I initially went here because (surprise) I'm blonde. Getting a colorist that excels at the right blonde can be tricky and I drove by this salon about 7 years ago and thought this might be the place to get it right. I prefer a buttery ash and that can be tough line to walk in the world of blonde. Fortunately I've never left displeased with a cut, color or blow out. I need a refresh on my roots about every 4-6 weeks and when you go that often you have to be careful your blonde hair doesn't start doing strange things, and stays healthy. SalonBlonde has the best colorists I've used in Chicago and I've been coloring my hair for a looooong time. I've seen almost everyone at the salon for something or if my regular stylist isn't available and I need to get in pronto and I'm always happy. Ashley is my go-to gal for my color (and cuts) because she gets the exact shade I am looking for right, and adds the right highlights and toner to get it perfect. I would follow her anywhere she worked because she is that good. I've had great colorists but I've never had anyone do such as exact perfect job with my skin tone. She is a hair color genius. She doesn't just excel at women but also works on men and her cuts and shaping are incredible. I had seen a middle aged fellow come in to her station while I was sitting with color foils in my hair. He came in with a basic business man's boring helmet hairstyle. He had a great thick head of hair peppered with gray and looked around 50 plus-ish. I overheard him complain that his haircut looked pretty boring and they seemed to know each other (not sure on that). I was in the sink getting rinsed when he walked by with his new hair cut on the way to leave and I couldn't believe the difference in how he looked. Ashley had given him the most amazing haircut that took 15 years off the man's overall look and energy. It was a bad-ass haircut on a man in a suit that looked like he runs a bank and I was pretty impressed. I was in awe that not only was he hip enough to embrace a young fresh look, but that she had the kohones to give him the cut. The cut walked the line between being a man who clearly has a conservative job on some level (who wears a suit these days?) and still being something closer to what a 21/30 year old might sport on his head, without looking ridiculous. She is a natural born talent. The salon upgraded their interior design in 2018 and it was definitely due and reflects the quality of the staff more than it did in 2018. Lets face it, we all need a little refresher now and then and businesses are certainly do different. It is very clean and contemporary with bold wall paper and bass and lots of white with some grays. It was a huge improvement. I would still go to the salon if they hadn't reworked the interior because it is hard to find colorists that do this wonderful of a job, but now I feel more at home and enjoy the aroma of a more interesting design than before. All the staff are very welcoming and I'm always amazed how people remember my name if they only worked on my hair once or twice. Parking is super easy on North Avenue and I always find metered parking pretty readily. I've recommended this salon to everyone I know who needs a great colorist, not just my blonde friends. And they have suggested SalonBlonde to others (men and women) as well so I know they are pretty pleased with the salon for their cuts, color and blow outs. read more

Ok let me start with the fact that I was very excited to get my hair lighted up and the picture comes from the salons Instagram page, tagged with the stylist that did my color - Kelsie. I showed her a picture of what I wanted and said that I was thinking I would need a double process instead of highlights that she started to put on me in order to be able to obtain the color from the picture (I was willing to pay no problem), but Kelsie said we can get it either way... clearly not.. The 2 colors are not even close in shade and I feel ripped off after paying $200. Oh and let me add, she made me blow dry my own hair because another client showed up - ridiculous. read more

salonblonde - Left is what I wanted, right what I got after spending $200 - Hair Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Salonblonde is exactly what you're looking for. I searched for years in Chicago to find a salon I could call my own! Of course the stylist is #1 and I found that in Paris at SalonBlonde! I've been going to Paris for about 3 years for anything from bayalage, partial/full highlights, cuts and I am not kidding - the best blowout I've ever had! I've come for just a blowout before a night out with something extra special to do! I don't know how she does it but she's a wizard with a brush & a blow dryer. On top of Paris' awesome skills (& great personality -fun & easy). SalonBlonde has all of the amenities I want a salon to have - comfortable, clean, welcoming and so many additions like mimosas, wine, coffee, tea, sweets - you name it! They also have Davines and Kevin Murphy hair products. Took me awhile to bite the bullet, spend the money & try them out but I'm happy I did. Definitely not my main shampoo & conditioner ($$) but you really get salon hair in your own shower! I recommend Davines Oi shampoo & conditioner. Try out SalonBlonde & definitely Paris! She's on Instagram - salonblonde_paris read more

salonblonde - Hair Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not the place for blondes or to become blonde!!!! My hair color turned out penicillin green! They did not care to fix it. Oh well, I never went back!! Awful place and parking is the worst!! read more

Just like a lot of these reviews, I went to Salonblonde because I tried another salon in Chicago that was very expensive and gave me a golden hue in my blonde that I wasn't super fond of. I talked through my issues with my hair stylist and we decided I needed to go darker because I wasn't happy with how quickly my roots started to show (2weeks!). We went closer to my natural color with low lights and added hi lights. The price was good but the toner left my hair a little too grey instead of ashy. I'll be going back to fix the grey toner but I like the overall color! read more

salonblonde - My new dark blonde - Hair Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I chose this salon because I had the impression that stylists would be experts in coloring blonde hair. This may be the case but unfortunately my stylist jumped to a decision without really listening to what I had to say. I wanted dimension to my very light blonde hair. She mentioned adding buttery tones. I should have had her be more specific by asking Land o Lakes or Kerry Gold. The end result was not much of a discernible difference. I left the salon regretting that I hadn't expressed my disappointment and for having paid quite a bit of money including the tip for a result that I could have gotten from a box bought at Walgreens! read more

Looooooove Salon Blonde and have had nothing but great service there for the past 6-8 months. Jaclyn is my stylist and I absolutely love her. I have blonde highlights and a shorter angled bob - my hair is in way better shape than it ever was before I walked in there. She's done a fabulous job coloring and cutting my hair AND she also is very knowledgeable about how products work with my hair. If you go there, ask for Jaclyn - she rocks! Also...J.R. did my make-up for my wedding day and it looked awesome and lasted all day/night. She is really sweet and helpful with questions I had - I felt like she really knew what she was doing. :) read more

salonblonde - Wedding Hair! :) - Hair Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So disappointed! I had my hair cut here about 2 months ago because the reviews were good and I was new to the area. My appointment was with Kamilla and she did an okay cut but a little shorter then I requested. I wasn't thrilled but it wasn't awful. So, when I was desperate for another cut I called back and she was the only available appointment soon. It should have raised a red flag that she was the only stylist with availability. But I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. I showed up for my appointment and was very clear with what I wanted. I told her that last time I thought she cut it a little too short. Well, damn if she didn't do it again. She seemed much too interested in making her plans for the night with a male stylist then she did with paying attention to my cut. She was very unprofessional and immature. I will not be going back to this salon ever again. She totally ignored my wishes and even had a bit of an attitude when I brought up the previous cut. Just wondering if she messed up my cut the second time because I mentioned it was too short. My style is not that difficult but clearly was beyond her abilities. Steer clear of Kamilla. read more

It's been years since I last updated my review so I figured it's time. It's been about five years since I first started seeing Lizzie and I'm still a loyal client and refer all my friends. Lizzie is the perfect marriage of good listening and perfect execution. No matter what I ask for she asks the right questions to understand and then nails it in execution. I have dirty blonde hair naturally that pulls golden when highlighted, but cooler, ashy blonde tones work better with my skin and Lizzie nails it. I frequently get compliments on my hair and even better, most of the time people think it's natural. I also appreciate how well the color grows in and that Lizzie doesn't try to upsell me to a full highlight everytime and instead she is the one to tell me when a partial would be better to keep my hair healthy (not to mention costs a little down). It also doesn't help that I'm drinking the complimentary mimosas while there. Cannot speak highly enough about Lizzie. I expect as long as she's still in the business I'll remain a client. read more

I had a great time at the Salonblonde Yelp event, and after a couple glasses of wine, booked myself a haircut with Jenica for this past weekend. This turned out to be the first day of my first vacation in a long time, and it was a perfect start. While I waited, three of the staff members offered me a beverage and I finally caved when someone said "mimosa." Jenica consulted with me before handing me over to (Hannah?) to wash my hair. I've had a few bad haircuts in my days, but Jenica's expertise was evident from the start. She did just what I asked for but then asked me questions throughout and explained what she was doing and how it would affect my hair styling, both straight and curly. It was nice to get some tips without ever feeling like she judged my hair routine nor was she trying to sell me anything. It was a simple cut and blow out, and I'm very happy with the result, both straight and curly. read more

My husband and I have been stressed over my 3 year old daughter's rats nest (huge knot). I've been working on it for 2+ weeks and finally I gave in and just had it cut. I called and went to different salons in the city for consultations and they just wanted to give my daughter a bob or pixie cut. Mind you her hair is past her waist and only 1/3 of her hair (on the bottom) had this huge knot so I wanted to salvage as much of her hair as possible. My husband called Salon Blonde on a Friday (yesterday) and they were able to get her in the next day. My husband talked to the manager who was very understanding so we felt very positive about it. So we got there today and Miss Bridget was able to cut the huge knot out and salvage a lot of her hair as we hoped. She was very patient with my daughter who cried the entire time. The staff gave her orange juice and a chocolate chip cookie which helped a little. We would definitely recommend this salon. The entire team gave me a huge sigh or relief. A lot tears not just from my daughter but also from me have been shed. We are eternally grateful for Miss Bridget and The Salon Blonde team. read more

Love the vibe and fantastic stylists! Kelsie Schultz rocks my color and is an amazing wizard at blowing out my very thick, curly hair. Everyone here is well trained and very talented. Owners Dawn and Margaret are very professional, caring and passionate. I love everything about this place. The customer service is excellent. The front desk staff (Kelly) is awesome, always greeted with a smile. Very personable. No gossip. Love love love it! read more

After a successful Yelp event, I decided to treat myself and get a haircut at Salon Blonde. What I really love about this location is that they're not trying to sell you, shame you, or make you feel weird. The stylist talks to you, tells you what you can expect, and gives realistic advice depending on who you are as a hair person. I'm a lazy hair person. I normally cut my own hair, and don't do much with it. Sometimes I put some mousse in it, but mostly it's boring af and looks it. I get a lot of compliments on my hair because it's long and thick, but I want really good hair. So I went in looking for a good thinning out process, nice layers, some length cut off (depending on the state of my hair/split ends), and bangs that look good without the effort. Jennica cut and styled my hair beautifully in less than an hour. My hair felt light, looked good, and I felt good. She talked me through things, gave me some advice that wasn't based on a commission, and she told me to come back in about 3 months. This was one of my more expensive hair cuts, and I was nervous about getting addicted, but I was able to go out and run so many errands afterward, I was so impressed. I was also very happy that I don't have to deal with my haircut for another few months! (That is, as long as I can keep the scissors away when I'm bored.) Honestly, looking at their photos, every stylist seems amazing and talented, and I love how clean and bright everything is. read more

I am BAD for not updating my review, very very very BAD! How have I not acknowledged Kelly, world's most awesome stylist? Let me pick up where I left off in my last review... So I opted not to spread my time between Laura and Charlie - it's hard to see two stylists and really make it work. I finally had to break up with the Robert Jeffrey crew and pledge my devotion to Salon Blonde. No sooner than I had done so, Laura up and moves. After I made that gut wrenching decision? Figures. I guess that's what I get for being a stylist two-timer. But it's okay, everything happens for a reason. If Laura stayed in the picture, I would have never found Kelly. Kelly is the stylist I was meant to be with. And since we're in an open stylist-client situation (though I wish she were the Ken Paves to my Jessica Simpson), I HIGHLY encourage everyone - male and female alike - to visit Kelly. She is really creative and has always had wonderful ideas that are perfect for my coloring and face shape when I have no clue what I want to do. She recently helped me transition from my signature long layers to a chic, collar bone grazing style that totally updated my look. Kelly has an immaculate eye for detail - I never walk out the door of Salon Blonde without every hair precisely cut to lay just right. There have been instances where she literally has snipped 1 or 2 stray hairs, and that level of attention is what creates her impeccable cuts and stunning color. I have never gotten more compliments about my hair than when I've left Kelly's chair. My one complaint? On my last visit, the assistant who was working with Kelly was way to pushy for my liking, trying to force products on me and was not the typical friendly personality I've come to know from the Salon Blonde team. I will admit there have been occasions where I have been unfaithful, but being frugal can lead to some major hair disasters. The Salon Blonde experience, from the great front desk team, crisp champagne, to JR's skillful makeup applications and brow doctoring, to the impressive span of products and flawless cuts make it a worthy investment when you care about your appearance. (Side note - you can't put tip on your credit card, but fortunately they have an ATM in the salon! Bonus!) read more

I had never been to Salonblonde but decided to see Lizzie for a partial highlight because I was not completely happy with what my normal colorist had done the last two times I saw her. The salon itself is bright, cheery and welcoming. They also use Kevin Murphy products, which are top of the line. Bonus points for that. Lizzie achieved the color I wanted perfectly, which is the most important thing. I showed her a picture of how my hair color had looked previously and told her I wanted basically the same thing. She got it spot on and I love my hair color again. The things I didn't like at this salon have nothing to do with Lizzie specifically, but I do find them important to mention. It costs $35 extra for toner (and anyone who gets their hair colored knows this isn't optional) and another $30 if you want your hair dried by your stylist. Without tip, that's already $165, and in my opinion you always need to dry the hair to see the results of the color or cut, but especially a color treatment. An assistant will dry your hair for free, but they can't always guarantee one will be available, so expect to pay more if you actually want to see how your cut or color turned out. I was only notified of this when I was sitting in the chair with my hair wet, which I thought was in particularly bad taste considering I was a new customer. Additionally, the tip must be paid in cash. I understand this is a nice courtesy for the stylist, but I don't always have $30 or $40 in cash on me, especially when I'm not notified of the tip-only-in-cash policy ahead of time. Also be aware of the 12 hour cancellation policy. They need a credit card to hold he appointment, so be sure you can actually make it prior to booking. Overall, I'd give 3.5, but am rounding up to 4 because Lizzie is talented. read more

I chose this salon cause I had dyed blonde hair that was damaged and brassy. Camilla perfectly toned it back to a gorgeous ash color and cut all the damage off while maintaining a great style. My mother was in town and Camilla took care of her too and we both look great. Whether you're from out of town looking for a quick fix or you need a regular salon this is definitely a perfect spot. Great positive energy, wonderful staff, and perfectly priced. You won't be disappointed! read more

salonblonde - Back to a beautiful ash from a terrible yellow. Thank you! - Hair Salons Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It took me about a year after moving to Chicago from D.C., but I finally found the best place and best colorist/stylist (Bridget) Salon Blonde is not only the best in Chicago, but the best I've been to after 5 yrs in NYC and 8 yrs in D.C. Bridget Brosnan is amazing. She is a genius with both color and cutting. I can't recommend her highly enough. I have frizzy/wavy hair that can be a big pain. Also, I've been lightening it for about 20 yrs. The color and cut is by far best I've had and I get compliments even weeks after my last appt. Further, the salon is comfortable, friendly and relaxing. It's a high-end salon setting and treatment while also being very laid back and down to earth. A rare combo! read more

G-L-A-M-O-R-OUS! What is this, like Sex and the City takes Chicago? Everyone here is dressed to the nines... and I LOVE it! This salon is modern, chic, professional, clean, and they serve complimentary wine, champagne and beer. Excellent first impression! I came here for full hilights, which is always unnerving trying a new stylist. I went to Ashley and she was great. She asked tons of questions before starting and was extremely knowledgeable. Little did I believe when she said she was 22! It was a great ambiance, fun clientèle and employees alike, and actually an enjoyable way to spend two hours. You know, most of the time I dread sitting there "processing" but it was so chill I didn't even notice or mind. Most importantly, my hair turned out absolutely phenomenally - natural, brighter for summer, non "hilighted" look... perfection!. Some of the other perks of this place are: Prime location in Bucktown (great for people watching on North Ave) Filled my parking meter for me -sweet! Alcoholic beverages, for free of course Music and fashion show on flatscreens Fab product lines (Phyto, Bumble and Bumble, Davines, etc) I would highly recommend this salon to anyone who isn't completely satisfied with their stylist or salon. Cheers to your sexy new self! read more

The first two visits I had here were good, finally found a salon that could satisfy my blondorexic needs! Jodi is an absolute rockstar at blonde color. Was always a tad over priced when compared to other salons I have been to, but I am totally fine with splurging for good quality.. You know what they say, you get what you pay for. Come back for fusion extensions. Mind you, this is about an 8 hour process. Not my first rodeo. My biggest pet peeve is having employees talk badly about their co workers and management. To one another, and ESPECIALLY to the customers. Extremely unprofessional, looks terrible for the business, and bottom line: I really don't care to hear your drama. Save it. I heard a lot of this catty complaining between the stylist and assistant, it just really irks me. SO! I am there for about 7 hours now, when Jodi's other customer comes in. She then leaves me high and dry with half a head of extensions while she does the other customers hair. Excuse me? You can not try to claim a high end salon and do your work like a low end great clips trying to cram in as many customers at once. Tacky, and rude. Stylists should know how long the process will take and to not over schedule. Finally done with extensions, and I like them... They are a bit thin, she didn't put all of the hair in my head but DID charge me for them. She actually cut the strands in half to better fit my scalp... And charged me twice for the same strand. What? Never heard of anything like that. I end up with a $1800 bill. $200 for extension REMOVAL. While I was checking out the girls were behind the desk discussing the charges. Overheard a "salon charge" "extension charge" "this is for Jodi"... Never was informed of these charges when I asked Jodi originally how much my extensions would cost. She told me $800. And I didn't even get the option to tip her myself, they took that upon themselves without letting me know the break down. If it were up to me, she would have been docked for reasons stated above. Maybe thats why claimed that hefty little tip all by herself. Ok, ok. Like I said. You get what you pay for.. Right? Wrong. Jodi completely messed up my extensions. Completely ruined my HAIR. Ended up going to Salon Buzz after the terrible experience I had there. The stylist was so in shock by how she did my extensions. She pinched them flat instead of rolling them into a cylinder. I was thrown off by this, but wasn't aware of how damaging it was. She didn't even place them evenly, causing more weight on one end of the bond than the other.. Pulling out all my hair from that section. My stylist was HORRIFIED by it. He wouldn't stop talking about it! He kept apologizing to me for HER work! He told me I should really get them out ASAP, not listening, I waited about 2 more weeks. The damage and hair loss was tremendous and I came back to remove them. Wish I would have sooner. I ended up with about 120 strands in total. I lost 47 strands in the first month. 47. All of which ripped out a generous amount of hair. I am now trying to regain my hair. And have developed a absolute hatred for fusion hair extensions, thanks to my experience I had here. If you are going to charge a customer $1800.... You better know what you are doing. read more

I had a wonderfully pleasant experience when I went here. I am (still) in a search to find my salon in Chicago. The girl I usually go to is too far away now, and it's a little overwhelming with so many options down here. My roommate goes here and loves everything about this place. She convinced me to go and try it out at least. I was happy with my color and highlights, and super happy with my cut; but the price was a bit of a shock. Once I got over that, it was an over all good experience. There was nothing WOW about it, but I would never say anything bad about it either. If my money situation ever changes I would totally come back here, but while I'm not living the high life my salon search still goes on. read more

Hey Fellow Blondies! I thought I'd give you all an update - I AM STILL GOING TO SALON BLONDE! It's been a year and I have been so happy with Salon Blonde and of course, Lizzy, has been great! read more

I came here today and saw Samantha for a haircut and blow dry, which ended up being a haircut, blow dry and flat iron. I went in a little scared because I don't like letting new people cut my hair, but I was VERY pleased with the outcome. It had been 6 months since my last cut and I needed all the dead stuff cut off, and my bangs reshaped. I told Sam I didn't want much cut off of the length maybe an inch or so since I'm looking to grow my hair out, and she gave me exactly what I was looking for. I have ethnic hair and most people can't blow dry it straight but she did a pretty good job of getting it as good as she could. She flat ironed it at the end to make it look even better and to get it really sleek. It did take about 2+ hours for this whole process but my hair was a hot mess, so I understand. I left the salon feeling beautiful and confident. My only gripe is I had to ask what products she was using on me since she didn't readily offer the information. I was very satisfied with what she did and how she treated me. At the end, I checked out their Smashbox sale which everything was 40% off since they're phasing it out and replacing it with Stila. I got a super cute lip stick for $12. While this salon is on the more expensive side, I had a fantastic experience. Highly recommended. read more

I have been going to Salon Blonde since I moved to the city five years ago and I am in LOVE! My stylist is Jennica and she is AWESOME! I have been blonde, brown, back to blonde and now back to brown and she does a phenomenal job everytime! I pretty much walk in now and just tell her to do whatever, and she does and I am always happy with the results. It also doesn't hurt that they provide alcoholic beverages while getting your hair done, it makes the experience much more fun and girly! I would definitely recommend Jennica to ANYONE, she is the best. read more

One star is generous for my experience. I will inform you now that I came in Oct 2009 - so here's hoping things changed. First off - no parking, no valet. They have a few spots designated in front of the salon - and apparently the people who parked in front of me didn't know how to drive as I saw my car bumped into...twice. I came in for a color correction - asking for a "Lauren Conrad" color. I was a medium brown. Not that hard right? Unless you work at Salon Blonde. I walked out with orange hair. They don't use Kerastase. They at least have bumble & bumble. They think that serving wine to clients gives them the right to charge what they do. In my opinion, prices need to come way down, or quality needs to go way up here. I will never go back - unless they go on Tabatha's Salon Takeover. read more

Sorry to say my nice stylist tried to talk me out of what I wanted to do (which didn't give me confidence in their abilities to do it), but after I convinced her she told me they didn't even have the right materials--even though I set this appointment up days in advance. The stylist was nice, but I wish they wouldn't offer a service they can't or won't do--especially since I would have been paying a lot. The experience was embarrassing and disappointing. read more

I went to Salon Blonde in an attempt to find "my" salon in Chicago. I was out shopping around Wicker Park and had heard great things about it from some of my friends with great hair, so I popped in on a whim and sat down with Jaclyn for a consultation. I was looking to go blonde at this point, and we talked about ways to brighten my hair from a light brown/dirty blonde to BLONDE and a cut that would work for my curly hair. She was really sweet, and seemed to really know what she was talking about, so I booked an appointment for later that week. I don't really have any complaints specifically about the cut, color, or experience. But I found it to be rather unremarkable. I know that's pretty vague for a review, but I just felt "mehhh" about the whole thing. It was pretty, and Jaclyn was sweet and pleasant to spend the afternoon with, but it wasn't the look-changing hair experience I went in for. Some of this is admittedly my own fault. I was probably not specific enough about wanting a drastic change instead of a subtle one. And I should have been VERY specific that my personal style tastes are less conservative than she seemed to think I was. My hair looked very pretty when I walked out, but it also looked very boring. I'm sure many clients would have loved that look, but it wasn't for me. I think we just had some communication problems. In short: Salon Blonde was a nice experience, and Jackie is clearly very talented, but I was underwhelmed. Also- while stylists who look gorgeous and are dressed up are nice, as is complimentary wine, these things don't sell me on a salon. It's nice for ambiance, but not enough to sell me to be a regular. If that's a priority, this place is fantastic for it. But frankly, I expect some of that from a salon in this price range. read more

I've been going to Salonblonde since it opened approximately 20 years ago. You can always count on over the top service, hospitality, & super talented hair professionals. I'm writing about my experience this week with Mariah. I came in with a mess after using a sub tier salon for blonde highlights. Mariah was patient & a good listener as I wanted to return to a more natural blonde with depth. She incorporated both high and minimal low lights to start the transformation to an easier upkeep and more natural blonde. In addition, she applied an amazing conditioner to calm down some breakage. Finally, Mariah helped me with product selection to use at home to maintain color. The products were 25% off! Overall, Salonblonde never ceases to amaze me. They attract top tier talent and have a brand that is unparalleled in the industry. Thanks Mariah!!!! read more

This is about Richard for color. My good friend referred me to Richard and well, you never know right? I was THRILLED when I left Salon Blonde. Richard is amazing! He walks the walk and talks the talk. I'm 38 and I'm not trying to prove anything-Richard understood that I just wanted to look like me but prettier-who doesn't want to look prettier and then some? I wanted the beautiful, nuanced brown but not too brown hair of my childhood. Not the matte overall color you get when someone just hears the words 'brown hair' and dumps exactly that on your head and sends you out the door. Anyway, I'm making a short story long. I knew and trusted Richard would do right by me because he actually sat and looked at my hair and my complexion. He really did! I don't think a colorist had ever done that with me before. And well, I brought pictures but he didn't need them. This guy knows exactly what he's doing. In addition to being funny and cool he was giving out all these scientific number instructions to various assistants so I knew he knew his stuff. The great thing is I LOVE my hair. I was thrilled and relieved when I left and I will definitely go back to him. He also understood that I'm not super high maintenance so he gave me very doable and realistic options for my hair. I was so happy with the service and with my hair that I was quite afraid to go and pay because I just knew it would be -gulp-scary even though it would be worth it. I had had bad experiences in the past where I was 100% ripped off on long hair charges, toner charges, etc, etc. Well, I breathed a sigh or relief because they did none of that to me at Salon Blonde. I was pleasantly surprised in a good way to not be nickel and dimed at all. Richard is worth every penny. He blew my hair dry too which a lot of colorists don't do anymore. Richard cuts hair too-after I've grown my hair out a bit I will try him with that-I'm sure I'll be happy. He's awesome. i have found my hairdresser and I expect to go to him for as long as I live in Chicago. Yay! p.s. Don't be put off about the blonde. It's not that literal (I thought so at first). Richard is as great with brown hair as I'm sure he is with every other color out there. p.s.s I bought the Davines product and was happy with it too. p.s.s.s. I got a single process with some partial highlights. read more

after my stylist at joseph michael's salon of 2 years double booked me and her quality of service degrading, i went to amanda at the colour room (based on a yelp review) and even though my haircut was "ok"....i wasn't super thrilled about my hair. with my wedding coming up i was desperate to find a stylist that could cut/color my hair the way i wanted it, and i finally came across Frankie at Salon Blonde. She listened to what I wanted, and I haven't ever been this excited about my hair!! She is so great, and I called her when I got home to tell her how happy I was, and that I will definitely be back! if you're looking for a fantastic all around stylist, you have to go see Frankie, she's the best! read more

I have had my share of good and bad blonde highlights. Picking a new salon is always a bit of a gamble, no matter how many yelp reviews you read. Jennica was awesome. She spent a decent amount of time discussing what shade of blonde I was looking for. We went through magazines, and color swatches. I got full highlights ($140) and a cut ($80). She did a beautiful job. Very natural-looking, exactly what I wanted. No stripey, yellow highlights. Just, blonde perfection. As for the cut, she really knows how to handle thick hair. The complimentary bang trim is a plus as well. My only complaint is that it IS a little pricey, although It is not as pricey as some of the other chicago salons. And besides, you get what you pay for! Parking warning: allow some extra time to find parking. Certain Tuesdays and Wednesdays are street cleaning so spots for more than 2 hours are lim read more

I requested a Balayage and my hair is looking worse than ever. I had a brown color in my hair and I was hoping the Balayage would blend all of the colors together in a pretty way, however, my hair looks worse now. The worst part of the story is that I tried coming back to the salon to see what could be done to fix it and because it clearly is not the right technique done, their response was that the stylist decides what technique they use to lift the hair and they wouldn't do anything to fix it other than me scheduling another appointment an paying a whole new service to fix it. My stylist was Brittany Fawell and I also talked to who they said was one of the managers, Marissa but they were not helpful at all. I have kept my hair in a ponytail since then because of how bad it looks. I understand that lifting the hair color can take multiple sessions to not damage the hair but it is not even about the color, it is about the awful technique that was used. $300 completely waisted. Being new to Chicago I decided to get my hair done here because of the great reviews I read but only to leave completely disappointed to the point of crying. I am hoping that I am contacted by any of the other managers or another stylist in the salon that actually care about customer satisfaction and services provided. read more

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Wowowow! Haley is my new favorite person in Chicago. I was feeling feisty with the warm weather (although you know Chicago--it snowed the following weekend), and I decided that I wanted to go blonde. I mean BLONDE-blonde. Platinum. I've been a warm blonde before in my life, but never anything drastic, so this was actually a fairly big decision on my part. Let me first say that I feel fierce and beautiful! Haley managed to take me from this mousy brown color to the most lovely platinum. I'm in love. Things I appreciated- -she took her time to listen to me and really examine my hair -she told me what she realistically thought she could do, but told me the exact process we would need to take to get it even lighter with time, if I so desired -she brought over a price estimate before we began -she explained every part of the process -she was easy going -she even took me over to the make up station to pair a nice lip with my new do I ended up paying a pretty penny, (for my budget) but it was WORTH it! I did end up coming back a few days later because I had a finicky strand that didn't seem to match the rest, and she fixed it right up, free of charge. Overall, these people are trustworthy and good at what they do. PS- I was served mimosas during my visit. Nothing better than that! read more

Been highlighting my hair a LONG time and Lizzie is by far the best stylist/colorist I have been to. In addition to being sweet and adorable, she nailed the color and cut. Gotta love the salon itself -easy parking, wine,fun vibe, great hours. read more

I've been very pleased with Samantha! She's always been very helpful in suggesting new styles & I'm not always willing to change but she knows what she's talking about! She's transformed me from frumpy to fabulous! Her cut & color skills are spot on. The salon is also a relaxing, fun place to be as well. I have been going here for a couple years now. I highly recommend Salon Blonde - I always look forward to getting my hair done there whereas I used to avoid it because stylists never seemed to listen to what I wanted but that changed when I met Samantha. read more

Paris is by far the most amazing stylist at this salon! I started coming here just about a year ago after trying out a few different salons throughout the city. I couldn't have been more impressed with this one! At the time Paris was just an apprentice and I have since followed her into her full stylist career. She has helped my hair in more ways than I can explain! My last appointment I told her I wanted to be blonde again after being a very dark red, while it took a little while ( I have about 2 feet of hair and it's incredibly thick) it couldn't have turned out better! Paris has absolutely won me and my hair over for life! She took my dark red back up to blonde with an amazing balayage. She's up to date with all the current hair trends, whether it's the color or cut! I would recommend her to anyone (and I do)!!! Salon blonde offers refreshments for their clients as well. This is always a nice perk, who doesn't like a good mimosa! read more

I started seeing David about 6 months ago and have absolutely loved going in every single time! I'm very picky about choosing a stylist and was nervous to make a change after 6 years, but have not been disappointed! David has created an amazing shade of blonde on my naturally dark brown hair and his cuts are helping to grow out my hair without looking like a hot mess! I would highly recommend him if you're looking for a new stylist! read more

I've been going to this salon for years now... even when I lived in San Francisco I would try to schedule my trips back home for just around the time that my roots were getting out of hand so that I could continue getting the fantastic cuts and color from Salon Blonde. I was surprised on my recent visit at all the new space they've acquired... clearly they needed the room because this salon has grown considerably over the years and just seems to be getting hotter every time I come back. Things change (prices have certainly gone up a bit) but the casual comfy mod vibe and the fantastic stylists remain the same. I find it's rare to find a salon where most stylists have been there for many years, but every time I come back I notice that there's been very little turnover and most folks seems really jazzed to be there. I usually try to get the owner Dawn, but I'd also highly recommend Jennika for cut and color. read more

Went to Karolina at Salonblonde today, and it is definitely the best color/cut I have had in years! I asked for subtle highlights that have an ombre feel, but start higher for a more natural look. I brought in a couple of pictures, and Karolina was able to achieve it perfectly! She really cared that I was happy with the color, and it shows. A friend commented that my color looked movie-star esque. My cut looks great, and she styled it beautifully. If you are looking for modern color and a great cut go to Karolina! The interior of the salon was also really modern and cute, and I felt really comfortable and taken care of. Overall, so happy with my new hair! read more

I have been a client of Jodi's @ Salon Blonde for about two years now and absolutely LOVE her. I cannot say that I have ever left an appointment unhappy or not 100 percent satisfied. I moved to the city in 2006 and went from salon to salon trying to find someone who I could stick with which was getting pretty annoying. From not getting the color I wanted to going home and hating my haircuts, I just really wanted to find someone who I could stick with. I was recommended to Jodi by a friend of mine, who is also a client of hers. First time I went in to see her I was brunette but had the itch to go blonde. We went through some colors and she was very helpful and honest about the extreme color switch I was about to do, but assured me that it would look great, so I put my complete trust in her and was very happy I did because I LOVED it. I know a good stylist when I see them get excited about what they are about to do, and she definitely showed excitement, which then made ME excited. So, I am happy to say that I have been with Jodi for two years now and since then I have went blonde, had great haircuts, recently had extensions put in by her, which look AMAZING, and now I am back to my fall color of a beautiful golden brown. My review for Jodi is long overdue, so if you are looking for a great stylist, I say go to Salon Blonde to see her... enjoy a glass of wine, have great conversation, good laughs, and leave with a great hair style!! read more

By far the BEST salon in Chicago!!! Haley Meinke is seriously the most amazing colorist on the planet. I'm very picky about my highlights (I'm blonde) and she has done a great job each and every time, plus is super helpful in suggesting tweaks based on the season. I mean, this girl is absolutely fabulous! She also does not get lazy about anything. She is a perfectionist about the front of your head, the back of your head, the middle--and does an unreal job whether you're a first-time client or a regular like me. By far though, the best thing about Haley is that she DOES NOT cut off too much hair at each trim! I have pretty long hair and she is the only stylist I've ever been to who doesn't chop off 2-3 inches when I say I want a "tiny, tiny" trim. She actually cuts off what seems like millimeters--just enough to get rid of gross split ends and clean up the length without compromising the growing-out process. Because of Haley my hair has grown almost six inches since I started seeing her at the end of last summer. I used to think I had a "terminal length" but this is just not so! I'd just been going to people who cut off too much! Other than that, Salonblonde is just a beautiful, clean space with friendly/professional staff (no snobs!!), awesome perks (I always drink a few glasses of wine at each appointment). Yes, they are not inexpensive, but I feel what I pay is totally reasonable for what I consider the best cut/color I've ever had in any city, and I've lived in Boston, NY, and DC. PS -- great magazine selection, awesome place to buy make-up and products and a really cute little area that sells jewelry! Plus, lots of great restaurants in the neighborhood, so a good excuse to eat out if you live in a different neighborhood. Skip Michigan Ave., LP, etc. and come to Salonblonde!!! See Haley! You won't regret it! OH -- and short edit as I just read some other reviews -- this is a TOP-NOTCH salon so don't make an appointment if you're looking for a budget haircut/color! Honestly, what are people thinking? If you want good service/nice looking hair, expect to pay for it... read more