I cheated on my hair stylist, my home girl, my Pinay sister Maria. I could cheat on my husband of 25 years, and it probably wouldn't engender as much guilt or scorn as cheating on Maria. See, when work is a 2-hour round trip commute across a bridge, you make lazy driving options on the weekends. I cheated on Maria for a salon that I can walk to--WALK to--with a lovely tatted up girl named April. But I found my way back to Atche Maria and even after a 10-year hiatus-- 'we were on a break!'--she still knows my hair. I drive the 30+ minutes for therapy, laughs, to absorb the creative artistry that is Atche. I'm never leaving you, Maria. That other girl was just a fling. read more

This is the best hair salon in the Bay Area. Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful. I have been getting my hair done here for over 2 years, and each time I walk away feeling so special and beautiful. read more

I can't say enough amazing things about my hair stylist. Angel truly has fingers of GOLD! Every time I walk out of his chair, I feel like a million bucks. Instead of just showing a picture of my hair, I'm sharing my happy face with Angel because it says it all! He listens to exactly what I need, gives the best advice, and somehow always makes my hair look even better than I imagined. You can tell he genuinely loves what he does. I Highly recommend Angel at J.Brooker on College Av. In Berkeley. He is incredible and fast! read more

J. Brooker Studio - Angel incredible hair stylist - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

We have driven from East County since the early 2000s to have Angel Lau cut our hair. I like to change my style every few months and I show him a picture. Angel adapts it to my texture of hair. I always leave having a stylish hairstyle. My husband likes that when he cuts his hair, Angel follows the part so no matter where the hair is parted, the hair is the same length and not different lengths. We're glad to have found Angel. He's the best hairstylist ! read more

I've been going to J. Brooker Studio since 2019 and love it, especially Nishan! Nishan is not only an amazing hair stylist, she's a craftsman!! For the bob loving gals out there, Nishan is your girl! J. Brooker is an amazing space but Nishan recently moved to Hey Pretty Hair Studio (thank goodness only a few doors down)! If you are looking for a fabulous and kind hair stylist who hands down gives the best precision bob you can ask for, Nishan is your person. I live on the Peninsula but it's worth the travel to come see her. Not only is Nishan's haircuts the best, she listens to what you want, recommends what's good for your face/frame and the best part is her cuts grows out amazingly. I look forward to seeing Nishan in her new space. Make an appointment on her new website: nishancotehair.com! You will not regret it. read more

Ok so some backstory here .. boy mama of "2 under 2" suffering from postpartum hair loss .. I was going thru the weirdest phase of hair growth and was so nervous to do anything drastic .. I also have super resistant hair when it comes to covering my grays -- only 2 colorists/stylists have successfully covered grays lol .. and to sweeten the deal, I have a very interesting texture; my hair is coarse, fine and wavy. Alas, I've officially found another who can handle my hair!! Joelle made sure I was comfortable with her game plan -- over a year later I still continue to sit in her chair. She treats my hair with such TLC and makes great recommendations for what my hair needs. I went blonde again for the summer and the integrity of my hair was still there, I was shook! I've had others fry my hair off or it turns out brassy as the weeks progress -- my hair never gets brassy with whatever products this salon has or whatever she uses. My grays grow also grow in gracefully and blend right into my color so it doesn't look like a hot mess. Hair is currently thriving and everyone always compliments my hair whenever Joelle does something different to it cuz it literally never looks bad AND it's growing! My hair has seen some terrible days before and it's been awhile since it's been this thick and healthy! So grateful for her!! Thank you, Joelle for always loving up on my hair! read more

Nishan does wonderful haircuts! She has creative ideas when I come with vague descriptions of what I want my hair to look like. It's a treat every time she cuts my hair, and I look fabulous when I leave! Thank you Nishan! read more

Nishan is top-notch--you couldn't ask for a better hair professional! I have thick, curly, frizzy hair and had a hard time finding someone who could handle it well, until I found Nishan. She is amazing. When I first went to her, I had a previous hair cut (done by someone else) that I hated and needed to grow out, and she has seen me through every length since, and has always found a way to make it look good. She also always gives great advice on how to manage my hair at home with minimal fuss. She's so good she teaches others how to cut and style hair. I couldn't be happier. Never going to anyone else (Nishan--you can't ever retire!). read more

[Updating, after speaking with the stylist, to better understand what went wrong.] We brought both of our children here (3 and 5), and the communication between mother and stylist - i.e. the stylists attention to the mother's requests - was not great, and the cuts wound up being very rough, with uneven patches, and far more taken off than requested. Chalking this up to learning. This salon isn't for us and I acknowledge that this may simply be that its not a great place for young children. But others' may have had better experiences read more

I've received service from Maria, Chris, James, and Olga - and they're all amazing. Today Chris knocked my highlights out of the park!! He delivers that optimal point between adding brightness and pizzazz, but also so well blended and matched to my natural color that there's never any obvious "grown out" dark roots moment. Plus, he's just a lovely human to hang with while he works. And he could totally charge more for his level of talent. Highly recommend! read more

I have been seeing Theresa (who has recently moved to J brooker) for years now. Before her I spent 5 years never going to the same hair dresser twice but since seeing her I've never seen anyone else. In addition to fantastic haircuts she also has lovely chat and a great vibe. Could not recommend more. read more

Had a phenomenal cut here the other week. James is awesome. The vibe of the salon overall is super friendly and warm and positive. I highly recommend this awesome Elmwood studio for your next new do! read more

Love love LOVE Nishan! I have really curly hair and have always found haircuts stressful and anxiety-inducing. A friend recommended Nishan at J. Brooker and I went last summer for the first time. I asked for a tiny trim but to get rid of my dead ends and actually got a trim (a miracle in the curly world) and my hair felt so healthy, and the shape was really flattering. It was the first time in years I hadn't cried at least a little bit about a haircut. Went back last week and I'm obsessed with my haircut -- and I think I've finally found a holy grail curly hair specialist, at a super reasonable rate no less. Recommending to all curly hair friends. read more

J. Brooker Studio - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

I got the worst hair cut I have ever gotten in my life here. And it cost me 70$. I think some of their stylists are very good, but not this time... It was so bad I had to wear a hat for a few days, and when I got it fixed at a different salon, they were confused as to why it was so un-even. They thought I cut it myself. I was disappointed I didn't get a full refund, especially considering this is a higher end salon. read more

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giving 2 stars because usually my experiences are great, but yesterday was such a fail. i booked with "any stylist" since most stylists i've booked with exceed expectations and was assigned to Andrew. After exchanging a few words (since he doesn't talk much) i told him i just wanted to freshen up my layers since it's been a few months, and add some face framing. he acknowledged it and we got going. i thought it was odd he was only focusing on the top layers of my hair and asked if he'd cut some layers underneath too - to which he said yes. he then finished and shows me my hair but something was off. i paid and went to the bathroom to look at it and it was terrible. he gave me a shag and i looked like a mushroom - round at the top but an incredibly longer bottom layer. the layers were not blending in and my hair looked awful. i asked him to please fix it and at least even out the bottom layer - he did it reluctantly and on my dry hair. he even mocked saying "i wanted it perfectly" - which yes, yes i did when i paid $90. i went home and really took a look and realized how much my hair was the opposite of what i wanted and have ever gotten under the same request. i'll attach pictures below. all in all, a terrible, unfortunate experience. lastly, i called the studio (the receptionist was amazing) for a partial refund. andrew called me back and told me to come by to pick it up - so i did. he was very rude to me and didn't even apologize or acknowledge me. he gave me the money, ignored my greeting, and walked away. this to me said a lot about the lack of accountability. :( read more

J. Brooker Studio - my hair after being "fixed" - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Totally 5*s for Olga and James. James fit me in to touch up grays today and did wonderful job.

If you are looking for the rare stylist who is an absolute master of the perfect bob, you are in luck! Nishan is your new stylist at J. Brooker! I can't praise her talent and meticulous approach highly enough, plus she is a genuine pleasure to spend your appointment time with. 5 stars +++ read more

I had the most amazing and liberating experience. Thank you Elena for your patience, sense of humor regarding my hair tragedy. I'm so Impressed with your knowledge and skills. I will see you in 2-3 months. read more

J. Brooker Studio - Fresh cut ! - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is the only place I will go to get a haircut. I have been going to Olga to cut my hair for three years now. She is the best stylist I have ever come across, and the only person I have gone back to for a second cut my entire adult life. Every single experience is consistently on point, Will be honest with you about what will look good, what your hair needs, and whether or not what you are looking for will work for your hairstyle and your face. I come out every time, loving the cut and looking beautiful. The prices are very reasonable as well,and Olga is a complete professional. The salon does excellent work, I have recommended so many people come here and everyone I have had go to Olga loves the work that she has done for them too. Truly an incredible business run by wonderful people. read more

I stumbled upon this salon simply because it was local and ended up finding the best hair stylist I've ever been to, Nishan! Nishan is extremely talented and communicative about what she does to my hair. I've gotten many different haircuts from her and with each one, she puts so much attention to detail into her work. I recommend any and all of my friends to see Nishan because she is truly a hair artist. read more

J. Brooker Studio - Fresh haircut by Nishan - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

First, I just want to say thank you to the team for giving me a same day appointment during graduation season! James transformed my hair from blonde with grown out dark roots to copper, cut it beautifully, and styled it with patience and grace. James absolutely gained a new client! I'm so happy with how my hair came out, it was everything I wanted and more! I'll definitely be back & I highly recommend this spot!! read more

J. Brooker Studio - After - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love love love my hairstylist, Maria. I've been coming to her for a little more than 3 decades now. She's so extremely talented and creative in what she does! When I first came to her, I had very damaged hair from my previous hair dresser, possibly due to the poor hair products it was used on my hair, lots of split ends. She made my hair healthy again and was so grateful for it! I didn't even have to tell her what I wanted each time. She just does it according to her creativity and magic touch each time. She seems to read my mind. Even though I moved far away from the Bay Area 19 years ago, I still travel over 100 miles just to see her. She's so worth it! No one like her that I was able to find where I live. I always look forward to my next hair appointment with her. It makes me very happy after a good hair do! read more

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I was visiting from out of town and was coincidentally in desperate need of a haircut. My daughter got me in with Nishan. I arrived to my appointment a few minutes early and Nishan was gracious and welcoming. I was a little uneasy because you just never know how things will turn out with a new stylist. I know myself, and I'm not good at communicating what I'm looking for. Nishan, though, was terrific and after just a little bit of back and forth, she completely understood what I wanted. I walked out of there with one of the best haircuts I've had in years! It's been about a month now, and my haircut is growing out so well, another sign of a talented stylist. I hope to be back the next time I'm in town. If you're looking for a stylist, I would highly recommend Nishan! read more

I love this place. The studio is clean and bright, all the stylists are friendly, and the owner is awesome. I've gotten some terrible cuts around the bay area, but this place Is always a win. I've never walked out with a cut I didn't like. Prices are reasonable and vary depending on which stylist you use. They have a very easy online booking system, and you can also call to schedule if those times don't work for you. Highly recommend. read more

I managed to snag a last minute appointment with Joelle. She was fantastic. I have really thick, Asian hair-- and Joelle helped me get the perfect cut based off of the photo I brought in. Can't ask for more! read more

Olga is absolutely amazing! I wanted to go red with no bleach (I originally had light brown hair with some bleach highlights) and she made sure she got every part of my hair while complimenting me throughout. Her and the receptionist made my experience of dying my hair a bright color for the first time amazing. I have gotten SO many compliments on my hair because of ho well done Olga did the color. The products they used are amazing and left my hair shiny and smooth for 4 days after the appointment. Thank you so much! You guys deserve all the hype read more

J. Brooker Studio - before - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE!! I've been coming to see Joelle for awhile now and she never fails to give me the BEST color job. I have tons of new gray in the front that needs more maintenance and every time she does it it looks amazing, healthy, shiny and even. Joelle takes special care in making sure the type of brown we dye my hair is not just the color I want, but also complimentary to my skin tone and type of hair I have. Not to mention when she blowdries and styles my hair it looks fantastic and stays for a good few days. And I have straight thick Asian hair! They also only use the best hair care Davines and since getting my hair done and using the same products at home my hair has never looked and felt better! I get tons of compliments all the time!! Don't even hesitate when thinking of booking your next luxury hair treatment here. Joelle is fantastic and Maria the owner is so sweet and welcoming ;) Honestly all the stylists here are. They always have the warmest and friendliest greetings for anyone who walks through the door. read more

J. Brooker Studio - Hair color and styling - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I went in this last weekend to get my hair cut with some layers. Everyone was really nice and accommodating but I do have concerns. I noted the placement of where I wanted my hair to fall after it was cut and it was cut a whole 2 inches above that spot. My hairdresser also kept talking about how I have a side part my hair needs to be asymmetrical. The end product is one of my sides of hair is considerably longer than the other (a good 2-3 inches) when it should be even. Never have I ever had a hairdresser have a problem with cutting my hair even. While I was in the salon I kept asking for it to be fixed but the hair stylist didn't understand what I meant and eventually said she didn't want to do any more adjustments. She also was very keen on wanting to give me bangs (which I said I didn't want and would think about) and she did a huge choppy layer and now I have side bangs. I called the salon asking for a refund and they told me to call the hair stylist. What the stylist said was I couldn't have a refund but she could fix it. For me, I didn't want her near my hair again. I spent $100 for this choppy uneven hair cut. Now I will have to go to a better salon to have this fixed. I'm very conflicted because my stylist was so nice and we had a great conversation but I definitely can't recommend a place that cuts hair unevenly and totally lopsided, cuts it shorter than you want, and gives you choppy side bangs when you said you didn't want them. read more

Gio is literally god-sent!!!! I've been trying to achieve a lighter blonde color that allows me to be low maintenance. The day I came in, I actually just wanted a haircut, but I was telling her how I like my lighter ends but it's too much to maintain with the toning. She then said she could lighten my hair without bleach! I didn't even know it was a thing....an hour later, my hair came out the color I love always wanted. At previous salons, I would have to do a few sessions but this took one session!!! Her scalp massage is great too. I would come back just so she could wash my hair 10/10 recommend Gio! She's so sweet and lovely and listens to what you want. Thanks Gio! read more

I have been dreaming of getting my hair done during the entire pandemic. I walked by J Brooker Studio and took a chance asking for an appointment to get highlights. I was lucky by getting the appointment, nice Cecilia set it up quickly and painlessly, but even luckier in getting Chris to do my highlights. He is very personable and warm, chose the right color tone and left me feeling pretty. I will definitely be back! read more

J. Brooker Studio - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

The ever fabulous Maria worked her magic on my overgrown mass of curls that have been tied up in a bun under an ICU pandemic nurses' bonnet for over a year! Maria's salon J. Brooker Studio on College Ave in the Elmwood district of Berkeley, California had to shutter for 7 months during the pandemic. I've been going to her since I was a wee one (as was she, duh!) and rarely in my life have I let anyone else cut my hair. I'm super grateful her business survived the lockdown and that clientele is returning safely. Highly recommended salon, everyone there has had their #covidvaccine and is still #maskedup for everyone's safety: clients and cosmetologists alike. Buh-bye #covidhair ! ‍ read more

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My sister and I come in to J. Brooker ~once every 1-2 months to visit the wonderful, kind, and beautiful Elena! She has magical hands and has never let us down. We tend to make it a "girls day" where we head into Berkeley from San Francisco and plan to spend all day at the salon with Elena as my sister gets balayage and I typically get a full color with a hair mask (so, time consuming to say the least!). Elena and the J. Brooker team always make it an amazing experience. Everyone is so kind and it's such a treat to hangout here for a nice day of pampering! Elena has worked wonders to both mine and my sister's hair, and has even given us some wonderful product to help ensure our hair lasts in between sessions! I would recommend this spa to anyone in the Bay Area! The talent, customer experience, and the price is something you just can't find elsewhere! (Blonde is my sister's balayage and I have the dark, full color!) read more

I started coming with Giovana about a year and a half ago and have not left her side! When I first came to her my hair was so damaged and unhealthy. My hair has now reached a healthy blonde and feels super good! I defintely reccomend going to Giovana, she's the best! read more

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I adore this salon and everyone here is fantastic. I personally get my hair cut and colored by Maria - she is a wizard. Within an hour I've been shampooed, my hair is cut, and I've been given a gorgeous blowout... and somehow my long hair with layers grows out for months as if I've been getting regular trims all along. I go 3-4 months between appointments and each time we spend a few minutes commenting on how my hair still looks great and has grown out beautifully! I find pricing here extremely reasonable compared to places of similar caliber, and I never feel like anyone is trying to sell me product. Thanks for running a great business... can't wait for the next time I need to pop in! read more

I got a balayage from Elena Loyola and loved how it turned out! At first, I chose J. Brooker because of its close proximity to my house, but soon found that there were even better reasons to be at this salon. The stylists are little gems... I got to talk to Maria and Elena the most, but everyone I had encountered during my 5 hour (!!) appointment was delightful. They all want the very best for you, and will go to great extents to make sure you have hair you love. For example, my balayage didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it to the first time around, so Elena called me in again to re-tone my hair. All without an extra charge! I really appreciated her care for my hair and loved getting to know her more. Thanks J. Brooker for a head of beautiful hair and a full heart! read more

The best hair salon in the East bay! This serene salon is beautifully appointed with modern touches. They use the highest quality hair products including Davines. All the stylists do amazing work. I've been seeing Elena since they opened. She does excellent work including color, cut, blow-dry's & deep conditioning treatments. The staff are all very friendly & accommodating! This salon never disappoints EVER! They've made it very easy to secure online appointments too by going to their website or you call for an appointment. Their pricing is also fair & WAY more reasonable than other so-so salons in the area. read more

I have been going to Elena for years! She is a truly wonderful, caring and sweet stylist who always pays close attention to my requests and makes me feel special! This salon has a very welcoming atmosphere and solid COVID safety protocols. Plus you can book appointments online, which is such a plus!! read more

I've been with Maria since college and she's the only person I ever go to (she even did hair and make up for my wedding and my best friend's too). This is her new place and it's a statement of who she is and how thoughtful she is with the details. You can trust her with going bold or tailor something to what you want - and she will accommodate. I love her creativity and both my daughter and I think she's the best. She did a fabulous job with the purple streaks my daughter wanted and loving my new cut and highlights! I always am do relaxed (great head massage) and feel so glam when I leave. Give her a try!! read more

J. Brooker Studio - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have not found many hair dressers in the Bay Area that know how to do a women's short hair cut. This is the only salon that I've been to where the hair dresser cut my hair exactly the way that I wanted! Thank you so much, Angel! read more

J. Brooker Studio - Reference photo (I asked the hair dresser to cut my hair shorter) - Hair Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love coming to this salon! Great location, clean, bright, friendly staff, lots of COCID-compliance. Nishan cuts my hair and she does a great job - and I'm picky! My wife is happy with the result and so am I. Always glad when I get a little time to myself away from the kids, even if it's only to get a haircut with a mask on. And Nishan has gotten good at working around the mask! So thankful not to have to worry or wonder if I'll get a good haircut. Really appreciate how gracious and accommodating Nishan is, even when demand for her talents outstrips supply. I am a dude with lots of thick curly hair, so if that sounds like you, consider getting Nishan to cut your hair. Happy new year! read more