I talked to friends and used Yelp.com to find Spank Salon here in Alameda and have NEVER been happier! This place is extraordinary, their talents are unparalleled... there is a reason they are always booked and you cannot just walk in and expect greatness! I adore Emmanuel and just cannot say enough nice things about him as a person, as a Stylist. He is the person to see for a new style and a black-tie event "up do" - he's a Master and creating brilliance! I had what I would consider long hair when I first went to see Manny and he washed my hair, cut 7 inches off and gave me a gorgeous layered cut for only $55. That, to me, is NOT "pricey" but then again, I would never set foot in a Super Cuts! $8 is good for a sandwich, not a hair cut! For makeup - Robert, hands down! He's a Star and I have never looked more beautiful, classy, elegant, edgy... sheer perfection and I will be going back again and again. Susan has an amazing eye for your skin and I can't wait for my next appointment with her! read more

I recently moved to Alameda, and after a lackluster experience at another local salon, I decided to go to Spank Salon based on the Yelp reviews. I made an appointment for a week later at 11:00am. Received several messages before the day reconfirming my appointment. I had the feeling I better not to be late, so I left the house to get there early. I arrived ten minutes early, and after I parked my car, I had a message on my phone that the stylist, Gabi , was running about 10 minutes late. No problem. I will go and return my library books, and come back, I thought. I returned to the salon at 11:10 and the receptionist directed me to take a seat. "The stylist is stuck in traffic," she says. Understandable. 20 minutes go by, and finally the stylist comes in. She comes over apologizes and asks what I want today. I want a color and a trim. We finally get going 10 minutes later, that is, 45 minutes, after my original appointment time of 11:00am in which the salon contacted me twice to reconfirm prior to the appointment. As much as the stylist was trying to keep it together, I could tell she was not feeling well. She applies the color and we chat a bit, and I find out she lives in the West End of Alameda. Hmmm...that must have been some traffic jam on the island. Glad I missed it coming to the salon... When it comes time to cut, I let her know that I am trying to grow my hair out. Perhaps, she took it to heart, because after she was done, I could not tell if she did cut it. After it was styled, she said I could come back and she would cut more, but by then it was 1:30pm and after three hours since I left my house, I did not want to come back. The color was very nice and that is why I give the salon two stars. However, for $105 plus tip I expected a little more professionalism from the stylist. The receptionist needs serious customer service training--don't lie to the customer! I was going to give the stylist another chance, but when I found out she was late not because of traffic, I thought, why bother? I did my part. There is always another hair salon, but it will not be Spank Salon. read more

I went to this salon once last year, and was only moderately impressed. She (I don't remember her name) gave me a good cut, but not exactly what I wanted. Then, today i decided: OMG I NEED A HAIRCUT. I called and asked if they had anything for this afternoon (though I didn't expect they did), but emmanuel had a cancellation, so they fit me in. I gave him pretty much free reign with my boring-grown-out-sad hair, and he made magic happen. He knew what to do with my textureless hair, and actually listened when I told him I wanted my bangs to stay long (unlike many a hairstylist i've been to in the past!). Highly recommended! read more

A girl's relationship with her stylist is sacred. Thanks Khalila for making me one happy girl. I love my cut! Beautiful space, great products, fantastic stylists. I am a fan! read more

Even if Robert shaved my head I would go back because I adore him. He has the best personality and always treats me like a superstar. If you want him to "create" he will. He also is very open to what you want. I recommend bringing pictures of exactly what you want to make sure everyone is in agreement about the style (he is always asking me to bring in pics of what I want). Taking off 1 star for a few reasons. - The color they use does not work well with my hair so I don't get color there anymore. - Where is my snack pack? Seriously eating my bag of treats is like my favorite thing. It makes me sad when they are out which is every other time I go. Oh yeah a few other cool points: they always have great music, free wi-fi and a great back patio to chill on. This was super great when I was getting color there because I would be there so long. read more

I located my hairstylist of 7+ years, Veronica, and found out she has a station at Spank salon. She's done every hairstyle imaginable to my hair: long layers, a short bob, bangs/ fringe, highlights (ranging from dark auburn to as light as blonde), and most recently she took my natural long black hair and was able to hombre it to perfection! I highly recommend seeing her. There's a reason I have been a client of hers for so long; I can always trust that she will do the best job! My primary profile photo shows thumbnails over a course of 7 years, all by Veronica! Go book an appointment today! read more

Yao is an amazing stylist, he is talented and he explains everything before cutting or styling the hair. Pretty happy with my new haircut :)

Strut An Excellent Cut. -YELPA! My cousin referred me to this salon and I booked an appointment with Robert. I adore him! He is warm, friendly, handsome and does magic with the scissor! He cuts and styles my hair well and and is honest his opinion when I decide to attempt to make a drastic color change or haircut. His calendar stays full so it is imperative to make an appointments with him as soon as possible. The salon is spacious and stylishly decorated but most importantly Robert is the man! read more

After searching for 2 years, I've finally found my go-to-place. - Great, modern ambiance - Can personally recommend Ashley - I've had both hair cuts and styling done and loved them Bonus: They can arrange for a local make up artist to come in for special occasions. I looked like a million $$$ at my company holiday party. read more

Got my first cut here this evening from the amazing Star! As a human with exceptionally long hair, i have a lot of time to look around and take in the room... The space is beautiful and clean, Star was the perfect amount of conversational and extremely competent, I look forward to going back. read more

After reading my review the manager of the salon asked me to return to the salon and give them a second try on them. I don't write reviews to get free things so I really hesitated before going back, but ultimately I really thought highly about the way she addressed the matter and the salon is right across the street from where I work. Friday I walked back through the salon doors and into Yao's chair. I have pretty long hair and it's been driving me nuts. When I met with Yao I asked for a trim--you know, a good five inches. I felt like he really listened to what I wanted and was extremely thorough. He verified where the length would hit from the front and the back. He explained every step of what he was doing and why he was doing it and he checked the look from every angle. I never felt like he was flying on autopilot or rushing through the cut. Overall it took about an hour and his attention to detail really paid off. I can still fit every part of my hair in a ponytail and when it's down it looks so much healthier. I will definitely go back to see him and a friend from the office is already counting down until she needs a cut as well. I was really pleased with the changed they've made in the salon. If this is how they handle customer service every cut, then I may be a convert. read more

I have been coming to this salon for a few years now. as long as Isabellagina is working here, I will not stray. I've read a lot of Yelp reviews about the price of this salon..... is it pricey? yes. but in my opinion, you get what you pay for. I have gingery red hair. when it was brought to her, it was slightly damaged and I would be shedding into the shampoo bowl far more than I should be. gina does a fantastic job of explaining everything, making my hair color look beautiful, stand out, last a long time, and best of all- she has nursed it back to health. I'm just the person that sits in her chair... what makes me feel good is she is genuinely proud of the work she has done with my hair over the years and how much healthier it is. so yes... going to Spank is expensive. but find the stylist that works for you, and find the balance between what YOU want and listening to them. they went to school for this stuff and have seen hundreds and potentially thousands of clients. they know how to take care of you. they know what looks good. don't be afraid to trust a little bit. and don't be afraid to go see gina. I've recommended many people to her already and I would recommend all of you to her as well. read more

I absolutely love Spank. I started seeing Angela (owner) when I first moved to California in 2005. I have since moved to San Francisco and despite the plethora of options here in the city, I still commute over to Alameda every 6 weeks for my regular color touch up and blow out. Angela always makes my hair look fantastic, finishing it with a super straight blow dry, loose curls via flatiron (don't know how she does it but it looks amazing), or a funky up-do. She always has a vision on how to update my cut when I ask for it and I love it every time. Everyone that works here is super sweet, and all very trendy and stylish. The salon decor has a really cool, urban/industrial/modern vibe, always playing good tunes (no Top 40 here) and I think they even sometimes host parties with DJs spinning and stuff. Pretty cutting edge for Alameda! Anyway, I would absolutely recommend Spank to anyone looking for big city style and small-town customer service. You will not be disappointed! read more

Starr was our Stylist today went in for My Daughters 1st color. Starr was so AMAZING she talked us through the process made suggestions and even helped with After Care. Thank you so much for Being Gentle. My daughter is so happy with her outcome. read more

Spank Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

Wow! My hair has been a bit of a tragedy for a while now. But Monica worked her magic and I couldn't be more pleased! Color awesome, fantastic cut and a very cool place. Brava Monica and Spank!! read more

A friend refered me to Robert. I called for an appointment and he is booked way out. She put me on the cancellation list and I had my appointment within 3 days! He is very personable and listened to my like and dislikes of my hair. Washed, cut, dried and Cut again. He took the time to make sure every angle was perfect. This keeps me coming back. Used great products on my hair, but didn't pressure me to buy them. Great location in Alameda and you don't have to pay a Bridge toll into the City....Try Robert for a great haircut. read more

I'm 62, my hair is short, about 50% scattered gray and I keep color in it because it looks better with my skin. After using home products for about 20 years and the inevitable age related hair loss, I thought salon color might be gentler on my hair. I let my hair grow out for about 8 months so the new color routine would start with healthy, unprocessed hair. Excellent Yelp reviews led me to Spank, and I made an appointment with Kellie. Totally agree with other reviewers, this salon feels great - open, airy, no salon smell, lovely patio for waiting, great attitudes and hardworking staff. The receptionist situation could be improved but, if you can handle occasionally waiting for someone to call you back when you want an appointment, it's a small drawback. My first experience with Kellie was excellent in every way except for the final product; the color was WAY too dark. Not even close to the personal photos and "dark blonde" L'Oreal haircolors (box tops), I'd shown her and discussed before we started. My hair came out a beautiful shade of deep reddish brown --- great, if I'd wanted it that dark. I didn't want to go out of the house for the first few days. Then it took about 3 weeks and several extra shampoos before I felt comfortable seeing my hair in the mirror. When I went back in after 12 weeks, my hair was exactly the shade of dark blonde I loved with natural highlights from the grays and about 1 inch of new gray growth barely visible. So I sat down happily thinking this time would be perfect. Told her I loved the color it was now, but the initial color was much too dark. She said she'd adjust it. The finished product looked almost identical to the first time. Plus, this time, it had even more of that underlying reddish color that screams "dye job". It's been 3 days and 5 shampoos and it's just barely passable. Since I normally shampoo only once a week, 5 shampoos, added to the normal processing damage has caused significantly more than normal hair loss with each shampoo. So, although I liked Kellie as a person and had hoped to transition to her as my full service stylist (when my current stylist retires soon), I won't try again. I don't know how I could have been any clearer about what I wanted than to have photos and haircolor box tops and telling her I liked what I had on my head at that moment. In the end, for me, salon hair color turned out to be much harsher and infinitely less satisfactory then anything I've done at home in over 20 years. read more

I moved to the Bay Area almost 3 years ago from Texas, and was eager to get some help for my head of hair that had a mind of its own here in the Bay Area. After several horrific attempts at trying to find the one stylist who would listen and provide the correct color and cut I so desired, I found Veronica in wonderful Alameda! I can't share enough about how much I enjoy every appointment with Veronica. She is a wonderful person and really knows how to bring out the best to compliment you! I've had my hair colored, cut, and styled by Veronica for the past 2 years and she is absolutely fabulous. I feel ten years younger after each visit and I always feel great when people ask, "Who colors your hair?" Perfect opportunity for me to recommend Veronica! Alongside my color and cut, she suggested I try the Keratin Treatment to control the frizz and ease my drying time. Now, I can't live without it! I absolutely love how it makes my hair feel, and I have cut my blow-dry time in half. I highly recommend the Keratin Treatment, and I highly recommend a visit with Veronica as soon as possible! Although I would have followed Veronica anywhere, I am so glad Veronica is now part of the Spank Salon staff in Alameda because everyone is nice and welcoming. It's a very cool spot with easy access in and out of Alameda. Thank you Veronica for making me feel and look beautiful. You are the best! read more

Gina is the best!!!! I had my hair highlighted again and two people have since asked me if I have lost weight. (note: I have not lost weight) Highlights = perceived weight loss! Hooray!! read more

I recently started going to Spank for trims and color treatments by Starr. I've been very happy with the service. Top notch. The color was not anything too radical, but I've gotten lots of compliments on it. I've seen first hand some of the other work Starr has done for other people and it is amazing. Go see her, but not so much that I can never book another appointment with her again. The shop is very clean and hip. Nice art on the walls changes out. read more

I had never been to Spank but after my good friends closed their salon, I was left to find another place. Good to know one of my friends from the previous salon ended up moving to Spank. So I followed her there. It's a really cool place and despite the drama one might occasionally witness amongst some of the folks there, I am glad she found a fit at this place. I will be coming back for my hair treatments and cuts for my family with Veronica again and again. read more

Spank Salon - Wabbit food - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

Love my new cut By Yao! Thanks for taking the time to please me. Love how the back looks. Thank You Yao!!! read more

Spank Salon - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

My previous stylist, Darcie, moved to Sac'to and so I switched to Yao. He is great! I've now gotten my entire family to come and see him and he does a great job with all 3 of us, even my picky son ;-) Great location, great cuts.....love this place! read more

Thanks to Paul Victor at Spank Salon in Alameda! He took HEAVILY box-dyed hair to a lovely dove grey on top and dark underneath AND took time to do a great cut that showcases the various colors. An amazing job and a fun afternoon! Thanks Paul read more

Spank Salon - Dove grey hair by Paul Victor - Hair Salons Near Me - Alameda, California

This place used to be right next to my apartment building, but moved in August to a new location in Alameda. I'd always wanted to go there, but somehow never made it. Their new space is fabulous. Airy, warm, and unique. Has very chic and hip personality. Emmanuel worked with me. I pretty much let him have free reign. I figure, I am young, and open to whatever, so I trusted him to do the right thing, whatever he thought that was. This is one of the best hair colors/cuts that i've ever had. He was great to work with, and didn't try to cram a bunch of small-talk down my throat. The entire staff, Emmanual included, was very professional and friendly. I just made another appointment to go back and have my roots. done. I couldn't be happier. read more

I have seen Bradley Crane twice now. He does a great job getting my hair back under control after I wait too long between visits.

Simply love this place! I have hair... LOTS of hair and I needed to find someone who could help me manage it as well as make it look good on a regular basis. I've gone to places that make me look like a lampshade gone wrong... i've gone to place that just don't have a clue, so I got picky about my hair, I mean it's with me all the time, right? So on a recommendation from a friend, I decided to check it out. I have not been disappointed. First off I have a relationship with my hairdresser that is how I always thought it should be. She has helped me understand how to actually do my hair and helped me play with how to make it better. When I have concerns about what we did last time, she not only addresses them, but helps fix them so that the next time it looks even better. When we tried a red highlight that was a little to much for me, she offered to do touch up re-dyes to it for free. Basically Darcie ROCKS! The atmosphere is fun and interesting. They have a friendly and eclectic staff that always makes sure I've got a smile on my face. When I get there I'm always offered snacks and something to drink. The snack packs the staff make are always filled with a little bit of yummy and a little bit of good for you. For drinks they offer you anything from a glass of wine to a hot cup of tea. In addition the music is always playing something that I love that isn't too outrageous but definitely not your piped in elevator music. All in all I've now been going there for almost a year and my hair loves me for it :). What more could a girl ask for?? The price is a more than Supercuts, but so worth every penny. read more

VERONICA. If you go here, Veronica is the one to see. She actually worked at a different salon previous to this one. She has been doing my hair for years! After she moved, I refused to go or see anyone else. She has been doing an amazing job from the minute I met her. She turned me from dark black hair to a beautiful blonde. WITHOUT DAMAGING MY HAIR. I honestly believe she is a unique stylist, I have never come across anyone like her. She will work with your schedule to have you come in and will always do her best work. The first day I came into her salon, I asked for her to do my whole hair blonde. Now, other stylists would have done what the customer asked. That is what I want, right? Well, like a professional that she is, she refused and literally explained to me that doing something like that to my hair would just kill my hair completely. She recommended that I start off by doing highlights and from there on every session she would add on more highlights until my whole hair was filled with them. After she explained it made complete sense. By doing it like this, my hair stayed strong and grew long. I have fallen in love with my hair and won't ever go back to dark again. Another important aspect of Veronica is that not only does she style my hair but she TREATS it as well. Now, it is not necessarily her job to worry about my hairs condition. But every time I go see her, she makes sure she cuts the damaged ends and puts in treatments and conditioners to help my hair be healthier and vibrant. Veronica has gone above and beyond to perform her best when doing a job which is very important because a girls hair is her best friend. I WON'T TRUST ANYONE ELSE WITH MY HAIR! PS. Aside from giving you fabulous hair, she makes sure you apply the right shampoo/conditioner and products to help it remain that way. read more

Veronica has been doing my hair for several years now and I was more than happy to follow her when she went to Spank. She is amazing with cuts, color, updo... You name it she can do it! She's done my hair for all my special events and the couple times I've had to get my hair done by someone else - I've actually been compliment on the precision of the cut of my hair. As far as the salon goes, everyone seems nice, it's a comfortable environment and there is always parking - so no complaints. read more

I moved from SF to Alameda a number of years ago, and had a lot of anxiety about finding the right stylist closer to home simply because I loved my latest salon in the city. Spank Salon was the perfect find for me, because now I can schedule longer cuts/colors/ styling appointments without having to worry about the commute on top of it. I am a working mom with young children so timing is always important! This is also a salon that feels really urban and not corporate and franchised which is also really key for me. Everyone here is professional and friendly. I have been seeing Veronica at Spank Salon for years, she's amazing! She always knows my color, taming and styling needs and generally is very informed about the evolution of my haircuts. She is personable, bright and positive! I have shoulder length hair, with a slight wave to it. Her cuts compliment my active lifestyle. This review is way overdue but nonetheless, thank you Veronica for getting the job done! read more

I had to write this review especially after some of the negative postings from before. Maybe Spank read the yelp reviews and took it to heart because I didn't have any of the problems mentioned. Called during the week between Christmas and New Year's (I was one of the lucky who have that whole week off) on a Wednesday afternoon and got an appointment the very next day. I spoke to a live person too! No more answering machine. When I arrived for my appointment I was immediately greeted and introduced to my stylist, Emanuel. A lovely shampoo and then I was off to entrust my locks to the blade. Luckily Emanuel really knows his stuff and I was thrilled with my new look. Spank has a new location on Clement Street in Alameda. Big, airy warehouse type of location where the vibe is relaxed and funky. Prices are reasonable. Finally, a real salon in Alameda! I'm so thrilled! read more

I love Paul. There, I've said it. All my friends who meet him think he's adorable and the friend I referred to him loves him and his haircuts, too. He is very attentive to detail and takes great pride in his work. He also remembers whatever was going on in your life the last time you came to his chair for confession, lol. I've watched him do color work and cut women's hair also, and the cut he gives *this* guy always satisfies. Plus, the salon is in an industrial district and is totally, totally cool. It's easy to park and you can pop in to Dragon Rouge for Vietnamese fusion and a full bar before or after your cut. Go see Paul and everyone else at Spank and leave disappointment in the dust! read more

Cute shop, nice decorations, nice people but definitely more of a hair color salon. I went there for a haircut, $70, pretty expensive for just a simple cut. I get that's a professional salon but there was nothing special about the haircut. If you want a pro color, this might be the place for you, but a simple haircut? Might go somewhere cheaper. read more

MONIKA is amazing!! Her color and cuts are on point! I had a jacked up highlight job, and Monika hooked it up. See below. She gave new exactly what I was looking for ( balayage lob that went dark to light and wouldn't be much up keep). Thanks for being amazing Monika!! read more

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Kelly! I drive from Berkeley to have her cut my hair. I saw my friend's hair and loved it and asked her where she gets it cut and since my first cut, I have been a loyal client. I'm always happy with my hair when I leave the salon. She even styled my hair perfectly for a photo shoot at a reasonable price. She ALWAYS listens to my requests. She knows just what to do with my fine wavy hair. My man is about to do a drastic change and cut his long wavy locks and I'm sending him straight to Kelly. She rocks. read more

I've been going to the same hairstylist for about 5 years, unfortunately she is in Fremont and she doesn't work on the weekends. I recently started working in Alameda, and our schedules simply don't work out, so I had to go on the hunt for a new stylist. And that's where Lindsey comes in... I've been asking around for some choices, and was not very successful... then I came across Lindsey - she left some postcards at my office to try out her services, and there was something about her clever marketing idea that really caught my eye. I made an appointment and went this past Sunday... I am extremely picky when it comes to my hair, not only because my hair has a really strange texture (wavy and really thick), but also because I get really paranoid about how someone cuts my side bangs (I've had side bangs for as long as I can remember.) Lindsey was so friendly, very attentive, she took the time to get to know me, and get to really "inspect" (if you will) my crazy mane. My hair looked AMAZING after she was done. I was so satisfied that I even book my next appointment to color my hair in January. I have truly found a great hairstylist, and I could not be happier! read more

This review is not regarding a haircut because I never even went in. I called to schedule an appointment/discuss pricing. No one answered so I left a message with my name and number. No one ever got back to me. Great customer service. read more

I've been getting my hair cut and colored by Paul for almost 3 yrs now. He is excellent. Takes his time to listen to what I want. His balayage is a work of art and I get tons of complements. I have naturally black hair, and he doesn't make it look orange or too coppery, which what tends to happen with Asian hair. Also, haircuts - I just tell him to make me look good and what styles I like and he nails it. I am totally confident and trust in his abilities! Thanks Paul! read more

After years of lackluster haircuts and salon experiences in Alameda, I have found "my girl." Blanca didn't give me the haircut I wanted... she gave me the haircut I actually NEEDED! She explained what wasn't working with my look and the look I wanted...and suggested bangs that would work WITH my face, up my style factor, and still be manageable with minimal effort. I feel SEXY and STYLISH in a way that I haven't felt since becoming a mom. She was chatty enough for me to have fun but not in an exhausting way. I felt very at home, welcomed, and valued as a client. But don't everyone go running in to see her...because I'm going to need her to be available for my many many future appointments! read more

Ashley added low lights to the top of my head and I have been told I look 10 years younger! Lots of compliments on my hair while it still looks natural. Ashley did a great job and was very sweet and nice to hang out with. The salon has a cool urban vibe and is casual and reasonably priced. Love it! highly recommended. read more