to say it's dirt cheap or anything (true quality never is), but considering the time put in and how much product gets used at each of my appointments, the price is very reasonable. Like I said, they're very conscientious, and they never nickel and dime you. The quality is amazing and it really is a great value.
Ten stars! But since I'm limited by Yelp, I guess I'll settle for five. read more