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Absolute Salon
Categories: Beauty and Spas Hair Salons Beauty and Spas Skin Care Hair Salons, Skin Care [Edit]
1532 Bonanza StWalnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 935-5711
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 7 pm
Sat 10 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
50 reviews for Absolute Salon
50 reviews in English
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Review from Marie C.
Lafayette, CA
4/3/2012
I see ERICA at Absolute Salon.. she is amazing!.I get my hair done by her, waxing, and everything inbetween! I love her work.. followed her from the wax center walnut creek.. big improvement!
The best in Walnut Creek! One satisfied customer.. :) -
Review from Elaine F.
San Ramon, CA
8/9/2011
I've been using Yelp for years and have never written a review until now.... but since looking in the mirror is a constant reminder of the horrible experience I had here, I figure it might as well vent.
I usually go to SF for cuts, but wanted to find a local place so called up Absolute on the advice of a friend. I didn't specifically request a stylist so I got Mary. She was nice enough, and I pretty much wanted a trim of the same cut I already had (long layers - nothing fancy), but as I was trying to describe what I wanted, she kept interrupting me to say "yeah yeah, make it look good". Well no sh*t sherlock, of course I want it to look good. But that's not really a description of what I want. It was totally pointless trying to communicate with her (her English does have an accent, but that's not really the problem) because she had an idea of what she wanted it to be and thats what I got. The layers were way too layered, and my long bangs got truncated so awkwardly I'm now trying to consider if I should just switch to short bangs as a solution.
And then she asked if she could flat iron my hair afterwards to "make it look good". Apparently running a flat iron t hrough my hair is an additional $20, making the debacle $55. If I go for a cheap haircut and get a bad one, I kinda figure I got want I paid for, but this wasn't even much of a discount.
I later found out my friend had gone to Kay, who apparently is a much better stylist. -
Review from Elizabeth L.
New York, NY
1/10/2011
My sister recommended this place to me over winter break because I desperately needed a trim. Kay was great, very accommodating of how attached I am to my hair (she didn't cut off 10 inches instead of 1, even though I probably need it!).
Loved how she styled my hair, and she's such a friendly person. Everyone in the salon is welcoming, and the atmosphere is peaceful and very family-like.
Price is also very reasonable, especially compared to NYC salons. Makes me miss California! -
Review from Elly G.
Walnut Creek, CA
12/7/2011
Kay is friendly and nice.. Price for a haircut is 35 dollars. Style is OK.
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Review from Derick F.
3/14/2011
So... What's the difference between a $35 hair cut and a $15 haircut. It's consistency and passion. Long is a phenomenal genius granted that I came here due to most of the places being closed or busy, but I'm glad that I did. granted that being still in college and a guy I don't regularly get costly hair cuts.
Long was very friendly and knowledgeable of his craft. He was honest about my previous cut and told me tips on how to make my hair look better. One thing that I did like was he readily gave out tips and his own opinion. Usually when I go to a hair stylist and am feeling a bit adventurous and say, "Do what ever you think looks good." rarely does a stylist give their advice and often they return my word with a blank stare.
I would highly recommend him to any one that wants an excellent haircut and would like to pay for it. The difference between $15 hair cut and a more expensive one is that the more expensive one the stylist has their own opinion and has a higher level of consistency. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Newark, CA
8/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Long Nguyen is a genius. He knows so much about hair and how it's structures your face and what cut would look best on you. I came here to fix the mess that an Oakland Chinatown salon had done to my hair. I had uneven, chunky layers that did not compliment my face well at all. Long worked his magic by thinning out my layers and gave me a more symmetrical cut. He explained every step before he did anything and was very thorough when asking what kind of look i wanted. I'm very satisfied with how my hair looks now.
Back in March of this year, i had the pleasure of having Mary cut my hair. She gave me long, beautiful layers that even looked great when my hair started growing out... then i made the terrible mistake of getting a "simple" trim at a Chinatown salon with some dude that did now know what the heck he was doing. Never again will i sacrifice cost for quality. Long does charge a little more than the other stylists there, but i think he's worth the money. Mary is also really skilled in her craft and i will probably return to her when my hair starts growing out again since she does such a great job and her asking price is cheaper than Long's. -
Review from Judy H.
Walnut Creek, CA
Updated - 6/8/2010
I came back yesterday evening for the hair re-do. Although the start of the ordeal felt tense due to the hairy situation, I eventually eased up because a beautiful thing happened -- I got an actual haircut and good service!
It was very gracious of Long (owner/manager) to acknowledge and apologize for the erroneous hair cut, although it wasn't his fault. The whole hair debacle was eventually mended through Long's hysterically random conversation between his instructional hair cutting process. It almost felt like I was conversing with two different individuals: 1) a very serious and meticulous instructional artist, and 2) a goofy Asian dude that looks/talks/acts like Jo Koi the Comedian. Overall, he was very thorough, precise, and personnable throughout the process.
He even offered to give me a full refund after he took the time for the hair redo. This was a very nice offer, but I couldn't accept b/c in the end I got a haircut by someone who can actually cut hair.
I ended up losing 6 inches of length. I initially went in for a 1 inch trim and a few more layers to my midback hair lenght. I left that Saturday with hair 3-4 inches shorter-lopsided mullet with a rat tail. For the interim, I hid the debacle in a ponytal for an entire week. And yesterday, I returned to cut the Billy Ray Cyrus do' from '92 and left with a symmetrical should length hairdo.
Honestly, I don't like my haircut even after Long fixed it because it was not what I wanted. I came in for a 1 inch trim, but 6 inches had to be cut away.
However, Long did what he could to salvage my head of hair, and I aprpeciate that.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/30/2010
WARNING: ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK
Granted that these folks are nice and the rave reviews are for Long… Read more »
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Review from Shana H.
Sherman Oaks, CA
Updated - 4/8/2010
Another successful cut and partial highlights from Kay! I love that I called on Tuesday and was able get an appointment for Thursday.
Everyone is really friendly and the environment is nice and relaxing. My hair is super soft, shiny, and my new cut rocks!
I'll definitely be going back. The only reason I deducted a star is because I am not used to spending 3 hours in a salon...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/8/2009
So I am fairly new to the area and was in desperate need of some pampering! My long blonde hair was… Read more »
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Review from phuong l.
Oakland, CA
1/7/2008
Elegant ambiance, friendly service, talented stylists, great massages..
BUT, I have to pay particular gratitude to Long because he is the man who really makes it happen for me. I am an unnatural blond who looks like she has been blessed by the sun god - the color is that natural/ bold...As for the cut - my hair is always kept in the perfect sexy secretary bob with rounded bangs - a hairdo that requires quite a bit of craftsmanship.
Mostly I've had stylists who will give me some crazy haircut that I might love in passing, but they could not replicate its grandeur if their life depended on it. Long is quite the opposite. He posses immense skill, timeless style and reliability - all invaluable traits.
Finished everything up with an awesome massage upstairs. I came out feeling refreshed, and looking good =) -
Review from Rhona B.
Walnut Creek, CA
3/25/2009
For years I've been loyal to my stylist & paid the extreme price that came along with the Walnut Creek salon. Then my husband insisted I try a cut with Long. Long did an AWESOME job on my hair. I have never received sooooo many compliments on how cute my hair is. I keep a stash of their business cards in my wallet because I'm often asked where I get my hair cut. The price is unbelievably reasonable! Everyone there is so friendly and down to earth. Kay and the crew also did the cutest peekaboo highlights for my daughter and made her feel like the little princess she is.
Fabulous haircuts, super friendly staff, and an awesome price! I wish I had found them sooner before paying an arm and a leg for my haircuts. -
Review from Tracy N.
San Mateo, CA
11/13/2009
I went here after trying like crazy to get an appointment with my usual stylist but she was booked solid for the next week or so and when I want a hair, I want it ASAP. In retrospect, I should've waited, because I think I would've been a little more satisfied with the haircut I received from my usual salon. Not that the couple who owns this salon are bad stylists, (which is why they get 3 stars instead of 2), it just wasn't what I was looking for.
The stylist used the razor-scissor method way too much on my layers and I felt like it kind of ruined my hair. I'm currently waiting for it to grow a little more so I can get it cut again. Also, I asked for 1 1/2 to 2 inches to be taken of but it seems like she took off 3 inches instead. Of course, every stylist is different and maybe measurements aren't always exact...plus my hair was wet and when it dries its shorter, but I left feeling like more of my hair was gone then I wanted. I just wanted a trim.
My side swept bangs were also cut differently (even though I asked to keep my hair style the same, just an inch or two shorter), so now that when I curl or flat-iron them, it looks weird.
A side note: I had parked at the meters and put in enough for an hour and 10mins, which wasn't enough time. I'm conflicted because the stylist had the receptionist run out to my car/meter and put more money in (which was nice), but at the same time, why did it take longer than an hour and 10mins to wash and trim a couple inches off my hair? And I had to pay extra to have them style (flat-iron) my hair...I haven't seen that before.
I most likely won't return but the couple here is very nice, friendly, and overall efficient/fast. -
Review from Jade R.
Alamo, CA
Updated - 8/26/2010
I still love this place to death xD
I brought the boyfriend here to get a haircut (he always gets bowl cuts... yeah I have to go with my boyfriend to get a decent haircut... I feel like his mother XD) and I was super happy with the results! Long was amazing! He un-bowl-cutted his hair, styled it nicely, and fixed all the nasty that was going on. I was really happy with it, and the boyfriend was very happy with it, too.
I'd recommend this place to anyone, seriously. :D1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/6/2009
Let me just start by saying that I HATE getting haircuts. I have a serious phobia of getting my hair… Read more »
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Review from Dank I.
San Francisco Bay Area
3/23/2008
First off: I'm male and asian
and writing a review about my haircut.
There's a bazzilion reviews for women...and like nothing from guys in the greater walnut creek area.
So here goes...hopefully to help some other guys out there who does care about their dew...or at least the women in their life care enough to make him care.
I picked Long's Absolute Salon to try for two reasons:
1. It's walking distance from my work
2. I recognized from the reviews that he's #1 a guy, #2 Asian
So I figured he'd at least know about the difficulties of asian men's hair even if he may not have a large clientele from them....And he does. You can stop reading if that's all you needed to know. Everyone's hair is different so just going to someone knowledgeable and skilled is all someone needs to know. Also the service surpasses every else I've ever been to (including a few $75+ haircut places in downtown SF). Long's prices are great too. The place is also developing their clientele so you can get an appointment or even same day drop-in, of you're lucky.
If for whatever reason you care about my individual experience (though not really relevant)...read on.
Like the other reviews, Long spent a significant amount of time discussing my hair and the man totally understood my difficulties...basically I've done the buzzed sides and spiky top thing for the past decade...yes, haven't seen a comb in years. going into my 30's i wanted something a bit more mature.
I spent the past 6 months suffering the awkward growing out stage. So I was very particular about who was going to start me on my new look.
Right off the bat Long advised me that the journey will take some time before I get to where we both thought I wanted to go. Realistic expectations and honesty...that's what a guy wants to hear. I didn't have enough length on top and my sides were still awkward.
It was about a 45 minutes and the result was clearly an improvement. I've had the cut now for 2 weeks (I purposely waited some time before writing a review because we all know it takes some time to settle into a new hair style).
I gave long 4 stars because he clearly had the skills and knowledge to recognize my issues and concerns. Service exceeded my expectations, price was competitive and reasonable. The result was a good cut...even 2 weeks later.
I may be picky, but I didn't give him 5 stars because, I think in the end...he was swayed by the temptation to have me leave the salon (after my first visit) with a "great look" in the short term, but falling a bit short on my long term goal. I'm being picky because he CLEARLY asked me about it before moving forward and I said "yes". So he's off the hook, but sometimes you want a Yoda-like guide in life who know better what you need. If he was Yoda, he'd would have gotten 5 stars...like I said..."picky".
Here's the details:
So it was agonizing to grow our my sides...took months for gravity to finally take hold and to get the "umbrella" to finally collapse enough so it wouldn't stick out the back of my head (asian hair grow out...out...out, for those not in the know). Long's first attempt had him use a razor to strategically thin out the sides a bit to lay the ground work for the sides to grow downward to the contours of my head. Obviously, this didn't look great, although it was a definite improvement. It would have require another couple months or more to develop into enough hair to get to where I thought I wanted to go.
He asked if i was ok with going shorter on the sides and committing to come in more often (every 3 weeks) for maintenance. I said yes and he proceeded to buzz off my sides and that was that.
SO now I'm thinking I should simply go back to a tight buzzed side and maybe work with Long to figure out something for the top and front. A part of me wished I had stayed committed to the medium hair length I was envisioning. I know I may have hated it in the end, but I feel let down I didn't try it...especially after so many months.
Maybe I'll give it another go in my 40s. -
Review from Ahmed S.
Alameda, CA
4/16/2009
After years of paying $60 - 80+ haircuts as a guy with the same stylist, I decided to try a new place with the help of Yelp. I looked around a bunch of places on Yelp and called a number of places. Most chic places in Alameda and Oakland charged in the $65+ range and had good reviews.
I looked around Walnut Creek and noticed Absolute Salon. I called and got an appointment for the same day. I had not had a haircut since Christmas so I was to say in dire need of one.
Kay picked up the phone and took my appointment. The place was not too hard to find. I parked on the street a couple of blocks away. I was a few minutes late due to traffic but she was understanding.
Kay asked what I wanted and offered her suggestions. She listened and gave her advice. Kay works really well, very friendly, and asks routinely if it is working out okay. I tried to look hard despite the glasses but then just gave up, lol.
She used a variety of techniques, worked with a combination of scissors, clippers, machines, etc. Made me feel really comfortable with casual conversation.
The result was really really good. I really liked my hair. Yes, it's not layered perfectly like some $100 haircuts I have paid for, but for $20 range, not much to complain about. I can get my hair cut here 5 times for that price rather than pay $100 to get perfect layers, and for a guy it really does not matter.
Still got a lot of compliments. I like it a lot and the salon itself is nice too, nothing less than any Toni and Guy I have been too.
Will definitely be returning here, well worth the nice drive anyway. Highly recommend it for a great haircut for a moderate price. -
Review from C M.
Pleasant Hill, CA
6/7/2010
Nice people, doesn't mean they can cut hair. Kay did not listen to what we wanted on my son. He said "short on sides, long on top" and showed a picture! Nope. She went short on sides and top. He even said "you don't have to take off any more!" cause it looked like she was going to keep going on the top. Won't be going back.
If you just want cheap this is the place. however we've had better with Ken at Supercuts in Lafayette , costs a little less too. -
Review from colleen f.
Walnut Creek, CA
8/20/2011
Having problems finding a good stylist in Walnut Creek, I went here because of the rave reviews on Yahoo. Not knowing Long's prices are three times more than anyone else, I went for the color and style - cost me over $200.00!!! Loved the color, the style was horrible. Went back to get that fixed, still was not happy. My Mother was unhappy with her cut by Long as well. I will not be returning.
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Review from Rebekah B.
Alameda, CA
6/7/2008
My fairy tale haircut and color...
I just spent buku bucks on getting a cut/full highlights about 6-7 weeks ago and already my hair was looking washed out and dull...plus the cut was uneven! Needless to say I was looking for a new hair colorist/stylist...so I turned to Yelp. Last night I searched local hair salons in Walnut Creek and based on reviews only had about 2 choices: Phoenix and Absolute. I chose Absolute because I while I don't mind spending money on my hair, I do mind bitchy attitudes (which is the vibe I got from Phoenix); whereas, all of Absolute's reviews were great. Today when I woke up and called Absolute I got a same day appt with Long per my request.
I went in with a boring straight line cut and hair colored "trashy" as some might say ;) I came out with a layered, feathered, beautiful hair cut and a fantastic color. I chose Absolute based on Yelp's rave reviews and was not disappointed at all. I was greeted by Dustin and was offered bottled water- was then greeted by Long and he went thru the potential colors I could dye my hair...he had even called me 3 hrs prior to my appt just to get an idea of what I was looking to do with my hair!
My coloring was done by Kay and Mary
My hair was washed by Erika
My hair was blown dry and flat ironed by Erika and Mary
and my gorgeous cut was done by Long
I also had a lip and brow wax that was very pleasant (thanks Mary!)
Long tried to walk me thru each thing he was doing as he was cutting but what do I know about haircuts? I just said "make it look good" and he did.
The pricing was uber reasonable...I was trying to calculate in my head how much all of the pampering I had would cost but it turned out way less than I expected, and I even bought hair products!
I would recommend Long and the crew to anyone, divas or plain Jane's, and everyone in between. Everyone was super friendly and Yelp proved to be an invaluable resource. -
Review from Reenie M.
Walnut Creek, CA
8/29/2011
I have been looking for a new place since my long-long-term stylist moved away, but this is not the place. I did not ask for anyone in particular -my mistake- and got Mary. Not easy to understand, did not wash my hair first which always surprises me, and piled on the products, which is not unique to this place. Not a horrible cut but I won't go back here.
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Review from amy a.
Walnut Creek, CA
Updated - 5/12/2009
Yups, Absolute still rocks!
Brought my mop head of a kid in to get his quasi fro trimmed down. We are so set for summer! Thanks!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/12/2008
I haven't had my hair cut in a year or so. I bought my kid into have his hair cut here a few months… Read more »
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Review from Kevin C.
San Jose, CA
2/1/2010
Let me first disclaim that I came here on a Thursday night and my stylist was Kay. Your results will vary depending on the day, time of day, and the stylist that works on your hair. Parking is difficult even though they do validate for the parking structure on Locust, which wasn't available because there was an event going on.
Normally, I am rather frugal when it comes to my hair. I cannot fathom paying more than $20 for a haircut because I need to get my haircut roughly every 3 weeks. But at the recommendation of my friends, I decide to do some fine hair styling which is like fine dining which happens every so often.
So I decided to splurge on a haircut and yelped for a venue near where I work. Yelp popped out with numerous selections. I made a few phone calls but settled with Absolute because they did not sound desperate.
Immediately upon entering the salon, Kay greeted me with a smile and handshake. Of course she asked me how I wanted my hair, but she also asked other questions that other stylists have never asked me before such as how often do I cut my hair, how I style it (clean or messy), etc.
As Kay was cutting my hair, I observed her carefully cutting my hair. Intricately fading my sides and cutting my hair by the millimeter to make sure that she did not take off too much. Then she used a unique tool that looked like a comb but had a razor on it. It thinned my hair, making it finer and much easier to manage. Thanks Kay. -
Review from J T.
11/23/2008 2 photos
I was in desperate need of a haircut after too many months without. I called and got a same day appointment. My stylist was Mary. I like the cut and style that she gave me and she was really enthusiastic about her work. The price was moderate. They validate parking in two garages which are a block or so away from the salon.
See my before and after shots. -
Review from John J.
Walnut Creek, CA
2/24/2009
Okay, I'd say this is long overdue...
I've been coming here for years so I feel bad about posting a review because it's more like I am posting a review for friends. Probably because the people here are really great and very friendly. From the moment you walk in you will be made to feel at home.
Walnut Creek is full of snooty, overpriced, mediocre Salons (and restaurants too!!!). This is NOT one of them. The staff is quite friendly and very competent. Long updated my style and keeps it updated. Kay does great work as well. As do Mary and Erica.
The prices are reasonable: more than StuporCuts but way less than the high end shops. This is definitely THE place in town to get your highlights done. It won't cost you an arm and a leg, you won't need a bailout package, and you WILL look fabulous. -
Review from Leilani P.
Fairfield, CA
2/13/2011
In 6 months, I've had my hair cut 3 times at absolute salon. My hair neither grows at any incredible speed, nor is it wildly out of control. Long just does such a great job fixing what other stylists in the past have never got completely right in terms of layering long hair. He marries your wants with his skill and makes magic. It took a couple of visits, but I now have the hair I love!
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Review from hamster p.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2011
Got my hair trimmed here by Long after another salon had messed it up. He was great and was very attentive to what I wanted. I think thats the most you can ask for from a stylist, someone who listens and understands completely what you want before they start chopping away. Minus one star for the price, it was a trim but still charged for a full cut which is pretty pricy for a 3-4 star salon.
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Review from Novi M.
Oakland, CA
7/20/2008
Yesterday I was really antsy about getting a haircut and, because I live in San Francisco, it's pretty much impossible to get an appointment on short notice. Since I'm familiar with the WC area, I started to look around on Yelp for a good hair salon. To be honest, I've been looking for a replacement hair dresser for over a year now...I've tried different people with good reviews but no one seemed to match. Suffice to say, when I first walked into Absolute, I was a little skeptical only because of so many prior disappointments. I made the appointment thinking I'd just "give it a shot" but also not getting too excited or setting my expectations too high like I did in the past.
When I called, I was *wishing, hoping, praying* to get in that same day and also *wishing, hoping, praying* to get an appointment with Long, the head stylist. I spoke with Dustin (Long's brother) on the phone and he said Long was pretty booked that day but that he could get me in at 5 o'clock and I took it. I made my trek out to the Dub-C from the city early and did a little shopping and reading at Starbucks beforehand. When the time rolled around, I made my way over.
As soon as I walked in, I was welcomed with a warm greeting. Dustin introduced himself and also introduced me to Long. I got a good vibe right off the bat but I still kept my optimism in check. Long attended to me right away and our pesonalities meshed instantly. He's a super nice guy and doesn't do the small-talk stuff. On top of that, he is an instructor at the salon so he gave me some tips and reviewed Hair 101 with me throughout my appointment. Before washing, he asked me what I wanted to do with my hair. I wasn't quite sure but I knew I wanted something different and that I trusted him to turn me into a rockstar -- a hot one, of course. He started telling me what he thought would look good and also explained why. He got into my face shape and how certain styles and techniques work for different shapes. I was really impressed -- not only with his knowledge (because these are things that hair stylists learn anyway) but because he shared this information with me because he wanted to make sure I would leave feeling good about my haircut. When it came time to cutting, he would take the time to show me what he was doing and explaining the reasoning behind it. It's obvious that Long is passionate about what he does and takes his work seriously. He spent about an hour on my hair (much longer than any other salon I've ever been to) and perfected it until he and I were both satisfied. Because he truly focuses on making your hair look good on you (keeping your facial shape in mind), each haircut he does is different. It may be the same style but never the same cut.
Needless to say, it was an EXTREMELY positive experience and I left with a smile on my face and the feeling of relief of finding the hairdresser of your wildest dreams. I definitely will be coming back.
Kudos, Long! -
Review from Chris F.
Walnut Creek, CA
3/8/2011
I have been going to Long for years. He is a gifted stylist with an expert understanding of hair. I have not been disappointed once. The staff is very friendly and good with children. I highly recommend Absolute Salon.
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Review from Lydia F.
Walnut Creek, CA
11/10/2008
It was okay...I think I looked 10 yrs older after the cut, but people there were so nice that I didn't wanna say anything.
I paid $45 for a shoulder length cut, which is not all that bad, but they charged me $10 for "styling" and $ 5 for shampoo which I was not informed at all. It was partly my fault that I didn't look at the receipt while I was there, but still, that was sneaky.
Don't think I'll go back again.. -
Review from Lisa R.
9/29/2009
I agree with all the other reviews that the staff is super friendly, but they cut my hair way tooooo short. With curly hair, you cant cut it super short b/c then it looks like a 'fro. It was so short, that I had to straighten it every day for over two months (my hair grows slow), in order for my hair to look halfway decent.
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Review from Josiah M.
San Francisco, CA
2/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
I just stumbled across this place while I was in Walnut Creek for the afternoon, and I'm glad I did. The stylists there seem to be very professional and talented, and I left with a very good haircut. I'll be back!
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Review from MM H.
East Bay, CA
8/25/2009
The people here are all super nice, but I have to be honest, it's a bit cheez-tastic. Being a fellow Asian, I'm always searching for the right balance when I go to Asian salons -- knowledge of how to cut/style Asian hair (yes, our hair is different), but not too fobby. I'd say this place tipped a bit towards the latter. I walked out with way too much product in my hair, and a bit 80s stylin', as if I was going to a karaoke competition. I'm also not a huge fan of hair stylists who use the razor-scissor too liberally (vs. good ol' fashion scissors) -- I often feel that this is just a short-cut (lazy) or a cover-up for lacking in true skill. Anyway, this is not to knock the folks there, as they are all super nice -- just not what I was looking for. But for $40, it's a great value.
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Review from Ling K.
Pleasant Hill, CA
7/2/2008
What does everyone look for when searching for a great salon or barber?
1) Great service
2) Nice atmosphere
3) Your hair just the way you want it
4) Reasonable pricing
Well, I have been going to Absolute Salon (formerly Violet's Haircut) every 3 weeks for 8 years now, and they consistently meet all of the above criterias.
I am very particular with my hair. It is very straight and I have a cowlick towards the back of my head. If it gets cut too short in the area, the hair sticks up. I have tried Supercuts, Great Clips, etc. Even with me telling them about my cowlick, those places still managed to mess up my hair. The first time I tried Absolute Salon, I forgot to even tell Long (the owner) about it and he still gave me a great cut.
All those other places want to do is ask you 20 questions and then give you something you didn't ask for or something you did ask for but didn't know what you were really getting yourself into.
At Absolute, they cut your hair according to how it would look best on you. They offer suggestions on what you can do with your hair to make it look its best. After all, they are the professionals and they do it day in and day out. They are perfectionists and they care about you and giving you a great cut.
I would absolutely recommend giving Absolute Salon a try. -
Review from nikko m.
Redwood City, CA
7/23/2009
Long did a fantastic job with my hair! Finally, someone I can come back to after years of skipping around!
He listened very well to all my needs and gripes about my hair and past experiences, and really took the time to make sure he understood what I wanted. He explains what he's doing throughout the process, and If you're curious about what's happening, you can just ask! He doesn't keep his technique secret, and it becomes clear pretty quickly that he really understands hair.
The salon is not snooty or pretentious and the prices are fantastic. My cut passed the wash test beautifully, so the only test left is...can he give me the same, great cut in a couple months? I certainly have high hopes! -
Review from Diana W.
Oakland, CA
3/18/2009
Long does a great job with my hair and the price....unbelievable! I can now get my hair cut twice as often (though it is sadly not growing twice as fast). Thanks guys!
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Review from Anahe H.
Washington, DC
11/5/2009
I was in bad need of a cut, and my usual hair lady is down in Santa Cruz, so I read some Yelp reviews and tried Absolute out. I am pretty picky about how I have my hair cut, and Kay was very kind and did a great job without too much guidance from me. She also did a great job washing my hair, she was a little rough but she really got it clean. The staff was overall very friendly, they even gave me a piece of cake while I had my hair cut (eating it was a bit tricky). The price was reasonable for a cut, and it was a great cut for in between visits to my usual stylist.
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Review from Keith C.
8/7/2010
I got my hair cut here by Long. My regular stylist had gotten off track of what I wanted, so I decided to try this place. After 3 or 4 visits Long got my hair just the way I wanted. Then, Kabam! Next visit he screwed it up. I went back two weeks later to try and get it straightened out a little, and he screwed it up even worse. Add insult to injury, he raises his prices by 50% in one shot. I can get unpredictable for a lot less somewhere else. So, now I have to try and find someone who is reliable.
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Review from Brooke B.
Chicago, IL
7/13/2009
Totally recommend it. Great place and great people. Only downside is the cost- but it is worth it.
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Review from E. S.
San Francisco, CA
2/13/2010
Long was wonderful. Full of knowledge, fun, super nice. My cut looked great. The salon itself is clean and cozy. And the best part - I paid half of what I've been paying for may haircut. Give it a try.
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Review from Juliet R.
Mountain View, CA
Updated - 12/13/2010
My experience here was so bad that I haven't gone back ANYWHERE to get my hair colored again since that time. I would not recommend this place.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/3/2009
I tried this place out after seeing the good reviews on Yelp. I called and asked for a quote for… Read more »
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Review from Lauren E.
Concord, CA
5/17/2009
So, I had a little dilemma. The dyed hair on my head was in horrible shape, and I needed a haircut. Price was the issue. Absolute Salon was the perfect solution.
I had my hair cut by Long, who is very personable and really takes into consideration the way you want your hair cut and not how he thinks it should look. In between asking about my life, what I was up to recently, and what I was interested in just in case he had a client in a field where I hopefully will someday be employed, he asked how I felt about different aspects of my hair and specifically what needs to be done as far as styling goes. As a result, I am now free of all dyed hair (HALLELUJAH) and I have a cute cut to boot.
Very happy, A+ salon. =) -
Review from victoria L.
Walnut Creek, CA
5/19/2009
When I first walked in, I felt very welcomed. I made an appointment a good hour before, and Kay was assigned as my hairstylist. I was offered ice cold bottled water.
She did my hair for about an hour, and she was nice and talkative. We had a real conversation going, which was nice. I told her basically that I liked my length, and I asked her what she recommended. I knew what I had in mind: layers (I was just testing her). Turns out she recommended layers, so I knew she was a good stylist. She told me what she was going to do, so I let her be in 99% control. In the end, I wanted shorter layers, so I asked her for that, and she did that without sighing or anything.
I was also watching her husband do a girl's hair, and her hair started out pretty badly and ended up REALLY pretty. It was shiny, soft-looking, and perfect, just like my cut.
I just styled my hair the way she taught me, and the result is pretty nice. I'll definitely come back before school starts!
