Friendly Cuts

Family-owned & operated

Consultations available

Kiyoko is fantastic! I absolutely love her tiny little salon in the middle of Japan Center, right…read morewhere all the action is happening! She is incredibly meticulous and detailed with her haircuts, wonderfully gentle and careful with washing, and amazing with hair color. You can tell she takes so much pride in her work and pays attention to every little detail. My hair is very difficult to cut because of years of processing, but she worked her magic. This is hands down the best haircut I've had in years! If you're looking for someone who is skilled, thoughtful, and truly cares about the quality of her work, I highly recommend Kiyoko.

I drove 2.5 hours to come here for a haircut and showed the hairstylist pictures of both the front…read moreand back of the hairstyle I wanted. She told me she could do it, but unfortunately, it became clear during the haircut that she did not know how to achieve the style. She cut my hair short and then tried to use a hairdryer and comb to make it look like the pictures, but it did not work. I showed her the reference photos again and asked if she could get help from someone else. She asked a colleague, who showed her how to cut the style, but she still seemed unsure how to do it. Eventually, the owner had to step in and finish the haircut for me. For a long-hair haircut that cost about $100 total ($85 for the haircut plus a $15 tip), I was very disappointed with the experience. At this price point, I expected the stylist to be able to achieve the hairstyle she had confirmed she could do, or to be upfront from the beginning if it was outside her expertise. Unfortunately, based on my experience, it was not worth the price or time.

4.1 mi•Union Square, Financial District

Ombré with cherry red!

Curly Hair Color & Hair Cut at nepenji San Francisco, Tokyo .

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Feeling to be short cut! Nepenji San Francisco.

Hector Estrada

4.8(455 reviews)

Hector Estrada; hairdresser EXTRAORDINAIRE: color, cut and…read moreshaping. I was a medium brunette. A few years later, Hector said, ""I'm going to make you a blonde, because, You have a good personality." Now, every 6weeks, I'm a little bit blonder and a lot happier. I'm constantly complimented, "Who does your hair?" Hector has transformed my life. Getting an appointment is challenging, as he's booked two months out, but, his Assistant Michael, is amazing and will work you in as soon as humanly possible. I promise.

I've been in SF for 8 years trying to find a hairstylist I actually trust, and I finally found…read moreHector. I went in not really knowing what I wanted, just vibing with some general ideas. Hector totally got it and did an amazing job. The thing that impressed me most is I wanted highlights without bleaching my hair, and he made it happen. Every other place said I had to bleach it. The salon is super clean, bright, and has a great vibe. Everyone there is really kind and helpful. Yeah, I had to wait for an appointment and send pics beforehand, but it was 100% worth it. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a great stylist!

2.9 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights

After shot!

Balayage and cut by Hector

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Style by Akela

Kaori Hair Salon

4.8(73 reviews)

I think the choice of barber is a very personal choice - you want to find a really good one that…read moreunderstands what you want out of a haircut, and also has to be able to construct that haircut on a bi-monthly cadence. For me, I found Kaori through Yelp. She is best reached through text, and she is responsive. The first time I showed her the haircut I was going for, she was able to understand immediately, and she was also able to work around my difficult hair (read: male pattern baldness). I have been going to Kaori for a year now and I plan to continue going!

Kaori was great! Very kind, fun to talk to, and skillful with my hair. Would come again for sure.read more

2.5 mi•Lower Haight, Hayes Valley

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Taylor Monroe

4.3(1.3k reviews)

So happy I found Benji! I'd been professionally covering my grays every 3-4 weeks, fighting that…read moreharsh demarcation line as my hair got darker and darker. From the moment I sat in his chair, he made me feel completely at ease -- personable, attentive, and so easy to talk to, like catching up with an old friend. He took the time to consult with me, listen closely to my concerns, and develop a thoughtful plan to begin lightening my base and gray blending journey -- keeping the integrity of my hair a priority every step of the way. He's incredibly talented and knowledgeable when it comes to color, using modern techniques to create a natural, seamless blend with no harsh lines -- just soft, pretty color that'll grow out beautifully. A total perfectionist, he made sure I was thoroughly happy with the result before I left the chair. The whole experience felt effortless, and I haven't loved my hair like this in so long. Benji is the only person I'll trust with my color from now on -- so grateful to have found him!

As a 58 yr old woman it's nice to be noticed. Thanks to Benji I get compliments on my hair ALL the…read moretime! We've been on quite the hair journey since 2021, playing with a variety of shades of red. I've been loving being a redhead. I am 95% grey, which I have found is not easy to achieve perfect coverage. Benji's got me! I appreciate his excellent communication skills. He listens intently and asks a lot of clarifying questions to be sure that we're on the same page. He exceeds my expectations and I feel genuinely cared for in his hands. He's a sweetheart and so fun and easy to chat with during my services.

Done by Benji (instagram: wooneats)

Honey blonde Balayage by Emu

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Full Balayage by Benji Pow

Project XO Salon

4.8(69 reviews)

3.5 mi•SoMa

Thank you, Hung, for an amazing makeover! I have not had a real haircut in a few years, and hung…read morewas able to completely cut and tone my long/thick hair in under two hours. I highly recommend him- he is professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and his salon space is beautiful.

Casual and very relaxing once you enter through the door. Professional, creative, honest stylist…read more Newest addition is Georgie- what a beautiful pup. Highly recommend Hung for a hair cut and color, 100%

2.9 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights

Rich brown balayage

Elli with her gorgeoushair.

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Hung and little Georgie

Arty

4.2(397 reviews)

Yumiko was great! She is very nice, professional, and informative. I got a layered cut and a…read moredigital perm. She warned me that my straight, fine, virgin hair will have difficulty holding a curl after day 1, but it ALWAYS came back after a wash. The curls started to loosen at about mo 4, and lasted about 6mos. I went back for another digital perm 1yr later, and I'm going back for a third today!

I've been going to Arty for years now, and I feel as if the quality of service has declined. I went…read morein for a full highlight and haircut and I felt like it was being rushed and I didn't even get what I had asked the stylist for despite being very specific about my style. The highlights were done very well as well as the haircut, but neither were what I asked for/was expecting based on pictures and verbal requests. The haircut was rushed and I had to ask a few times for adjustments. I understand that sometimes hair takes a long time, but with the amount I paid for the session I would like for time and care to be taken to heed my requests. Unfortunately I will be searching for a new salon after this last session.

Exactly 1 year after the digital perm. Yumiko's cut and perm make this hairstyle look good at any length.

Yumiko gave me this perfect haircut and perm to make my first trip to Turkey beyond perfection. Thank you!

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KaYea Hair & Make-Up

4.8(246 reviews)

1.5 mi•Parkside

I absolutely love getting my hair done by him! He is incredibly skilled, and his sense of style and…read moreaesthetics is always on point. Every time I leave the salon, I honestly feel like I look three years younger! One thing I really appreciate is how respectful he is of my time. My appointments are always on time, and I have never had to sit around waiting. He is also very honest and never tries to upsell me. There have been times when I asked about adding extra treatments or services, and instead of simply charging me more, he honestly told me that I didn't need to spend the extra money. I really appreciate that kind of honesty. Overall, he is talented, honest, professional, and genuinely cares about making his clients look their best. I always leave happy with my hair and feeling refreshed. Highly recommend!

My favorite hair stylist! Lee is great at giving you the haircut you want in a way that suits you…read moreand is always fun to talk to. It takes me a while to travel here, but always worth it. The atmosphere is nice and the salon is clean and bright inside. Highly recommended checking him out!

Sexy Curl Perms(?) lasted for 2+ months

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Steel & Lacquer

4.7(292 reviews)

3.2 mi•SoMa

Returning to The Bay after a four year hiatus, I desperately needed styling. Today I reunited with…read moremy longtime stylist, Cloe Washington. I wanted a Wolf cut, but not a mullet or a tight fade. Cloe did me right with a nice scissor fade, keeping it long on top. Trust!

Been looking for a new hair spot since I moved to the city and I'm so happy I found steel + lacquer…read moreon tiktok. Chrystal is so sweet, did such a thorough consultation, and very precisely gave me exactly what I wanted. She pampered me the entire time, was very helpful with all my hair questions, and will definitely be my new go to girl. Vibes were great all around and am feeling so refreshed after my visit.

I was so happy with my hair cut and beard trim!

Hair by Chrystal

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Hair by Marie

Hong Kong Mona Hair Studio

4.8(152 reviews)

1.2 mi•Inner Richmond

My new go-to place for haircuts! I have long, thick hair and my haircut was about $30 - not…read moreincluding wash & style. Usually other places charge me double and cut more than I want. I love that it's so affordable and not too far from my workplace. Mona always cuts it at the perfect length that I say, and never more than I ask. I always leave happy with the results. Highly recommend! CASH ONLY & metered parking. Highly recommend booking an appt via phone.

WOW! I got a $25 haircut here and it took less than 30 minutes. This did not include wash and style…read morebut I was okay with that! Mona was super sweet and has been cutting hair for 20+ years. I made an appointment via the phone about a week ago. CASH ONLY!! Will definitely be returning back here.

2.5 mi•Alamo Square, Hayes Valley

Hours

Haircut

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Hair highlights

David James

4.8(293 reviews)

Nielle is the best!! I'm so glad I found her, I would follow her around the Bay Area. She keeps my…read morehair looking fresh and healthy after it went through a major thinning process. A shoulder cut can quickly look crazy on me (mullet alert) but she was able to perfectly layer my hair with some face framing bangs to come out perfectly balanced. Also she's the easiest person to talk to, makes your appointment feel so relaxing and peaceful like you're catching up with a long time girlfriend - she is theeee best!!

I've been going to Nielle for over a decade and from the jump she really listened to what I wanted…read more I originally came to her after a botched balayage I got in the Philippines, and she completely fixed it. From there, we did an 10 hour transformation going blonde and honestly, that appointment bonded us for life. I've never trusted anyone else since, she's basically my hairstylist and therapist hehe Her balayage is SOOOOO good. It always looks natural, grows out beautifully, and lasts forever without getting brassy. I'm pretty low-maintenance, and somehow my hair still looks put together months later because of her work. Her haircuts are also super clean, and she's actually the one who got me into curtain byayangs and I've stuck with them ever since. What I appreciate most is how much she cares about doing things the right way. When I decided to go back to my natural color, she didn't rush it or take shortcuts. She slowly transitioned me over time and kept my hair healthy through every stage. I live in Los Angeles now and will literally fly home just to see her, that's how good she is! After 11 years, she's more than just my hairstylist, she's someone I trust completely. Highly recommend!

Cut by Sabrina.

Bleach and tone transformation by Devon.

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Bleach + tone and buzzcut on Devon, by Devon.

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Noah K.

18 years ago

I used to go to Supercuts on Irving when Shirley worked there. She had so many regulars-- there would often be a line waiting for her while the other Supercuts people had nothing to do. She left Supercuts and started her own business, Friendly Cuts, just a block away. She charges less than Supercuts, is very close to UCSF, and gives a great haircut. She always remembers just how I like it and how she did it the last time, which for a guy like me is a big help. I see a lot of women with attractive hair who come to her as well, so although I just go for a basic cut, she's clearly talented and capable of more. She's also really nice and I highly recommend her to anyone in the Sunset or Cole Valley neighborhoods. I hope people give her a shot cause I'd like to see her succeed! read more

Judy W.

17 years ago

There are a lots of places to get your hair cut in the Inner Sunset; I've been to quite a few of them. Shirley at Friendly Cuts is a real find. For a "friendly" fee you can get the haircut you want. Shirley listens! I've been going to her for a few years now (even before she opened this little shop) and have been pleased with the time she takes to get it right. I highly recommend Friendly Cuts. read more

Angelica R.

9 months ago

I took my son here today, and I was amazed with the professionalism that I recieved from this business. The hair styles brochure was on point on what we selected for my son to get. Overall amazing cuts, and very polite. read more

Louison L.

5 years ago

April 2021: Shirley is back in business at her Friendly Cuts location. If you need a haircut, call her at (415) 665-1368. I just went after trying a couple different places when she was closed. She's the best! read more

J L.

13 years ago

Very accommodating and skilled haircutter. Did not do any color, but she listens to what you want and has the skill to provide what you ask. read more

Khang H.

3 years ago

Terrible customer service. Do not recommend it. Go somewhere else. She only serves who she already know.

James P.

337

15 years ago

Good prices, good cuts, clean space, nice staff!

Kishor K.

15 years ago

Best haircut intown. Bang for your buck

David H.

15 years ago

awesome! I will return every 6 weeks!

Zander D.

15 years ago

Shirley the best $16 haircut around!

A M.

13 years ago

Shirley is terrific!

oliver b.

14 years ago

love her

Friendly Cuts - hair - Updated October 2026

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WOW! I can't believe I found this gem!…read more I normally don't like trying new places for haircuts but Amy put me at ease. I was unaware that I needed to make an appointment beforehand in order to get a haircut but Amy was able to work around her schedule to fit me right in. Amy did a great job with the haircut (16$, or 19$ with wash), and was quick. She made she to ask whether or not it was to my specification in order to quell any uneasiness about trying her place. She expertly handled her tools, and was quick with the scissor-over-comb with my hair. Overall, I feel very confident in Amy's ability, and am definitely coming here again! Note: She accepts cash and credit cards!

I've had 2 very different experiences here due to the fact that they changed the hair stylist. I…read morecame here in September 2022 and had an amazing cut; I showed the stylist a couple of images & Tiktoks and she knew exactly what to do. She also styled my hair at the end and showed me how to curl my hair properly; overall, an amazing experience for $35. She was the only person in the salon and also the owner. In August 2023, I came here again for the same haircut and showed the same images & Tiktoks to another lady (not sure if she took over the place or not) but she took 1 look and confidently said she knew what she was doing. Homie did not know what she was doing. I was asking for long layers with face framing pieces but she made my hair look SO MESSY with uneven layers and chops. I'm not even sure how she made my front pieces look uneven. Then, she charged me $45 even though the sign at the front still said $35. 2/5 for a great first experience but horrible second experience. I probably wouldn't come again. :(

Ruby's Cut

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I've been here several times with good results. Today I walked in and it was empty of customers…read morewith only this Asian guy staring at me like I had 2 heads. I asked, " Hey, is one of the ladies here?". He replied, "yah..". Then nothing but more staring. I felt uncomfortable and asked if she was available for a haircut, and the guy said. " YEAH, WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?!?". I decided to just leave as the guy was being a jerk for no reason. I'm sure I can find somewhere less creepy.

Tiny one person shop, clean and never a wait, friendly owner. Easy to park across the street by…read morePresidio Middle School.

Yvonne Hair Salon

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Still going to Yvonne now for over half my life! Yikes! I see from my last review over 11 years…read moreago that my haircut price is double and the amount of my hair is half (lol good business model). Still yvonne's location is really good for students at USF and especially those with Asian hair she knows the styles of younger adults as well. Her clientele comes from all over Pac Heights and the Richmond. It is WomenRun Business Month on Yelp. Support Yvonne

Two teens who decided last minute they HAD to have cuts before a trip…read more.. Yvonne was able to accommodate with one day notice. BOTH teens extremely happy (when does THAT ever happen!) with their cuts and Mom extremely happy with the price/convenience. Thank you Yvonne for delivering a Win Win Win for my family. You are our new go to!

Salon 828

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Watch out, people. I've been coming to this place for a while and the price was always $25 (I…read moreusually leave a tip and pay $28 total). Today was a completely different experience. The barber rushed through the haircut, didn't follow what I asked for, and tried to finish as quickly as possible. I specifically asked for a certain length, but he ignored it and insisted everything looked "good" when it clearly didn't. On top of that, I was charged $30 without any explanation. When I asked about the price, he just laughed it off. Very unprofessional. Feels like they take advantage of regular customers.

DO NOT GO TO THIS SALON! Jimmy destroyed my hair. In…read moreOctober of 2024, I came into Salon 828 with mid-length, healthy brown hair and having read reviews online I thought I could trust Jimmy to dye my hair blonde while keeping it long, but boy was I wrong. Not only was I charged $500 for a yellow dye job that fell out in clumps resulting in an unwanted pixie cut, when I went to another salon months later to try and salvage what was left of my hair I was told the dye he used was so strong that when this other salon had accidentally ordered it (instead of putting it onto paying customers hair, like Jimmy) they poured it on the concrete outside their building, that's right- he put a dye strong enough to bleach concrete onto my hair. My formerly long, healthy hair was bright yellow when I wanted it a white bleached color, and the consistency of straw. Even the blunt pixie cut I was forced into couldn't hide how many different lengths it had split off into. Somehow, I was convinced to revisit Jimmy for a touch up on my roots, I assumed this would be free because he had destroyed my hair- nope- I was charged around $300, for a root touch up, mind you he couldn't even successfully dye my roots to match the yellow of my hair, he let me leave the salon with orange roots. I've spent the last 10 months attempting to regrow my hair, I've poured hundreds of dollars into olaplaex, k18, and not touching it with bleach, yet it has barely grown 2 inches and is still completely broken and all different lengths. Not only did Jimmy at Salon 828 destroy my hair, he destroyed my bank account (charging ridiculous prices) and my confidence and trust in stylists. Don't end up like me, don't go here. Thanks a lot, Jimmy.

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Friendly service! Fair price. Good haircut--my wife approved of my haircut so I'm satisfied.read more

Trini gave my very active 4 year old a fabulous haircut! It was his first one!…read moreThank you!

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I went here for a quick trim, and Susan herself came out and convinced me to get a bob! I payed her…read more20$ and a kiss on the cheek and it was the best dang bob I've ever gotten! thank you susan :)

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Best shampoo I've ever had! Like a head massage!! Then a precision cut, I'm very happy with!! Mai…read moreis a one-gorl-show, with her assistant shampooing! My little niece looooooved her trim, also! We'll be back!!

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Tony did some magic on my hair. He was very friendly and chatty, but when I asked him for hair…read moreadvice (side bangs or no side bangs), he was very quick to give his opinion. He clearly knew his craft well. I asked for a relatively simple hair cut (long with layers) and he delivered. I have very thick Asian hair that needs to thinned out periodically and he made my hair feel light without sacrificing the volume. He also had this magically way of cutting hair where it didn't matter which way I did my hair part (on the left or on the right) and it looked the same both ways. A fantastic hair cut for me and I will return the next time I'm in San Francisco. Furthermore, the price point was fantastic ($55). I will say -- I really enjoy relaxing shampooing and hair massages at hair salons and I wouldn't say that this was a particularly relaxing hair cleaning. Much more vigorous (not painful) and I felt like my scalp was very clean. I liked it, but others may not.

After 8yrs of growing out my natural hair I decided it was time to color it again. I asked for a…read morewarm balayage and left hours later with brassy dry dead hair. The salon completely damaged my hair. On top of that, the beautician was aggressively rough. I had trouble sleeping that night from the throbbing pain coming from my scalp after enduring the way she treated my head earlier in the day. I do not recommend this salon.

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