I'm so glad I found Essence Salon! I'm in my 70's with fine, thin hair which has been thinning even more since I started taking GLP-1 medication. I decided shorter hair would be a better look under the circumstances but was dreading what seemed like a radical change. Enter Vivian at Essence Salon! She went through the initial consultation and the whole process with kindness and lots of positive reinforcement so it was a pleasure. The end result is the best cut and style my head has seen in a long time. Tres chic, Vivian!! read more

I like my hairstylist ; Grace, at Essence Salon. Grace is very attentive and really understands what I want. She always gives me a haircut that turns out even better than I expected. She also takes the time to teach me how to style and manage my hair on my own. I'm extremely happy with her work. I've been going to Grace for three or four years now, and I no longer feel the need to keep trying different hairstylists. read more

Really happy with my haircut at Essence Salon with Yessenia! Booked a haircut appointment with Yessenia through the website for a Tuesday afternoon. I asked for a rounded haircut with lots of layers and face-framing pieces and I showed her my inspo photos as well. She first washed my hair and then got started on the cut. Yessenia did an amazing job! She was friendly and professional and gave me exactly what I requested. I wasn't sure whether to go with lighter or heavier curtain bangs/face-framing pieces, and she knew exactly what would suit me when she suggested sticking with lighter face framing. She also somehow managed to style my frizzy Indian hair perfectly without using much tension on the brush, which was shocking to me. Overall, I had a very positive experience with Yessenia and Essence Salon and will definitely be returning! read more

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I scheduled a haircut and treatment with Grace for 2 PM. The salon contacted me asking if I could come in earlier because they had a cancellation, and I agreed, thinking it would also free up my original appointment time for another client. Unfortunately, there was a festival happening nearby that made getting there difficult, and I arrived about 12 minutes later than the earlier time they had asked me to come in. I felt rushed from the moment I arrived. Grace told me that because I was "really late," there was no longer time to wash my hair and I said that was fine as long as I could still get my haircut. During the cut, I noticed that the front layers were visibly uneven and pointed it out to Grace. I specifically asked her to blend them more because one side was noticeably shorter than the other. She told me that it was just the way my hair was shaped/fell. I explained again that one side was clearly shorter, but instead of correcting it, she stopped cutting and began styling my hair. Didn't even tell me she was going to style my hair, she just started at it. She was clearly upset. After curling/styling the ends, she told me it looked even. The problem is that I don't wear my hair styled every day. Of course uneven ends can be disguised when they're curled under, but once my hair is straight, the difference in length is very noticeable. I've included photos showing how my hair naturally falls after the appointment. I paid $150 and left extremely disappointed. I did speak up about the unevenness while I was still in the chair and gave Grace the opportunity to correct it at the time. Because my concern was dismissed and the unevenness was styled over rather than fixed, I do not feel comfortable returning to this salon. At this point, I would rather have it fixed elsewhere. I wish I could get at least a bit of my money back. I would not return. For $150, I expected much more, especially after directly pointing out the issue before leaving. read more

Essence Salon - Uneven haircut - Hair Salons Near Me - Mountain View, California

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I've been on the hunt for a new hair stylist, and Grace is truly that girl! From the start, she listened carefully to every detail I shared and took the time to go through my inspiration photos with me, making sure we were on the same page before she even picked up the scissors. I originally booked this appointment last minute after another stylist canceled on me the day before a trip - and honestly, I'm so grateful that happened, because I would've never found Grace otherwise. Sometimes things really do work out the way they're supposed to. She absolutely killed my haircut. I have curly/wavy, thick hair, and she knew exactly how to work with it - something that's hard to find. The shape, the movement, everything came out better than I imagined. Also, the vibe was amazing - super welcoming, relaxed, and just overall such a great energy the entire appointment. Grace is also genuinely so sweet, which made the whole experience even better. Safe to say Grace is officially stuck with me as a client. Highly recommend her if you're looking for someone who really knows what they're doing, actually listens, and creates an amazing overall experience. read more

Essence Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Great medium length hair cut from Vivian! Understood what I wanted and provided suggestions. Very professional and calm, relaxing experience and happy with my results. read more

Love coming here for haircuts! I always come to Yessenia and love her work. Highly recommend and prices are also great. She takes her time and makes sure to talk you through exactly what she's doing read more

If I could give this salon more than 5 stars, I would! First, it was my first time here, super easy to book online and they had available time same day of what I wanted done (which is something hard to find) and the person I got was PERFECT. Vanessa is smart, professional and got right to work. her confidence and ability to understand exactly what I wanted and what would look good on my hair was amazing. AND THE RESULTS WERE GREAT TOO! (: I have long, thick hair that can be difficult but she managed to make me feel so good and didn't show any sign of annoyance or uncertainty which I really appreciate because I love my hair. I never really write reviews but this is well worth it!! The salon is super cute and all the girls are very sweet and inviting, feels like everyone gets along and are friendly so the vibe is good. Great products offered by my favorite brands and very clean, can't wait for my next appointment. Thankyou again! read more

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I was very happy with the professional way that Vivian conducted herself. I explained what I wanted and she cut my hair to my full satisfaction. read more

Mary is awesome! She actually took time to explain me what would work and needs to be done to fix the bad coloring of my hair and it really worked! She even explained how to take care of the new color! This is my second visit at Essence salon and I'm glad this place is worth it. read more

Thank you to Grace Cheng for a beautiful result. I booked an appointment for blonding, but after a consultation, we decided to go with full baby lights. Grace is amazing with detail and took her time sectioning and checking each strand of hair. I am super happy with how light we were able to get my hair. I referred my friend as well. Thank you Grace! read more

Essence Salon - Hair color - Hair Salons Near Me - Mountain View, California

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In the appointment confirmation text I got , I was forewarned about the parking situation in downtown Mountain View due to the World Cup block parties that would take place during my appointment time, and was given detailed information about where to park. How thoughtful . it was my first time with Jeniffer. She greeted me with a smile and a nod of her head. What a courteous way to welcome a customer. She explained the steps she was to take to cut my hair, and why. The outcome was satisfying, my hair turned out the way I expected. Jennifer knows her craft and seemed to enjoy what she was doing, and the result showed. It was one of the best cuts I've gotten in a long time. Most of all, I appreciate her chair side manner. She had a friendly and welcoming demeanor that made the appointment ever so enjoyable. read more

Yessenia is awesome stylist. She listens but more importantly, she takes care of my hair. I enjoy coming to Essence Salon. all the stylist are friendly and talented. great salon, great results, a quality salon! read more

I always have a great experience with Grace. She consistently does an amazing job with my haircut, and every visit feels like catching up with a good friend. She's hardworking, skilled, and pays attention to every detail. You can tell she genuinely cares about making sure her clients leave happy. When it comes to my hair, Grace is always my number one choice. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented stylist who truly cares about her clients. read more

I have been going to Grace for my haircuts for many years. She always is so warm and lovely, and gives the most precise, beautiful layered cuts with much attention to detail. I have long, thick, wavy hair and I only trust it to Grace for my cuts! Love her so much! read more

Teen girls have notoriously high standards for haircuts and a specific look they are trying to achieve. Grace really listened and gave my daughter the exact haircut she wanted. She also stayed late to provide styling tips. Thank you, Grace!! read more

Mary at Essence is amazing. I trust her with my sensitive aging hair:) she is great with color, Cuts and styling- she is super professional and knows her stuff. Just book your appt with Mary- you won't regret it! read more

Grace was an absolute angel. She was very opened to different potential hairstyles during our consultation. She gave me a lot of valuable insight on hair care. I could tell that this was a profession of passion. I really appreciate the dedication to detail and I can't wait to see her again. read more

[UPDATE 4/10/2026] Email communication Log regarding request to communicate with Owner Jennifer Me: "I appreciate that a refund has been issued; however, the service I received was far below professional standards, and I would like to bring this matter to the owner directly. Please provide the owner's contact information or have the owner contact me promptly." TingTing: "Regarding your request to speak with the owner, Jennifer is currently out of town and also has limited ability to speak at the moment due to a temporary health condition affecting her voice. That said, your email has been shared with her, and she will review it as soon as she is able. In the meantime, if you would like to speak further, we would be happy to arrange a phone call at a convenient time." Me: "I would appreciate the opportunity to speak directly with Jennifer once she feels better, after she has had a chance to review the situation with the two stylists. This is not urgent. I simply want to make sure my side of the experience is fully understood." TingTing: "We also want you to know that Jennifer's ability to speak is an ongoing health-related limitation, and phone conversations can be especially difficult for her. That said, she is fully involved behind the scenes and will be reviewing your feedback carefully with us." [Fact Check on the "Exception" Claim] In her response, the owner claimed that issuing a full refund was an "exception" made specifically for my case. This is demonstrably false. Public records of their 1-star reviews show a consistent pattern of "refund and redo" as a standard damage control measure for technical failures. Below are two examples I found randomly: 1. Rubi G. documented a similar experience where a refund was issued after a botched service. (September 2025) 2. Lillian K. reported an identical situation just two months ago. Labeling it as an "exception" is a deceptive attempt to win public sympathy while avoiding accountability. read more

Essence Salon - Screenshots of our emails: It was a 'temporary' health issue. But after I offered to wait, it became an 'ongoing' limitation. - Hair Salons Near Me - Mountain View, California

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I got my hair cut here in January by Tricia and it was the worst haircut I've ever had. She cut away 2 extra inches in a flat line in the front, making my hair seem like it had 2 shelves with no blend, made a big hole in the back of my hair, thinned the last inch out so much that it was just wisps and there was almost no hair left, and made my hair uneven in length. Worst of all, this was three months before my wedding, which I explained very clearly at the start of my haircut. Thankfully Essence Salon offered to schedule a free fix with Ellie. Ellie was fantastic. It took a lot of skill for her to walk back these mistakes while trying to keep my length. While she acknowledged that she couldn't get it perfect without taking off several inches, she was able to correct the worst offenses. My hair is feeling so much better coming into my wedding, and I look forward to working with her again in a few months to get a complete reset. read more

Due to a last minute cancellation of a hair appointment elsewhere, I stumbled upon Essence Salon and one of their master stylists, Tricia! I am really glad my previous appointment was canceled because Tricia was a joy to work with. I expressed concerns with my hair and scalp thinning, and asked if there was something I could do to help hide it. I was always curious if bangs would suit me or not, and she suggested adding some bangs to the front. I trusted her opinion and told her to do what she thinks would be best! She trimmed some length to remove damaged ends, we lightened the color of my hair a bit and added bangs to the front. This was the most dramatic change Ive done to my hair and I'm grateful I was able to work with someone who is clearly an expert in their craft! I've gotten a lot of compliments :) and will definitely return. read more

Essence Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Mountain View, California

Grace knows what her clients want and makes it happen! She listens to you and you are definitely in good hands with her!

I was super skeptical to go to a salon because of my first experience was so bad. However, this salon was beyond amazing! From the service to the staff it was everything I wish I had the first time. The lady in the front desk Anaiis was so fun and bubbly & offered me refreshments. Claudia took her time with my hair and made sure my vision came to life. Lauren was just the sweetest with helping me schedule and figuring out my hair care goal. I seriously want to go back just for the amazing staff there! I haven't laughed and smiled as much as I did with these ladies. They will definitely make sure your hair goals come to life while fulfilling all your self care needs!!! 100/10 read more

Essence Salon - After style of my Blue black hair color - Hair Salons Near Me - Mountain View, California

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I got my haircut done with Vivian and she was absolutely amazing! She's so sweet and I feel like she executed so well on the haircut I've wanted for ages!! she taught me how to use all the right products & style my hair :) highly recommend this place and her in particular! read more

Mary always works with me to make sure that i love my hair. We have a great routine of tweaking my cut and color so that its maximum me. I go every 3 months or so to keep it fresh. The salon is always nice and cool with a relaxed vibe, even when it's busy. All of the ladies that work the front desk are friendly and accommodating with a smile and good conversation. Thank you!!! read more

I've been looking for a good haircut for like 2 years. finally found my place. Ellie cut my hair and she listened to everything i said. she even dry cut it which i never seen before. my hair looks so good now. definitely coming back. read more

Vivian was amazing, she gave me exactly the short haircut that I needed! I have a lot of volume in my hair and Vivian really helped to suggest a hairstyle that cut the volume. The extended hair wash and head massage were definitely a Wonderful bonus! Highly recommend the salon and Vivian! read more

I love that I was able To transition from brunette to gray with ease. Grace has been a God send . I have healthy hair and feel great. Thank you! read more

I had a great experience at Essence Salon. Claudia did an amazing job! She corrected my previous hair color and gave me a color exactly what I wanted. It is beautiful!! It was my first time there, and I have decided to see Claudia from now on. Thank you so much! read more

I have been getting styled by Ellie for years, and followed her to her most recent Salon at Essence! The atmosphere is lovely for the small space, just off the bustling downtown Castro St. makes it a fun place to visit if you want to visit good restaurants or just socialize. Every time I step in I am greeted by the front staff members, either Lauren or Sofia. They are both lovely and make sure that I feel welcomed, they always offer to make tea or coffee while I wait! Ellie's cuts are quick and precise. I always know I can come to her if I want to try something new, she never disappoints with ideas. I will be a lifetime guest of hers and think you should give this Salon a shot! read more

I've had the incredible pleasure of working with Grace for the past 3 years! Vibrant red hair has been my signature look for years (with balayage/bleach and styled cuts). Grace consistently delivers a flawless result, blending smooth red tones with my natural black hair color using layered techniques. She's an attentive listener who remembers my preferences every time and always prioritizes the health of my hair. I feel like she treats my hair as if it were her own and she really helps minimize damage throughout the process so my hair is not dry or splits afterwards. I previously worked with stylists at salons like Limon and others on Santana Row. While many stylists can perform balayage, Grace distinguishes herself with her exceptional technique, strong communication skills, and genuine care for her clients. Once you experience her expertise, you won't want to go anywhere else! (Photos are from 2 different services) read more

Essence Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Mary is easily one of the top hair stylists I've ever gone to. She listened intently to the overarching look I was going for (to make my hair look more natural) and instead of just bleaching my head, as most others have, she reintroduced by natural color back into my hair and walked me through the process of what it would take to get back to a lighter, natural blonde. It was so nice to have a professional set clear expectations, even if it'll take more time to get there! On top of that she's hilarious and so friendly. Already looking forward to my next appointment! read more

I requested to cut off 10-12 inches for multiple reasons. My ends were split and dead and I wanted to promote growth. I also wanted to go to a color closer to my natural color again. Decided to cut off a foot and go darker. Sarah did my hair and the quality was better than I expected! She took her time working on me and listened to what I was looking for after showing a reference picture. Vibes are a cute aesthetic inside. Small shop but there's always someone in the chairs! There's a reason why this place has such great reviews! Definitely recommend! read more

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Just got my wolfcut done today by Vivian and it was AMAZING. My hair feels so light and in shape, and Vivian was so lovely and friendly to me. She did what I want perfectly. Definitely will come back! read more

I had such a wonderful experience here! To preference I'm always kind of wary going to salons/barbers just because the anxiety of not knowing if the results will turn out how you like it/picture it always scared me. However, this was not the case for this visit. If you have the chance to go, I highly recommend Anais! She is such a sweetheart! Her bubbly and real genuine personality really put me at ease during my cut and style and it was amazing to get some great curly hair tips from her. I definitely will be coming back and requesting Anais for my visits! 10/10 will be coming back for my next cut and style! read more

I love my girl Mary! She always makes me feel beautiful after she does my hair. She's detailed and makes sure I'm comfortable in her chair. Not to mention, she's great to talk to--her energy and smile are contagious. I'd definitely book with Mary if you want a fantastic salon experience. read more

Vivian did such an amazing job. Vivian was very professional and very informative on hair style and type. Gave amazing advice which is boosting my confidence of natural hair instead of always wearing wigs. I never been in a hair salon before and Vivian made the experience so amazing. This salon was queer friendly and even gave recommendations on products i can switch to which i appreciate . I made an account just to provide a review. 10/10 would return in the future read more

Grace is the best! appreciated that she focused on my hair instead of small talks which I hate very much when going to any type of salons. I'm a male that is growing out long hair and she listened to what I wanted and delivered with care and thought. She gave me a blowout at the end which I very appreciated! lasted me a few days before having to wash and everything kept in place which was a huge surprise to me. She took her sweet time with the blowout and I loved it. My appointment was at 7:00 but I was not seen until around 7:15 but I expected to wait since she is one of the most booked in the salon it seems. Small salon which created a homey vibe and warm! I would 100% return in the future when I need maintenance and trims. I do wonder if they would start having blowouts as an option because I would love to drop in on events that I need my hair LAID DOWN. read more

Essence Salon has a modern vibe. Very professional, and clean. I was very impressed with my stylist, Vivian. She really listened to what kind of style and cut I was looking for. Took her time, and did a great job.!! I would definitely go back to Vivian read more

I don't have good luck with salons so I looked really hard to find a salon that can manage my thick, wavy hair. I've been eyeing Essence salon for a long time because of their experience doing a variety of styles and colors. I had previously learned my lesson that reference pictures will never be an exact duplicate of your resulting hair, so I went to Grace and simply asked for a ~2-3inch trim, lots of layers, and some thinning for my thick hair. I was expecting to not come out perfect, but with just those instructions, she knocked it out of the park! I felt like a kpop idol after my appointment and I couldn't stop flipping my hair :) It feels really good to go to someone I can trust will do me right. read more