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Elixir Salon
Rating Details »
Categories: Day Spas, Massage, Skin Care, Hair Salons
Neighborhood: North Berkeley1599 Hopkins St
(between California St & Mcgee Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94707
(510) 526-1700
- Hours:
Tue. 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Wed. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Accepts Insurance:
- No
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
53 reviews for Elixir Salon
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
5/26/2009
Updated - 11/11/2009
10/25/2009
8/9/2009
Updated - 11/28/2009
8/29/2009
2/20/2009
Updated - 1/24/2009
7/31/2008
8/25/2006
5/9/2008
5/2/2009
7/28/2006
5/18/2008
8/18/2006
3/3/2007
1/7/2009
4/10/2007
12/31/2007
4/5/2007
2/16/2007
4/17/2008
4/12/2006
11/1/2007
11/28/2006
4/23/2008
3/12/2008
5/14/2009
10/23/2008
10/16/2006
8/29/2008
9/7/2006
10/16/2005
9/3/2008
4/29/2007
Updated - 2/9/2009
5/30/2007
2/20/2006
9/14/2008
3/26/2008
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
I've followed Melody Jones from Artbeat to Darin David and now to Elixer. Best part of Elixer (aside from Melody's unparalled awesome-ness in beautiful cuts and color) is that it's the nicest Aveda salon I've been to yet, and the vibe is just perfect. Plus, the shampoo chairs are (wait for it)...COMFORTABLE! You don't feel like you're being bent over a torture rack!
Update: Alex contacted me soon after my not-so-good experience at the Berkeley location, and received a complimentary appointment at the El Cerrito location with Laura. I think this is outstanding customer service, and shows how much Alex and Elixir Salon cares about their clients. For that, I am very appreciative.
Laura rocks! I was extremely impressed with her, the location, and my haircut, and I will definitely be back. I'll post a more detailed review for the El Cerrito location.
Thanks Alex and Laura!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/30/2009
Based on all the reviews I read prior to making my appointment, I was really looking forward to my… Read more »
I moved to North Berkeley about a year ago and have been popping around different salons trying to find the best eye brow shaper.
Well, I found her at Elixir. Erika is GREAT. Definitely the best shaping I've had in North Berkeley...made even since to the Bay Area.
Definitely want to go in and try a facial soon too!
I had the pleasure of having Ona cut my hair, and am even happier a week later than I was when I walked out of the salon. I have ultra-fine hair, which can be difficult for some stylists, and she did an excellent job with it, giving me some shape and body without going any shorter than I wanted. I wash it, towel it off, run a comb through it and am ready to go.
She was interesting to talk to, gave a great head massage during the shampoo, and really listened to what I wanted out of the haircut. I'm a busy student and am just never going to spend much time on my hair in the morning -- I really liked that she didn't tell me that I should change my habits or lifestyle (as other stylists at other salons have done in the past) and was very pleasant and kept checking in during the haircut to make sure I was comfortable with how it was shaping up.
Elixir was very nice -- it is an Aveda salon, so no big surprise. However, I strongly recommend that you check about prices when you book an appointment, as some stylists do charge more than others.
Well, I've been getting my hair done here for years now (maybe 3-4) and today may be my last time. I only got a cut and partial highlight. I almost fainted when I went to pay. $200 is crazy! I used to get my hair done in SF and never paid this much. Perhaps they've increased their prices recently. I don't get my hair done often...thankfully...because that these prices I just can't afford it anymore. I'm going to have to look elsewhere from now on. I guess ask before the service is being done even if you've been going to years. I learned my lesson.
Melody Jones is really really great. Highly recommended.
In an effort to save some money, I scheduled an appointment with a junior stylist. Unfortunately, as I found out, haircuts are one of those things where you get what you pay for. This one particular junior stylist really messed up. She totally misinterpreted what i was asking for. I was left with a much shorter and highly uneven cut than i originally came in for. It's one thing to get a not-so-exciting cut from a junior stylist. But it's not too much to ask for balance and symmetry, is it?
I was going to just move on, never to return to this place again, and brand them seriously overrated. But i did find them thru Yelp. And based on the reviews, it seemed like they were the type of place that actually cared about the customer having a good experience. I decided I'd call to let them know about my experience.
Enter: Alex. She heard me out. Was sympathetic. Even took me in herself to do a 10-minute cleanup pass to fix what little left was salvageable. There wasn't much she could do because my hair was cut too short. But the fact that she took the time to rectify the situation goes a very, very long way.
The only reason I'm stopping at 4 stars is because i'm still forced to wear a cut that I did not want. But in this day and age when it's harder and harder to find business that care about customer service, Elixir casts a bright light in an otherwise dire landscape.
Thanks very much, Alex.
Alex, the owner of Elixir, is truly wonderful. After my previous review, she contacted me personally to find out what happened, and went above and beyond to make up for it. She really cares about the level of customer service at her salon, more-so than I typically see at any customer service-oriented business. Any business would be lucky to have such an owner.
I went in today for an AVEDA Hair Spa, which I was told is essentially a "facial" for your hair. Steve was my stylist. I gave a wonderful scalp and shoulder massage, and was very gentle in washing and blowing out my hair. I have typically come to expect that it hurts when a stylist blow-dries your hair. Stylists sometimes dry your roots for too long and your scalp hurts, drag the brush through your hair during the blowout and your scalp hurts some more. But Steve's technique hardly made my scalp hurt at all. On top of that, he used minimal styling products (other stylists tend to load em up and make your hair feel kinda mucky), and produced a naturally amazing blowout. My lower layers flipped out in such a cute way that I've never seen before, and all he did was twist the ends a little around his finger as he dried them.
Obviously, my impression and opinion of this salon has changed. Definitely recommended, and I can assure you that if you encounter any issues, Alex will make sure that you come out very happy. :) Definitely one of the best customer services experiences I've had for a while.
(One comment: street parking is a little tough, so get there a little earlier than you typically would go to have time to look for parking and be able to walk back to the salon.)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/22/2009
(This review is of customer service experienced thus far, not of the services they offer.)
I actually… Read more »
UPDATE: After a not too great of an experience with a junior stylist, Alex, the owner, contacted me and offered me a complimentary hair cut.
She was persistent for 5 months as I got the hair cut done in July and still offered me my complimentary hair cut today (December 19). From start to finish, everything was great. My scalp and hair received the massage they deserve and my hair was cute just how I like it - according to I prefer - no products in my hair, everything natural, wonderful cut and blow dry.... I was extremely happy and satisfied to say the least.
I will DEFINITELY be coming back to Alex again. I highly HIGHLY recommend her ! ;)
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I went in and got my haircut done by Elena, a junior stylist. She was very cold and unpleasant with me because I showed up 15 minutes late even though I made the call ahead of time. She kept calling me lazy because she ASSUMED I hadn't gotten my hair trimmed in a while when I told her I got it done in June (I got my hair cut at the end of July). She just kept criticizing me from every angle possible - she asked me what shampoo I used and then told me I had to choose the cheapest one, didnt I? (I told her I was using Pantene Pro-V) I mean it's not the best but why do you have to be so rude? Why not just pull me aside and say "Well, we offer these products which are a lot better for your hair, why don't you give it a try?"
Secondly, she tried to give me a scalp massage and the whole time I was staring at her as though she was kidding. The scalp massage was just her running her fingers through my hair - NO PRESSURE so it was nothing like a massage. It did nothing for me.
When it was time to cut my hair, I told her I wanted my bangs below the brow, so she decided she knew better and cut it above that and she put so much hairspray into my hair, I had to go home and take a shower to get it out because it was so hard and crunchy.
I wouldn't recommend this stylist to anyone.
I took Vera D's advice and tried Mireya for a hair cut. Her scalp massages are great. I've gotten my hair cut by a lot of people in the past . . .so as I watched Mireya cut my hair I thought she was efficient. She only charges $50. . .and has solid cutting skills.
The salon is small but it's packed with a lot of things inside and I like salons with Aveda product. Oh I wish I could buy oodles of those product. . .but damn it. .I can't have everything I want.
Yelpers directed me to Elixir, so many thanks. When I called the salon to ask who could cut crazy straight Asian hair, the receptionist said "Steven" without hesitation. And she was right. Steven took one look at my hair, glanced at the Jean Seberg photo I was clutching, and knew what to do. How I love a stylist of action. What's even better is that unlike other Aveda promoting salons, the product I came away with actually works. Yay!
Follow up, May 12
After recommending Steven to a friend, I found out this weekend that her haircut appointment, planned in advance, was aborted due to a serious miscommunication between the salon and Steven. From what I heard, the situation was handled very poorly. She came away very angry and frustrated. Not good follow through or customer service, so I'm demoting the salon to four stars.
Follow up to the follow up: May 13:
After sending a note to the contact email, Alex was kind enough to call me back to straighten out what happened. End result is hairs will be cut and a discount given, so all should be well. Fifth star restored!
I went in with a photo and discussed what I wanted & Laura did a great job! The atmosphere is relaxing and professional, prices are reasonable, timing really flexible! Customer service is great! What more to say?
After I lost my hair stylist to a move, I couldn't find anyone else to bring my hair back to life. I ended up cutting my own hair for over two years before I tried to find another stylist. After many bay area salons, I met Alex at Elixir.
Wow.
I've been with Alex for almost three years now and I look forward to every visit to her chair. The salon is hip without being trendy, and stylish without being cold. I'm always greeted with a warm smile and some hot tea or cold water. After my cut, I'm given a head and neck massage with a wonderful mint oil that leaves me simultaneously invigorated and relaxed.
Alex is *the* Texture Master. She precision cuts texture into my short, straight-as-a-stick Asian hair so it can be styled in multiple ways. Alex is also a color genius: she's managed to morph my naturally black hair into various shades of hot pink and white (not blonde, WHITE!).
Treat yourself to Elixir: Stellar service and amazing skills at an affordable price. Beautiful salon. Kind people. No attitude.
Ask for Alex. She'll take great care of you herself or recommend a member of her awesome crew.
Worth *every* one of the 90+ miles (roundtrip from Moutain View) I drive to have Alex as my stylist.
Amanda is great masseur. On the lighter side but very soothing.
I went in on the hottest day of the year and the room is about 95 degree, with two fans blowing. Amanda cooled me with with cold wet towel. Massage is so good that I fall asleep:)
Highly recommend!
I went here for a cut after reading the reviews. It was a nice relaxing atmosphere, and very quiet, but I did go on a Wednesday at 9 am. My cut was fine, nothing fabulous, but fine. I paid $65 which in my book is pretty average. I might try seeing Alex next time based on peoples' reviews. It looked like their prices for other salon services were pretty decent.
I looked like some sort of animal had tried to nest in my hair when I left, but it wasn't the stylist's fault. Every time I get my hair cut, they try to blow dry it, god help them. I've stopped warning them that this will only result in a terrible wilted afro look because they never believe me. But this happens everywhere, not just at Elixir.
__________________________________
Update: Since this review I have been back for a couple cuts with Alex and have also had my eyebrows shaped. Getting my eyebrows done always scares me, not because of the pain but because of the finished product. But my eyebrows turned out great, not scary, or creepily thin, or anything. Yay.
Bananas not a Broom.
THIS is what I told Laura on my first appt w/ her today. I was sick of my coarse hair doing the wispy flip out (like brooms jutting from my neck), and said I wanted nice pointy chunks hanging down, You know like Bananas?
Seriously, I said this. Thinking it would help.
But Laura got it! Panic may have *briefly* fluttered across her face (who is this freak in my chair?!), but she kept her calm and really listened until she understood what I wanted. She gave me a great scalp, neck and shoulder massage, a great shampoo, AND she gave me BANANAS. I love my hair. THANK YOU Laura for LISTENING (and for having a great sense of humor and some bad azz scissors).
This salon is great! I saw Rachel and she is super awesome. My hair looks great and they had awesome products to purchase. I highly recommend this place and Rachel. It's located in a cute area of Berkeley with coffee joints and a pizza place across the street. It's great for an alone day to get some coffee, get your hair did, and grab a slice afterward.
I'm normally terrified of salons. I love a good haircut, but the forced conversations and snotty blond people in most salons always make me feel just a wee bit awkward.
Which is why I totally loved getting my haircut by Laura at Elixir. She gave me some great suggestions about ways to take care of my hair, and ideas for how to style it. And I was thrilled with my haircut. But most of all... I didn't feel like I had to carry one inane conversations through the whole haircut and styling. And I felt beautiful when I left... and isn't that what its all about? :)
Alex has been cutting my hairs for the better part of 13 years. I have followed her from every salon in Berkeley, and would gladly buy that ticket to Hell if she was going but as she is Jewish, no dice. If I did not live car-less in SF, I would be pestering her in the East Bay and saying inappropriate things on accident in front of other clients.
Her colorist skills are legend. When I was in college I used to let her do pretty much what ever she wanted, and the results were the only cool thing about me. The high point of my hair history was when she gave me the Betty Page cut, dyed black with purple and cherry red streaks. I have never had a better look. The style she did for my graduation was adorbs, I felt like the cute overlord.
Elixir is a great salon, I'm well taken care of at Jubilee in SF but I do try and visit often.
UPDATE 06/05/08: I'm upping my review from four to five stars. I don't really like the salon but Mireya deserves all 5 stars. Maybe the salon will weird me out less now that they've opened a second location.
04/05/07:My colleague mentioned she got her hair cut here and gave me the name of the her stylist. I've been in NorCal for almost three years and until my first visit at Elixir, I was starting to hopelessly miss my Vegas Stylist. Mireya gave me a great cut without taking off too much length. (That is the biggest concern for myself and many other long-haired ladies I know!) She custom mixed three shades to fix my desperately-in-need home dye job and they couldn't have suited me better! What a great eye!
Being so close to Monterey Market and other posh little shops, parking on the weekends can be a little silly but there's always a spot in the surrounding neighborhood (sorry neighbors!). I don't feel entirely comfortable with the odd mixture of Berkeley meets Beverly Hills attitude going on, but for a great cut and color, I really can't complain!
Not cheap, not expensive-- juuuuust right and worth every penny.
I've been seeing Ona for several years now. I am a fussy girl with a short, high-maint. cut ... and I'm not easy to please and I get a cut every 5 weeks. Ona is the only stylist (anywhere) I will trust with my hair, largely because she's an expert at making the best of thick, hard-to-control hair and knows what I want. Ona is skilled at her craft , honest and not too trendy, so I trust her. I also like several other stylists there too, but I am deeply loyal to Ona. My only negative comments are on the salon space itself, which recently seemed messy and over-merchandised. Since the owner has responded to most of my concerns directly, I've edited my original comments.
Overall, I hope that Elixir finds a way to make the best of it's talent, location and community with out letting Aveda's recent marketing schwag dominate the lovely space.
Thanks Yelpers! I wanted to get my legs waxed - for the first time EVER, oh no - and thought I'd try this place based on your good reviews.
I liked the ambiance - I go for a bit swanky, and it was just nice enough without being stiff. The wax room upstairs was a little claustrophobic but nicely decorated.
I think it was Erika who helped me, and she was really sweet. Explained everything she was doing and told me all about waxing and we had a nice conversation in general. The process was painful but not screamingly so, and she applied pressure after each swipe which helped a lot. She also massaged some jojoba oil in after and that felt really good.
I did have some wax streaks left over when I got home but so far my legs look pretty awesome! : ) I think I'll probably go back, although I don't know how often because $30 is a lot for me to pay on a regular basis. But thank god my bear legs are gone!
July 7: I went back to Elixir to give it a second chance. Alex G. highly recommended Mireya, who gave me the Aveda treatment (as Elixir is an Aveda concept salon), including a nice scalp and shoulder massage with essential oils. I let her advise me on what my cut should look like and when she was done, I was amazed!!! I felt fab and chic like I had hoped the first time! I happily booked a second appointment for July 2, and Mireya was consistent. In the past week, my friends and colleagues have told me that my hair looks "the best as it's ever been", "beautiful" and "wow, really cool with all those layers"! I highly recommend Mireya at Elixir!! I can't wait to see her again next month.
April 12: My friend gets her haircut here at it always looks super fab and chic. However, I went and my hair looked pretty much the same as the $12 "emergency-I-can't stand-the-split-ends-anymore" cut I got a month previous (since I didn't have the energy to go to my usual salon Cowboys and Angels). I did like the ambience and that they give you a t-shirt to change into so that you don't get hair all over your own clothes. But for $65, I would have expected near the "wow" I get at C&A....
Erika, who does facials and waxing, is a kind and generous person who really takes the time to get to know her clients. I feel very taken care of every time I go in for a treatment. She was especially sweet right before my wedding. She helped me to chill out and enjoy the moment and take the time just for myself. It was very nice.
:)
I really like the haircut and the hair "consultation" I get there. Of course, I see Alex, not sure how the other folks are.
Plus I really like the neighborhood there and the brick building and just the whole experience. They really treat you well while you wait even. :-)
I saw Steve over the weekend and I had a pleasant experience. He was very attentive. He wasn't too chatty, but he wasn't too quiet. He's very knowledgeable. I got red highlights put it, and it came out awesome. Not only was the color nice, but he incorporated my faded highlights as a 2nd color to add more of contrast the rest , so the end result looked liked I had 3 colors in my hair (the 2 highlights and my natural color). The salon is gorgeous. The staff was very welcoming. I got the vibe that all the people who work there have chemistry with each other. Also there's an awesome pizza place right across the salon. :) The only downfall was the parking. Street parking is either 24 minutes or 2 hours, but luckily I found parking on the residential side not too far from the salon. I recommend Steve, especially since he's a color specialist.
Steve did a great cut and color. It was VERY EXPENSIVE, though. I called beforehand, but just remember those are only starting prices. Once you are sitting in that chair, ***ASK THE STYLIST HOW MUCH IT WILL COST BEFORE THEY PERFORM ANY SERVICES,*** or else you will be in for a surprise, and not a good one!!! Also remember that you're going to have to tip, so factor in even more money.
THE PRICE FOR A HAIRCUT WAS REALLY STEEP, especially since it didn't look the same the next day when I shampooed and tried to style it myself. It also grew out really weird. My hair was also short, so it'll probably be even more expensive if you have long hair.
Anyway, haircuts are super expensive, but A SINGLE PROCESS COLOR WAS REASONABLE BUT STILL PRICEY-- since it did make my hair feel healthier instead of making it feel worse (they use aveda products, which is like the best thing you can do to your hair). Still, it was a simple all-over color, nothing complicated. I guess it's because it's a high-end salon.
I do have to commend them for GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, because after leaving a previous post, the owner actually contacted me to explain. They really care about the reputation of the salon, so that's a plus-- since that means that they care about their customers and keeping them happy.
***RECAP: Get your hair colored by steve if you have the money to do it, but ask him specifically how much it will cost first (don't forget that you also have to tip, which adds even more). As far as haircuts, not that great for the price.***
I have been to both locations, Nice ambiance, Excellent service; Alex totally understands my curly hair and has always been very gracious about doing adjustments when it "shape-shifts" a couple of days after cut. I also enjoy the mellow vibe of the place. Refreshingly "real".
5 stars & thumbs up for Alex! I have been a client now for around 3 years and I'm just writing a review now. Alex makes me look like the blond I was always meant to be. As a fellow business owner and a client I am so impressed with the customer service that Elixir provides as well as the professionalism. Juggling 2 salons, (one in Berkeley, one in El Cerrito) isn't easy but Alex does a fantastic job and this is my way of saying thank you for making me look great!
Elixir came recommended by many of you Yelp reviewers, so I decided to give it a try. I went into get a trim. I already had a haircut I really liked, and I just wanted to maintain the length.
So I wasn't too nervous about trusting someone new. That someone new was TANIA, and I have to say I got the WORST haircut/service that I've ever received in my life (and I've been to a lot of salons)! She quickly washed my hair as if she were more interested in getting it over with than actually servicing me. When it came time to cut my hair (my hair is short and textured with lots of layers), she chose to use shearing scissors to layer my entire head. Because she didn't really even take my part line/hair texture into consideration, I ended up having this frayed mop look at the end. The only time she used regular scissors was to trim the back into a straight line - creating a bob! There was no style/technique to this haricot! She was done in 20 minutes, and simply told me what she did instead of asking me for my opinion.
I don't think I'm very picky, and I felt that I was very explicit with what I wanted. I walked away angry and confused, and a week later, I haven't felt any better. I feel like screaming every time I look in the mirror. So now I have an appt. elsewhere to hopefully "fix" what's left of my hair. Because my hair is so short, I can't even tie it up to hide it. All in all, I had a horrible experience. I can't say for the rest of the stylists who work at Elixir, but if you decide to go here, I HIGHLY ADVISE YOU WORK WITH SOMEONE OTHER THAN TANIA.
Update: After I posted this review on Yelp, I was contacted by the salon's manager, Alex G. For those of you know her, she is not only an awesome stylist, as well as a super person. She immediately offered to have me come back to the salon, so she could make things right. I was blown away by her generous offer and commitment to customer service.
So I came in the following day, and was treated great by her and her staff. She ways attentive to what I wanted and thorough in her work. Because some of my layers were really short while others much longer, she had her work cut out for her in evening out the layers. Even so, she did pretty great.
All in all, my hair is pretty short, and I'm taking some getting used to, but I feel better about it and the whole ordeal. Alex G. has pr oven that she will do what it takes to satisfy her clients and ultimately holds her employees to the same commitment.
Amanda (afternoon appointments) is an awesome masseuse. I've gotten massages from her over the past year and she is just awesome!! I was beyond cloud 9 when I walked out of the salon this past week. We'll have a chat when I'm up for it, but she's not offended if I doze off mid-sentence. She's very attentive to the pressure she's applying, checking in regularly if she changes pressure, but allows me to get into my zone.
Overall, she's just an incredibly friendly person, has a great energy and is a great person to get a massage from.
My hairstylist from Vine Street Salon, Tania, just moved to Elixir and it is a huge improvement. Parking was easy and the environment was so much more calming and relaxing. Vine St is pure chaos which rattled my nerves. Also, Elixir is an Aveda salon (and they sell it online - check their site!) which means that not only is it filled with good no-animal-exploitation and all-natural-ingredients karma, but also the place smells fresh and clean and not all chemically.
Alex Gibbs runs quite the salon in North Berkeley. Located on a great block, this salon offers a relaxing environment. Alex, owner and stylist, is the best hair stylist I have ever had! She gives me fresh and funky hair, but can tone it down to sleek and classy too. If you like vibrant color, but high-end salon quality, Alex is your girl! If you like good prices for salon services, check out Elixir. It is worth the trip over the bridge.
I am a HUGE Aveda fan - they seem like the only high-quality natural cosmetics company with products that actually WORK - so I was stoked to find Elixer, since they use only Aveda products.
The best facial I have *ever* had (and I have had quite a few) goes to Erika Bunnin at Elixer Salon. Erika is a pro. Totally kind, funny and expert. She is gifted at what she does, very knowledgeable about skin. And quite gentle - the facials are so relaxing I have been known to slur my words on the way out. A sensual delight with all those great feeling and yummy smelling Aveda products. If you want the ultimate pampering, self-care experience, I *highly* recommend a facial with Erika.
My mother-in-law bought me a gift certificate to Elixir that's been sitting around for ages. I decided I needed a hair cut and happened to remember my gift certificate, made my appointment, and was met by Laura.
I have to say, I am really pleased with my haircut. I am blessed to have beautiful, thick Asian hair - but man, so many stylists have f'ed up on my hair over the years (my Asian sisters - never ever let a stylist use a razorblade on your thick tresses....it'll become bristly and look dry in several weeks!). Anyway, back to my stylist, Laura...she was attentive, sweet, and skilled. We talked about what I wanted for about 10 minutes. When she felt like she "got it," she started on me...it began with a relaxing 10 minute scalp, neck, and shoulder massage. Then, she shampooed my hair, cut it, and styled it. It took her about 1 full hour. I didn't feel rushed at all, even though her next customer got there early. Best of all, I felt so damn cute after my cut - just like I had walked straight out of a shampoo commercial. Yes, it is expensive, but you really get what you pay for. Minus one star for the hefty price...$65/haircut isn't cheap, but how can you put a price on beauty??? Thank you, Laura, and Elixir! I'll be back soon.
Alex invited me to get my hair re-cut at Elixir and I decided to go for it. Steve took the time to understand what I wanted, caution me about what might happen with my hair type, and to teach me how to style my new cut. I took a risk with a new style and I love it. I am so glad to have a stylist I can trust and, for the first time in a long while, I love my hair. I've already had several people ask me where I got my hair cut and now I can recommend Elixir with no hesitation. Do it! :)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2009
Erika, I love. She did my eyebrows and took such time and care with them, she made waxing a relaxing… Read more »
I've been coming here for about 9 months, I usually see Laura, who is awesome!! Great scalp massage, great haircut, very patient and sweet. I like the atmosphere (comfortable but not pretentious at all) and the aveda treatment. The value is also good, Laura charges around $65, and is amazing!
I went to this place and I found that the staff is friendly, the service is satisfactory, and parking was relatively easy on a weekend. I was charged $60 for the haircut, so the price for me wasn't exactly competitive, given the lack of the wow factor. I found the shampooing station chair quite uncomfortable. It forced me to arch my back a bit.
UPDATE 2: Had my make up appointment today and it was so different from the first time around. The El Cerrito salon has a way different vibe than the Berkeley salon. The whole process was very relaxing. Alex is great! She has a very gentle demeanor and was very attentive and thoughtful in her consultation. Thank you Alex!
UPDATE 1: Alex the owner emailed me and offered me a complimentary appointment after she saw my review. I thought this was very generous and I appreciate the fact that she actually reads the reviews and gives a damn about her customers. I will update again after my actual appointment.
ORIGINAL POST: So disappointed =(. I was looking to try a new salon and turned to yelp for help. After reading all the great reviews I decided to try out the Elixir Salon in El Cerrito. They were not able to help me there, but they were nice enough to call over and fit me in at the Berkeley salon. So I drove on over and tried it out. The receptionist was nice when I walked in and they seemed modereately busy. It seemed like a nice place, but that all changed as soon as I got in the chair. My 'stylist' was so loud and abrasive during the consultation that when I walked up to go to get my hair washed there was such an uncomfortable silence across the room. My wash was so short and quick I wasn't even sure if she used shampoo. I should have known better, but thought I would look past the attitude (and the bad perm) in hopes of a nice cut. Unfortunately, that didn't happen and I pretty much walked out with a trim that someone from Super Cuts probably could have given me without the attitude. I should have skipped on the tip for the attitude but my conscience got the better of me and I didn't. Oh well, maybe she was just having a bad day....a very bad day.
what a fabulous little salon! I went here for my wedding hair trial, as my regular stylist refuses to do anything fancy. Anyway. I was absolutely blown away by Mireya's work. I didn't really know what I wanted, but I gave her some "inspiration photos" and the general look I wanted, and she read my mind. Her creation was exactly what I wanted, and I can't wait for her to style my hair for the real thing. Bonus points, the fiance loved it too. And he's a tough cookie. Brides, trust your VIH (very important hair) with Mireya!
