I had been wanting to get a haircut for a while and wasn't sure where to get this done in Austin. I did some research and came across Salon Vela. Fortunately, I was able to get a same-day appointment with Chris and it was by far the greatest salon experience I've had. Chris was very patient and made sure I was comfortable with everything he was doing. He had me explain exactly how I wanted my hair and walked me through his process. I will definitely be going back to Salon Vela and requesting Chris. read more

I am always hesitant to leave other than excellent reviews... I have visited this place 3 times for a haircut and once for a ​keratin treatment. Booking an appointment was always convenient​ and they​ are so friendly.​The Keratin treatment was ok and lasted 2-3 months. I always loved the haircut I got, indeed the best one was with Maria. So what I don't like about the place? two things: 1) I do not like that they always put too much heat on the hair and blow dry the almost complete wet hair. In 2 occasions I mentioned I do not want the sleek look, but still too much heat on the hair and more​ than 30 min blow drying. My scalp feels uncomfortable​ afterward​. 2) related to point 1, they charge​ you extra then for ​ ​additional time. so I get charged for blow drying​ that I did not want in the first​ place. Unfortunately​,​ I am not gonna visit them again unless they can cut my hair in the allocated time and without too much heat damage. read more

Customer service: Solid 5 stars. I won't drag on about this because like the other reviews say, their service is impeccable! Why 3 stars? 1. I came in wanting a change from my brassy/orange/red hair to an ash brown balayage. I showed Angela the picture I wanted and she made it seem like she was confident she could do it for me. Since I don't know much about coloring hair, I let Angela do her thing. I asked Angela questions here and there like how was she going to get the brassiness out and what not, and what she said sounded good. After she blow dried my hair at the end, I could still see the red in my hair. I told her as well, and Angela said there was nothing she could do about it. Well I remember in the beginning I said I wanted the brassiness out, but I told her that I'll see how it looks in day light and maybe it'll look different. What do you know...my hair is still pretty much orange and it literally looks like nothing has been done to it. My boyfriend, coworkers, and mother didn't even notice. I got a trim the same day and my mom noticed my trim but not my hair color "change" and she notices EVERYTHING. So surprise surprise, over $200 later I look practically the same and not anything closer to the picture I showed. My friend even said my hair looks like her grown out brassy hair :(. 2. I asked Angela to only touch my bottom half of my hair that was previously dyed and leave my virgin hair alone. She put two highlights right in the front close to my virgin roots. Sigh...now I have to grow this out. 3. I bought the yelp deal thinking it would should have saved me a good lump some of money. Well, when I went home to look at the receipt they charged me for both balayage highlights and full set of highlights which resulted in being over $200. Why charge me for both when I only asked for a balayage?! Unless it's because I got the yelp deal and they still wanted to profit. Also, I asked for a trim and just a half inch trim. Nothing fancy, and they charged me for a full haircut which was $60. So I paid $60 for a trim...A TRIM. The good? I emailed the owner and told him my concerns of my hair. He responded very politely, but in the end still pretty much said that there was nothing they could do to fix it. Even after using the yelp deal, I paid well over $200 for something that looked nothing like what I wanted. The staff and Angela were all really nice, but I kind of wish I spent my money elsewhere :(. read more

Salon Vela - On the left: What I wanted. On the right: What I got, still brassy and orange and looks nothing different from my hair before lol. - Hair Salons Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The universe sent me to this salon. I'll explain. 1. My full name is Stephanie Vela Anderson and this place is located on Anderson Lane. I can't get over that. I am not shy about my narcissism so right away, in my mind, this place already had five stars. 2. Angela is hot (everyone there is hot) and only hot people are allowed to touch my hair so when I met her I knew I was gonna be in good hands. She asked me a lot of questions and took some time to scope out my beautiful face and head. She is an artist and I was her canvas. 3. My hair has some natural wave and curl - Angela evoked her magical powers of hair knowledge, trimmed and layered, put some fancy arse goo in my locks, and then bam...my sexy levels crossed over into infinity. YOU ARE THE BEST ANGELA THANKS! Anyways this salon is responsible for my hair now. It's swanky inside (fancy as fack), they'll serve you some wine on request, and it's got my name so yeah you need to go. VELA SALON IT IS WORTH EVERY DOLLAR THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU I PROMISE! read more

Being new to Austin, I am having to find a new place for every service I was accustomed to having in Minnesota. So obviously I consulted Yelp when I needed a salon to update my long overdue hair color! I called to book a partial foil and being a new customer, I was asked the length, color and thickness of my hair and was then recommended to their stylist Gabrielle. I called on a Thursday and wanted to get in on a weekend day so they booked me for nine days later. The man at the receptionist desk was very welcoming and offered me a beverage while I waited. I believe his name was Simon? Once Gabrielle was ready for me she asked me a lot of questions about how I liked my hair to look, my morning routines, etc and got started on my highlights. Even though it was a partial highlight she did not skimp on the number of foils. After sitting under the dryer for a few minutes we went to the washing bowl where she applied a glaze to my hair to increase shine and she asked if I wanted a hair trim. I hadn't booked it but I figured that as long as I was there I may as well! Gabrielle made me feel very comfortable throughout the whole appointment and we had some fun conversations throughout my visit. Turns out she just recently moved to Austin as well from Maryland. My highlights came out very well blended and natural looking. I have long hair to the length of my shoulder blades and a partial foil and hair cut cost $136 which I consider neither cheap or super expensive. But with the Yelp $75 for $150 voucher it was quite a deal! I'm booked for my my next appointment in a couple months. If you are looking for a new salon I'd definitely recommend checking out Salon Vela and taking advantage of their voucher deal. read more

My hairstylist quit, suddenly, a few months ago. She didn't leave any notice and didn't really recommend anyone at the salon. I tried out a couple of the stylists at the other salon, but I didn't totally mesh well with them (still a good salon though). When it came to change up my hair, I thought it was time for a clean break to find someone else. I searched Yelp and found this salon (which was so close to my house) and decided to give it a try. I booked a hair cut and color appointment with Gabrielle and I'm so happy I did. My hair color has never been better than now! It shines, has a nice lighter brown shade (but not to obvious to tell that I dye it) and it's healthy. She also cut my hair, and although it was cut a bit shorter than I want (my nonchalant fault), it is a great cut. I get so many compliments on my haircut, more than I ever did before. I think the coolest thing, though, is that this salon goes beyond any salon I've ever been to. After my first appointment, I got a handwritten note from Gabrielle thanking me for my business and looking forward to more appointments. I get a call and e-mail confirming my appointment and everyone greats me with a smile. I've been back once already and I already booked my next appointment. read more

This salon is amazing! Ron and Simon were a pleasure to work with. I was attending a last minute charity gala, and even as a new client they were able to squeeze me in for a last minute appointment. They stayed late to make sure everything was perfect. They even loaned me a smock because I forgot I'd have to change into my dress once I made it home! They have great stories about their recent travels. The drink was a nice touch, and I can't express how appreciative I was for them helping me out! I highly recommend them and can't wait to go back for my normal cut/color. read more

After recently moving from NYC to Austin I was really worried I wouldn't be able to find a great hair place down here. I found Salon Vela online and made an appointment with Melanie for high/lowlights. They called to ask me to come in a half hour early in order to have enough time for a consultation before starting on my hair, which I appreciated since I've been trying to get my hair to a specific shade of blonde for almost 2 years now. Melanie was an absolute doll and took the time to thoroughly discuss my hair and the color I was looking for. I am naturally dirty blonde but after years of golden/brassy highlights I wanted to go back to my natural color with a few face-framing highlights as well as highlights at the ends. Melanie showed me a few pictures once she got an idea of what I wanted and then got to work mixing colors/etc. The process included both foils for highlights and balayage low lights, and the experience was beyond enjoyable. Even included a hand massage during my time under the heat lamp! After spending the past 2 years in and out of top salons in NY, CT, and now Austin, my hair is FINALLY the color/shade I've been trying to achieve. I am beyond happy with my color (and I'm very picky when it comes to my hair) and will be going back to Melanie from now on for any hair needs! I also used their $75 for $150 deal which was an amazing plus to the whole experience. If you're looking for a new salon and/or stylist, Melanie is amazing and Salon Vela are worth checking out. read more

I didn't have an appointment set up, but took the chance they had an opening on a Saturday, I know, unlikely, right? But it definitely paid off! Having been in Austin for awhile, never been to a salon I've liked enough to return to. I was told they were booked up but would call me if something opens up. They called be back a couple hours later, got me set up with Chris and I was sooooo pleased with the outcome!!! Chris was so nice and listened to me. The price was more than fair. I was one of those annoying people who came in and didn't know what they want. I'm aware of how frustrating that must be for a stylist but he was so patient with me!! I have found a place to return! And Chris has my trust! Thank you so much Chris!! You're amazing!! read more

I love this place! I got my hair cut here and I swear I've never had a better hair cut. The girl totally understood what I wanted. I'm going back in January and unfortunately it was a long wait to get to hair dresser I wanted and will book 2 months in advance to ensure I get my hair done when needed. read more

I'm so pleased to have found a new stylist!! We moved 4 months ago, and I've tried one or two other places close by. I have otherwise been getting my haircut up in Cedar Park at my old place - which by the way was a pseudo temporary replacement for the place I prefer but was having a hard time getting appointments. For me, the key factors that play into my decision on where to get a haircut are (not necessarily in any order) location, price, quality of the cut, the "experience" (yes I know that makes me sound high maintenance but I'm really not), the personality of my stylist/barber, and the facilities. Not only have a found that new special place, I think it's even better than where I was going. It's on the upper end of what I'm comfortable paying each month, but worth it compared to the nearby alternatives. Gabrielle was awesome. Can't wait to go back in 4 weeks. Thanks for great service and a great haircut at a reasonable price - just in time for family pictures! :) Cheers! read more

I only have good things to say about Salon Vela. I have thick hair and a LOT of it so it can be difficult/tedious to work with. I've hopped from one stylist to the next, but I'm here to stay now that I've found some awesome stylists! I first came in for a balayage with Angela and it was gorgeous! The second time, I had Mel cut my hair since Angela wasn't available. After living with it for a couple days, I decided it was still too much volume and had Mel thin it out some more during my lunch break. Very accommodating, super quick, and absolutely what I wanted!! I recently chopped off more of my length with Angela. I couldn't find a photo of the exact cut I wanted so I spouted off some vague desires and Angela gave me EXACTLY what I wanted. They know their stuff and boy, are they good at it. Besides getting rid of what feels like a ton of weight off my shoulders after a cut, I also look forward to the shampoo scalp massages. Angela and Mel make tingles run down my spine with the shampooing. It feels amazing!! I also need to give kudos to Simon, who manages the phones and appointments. He has a lovely, calming voice and his customer service is top notch. read more

My first visit to a public salon in about 15 years was fabulous. I'm extremely impressed with Salon Vela. More impressed with Lou, my hair stylist. She's personable, she had a cute hair style, nice makeup, very pretty lady and an excellent hair stylist. I feel very fortunate to have found Lou on my first visit out. She has a client for life. The price was right and I loved the products she used. Thanks Lou!! read more

I found salon vela by searching Yelp. I was blown away with the reviews and with the before and after photos. Never in my life have I dyed my hair (I also only get a cut once a year) so making an apt for a cut and color was a BIG deal. I was so nervous but Angela made me feel so comfortable. She understood the crazy explanation I gave and really helped me understand my options. We ended up doing a reddish (strawberry blonde) glaze on my hair. It totally enhanced my natural color. I couldn't be happier with the outcome! I did find the total to be kind of pricy but honestly I'm new to this whole salon thing so it's probably pretty standard. Thanks so much salon vela && Angela!!! read more

Salon Vela - Love the color. Really varies depending on the type of lighting :) - Hair Salons Near Me - Austin, Texas

My visit absolutely exceeded my expectations! Salon Vela is clean, well put-together, and their selection of staff is on target. I had the privilege of getting my appointment with Luci. I must admit, I was slightly concerned since she is the newest member of the team. However, she was extremely knowledgeable about my specific hair type and did outstanding work. My hair thanks her! ;-) Luci cut my ends, blew out my hair, and even gave me a hand massage. It was refreshing to finally visit an establishment that actually knows what they are doing and took the extra mile to get to know ME and MY HAIR instead of the usual cookie-cutter type salons with their one-size-fits-all approach. Thank you Salon Vela and Luci... I'm already looking forward to my next appointment! read more

I came in for a haircut, i thought it was going to be pretty straightforward. Tattiana cut my hair and she was so caring and definitely took the time to make sure we both understood what the outcome would be, she super sweet and kind. I definitely am going to come back and would recommend to anyone who ask for a stylist. read more

Ashley did my hair the other day and she did so good! she listened to what I was wanting then i gave her some freedom! The whole experience was nice too they checked our temps before going in and they were all so nice. I HIGHLY recommend this salon.:) read more

I can't say enough about Rachel! Super great stylist. The service at Salon Vela was top notch! I just moved to ATX from Houston and was nervous about getting my hair done by someone new. So glad I chose her for my cut and bayalage. It turned out amazing. I wanted her to cut more length off and she told me to wait until she was finished, and she was right it's exactly what I wanted and it looks great. She listens to what you want but also steers you in the right direction. She helped me pick some products that I was missing from my routine as well. I'd recommend her to anyone! read more

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​My first visit to this salon was lovely! I previously worked with Stylist Chris Perez, but lost touch due to a move, so I was so over-the-moon excited when I found him again at this salon. The salon is tucked away on Anderson Lane with plenty of parking and easy access. It was super chic and the atmosphere was very inviting--even the gal at the front (Maria I think) was super helpful even though I think she's actually stylist and not the receptionist. Chris was amazing and recommended a protein treatment for my hair that was well worth the money--my hair looks fantastic! I ABSOLUTELY recommend this salon (especially Chris!) to anyone! Thanks for a great experience and I look forward to my next appointment in 6 weeks! read more

I have been going to this salon for years to see Gabrielle and have had nothing but great experiences here. She has always done such a great job with my hair. Thanks Gabrielle! read more

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Thank you, Lou, for the amazing haircut! My short, curly bob is exactly what I wanted!

My daughter and I went in for our first time yesterday to get hair cuts. I was very impressed with the service provided and extra attention to detail and hospitality. read more

I'm very pleased with my first visit to Salon Vela. Immediately when I walked in I was greeted and felt welcomed. The place is very clean and has a modern chic vibe to it which I really liked. I went in for a haircut with Mel and she was AMAZING! She took the time to explain to me how my previous haircut had left my hair uneven and what she would do to fix it. At the end she made me aware that she does free bang trims, so I could call whenever I needed one and she would fit me in her schedule. Mel is very talented I loved my haircut and I will definitely be coming back to Salon Vela! read more

I cannot say enough about Salon Vela! Since the first time I went, I felt right at home. The staff is friendly and so welcoming! I like the family feel of this place while still feeling that wonderful pampering feeling of a professional salon! My hairstylist is Maria and she is amazing! I came to her with damaged hair and in hopes to bring my hair back to health, and she sure has. For as long as I live in Austin, this will always be my choice! Side note: Their COVID protocols are spot on! You certainly feel safe and know they are protecting their employees and their clients' health. Thank you, Salon Vela! read more

Angela was amazing. I had to go into the Salon for a Color Correction. The whole experience from start to finish was great. I am so happy with my look, even though there will be a few more steps to get to my end goal. I am very happy. I highly suggest Angela and the whole team at Salon Vela. read more

It's been about 3 weeks since my first appointment with Tatiana (I wanted to make sure I loved my hair before reviewing). Tatiana did a great job with my color to cover the gray. It was the first time in a while that my husband absolutely loved the way my hair looked. She talked with me at length to make sure I was going to be happy with the outcome. Couldn't be happier! read more

This review is overdue. I want to say how much I love Gabrielle. She is professional. As well as a very talented hairstylist. She is a must see. The salon is clean and trendy. I love the fact that I get a reminder call a few days in advance instead of the day before. After moving to Austin I had to find a new salon and Salon Vela was my first try. Not gonna go anywhere else! read more

Salon Vela has figured it out! I have never been to a salon like this one. They have compartmentalized the customer service aspect to the business from the stylists themselves. I was called ahead of my appointment to confirm by Simon wore many hats and served as the customer service rep in this case. When my scheduled time had to be change, Simon took care of it promptly. He was my greeter, checked me in and out for my appointment, answered the phone, and sent follow-up emails. This really is an excellent touch and lets the stylists do what they do best...hair! The stylists did not have to worry about managing appointments, calling for follow-ups, answering phones. All salons should take up this model. As for my stylist, she was great and super knowledgeable. I will definitely be going back to Salon Vela in the future. read more

Rachel is AMAZING! I highly recommend her. She does my blonde hair beautifully. She's super sweet and you can talk to her about anything! Prices are awesome and reasonable . read more

The most beautiful friendly salon to go to family owned and super nice and friendly denada!

1. Booking an appt with them via email was fast 2. Both Simon and Gabrielle are very professional and attentive. 3. Gabrielle knows what she's doing when it comes to hair. I have super thick/medium coarse hair, and A LOT of it! She knew exactly how to "calm it down" and put some bounce and life back into it. She played up my natural hair color and just made it look fresh and new. I completely fell in love with the whole experience and of course, my hair :) read more

It's a beautiful Salon. I was wanting a drastic change to my hair and decided to go from brunette to blond. I was very careful with what salon I was going to choose and I ended up choosing Salon Vela. Melinda was my hairstylist and she did a phenomenal job!! I love it! Everyone there is friendly and the best part about it is they give you an arm/hand massage as you're under the dryer. You can't find that anywhere else. Thanks Melinda! read more

Salon Vela - Melinda did my hair and did a fabulous job - Hair Salons Near Me - Austin, Texas

I chose Ron Brown-Valdez at Salon Vela to give my hair an entirely fresh and modern look--he helped me decide in a very gentle and thoughtful way what style and length would look best. Almost two years later, I am still loving my cut, style, and color. Also, the vibe at Salon Vela is warm, welcoming, (always) and safe (during covid). If you're looking for a truly talented, positive hair salon check out Salon Vela. read more

So this review is long overdue as I have been a client of Gabrielle's for almost a year now! But after my most recent visit, I was once again thrilled with my new color. I had a partial highlight on top of my usual one step color and chose burgundy. Gabrielle chose a very complimentary shade for my skin color and in the past she was very honest with me about some of my ideas and what I could expect...I truly appreciated this!!! I have received so many compliments from friends and strangers. She has also done a fine job on a keratin treatment and helping me to grow out my hair through the awkwardness!!! Anyways, its about time I went ahead and wrote this up, I could say so much more complimentary things about her and Salon Vela. Thank you for offering coffee and hand massages btw!!! I highly recommend Gabrielle if you are looking to try a hair color or texture change! read more

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Booked an appointment with Lauren & I can honestly say I've never had a better color and cut! She knew exactly what I wanted and didn't have to do any color correction. I'm so pleased with the balayage she did for me! Lauren is extremely talented and loves what she does! Highly recommend for color and cut! Needless to say, I will be back! read more

I have NEVER had a hair cut this fabulous in my life. Gabrielle was my stylist--but if you call, they'll ask you all about your hair to determine which stylist is best for you. I bought and applied a yelp deal for $150 worth of hair services for $75; no hitches or gimmicks. My hair cut was $53, so I'll be getting three spectacular cuts for a total of $84. Gabrielle and the other stylist there (Simon?) were kind, patient, attentive, warm, and knowledgeable. Gabrielle is the first stylist *ever* who has understood my hair and what I want, and made it happen. And I got a scalp massage to boot. Gabrielle used Pureology and Redken products on my hair that worked freaking magic. There was absolutely no pressure for me to buy anything, though. I can't recommend Salon Vela highly enough. If you've thought about looking for a hair alchemist with superpowers... go for it. read more

This salon is thoroughly awesome. My first impression in the form of my phone call to book my first appointment (based on great reviews) was great. I called to book an appt for balayage highlights. I'd been thinking about doing them for 2 years but never pulled the trigger. The best part about this experience was the scheduler (Simon? I cant recall his name, sorry :( ) very subtly corrected me when I pronounced "balayage" wrong. I said I'd like to schedule "bayalage" highlights and he very subtly confirmed my appointment as "balayage". This may seem like an incredibly minor thing but I was so impressed with his friendliness and professionalism. That's one of those things that snooty salon industry professionals wouldn't think twice about correcting you very obviously and making you feel dumb for pronouncing it wrong making you feel unwelcome right off the bat. That stuck out to me. Second, check out their pictures here on Yelp. Very impressive. So, with those first and second points, I got really excited for my visit. Finally, my results. I was scheduled with Melinda. I had a ton of pictures that all looked different and left it up to her to make a good interpretation of what I was getting at for the color and the cut technique. She NAILED it. She consulted with one of the other stylists (her partner owner of the salon). They were very up front in that since I had unprofessional color in my hair and extensive damage that the color I wanted may not be possible because the color and state of my hair may prevent the bleach from "cutting through" the color. But both agreed it was worth the shot. Having bleached my hair for 10+ years, this was nothing new to me. That's exactly what I expected they would say. She also gave me a price quote before starting which is always best practice, in my opinion, for a stylist. My hair looks awesome. She cut off the perfect amount in the perfect angles and my balayage highlights cut through that color wonderfully. I warned Mel that I didn't want any orange, yellow, or brass. We agreed that we might run into that on the first round and it may require 2 or 3 rounds before it could achieve the right tone. Usually when I get highlights, I head straight to Ulta and grab a violet shampoo for toning. I don't have to this time. I have no orange, yellow, or brass and it looks great. So glad I finally chose to go ahead with the balayage technique and that I had it done at Salon Vela with Melinda. Absolutely worth every cent. read more

Maria is amazing and just cute as a button! She styled both of my girls' hair just as they wanted, and I will definitely be going back to them to get their hair done for other events, like school picture day and holidays. We love Salon Vela! read more

Wonderful first time experience! Full Balayage highlights and cut with Chris Perez! He was fantastic, talked me through entire process, provided price estimate up front, and educated me step by step. He was so warm and knowledgeable, made sure I was happy every step of the way. Cute location, very intimate. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming, great first impression. I definitely recommend. read more

First visit to the salon and loved it. Rechael is great I went in not knowing what I wanted she gave some suggestions and did just what I wanted. She is my new person. read more