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Head Designs
Categories: Beauty and Spas Hair Salons Beauty and Spas Massage Hair Salons, Massage [Edit]
4201 Market St(between 42nd St & 43rd St)
Oakland, CA 94608
Neighborhood: North Oakland
(510) 658-8226
- Hours:
Wed-Fri 10:30 am - 7:30 pm
Sat 10:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Insurance:
- No
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
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9 reviews for Head Designs
9 reviews in English
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Review from Mikenoise S.
Seattle, WA
8/19/2011
Graduate school and several years of traveling internationally hadn't done my hair any favors. I hadn't had a cut beyond 'take it all off' in years and was searching for someone who could do something creative (but manageable). Sheila Head, the owner of Head Designs) is incredibly knowledgeable about black hair and styling. Her staff boasts a locktician, braiding genius and colorist (including Sheila who is inspired in mixing colors that suit a person perfectly - myself included). Most importantly Sheila has more than twenty years experience cutting natural hair. She talks about the movement of the hair, the fall, the desired thickness, your activity level and of course the time it will take to maintain the style she creates. And then there's the styling and braiding - creative and unique! Lila can create a style unique to you, which means you aren't likely to see someone else walking around with the same braid pattern.
The atmosphere is relaxed, and you get the sense you've arrived in a true 'salon' Tea, coffee and cocktails (upon occasion) abound and in the summertime I sat on the patio to chat with Sheila as I waited for my color to set.
Another fun fact - she often has beauty events in her salon! Another reason to check her and the folks at Head Salon out! -
Review from Nat R.
Oakland, CA
12/18/2011
If you are African American and care about your natural hair, I would highly suggest not getting your hair colored here. Here is why, around January of 2010 I decided to get my hair colored brown for the first time, my natural hair is black. I went on Yelp and searched for a African American stylist who was good at coloring natural hair. My search lead me to Head Designs. I made an appointment with Sheila Head. She is friendly and I was out within a reasonable time. The brown color on my hair came out great because it complimented my complexion and it meet my expectations.
The product Sheila uses to color hair is designed for white people's hair... I don't remember the brand she used but looked it up after getting my hair done and found out it was for white people. After my second touch-up of color, I noticed that my hair was breaking off. My hair broke off so bad over about a 6 month period that it was at its shortest length ever. I was so disappointed because I went natural in March 2009 and was trying to grow my hair to its maximum length. I knew it was the color that was breaking off my hair because that was the only major thing I did to my hair. Before getting my hair colored, it did not break off.
Because of getting my hair colored at Head Designs, I had to grow my hair all over again. I think the color that was applied to my hair was too strong for my hair type. I think Sheila needs to take the time to find a color brand that works well on natural African American hair, which is delicate. Unfortunately, due to my experience under her hands, I will never return again.
I still have some color on the very tips of my hair but most of it has fallen out. Thankfully my hair has since grown back to the healthy length it was before I got my hair colored. I decided to not get my natural hair colored again unless its with henna, which is a natural way to color your hair without all the harsh chemicals. -
Review from Marjoycie H.
Oakland, CA
12/31/2011
I went for a haircut after taking down my dreds. Sheila is a good hair cutter but I was there for 3 hours. She did the all too typical thing of having 3 clients going at the same time. Arrived at 4, left at 7! Although I liked her, I won't return.
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Review from Francesca L.
Colorado Springs, CO
5/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I wanted to find a salon that could work with my thick, curly, wavy Blasian hair. I ended up finding Head Designs since I was already heading up to Oakland for Memorial Day weekend. Walk in and find a very small, but welcoming & relaxed place. Sheila spent a good amount of time on a thorough consultation which I really appreciated. I felt like all relevant questions about what I was looking for were asked and listened to.
In the past 2 years I stopped straightening my hair, but for me it was too big and unmanageable. It took more time than I was willing to spend to make it look the way I wanted.
Sheila suggested I get a texturizer to keep the curly look I wanted, but also make it more defined and less frizzy. She also gave me a trim. Overall I was very happy with the way my hair turned out. My only complaint is she did show up late and it was pretty pricey, however can't deny my hair looks good! I'll be back in 3-4 months for a touch-up! -
Review from Nicole K.
Oakland, CA
2/9/2008
Sheila is wonderful, a skilled hair person that I just happen to have been taking my curls to for almost 25 years. She can do it all, whip out the flat iron, relax your naps to a lovely spiral, color, and cut. She deals with all hair, but shines with curly hair, from kinks to soft curls, she gets it right and I've changed my hair a million times in 25 years, trust me. Warm and intelligent, a spitfire with great skill and a love of all things hair. She's moved into new space just across the street, don't have the address at the moment but if you go the Market address,look directly across the street for the salon with the big glass window.
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Review from Mikki Tikki Tavi B.
Oakland, CA
1/20/2010
I never want to leave Oakland for many reasons--and Sheila Head makes the top 5. My hair--and my wallet--would never forgive me if I had to change to a new stylist. She's amazing and you should book an appointment ASAP.
I'll go into more details later, but here are the highlights: (1) Relaxing, rejuvenating spa environment; (2) Sweet, smart, and personable staff experienced with all types of hair--especially crazy curly or natural hair; (3) Stylists/manicurists/aestheticians who know the science behind their products and don't try to push you into styles or services you don't want or can't maintain; (4) Excellent prices for a wide variety of services, and if you prepay for services through one of HD's "stimulus plans" you can save 20-25% on your trims, hair coloring, relaxers, whatever; (5) Relatively safe neighborhood with plenty of free parking; (6) Nice little touches, like good jazz music playing in the background, staff who can talk about anything from the Constitutional Convention (seriously) to Real Housewives, free coffee & tea, a clean bathroom, and a cute salon interior that doesn't reek of sulfur & other chemicals, and (7) Easy appointment scheduling, including on the same-day.
The only "bad" thing I can say about Sheila & Head Designs may not be worth mentioning. Nevertheless, I am 100% honest in my Yelp reviews, so I have to say that Sheila sometimes runs a little behind. I've never waited more than *15 minutes* past my appointment time to get in the chair, however. Sheila does not run her shop like an assembly line, and that's a good thing, imho. You want to spend some more time under the steam hood? Are you running a few minutes late getting to the salon? Do you want to get a color treatment even though you didn't mention that when making your appointment? Sheila's flexible and doesn't worry about someone putting her a few minutes behind schedule, which means you may wait a whole five minutes to get in the chair--but more importantly, you'll get her undivided attention, quality service, and your full money's worth. If you're running on a tight schedule, just let her know; otherwise sit back, relax, and get pampered!
Some background: I wear my hair natural; I'm mixed race but predominately black with big, thick, crazy, coarse/curly hair. Before Sheila, every time I booked an appointment at a black salon with a stylist who claimed to have experience with natural hair something ridiculous happened. Like the stylist who took 3 hours to give me a trim using clippers (OMG), and kept having to ask another stylist for advice. Or the one who insisted on flat-ironing my hair even though I never wear it that way because he didn't know how to cut it in its natural state. Sheila is the first time any stylist has got it right the first time in the 10+ years I've been wearing my hair natural.
I see Sheila every month for conditioning treatments and every other month for trims. She gives these amazing steam conditioning treatments ($30, but less if you do the 'stimulus plan') complete with great-smelling products, then puts me under the steam hood; between that and her conservative trimming ($55, also less with the stimulus) my hair has never been so soft and manageable. I also had a coloring treatment (discounted 20% when you get it with a stimulus service!); the products smelled amazing and my hair was actually healthier after the coloring than before. Since I've been seeing Sheila, I get lots of compliments from friends and strangers, and my boyfriend always has his hands in my hair.
Bottom line: Sheila can do all sorts of hair, regardless of race or style. I've never seen anyone leave the shop unhappy. But if you have non-ethnic curly hair or ethnic natural hair, Sheila is your savior! -
Review from Ellen S.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2011
Thank you - Sheila Head! I found her salon online and was drawn in by the great music that plays while you browse the site. And there is similar excellent music playing at the salon. I was so pleased that Sheila took time to listen to my concerns and ideas for a cutting style. She explained the other services available under the same roof, but was not pushy or insistent. And I do look forward to returning to get nails and brows done. She was very patient and I really appreciate her skills and high standards. I have natural and curly hair and she knew how to cut it. And the price is just right. We had conversations about numerous subjects and all this with the beautiful setting made for a truly positive experience.
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Review from Danielle S.
Oakland, CA
2/19/2010
I am sooo picky about my hair. I love Shiela, she took my main and made it rock! She has a lot of experience and it show.
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Review from chanel s.
Sacramento, CA
5/26/2009
Sheila is amazing!! My cousin recommended her and I have been going to her for about a year now. She is all about the health of your hair, and is very honest about what she can do for you, and when she makes a promise she definitely delivers. I recently colored my hair and I went very dramatic. It came out exactly like i envisioned and I love it!! I definitely recommend her!!
