Ashley does the best cut, color and up-do's! Love this salon!!

I loved my experience here and was thrilled with both the cut and color. When requesting an appointment online (so convenient!) I noted that I would prefer a stylist on the lower end of their pricing scheme, and they were able to accommodate me. I got Patti, who was super friendly (though without *forcing* conversation as can sometimes happen) and did a great job. I can be really indecisive about attempting new hairstyles and also terrible at describing what I want; Patti somehow knew which direction to take things and helped me branch out a little bit without it being too dramatic a change. Again, the salon EXPERIENCE is so lovely/relaxing. When you arrive, you're offered a variety of beverages, and you can change into a robe to keep your own clothes hair- and dye-free. Something I really appreciated is that I wasn't ever made to sit and wait uselessly while my stylist worked on someone else (I've had this happen at other salons where they sort of double-book clients so as to prevent any 'wasted' time for the stylist while one client's dye is setting). Maybe they do it too, and I lucked out as it was just a slow time of day, but whatever, it made me happy. :) While my dye set, I was occupied reading a book but I saw an employee wandering around offering clients complimentary hand massages; what a nice touch! Unlike other high-end salons I've been to, they don't put loads of pressure on you to buy their haircare products or to immediately schedule your next appointment. I will definitely be back soon! read more

We brought our 9 year old son in for $100+ highlights and they upsold and allowed him to otherwise upgrade to a $345 dye job. Without checking in with either of his parents who were nearby and reachable by phone. Their ethics they showed yesterday at their Southlake Seattle location were appalling. You don't upsell a 9 year old!!!!! read more

I love this salon, and I REALLY love how Alex does my hair. She is fantastic with color. After moving to Seattle, I went through 6 stylists at 5 salons before I found Alex. With Alex, I've never had those anxious "What is this person gonna do to my hair? Why is she picking up THAT utensil?" feelings when sitting in the chair! I would highly recommend Alex to anyone looking for great hair color. To me, it's worth paying a little extra to look and feel great. read more

I have have had great experiences with Gary Manuel Salon, mainly due to the expertise and professionalism of Karlie Baptie, my stylist. I followed her from their Phase 3 salon to the higher priced Gary Manuel Aveda salon. She epitomizes the Aveda name, has great product knowlege and is the best colorist I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Great work in creating a client for life. read more

I've been seeing Christopher for over 2 1/2 years now, and I can't imagine life without him! I always have a style I love that makes me look AND feel good. He's attentive, great with color, and a genius with curly hair. Seriously - I always have the GREATEST cuts for my curls. Not only that - I've been taught HOW to manage my curls by Christopher. He's fun, hilarious, and a fabulous addition to the Gary Manuel staff. read more

Really terrific place. They make it so easy from beginning to end. I've been going there for 8 years and the one time I hated my haircut, they got me in the next morning to fix it. Plus the salon is a wonderful contributor to the community -- they have fundraisers and seem like they treat their employees well. While I've seen a few super rich-seeming clients in neighboring chairs, no one at the salon has a snooty vibe. Worth the money. read more

As luck would have it, a receptionist at Gary Manuel paired me up with Christopher Archiopoli three years ago, and I have been hooked ever since. Christopher is AMAZING. He is friendly, professional, gives amazing customer service (in fact, I've never had greater customer service at any salon in my life), and is the only person I trust my hair with. I've seen other stylists at Gary Manuel, and although many were good, in my opinion, Christopher is by far the best. Admittedly, I have really high expectations and can be hard to please, but when I leave my hair cut and color fate in Christopher's hands, he has never let me down. He's always bang on with suggestions and creatively cutting my hair, and my color always rocks. If you are on the hunt for a fabulous stylist with sticking power, go see Christopher. Worth every penny. read more

I am new to Seattle from Toronto Canada and found this place from yelp reviews. I was very happy and had Ashley cut my hair. She is fantastic...very friendly & professional. She did exactly what i wanted and more! The place is easy to get to in Belltown. The salon looks great and the service is excellent. I was served a drink of my choice and treated very well. The price of the cut was reasonable for a senior stylist $52. I'm going back for sure! Thanks Ashley! read more

I loved the amazing cut I got from Maria Espinoza, on of the stylists @ Gary Manuel. I had previously long hair when I moved to Seattle and felt like it was time for a new look. I couldn't have chosen a better place. This salon has impeccable service, talented stylist and are committed to making Seattle a better place by of their fundraising and volunteering efforts! What more could you ask for? read more

I have been getting my hair cut by Collins for a few years and she is awesome! I have very coarse, thick, difficult-to-cut ethnic hair that usually intimidates or leaves other stylists clueless but Collins has done a great job since day one. She always takes the time to listen to my needs and look through all of the pictures I bring her for reference. She tells me what she thinks will work and then takes the time to explain what she will do. She is so patient and personable, I don't think I'd ever want to get my hair cut from anyone else. She also teaches me new ways to style my hair and she also gave me tips on trimming my fringe/bangs at home. Also, the front desk staff are always very friendly. Collins and Gary Manuel are so awesome and I'd recommend them to anyone! read more

VIP is the way you'll feel from start to finish at the Gary Manuel Salon. I've seen opal for three years now and the creativity and perfection of her work never ceases to amaze me! Plus she gives a phenomenal hand treatment during your cut and color! You must go see the stylists at this award winning salon :) anastina is incredible as well!!!! read more

I've been seeing Jillian for the past six months and she rocks! She does a fantastic job and always makes sure I leave looking awesome! The staff is always friendly and helpful not to mention highly knowledgable about the products. The services they provide and attention to detail has made me a loyal customer :) read more

Amazing experience! Bettie was great with my cut ( long layers with fine, medium length hair) and balayage color. She put in blonds that were fun but still natural for the summer. They really pamper you here and give free services. Highly recommended! read more

I've been a client at this salon for almost 9 years. It's a such a professional, well-run salon and the entire staff - from reception, to the interns to management and all the talented stylists -- is world class. In addition, their new location on 2nd Ave in Pioneer Square is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. All of that is wonderful, of course, but the real reason I've been so loyal to the salon is my amazing stylist/colorist Amy. I've lived in LA, San Francisco and New York where I'v been to some very acclaimed salons, but I've never been happier with my hair than when I'm in Amy's chair. She's just ridiculously talented and knowledgeable - she's actually an instructor at the salon's prestigious training institute - and she's also one of the kindest, funniest, most sincere people I've ever met. Her coloring skills are is nothing short of magical and her cuts are always on point! Over the years I've referred so many of my friends - both men and women - to Amy and they've become just as loyal to her as I am. I know, I know! I'm gushing, but I can't say enough good things about her. She really is just the best! read more

I got 12" of my hair cut off today with Franklin and it was a really fun experience. I wanted to donate my hair to Locks of Love and Gary Manuel was gracious enough to offer the haircut for free and handle the donation. I would highly recommend this salon and Franklin, as well. He gave me a gorgeous textured bob and I look forward to coming back! read more

I just had the best time with Maria!! She listened, gave some great tips for styling & gave the best scalp massage in Seattle!! I'll be back for sure! read more

Amazing... all the of staff are so talented and helpful. I see Lindsey and she is AWESOME. I have very curly hair, which can be hard to cut and she does a great job. She also did my hair for my wedding! She amazing at up dos I totally recommenced seeing her. read more

I've been going to Lee Bocklund for 10+ years now and have never left disappointed. My color and highlights are perfect everytime. He's taken my cut painlessly from super short to mid-back length over the years. The cut is so good that I rarely have to spend a lot of time styling as it just falls nicely into place. The service, desk staff and assistants are all fabulous. And I like their range of products. read more

I was going to one of those wear all black, everybody looks the same salons (GJ). And then I found the one...the one who will cut, color, style my hair for the rest of my life. Karlie at Gary Manual knows hair. I am a blonde by nature- that needs a little help once and awhile. She highlights my hair so naturally- making it look flawless. Anf if you think that's good- check out her hair cuts!!! I have medium/thick hair. When humidty strikes- my hair is everywhere. Karlie has cut my hair so that when weather changes- I still look like I just stepped out of a salon. I am a wash & go type of gal and no mater what she's able to cut it so it looks good everyday of the week. You need to go see her...I have recommended over 10 people to her with different hair colors, cuts, etc and everyone has been impressed. She is a goddess with scissors & dye. Treat yourself and go check her out. You will not be disappointed. I promise. read more

I have been going to Melissa at Gary Manuel for over a year now and I would never think about going anywhere else. She is my hair whisperer! She is so talented and so much fun. I absolutely love her! Not only is she amazing with my locks she is great company, like hanging out with a friend ( hair cut and color are an added bonus ). That is another thing I love about this salon. I don't need to see two different people who "specialize" Melissa does not only my color, she also does my cut! She specializes in Fabulous! read more

Dior has changed the way I feel about my hair forever! No one touches it but her =)

Maria is an artistic genius! Her color and cuts are always perfect! Her attention to detail and perfection unmatched. I leave the salon with a saucy swing of my luscious new hair and an extra pep in my step. I feel beautiful, pampered and completely catered to. My only gripe would be that I can't have her come to my home every morning to recreate my blowout and fantastically styled curls! She's got the touch and can make anyone look their best...while you're laughing through the entire appointment. She's my hero! read more

On Friday I popped into Gary Manuel Salon so that DERIK could give me a quick "fringe trim" (which they offer for free between haircuts). It took moments & between there & 4th Avenue & Pine St., two people commented on my great haircut & a third stopped so she could photograph me for her fashion blog! DERIK is the best thing to make a girl look cute, outside of plastic surgery! THANKS DERIK! read more

This place is classy! It's a little out of my price range at the moment. But, it's definitely the spot to go and get quality color done. Patty was/IS a gem at transforming my dark brown hair to blonde. I was purple in between, which was super fun! They take care of you there, robe and cucumber/lemon water included. read more

I have been seeing Derick for about three years now and there is NO ONE that I would rather go to for a cut and color. He is thoughtful, patient, and really seeks to understand your point of view when determining you want. That being said, he also has a beautiful eye for highlights and the angle of his cuts, so I almost always just let him do what he wants. I've never, not once, been disappointed. I always book two and three appointments out in advance to ensure that I can find time with him. Could not recommend him more. He has become a friend and confidant over the last several years and I am always looking forward to my next appointment. The interns are fabulous as well. They are polite and well trained, eager to learn, and happy to watch and observe. They also give amazing hand and head massages. :) read more

I went here with high hopes, but after a year of regular visits, I decided it was time to go somewhere else. I wasn't super thrilled with the color that my stylist was doing, but the last straw was when I got home and realized that the back of my hair along the neck was crooked by about half an inch from one side to the other! Call me picky, but for more than $300 for a cut and color, I do expect my hair to be cut level along my neck! If I'd been more thrilled with this place, I might have bothered to go back and have it straightened out, but it was just the last straw in a string of annoying experiences. Parking is a real pain for this salon as well, and I don't think the way they have their assistants handle refreshing expiring parking is particularly pleasant. I once got handed my purse while color was being rinsed out of my hair and asked to fish around for some change for the assistant to go get a new parking sticker for me. I appreciate that they do this, but come on, couldn't you just pull four quarters out of the register and add it on to the bill? read more

This is a fabulous salon and I absolutely adore my stylist, Alex. She is a true artist with both cut and color. My hair is short. Alex gives an incredible haircut that always works with my hair, not against it, and she is amazing when it comes to color. I keep my hair red, a difficult shade to get right. I have never found another stylist who can pull off the kind of magic that Alex can with color. The front desk staff at this salon is terrific. They are always welcoming, cheerful, and gracious. The place is very clean and the entire staff seems enthusiastic and highly professional. I always leave feeling very, very good. read more

I love this salon! I went in about a month ago to donate 14 inches to Locks of Love. What a warm reception! Derek gave me the GREATEST cut! I've never had short hair and it was kinda big deal to lose that much in one sitting. I think he enjoyed it as much as me! I've never loved my hair so much! I let him know I'm totally handicap when it comes to styling my hair. Derek actually explained to me step by step what he was doing so I could recreate it. That has helped so much! Still not as good as him but whatever... The rest of the staff was great too. They were super friendly and passionate about what they do, you can tell. Very passionate about Locks of Love, and they loved my hair! Oh and the cucumber water is great too. Overall wonderful experience. I have another appointment scheduled in 2 weeks ;) read more

I moved to Seattle about 4 years ago and have been looking for a stylist since the day I arrived. I would say I have seen no less than 10 different stylists over the last 4 years and after each cut I was never completely satisfied with salon or stylist. The moment I walked into Gary Manuel Salon I could tell this was going to be a different experience. The front staff was very friendly; they offered me something to drink right away and to take my coat. I could feel the positive energy from all the stylists and staff. My appointment was with Jackson, and it started off with him asking me a number of questions on what I wanted in terms of my cut. He listened and continued to ask questions until he understood exactly what I wanted. The next step in this wonderful experience was a hand and forearm massage. I could say that in all my years of getting my haircut, this was a first. Jackson started to cut my hair and was very meticulous in the way he cut and styled my hair. You can always tell a great haircut the next day. I would say this is the best haircut I have had in over 20 years. It is the little things that are important, as an example, I started to cough a little and without even asking one of the staff members brought over a glass of water. Top notch. I would recommend Jackson to anyone looking for a new stylist and would say that Gary Manual Salon is one of the top salons in my experience. Great job Jackson and thank you read more

I have had only great experiences here! I see Marita for facials and have loved every single one. Not only does she clear my skin, she also gives head and shoulder rubs! She is extremely knowledgeable and gives great tips for home skin care. She talks to me about my skin in a way that I can understand! My skin has greatly improved from the facials themselves and also from Marita's suggestions. I would recommend her to anyone. read more

Regarding the salon, I've always found it immaculately clean and hospitable. Even though the front desk staff have changed several times over the years, not one has made me feel like I didn't belong, which is big - I often show up in a rush with my hair looking like a mess and feel a little sheepish about it. The hand and scalp massages are awesome. Almost my favorite part... Heather has been styling my hair since 2005 and has NEVER disappointed me. I always leave the salon feeling like a princess. I've tried other stylists at other salons when I didn't live close enough to justify driving downtown, and regretted not sucking it up and making the trek downtown. The last time she colored my hair we decided on a dark eggplant for the base with variable reds throughout, and a bright golden streak on one side. I got SO many compliments from friends and strangers--one from an older lady at a convenience store saying that my hair looked NATURAL! Even though she knew it wasn't, she couldn't believe how well everything was blended. Honestly, I couldn't, either! Heather's coloring techniques are something only a true artist could pull off. She's also great with cuts, and has done so many different styles for me. I've only had one cut I didn't like, which she fixed for free. She's that kind of professional - so much integrity that she will do anything to make sure her work is amazing AND something you feel good about. If you're looking for a cutting edge stylist with tons of creativity, imagination and the talent to pull that vision off, go see Heather!! I recommend her to everyone looking for an edgy, sophisticated look and great service. read more

After moving to Seattle (yay!) and away from my stylist of 9 years (boo!) I was a tad nervous to try someone new. After a bad experience at another local salon, I went to Gary Manuel on the advice of a (brave) friend who tried it out while she was in town visiting me. I saw Aviva, and I was VERY pleased with the outcome. She spent a lot of time just talking to me about what I wanted and making suggestions, which I appreciated, as I am no hair-expert. She did not try to sell me a million products, which was refreshing and appreciated by my bank account, as I'm usually a sucker for any self-care products pushed on me :) Also, the price of the haircut was VERY reasonable, considering the location of this salon. The only downfall was that upon arriving for my appointment, it took the receptionist 10 minutes to acknowledge that I had arrived (and she was not busy helping other people). read more

Pax was absolutely wonderful and the facility is beautiful. It was the first time I've been to your salon--I often get a blowout when traveling since it's so much easier than dealing with my hair myself--and I have tried several others in Seattle. Not only did Pax do a fantastic job, but she was an absolute pleasure to be around. I will definitely be back to see her. I have finally found my go-to salon in Seattle. Thanks, Pax! read more

I have been apprehensive about writing this review because I LOVE AVEDA PRODUCTS! I also wanted to wait because I wasn't sure if my "perm" would somehow come to life or not. I recently moved about 3 hrs from Seattle from the east coast. I had NO IDEA where to go, or whom to trust! was SURE that having the instructor/ stylist Sarah perform an Aveda perm on my hair would assure me of POSITIVE RESULT! Sarah is a beautiful person but my hair is the WORST it's ever been:( I paid over $150 for spiral perm...and I have absolutely nothing that even remotely looks like curls period! I'm not sure if the neutralizer wasn't left in long enough. So, I would not recommend spending this much money, just to think a "label" will get the job done! I am so UNHAPPY with my hair and this is where I went to feel beautiful!! I drove 3 hours each way (1x to test healthiness of my hair, and then do have my hair done) did TONS of research on where to trust someone with my hair. NEVER AGAIN! read more

I spent a good chunk of time trying to research hair salons online. I settled on Gary Manuel because, although I knew it would be pricey, I figured I could expect quality work and attention to detail. Long story short - not worth it. My stylist spent much of my haircut time either chatting with her assistant or staring out the window. Did not feel like she was very invested in my hair. We did, however, have a one-sided discussion about the "crappy shampoo" that she could tell that I use. Followed by the requisite sales pitch of the salon's products, of course. I am now $100 poorer and only have a $20 looking haircut to show for it. The search for a new hair salon continues... read more

I have been going to Gary Manuels for about 6 months or so now and I see Katrin. Katrin is good at what she does ( she does wonders with a soft strong blonde color that i got complimented on all the time) and understands exactly what you want. I went there the first time because i wasn't happy with my other hair stylist and needed a change. although there was this one time that i too, made my appt. to late and had to get in before my roots got any worse and respectfully went with a phase three student because Katrin was just not avaliable when I was sort of thing. Although the girl was super sweet she didn't do a super job, Katrin mixed a blonde for me that i don't think the student was quite able to understand just yet ( orangish-roots) i have begun to plan my appt. a month in advance and have to stay devoted to the time because if not you wont see her for another month. at first, the place is intimidating but after the 2nd visit your feeling very confortable and important and i think that is every girls confident booster. i reccomend it. read more

I started going to Jeff at Phase3 and followed him to GM when he graduated because, well, he's amazing. I am no hair expert and need someone who can use their imagination to repeatedly come up with something fun and functional and I leave every time feeling as if I'm the one who's made out like a bandit. I've been stopped in the locker room after a long run after already not having washed my hair for three days for someone to ask who cuts my hair. For anyone who prefers to leave the ideas to the experts and let the creative juices flow while you sit back and watch as you're magically transformed into someone whose hair does not reflect their ability to actually know what to do with it otherwise (and I mean that in a very good way where I readily admit I'm a stylistic moron) then he's HIGHLY recommended. I'm sure everyone there is excellent, however, because this kind of treatment just wouldn't fly with the pocketbook if it wasn't actually THAT good. read more

My boyfriend and I both had our hair cut by Derik. He is exceptional and we both highly recommend him. He really is as good as it gets. Very, very talented and reasonably priced. read more

I've been seeing Derik for a little over a year now and couldn't be happier to have him as my stylist. He is easy to talk to, polite, professional and always on time, which is a huge factor for me. He is always supportive of my ideas and honest about limitations we may face because of my current hair length, color, etc. At my first appointment with him we took my hair from a medium length with varying colors to a very short, very blonde, modern cut and it was fabulous. I decided then to grow it out again and he always takes off only the bare minimum, which is key for me since my hair grows fairly slowly, and consistently shapes it to best flatter my face during the growing out process. I once miscommunicated a change in color that I wanted and I was unhappy with the results. I tried very hard to like it but simply did not feel comfortable or confident, and I knew he would not want that. I debated about whether to call (the last thing I wanted to do was insult him, but as other reviewers have mentioned the salon is not cheap so I decided I was paying enough to have the hair I wanted) and gave him a call. He was not only completely understanding about how I felt, he had me come in the next day (and used his lunch hour at the G.M. school where he teaches courses) to make the change I asked for. He then sent a follow up note via mail letting me know that he appreciated the fact that I called him and gave him the opportunity to make it right. He handled a situation that could have been awkward and tense for both of us with grace and professionalism. After some seriously horrendous experiences in various other stylists' chairs throughout my life, Derik's response was refreshing and very much appreciated. Overall, Gary Manuel is consistently rated the top salon in Seattle for a reason. I remember another woman in the lobby once saying to me "Wow, all of these people look like they take their hair very seriously" and she was right. If you are just looking to get a haircut, this may not be the place for you. But if you are looking for a salon with wonderful customer service and a stylist with a creative, artistic vision and professional demeanor, go see Derik. I cannot say enough good things about him, he rocks my socks!! read more