After about 20 years of trying, I have finally found the perfect hair salon - 49 Mapquest Minutes (remember, kiddies: you're in Boston so you need to add 25 minutes to any Mapquest Minute estimate to get the realistic amount) and 33 miles away from home. Worth every bit of travel time. This is the real deal. My personal hair saga has contained many twists and turns over the years - from Long Island 1980s perms (with or without bangs and Rave Styling Spray, Level 4) to keratin straightening treatments; from blonde highlights to pink to jet black. At age 31, what came of all those years and years of hairdos and don'ts was a blank stare when someone asked me what my natural hair color was. My pretend answer: "dark brown with grey highlights." Facing the reality of the situation, I had put so much crappy hair color and treatments in my hair over the years that my hair would only take to black hair color, from a box. My friend came into work one day with the greatest haircut ever. Seriously. It was a short, layered cut, and while I had my sights set on continuing to grow my medium-length hair long, I had a feeling that whomever cut her hair could cut mine similarly, just for longer hair. So off to Pembroke I went, accompanied by my friend with the perfect hair. Stylist and colorist Danielle took one look at my hair and sent for back-up. Soon enough, it seemed like the entire salon had to take a look at the mess coming out of my head. Notes were compared. Lunch was ordered (as in, "you're going to be here for quite some time.") I'm pretty sure someone called the fire department. Three and a half hours later, my hair was stripped of color, brought back to as natural of a state as it could be, a gentle rinse applied to iron out any color issues, I had been shampooed and rinsed four times, put under a dryer, the whole shebang. And all the while, Danielle was keeping me advised of every step, laughing with me not at me, and what I learned later was doing the most fantastic color job I'd ever had. And then I got a fantastic haircut and blow-dry. And even including a very generous tip, the entire process cost less than a night out. Returned six weeks later for a cut and touch-up and received the good news that my hair was restored to a healthy state and that I do not need to go through hours and hours of treatments anymore. Bonus: got an even better haircut! The salon is swanky - extraordinarily designed, and even has a baby grand piano by the front entrance which I have been told the owner plays in the salon often. Quality is the key here and the entire salon has it all and then some. read more

So I have been going to the same salon since high school, give or take about 20 years! So when my hairdryer died on a Friday,I was stranded.I had 2 parties to go to on Saturday.Which for this mom is unheard of. So I remember driving by this place in Pembroke,with the funny signs,I call them for a quick blow out. They fit me right in which was great. I arrive go through the door, and you can either go upstairs or straight through, so I go upstairs, not knowing. The girls upstairs gave me some nasty looks and told me " I think you want downstairs". Now I was already a little nervous trying a new place! I go downstairs, and I am waiting by the door, no body there to greet me, and I see what I presume is the flamboyant owner.He does not greet me, still working on his client's hair, after about 2-3 uncomfortable minutes, he tells me I can sit in the chairs. Oh thanks. As I am sitting down waiting, the owner is using the F word, like 4-5 times, very loudly, laughing, etc. Very unprofessional. I am not a prude believe me,but the way he was talking was making me uncomfortable. I wait 10 minutes, and the stylist calls me over. He was very nice, and did an OK job. I won't fault him for anything. This is the best,I go to pay, and ask for change for the ten, so I can give my stylist a 20% tip, they say they do not have change! I thought I heard them wrong, its 1pm on a Friday, and you have no change at a hair salon! Come on! I can not even believe they played that one. I could not blame the stylist, so I had to give him a huge tip. Stay away from this place! read more

Go on Friday nights for a free psychic reading!

I get my hair cut regularly at Salon Serode by Michael and he has done by far the best job anyone has cutting my hair. The feedback of other stylists is very positive. Aside from excellent work Michael is a colorful personality and he always make sure you are happy with your cut or style. Michael is known for his contribution to countless noble causes around the South Shore. read more

I went here because of the awesome review above. I walked in, and the salon is nice but was really busy. My hair turned out awful. I now look like a fifty year old in the nineties. My bangs look absolutely retarded, my highlights don't reach the root. I can do a blow dry ten times better than that stylist did mine. I will never go back. My hair would have looked better if I left it alone. read more

I moved to the area two years ago from California and have been on the hunt for a great stylist. Tried Salon Serode based on other reviews and was given an appointment with Wendy. Turns out she's only been in town since April as well - and she is fantastic! Wendy is fun, efficient and skilled. Honestly, the interior of the Salon could stand a makeover. But Michael, the owner, is a riot and their prices are extremely reasonable. Soooo happy with my new cut and color. I intend to be a loyal customer! read more

TERRIBLE customer service. I have dirty blonde hair with blonde highlights. Recently I tried dying it burgundy with a box color. Terrible idea, I know. So I was looking for a friendly, understanding hairdresser to fix it. I went into Salon Serode because it was on my way to work. I was greeted by an extremely cute dog, which was seriously the only thing positive about that salon. I looked around for a minute, no one even noticed me or greeted me. I walked up to the counter and someone greeted me in a snooty way and asked what I needed done. I explained and this is the part that really turned me off.. She just stared at my hair.. almost laughing in her head. It's bad but not THAT bad. Every single person in the salon wasn't friendly and the owner should realize that there's dozens of salons around this area, try to give me a reason to come to yours. After 5 minutes of waiting to get an appointment and getting attitude from these "hairdressers", I asked for a card, said I'd call later and left. I will never go anywhere near that place again. read more

Based on several recommendations from my very picky friends, I decided to try here a while back. My friend's brother who is very vain comes down from NH for hair plugs from the owner Michael and will not let anyone else touch his hair! Michael cuts and colors my hair and his assistant Marcist shampoos and styles my hair. Michael lives up to the hype: he gives a precision haircut comparable to any upscale Newbury Street salon for a much more reasonable price and none of the elitist attitude. I have tried some of the big name Boston salons that charge upward of $200 a cut and felt disappointed after with a very average cut (haha- especially when I look around the salon and see all the clients with the same exact cut!). I have lots of hair, it is thick and quite unruly/ coarse. He cuts no corners with my hair and will pull up a chair and go through every hair on my head with his scissors! He gets input from his clients but also offers his expert opinion. Admittedly, one time the color didn't react properly and turned my hair reddish and did not color my gray hair (ok, white strands at this point!). He redid the color, no fuss or hassles. If you get your hair colored often and have layers of color (I was lucky and started going gray at age 19; I am told a common occurrence among the Irish and have been coloring my hair for over 10 years), this happens from time to time and I thought nothing of it. Beware: As evident from the controversial sign in front of the salon, Michael prides himself on his zaniness and likes to act wacky and say racy things so as long as you are aware of it, no big deal. I am told from my friends that frequent the salon that his cuts last 3 months but admittedly, I have never gone that long between cuts. If you are looking for a great cut at a reasonable price and don't mind an eccentric/ theatrical atmosphere, this is a worthwhile place to check out! He is knowledgeable about trends and will steer clients away if the trend will not work with the client's hair or face. Bonus: if you are a dog lover, his dog Tula is a frequent fixture at the salon. read more