Note - it's impossible to find free parking, you're going to have to park in the grocery store valet garage parking two blocks away. (I highly recommend taking public transportation.) Ruby did an amazing job cutting my hair with very little instruction. I said my hair was feeling heavy and thick and she was able to skillfully remove POUNDS of hair without making too many layers or making my hair too poofy. read more

I came in for a scalp consultation. I believe I was kindly greeting by the owner Sophie. My experience was special, I felt a sense of humility as well as a passion for their work, and this is what really made a difference. From hair wash to hair cut and styling, the process was the most relaxing I've had in a a while.I highly recommend if your looking for a stylist or colorist. read more

Lol the service is bad. The staff is unprofessional and they couldn't make the hair what I want. Not recommended.

First time visit: The stylist won't listen to what I need and insisted on giving me a haircut "he think is good" Second time visit: The stylist was late for 20 minutes for the appointment. I spent 2.5 hours on perm and cut my hair. The perm curve disappeared in 2 weeks, while the stylist promised it will last at least 2 months. I went back to store and was told that the perm curve suppose to be "invisible" to look nature. Did not get any help or compensation. Interrupted me while I am speaking and ask me to have she finish her sentence first. Rude and unsatisfying, won't go back. read more

This review is solely regarding the haircuts here as I have not tried any of the other services. I went to this salon for a year. The first time I went was due to the convenient online booking and good reviews. Afterwards, I was very impressed by my first cut by Ruby and told literally everyone I knew about it. Unfortunately, over the past year, there seems to have been some turnover of the hairdressers here and Ruby has not come back yet. I had a few more haircuts since then with other stylists but I wasn't as impressed. One thing I noticed is that when Ruby styled my hair, it looked good and felt soft for multiple days (even after washing!), whereas the other times I went, my hair would be flat and frizzy in a few hours, which leads me to think that the stylists didn't spend enough time or effort or use the right products. ALSO: I had pretty much the same experience with the more expensive women's haircut (with Sophie) as the regular haircut, so I personally don't think it's worth it. Overall, this is a solid salon (good atmosphere, friendly staff) and I would be interested in their other services. However, if you're struggling to get an appointment as they seem to be super busy these days, there are better options for a women's haircut in Chinatown/Boston at the same price point. read more

I recently moved from California to Boston and have been very frustrated with finding the right colorist that knows how to lighten Asian hair (and doesn't charge an arm and a leg). I had two previous hair color jobs at two different salons (which I wasn't completely happy with) before coming to Sophie at SKA. At first I was skeptical that they could achieve the exact shade/color that I want, considering my hair was already colored AND Asian hair is pretty tricky to lighten to a golden brown. I guess my hair is even tougher because when Sophie and her team did the first application of color, it didn't make much of a difference on my hair. I was getting nervous and doubted that we could actually get the color that I wanted. But Sophie was confident we could and didn't hesitate to repeat the whole process which involved another two applications just to get the right color! It was very late and everyone was tired and hungry, but Sophie and her staff stayed overtime to accommodate me and I really appreciated that. Very professional! I was also only charged for a single color application as previously agreed even if it took longer than that. I would highly recommend SKA Boston for hair coloring! I don't think you can find another place that does hair color on Asian hair as well as they do. They truly know their stuff. Glad to have found my forever hair coloring salon in Boston! Thanks Sophie and team!! read more

SKA Scalp - Skin Care Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I got the scalp management treatment and I loved it! Sophie spent time talking to me about my scalp issues and specifically how to treat them. Yan did my scalp treatment and it felt amazing. They're very knowledgeable and professional. I'll definitely go back! read more

Made a mistake only looking at the five star reviews; as a Korean American with typical very fine stranded hair I normally go to Korean or Japanese hair stylists. I thought $80 would guarantee the same experience. I booked online for Sophie the senior stylist - it never said that an amateur guy would be washing my hair for almost fifteen minutes with so much soap in my hair so as to not even notice or care how much was getting into my ears. This is common sense. I've never booked a stylist for a guaranteed time slot only to have someone else do the wash in place. Normally from start to finish elsewhere you have who you book. When it came to the actual cut I was mostly concerned when Sophie's shears or scissors were getting stuck in my hair AFTER she blow dried it, and she kept looking at them to see if anything was wrong. Have never had that happen to me before and I was worried about split ends, in fact some of my hair strands looked a little fried and all I got was a cut and blow dry / style. The end of my hair does not look normal in proportion to the front of my hair and I may have to wait another six months to afford to go back to a hair stylist in spite of it. When I got to the cashier he just said "Tip", after the transaction initially went thru rather than just let me figure out for myself whether I was going to go ahead with that. For the price if you have Korean hair I would recommend sticking with Korean or Japanese hair stylists. They're efficient while not sacrificing on style quality and making sure the hair is not damaged in any way during the process. Also the blow dryer she used as soon as she turned it on smelled so terribly I don't know how that could even be possible. Edit: owner responded with a low brow trying to make it appear as though it was my fault for the extraordinary amount of shampoo that her amateur staff kept applying to my hair - I had to repeatedly tell them that the shampoo was getting into my ears; I was able to clearly smell the stench from the blow dryer as soon as she turned it on so it's really sly of her to try and blame that on a customer who only remarked that she didn't have time to cut her hair frequently due to having a kid. When you come to America, it's important to try and learn how customer service here is done; sloppy etiquette, bad manners and blaming the customer = not having the mark of a true successful business. read more

If anyone is looking for a scalp treatment (facial for your scalp), then this is the place to go! You start with a consult with Sophie and Yan where they take up close pictures of your scalp and from there recommend a specific treatment. My main concern was if I didn't wash my hair every other day, it would feel itchy, especially in front of my head. From there, the treatment starts with a head and neck massage then they put the solution in your scalp/hair, steam it, multiple washes/solutions, and finally blow-dry. It felt like multiple massages every time they put another solution or shampoo in my hair to get it to my scalp. I have really long, thick hair, but Yan took her time to wash and clean every part of my head thoroughly. At the end, my scalp feels very "airy" and clean if that makes any sense, and my hair feels softer too. The itchy parts are gone. Yan showed me the pictures after, and my hair pores that were clogged before were gone. There was a big difference between the before and after pictures. If I get them, I'll upload them on here. Definitely will return and recommend to anyone who wants to splurge a little on themselves and likes scalp massages. read more

Great customer service and performance. I showed Wesley couple pictures. He suggested the one most fit to my face and cut very well. The result coming out as my expectation. read more

SKA Scalp - Skin Care Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This is my new go-to haircut place in Boston! I've tried a few barbershops in town and wasn't super happy with any of the cuts, so I decided to give this shop a try when I looked inside the window and everyone waved haha. They use a reservation system online which is pretty painless and super convenient (you can choose your stylist or just pick the first available) - they were pretty busy when I went so I'd recommend you make an appointment instead of asking for a drop in on the spot. Ruby cut my hair this time and she was awesome - took great care of my hair and was overall just really good! If you're worried about any sort of language barrier, Ruby's english is perfect, and it seems like everyone else in the shop is the same - they're all super friendly. This is probably one of my favorite haircuts anywhere and I'll definitely be returning. (They also wash your hair before and after which is pretty nice if you want to go out right after or something - the person who did that was also awesome). read more

This review is for May, who did my scalp treatment. I can't say enough good things about the experience! She was very knowledgeable and recommended a great treatment. The whole experience was SO relaxing and luxurious. She made sure I was comfortable and took her time doing all the steps and even blew out my hair after. The before and after of my scalp was incredible, I couldn't believe how much of a difference there was. Do yourself a favor and get a scalp treatment with her ASAP! read more

I had generally accepted my fate of going to various salons (mostly on Newbury St) and ending up 80% satisfied with a simple cut, but after experiencing one hair stylist on Newbury absolutely refusing to give me layers after I said I don't style my hair but wanted layers, I decided to look for hair salons in Chinatown for my Asian hair (read: thick and straight). SKA had caught my eye as it looked relatively new but had a ton of Yelp reviews, and most importantly for me an active IG page where they showed their work. First of all I really appreciate that you can book online and avoid playing a round of phone tag with salons. Secondly, they have Dyson hair tools, which made me a little concerned about the cost of my cut as I also had long hair. Thirdly, they are super friendly and even asked if I wanted a drink when one of them went to Walgreen's. And finally, the guy who cut my hair did so with impeccable flourish and gave me layers and a bouncy blowout that I loved, all for $45 when I was estimating way more for the amount of attention he paid my hair. If you are looking for a place you can commit to for your hair, go to SKA! Great ambience, skilled stylists, and great touches like the Dyson tools and the cape that goes over you, with a see through plastic circle so you can continue staring at your phone. As a note, my Chinese isn't great and they mostly speak Chinese, but one girl was able to translate and the stylist understood instantly what I wanted based on a picture. read more

Warning for people who just want a decent haircut here: not every stylist is as qualified and professional as the others. Had my hair cut two weeks ago here by one of the staff, she cut the layers down to the roots and now there are some short hair sticking out from the back of my head, and I've never seen my head shape look like this before just totally ruined my hair, had to get it fixed somewhere else. Won't go back for sure. read more

I was looking to try a new hair salon one day and walked into SKA, all I have to say is wow what a great experience. The knowledgeable staff took the time to explain various treatments they offered and I decided to go with a scalp treatment after receiving a free consultation which includes microscopic images of your scalp. (I thought my scalp was clean but the image showed clogged follicles, dried spots and widened follicles) Hair cut can wait, because I felt nourishing my hair to prevent hair loss, and add more shine and having a healthy scalp is important to me. The entire process was spa like as you start off with a mesmerizing head massage. Then it was finished off with two step hair treatments using a expensive looking equipment? The end result was my hair was instantly shinier and the after images of my scalp was amazing. Follicles unclogged, dried spots gone and healthier looking scalp. I highly recommend this place if anyone want to to have their hair rejuvenated! read more

Absolutely wonderful! I came here to do my hair for my wedding and Sophie did a tremendous job creating the look I wanted! She is so talented and very friendly. During my wedding hair trail session, she listened very attentively and was very flexible trying different looks until I was satisfied. The day of my actual wedding, both Sophie and Tammy went above and beyond taming my hair (which can get quite frizzy) and making sure everything was stable and secure. The hairstyle stayed put through 10 hours, despite strong winds and lots of dancing! I also noticed that the hairspray and products used on my hair were not especially crispy or difficult to get out, unlike other hairstylists I have been to, which was a pleasant plus. A friend recommended SKA for my wedding, and I would recommend them to any bride! Beautiful work and a friendly experience. Will be looking for opportunities to return! read more

Had my first eyelash extension with Ivy. I had a lot of questions and she was very patient with me and answered all of them. I really wanted natural looking eyelash and she had shown me a great result. I would definitely go back here again for refills. read more

SKA Scalp - Eyelash extension - Skin Care Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Nicest staff. Got the hair loss 90 min scalp treatment. Started with 3 large inhales of wonderful smelling orange blossom and a self-warming disposable eye cover was out on me. Then a lovely potion was massaged into my scalp, and the steamer cap was affixed onto my head and I rested for maybe 10 minutes. I wish a hand & arm massage or foot massage had been done during this time; instead, I was left alone with soft music & the sounds from the street & other customers coming in and getting settled. No private rooms here..... All very NYC style areas divided by cloth curtains only. The neck & shoulder massage was great but since I was left with my t-shirt still on under their little jacket, it felt like the therapist couldn't do a proper massage around my neck/back/shoulders bc my shirt was restricting her hands. I did get the motorized brush used on my scalp but not any of the combing that is seen in some of the pics. The motorized brush was okay - not life changing like I had hoped. It didn't seem like much more than a nice wash & hair mask & conditioner - I was wanting to feel like my scalp itself was actually scrubbed. Wanted to feel blood flow all over the scalp from intense brushing & scrubbing (like I had years ago in an Aveda salon scalp treatment which began with lots of dry hair brushing - unlike Ska). At about 50 minutes (guessing), I was taken to the beauty chair for a fine mist spray to be added all over my scalp, a red light (microcurrent but I couldn't feel it) treatment, then the red lamp in another chair and a blow dry. My face was never touched.... No gua sha.... No ear massage. It was a pleasant experience but not something I feel compelled to go do again. read more

I was very pleased with the makeup Sophie did for my engagement photo shoot. Came here almost an hour early for my 1:30pm Tuesday appointment with Sophie, and she was able to see me ~20 minutes early, which I was grateful for. She was friendly, professional, and thorough, and considerate of the fact that I almost know nothing about makeup and never wear it. She gave me skin care tips while doing my makeup and checked in with me every now and then to make sure the "look" she had for me was in line with my vague ideas of what I wanted. She was also able to contour a bit more aggressively for the occasion -- to make sure the camera could capture it. All told, the "party makeup" session I booked cost me $80 before tip. Given the professional level of makeup services provided and friendly ambiance, I would definitely come here again. My fiancee, who is a makeup aficionado, even praised Sophie's flawless falsies application -- and it didn't bother me for the 6-7 hours I wear them! read more

Skin care adventure has their own make up and hair salon now so of course I had to go try it out!!! And to make things better my favourite hair stylist is working there too!!! He's name is Hao and he is amazing with hair colouring. Like he legit knows what colour is great for you and he also knows what kind of hair style compliments your face. I would commute from Norwood to Chinatown just to have Hao take care of me. Yep. So worth it read more

SKA Scalp - Skin Care Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I've colored my hair twice at SKA and I'm really satisfied with the results! Sophie is a MASTER hair stylist, she is a conduit between your desires and your hair. She's always listening to your ideas and helping to refine those ideas with you and then brings them to life with careful cutting and styling. I would highly recommend Sophie to anyone that wants a genuine and super talented hairdresser! read more

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11/10 GREAT I am *dramatic* about my hair, and I spent hours looking up salons & stylists in Boston. I booked up appointments at a few places but ended up canceling them later & I'm so glad I've eventually chosen to come to this place. I had a balayage with Sophie and wanna say she & her team know what they're doing. I didn't have a photo of what I wished my hair to look like, but Sophie got exactly what I wanted. Two of the other team members, Tony and one more lady, also helped during the process and handled my hair gently. They were also just super sweet and helpful, and I'm really grateful. While I was at the salon, I've witnessed ~many~ clients come in for cuts, treatment & color -- the team was very meticulous and friendly. I only got a color job, but I daresay you wouldn't be disappointed if you went for a cut there. If you do decide to dye your hair though (especially with a less common color), I would recommend considering SKA. They understand that color jobs take time and they put a lot of effort into their work. I can be hard to please, but I've had such a lovely experience, and I would probably go there again in the future. read more

I had a hair cut today with Sophie. Sophie is great and very creative. She started with a consult, and really listened to my needs. After an hour or so, my straight flat hair turned out surprisingly layered and naturally wavy. She also taught me some tips, so I can make it a bit every morning by myself. I had makeups with her before, also extremely satisfied. Strongly recommend you have a try. read more

SKA Scalp - Skin Care Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I've been here twice for the scalp treatment and definitely recommend it to everyone. The staff make it such a relaxing experience, i've fallen asleep both times. The first time I went was in the winter and I made the appointment because the scalp was feeling itchy and irritated. The scalp treatment left my scalp feeling so much better and I even bought the milbon hair products which is amazing for troubled scalps. I made a second appt after the first one was so positive. Scalp felt great afterwards. They even got rid of the small headache I had. I also love that they are able to show you how your scalp looks like closely and explain what you're seeing. Great experience and I will be returning! read more

The greatest haircut I had in my life! No products used, just pure scissor cutting skills. Designed and executed by Sky. Look for her! Highly suggested for people with short hard hair like me. read more

SKA Scalp - Skin Care Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The staff is very polite. Very considerate toward customers. Gave my damaged hair life. Needed a haircut. Tammy is very understanding. Unlike other salons, the staff made sure the client is happy. read more

Services were not bad, but I was there for haircut. They need to improve their skills A LOT, seriously! I was very disappointed, and probably will go some place else to retrim it. read more

SKA Scalp - ‍ - Skin Care Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

WOW! I just left Skin Care Adventure after going for the first time... I got the Marine Essentials Facial, as suggested, because I have extremely dry skin. Let me preface the rest of this review by saying that I am a facial-junkie. I've been getting them for about 13 years now, and have tried high and low end spas alike. I have NEVER had an experience like today. When you walk in, you'll notice three beds next to each other. Do not let this scare you off. You get privacy by way of curtains. My facial was unbelievable. So much care and attention during all 80 minutes of my treatment. The extractions were painless, the massage (head, scalp, neck, back, and face) was to die for. I left Skin Care Adventure relaxed, with plump, radiant skin. Oh, and the bonus? My esthetician noticed that my eyebrows were a little unkept, and so she gently cleaned them up for me, no additional cost! I'm already planning to come back-- hoping to purchase one of their packages of 10! Do yourself a favor, and go! read more

Great salon. Have been getting cuts here for two years and always appreciated the attention to detail. All the stylists I've had were fantastic--they paid close attention to my request and offered helpful suggestions. There was never a surprise after the cut was finished. Friendly staff, and incredibly responsive during booking. read more

Very good experience in SKA! Love the hair color and the style Sophie suggested for me! I also tried Nano Shiseido Treatment and Nano hair treatment, both are amazing! Btw, I have eyelash extension from SKA as well, which looks nature hahaha! Check out the pictures :) It really worth a try! read more

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Definitely worth the visit at SkaBeautyCafe. Went to many hair salons and I just lost hope. So I just grow my hair long and tie a ponytail up as always. The longer it gets, of course it weigh down my hair. Till I saw this place which is new and I had to give it a try. Called in for an appointment and Li was so responsive. He immediately booked me an appointment the next morning as I can tell they're really busy already as I walked in. Another person called in to make an appointment and it's already fully booked for the day. Sophie took her time with her client while Li referred me to his stylist and I showed him a picture. Came out exactly as I wanted but I had him thin it out more for easier cleaning and drying. I saw another stylist taking her time with her client as well. They really do take the time with your hair. It's definitely worth it. Usually after a hair salon visit, when you get home to wash up the hair it turns bad immediately. At this place, my hair stayed exactly the same as when I was in the salon. The cutting skills are phenomenal. Li was really attentive as well. He is knowledgeable of the products and services to introduce to me. Next time I'll get some highlights into my hair. I really liked that they took their time to treat your hair with care. I'm recommending them to all my friends and relatives as well as coworkers. Definitely satisfied with my hair cut! read more

After my favorite hair stylist went back to Japan for good, I finally found my new favorite CJ at ska, he's nice and very thoughtful also did very good job not only for cutting my hair but also dying my hair. So I definitely recommend this place especially him! read more

Hands down the best salon experience I have ever had! The scalp treatment was amazing and May was kind and patient with me. If you live in Boston or are visiting, run don't walk to SKA Beauty! read more

I was on the lookout for a Boston hair salon experienced in balayage for Asian hair and was recommended to try SKA by a friend/colleague who is a regular here. I definitely was not disappointed! Although they are pricey, you are paying for high quality service and I felt that it was overall worth it! I have had balayage done in Chicago and in Los Angeles and no one has done anywhere close to the quality of work that Sophie did on my hair. I appreciated how she was upfront with the price of the services and the reasoning for each component of the price so that there would be no surprises. She is meticulous and does not take any shortcuts - even when it means staying past closing time to make sure I got the look I wanted. Her assistants are also lovely and you can tell that they have a friendly, respectful work environment. I enjoyed chatting with Sophie while she worked, got great advice for hair care and products, and will certainly be looking for her as my go-to hairdresser from now on in Boston! read more

Went for the scalp management and had a wonderful experience! They told me how to better my home care and the treatment I had was great!

Highly recommend Sophia. Make sure book your appointment ahead. Definitely come back to do hair treatments.

Wesley did such an incredible job! I went in with messed up hair from another hair salon in Chinatown and he not only fixed it but concocted the PERFECT hair dye color with a mix of red and a touch of purple. Would recommend anyone looking for a great hair dye to go here, especially if you're looking for someone detail oriented. read more

Don't pick the man barber for haircut! It will ruin your day even months! DON'T But the lady is good choice to dye hair

This skincare boutique is great. The price is really affordable, and the staff is friendly. Conveniently located in chinatown. The space is small, but still comfortable. Great news is they are expanding and renovating the space; I heard they'll add makeup and hairstyling service, and manicure as well. I am sure they must be doing very good in their business. read more

How come no one mentioned Ruby? She's absolutely amazing! I went for a simple shampoo + cut + blow out and she went above and beyond, gave me the best haircut experience I've had in Boston! I like that she's not your chatty type hair stylist - she is super professional and pays attention to every small detail. I wish I discovered this place sooner! read more