Ellie is hands down the best stylist I've ever been to. With most stylists, I spend the first week mourning the loss of my hair and wishing a little less had been taken off. I've never experienced that with Ellie--not once. She takes the time to truly understand what you want and how you want to look, and somehow manages to get it right every time. I leave feeling like the best version of myself, not like I'm waiting for my hair to grow back. I can't say enough good things about her. Highly, highly recommend! read more

I only get my haircut about twice a year, and the last couple years since finding Spank salon I only come to Yao. It's very hard to find someone who cuts Asian hair well and Yao, does it perfectly each time! He's always super friendly too and easy to chat with. He takes his time cutting your hair and keeps asking questions to keep you involved in the process to make sure it's what you want. My family lives in Alameda, but I live in Elk Grove l, and I will happily drive back and wait until I'm back in Alameda to get my haircut here. It's super easy to book on their website too. read more

Got curls? Check! Great cuts? Check! Friendly and fast? Check! My hair stylist Ellie Strosahl has been cutting my hair for years, she is so good, my curls need her!! ‍ she listens to me try to explain my hair goals and patiently looks at the many pictures I show her of curly headed girls with cuts I like! Definitely highly recommend her. The salon is cute, spacious, and, modern with an upbeat chill vibe too! Everyone is very welcoming. read more

Curly girlies?! Where y'all at? Elle specializes in curly hair and it's hard out here to find somebody who actually knows how to cut and style curly hair. So my hair texture is more wavy/curly and but she styled it beautifully curly for my brothers wedding. She's also done my friends hair who has more like 3C curls so she can work with hair that's a lot curlier than mine as well. She's also super friendly and easy to talk to. I'd give her a try if you're a curly girly trying to find someone local to take care of your locks who won't have you out here lookin like a frizzy mess. read more

Spank Salon - Curly style - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

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Made a first time appointment with Paul Victor for 3pm and I was on time, when I walked in he had a woman with long wet thick hair in his chair, after 25 min of waiting and watching him text on his phone as his client is under the blow dryer, I told him I would not wait any longer, he barely greeted me to tell me he'd be done soon, there doesnt appear to be a receptionist at this salon so this client would still have needed to pay and possibly reschedule. As I'm telling him I can't wait any longer, he's got his clients half dry hair in his hands and is saying "I'm ready now, I'm done!" Um no you're not lol What unprofessional behavior, had he been considerate of my time and called or texted me to push back the time that would have been fine. read more

Ashley did a fantastic job with my cut and color. I was a new client and nervous, but she took the time to listened and look at the pictures I had and boy did she deliver! the color is absolutely PERFECTION! And the cut is beautiful, layered just like I was hoping for. If your looking for a new stylist, Ashley is your girl! read more

Simply the best hair color by Gina! First of all, the salon is wonderfully inviting, large, clean, not loud, cozy waiting/sitting area. Gina, my colorist for @ 10 yrs is fun, professional, and produces great "Pearl" full head snazzy color! She is young at heart, playful with all customer ages. She is the only color stylist I use, I highly recommend her @ Spank Salon! read more

Went in and waited about 10 minutes before someone lifted their heads to acknowledge me (they clearly saw me walk in). Owners teen son was polite and I let him know i just wanted to get a quote and book an appointment. He said everyone was busy and to come "like tomorrow or another day". At this point I just asked for someone to speak to me for a sec and a gentleman approached and informed me another hair stylist did coloring and provided me their number. I said thank you and reached out to let him know who I was. He asked for a pic and some questions about my current hair and I responded and left on read since Thursday (it's Monday). Was looking forward to checking this place out since it was a cool concept and vibe and had good reviews but when you can't acknowledge someone walking in or respond (after me waiting patiently for 4 days for either a yes or no), I'll try my chances somewhere else. read more

Terrible experience. Poor customer service and rude interactions with staff upon scheduling my appointment.

It's nearly impossible to get an appointment here if you're a new client. I left messages that were never returned, both to the salon and to 2 different stylists. I also booked an appointment online just to have it not accepted saying the stylist was unavailable and would let me know if an appointment came available when on the site the stylist had plenty of availability? Moving on. read more

Gina Lowe has done my hair for about 25 years!!! And I love 2 hours away!! But she's the best of the best. When I leave the salon, people ask me the rest of the day who does my hair bc she just makes it so beautiful. She's awesome, she's a true artist and the radest chick in all the land. read more

I have been driving from Hercules to Alameda for haircuts with Yao Saelee for three years. I was always happy with his cuts and would still be seeing him, if not for the following unfortunate experience. My most recent cut on July 31, was great. I paid with a credit card and gave him the usual 20% tip. He gave me a hug as I walked out the door. The Square email receipt matched the amount signed. A few days later while researching a different transaction, I noticed the amount on my card included an additional $70+ amount, added after I signed. I immediately contacted Yao to correct the difference, prior to it posting on my account. It is with great sadness that I can no longer patronize the stylist that has this level of disrespect for his clients. He was always kind and accommodating, but apparently there's a darker side beneath the surface. Please thoroughly check your credit card transactions, so this does not happen to you. His appointments are made through Vagaro. Once made clear I understood what he had done, Yao disabled my account with Vagaro, so I could not write a review of his actions. read more

Thank you to Gina for her expertise! I had orange red hair that was hard to get out and had finally made the decision to go back to natural. Yet I didn't want lose my length. Gina gave me a dark gloss and great haircut. She definitely made me comfortable with the color. This is the best haircut I have ever had and definitely coming back to Gina. read more

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I am an aging natural copper red head, finding a hair dresser capable of taking the yellow out of my hair without making me look like carrot top is hard to find. ASHLEY JOHNSON at Spank Salon is the best colorist and stylist I have EVER HAD. Ashley has been doing my hair for four years (maybe even longer); every time I leave her chair I feel beautiful. She spends the time ensuring you are happy with the color and cut; I have bangs which can be tricky and she nails the bangs every time! I have never had a bad experience with Ashley. She is warm, friendly, and easy to talk with while sitting in her chair. She is gorgeous inside and out - when I leave Spanks I feel just as gorgeous! read more

Spank Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

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Having hair that's been through quarantine, postpartum and grown out undercut, Yao gave me a great cut that is easy to maintain and style. He discussed the cut before we start to make sure we're both on the same page. My hair has been quite difficult to tame in my entire life. I have lots of hair, it's kinda dry looking and not straight nor curly. He cut in lots of inner layers to thin out the volume, and match the length of my shortest hair without giving me a pixie cut. Thanks again, I'll see you in a bit for my next cut! read more

Ellie has been doing my curly cuts for the past few years. Not only do I have curly hair but I suffer from hair thinning so you can imagine how hard it is to find a hairstylist that you trust. She always takes my concerns into account and makes sure that I walk out feeling more confident than ever! We've tried a few styles from long to pixie and every time it comes out better than I could've imagined. I truly don't know what I do with my hair without her read more

Wonderful first haircut with Yao today. I have been loyal to a stylist for 10 years, and due to various life circumstances had cause to look for someone new and closer to home. Yao opened with a scalp massage (yes please) to get to know my hair. As a bodyworker, I really appreciated the tactile element and that he "sees" with his fingers like I do. He asked really good questions and demonstrated immediately that he understood the texture and growth patterns of my hair. Then he asked for my feedback and gave me time to show him photos. He was confident but not overbearing, and his conversational style was genuine but not intrusive. He did an excellent job on the cut and I will be back for more sessions! The salon is gorgeous and funky and inviting, and it has an open spacious and clean feel that is very welcome always but especially during pandemic days. read more

I love Gina at Spank! She does wonders on my curly, thick hair with stubborn grays. I always feel like the best version if myself when I get a cut and color. A++ read more

Spank Salon - Hairstyle by Gina Hlights / Toners Gina - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

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Yao is so informative when it comes to cutting your hair. He'll ask about hair products, treatments, and give you great advice on how to care for your hair. He's also very nice and easy to make small talk with. I love that he takes his time even though he's busy to ensure that you're happy with your hair cut. I came in wanting a trim and long layers, but he was able to convince me to cut around 2.5 inches off since it'll help with the integrity of my hair (which has been through bleach many times). I went to the same stylist for years now, but she was busy so that's how I ended up here. However, I think this will be my new go to place for haircuts!! read more

I went to Spank Salon on Sunday morning and got a blow out from Ellie for family photos later that day. The salon itself was very clean and welcoming. The space was open. Many salons feel like you're practically sitting on top of the person next to you, so I was very happy with the set up here. Ellie was fantastic. She was very personable and easy to talk to. It felt like I'd been getting my hair done for years by her. It's nice that my appointment felt like hanging out with a friend! The blow out itself was perfect (very Victoria Secret Angel) and still looks great a day later. It also somehow, magically, stood up to the wind we had! I will definitely come back and recommend this salon. read more

Ashley has been doing my hair for 4 years now. She always makes me feel so welcome and comfortable. I know I can trust her to always make me look my absolute best. She pays attention to detail and is such a perfectionist (in the best way). I always leave this salon with a smile on my face. I will never go to another hair stylist as long as she is around to take appointments. read more

When I came in, I was an hour early. I was greeted by a nice hair stylist & she asked if I wanted some tea. I got to choose from 4 different flavors. I had my appoinyment w/ Robert. I had to book 3 months in advance, as he had a booked schedule. My experience was up & down for me. I felt really cool and special that I was going to get my hair done in somewhat wild colors, yet really pretty. The time had finally come after 3 months of waiting. As Robert was working on my hair, there were awkward moments, because there was silence between us, whereas everyone else were talking to their clients & hairstylists. I understand I was a new client, but I was expecting more of a good time, I guess. After all, I was paying a lot to get my hair done. As I look back at my experience, it wasn't just awkward. I can see that Robert is a professional hair stylist. He went step by step with my hair, like boom, boom, boom, done in 3 hours. He did a great job, but I wished he actually showed me w/ the mirror what he did & asked, "do u like the length, color, etc." I felt rushed to get out of the chair. Like I said, he is a professional hair stylist; he knows what he is doing. I just wished he was more friendly w/ me. Again, I paid a lot of money to get my hair done & waited a long time & was very excited for the day to come. Again, great job on my hair. IF I come back in the future, I hope we can have more conversations & less awkward silences. Also, hoping not to feel rushed. Thank you for the colors I wanted in my hair & the short layers. read more

Spank Salon - All sorts of purples, reds and copper. Short layers too. Robert had curled it. - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

Ellie Strosahl is the best! She gave my hair life with a new color and fun cut that is easy to manage and still look stylish! She's a professional in her work and super fun at the same time! Her styles are always on point and such ray of sunshine to have services with! Always a fun visit to the hair salon! Very cool salon, easy parking, great prices! read more

Spank Salon - Hair styled and colored by Ellie! - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

Very impressed. I came in with very damaged, over processed hair that was a wreck & walked out with what feels and looks like a whole new, better, healthier and much more fashionable hair! Starr Noir is a miracle worker. I first met her for a consultation and was very impressed that she took a piece of my hair to experiment with. When I came back from my appointment, I did not expect her to be able to make too much of a change because of the over processing and damage I had done, but she worked her magic and I am one very happy customer. I cannot wait to see what she does next! read more

Booked an appointment 3-4 weeks in advanced just for her to tell me no because my hair is too thick. Never rescheduled with me. Never called back to schedule another "day" like she said. NOT MINORITY FRIENDLY. do not come here if you have texture hair. waste of time. Left with tears in my eyes all cause my hair was super long and thick. read more

I don't get my hair cut a lot but I've been here 3 times and they never disappoint. As you can see from my reviews, I grow it out and chop it off. Today I showed my usual hair pics to Ellie and she said I was unlikely to get this look bc I don't have a curling iron. She proceeded to duplicate the photos with no iron!! I have never seen my limp, flat hair so voluminous!! She was a true hair artist. Plus her own hair was enviable to me. I neglected to mention at the beginning of this post that I was coming in for a repair. I had given myself a lockdown haircut and lobbed a six inch pony tail off and it looked terrible. She fixed it up REAL NICE! I'm stoked. read more

I got my haircut from Yao and he was everything I could ever ask for in a hair stylists. I wanted more texture and layers in my hair, and he walked me through everything he was doing. He was super attentive and informative to make sure I left with what I wanted. Can't recommend Yao enough! read more

Angela is a goddesssssd.!!! Best cut I've had in 15 years. Thank you.!! The place is spectacular, clean, industrial.. hip, cool and everyone who works there does an amazing job. Love love love.! read more

I've been going to Yao for several years. I've been to so many salons with so many stylists. He is hands down the best stylist that has ever cut my hair. Bonus that he's also such a sweet human! read more

Got my hair cut by Yao last week and I am so in love with my hair! It's the first time I've ever had a cut that was totally suited to my hair type. So perfectly suited that I can even let it AIR DRY with just a little product in it and it looks FANTASTIC! I've never ever been able to do that before without it falling flat and looking meh. Yao sat down and asked me some questions and really listened to what I was looking for, then gave me a thoughtful cut. I'm a huge, huge fan. And the space is great, too. It's a lot more interesting and modern than most salons in Alameda. Easy parking. read more

Blanca at Spank is a master at her craft! I knew from the moment I sat for my consultation w/ her, that I was in for a true transformation. As Blanca articulated suggestions she had for me, she was as excited as a master chef detailing all the intricate flavors in a meal they've prepared. I've gotten so many compliments on my hair. If I could afford it I'd go get my hair cut, styled or colored w/ her every other week! On the most recent visit w her it was so much fun! I gave her free reign on my hair and it turned out better than anything I could've imagined (i don't think I've ever done that). I can't wait to have an excuse to go see her and have her dazzle me w/ her artistry. Highly, highly recommend. read more

Spank Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

Sick of the Same old thing? Go See Starr at Spank Salon and you'll leave Singular, Stylish, ecStatic, and Smiling! When I decided that I wanted pink hair, I knew my only choice was to go to Starr, and as you can see by my pic, I made the right choice! Starr@Spank = AWESOME! :) read more

Spank Salon - my awesome birthday hair by Starr! - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

Starr does the most amazing things with color! She doesn't do boring, cookie cutter hair styles... so if you like vibrant, interesting color she is definitely your girl! Go check her out! You won't be sorry! My newest hair color is the most awesome ever!!!!! I am so happy!!!!! read more

Spank Salon - Hair by Starr - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

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I decided to come to Spank for my first ever hair coloring experience and I'm so glad I did! When I made my appointment for a cut and color, the receptionist suggested doing the cut and a color consult on day 1, and then coming back for the color on another day - this was also a good idea. Ashley was so awesome!! She really listened and delivered what I wanted my hair to look like: long layers with a natural looking caramel, gold ombré color. She even came in on day 2 with more pictures of colors that I might like. I've gotten so many compliments on my hair since then, it's amazing what a little color can do! The salon is super clean and has beautiful artwork on the walls. It's a really cool and welcoming place. I definitely recommend Spank and especially Ashley for all your hair styling needs! read more

Spank Salon - Caramel - gold ombré color on layered hair cut - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

Oh my gosh...I just had the BEST experience here! I made an appointment with Gabi, who by the way is one of the loveliest people I've ever met! She transformed my hair and I love it! I came in with a fair amount of split ends and my hair looked super dry and dull but by the time I left it was so shiny and I could run my hands throughout my hair without hitting a snag. Something I haven't been able to do in some time. About 5 years ago I got a disaster haircut and had been putting off getting one but when I went to Gabi I was not disappointed! Gabi is so fun to talk to and has an amazing personality. She saw me at about 845pm and we ended at 10:56pm and in those hours she truly made my hair look so much better and healthier than i can ever remember it. I would recommend her to anyone I know! Thank you so so so so so much!! I love my hair now! :) read more

Spank Salon - Hair by Gabi. Long cut and blow dry with a glaze I think it's called not sure but I love it! - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

Had my first haircut with Yao and couldn't be more pleased! Have had long hair my whole life but decided to go short. He asked me questions about my hair, my relationship to styling (none) and gave me a great short haircut that was a very welcomed change without being too scary. He made sure that it felt new and fresh while at the same time totally me! Highly recommended! read more

I saw Tiffany, literally went in with the worst colored hair ever, box dye and all and in one session she corrected my hair and made me the happiest girl in the world!!! Here's some pics & follow her insta @styled.by.tiffany read more

Spank Salon - Before - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

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ISABELLA!! I love you!! I had been doing the same thing for a while, and asked my stylist, Isabella, if we could whip stuff up for the winter / holiday season, and could we go a bit cooler rather than warm? No sooner said than done!! She is a color goddess, she really knows her craft. She has such a knack to pick up just a few strands of hair- it totally looks like I was born with this gorgeous hair!! And the cut is to die for!! It snaps in the breeze like a super model's! It's so nice to have such a hip salon in Alameda!! The owner is super stylish and it's always a treat to see what she has on! Those boots last night! Oh, man! So cute! And to the person below- there is always snacks in the snack bowl when I go. Think they do pretty well with that perk. Isabella = A++++++++ read more

Melissa is an amazing colorist. She's be highlighting/lowlighting and now foilaging my hair for about ten years and I've always been thrilled with the results. Now I've followed her from SF to Spank salon, which has a stylish and friendly vibe. Melissa is always on trend with her work and is super artistic as well as a friendly and professional. I often bring pics of the color/placement that I want and she always exceeds my expectations. I can't recommend her enough! read more

I could not be happier - seriously - and I am one picky chick when it comes to my hair!!! I see Darcie, and she is beyond phenomenal!!!! She takes such good care of my hair, she actually gives a damn! Her cuts are picture perfect, her color skills are nothing short of magic, and she gives a bitchin scalp massage when she washes!!! I now take my daughter there - she is only six but she has the most chic cut: short in back and longish in front. I look forward to my appointments because I enjoy her company and I really feel like I get what I am paying for and then some. She has also cut my best friend's short hair and he is the trendiest, pickiest Mary on the block! If he approves, it's gospel! Great vibe, not pretentious, but hip and stylish, welcoming and professional. I also love that there is no pressure to buy product. Did I mention that Darcie rocks??? read more