I've gone to Odango 5 times and each time had my hair done by Kayla. Prior to going to Kayla, I went to the same person at a different salon for 15 years and I switched to Kayla exclusively after the first time I went to see her. Kayla really takes the time to listen to me about how I want my hair to look - color, cut, everything. I've shown her pictures of hair styles I liked and she's been able to recreate them in unique ways that suit my face. She also spends the time it takes to get my color just right. She doesn't rush anything or skip any steps. Also. Kayla is a delight. She's positive, funny, and personable. I hope she will do my hair for at least 15 years! read more

**UPDATE: The owner, Ann, reached out to me following my review. She was very empathetic towards my experience, apologized, and was committed to making it right. She offered me a refund and a corrective cut with her. It does look better in some aspects but--most importantly--my hair is now too short in the back (photo attached). I effectively need to re-style my hair downward until it grows out again. Overall, based on other reviews they clearly do a number of cuts well -- as a male, though, my style doesn't appear to be one of them. read more

I have been to Odango 5 times, have tried 3 of the stylists. For my first appointment I arrived on their doorstep as a walk-in. Kayla was my first stylist. Kayla has beautiful, long blonde hair that she wears under a baseball cap. As though her having long hair was somehow indicative of her inability to cut mine short, she assured me that she was good with short hair. I sat down in the chair and we talked a bit. She washed my hair and we began the cut. Mid-cut, her cell phone rang. Kayla stopped cutting my hair and left me sitting there so she could field a phone call from her husband; he was at home and had misplaced a charger. The phone call dragged on for over 5 minutes, my half-cut hair evaporating as quickly as my patience. After chatting with her husband she returned to finish the hair cut. It was an "interesting" cut, but so vastly NOT what we had discussed. It was competent, though. So I decided to try her one more time, hoping this time was a fluke. It wasn't. The second cut I got from Kayla was so terrible I was embarrassed to walk around with my head looking like that. It was uneven, choppy and weird. She only charged me $20 -I'm quite sure she knew how bad it was. I bleached it, hoping that a uniformly white color would hide the unevenness of cut, but it still looked awful...it was just awful and white. The next time I tried Anna. Anna was my favorite of the bunch. She didn't cut it quite like I wanted it, but it still looked good. She was sensitive about the cut not being quite right, and suggested I try Ann next time. So that's what I did... Ann: Wow. What a trip. The first time in her chair she gave me a great cut...it was too short, but that was because it was already too short from the previous cut. We discussed me letting it grow long enough to get the cut I'd been looking for all along. And so began the many months of growing it out. After about 5 months, I returned to Ann with the longer hair she'd requested. We spent some time reconnecting and looking at cuts on her phone, and after awhile we felt we understood what was going to happen on my head. It started out OK. We talked about "art." She told me that I could take photos of my cats, run them through an app that would make them look like Van Gogh paintings, and print them on canvas... "poof!" Fine art. lol. And we talked about vibrant hair color since I've been coloring mine since the 80's. She'd never heard of the product I'm using, but no biggie. As we spoke, my hair got shorter. And then it got even shorter. :/ Then I noticed it was looking backwards, so I stopped her and said, "are you intending for my part to be on the right? Because I part it on the left." I could tell from her facial expression that she believed I had misinformed her. But my part has been on the same side for 40 years, and the mistake was hers. I told her it was OK. That I would simply try wearing it on the right for awhile. "No no!!" She said - she wanted to do it correctly...and she began to re-cut it so that it would fall on the correct side. I told her that it looked good the way it was, but she insisted on re-cutting it so that it would part on the left...all the while my hair is getting shorter, shorter, shorter . . . she says, "Wow! This looks GREAT! You will be able to wear it *this* way, or *this* way!" And she flips my hair from side to side. Tells me how great it looks in the back. Then tells me how awesome it looks on the other side. Awesome! Beautiful! This looks great! But then she tells me that though the cut is awesome, my hair color doesn't look very good with my skin tones. (I earlier told her I mixed the color myself) I say, "Oh, I like my color." So she repeats herself adding this little bit, "There's nothing wrong with this color, it just doesn't look good with your skin tones." Really? This is what you say to your customer? She finally gets done cutting my hair. Seriously, I'm bald as a goddamm eagle. And no, it doesn't look great; it looks like a half-assed rendition of the first cut she gave me. Soooooo glad I spent months growing it out. I finally gave up on Odango. There are some things in life you just have to drive for. A decent haircut is one of them...I've returned to my original stylist, thank god for him. (I just wish he were closer.) read more

GO SEE MALLORY! I've been looking for someone new to cut my since I moved to Portland. I was super nervous about getting side bangs and scared that by adding in some layers, my length would be compromised. Mallory did an amazing job at keeping my length while adding long layers for when I wear my hair naturally wavy. I love how she cut my bangs! They lay perfectly on my glasses frame and are exactly what I wanted. I'll definitely be back in a few weeks!! read more

Odango! Hair Studio - Hair Salons Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Yoko was amazing and really listens to what you want done to your hair. I left feeling so good and refreshed!

Tons of skill and experience. I wanted a good solid service that didnt cost an arm and a leg. After looking for three years for a decent salon where I didnt feel I was being robbed: Odango is the only salon I will go to in Portland. Thanks for being a good old fashion (but super trendy) salon who's first concern is obviously thier clients. Clutch. read more

I visited the salon for the first time for an appointment with Ann. I wanted a pixie cut (going from bob near the bottom of the ears). Ann listened A LOT, asked questions, discussed the picture of my desired style and how my hair would respond, and was open to all my comments and questions. Together, we modified the style slightly to best suit my face shape, hair texture, and cowlicks. The salon was very clean, orderly, and appeared organized. The vibe was calm and calming. Ann took as much time as the style demanded until I was completely happy. I have not one negative to add to this review. I fully intend to return for the frequent trims this particular style will require. Thank you, Ann! Great job. read more

Odango is fabulous! I have wild, curly hair and I've worn it long for years. Nervous about making a change, I made an appointment with Ann, Odango's owner. She took the time to help me figure out what to do with my hair, and then put so much care and genuine excitement into it that I felt like it mattered as much to her as to me whether my hair turned out just-right or not. She was cautious treading into the unknown - how my curly hair would behave once cut, and how short to cut it, etc. - and started small, cutting and diffusing my hair and then shortening it up some more after she could see how it would fall. Her technique was wonderful, and my hair looks and feels great! I'm totally thrilled. Also, the rates at Odango are really good, especially considering the quality of attention and service. Another thing: talking to your stylist throughout your appointment can easily become a tedious chore, even for social types like myself. But Ann is lovely, and talking to her was a total delight. I highly recommend this salon to anyone, especially if you're looking to make a style decision! read more

This place is great! I had Anna and she was great! I'm 21, and have only cut my hair once in my life 9 years ago and it was a horrible experience. I hated how my hair looked and it wasn't anything like I said I wanted. I cried and didn't want to leave the house. So I haven't cut my hair since, just trimmed it. But I've been getting board with how it looked- long and flat, and I don't like how big my forehead is. So I decided to have some bangs cut as a small start to trusting having people do something drastic to it. But I didn't know who to go to and who would do a good job.... until I came to yelp! I looked for a place that had a high rating and made a leap of faith. I have to thank you yelppers, cause you are who pointed me in the right direction. Anna was very nice, and took it slow and didn't over-cut or anything. She was great and made sure I was happy with it when I left. I will definitely be going back to her to get my bangs trimmed and at some point maybe something more! :) I would have given 5 stars but I only had bangs cut so it wasn't anything too big or involved. read more

I'm a guy and I have trouble finding a salon that will do a good job on my hair and not make me feel self-conscious. Most barber shops are not talented enough to give me a decent cut and most salons are way too pretentious for my taste. Thank goodness my wife suggested Odango to me. This fantastic little salon off Woodstock is really special. The stylists are friendly and personable. I felt like they really listened to what I wanted and worked to give me results. Which is great because my hair is pretty fussy. Highly Recommended read more

I have been to my fair share of salons, and by far this one is the best. I came to Yoko last year with black hair (when I had asked for dirty blonde at a previous salon) and she fixed it right to where I wanted it. The atmosphere is awesome, the customer service is of the charts, the prices a reasonable, and the styling is incredible. I haven't gone to another place since, and highly recommend this salon to anyone. read more

This is right around the corner from my house. I never used to go for salon haircuts because I'm a guy with short hair. Anna cut my hair once before an interview though and I was sold. Anytime I need to up my hair game I go see her. She does a fantastic job, and she is also a great conversationalist. Her memory is amazing! She remembers tiny details her clients mentioned in passing a year or more ago. I've had other stylists cut my hair here and they did a good job, but Anna is THE BEST! read more

I haven't had my haircut in a few years and frankly, I hate it, every time. This time was definitely a break through, Alana was a great hair cutter. She made all the right suggestions and did an amazing job. Above and beyond experience. I would return, but I'll probably let grow for too many years again out of bad habit.. but I would! read more

Went and saw Katie Knutsen today. I have been going to her for a few years and she has mainly worked at Aveda places. I loved the salon, it feels nice and quirky without being stuck up and uncomfortable. Prices are reasonable and the service was paced well (relaxing, but I didn't feel like I was there forever). I am kind of impossible to cut hair for, but Katie always knows just what I am talking about and was really willing to take the time that was needed to make sure I had exactly what I wanted. Really a non-threatening stylist that wants you to have the best haircut for you. Products were all really nice and different (I hadn't really heard of them before, but by the end of my appointment I was in love). I would highly recommend going to this small and un-pretentious salon for a little pampering and a quality hair cut! read more

Awesome people, awesome haircuts, incredible customer service and integrity! So grateful to have found such a fabulous salon so close to home. I believe Katie is no longer there, but is a Goddess in my humble opinion. Not just because she gave me the best haircuts of my life (I'm 63) but because she is a wonderful, supportive human being! I have also seen Anna and Yoko and both gave me excellent cuts and were great to work with! Thanks, Odango!!! read more

I felt it was important to write a response given the owners response to the poor service I received seemed to miss the mark. I enjoy banter back and forth. I enjoy chit chat. My mom and I eagerly listened about Katie's new love interest. This is great, women enjoy sharing and talking. We enjoyed all of that. My point is if Katie wanted to have a politically charged conversation with my mom then during my moms haircut was NOT the place to do it. If Katie was genuinely interested in what my mom had to say about the healthcare bill and what healthcare means to her because she works for a healthcare organization then do what "friends" do, go to coffee, a drink or dinner. If the politically charged conversation would have happened at a more appropriate time and on neutral ground then it would have been far less of an issue. It would have been inappropriate to discuss it at the salon, but when your in the middle of a haircut, your kinda stuck and forced to go along with the "small talk". Our family has been deeply touched by the healthcare issue. My mom feels very passionately about the issue because someone she loves has been hurt. If Katie and my mom were really "friends", Katie would have realized she was being offensive AND hurting my moms feelings. Politics is not a neutral issue. People having equal access to healthcare isn't a politically neutral issue. My problem with Katie is she lacks the emotional maturity to figure out when it's best to just keep your opinion to yourself in a business exchange unless your %100 positive your not running the money out the door. Katie needs to learn that politics are not a good topic unless you really our friends. What friend expects you to pay 30 something for a haircut while you are insulted and then also wants a tip? Please explain to me how any of this makes sense to you as a business owner. I genuinely hope Katie learns from this, as far as the business owner, don't make excuses for her, she was in the wrong, she never ever should have asked my mom what she thought about "obamacare"? Which is a politically charged statement to begin with because only the right wing conservatives refer to it as "obamacare". Your shop is on Woodstock in southeast Portland, you might have some people who share that sentiment but a lot who do not. It's best not to use politically charged words as a hairstylist especially if during the conversation it becomes obvious you get most of your "information" from fox news. There are no excuses for Katie's behavior, she was wrong. She over stepped and was not using tact and compassion. If she wanted to act like a "therapist" that means listening to your client, talk about what your clients like to talk about when their there, if you want to go have girl time than make a coffee/drink or dinner date. This common sense and decency 101, sad that I have to write this for both Katie and her "business owner". No excuses!!!! read more

This place is great! Katie did my hair this past weekend, & it did not turn out the best. However! I came in today for a redo & I am very, very pleased with the results. The color is so much better than before, & I love the cut. They're extremely friendly & sweet, & did not charge me for the redo which was incredibly considerate. I will continue to see Katie, & recommend them to anyone looking for great atmosphere & customer service! read more

I absolutely adore this salon. The service was fantastic; accommodating, sincere and efficient. My cut was to die for; she was attentive, focused and creative but still checked in with me to make sure I was getting what I wanted. The conversation was comfortable and she completely settled into a topic that I was well versed in. The atmosphere was inviting and pretty well decorated. Customer service - Check Stylist Skills - Check Conversation - Check Atmosphere - Check Affordable ($40) - Check I am so happy to have found a salon that I can commit to. Enough said. read more

Great service and quick ! Usually my hair takes three hours to cut and highlight. Kayla had me in and out in 2.5, amazing.

I'm a weird breed... I just don't like talking while having my haircut. I grew up having the same barber pretty much until I was 20, so there wasn't the "getting to know you" period... my wife recommended Odadngo to me after having her hair cut there months ago, and I made an appointment with Anna. I can't express how amazing she is. She's sweet and takes into consideration everything you say. I went in before my wedding and had my hair cut... I came back 2 months later, and she remembered virtually our entire conversation! She remembered my wife's name, what we do for a living, how I liked my hair cut, etc... she is fantastic. Now if they just served beer.. ;) read more

I have thick short hair with evil cowlics. I like to have a funky style that frames my face, hides the cowlics and doesn't make my head look like a bran muffin. You'd be surprised, but I have been looking for a good hair stylist since I left LA in 2006! No one is ever consistent. I decided to give Odango! a try, because they had good reviews and were close to my house. Anna is my stylist and she is a saint. She nails it every time and even makes notes on what she did so the next time I go in, we're not starting from scratch. Great people, great work and excellent value. Glad I found them. You will be too. read more

I first walked in to Odango back in 2011, sat in Anna's chair and have never looked elsewhere! She's great! Great energy! Great conversation! Great hair stylist! I have since moved away from the neighborhood, but that matters not. I still make the trek to Odango because Anna and the rest of the girls are worth the drive! read more

I've been a regular at Odango for years and figured it's finally time to share my experience publicly. (I recommend them privately all the time.) The place is friendly and welcoming, totally "real" and not the least bit stuffy or pretentious. Very appropriate for SE Portland without being a Portlandia stereotype (though they did film there!). The stylists are all highly competent, professional, and personable. Ann has been cutting my hair for years, and she cuts my wife's hair too. We are both really happy with our hair, and Ann has a way of giving hair advice that is patient and gentle. She'll win you over eventually and she's usually right. I've heard Ann say that her job is "talking" and she's really good at making you feel comfortable--interesting questions and always very respectful of different views, like a conversation I'd enjoy at a party. I've found the same when chatting with the other stylists, too. None of the stylists take themselves too seriously--though I feel that they take their work and their customers very seriously. Down sides? They know hair, they are fun and friendly and the prices are fair. For me they are a great fit. Perhaps for someone who really wants a luxurious spa-like experience this might not be the right place. But if you care about your hair, your wallet, and the people you spend your time with, give them a try. read more

I have been a loyal client of Katie's here since I had my first haircut here over two years ago. Odango is a warm, inviting, and fun space. Everyone I've met in the salon is very friendly and welcoming. I immediately felt I could just be myself and didn't feel intimidated by the all-black-attired, severe asthetic of some of the spendier salons in Portland. It was easy to be myself and feel at home in Katie's chair. Katie is very professional and thorough and takes time to ensure you love your hair. She is very talented and is awesome with color. I brought my squirmy toddler here once and Katie was patient and nothing but kind during the process. I've been so happy I found her as it's hard to meet a stylist you can trust to make you look your best every time. I highly recommend Odango; I haven't had another stylist there but Katie is fantastic. read more

This place is fantastic! I've been going there for years and Ann never disappoints. Her haircuts are top notch and she is a wizard with color. I've been blonde, brunette, and even red! She makes each new cut and color look great. Thanks Ann! read more

Don't know why it took me so long to write a review. The staff are all wonderful, I've never been to a more welcoming and unique salon as Odango. Ann (the owner) is as awesome as it gets, she's one of my favorite all time person, it's always a great conversion and amazing experience every time. My hair didn't turn out like we had hoped the first time, she didn't charge me and made sure I can come back and get it redone, my hair turned out even better than I had expected. Ann's been in the industry for years and knows all the little tricks and nicks that other stylists don't, I was very impressed. read more

I've been going to Odango! for years, first with Ann and then with Yoko. Both Ann and Yoko are very responsive, skilled, and professional. They don't upsell any products but have offered excellent recommendations when I've asked. I love supporting local businesses in my neighborhood and highly recommend this place! read more

This was my first salon haircut in quite some time and I went in not really knowing what I wanted done. I called and got a same day appointment, which was amazing. Anna was super patient with my complete lack of knowledge about hair and told me a couple of options that would work well with my hair. I have very thick hair that I have never really been able to manage but by the end of the cut I had gorgeous natural curls. Anna basically told me that trying to brush the curl out was adding to the thickness and instead I should be working with the natural curl. The results were amazing. Anna was incredibly personable and did a great job with the hair cut. She answered every question I had in great detail and took her time to walk me through the styling process. The atmosphere was very relaxed, I was immediately offered coffee, and the conversation came very easily. Overall I had an amazing experience and I learned a few new tricks to work with my hair type and use the natural thickness and curl to my advantage instead of fighting it. read more

Lysa at Odango Hair Studio has been cutting my hair for over a year and is simply fantastic! I have gone in with specific ideas about what I want on some occasions and on other occasions I have been open to her ideas and suggestions. In both circumstances I have been really pleased about both how she listened to me and the final result. The other thing I have to add about Lysa's work is that as my hair grows between appointments, I find I continue to love the cut, which hasn't always been the case before. Lysa is professional, so easy to talk to, and she really hears what you have to say whether about the hair style or whatever is going on in your life. So happy to have found someone so fabulous in Portland!! read more

Katie was terrific. I went to Odango to make a pretty big change back to short hair, and Katie did a wonderful job. She knew just what I was asking for, had a few great suggestions, and really knew how to work with my hair type. Plus, she made great (but definitely not pushy or overwhelming) conversation. A real sweetie who does magic with a pair of haircutting scissors! read more

easy to set up appt. great job with hair! overall great experience

I've went to 2 other good hairstylists with kind of the same description of a cut, while I ended up liking what I got, neither was exactly like what I described. When I walked in to Odango after making a late appointment with Lysa, after showing her 3 pics of different things I wanted (these bangs/this length/etc.) she pretty much knew right away what I was describing & after about 45mins I had the short, messy layered look the other stylists seemed to shy away from. The price was a bit more than I was expecting at $40 for a wash/cut/style but the end result was totally worth it, I didn't feel like I had to touch it up myself when I got home like I normally do. Lysa was also very sweet & personable, she has had a lot of experience before working at this studio & it shows. I would defiantly recommend this place to someone a bit more specific or picky, & not just looking for a cheap quick cut. read more

Katie is great! She was super friendly, and asked a lot of questions about the look i was trying to achieve. She took all the time to make sure I left happy. She dried my hair, and asked me if i wanted a couple more layers, we agreed I should, she went through and added more layers, and added more texture. I am very happy with my experience and intend on returning to her for all my hair needs! read more

got my hair cut here yesterday with Katie and she did a great job! we had great conversation and she really took the time and effort to make sure i liked my cut and style. plus the place is a great bright place on dreary days! right as i walked in, i was offered tea or coffee, a magazine, and a comfy chair since I arrived a little early. i have definitely found a new salon since i've moved to the area and will be coming back! if you're looking for a great priced and great stylist, come to odango! read more

I love this place! Anna is a goddess of hair. I go in, not exactly sure what I want, and come out perfect every time. I highly recomend Odango and Anna. read more

Just received a haircut from Ann, my first visit to Odango. I found a free hour and did a drop-in appointment. Everything was excellent, form the atmosphere to the haircut. A lovely, relaxed environment with friendly people and good banter. I will recommend this place to others and will most certainly come back. read more

I agree with the last poster, I love this salon. I've been going there since it opened. The atmosphere is great, Ann is a lot of fun to talk to/always has great stories, and I always get a great haircut/ color. read more

I found this salon via Yelp, took me a few searches but i decided to give it a try after my hometown salon couldn't fit me in last minute. I wanted to get my hair cut for my baby shower tomorrow, and last minute decisions are in my nature i guess...especially when I'm a hormonal mess. Anyway my last hair cut was a little over a year ago, and it was a disaster! Took me this long to risk cutting it again but my hair had grown into a shapeless, one-length bore. I called, they fit me in later in the day rather than the opening they had as i was calling (didn't want to rush that much) so that was nice. I HAD YOKO, SHE'S NEW THERE. SHE WAS GREAT! Very comfortable person to be around and after about 20 minutes of showing her pictures and discussing what i was looking for she took her time but was confident with the shears! She was delicate with me, chatted softly, and after cutting took an extra 40 minutes styling and making sure everything was exactly what i wanted, so i left happy. I even made an appointment to do some coloring with her! Katie, i think he name was, was the hair dresser next to me and i wanted to comment that i really liked her guests hair too...a cute little bob. 2 thumbs up! read more

I scheduled an appointment with Shannon M. on a Friday for the following afternoon, for a cut & color, I would be providing the hair color. I got a price quote, which seemed reasonable, and returned the next day for services. The color was fine, as I provided it, and the cut was decent, not dynamic. At the end, however, the price she came up with exceeded our agreement by $30- perhaps because she was outside on her cell phone when I drove up, in my Mercedes. (I can't imagine that 24 hours had dulled her memory that much.) It seemed a definitive case of price gouging. I wouldn't return. It doesn't pay to be greedy, especially to someone acquainting themselves with you. read more

I am one of those gals that can't seem to settle down and make a commitment to one stylist, even when I get a great haircut. Now I know what's been missing all those years......you've gotta like them as well as the cut /color. Katie is the best!! She's so sweet and does awesome hair to boot. read more