Andre is the best! Partial highlight and hair cut is what i get and every time i feel so amazing

I've been a customer of this salon for years, which makes this experience especially disappointing. My appointment was with Liza, and from the beginning the energy felt off. During my visit, I asked if she could quickly trim my bangs -- something that typically takes just a couple of minutes. She told me she couldn't because she "had another client." However, my appointment was at 4:30, the salon closes at 6, and I was the last client there. They locked up immediately after I left. If she simply didn't want to add anything additional at the end of the day, I would have completely understood -- I just would have appreciated honesty instead of an excuse. The blowout at the end was horrible. I have thick wavy hair, and achieving a smooth, polished finish takes time and attention. She barely spent half the time required to tame my hair. I left the salon with frizzy and large, dry and straw-like hair. Essentially the same result I get when I style it myself at home. Most disappointing was the color. The tone of my hair is exactly the same as when I walked in -- still yellow and brassy. Overall, the service felt disengaged and low-effort and lazy. read more

Very disappointing experience, especially for the price. Booked with Ruben. I came in with a clear blonde reference and mentioned that my hair is brassy at the roots due to previous color and keratin treatment. I was told we might not get to my exact goal in one session, which I understood. However, the final result was barely different from how i came in, still brassy at both the roots and ends. The root work itself was also poorly blended, with a clear line instead of a seamless transition, making the color look unfinished and not refreshed as discussed. I pointed this out during the appointment and was told nothing more could be done, which is not acceptable. Proper toning and blending should have at least addressed these issues. For $430, it felt like minimal effort was made to actually correct or lift the color. If you're looking for a specific blonde result or need color correction, I would not recommend based on this experience. read more

Population Salon - Mission - Hair color - Hair Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am so sad .. what happened population?! I haven't been here in almost 2 years and my previous experiences with Daly and Dalia were always amazing. The colors came out so nice and they blended out perfectly. This time I came to see Izzy and ended up walking out after 5 minutes of interaction with her. As soon as I sat down, Izzy told me that I was late (I completely admit that I was and I understand how annoying that is .. which is why I'm not giving a 1-star). However, there was no resolution except to tell me that I was late and argue with me about exactly how many minutes late I was (14 minutes btw). Then she asked me what I wanted for a haircut and I showed her some photos. When she asked me about color, I let her know that the previous colors Daly and Dalia used should be on file. She aggressively told me that that tells her nothing ... she eventually checked the computer and came back to let me know she understood what I wanted and admittedly that she's not a color specialist like Daly & Dalia - totally fair and I appreciate the honesty. However, when she was gone, I was already uncomfortable thinking about sitting with her for 3 hours that I was going to leave in any case. For the amount $370 + tip, this was such a disappointing experience ... and this used to be my go-to salon. read more

Dust flying everywhere in the building with their fans blowing everywhere that ends up in your lungs and on your clothes/body. Paid $100 for a hair cut and Brian rushed through it in 15 minutes then hid in his backroom. read more

Population was the salon who introduced me to my very first balayage and highlights almost a decade ago, so I was and always have been a huge fan of this studio - up until this time around. I booked an appointment months in advance for a Saturday at 10:30 AM. When I arrived on time, the receptionist informed me that a glitch had caused my stylist to be double-booked at both the NoPA and Mission studios, so my appointment was now canceled. While I understand mistakes happen, I was disappointed with how the front desk handled the situation. The staff seemed indifferent, offering no apology or effort to resolve the issue. I was simply told to reschedule and, if I wanted the same stylist, I would have to wait another month and a half. It felt as if the salon's popularity made my appointment insignificant, with no attempt to fix their mistake. It would have been better to receive advance notice, especially after spending $40 on Uber rides for a wasted round trip. Even if that wasn't possible, some effort to address the inconvenience and show that they cared about my time would have made a big difference. read more

Easily the worst salon experience I've ever had. I arrived three minutes over the 15 minute policy, having called and apologised, and was told that I could either only have a dry cut or have my hair washed but not dried. I was confused because my appointment allocated 1hr 15 mins regardless, which the whole process wouldn't have taken in any case. I told them I didn't want a dry cut but Liza proceeded to dry cut my hair, messily and arbitrarily. She didn't section anything and didn't show me the back when it was done. She continually reminded me that she didn't have time to do the full service and that she had another appointment (which wasn't true - the salon closed after my appointment) so I felt like I would be taking up too much time asking for her to change things. I had tears in my eyes explaining this to her because I felt so upset that I would be paying $120 for a haircut I hated and for a rushed, stressful experience. She was totally dismissive and unempathetic. I was so disappointed with the cut - it's completely uneven - and cancelled my evening plans because my hair wasn't dried properly and looked like a total mess. To add insult to injury, on my way out the reception staff and another hairdresser gave me really awful glares and unsurprisingly Liza finished my haircut earlier than the allotted duration for my haircut too. I've truly never felt less confident leaving a salon and actually felt like the staff very personally didn't want me to be there. I fully understand it's annoying for customers to be late but life happens and sometimes in a major city there is traffic (also it's funny to see how strict they are on timing, given how many reviews say they randomly cancel and delay appointments). I just wanted the allotted time I paid for - not any longer. I know they have great reviews online and I'm sure they respect some customers, but I wouldn't risk visiting this shop. read more

I cannot recommend Gomez at Population Salon enough! As someone who can be self-conscious about how I look, finding someone like Gomez has been a game changer. He doesn't just cut or style hair--he sees you. He takes the time to understand your face, your vibe, and how to make your hair bring out your natural beauty. Every time I sit in his chair, I know I'm in good hands. He thoughtfully shapes my hair to frame my face in the most flattering way, and I always leave feeling more confident, radiant, and like the best version of myself. Gomez is incredibly talented, intuitive, and kind--and that combination is rare. Trust me, you won't regret booking with him. In the mission or Nopa location, book with him!! read more

When my daughter turned 14, she was looking for a new stylist. She wanted to feel confident about her hairstyle, so I needed to find someone with skills. Population was around the corner from her school at the time, and after doing some searching online, I made an appointment with Lucy as she had great reviews. I love my daughter's hair after every cut. It also grows in nicely. On top of that, Lucy is super friendly, personable, and professional. I'd recommend her in a heartbeat. Here is my daughter's feedback: Lucy is the best! I describe to her what kind of haircut I'm looking for, and she brings my vision to life every time. I always look forward to my haircut with Lucy because I know that I will walk out of the salon feeling a more confident and relaxed version of myself. read more

I've been a long term client at this salon for over a year now but I recently had a disappointing service yesterday that I hope their management and team can remedy. I had an appointment yesterday with a stylist for a roots touch-up at 3:45PM. I'll admit I was running late and texted them I was running 10 minutes over the original time. However, I arrived at 3:55-within the 15-minute policy (as stated in the confirmation text message). As I sit down, the stylist says "You were late so I won't have time to style your hair. The best I can do is rough dry your hair." I understand that I was 10 minutes over the time but I was within the 15-minute time policy. I checked the website and my text messages and it states "We have a 15-minute late policy. If a guest is 15 minutes late or more we will attempt to accommodate the remaining time." I was within the policy. My stylist continues to say "I have a haircut after this and you were late". At this point, I felt defeated. She continues my service and during the time I was waiting for my roots to cook, she comes back and tells me that I, in fact, was not late and that she can continue the service as expected. This was disappointing because I told her that I was within the policy time but she chose not to believe me. I've been a long time client at this salon so I felt very disregarded during this appointment. Despite this negative interaction, she was overall sweet, but I wish she took the time to be more empathetic and do her due diligence before writing me off. I'm a reasonable person and have been very patient with sometimes sub-par service at this salon (including frequent cancellations, my stylists being switched last minute, not being offered anything to drink but seeing other clients that don't look like me being offered beverages, patchy dye jobs, stylists not wiping away dye) but this particular one felt very disappointing. Looking through the other reviews here it looks like I am not alone in this. Population is a cute salon and I've had great experiences with a few stylists, but I've also had negative experiences. In particular, this one felt very disappointing. I hope Population can level up their customer service in the future. read more

I'm going to be completely honest here and say that my haircut has to be the worst one I have ever recieved. The service and such was great, however i asked for a small trim and to keep the length which was well to my waist, and they gave me a bob. I specifically said at most i was willing to lose 2 maybe 3 inches and she cut off almost 7 inches. I will definitely not be coming back or recommending this place to anyone I know. Worst salon I have ever been too, I've received a better haircut at Great Clips. read more

Drove over an hour here from the East Bay. Arrived on time for my appointment and waited 30 minutes for the receptionist (who was also late), just to be told that my stylist had cancelled days prior, though the receptionist had "let all the other clients that day know, but somehow forgot to tell me." Received no text, calls, email about the cancellation. Incredibly unprofessional. Was super excited to try this place, but safe to say I'll be returning to my old salon!! read more

Go see my hair doctor Dalia, stat! She is consistent, kind, genuine, and asks the right questions so she understands what it is I like about a picture I'm showing her. The vibe at Population is gorgeous, from the waiting furniture to the beautiful plant walls to the tatted up stylists with their unique personalities and style. I love the tea or wine refreshment offer when I check in, too. There are many levels of stylists (read: prices) to choose from. You might hesitate choosing a junior level when your hair deserves top notch, right? Sure, but I'm saying my girl, Dalia, is "junior" and she's given me the best lewk and service EVER. I love asking her questions to understand how she styles my hair at the end, and what techniques I can learn myself. She has great advice for product and never tries to oversell me. I can't vouch for others, but if you see Dalia after this review, tell her I sent you :) My star rating: 5 - I would be a regular customer 4 - would go back again 3 - probably try a different place 2 - not very satisfied 1 - turnaround and run read more

Population Salon - Mission - Go to dalia! - Hair Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

In trying to fix her two mistakes, she fried my scalp so bad my hair has been falling out for 3 weeks. (I've been taking oral minoxidil for years, my hair doesn't shed anymore which is why this is such a clear cause and effect situation). Went for a root touch up for my minimal amount grays. I told her to follow the recipe card my previous stylist made for me because it worked perfectly. Covered the grays, matched my brown hair immaculately. Well for whatever reason, she tried, and the grays didn't get covered at all. I went home to notice this fully. Made an appointment for her to fix. Told her - hey my brown hair lifts orange be careful. Well she left the stuff on my scalp for an hour and surprise! My roots are almost blonde and certainly orange. I have a permanent orange ring around my head, now? How am I supposed to work with this??? Wtf. She was nice and not angry so one star for that. She then proceeds to leave toner on my scalp for another hour. My scalp is burning. There was not a single manager there to assist her or talk to me. No other stylists were there trying to help. Everybody stayed the f away if I'm being honest. It's been several weeks, the toner has faded. I have MUCH LESS HAIR NOW and an orange ring of hair on my scalp. This is going cost me SO much money to fix for a color correction. I hate this so much. I have thin hair now and you can see my scalp through my hair. No words. Clearly, there are no adults running the place. Just a bunch of chair rentals. The front desk knew. The satisfaction survey post visit knew, my stylist knew. Since yelp keeps asking me to comment on the vibe....it was annoying. The conversation between the staff members was loud and dumb, and the plants look sad. read more

I've been a loyal client at this salon for over 5 years, and I've always had great experiences, so when my stylist left, I was willing to try new people. Unfortunately, after trying multiple different stylists, my experience has been nothing short of disappointing. The most recent color I had was done by a stylist who gave off major "mean girl" energy. It wasn't just the attitude--it was the whole vibe. I've never felt so uncomfortable in a salon. When I asked for a simple bang trim, I was told they didn't know how to cut hair even though they have "Master Stylist Cut and Color" for their title. It was clear they were just making excuses, and it was really frustrating. For the price I paid, NO styling products were used in my hair after wash! I'm deeply disappointed because this salon used to be my go-to, but now I'm left questioning whether I'll return. If you're looking for friendly service and stylists who actually know what they're doing, I would recommend finding someone else. read more

I've been seeing Ruben for color the last year and could not be happier. I had been with my previous stylist at a different salon for over a decade before she moved away, and was hesitant to try someone new for color; so I had gone back to my natural color for a few years. I first had a very subtle lightening done but decided I wanted to go back to blonde, and Ruben got me to my ideal shade in just a few appointments; and I loved my hair after every appointment along the way to my goal color. Yes it's expensive, but as with many things you get what you pay for and it's completely worth it imo, my hair looks great and grows out beautifully and subtly. The reception staff has also always been super kind and offer coffee, water etc upon arrival . read more

Worst haircolor and service-asked for medium neutral brown. Was given very warm roots and darker ends. Stylist ignored my request and despire having brought a root spray, told me she thought I wanted warmth. Salon insisted I go back to the inept stylist for redo. Just bc a salon is cute doesnt mean they do good work or stand by their work. read more

I got a full lightning with a root smudge from Ruben. The outcome was a DREAM! My color was so blended and gorgeous. He did an amazing job fixing the brassy color that I had from another colorist in November. It's hard to find colorists that nail a beautiful dimensional brunette color, but Ruben did so well. Additionally, the whole appointment was so relaxing and he worked quickly and efficiently. I will be coming back again for sure. *I just got a color, not a cut. read more

Population Salon - Mission - My hair color after - Hair Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I have been going to this salon for YEARS and had a not great experience the last time I was there. The stylist that I saw was so sweet and lovely to talk. HOWEVER, I asked for a color treatment that was easy maintenance (I have three kids and have a hard time finding time for myself) and asked for 1/2" shade lighter and something to color over my greys. I had a photograph of myself that I showed the stylist. What I got instead was a brassy red that the stylist informed me after she was finished I would need to come in every 6-8 weeks to have redone. I reached out to the salon to ask if I could come have it toned, the receptionist was very rude. She asked me to prove that it wasn't what I asked for by sending her photographs in different lighting. In so many ways it felt like gaslighting so I asked to speak to a manager. She informed me that if I wanted to have it toned, I would have to pay for it despite the fact that the color wasn't what I asked for. The receptionist informed me the manager was not in for a week and that she would pass along the message. Its been over a week and there has been no contact. I even reached out to the owner and no response. I would avoid this salon. There are so many other places where you will get what you ask for and if its not right the first time they will fix it. read more

Struggled to make an appointment as their entire service is automated (no one at desk or phone). Finally got an appointment and the vibe is very tense, I feel like for the price and quality and cumbersome appointment there are way better options. Japan town or a good barber shop are better options. It's frustrating when a shop has no customer service and that's why I am forced to yelp read more

initially was annoyed that the stylist was roughly 15 mins late until I remember they're human too and I've had days where I ran behind and the clients were understanding. 1, stylist is the first (been to a few others both as a model and paying client like code, dipetro, p evans, d james, etc.) to listen to my horribly vague instructions and actually come through with suggestions of how I should have my hair that reflects what I'm looking for without drilling down too much, making me feel like I'm not paying for a consultation on top of a cut/color/blow. It's like a tattoo, which I also have quite a few, although I can grow out of a cut/color so I'm less worried tbh. 2, the stylist did things in a quick, efficient manner without sacrificing quality. The color (highlight) was a bit different, takes longer the process of course. But the cut was pretty quick. Which was very nice because it's always been a mix bag of 1-2 hrs (for cut alone!!) that would either be good or look like a generic national brand name where the cut looks like $30 but the difference is while both looks like it costs $30, the former costs closer to $300. Honestly Brian was pretty darn pricy but I got exactly what I wanted (no judgment) and I fking love my hair. I also tend not to cut it for 1-2 years depending, so I'm ok with spending extra. And I've never loved my hair right after a cut and/or color. The fancy curls stylists do helps but this time I didn't even get that (my choice, I rather be on time with no curls than 15 mins late with cute curls) but now I'm thinking it's to mask any little boops with the cut. A few days later and I still freaking love it. Loved it day of. If you need to treat yourself, I would go here. read more

Just updating this. I went to Korea in November and thought it'd be a good idea to get my hair done there because hey, they should know how to color Korean hair. I was so very wrong. It turned out to be literally orange and I looked like a D-list Korean popstar. The contrast of colors was really jarring, areas were splotchy, and you could see the line where the color started. I couldn't look in the mirror without cringing and had to wear a hat every time I went outside! I went to Hilary for a color correction and she literally SAVED ME and now I *LOVE* my hair. She did a root shadow and deepened the color with toner (twice). Thank you Hilary Light for always being the best, most patient, and best colorist I've ever had! Also shout out to the admin / front desk and manager of Population Mission location for taking such good care of me :) read more

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Absolutely love this salon, and especially my stylist Frida Flores! I found her through Instagram and loved the lived in brunettes she specialized in! I just moved to SF and was so nervous about a new stylist but she made me feel right at ease! Our first appt, she mixed a custom neutral brunette for me (pictured here) that I absolutely loved and got soooooooo many compliments on! She absolutely kills it with color and even recently took my very dark hair to a fun copper that still complemented my medium skin tone!! Highly highly recommend her if you're looking for dimensional brunette, blonde, or a fun copper!! I lowkey don't want to post this because I don't want her schedule to get any busier but I also want her talent to be more widely recognized read more

Population Salon - Mission - Hair by Frida - Hair Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Gomez is my go to! I've never had so many compliments on my hair until Gomez did it. Now I can't go anywhere else!

I chose to book a cut and color with Frida because of her instagram pictures, but she completely ignored my two requests for the cut: to maintain the length near the bottom of my boobs and to have it be a v shape from the back. Instead she cut it straight across and to my armpits so now it is essentially a long bob. read more

Joanna B has been my stylist for almost 10 years and she has delivered nothing short of magic every time I've visited for either color or a cut!! Unlike other stylists who just want to do what they want, she really listens to my wants and concerns and will even tell me no when I want to do something that's really damaging to my hair. lol I appreciate that she cares about the state of my hair and keeping it healthy. She's also recommended some great products over the years. I always leave the salon loving my hair and always get compliments. Thank you, Joanna!! read more

I love Heather! Sheeeeee is so amazing and so talented. It's so easy to communicate with her and she always checks in on you to make sure you are on the same page. Would recommend 10/10 read more

Population Salon - Mission - Haircut - Hair Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

I absolutely love Population! I see Sarah for my cut snd she does an amazing job every time. She is the texture queen and I always leave feeling fresh and with my hair looking perfect. The attention to detail is great and so is the customer service. It was raining so they put a shower cap on me to preserve my blow out. They also offer tea and water and sell an array of products. read more

How is this place still operational? They don't have people to talk to, everything is over text or Instagram. They've been late opening for my 9am appointments THREE TIMES. Some of us have jobs and obligations. We can't wait around for you to open 15-20 minutes past our appointment time. My wife also booked a hair cut that turned into a "dry cut" because the stylist ran out of time. And still charged her full price. No wash, No blow out, a dry cut. She hated it. Never returning. Grow up. read more

Updating reviews cause this salon never fails. I was bored of my long hair and the way they were so flexible w my complicated schedule. The vibes at this salon and the nopa location are great. Everyone is really nice and my girl Lucy has magic hands. Im so happy after years of searching i can confidently say i have a hairstylist and a go to place. read more

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I booked a haircut appointment and they texted me to push the appointment 15 mins later, which was totally fine. I drove 1 hour from Marin, and 10 minutes before the appointment while i was driving they cancelled on me. Service and vibe used to be good but the salon has gone downhill in the past few years read more

I have nothing but positive things to say after my first visit to Population, in the Mission! The studio is awesome- full of greenery and super nice people. I booked a cut and partial highlight with Lucy who I found on IG and and couldn't be happier with the results! She was the sweetest, most knowledgeable stylist I've ever met. She listened patiently while I tried to explain what I wanted and gave extremely helpful feedback as we constructed a game plan. Lucy was meticulous, even when it came to the wash which was spectacular! My cut frames my face in the most lovely way and I can already tell that my natural highlights will grow out nicely. Worth every penny!! Thank you Lucy (: read more

Terrible customer service. I came in for the root shadow ($159); the stylist asked whether I'd like my dry ends trimmed. That took 5 min and then they charged me another $150. I wasn't aware that trimming goes by the full haircut price, and the stylist didn't warn me. I've don't this procedure before and the stylist never charged me. Paying $150 for a trim is ridiculous, and their customer service is the worst. read more

It makes me so sad to even have to write this but after giving this place three chances, I will be finding a new salon. I've always felt unwelcome; they're nice but not nice (as a person of color I hope other poc know what I'm talking about. When I go it's about 90% white women (hairstylists, reception, and clients combined) and it's tense every time I step foot inside. My cuts have been unremarkable and my stylist doesn't even try to work with my type of hair. The cut always ends of looking "off" because they don't know how to work with non-white hair. My stylist always seems like she hates touching my hair and never styles it after the cut even after I explicitly asked her to. I end up paying about $150 including a 20% tip for a mediocre cut and a tense salon experience. I'm aware they offer free touch ups or whatever they call it but I'm so uncomfortable and made to feel unwelcome that I don't even want to go back. I also don't think it's fair to name my stylist since she's never done anything outright horrible to me but she and the front desk staff make me so uncomfortable it's time I take a chance with a new salon. read more

Cut and Color with Erin Solo and Frida: if i could give 10 stars i would. It's hard finding people you can trust with your hair but Erin Solo and Frida absolutely KILLED it with my cut and color and were an amazing team. We did a lived in highlight/balayage type situation and Frida knew exactly what to do with just looking at the picture once. She walked me through the whole process and told me what she was doing and what to expect. As someone who hasn't colored her hair in almost 8 years, it really put all my nerves at ease. Erin was an absolute dream with the cut!! She made sure my length was to my liking and always asked if i felt comfortable with it before taking the scissors to my hair. I have really long hair and sometimes stylists can get a bit scissor happy, so it was comforting to hear Erin saying she wanted to give me long layers while still preserving my length and thickness. They're an amazing duo with such positive energy. The vibe of the salon itself is comforting and cozy too. I highly recommend booking Erin and Frida as a duo if you want a cut & color. I will be going back and know i'll be in good hands with the two of them read more

Population Salon - Mission - Hair Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have been going to Kristin at Population (both Mission and Nopa) for a few years now and I am LOYAL to her work. I have super fine hair and not a lot of it, Kristin always works with me to protect my hair whether we're going brighter or warming it up for fall, and knows how to cut and style it to give the illusion of more hair than I really have I love chatting with Kristin and she also gives the best scalp massages population can be pricey but for quality stylists time and artistry, it's worth it especially in the Bay Area. Kristin works with me to ensure I have a nice blend for any growth, and I swear I am more consistent booking with her than I ever have been with any stylist in the past. The salons are also cozy and chic and smell amazing! I've referred a few friends who are now also loyal Kristin clients read more

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The ambiance is nice and so are the staff, but that's about it. I was willing to spend a good amount of money to make sure my haircut was done well because I was getting bangs, but I feel like my money was wasted. It honestly felt like a haircut I got from Supercuts... I asked and showed pictures of long, wispy bangs, but for some reason received extremely thick, short bangs that were uneven and choppy. The middle of my bangs didn't even hit my eyebrow line. I wanted to have found my new go-to salon, but I am so disappointed to say that I will never be coming back here again. I would go back in and ask them to fix it, but I'm not sure what can even be done to salvage my hair at this point other than to wait for it to grow out and part & style my hair in a specific way to not look like Lord Farquad. And to be honest, I'm not sure I'd trust them with scissors near my hair again, considering this is one of the worst haircuts I've ever gotten. It's very upsetting to spend so much money for this kind of quality. I expected much better for the high price. I seriously wish I'd picked a different salon. read more

I've gone to population here and there for cuts but never became a regular until I found Lucy. She's an incredible hair artist and now I'll only trust her with my hair in SF. I see her for balayage, hair cuts, and follow up with toners and bang trims. She absolutely slays it every time...she listens to what I want and we really talk it through before she gets started. The rich brunette balayage she's done on me is the best and looks so natural. She's also a genuinely kind, lovely person and I never regret the time spent in her chair. Can't recommend her enough for cuts/color, I feel so lucky to have found her in this city! read more

Population Salon - Mission - Hair Salons Near Me - San Francisco, California

Erin is so great she really listened to me and I'll definitely be back to see her! 10/10 recommend she also styled my hair so amazingly and was helpful in teaching me how to do my own :) read more

Like the other reviewers have mentioned, the people here are cold and pretentious. Overhyped, overpriced, and underdelivered. There is ONE poc here and she was sweeping the hair up. This negative review is for Damiano and his terrible attitude and haircut. I'm cute by default and my hair looked ok so people said, but it was COMPLETELY different than what I asked, I even showed pictures. In an attempt to correct my bangs he cut them so short there was no turning back or fixing possible at that point. He proceeded to make me feel guilty and shamed me for not communicating clearly. I will never be back and I'll tell everyone I know to avoid this place at all costs. read more