We've had great experience after great experience with Rachel. She is friendly, accommodating and efficient--everything feels easy and stress-free from start to finish. My kids genuinely like her and feel comfortable in her chair, which says a lot. She's great at both cuts and color and consistently delivers. Show her a picture or describe what you want and she'll give it to you. Overall, she's awesome to work with and we highly recommend her for both kids and adults. read more

Worst phone call I have ever received from the manager about my disabled son, two hours after his hair appointment today. I would not recommend going here. This is after he has had years of hair services here, even before it became prep cuts. Some people don't understand the developmentally disabled and that is really very sad. read more

Both of my kids got a haircut with Sienna and had a great time. The salon is clean and she was very patient with my 7 and 4 year old. The haircuts came out great and I would definitely come back. I would highly recommend the salon. read more

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Absolutely unacceptable experience. Rude, unwelcoming staff as soon as we walked in. We booked an appointment a week in advance for my son, planned our entire day around it. I got him ready, drove 30 minutes, and arrived early--only to be turned away at the door because he was apparently "too young." This was never disclosed when the appointment was made. To make it worse, we were told they "don't want to traumatize children." Excuse me--what kind of exorcism are you performing in there? This is a haircut. I'm his mother, I'm saying it's fine. Were they planning to check his documents? Should I have lied about his age? All kids are wiggly at all ages, what kind of rules are they making up here? Turning away a parent and child after an advance booking--after time, planning, and travel--is wildly unprofessional and incredibly disrespectful. If you don't cut children's hair, be transparent before taking appointments. Do not waste families' time. Completely ridiculous and unacceptable. Avoid this place at all costs unless you enjoy having your day blown up for arbitrary, made-up rules read more

I should have known I'd be annoyed with this place when they told my 4 year old that if she took a lollipop before her service she couldn't have one after it... like.... If a 4 year old wants a 2nd tiny lollipop because she is excited after her haircut, are you really going to say no? Anyhoo, as I mentioned, my daughter is 4 which means she qualifies for a junior haircut which doesn't include a wash. Totally fine... I asked to add a wash and I was informed that since she has long hair, adding a wash (again for a 4 year old) was going to be an extra $40. I literally laughed. Haircut was fine but overall vibes were just shitty. Definitely won't be back read more

We highly recommend Siena for a haircut for our wiggly and curious toddler. She's skilled, friendly, and patient.

Gave this shop a try since it's on classpass. Siena was super friendly and nice. She kept checking in to make sure she had the right length and cut. I will definitely be back read more

Took both of my boys for a haircut with Vicki and she did an excellent job. She was friendly, asked me and both of the kids their thoughts before starting and checked in with them throughout. The haircuts look great and didn't feel rushed. Will definitely be back! read more

I was in the area and decided it was time for a haircut. I made an appointment online and headed over. I was greeted and immediately sat. Ladawn did an excellent job taking in my request and my hair feels great! Would definitely recommend for a simple, easy haircut :) read more

I am so happy I went to Kelsey for a haircut! I just moved to the area and was stressed out trying to find someone who can cut curly hair. Kelsey was so nice, walked me through all her steps and explained how I could achieve the same results. I went home and couldn't stop looking at my hair! It's exactly what I hoped for, I am so grateful to have found someone who I can trust I will definitely be coming back to keep trimming and do some deep conditioning. read more

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Updated Oct 16th, 2024 The business has offered me the opportunity to adress another grievance that i shouldn't have ommited feeling embarrassed about being delayed due to a family health emergency. My last service at this place was about 2 years ago and I'd setup a hasty appointment because I'm a new mom and I'd not had the opportunity to interview a new place (devil you know) kind of thing. I did have to reschedule the appointment 2 times and on the 3rd date, i arrived exactly 15 minutes late. I had a very good reason for being late for the 1st personal care appointment I'd set to pamper myself since i had a baby, but i was very rudely told that I'm only allowed a grace period of 10 minutes. I also mentioned that i was under the impression that it was 15 minutes, followed by a curt dismissal and intimation that i am no longer welcome to Prep. Life happens and we get delayed despite our best efforts. But I ask, does anyone deserve to be treated like this? _________________ Been to this place a total of 2 times and each time the service dug down new lows. I have long hair and I've always taken pride in having cared for them to keep them healthy. That's not how prep views it though. On my incoming appointment they talked a big game and sent several reminders and promotions and delivered an average cut extorting an extra length fee from me. Bear in mine this is after I'd visited the salon in person to check about the service. After a few weeks they spammed my email and phone with promotions, so I booked a second visit for which they added a thickness fee, saying my hair was too dense and needed more time to work on. I'm soured by these experiences and would never return or recommend this place. read more

This was my first time getting my hair cut here and I met Rachel. She was pretty awesome and chill. Even though I have a pretty "simple" short hair cut, she was great at analyzing what was done before and how she should cut it and communicating with me. We bonded over our love of Disney and at the end she called me out for almost defrauding them of $20 (accidentally!). The shop was super cute and looked really clean, which coming from Oakland, is sometimes hard to find. My hair cut looks sharp the day after and I'll definitely be back. Thanks!! read more

First visit the team was very courteous, felt very welcome. Second time, all I can is say that felt insulted at the hands of lady at the checkin counter. Hair stylist was the same as last time and still great. But guess it is always a team, wherein everyone needs to play a part. I won't get into what it was, all I can say is there is fine line in customer service which should never be crossed. Still mean well for the business and hence sharing. I am sure they have lot of clients but losing a customer is never good for lack of basic customer service training. Hope it will help them take care and improve. read more

Got an overpriced haircut here a couple of months ago. Pros: They removed dead ends Cons: Did not give me layers - I asked for curtain bangs, I got choppy bangs. - Service was interrupted because the stylist had to answer the phone (short staffed) - She did not wash my hair or blow dry it... - She didn't even part my hair down the muddle or ask how I parted it Will not be going back read more

Quality and style has historically been good. However, they raise the prices when you are there and already had an appointment and prepaid. It just happened to me: they raised the appointment cost $12 for my son. And then a mother is here with her daughter as well, and they just raised her price. For both kids they said that the hair is longer than before. Both of us parents let them know that the hair is actually the same or shorter than previous appointments, when we were not charged extra. Going with it because we're here and need to get a haircut before family shows up tomorrow for Thanksgiving, but it's frustrating. Very interesting that it happened to both families that are here now. I watched the haircut. The extra ~1" that they said increased the cost by $12 did not add any time to the haircut. It was exactly the same time to cut off 3" as it would have been to cut off 2". UPDATE: (1) The cut was VERY different from the photo my son showered. Was wayyyyy shorter on the sides than the photo. Disappointing (2) Response to the owner's note below: 100% of the customers at the salon when I was there had their prices increased. I'm not a salon owner, but I am a businessman, and if all of your customers are getting something "wrong" according to you, I suggest you work on your business processes and communications because that likely means it's the business, not the customers. Intriguing that you blame the customers, and then charge a higher price for something that took NO extra time. read more

Over the years I've gotten spoiled by Bay Area salons, but I have a short uncomplicated hairstyle that in theory can be delivered by a barber shop at a less eye watering rate, but I've had a hard time finding one in the Bay that has the right vibe for me. Prep reminds me a lot of Bishops, the popular elevated barber chain in the Portland area, which was my go-to when I lived there. They both have a tidy but unserious vibe. So far it's never been packed but I attribute that to there being more barbershops and salons in Walnut Creek than there are Starbucks. I usually reserve a time on their website. Rachel G has given me a good consistent haircut several times in a row so it looks like I've found my place for as long as I'm living nearby! read more

Cutting hair with uneven length here and there... I am unsatisfied ... I feel have hair cut evenly is just basic requirements. read more

I needed a haircut fast but who could I could go to when I work all day? Prep is right downtown Walnut Creek and is awesome! The decore of Prep is cool. They have an awesome mural on their wall, saw me right away and gave me a great haircut. read more

Naomi took such great care of me from the moment I walked in. She greeted me and offered me a mimosa which I gladly accepted. She asked me what I had in mind and I shared some photos. She was open and receptive and shared her thoughts as well. She cut my hair ‍ so I could donate it and took before photos since it was going to be a pretty dramatic difference. The shampoo and deep conditioning was the best part, it was so relaxing and the scalp massage practically put me to sleep. Highly recommend adding this service because it is a true treat! Naomi is so knowledgeable and also super easy to connect with! She talked through what she was doing every step of the way and I felt at ease with her the whole time. Can't recommend her enough! Thank you Naomi! read more

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Owner Naomi is very nice and have been there multiple times for blow out services and for for my kids prom blow out services. But, sadly online booking system does not work. When you call the location to book for appointments which happened today, the salon people would contradict availability vs. what's shows for online booking. Recommend that please do not use online booking for your salon in this case if all booked and if no staff is available or block the timing. Thank you. read more

I am so happy with my daughter's first hair cut! We saw Rachel at the Walnut Creek location and she was kind, patient and quick! She talked me through the options for how she could cut my daughter's hair which was helpful. We will definitely return for future cuts. read more

I've been taking my two daughters to Prep for a while now, and we always have a great experience. The manager, Rachel is wonderful to work with. Staff does a great job with my kids' curly hair. read more

Wow, what an amazing concept and experience! Finally!!! A salon where kids and adults alike can experience a full service salon. When it comes to hair styling, colors and cuts, Prep offers something for everyone in your family. Prep has the most friendly, trained, experienced and professional stylists who have a true passion for what they do. They exude a genuine love for children and adults. What I love about Prep most is that no matter the age of your child(ren), Prep's stylists go out of their way to make sure your child(ren) has a fun experience and gets a great haircut, styling or color. If your child(Ren) wants a more in-depth styling, they will work with you and your child to find a cut that fits their personality and reflects their inner self! A couple of other things to point out. At Prep, they: * offer earth-friendly, good-for-your-hair products * have implemented COVID measures such as no walk-ins, only reservations to keep occupancy low and social distancing high, masks, temp checks and much more. * are family owned and operated. Prep is clean and competitively priced. I'm so happy I finally found my go-to place for haircuts/styling whenever I'm traveling for work in the Bay Area. They have locations in SF, Palo Alto, Danville and Walnut Creek. read more

PREP - Hair Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

My daughter has curly hair. And Kelsey knew exactly what to do. My girl has been there twice so far (once for a trim and once for a whole new look from long to short hair). Both times her hair turned out stunning. Can't be happier! :) read more

PREP - After Cut - Hair Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I came in asking for an ash medium brown after having some blonde highlights on my natural medium ash brown hair. For whatever reason, the stylists decided they need to put red in my hair!!! I came out with not brown but red/auburn hair. It was awful. I was charged extra $60 for toner which looked like bbq sauce that turned my hair red! Why??? My hair was already a cool tone and would have easily turned an ashy brown if they knew what they were doing. I wanted to cry when leaving. I'd never let them touch my hair again. Super overpriced for what should have been a simple color. They charged $155 for destroying my hair. I'm at a different salon now getting it fixed and they are in shock at why the prep stylist would do this to my hair. They're doing everything they can to get the color out and fix it. Prep stylist had no clue how to color hair. Overpriced complete hack job. Stay away!!! read more

This is my first haircut in the East Bay and I had a really positive experience at Prep with Kyra S! The salon is really spacious and has a polished yet chill vibe. Kyra was really great about listening to what I wanted out of my haircut and giving recommendations on what would work for my face shape. She also gave great advice on how to care and style wavy-ish hair. Bonus - The music at Prep is really fun and they offer a beverage when you first check-in :-) read more

Booked an appointment with Prep on Yelp for a Perm and trim and the manager helped make the process as smooth as possible! I can confidently say that had a wonderful experience overall! Despite being a little late, they were very understanding and accepting of me! The atmosphere was very refreshing as well as the staff; My hairstylist Naomi was truly a gift to work with and I hope to see her again in the future for a touch up cause I loved the look! We shared very pleasant conversation and she took care of me from the beginning till the end. I'm thankful for her insight and for educating me on the many tips and tricks to maintaining my hair and after care! I recommend Prep to any person in Walnut Creek area looking for a new look! There are many salons around the area but none of them can compare to how welcoming, communicative and present the staff & management are for you at Prep! read more

PREP - Product + goodie bags - Hair Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Had a great experience with Rachel today - she provided great suggestions and delivered a fantastic cut. Will definitely be back!

Excellent service! Definitely highly recommended. Took time and ask lots of questions in regards to style/type of haircut my son requested and gave feedback. Love the vibes too! read more

We had a junior cut for our nervous 4 year, and they did an amazing job of making her feel comfortable and happy!

I am visiting from Texas and needed a haircut. Picked Prep, based on reviews. Most barbers have lost the skill of cutting hair with scissors and only rely on electric clippers. Kyra understood precisely what I wanted and did a great job with scissors. If I lived here, she would be my go-to barber. read more

Amazing cut and style done by Shawn at #prepcuts #prepcutswalnutcreek Shawn was amazing. Naomi was incredible (she didn't do my hair, but I watched her do someone else's). They were both so talented and friendly. We will definitely be coming back again and again. read more

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Another mom recommended Prep for my daughter's haircut, and she really had a great experience and result with Kayla. My kid was very timid and reluctant, and Kayla talked to her and put her at ease. Kayla treated my kid like the client, not me, which I really appreciated. Everyone complimented her new bob. The online booking and payment is really easy too. It was very very chill and quiet for the first AM time slot on the weekend. read more

Second visit still LOVING it!! My second visit here. Vicki was so amazing. She washed my hair so gently I was super relaxed from the start. She listened to what I wanted and asked questions. I love that she paid attention to my hair type and accounted for shrinkage for my 2b/2c hair. I ended up with the most feathery updated Farrah Fawcett hair. I'm in LOVE! I have so much volume and movement. And somehow I didn't lose a lot of length?! Special shout-out to how gently she blow dried my hair. She used medium heat and gave me the prettiest blowout. Love when stylists care about my hair as much as I do. I enjoyed my whole experience here so much. Thanks, Vicki!! read more

This was my first time trying a hair salon in Walnut Creek and I was very impressed with their customer service and friendliness. I scheduled my haircut on the ClassPass app. It was very simple and easy, as soon as I got there they greeted me. I had a seat in her chair and I told her that I wanted to cut off all the dead ends and keep the layers n fullness. Aly did exactly what I asked.Thank you Aly! Ally was very gentle with my hair and style it. She used the Dyson hair tool, that thing is amazing!! The salon was very clean everything was clean all the stations cleaned up well. I did use the restroom while I was there their restroom is very clean and organized. They get an A for that! I loved their sign on the wall with all the pricing and services they offer. As I was leaving they were telling me about on the weekends they offer drinks such as mimosas and other options. I would love to come back to get a blowout on the weekend and drink a mimosa, just to relax. If you want a hair wash, cut, and style with good conversation I would recommend this place and ask for Aly. My hair feels so good and fresh. Thanks again! read more

PREP - Wash, Haircut and style by Aly - Hair Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

My appointment was originally scheduled with Naomi but it was pushed back about 45 minutes (which I got a call about well in advance). I agreed to the new time and when I arrived Aly greeted me and said she'd be cutting my hair instead. I'll admit I was hesitant since I had already done some digging into Naomi BUT Aly was so kind and easy to talk to that I went with it and I'm glad I did. I showed Aly some photos of what I hoped to achieve and she said she could do it and got to work! She took her time and I felt like she really cared about what I wanted and worked hard to make it perfect! Here is a before (back view) and after photo! Thank you Aly!!! read more

PREP - Shorter bouncy new hair! - Hair Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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This view is for Sareena! I had a great time while she did my hair. I wanted to go back to my natural dark hair color (somewhere along the lines of black and dark brown) and Sareena was great at finding the color that worked perfectly! She's got a great personality and is like talking to a hella chill friend about whatever. I love her confidence in what she's doing (I was like " I want my hair back to black " and she just finds what actually works so I don't walk out like ELVIRA!!). To top all this off she works super quickly too so I was in and out. The salon is cute and clean, def a more family oriented place than a mega bougie salon that are plentiful in this area. You don't gotta always go to those places to get a nice trim and color. I'll be back to get a trim one day soon. Thanks Sareena! read more

Ok... the price is high, but they are good services. In special SAMINA IS AMAZING LADY , she is delicate and kind, all care about covid, good job. Sure I come back here with SAMINA. read more

PREP - Hair Salons Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Had a haircut today from Rachel. Loved chatting with her and I appreciated her consulting me on every single step including every service I paid for. She wanted to make sure I knew what I signed up for as well as if I truly needed it. So I greatly appreciated that! I have long hair and she did a trim and then framed my face. She also styled with a flat iron. She did a scalp treatment. Everything was great. Will come back! read more

Time to find me a new salon and stylist after letting my hair grow long during the pandemic, this place had pretty good reviews and the website was easy to navigate and use to book an appointment. The place was clean and the ladies working last Saturday morning were nice and friendly. I was checked in right away. Happy to have Naomi as my stylist! Always nice when your stylist listens to what you think you want and when she clarified, it all made sense. Very happy with my shorter hair!!! I didn't feel rushed or did it feel long. My time at PREP was just right. Naomi took care of my hair and it was also nice to chat with her too. I'm very picky when it comes to my hair so I'm happy I found a new stylist I can trust. Looking forward to my next trim with coloring added - already scheduled with Naomi. read more