Steve did a great cut and color. It was VERY EXPENSIVE, though. I called beforehand, but just remember those are only starting prices. Once you are sitting in that chair, ***ASK THE STYLIST HOW MUCH IT WILL COST BEFORE THEY PERFORM ANY SERVICES,*** or else you will be in for a surprise, and not a good one!!! Also remember that you're going to have to tip, so factor in even more money. THE PRICE FOR A HAIRCUT WAS REALLY STEEP, especially since it didn't look the same the next day when I shampooed and tried to style it myself. It also grew out really weird. My hair was also short, so it'll probably be even more expensive if you have long hair. Anyway, haircuts are super expensive, but A SINGLE PROCESS COLOR WAS REASONABLE BUT STILL PRICEY-- since it did make my hair feel healthier instead of making it feel worse (they use aveda products, which is like the best thing you can do to your hair). Still, it was a simple all-over color, nothing complicated. I guess it's because it's a high-end salon. I do have to commend them for GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, because after leaving a previous post, the owner actually contacted me to explain. They really care about the reputation of the salon, so that's a plus-- since that means that they care about their customers and keeping them happy. ***RECAP: Get your hair colored by steve if you have the money to do it, but ask him specifically how much it will cost first (don't forget that you also have to tip, which adds even more). As far as haircuts, not that great for the price.*** read more

*sigh* I think I might have found my forever hairstylist. After a series of sloppy, expensive haircuts with multiple stylists around the east bay, I had just about given up hope of ever finding anyone that could manage to just give me a decent haircut. I'm not that difficult or demanding - I have straight hair and after a lifetime of trying styles to find what will work with my hair, I pretty much know what works and what won't. I also know at this point how much time and effort I am willing to put into styling. So my disappointment with previous stylists is based on whether they can cut my hair and make sure both sides are of equal length and give me some highlights that grow out nicely. I'm not expecting miracles, I just want to leave feeling good and have a great cut that grows out nicely. A friend of mine recommended Shannon Solano to me, so I made an appointment and went in. I liked her instantly. She was easy to talk to, listened to what I said about my hair and gave me different options. I was so comfortable with her that several times I asked her to do what she thought was best. And as she highlighted and cut my hair, I never once felt like I needed to manage what she was doing. I also just enjoyed talking to her. Hard for me to explain, but I can't tell you how many times I have walked into a salon and felt judged by the staff, and it's the biggest turn off. I never felt that once with Shannon or any of the staff at Elixir. Another thing that impressed me was that when I told her that in my recent hellish hairdressing experiences I felt the stylists hid their sloppy work by overstyling my hair, she actually made a point of styling it how I might do it at home. She explained to me how I could change the look by using products or a round brush. The end result was that I left with a style that felt like me and didn't need toning down in my rearview mirror once I got into my car to head home. My cut and color with Shannon was a huge palate cleanser. I'm going back to her for sure. read more

My boyfriend and I love NOEL!! He is the extremely competent. I have been to stylists in Los Angles, Miami, New York and he is definitely one of the most talented. His diverse experience enables him to give you that perfect cut. I have seen him work magic on many people..they always leave looking fabulous. He will not let you down!! You are getting more than your moneys worth with him. We heart Noel! read more

Let me start by saying if you need your hair done KASI is who you want to see . Her work is flawless . She is very meticulous and wants your hair to look and feel amazing . She really takes pride in her work and that is very hard to find . Definitely recommend read more

Yay! So I arrive 15min early, coffee in hand for my 8:45 appointment. Unfortunately the assistant can't find the record of my appointment, and the stylist I was supposed to see is midway through someone elses appointment (uhg). Enter: Alex, salon owner. Alex came over, found a record of my phone call, and my information but still no appointment in the computer. She apologized genuinely and asked if there was any way I could wait ~45mins. Sure why not, I have a coffee and a phone with internet, might as well. So I was a little worried, after this slightly off start to the day that things wouldnt go so well with the haircut, wrong!! Lindsey was awesome, she took one look at my hair and could tell exactly the way I had it cut last (which was 6 months ago) and understood perfectly what I wanted. Over the years I have come to learn the haircut rule if you tell a hairdresser 3" they will take 5". Not this time! She actually took off 3... guess I should have asked for 4-5 :) The massage was excellent, I love the smell of rose oil. I only wish their shampoo/sink stations were more comfortable, after a great massage its a shame to get all tense again holding your head on a hard sink. And the best part, they took off 20% for messing up the appointment time! That made an already cheap $35 haircut into an amazing deal for $28. I think I've found "my salon", I heart elixer! read more

Elixir is a solid little salon. Nice folks. accessible in West Berkeley. Comfortable My review is probably really for Genevieve Palogan. I've been seeing her for 8 yrs - first at ARTBEAT and now at Elixir. Gen as a person is warm, funny, open minded, very intelligent and solid. As a stylist Gen has a ton of experience. She listens actively. She tells you when what you're describing is probably not going to work well for you. As a colorist she's an artist. She's got a great eye for color and she mixes colors and can add all kinds of neat things - not just typical highlights. The salon is not cheap. I have found using an excellent stylist and colorist helps greatly with my looks and hair maintenance and saves me money in long run. I highly recommend her. read more

Good lord I have never been so relaxed in my whole life, like not even during a full body massage. My facial with Starr was out of this world! It was the most incredible experience that left my skin outrageously soft and smooth. Starr is amazingly knowledgable about not only the great aveda products she uses but also skin in general. She really knows her stuff! She is thorough, gentle, and incredibly caring. I can't wait for my next appointment! Starr also did a brow wax, at a separate appointment, that was incredible! I'm not sure how she makes it so painless, but it really was! She spent a good amount of time perfecting my brows and was incredibly meticulous. I don't typically let people trim my brows but I felt like I could totally trust her and they look great! The conversation was great too, Starr knows a lot about the bay and gave me tons of tips for places to eat and things to do as I'm new to the area. Go see Starr for facials, waxing, and everything in between...you won't be sorry! read more

Thank you Starr! You care so deeply about the service you provide. I have never had a Salon Professional take the time necessary to do what I would call a PERFECT job each and every time on my brows. Yes, I am picky. I have gone to Starr for at least 4+ years and would probably travel many miles if she ever were to relocate. Thank you for being a truly fine human being as well. I trust you. read more

Julia is a wizard! I'm selfishly loathe to write a glowing review, because then she'll get all booked up (ha as if she doesn't work super hard all the time always already) and then I will no longer have her miraculous talents to myself. Seriously, she is the best person to ever happen to my hair. Julia is warm, thoughtful, creative, and respectful. She gets super excited to try new hairstyles, and her energy is infectious! She understands the challenges of my slippery, rigid East Asian hair, and always gives me cuts that work with those hair properties. Thanks to her, I've proudly paraded around with an undercut, an asymmetrical cut, and - my current style - a super adorable short haircut that I NEVER thought I'd be able to wear with confidence and joy! Her creativity and talent are incredibly evident in her work, and her enthusiasm is so refreshing. Thank you for making me the prettiest bird, Julia! :D read more

I had a GREAT massage today with Amanda Whitehead, CMT. This massage was a Groupon deal so I only paid $37 and of course Amanda knew this and yet she gave me this incredible massage that was 90 minutes, not 60! Unbelievable that both the quality of massage (deep tissue and Swedish) as well as the quantity were simply fabulous!! Amanda asked about areas of concern i had, listened to my long story about injury etc, and targeted those areas in addition to my entire body. She was very sensitive to my needs about pressure. She's got a friendly caring personality, and the room is quite pleasant as well. If I could give 10 stars, I would!! read more

I went here for a cut after reading the reviews. It was a nice relaxing atmosphere, and very quiet, but I did go on a Wednesday at 9 am. My cut was fine, nothing fabulous, but fine. I paid $65 which in my book is pretty average. I might try seeing Alex next time based on peoples' reviews. It looked like their prices for other salon services were pretty decent. I looked like some sort of animal had tried to nest in my hair when I left, but it wasn't the stylist's fault. Every time I get my hair cut, they try to blow dry it, god help them. I've stopped warning them that this will only result in a terrible wilted afro look because they never believe me. But this happens everywhere, not just at Elixir. __________________________________ Update: Since this review I have been back for a couple cuts with Alex and have also had my eyebrows shaped. Getting my eyebrows done always scares me, not because of the pain but because of the finished product. But my eyebrows turned out great, not scary, or creepily thin, or anything. Yay. read more

So I wrote recently about a less than stellar experience I had, and I wanted to absolutely update my review because of the response I got from Alex, the owner. She tracked me down within hours of seeing my post, kept trying until she reached me, and listened, asked me to give it another shot, and was just incredibly professional about the whole thing. She clearly cares VERY much about being in the service business and wants to run a good business. We made an appointment for another cut, and when I arrived, I realized she had opened up early for me, during Christmas week (when they were totally booked otherwise), and she spent an hour and a half on my hair, and again was just super professional. The result: I love my hair cut now. In the few years I've been going to Elixir, I had this one not-so-great experience, and Alex convinced me to stay loyal. I am very grateful to her and the staff at Elixir. read more

I took Vera D's advice and tried Mireya for a hair cut. Her scalp massages are great. I've gotten my hair cut by a lot of people in the past . . .so as I watched Mireya cut my hair I thought she was efficient. She only charges $50. . .and has solid cutting skills. The salon is small but it's packed with a lot of things inside and I like salons with Aveda product. Oh I wish I could buy oodles of those product. . .but damn it. .I can't have everything I want. read more

I have had Geneiveve cut and color my hair several times now and she always does an amazing job. She uses a blending dye that darkens my hair but still looks natural and slowly fades over time so no roots. If you wanna look ten years younger have Geneiveve cut and color your hair. read more

I recently started coming here when my hair stylist Rebecca joined the salon. Dude, this girl is so awesome. I used to go to her salon two blocks from my apartment in San Francisco, and now I drive across the bridge and go see her in Berkeley because she's that rad. First, the hair, then, a story. I have long, thick, dark wavy hair. I love my hair and I need someone to treat it right! Rebecca gave me a couple of haircuts where she did the long layers and texturing (aka thinning out for other thick haired girls) just perfectly. She really listens. If you tell her you want your shortest layer till --here--, --here-- is where your shortest layer will be. With cuts like that you're good for a few months, the grow-out phase looks great. But THEN. A summer heartbreak in (what hair stylist story is complete without talking about one's love life?), I went to her and said give me bangs. I want to be dark and moody and mad and sad and weird and antisocial and hide behind some big fat bangs. She laughed and said let's do it but let's think Jackie O with the attitude and sunglasses and the hair. She snipped away and there I was, with the most gorgeous set of thick ass blunt bangs. She changed my life. In that subtle everything else is the same but you're rocking a seriously cool new 'do and enjoying the heck out of it sort of way. I've gone back for a couple of bang trims now, and we tweak things each time. Each time I walk out feeling like a million bucks. People call me Sassy Bangs now. Thank you Rebecca! You made my hair year! read more

In an effort to save some money, I scheduled an appointment with a junior stylist. Unfortunately, as I found out, haircuts are one of those things where you get what you pay for. This one particular junior stylist really messed up. She totally misinterpreted what i was asking for. I was left with a much shorter and highly uneven cut than i originally came in for. It's one thing to get a not-so-exciting cut from a junior stylist. But it's not too much to ask for balance and symmetry, is it? I was going to just move on, never to return to this place again, and brand them seriously overrated. But i did find them thru Yelp. And based on the reviews, it seemed like they were the type of place that actually cared about the customer having a good experience. I decided I'd call to let them know about my experience. Enter: Alex. She heard me out. Was sympathetic. Even took me in herself to do a 10-minute cleanup pass to fix what little left was salvageable. There wasn't much she could do because my hair was cut too short. But the fact that she took the time to rectify the situation goes a very, very long way. The only reason I'm stopping at 4 stars is because i'm still forced to wear a cut that I did not want. But in this day and age when it's harder and harder to find business that care about customer service, Elixir casts a bright light in an otherwise dire landscape. Thanks very much, Alex. read more

Noel did an amazing job on my hair!!! He has super great ideas and gave me the most beautiful vibrant red color!! My hair is super healthy and looks amazing i couldnt be more pleased read more

Perrin gives fantastic haircuts! She listens to exactly what you want and then makes it happen. I trust her completely! I also had the Coppola Keratin Express treatment done by Steve. The treatment is wonderful- seriously so worth the $ and time and Steve did a great job. One last plug for the receptionist. She is just lovely! She goes above and beyond every time I call in. I have a bit of a crazy schedule and she is always making miracles happen with appointments. read more

Rebecca is the best! I've known her for a few year and have never gotten my haircut by her. She's always gotten on my ass about how I should stop getting cut by clippers and bring some scissors and class to my do. Well today was the day, super last minute yet she got me in. It was great to connect and dump some life stuff on her. She's a great hairapist for real! A few friends have gone to her and there hair has always turned out to be AMAZING! I finally took my own advice and now I look AMAZING, not that I didn't already *cough* but anyways :) Thanks Rebecca! read more

I really can't say enough great things about the stylist and other service providers at Elixir. Alex Gibbs, the owner, has been doing my hair (naturally dark brown, fine, slightly wavy) for over ten years. In that time, it has been short, platinum, cotton candy pink, feathered, blue, black, red, extended, flowing, curly, and/or straight. The list goes on and it has always been fabulous. My friends, men and women, go to Elixir, based on my original recommendation, and are now probably decade long clients that refer people because they too love their hair. Whenever I am in public with my best friend, people ask her who does her amazing short red hair. Alex of course! I was also really touched because I am having a difficult medical situation and Alex went out of her way to fit me into her schedule. Totally above and beyond. Schedule difficulties have made it so that I mostly see KC now and she is also fantastic. KC did my hair for my wedding, as well as my bridal party's hair, and everyone looked fantastic. Alex did the color, which was a mix of dark burgundy with bright red highlights and KC did a half up, half down style that was amazing. KC also does my mom's hair and she looks like one rockin' 63 year old. I have also had a bang trim from Julia and it was great, plus she is just super fun to sit around and chat with! I used to get my eyebrows waxed by Erica and I have never been to a gentler esthetician. She is just such a kind soul. I can't get waxed anymore because I use a retinol medication, but I love it when Erica is in the salon and I have a chance to just say hi. Overall, Elixir is a wonderful, high-end salon owned by someone who really cares about the quality of services that they provide. read more

My skin fell in love yesterday with Iris. I went to Elixir Salon and had a groupon that I used on a facial. Wow, what an experience! I have had facials before, but this one was the best I've ever had. Iris will ask you questions about your skin, slather a bunch of lovely scents and peels on you, massage your neck, shoulders and feet. The facial is a bit pricey full-priced, but I would definitely come back, since Iris is worth every penny. read more

Ohh this place is cool. It's easy to see from the cutest tree lined street. My wait was not long at all and upon getting there was greeted warmly. The place is very small, I think I only spotted four or five chairs? So it's got a neighborhood kind of vibe to it. My stylist was really sweet and worked with me to get a shadow root applied to my platinum hair. She managed to match the semi permanent color to my natural hair pretty well which isn't easy since I had no regrowth at all and my hair is light which means doesn't hide much if there's a mistake- it's been weeks and I can't tell where the dye is and my natural root starts even though some of the color has lifted. I will be sure to come back to get it redone for a more permanent color. She also really understood how attached I was to the length of my hair and just gave me some barely there long layers to dispose of the dead ends. I felt so pretty and was really, really satisfied with the results. I really felt listened to and understood. Thanks! read more

I bought a groupon for 50% off either a 1 hour massage or facial. I opted for the facial and made an appointment with Iris. She was polite, asked questions about my skin type, and was professional. She made my skin feel amazing! It was so CLEEEEEAN! I didn't wear makeup for a week because it felt so clean. I would definitely return, bur probably only with a coupon because the prices are expensive. read more

I have been seeing Noel for 2 years now, and he is a hair-God! I have unruly curly hair and very picky about my color, and I always walk out smiling and jumping with joy over my perfect do! He listens to what I want and gives me his honest opinion as well. He lets me know if a certain cut or color may or may not go well with my skin tone or face shape, which is so great to have in a hair stylist! Noel is also very kind, patient, funny, and you can tell he truly loves his job. Go to Noel--you won't regret it! read more

I love Noel!! I can barely type this right now, my hair is so cute. I was so happy to find Noel after he left his former salon, because he has completely revolutionized my hair existence. After a decade of trying and failing to grow my hair out, Noel helped me to stay strong in my resolve by cutting a glorious shape into my thick and unruly mane. I now have the hair that I have always wanted, and it looks great whether I spend time styling it or just wash and go. I knew he could cut hair, but today I found out that he can color it too. He gave me color that makes a statement but still looks natural, and blends so nicely with my roots that I won't need lots of upkeep. I am so happy with my hair! Not only is he brilliant with hair, but he is also a really kind and interesting person. His "hair chat" is good stuff. As for the salon, it was my first time at Elixir and I enjoyed it there. Everyone was really friendly and helpful. The salon is beautiful and plays good music. It is on the small side but that gives it a nice homey feel. They give you a choice between wearing a gown or a provided t-shirt, which is especially nice on warm days when the gown can be too heavy. My 5 star rating is for Noel... If I were to rate the salon I would probably give it a 4 because of the shampoo bowls... as a chiropractor I notice these things: my neck hurt while I was getting my hair washed and I think the stylists are going to need my services because they are forced into a position that is not good for their low backs. I hope the management will look into changing these! If they do, it'll be 5 stars all the way, because it is a really nice place otherwise. Definitely a fabulous hair day. Two thumbs up. read more

Julia is not only a pretty girl herself, she has great sense of beauty, and she has the skill to make you a pretty one! I can't be happier with my new hair style she designed for me. She is also a great listener who would match your need and still looking good at the same time. Thumbs up! read more

First visit to the salon, Rose did my color and was amazing! She's experienced and really understands the color and was able to take the idea I had and it turned out amazing, I was beyond happy with the experience. She's also super fast and had a lot of ideas on how to make the color last longer to hopefully reduce costs later. Atmosphere of the salon was really fun and upbeat, and everyone interacts together there. First time I've ever seen that at a salon and I loved it! Thanks! read more

Listen dudes, my hair was so wrecked earlier today I don't even know how to explain. I had grown out some self applied bleach job, with about four inches of highlights, and another three inches of roots. I was hoping that when I went to see Noel that he would help continue the process of blending my natural color into the bleach/grown out highlights and I was not disappointed. Noel knew exactly what my hair needed to look awesome again, and totally fixed my color-- no problem. I am so excited! Stop looking at your wrecked weave in the mirror and cringing, go see Noel and get that ish fixed. read more

Rebecca is AMAZING! Not only is she truly talented, but she's as sweet as they come. We met years ago at a previous upscale salon, and she's nothing short of spectacular. I've gone to her for color, cuts and bang trims. She's attentive and really listens to what you want, as well as offers suggestions and styling tips...one of which I still use to this day! If you want to get a great cut while chatting with a rad lady, Rebecca is the one to book your next appointment with! read more

What a sweet shop dog! Beautiful shop, lovely outdoor area, nice employees. I didn't get a hair cut though, do you'll have to read the other reviews for that info. read more

Elixir Salon - Hair Stylists Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had the pleasure of having Ona cut my hair, and am even happier a week later than I was when I walked out of the salon. I have ultra-fine hair, which can be difficult for some stylists, and she did an excellent job with it, giving me some shape and body without going any shorter than I wanted. I wash it, towel it off, run a comb through it and am ready to go. She was interesting to talk to, gave a great head massage during the shampoo, and really listened to what I wanted out of the haircut. I'm a busy student and am just never going to spend much time on my hair in the morning -- I really liked that she didn't tell me that I should change my habits or lifestyle (as other stylists at other salons have done in the past) and was very pleasant and kept checking in during the haircut to make sure I was comfortable with how it was shaping up. Elixir was very nice -- it is an Aveda salon, so no big surprise. However, I strongly recommend that you check about prices when you book an appointment, as some stylists do charge more than others. read more

Perrin listened carefully to exactly what I wanted from my cut and then followed through perfectly. My neglected hair is now restored to shine and even ends! :) She also took great care when styling my hair post-cut so that I walked out of the salon feeling stylish. I agree with other reviewers who say she not only gives a great cut but is also fun and super easy to talk to. This was my first cut with her and I already felt like she was an old friend with tons of interesting stories to share! read more

Alex has been cutting my hairs for the better part of 13 years. I have followed her from every salon in Berkeley, and would gladly buy that ticket to Hell if she was going but as she is Jewish, no dice. If I did not live car-less in SF, I would be pestering her in the East Bay and saying inappropriate things on accident in front of other clients. Her colorist skills are legend. When I was in college I used to let her do pretty much what ever she wanted, and the results were the only cool thing about me. The high point of my hair history was when she gave me the Betty Page cut, dyed black with purple and cherry red streaks. I have never had a better look. The style she did for my graduation was adorbs, I felt like the cute overlord. Elixir is a great salon, I'm well taken care of at Jubilee in SF but I do try and visit often. read more

I trust Elixir! I have been so fortunate to have the owner, Alex, cut and color my hair many times now. I've had very positive experiences with cut, color and customer service at this salon. The last time I went, Alex was kind enough to fit me in right away when I had a HUGE lapse in judgement and used a box dye on a whim from a drugstore. Really, WHAT was I thinking? Just trust the professionals- lesson learned. Alex takes the time to understand what your wanting for your hair and she has a vision and a plan to accomplish that for you. read more

So about a month after I got my hair cut, people have started to notice that it looks different, and have been complimenting it a lot! Mind you, I've had to straighten it when my goal was to be able to keep it low maintenance, but nonetheless, I've updated my rating given how great it looks straight. Moral of the story: Wait a month before writing a review, and make sure to come here for a cut at least 1 month before you want it to look good. read more

I was going to my college roommate's wedding, and I needed to ensure I looked AWESOME to impress... umm... all those people I haven't seen in 7 years because this was sort of like a 7 year college reunion. Anyways, I was prepared to spend some $$ to make sure I looked damn good at this wedding. For a hair blow dry and style and make up application, the total cost was $65, but I bought the Yelp deal for $50 (for $75 worth), which I didn't quite spend enough to get the full value of the Yelp deal but I still saved $15. Not bad. My stylist was Casey, and she was great. She reminded me of a coworker I used to have. Anyways, I showed her the dress I was going to wear, and she made sure I looked classy, elegant, but a little sassy in there. I loved her hair style and make up on me. The make up was minimalist but she did this great eyeliner thing that was really sassy to match my personality. I suck at doing my own make up, and Casey definitely added some style to something I know little about. I didn't feel like the hair and make up was over the top, but they looked like I had them professionally done, compared to the crap job I would have done for myself. read more

Noel is a master when it comes to color - I love having red hair, which is the most difficult (and bitchy) type of color to maintain... I've gone to a lot of different shops and even did my own color for a few years because it's been SO hard to find someone who can deliver consistent results. He is by far one of the best stylists/colorists I've ever been to!! read more

I'm normally terrified of salons. I love a good haircut, but the forced conversations and snotty blond people in most salons always make me feel just a wee bit awkward. Which is why I totally loved getting my haircut by Laura at Elixir. She gave me some great suggestions about ways to take care of my hair, and ideas for how to style it. And I was thrilled with my haircut. But most of all... I didn't feel like I had to carry one inane conversations through the whole haircut and styling. And I felt beautiful when I left... and isn't that what its all about? :) read more

You're in good hands at Elixir. My original experience here was not-so-great and ended with me basically not getting the massage services I paid for. (If you're seeking a traditional type of back massage, do be sure to book with Leon. The other CMT, Tricia, offers some kind of specialized work of the new age/spiritual variety.) After writing about my experience here on Yelp, I was promptly contacted by the owner of the salon offering reparations. She was very understanding and generously offered me 2 massages with the other masseuse or a refund. SUCH impressive customer service at this place! It's great to find companies that care about their clients. I will definitely be returning for other services in the future. read more

I love Rebecca! She does such an incredible job on my hair! I have very thick and curly hair which I've slowly lightened. Somehow my hair does not look or feel damaged. Rebecca has done an amazing job! I feel like she really listens to what I want and my hair always looks beautiful! I highly recommend her! read more