Alan is awesome. THoughtful, fun, funny, picks up on the small things... Nailed my hair color..i mean nailed it!! I am super sensitive to all products and this is the place to go. Alan stays on the cutting edge of the best of the best organic hair care/color products. THe whole salon is just warm and welcoming and cozy. The staff outside of Alan were so super nice and wonderful...loved them too. Ok I am hooked...first time in a long time I haven't had a reaction and I am feeling wonderful.Thank you Alan.... read more

My first visit and Alan was attentive and listened to my concerns. Very nice clean space. All the staff were welcoming.

I highly recommend Jordan and her services. Today was my very first appointment with consultation. I shared my hair goals with her and she executed flawlessly!!! read more

Nurture Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This was my second haircut with Alan.( As with all first visits the cut was on the conservative side. It was a good cut and grew out well. ) Todays cut was exactly what I have been trying to achieve from the last 4 stylist in the last 3 years. I am very happy with his work. Alan listens and is fun to deal with. read more

I had my first post-lockdown cut so there was quite a bit of work to do! Alan was amazing and gave me a cut that made me feel fabulous. I usually hate going to hair salons but Alan made me feel comfortable and well looked after. read more

Nurture Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I made a big change with my COVID hair following the June gradual reopening. Natalie was professional, sterile, caring, and a gloss goddess. When I arrived, the salon was spotless. Several protocols were in place to keep everyone safe. She went right to work on me playing close attention to my skin coloring, and very fine hair texture. It was time to embrace my glints of silver, and bring deep cool tones out. The cut took off a little less than I'd expected. We did before and after pictures to chronicle the transition. Natalie loves her work and people, and it shows. I dare to say I felt nurtured by my appointment. Five stars for customer care, COVID compliance, artistry, and expertise. I suggest arriving a few minutes early to secure parking as it's a popular neighborhood. read more

Nurture Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Natalie and Alan and their crew are amazing. Such a beautiful shop and great atmosphere. Great care. Fantastic results. Love, love, love.

I went to Alan about 4 times when I first moved to the neighborhood. He forgot my name every time and one time he even forgot our appointment. I came about 5 minutes early for our appointment, and he had turned out the lights and was locking up. When looking puzzled and asking about our appointment he asked who I scheduled with and said he had a Blazer game to get to. Once he realized I legitimately had an appointment he said he'd honor it, but seemed annoyed. My hair is it's natural color and has gray coming through, which I like, and it felt like he would try to up-sell me by suggesting dying my hair/telling me how to cover the grey. Bottom line he made me feel uncomfortable. He would mention all the ways his clients would give him things, like tickets to Blazers games and it felt like pressure. He seems passionate about cutting hair, and did a good enough job, but the discomfort I felt with him led me to look elsewhere, and I am so glad I did because I adore my hairstylist at Novaré. read more

Eh, people seem to really like this place as you can tell by all the five star reviews but I was not impressed. My color was uneven, it faded quickly, and Alan didn't even color my entire head of hair. It was strange, I didn't notice right away but he only colored the ends and my roots, I have never had an experience like that before. He also didn't spend any time going over the colors with me or giving me suggestions. I was just not a fan of the color, the fact that it was uneven, how quickly it faded, or that he didn't color all of my hair. When I tried explaining to Alan how I wanted my hair cut he told me that he cuts hair to match a clients face. OK, that is good but he did exactly what I asked him not to do. I asked him to cut it short enough and to make the layers short enough so that I did not need to put it in pony tails during the summer. I told him that my hair is quite curly and quite thick so I needed it shorter and very layered for the summer. Now, part of this is my own fault because after he cut it and after he styled it I told him that the length was OK. What I didn't realize is that he scrunched it and made it so curly that I couldn't tell how long it actually was. I hated and I mean HATED the way he styled my hair, I was so embarrassed walking out of there. I looked like a poodle. After I got home and fixed it I realized that the layers were not cut short at all and that it was actually still pretty long. I was able to style it myself to look cute and I got a few compliments on it but the funny part was, one of my friends said "well, he didn't do at all what you asked, but it is cute!" So, yeah........I probably won't go back. I was really unhappy with the color (seriously, it faded right away) and although the cut ended up being cute (after I styled it myself) he totally didn't do what I asked. Oh, and again...really shocked about the way my hair was styled. It was dreadful. I can't decide between two or three stars, I keep changing it..... read more

Wanting a cute haircut a la Portland, I didn't expect to get it at Nurtures in Sellwood. This small hair salon looked run-of-the mill, so I was surprised when I kept noticing cute hair cuts walk out of there. Eventually, I gave it a try myself, and the stylist gave me an interesting and flattering assymetrical haircut. When in Sellwood and looking for a good interesting haircut, go to Nurtures. read more

I both love and hate getting my haircut. I love feeling pampered and doing something nice for myself, but I hate the risk involved. What if I don't like my cut? What if the stylist and I can't agree? What if I'm stuck in the chair being small talked to death? What if the stylist is overly fixated on detail and works on me for 6 hours? Nurture was so awesome, I can't wait to get my hair cut again! Further, I am a doctor, not an expert on hair. I really like to be able to go in to the professionals, tell them what problems I'm having and have them fix it. I never have a picture of the haircut I want because I really think they should be able to offer good suggestions as to what I should do. Julie did exactly that! I've been unhappy with my hair for a while now, and I tried to dye it at home and that only marginally improved the situation. I had decided just to suck it up and grow the color out, but I desperately needed a cut too. Even though I didn't make an appointment for color, Julie was like, "we could improve this if you want to". I appreciated that she was direct in pointing out the problem, but didn't scold me for screwing it up at home. It made me trust her that something really did need to be done even though I was hoping I was getting away with growing out my roots. The process was so much gentler than I've ever had, none of the that scalp burning sensation I've had before, and the result is absolutely knockout. I also appreciated her suggestions about how to deal with the texture of my hair in the Portland weather, and the cut is perfect for my face shape, style, and hair type. As if all that wasn't enough, they had french press coffee, these neck warmer things, and they totally pampered my husband while he waited for me (since we I hadn't planned to do color, he came to pick me up too early). The owner husband and wife team were both there, very friendly. The decor was very comfortable with basins at every station, so I didn't have to walk around with dripping hair. The set up also made it so that I didn't have to look at myself in the mirrors unless I wanted to and I couldn't really see the other customers so it was very private. Really folks, they do everything well here, and I would've paid more for this service in most cities, even in the midwest where prices are dirt cheap. Five stars really isn't enough! read more

I have fine thin stick straight hair and being born a toe head - light blond is my preference over being a dishwashed blond - it even sound gross. It's hard to find a hair professional that can do a great job with my cut and color. I've always felt it's my responsibility to clearly communicate my expectations with pictures and asking clarifying questions. Natalie welcomes this and has gone deeper to insure we were on the same page. I love a stylist that doesn't let her "I'm the expert" pride get in the way. Natalie has nailed my color without frying it (not easy) and listens to me about my concerns with orange/gold tones. I can't tell you how many times I've had "orange" blond highlights because it was the trend or salon's preference. And unfortunately it's like seeing neon highlights every time I look in the mirror. As I mentioned my hair is fine and thin so any mis-cut shows as if there is an arrow pointing to it. Natalie is the first stylist EVER to not give me uneven sides or an obvious chop clearly unintended. I don't know how she does it but I am ever so thankful. My husband even thought it was impossible for me to be happy with my hair from anyone. Lastly, have you ever had a stylist that just can't wait to tell you all about them and their lives? Nothing like spending two hours or more in a chair learning all you didn't want to know about them. This will NOT happen in Natalie's chair. She is a great conversationalist and has a great sense of her clients needs. Seriously, if you're looking for a professional experience with expert results served with kindness and care... Nurture Salon is your hair's resting place. No need to look any further. read more

Natalie is a fantastic and knowledgeable stylist for curls and more! It can be difficult finding someone to trust with your locks, but Natalie quickly proved her know-how is beyond measure, and I was immediately comfortable putting my curls in her capable and experienced hands. Natalie clearly believes each of her clients is the expert when it comes to their own hair, and with listening ears she is also willing and seemingly privileged to answer questions and teach when and where her clients may benefit. I look forward to future visits and highly recommend. read more

Sarah is a fantastic lady and stylist. I have super fine hair and she works magic with it. You can not go wrong with her. I have absolutely loved every product that they sell there. They are environmentally responsible, work great, and smell divine. The atmosphere is great too. The space is small but I find it cozy-small, not cramped-small. It is nicely decorated and makes you feel totally comfortable. read more

I have to admit I would've continued on as a customer here, but I decided to do a cash-only diet and really examine where to cut my expenses; because of its distance and cost, I couldn't justify it. I always feel bad about leaving a hairdresser, but still will recommend this place to anyone looking for a great salon. read more

I thought I'd had some good haircuts and colors in the past, but the one I just got at Nurture has blown all others out of the water! I've been putting my poor hair through a lot in the past couple of years (Brazilian straightening, color lifting, overall coloring, dying it at home, trying to go "no 'poo", etc) and I was desperate for someone who could honestly help me get back in touch with healthy hair while keeping me in the vibrant red color that I love so much. Enter Natalie! She worked with my face shape, the natural wave that my hair has, and listened so carefully to what I told her about what I wanted. She was so sweet, generous, and considerate, not to mention talented, that I can't imagine ever entrusting my hair to anyone else. Thanks so much Natalie and Nurture! read more

I am a mom, nanny, and grad student, so my hair is often neglected. I just started my own business, however, and knew I needed to do SOMETHING. Alan was marvelous, didn't scold me for my lack of knowledge, and took my "I only have 5 minutes to make this look good, what do I do?" questions seriously. And, it is easily the best haircut I've ever had. read more

I went to Sarah the other week and was pleasantly surprised by her work. Not knowing what I really wanted when I walked in, Sarah said: "Trust me. I know what looks good on dudes." So I did. And it was awesome. The other stylists are warm and friendly, and the spot (despite being tiny) is the perfect size. I didn't buy any product there, but I'm sure it's faaaabulous. read more

My boyfriend paid for me to get a hair cut at a salon, as I've been struggling to grow my hair out the last couple of years from a buzz cut. I have been unable to get past that 'bush' stage and gotten pixie cuts a couple of times from friends. I finally got it long enough to ALMOST go in to pony tails, so I was very nervous about getting a cut. But it seriously needed....something. The first thing I told Alan, the stylist who cut my hair, was, "I am growing my hair out. What I really want is for my hair to be LONGER after you cut it." "I hear you", he said. He was really understanding about my apprehension. I got a nice shampoo, complete with a mask for my eyes and a hot towel on my chest (?) It was very relaxing. He conditioned me and we were ready to start trimming. I had a sort of mulletish situation going on from the last year. I cut the back off myself once, at my yoga studio, with long desk scissors, because a mullet is pretty much never acceptable. However, I was somewhat attached to the back because IT WAS ALMOST LONG ENOUGH FOR PONY TAILS. Alan was cool about it and kept trimming little bits here and there. He kept showing me the progress and subtly mentioning the back. I finally agreed and let him have his way, because the rest of my hair was coming along nicely. He actually ended up doing two hair cuts, because of my insistence not to touch the back at first. My cut ended up being great! I am super happy with the result. The back is shorter but my hair looks like real hair now, rather than a kid's drawing of hair. I knew we would be limited with what could happen because it's difficult to get a hair cut when you want long hair, but he knew exactly what to do. I am mullet-free and my hair is still longish! The salon uses only the most environmentally friendly products with the least amount of harmful ingredients. No ammonia in their hair dyes, not that I dye my hair but I chatted with Alan during the HOUR he spent cutting my hair. He was very friendly and easy to chat with, however, when I got relaxed from all the hair-touching and started to get sleepy, I noticed he got quiet as well. Nice! The salon is cute and comfortable. I really enjoyed my hair cut and I recommend Nurture for sure. read more

I was in town for a week and desperately needed a haircut. Portlanders (or maybe just people who live outside of major metropolitan areas on the east coast) are lucky in that even great haircuts are cheap cheap cheap. My hair was a disaster due to my all-I-could-afford chain-salon haircut that I'd gotten back home, and all I wanted Alan to do was make it look decent. I wasn't even going for a specific look, I just wanted to be presentable. And wow, did he make my hair more than just presentable. He really cares about your hair and will put thought into what will make it look good instead of listening to you talk for 30 seconds and then hacking at it for 10 minutes. He took his time and I felt like I was sitting there for a while, and that's a good thing. Nurture also gets huge props for giving me an appointment an hour and a half after I called instead of, like, a month and a half. Awesome. Update 6/26/08: It's been over 2 months and I still don't need a haircut. Just sayin'. read more

Alan Mandarano is my new hair stylist and I give him five stars. I love that he is organic and love the subtler and more elegant tone I get lightening my hair (which is dark blonde or light brown) to a beautiful tasteful blonde after having my hair so damaged making it almost white blond that my bangs did not grow for about a year (just broke off slowly). My hair is now healthy, I love the special cutting technique Alan uses and the attitude and prices. Further, there is Alan himself. Alan is a very special person who is thoughtful, discreet, and seems to operate from a true higher consciousness which I find very healing and ... well... nurturing. My impression is he is trying to live in integrity with his own belief system and is an artist using his intuition in his mastery of cut, color, and style. I love Nurture Hair Salon, look forward to going and find it really fun,( they also play great music). read more

I got my hair cut about 2 weeks ago, and enjoyed the experience! They were very friendly and happy! It was nice to find someone that can listen to me and be able to style it the way I wanted it! read more

After review, analysis and looking back... I was right $50 really is a bit much. So my mom and I found an amazing stylist through salon en vogue (cheaper dosha), but she moved. Ever since then we have seriously struggled for a quality stylist, open on Sunday's that's not too expensive. We went all over Portland and flexible on price but still frustrated. We tried Nurture because of the high ratings, open on Sunday's and in SE. It was a quality haircut and a nice enough location. My hair was done by one of the owners, a man. I can't complain about the quality of the haircut or his skill, although he doesn't compare to our former stylist based on quality/skill. Before I former stylist moved, she moved away from dosha and we followed her all around southeast. When she went out on her own, she raised her prices to $40, which is near the high end. The way my mom and I justified the slightly more was because the way she cut hair. She is the *only* stylist that delivers an amazing overall cut. I love that my hair would look good for the first 2.5-3 weeks, look AMAZING as it grew in, just *flowed* together for about 4-5 weeks and looked really good the last 2-3 weeks. So it was easy, SO easy to go 2-2.5 months between cuts, made it such a JOY to get a new cut. The reason I mention this was the owner charges $50 for his same service, so in terms of value, it's a low value in my opinion. I would say $40 would be pushing it. Now, his location was closer in Se so no doubt more expensive than her new location near mall 205. The Nurture Salon has a pleasant decor, I would say there is a lot going on in a relatively small space though. I feel like there trying to make the location fit their needs... Now for extra special treatment he cuts hair in a very small room/closet. It's suppose to feel exclusive. There is a small window... He plays pleasant music... My complaint would be as someone who is distracted by clutter and too much visual overload, I prefer less going on when I'm trying to relax. It's one thing to have massive amounts of stuff in the lobby area, but a big closet with everything he tries to fit in there doesn't work. Pick one or two sentimental objects and display/store somewhere more appropriate. For $50 you need to wow the pants off me in other ways if the quality of the haircut itself is not worth $50. I enjoy atmosphere and sellwood area, so it's not impossible to convince me. My advice less is more. Storage. Better lighting. Less mess/chaos. I think maybe all those artistic personalities are trying to all express themselves. Maybe make some creative bios/dioramas of your cast. I like personal touches but it's your business not your personal studio/home. They also offer tea/coffee, a nice touch. For $50 maybe a mimosa? Lol. I'm just saying, if the quality of the cut is closer to $35, max $40 gotta make it up somewhere. I know the owners are both stylist and they have a young child, I'm guessing they are relying on repeat loyal customers. I waited awhile to write this because I wanted to compare to some other locations in the Se, SW and ne. I feel very confident now, of the relatively low score. Location, atmosphere, customer service, product line, open on Sunday's and quality of the cut are what I look for. I don't expect everything to be perfect but when your prices are significantly higher than other locations of similar characteristics, it's gotta make you wonder. His cut was better than what Katie did at odango but she was $15 cheaper and the location was probably nicer... His cut was better than the multiple cuts I have had at bliss over the years, location about the same. There cuts are closer to $40. So the owner is not a bad stylist and it's not a bad place, just not all that yelp portrayed/implied it is/was. So if you have had a lot of trouble finding a quality cut, this is not a bad place. Im still looking for the *one* (stylist) read more

Alan is A-MAZING! He is the hair whisperer in my book. It was my first visit to Nurture Salon and I came with a previously butchered hair style. Alan took the time, discovered what my hair needed, nurtured my hair with care and brought it back to life. I am thoroughly impressed with the level of professionalism, quality of service, and genuine level of care for every client they see. I recommend this place to anyone and everyone who wants to walk out after getting a haircut feeling sexy, confident and beautiful. Thank you Alan for taking the extra time and making my experience stellar. read more

YES! I've been looking for someone who knows how to deal with my curly mop of hair! Sarah is awesome! She actually makes my curls look GOOD. AMAZING feat! :) Thanks for helping me love my hair without a straightening iron! read more

When I moved here from Brazil I was afraid to trust my hair to somebody I didn't know (in Brazil we pretty much have the same style of hair... Straight and highlighted...) but a friend recommended Natalie and I was very well impressed! I've been going to Nurture for almost three years now and I really enjoy it. Natalie and Allan have always done an amazing job and I also love the nice vibe of their salon!! read more

Can I give 6 stars? Seriously why isn't everyone doing organic hair color? Alan gave me gorgeous highlights and fixed my horrible suburban mom hair a stylist at another salon inflicted on me. Wish I would've just come here first! read more

Natalie cut my daughter's hair expertly. I was impressed with every element of the experience: Natalie cuts beautifully; she checks in a lot to make sure that the client approves of what's happening; she gave my daughter cocoa. She offered the just-right combination of expertise and receptiveness to our ideas. We will be back, the whole family, for great haircuts. read more

I had my hair done (cut, colored) at one salon in Colorado for well over 10 years before I moved back to Oregon. As any woman (men, too!) knows, leaving a great stylist and salon can be the most heartbreaking event when one must move! After I got settled in OR and it was time to have my hair done, I spent more time studying salons & stylists than I did in any college class! There's a LOT of salons in PDX but I finallly found the one that I thought would be perfect and made the appointment (I am a salon/stylist SNOB). All of that studying was worth it as I would not think of going anywhere else and have not since I moved here. For 5 years I have had PERFECT results every single time I have my hair done at Nurture. Alan is warm and caring, attentive and very personable and I SO enjoy visiting with him while I am there. The staff has always been friendly to me even though I have never had anyone but Alan 'do' my hair. Just sitting in the salon, listening to all of the laughing & chatter says a LOT about the happiness of the clientele; it also says a lot about the stylists - EVERYBODY is happy there! read more

This place is super cute, the people are really nice and they sell great products. That being said I am pretty traumatized by my experience there. I went in for a cut, asking for a chin length bob for my wavy hair (a couple inches off from what it was). What I got, although cute, is an ear length very short haircut. I guess because she left the two pieces in front long, this to her meant it was all chin length? I went here because they are supposed to specialize in curly hair, but did she not realize mine would shrink to my ears? When I expressed concern she told me this is what I had asked for and maybe I had really wanted longer than chin length. How is to the ears chin length??? The worst part about this is that my wedding is in one month and I now will be an unintentional short haired bride. I realize this was my mistake for getting my hair cut so close to my wedding, but i thought it wouldn't be hard for someone to mess up a couple inches off. How very wrong I was. read more

Eco-friendly salon with excellent cutters and quality hair color products. A friendly, chill experience. After a horrifying allergic reaction to Aveda salon color in May 2014, I completed allergy testing and set out to find a new salon. Considerable research led me to salon owner Alan Mandarano, whose commitment to leading a green lifestyle and deep knowledge of working with clients sensitive to chemicals put him at the top of the list for a tryout. I've seen him 3 times since my allergic reaction: first for just a cut and consultation, with excellent results, second for patch testing with a Goldwell color product, and just this morning for the full color and cut. I absolutely love the results of both services and have already rebooked for the fall. This guy devotes quality time to his clients and seems like he loves his work. If you're the type who wants a high-end interior design salon, this place has a more neighborhood homey feel, but you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. He is a great cutter, and that is hard to find in this town. Book him! read more

I've been going to Natalie for about a year now. I get my hair cut and colored every 4 to 5 weeks. I've had people stop me in the street and ask where I get my hair done. Please keep in mind, I'm in my 50's and have fine, straight hair. The cut makes my hair look fuller and the color is a red/blonde. My husband loves it and is astounded by my hair transformation. The salon is comfortable and welcoming. Natalie is such a warm person, and my time at Nurture Salon is so relaxing. I would highly recommend this salon to anyone that is looking for a quality haircut and wonderful salon experience read more

I appreciate that I was treated like a queen and walked out with the best haircut I've had - Natalie is wonderful and gave me exactly what I asked for, a cut that was sassy, smart and still feminine. read more

I found Nurture Salon just after we moved to Portland two and a half years ago. The warm, soul-nurturing language on their website did it for me! Alan and Natalie Mandarano have created a wonderful salon through their professionalism, terrific expertise, and great hearts. Alan is my hair whisperer. He does beautiful work with color and elegant, easy-going cuts that suit my look and my lifestyle. He's the real deal. And listen, every time I see him I leave feeling joyful, beautiful and affirmed AND with great hair. Seriously. read more

A great salon experience in an intimate setting. The stylists are all amazingly adept at listening to your needs and never making you feel rushed. The products used are healthy and natural - even the color! There is a positive vibe there that never fails to make me feel wonderfully renewed - inside and out. I moved to the coast but take the time to drive into Portland to go to Nurture. They truly are that good! read more

This salon carries a wonderful line of hair color and haircare products. My stylist was Alan, who's one of the owners. He was very friendly - although perhaps a bit too chatty at times - and spent time with me going over the color choices. I was very pleased with the color. The cut was fine enough. One star off for the prices, for which I would have expected a bit more. read more

Getting my hair cut has always been an emotionally stressful and ultimately disappointing experience. I usually avoid getting a haircut for about a year because I just do not have a place to go that I love. Now that has changed! I had the best experience at Nurture with Natalie! She made me feel so comfortable in her space. When I arrived she offered me tea or water and gave me a heating pad for my shoulders. What a nice touch! Her nature is so positive and uplifting. And to top it tall off, she gives a great haircut!! Natalie really listened to me and helped me realize what I wanted. She took into account the shape of my head which had been a first. Her confidence, obvious skill and competency put me at ease to enjoy my time off. She used her intuition often and was on spot! When it came time to dye I realized after a few minutes of application that my eyes were not burning and it did not smell awful but really good. There were no harmful toxic chemicals in this dye. They really have something going on that no one else does. The color was perfect too and really natural. I left feeling so light and beautiful. This was a new experience for me. I had never actually left a haircut feeling good let alone vibrating as high and as ecstatic as I was. Thank you Natalie! read more