I've been going to Helen for about three years now--ever since I moved to San Francisco--and I truly can't recommend her enough. She was originally recommended to me by a friend, and she's been my go-to stylist ever since. I see her about every six months for cuts (and occasionally color), and she consistently does an amazing job. What I really appreciate is how thoughtful and collaborative she is--she always asks great clarifying questions to understand exactly what I want, and she's also honest when something might not work or won't look the way I'm imagining. I really trust her judgment, which is so important when it comes to hair. She strikes the perfect balance between listening closely and offering expert guidance, and I've never left an appointment feeling anything less than happy with the result. If you're looking for a stylist you can truly trust, Helen is it read more

I was looking for someone who could color my asian hair without it getting brassy or washed out looking later and have it look really natural and blended. Before she did the color she did the most thorough consult I have ever had. She really took the time to look at my hair and made sure we were aligned on what I was looking for. My natural hair is very dark and Helen did a beautiful job of making it a dimensional brown. She also cut it in a way that makes my hair look really good and kind of textured even though I air dry it. It's been over a month and my color still looks good! read more

Helen is so talented and amazing! I had my hair colored by her (balayage) when she was at Yo Yo Salon last year, and it was the best balayage I've ever had. The color grew out so well and my hair remained healthy. Now that she has moved to a new salon location, I had to check it out and get a hair cut! I showed Helen pictures of what I wanted, and she was very good at listening and giving me advice on how to customize the style to fit my face shape. She is so detail-oriented and really explained each step of the process so I was satisfied with the results. I wanted to make sure that I maintained volume while having layers, so she gave me the perfect textured cut. Overall, I was super happy with the results and also had a great time catching up with Helen! She is super sweet and easy to talk to. The salon was also very clean. I was able to find parking easily right in front. Booking was convenient through her website. read more

Kimchihelen - Layered hair cut by Helen! - Hair Stylists Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been going to Helen for the past four years since she was at YoYo Salon and I honestly can't imagine trusting anyone else with my hair. Her consistency and skills are unmatched! Super talented, kind, and always has the best vibe in the salon. She always listens to what I want, offers great suggestions, and somehow my hair looks better every single time. She's truly such a gem and SF is lucky to have her from New York. read more

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Helen is absolutely fantastic! She is truly superb at her craft and is a fantastic colorist. I have naturally dark blonde hair, and over the years, Helen helps me get the look I want, whether it be strawberry blonde or golden blonde highlights. She is an artist with color and it shows - my balayage looks SO natural and grows out beautifully over time. Helen is a very kind, attentive, and warm person. The time in her chair flies by! Helen has been my go-to stylist for years. I am so glad she's in SF! read more

I'm new to the Bay and was in desperate need of a haircut. My last one was almost a year ago, and I decided that instead of flying back to LA for a cut every few months, I'd find someone here for the long term. After extensive internet sleuthing over Google Reviews, Reddit and Yelp, I found Helen through a trail of rave reviews over several salons dating all the way back to NYC. For background, I have a texture of hair that both Asian and western hairdressers struggle with, so I have been able to find just 2 stylists in NY and LA in the last decade that have given me cuts that work and are flattering. Helen took one look at my hair and told me exactly what I needed. My hair going in was a mess. All of my layers had grown out, so my very long hair felt unmanageable and heavy. I brought a few inspiration photos but told Helen she could take my hair wherever she thought it should go, within a couple of guardrails. I walked out with hair with volume, movement and looking almost exactly like the inspiration photos. It's been a day and I can't stop touching my hair. I want to gatekeep her so badly, but I'm so happy with the cut and even excited for the next one, because we discussed experimenting a bit more (for the first time in my life!). TLDR: Amazing cut from someone who is serious about hair. Worth the drive up from the Peninsula. I might move to SF to be even closer haha read more

I've been going to see Helen for years, so when she left Yoyo, I followed her directly to her new location. I don't always know what I want, but Helen knows exactly what suits me and what will look good. The haircuts are low maintenance and grow out looking great despite months in between haircuts. I typically get balayage and Helen is extremely skilled. I've gotten colored by Helen at least a five times already and I've loved it every single time. Helen is thoughtful, kind, and takes excellent care of you and your hair. She doesn't overbook or work on multiple clients so you feel ignored or forgotten. You have her undivided attention and she takes her time to get it right. I highly recommend Helen! read more

I have trusted Helen with my hair for years & feel so grateful to have found someone who knows Asian hair. I usually get a balayage once year and a haircut every quarter. Helen is AMAZING at both. In terms of color, each balayage is a deeply personal and detailed consultation where she figures out the right palette and dimensions for my lifestyle. I wanted something that is low maintenance, looks good with my hair down & not styled, and grows out in a natural way. Helen always delivers on these criteria! I still get compliments on my color now 9 months later, and it feels fresh. She also gives me consistently high quality haircuts. I have thick, slightly wavy hair that can be hard to tame, however, Helen figures out the perfect long layers that accentuates my face. My head always feels a million times lighter and easier to maintain after a visit with Helen. As a bonus, she is super fun to chat with and makes the hours at the salon fly by. RUN, don't walk to book with her -- her slots fill up fast! read more

I met Helen at Yo-Yo Salon almost five years ago not long after she had moved from NYC. She immediately understood what was wrong with my previous haircut, understood exactly what I wanted and gave me a perfect cut. I've been going to her ever since! She takes a lot of pride in her work and it shows. She never rushes through an appointment or pushes products you don't need. She has a great ability to understand what you want for your hair, but will also provide honest feedback about she thinks will work best for you. Helen is also just really fun to talk to and a genuinely kind person! I always look forward to appointments because we have so much fun talking. read more

Helen is an absolute hair wizard! From my very first haircut, I knew she'd be my forever stylist--she truly gets it. Helen listens intently to every detail and delivers precision cuts with her years of expertise. She doesn't just style; she breathes health, life, and effortless vibe back into my hair! My hair has been misstyled for years. Most stylists either cut too much off or not enough. I showed Helen some pictures of what I envisioned, and she got it right away. She recommended the right plan to go with, and I couldn't be happier with the result! I also appreciate her style of cutting--careful, measured, and precise. My hair has style and dimension without frizz. I lost my trusted professional hairdresser during COVID, but discovering Helen has given me new hope again. She is sweet, caring and fun to chat with! If you're searching for someone who nails your vision every time and leaves you feeling fabulous, book with Helen! Highly recommend her to everyone! ‍ read more

I've gone to Helen a few times for highlights and root touch ups. The salon on Union street is cute. Highly recommended :)

It is SO hard finding a hair stylist in SF that can cut/color Asian hair right, so I am incredibly thankful my friend recommended Helen to me! I have been going to Helen for cuts and balayage for the past 3-4 years now, and I feeling amazing walking out of the salon every time. Thank you, Helen!! read more

Now that I've found Helen, I will start getting my hair cut more regularly again and stop being a deviant. I had followed my previous stylist religiously for over a decade until she took time for her family during Covid. Since then I've floated around with occasional trims here and there, and otherwise grown my hair to unspeakable lengths of crispy-ness. Helen is easy to talk to and checks in on what you want and expect along the way, and if her progress is matching your ideas. No bad surprises. I tried out highlights and coloring for the first time (I know, late bloomer...), and Helen talked me through all the options and what to expect, and had great advice and ideas to bounce off of. Couldn't think of a better or safer person to lose my hair virginity to. Already penciling in a calendar to-do for myself to check in and make an appt for in a few months..! read more

I have hardly ever been to the same stylist / colorist twice, but I've * finally * found my person. Helen is so skilled and intuitive; she knew exactly what I wanted and needed. I have never been happier with a cut / color as I am with the one that I just got from Helen. She also gave me such good advice on what to do with my hair (mini face-framing highlights + a fresh cut), even though that meant that she was going to charge me for a lighter service (I asked for partial highlights initially). I really appreciated that! In addition to her amazing talent, she is also such a delightful human. She is kind, engaging, and makes the time fly by. Would recommend Helen to anyone! read more

I truly cannot have anyone but Helen cut my hair. I've tried going to other stylists due to not being able to book Helen in time and ended up with haircuts that I ultimately needed Helen to fix so now I make sure to book my appointments in advance. Helen is not only an incredibly talented stylist but also so nice and fun to talk to. She has given me long haircuts and short haircuts; she's given me bobs, lobs, layers, and wolf cuts. Truly she can do it all. I usually go in with vague requests--like I want my hair lighter, or I want more volume/shape, or I want more color dimension--and she comes up with a beautiful haircut and/or color that looks great in the moment and grows out well. I cannot stress this last point enough--all her cuts look great for MONTHS after. I have a friend who gets haircuts from Helen as well and we are both so amazed at her ability to do this. I usually just get haircuts from Helen but she is also an amazing colorist. She gave me dimensional highlights once which I loved, and when my hair's less damaged I would love to have her dye my hair too. She recently moved to a different salon -- Nefertiti's Hair & Spa on Geary, but she was previously at Yo Yo Salon on Clement where you can see all of her other reviews. :) read more

I've been coming to Helen for the past few years since I moving SF and I cannot recommend her enough. She was recommended to me by a close friend and I hope I can return the favor for someone else! I don't always know exactly what I want to do with my hair but Helen is great at talking about what I would like and offers suggestions. She's very experienced and I'm always happy to trust her recommendations. Sitting in her chair is something I always look forward to. She's a great conversationalist and remembers things about you from past visits. It's truly an overall great experience. Highly recommend her for your hair needs!! read more

Just had an amazing trim and color with Helen! Saw her awesome reviews on yelp so decided to give her a try and yelp picked another winner! When I arrived, I showed Helen the cut and color I was interested in. Helen listened carefully and walked me through her suggestions. She made sure I was comfortable with everything before we proceeded. The whole process lasted around 3 hours but the time flew by and Helen was focused on me the entire time. I also appreciated all the tips she gave me on how to apply leave in conditioner or what shampoo to use (yes I am clueless about hair). I will definitely be back! read more

Had the most amazing and on point hair appointment with Helen yesterday. The way she blended my blond in with my natural color was art. I have been dying my hair blond for over ten years and am super picky. Helen made it perfect, I will only be going to her from now on. Helen is originally from New York and previously worked at yoyo salon. read more

Helen is hands-down the best hairdresser in the Bay Area. After years of disappointments and countless hours scouring reviews online, I finally found someone who truly understands hair. I have textured curly/wavy hair, and Helen is the first stylist here who actually dry cuts it--just like the amazing hairdresser I used to see in Dubai. As soon as she used this method, I knew I could trust her. My haircut turned out beautifully. Helen is incredibly detail-oriented, and the results speak for themselves--I couldn't be happier. I won't go to anyone else in the Bay Area now that I've found her. Beyond her talent, she's a genuinely wonderful person with a real passion for her craft. read more

I booked a last-minute appointment at Bliss Organic with Helen, and I'm so glad I did! She previously worked at Yo Yo Salon on California, and it's clear why she's so beloved. Helen is an absolute sweetheart--so patient, attentive, and genuinely committed to making sure we were on the same page every step of the way. She took the time to listen to my ideas and gave thoughtful input to create exactly what I wanted. I left feeling completely satisfied and confident. Highly recommend Helen if you're looking for a stylist who truly cares about her clients! read more

Kimchihelen - Before - Hair Stylists Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I have been coming to Helen since I moved to San Francisco. After every cut, I feel so refreshed! She listens carefully and is very thoughtful towards making your haircut fit your style and personality :) Even if you can't get cuts super often, it grows out nicely as well. Couldn't recommend her enough! read more

Kimchihelen - Hair Stylists Near Me - San Francisco, California

There aren't enough genuine words I can give Helen!! I originally met her at Yoyo Salon and followed her to Nefertiti's, I truly wouldn't trust anyone else with my hair! Helen always delivers the very best version of what you're hoping for, and I feel so grateful for the many compliments on my color!! It's so clear how much Helen cares about her work and clients and she is truly like my fairy godmother. I always leave her feeling so confident and refreshed and love feeling like I caught up with such a wonderful friend! If you haven't had the pleasure of getting your hair done by her, time to run over! read more

Kimchihelen - Couldn't be happier with my color - Hair Stylists Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love my haircut that Helen gave me! Helen was trained in NYC and worked at YoYo salon here in SF. She cut my wavy hair in a way so that it looks great if I have time to blow dry it, and it's also easy to manage if I don't style it (which is exactly what I asked for). She's also so great to talk with and I felt seen, heard and comfortable! love her vibe! I'm going to make an appointment to get highlights soon. Can't wait! read more

Kimchihelen - Hair Stylists Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Helen gave me such a great haircut and knew exactly what I wanted to achieve. She nailed it. San Francisco is lucky to have her back from NYC, she is talented! read more

Helen is an artist!! I have been getting my hair cut with Helen for the past two years. I am very picky with my haircut and haven't found someone I fully trusted with my hair since I moved to the city 5 years ago, until I found Helen! The amazing thing about her cut is that you grow to love your hair cut more and more as days go by because she knows how to individualize the hair cut to fit you hair quality, texture, and knows how to cut it so that it will look great when you style it yourself at home. I have long, textured hair and she sure knows how to work her magic with it. I cannot recommend her enough!! read more

Helen is truly the best at low maintenance highlights, and I've been to many stylists over the years! One year later, and they're still looking great. If you need someone who's an expert at her craft, don't hesitate :) read more

Helen did a fantastic job on my haircut, Ashe was knowledgeable and listened while sharing her ideas as well.

I found Helen when I was searching on Reddit for a good hairstylist in the bay who does Asian hair well. Her name kept coming up, so I reached out to make an appointment. She did not disappoint. I've never met a stylist as detail-oriented, knowledgeable, and meticulous as she is. IlShe truly listens but is also not afraid to share what she thinks would best suit you. On top of that, she's such a pleasant person to chat with--and that helps when you're there for a few hours. I left so happy with the results and would highly recommend her! read more

Kimchihelen - Partial highlight - Hair Stylists Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Helen is a master at her craft and the sweetest person inside and out! I am growing out my hair and she gave me a beautiful cut to get me through the awkward medium length stage. She also blended my grays with highlights that make me feel so chic. All the reviews don't lie, run to book your next appointment with Helen!! read more

Helen is so amazing talented stylist! glad that I found her. I have been going to her salon for years. never disappointed!

Helen is incredible - I can't recommend her cuts and color services enough. I live in the neighborhood, but at this point would travel across the city and beyond the see her! When I go in for a haircut I'll bring pictures and an idea of what I want for length and shape. But Helen takes the time to really talk through my lifestyle and what will work - I have a toddler! I need to air dry! She always delivers a cut that looks as good after a few weeks as day 1. The consistency is amazing - same with her ability to apply highlights and color. But mostly - Helen's hair always looks amazing. It's no surprise she is great at what she does. Thank you Helen! Look forward to visiting you at Nefertiti's and catching up. read more

Helen was PHENOMENAL! I heard about her from YoYo salon in NYC. I went in just wanting a low maintenance wavy cut for a school teacher and she went above and beyond and gave me something that fit that bill and so much more. She did my first ever adult non Supercuts haircut and now I can't ever go back! She also supports SF Unified educators which is also always a plus and tells me so much about who she is out of the salon. I will be going back to her for my next cut! read more

Helen is an amazing and talented hair stylist. She is meticulous with her cuts and color. I really appreciate how Helen really takes the time to listen to what I am looking to do and always delivers. She uses high quality products that have made a big difference in how my hair looks and feels. I have had strangers stop me and ask me who does my hair, and have enthusiastically referred them to Helen. She is truly exceptional at what she does. I first started going to Helen when she was Yo Yo Salon and am now seeing her at Bliss. read more

Helen is the best!!! I've been getting my hair cut and highlighted by Helen for about 2 years. I love that my highlights look natural and are blended well so there's never a line when my roots grow out. It makes them low maintenance and easy. Not only is Helen amazing at her work, but she's also so sweet and I always look forward to my appointments with her! I used to see her at Yo Yo salon and now she's at Nefertiti's read more

Kimchihelen - Hair Stylists Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've been going to Helen for 2 years now! I followed her from Yoyo salon to Nefertiti's Hair Studio because she's always done such a great job. She is a great listener, super knowledgable, and is very detail oriented. I have come in not really knowing exactly how to describe my vision for my hair, but she has always worked with me to understand what I'm describing, and has done an amazing job every time! Best stylist ever!! read more

I've had several appointments with Helen now and can say that she is an amazing stylist! I've always had stick straight hair, but she manages to give me a bit of a wave with her cuts. She gives great feedback and advice about hair and customizes the color to suit your lifestyle. Helen is also very honest - she talked me out of purchasing styling products that she didn't think I needed. I'm so happy that her salon is in my neighborhood! read more

I'm so glad I found Helen! I've been getting my hair cut and colored in San Francisco and the East Bay for more than 20 years (yikes!), and Helen is the most talented stylist I've ever encountered. She taught me how to make my wavy/curly hair look great with minimal products, so I don't have to blow it out all the time. And she's helping me grow out my grey in a way that looks incredibly natural. Plus, she's fun to hang out with! I can't recommend Helen enough! read more

SO enjoyed my experience with Helen, she's truly a master of her craft. Back in February, I did a full bleach and tone on my natural strawberry blonde hair, achieving a bright pink. It was fun, but as the color faded out, I was left with ginger roots growing back in and clashing with the bleahed portion. I was looking for a way to make the transition back toward my normal strawberry blonde look more natural with a combination of highlights and lowlights, and Helen came highly recommended to me. Super responsive on IG: I messaged her to coordinate a consultation here and she directed me to her booking site Easy virtual consultation: I live in the South Bay, so driving up to SF for a consult wasn't necessarily ideal for me. Helen accommodated this and did a 15 minute FaceTime consult to learn about my hair and what I was hoping to achieve Genuine care for hair: When I arrived at the salon and Helen was able to see what she'd be working with based on the state of my bleached hair, she offered more custom recommendations on how to achieve the more lived-in, natural look I was aiming for while minimizing damage to the hair. I appreciated this transparency and gave her full creative agency to come up with the best, healthiest treatment for my locks. Just great vibes!! Helen was a pleasure and joy to chat with while she was doing her magic - the time flew by while we let the dye do its thing I hadn't had the post-salon high in a long time, but walking back to my car through Inner Richmond as a born-again strawberry blonde, I was on cloud 9! I'm definitely going to be recommending her to my friends and colleagues, particularly folks in SF who want a detail-oriented, knowledgeable and FUN stylist. Thank you Helen, see you again soon when I need a touch-up read more

I got my haircut with Helen today and it was a really nice experience. never really got a cut like this for myself but glad i went out of my way to get my haircut with her. we talked about how she spent her time training in new york and how she got into hair styling/cutting. I was going to visit her at YoYo salon where she use to work but moved to this cute little salon on the corner of 26th and geary and it was closer to my house so win i guess lol. but anyways super happy with my cut and the conversation along w it. definitely recommend helen read more

Helen is an AMAZING stylist! I've been seeing her for about a year now, after starting with her over at Yo-Yo Salon, and I always walk out looking and feeling great! Make sure to book Helen for your next hair appointment! read more