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Public Barber Salon
Rating Details »
Categories: Hair Salons, Barbers [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Civic Center/Tenderloin, Nob Hill571 Geary St
(between Shannon St & Jones St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 441-8599
Holiday Special
New Clients receive a free haircut with a paid color service, until Jan 1st 2010. Please, mention the special offer while booking your appt.
- Hours:
Tue-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
Sponsored Result
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"Erika is terrific! Having just moved from across the country, I did not know where to begin looking for a new hair stylist. I was walking…" read more »
127 reviews for Public Barber Salon
This is barber shop with artsy style and nicely equipped stylists.
Mainly a staff of girls except one cute gay guy, who I think owns the place?
I've had three different girls cut my hair there and each one has had an appealing personality and, more importantly, they've know how to use a hair clipper. 30 bucks for a guy, tip included.
They use their wall space to serve as a gallery, they play sick music, they have art collective magazines while you wait AND one time they offered me a free PBR. I like Public Salon, I hope they're here to stay.
It's been a while since I've reviewed anything on Yelp-- but Day 2 of Sarah's haircut is so f-ing phenomenal that I have to shout to the mountaintops. Thanks for being so rad and chopping my hair in such a way that I could never have articulated. You're my lady!!
About the salon in general: very cool people, good ambiance, great lighting, and an excellent price if you don't get the wash & blow. (I didn't get a wash, just a wet-down, and she did a blow-out on me and I didn't quite get that I'd be paying 50 instead of 31.) Also, I went with a friend and her stylist was home sick and there was no replacement, and no phone call to let her know. So it took 2x as long as it should. But we were accompanied by beers and beverages and absolutely zero pretension. Lisette and Sarah, you're the best.
Thanks Public Barber Salon!
My two most recent haircuts were at Public.
The first was mostly a disaster. I wanted something different from my usual one length look, and asked for advice from the stylist. I ended up with a bunch of layers that were cut in slapdash, with most of my hair underneath completely untouched. AKA my original rounded bob, but now a whole lot messier. It grew out horribly and after about a month I really needed to get it cut again.
I only decided to come back for another try since I wanted a haircut with the owner, Steve. Made an appointment with him but when I walked in, turns out he was sick. Passed on to Ahna, which I was fine with, but then it turned out she already had an existing appointment. Seriously upset at that moment, but then thank goodness I was handed off to Erica and she did an awesome job cutting my hair.
Erica cleaned up my hair and turned my look around into something totally decent. And when I got home, I liked it even more! Thanks for saving the day, Erica. :)
I'd be back again because prices are reasonable ($26-$30) and they take last minute appointments as policy. Everyone is really friendly too.
7 months and 2 more visits later, I now get my hair cut by Steve and I have to say, he's the man. He gives me the best haircuts I've ever had. That's really all there is to say.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/23/2009
So, when I relocated to Northern California, I told myself that I could just make trips to Orange… Read more »
Let me just begin by saying that this review is long overdue. As many of you know it is very hard to find a good, affordable stylist in the city, so PB being here is a miracle of miracles. I'm dead serious about my hair, but I'm also broke half the time so when I found this place it was a huge relief. I've been getting my hair did here for over a year now and Steve is a superstar. This dude knows what's what, so I never have to worry about looking like a fool (and really, beauty-wise there are is nothing worse than having a bad hair cut) plus he's fun to chat with. I like coming here either in the morning or later at night to avoid the weekend madness of cute people trying to get purdy before going out. Atmosphere is chill, prices are totally reasonable, music is good and the free beer is always appreciated. All in all, this place is an SF gem, so get in on this!!
I like this style of of Barber Salon. In Los Angeles I went to a similar place named Rudy's. This reminds me of that place a lot so I was not shocked to hear that some people who work here at Public are from one of the Rudy's locations. One thing this place definitely has over my old spot is that they gave me a free beer to drink with my cut. My Barber/Stylist, Sarah, was also from LA and I was able to pick her brain about the best ways to fit in to the city. She gave me a solid haircut and some great music venue suggestions. All of this for $26 + tip. She even gave me a rinse for free which I have been charged for in other places. I will be here again in two weeks (give or take)
I don't give out 5 stars to any business...unless it's this place. In a city where service and quality are a steadily dwindling commodity, you'll find it in abundance at Public.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/17/2009
I've been coming to this place for the last few months, mostly because it's in the hood and the… Read more »
If I could give it 6 stars I would. Me and my wife both get our hair cut at Public and Steve and his crew always do a great job.
Sometimes you just have to be patient.
I have lived in SF for almost 5 years and I have been looking for the right place to get my hair cut. After several attempts and lots of cash, my search is over.
This new mom was needing a new do - badly. And Public was recommended by a new friend. And really the whole thing was a delight - from making the appointment to meeting Cotton (new transplant from Seattle) to leaving with a ultra great new bob - no attitude, just great style at a great price.
Really, I couldn't be happier!
I'd been going to the same place in Cupertino for the past 10 years for my haircut, no matter where I lived. $20 including wash and blowdry.
$50 for wash,cut and dry for long hair seemed expensive to me. Finally after seeing what a nice job he did to the bf's hair, as well as my usual salon cutting their hours short, I decided to give this place a go.
And I've been going ever since.
Steve, the owner, is uber sweet. I remember when the place was still new and he was the only one in the shop. Since the day he opened doors he has become a fixture to the neighborhood due to his focus on helping out the local community. If you don't want to deal with metered street parking, he's worked out a deal with the garage down the little alley, on the left side just before his shop. He's also using his great empty wall space to host local artists and their artwork, with free after-hours art shows once a month.
Not to mention, he does a really nice job taming my uber-thick and super straight hair.
The place has gotten a lot more busy now and he's added to his staff, so I recommend to call the day before or the morning of to secure an appointment. Now if only they could open later to catch more of the after-work crowd.
Oh my god, I'm so mad. I tried this place because it was so highly rated on Yelp & really cheap to boot, but FUCK THAT NOISE. If you think this place is "too good to be true," YOU ARE RIGHT. ITS NOT TRUE.
I have really nice fine hair -- not gonna lie, almost every stylist I go to compliments me on how healthy and shiny it is. I take good care of it, it's naturally straight (I don't even have to brush it), and its super unfussy. I don't color it or even blowdry it. It's fucking healthy, okay?
So, I try out this salon and skip the shampoo because I washed my hair an hour before and wanted to save time. Well, the stylist apparently wanted to save time too because she literally spent under 15 minutes on my hair. Which would be fine if she had done a good job, but a few days/weeks later, I noticed that I had a bunch of split ends. Maybe she missed them because she spent so little time on my hair? NO, because upon closer inspection, I found NUMEROUS breaks in my hair and tons of gnarly ass split-ends (one strand was split 6 times!!!!!!!!!). The stylist used fucking DULL layering scissors on my hair and broke my damn nice hair all over the fucking place. There are TONS of strands of hair where you can tell the stylist tried to cut it one or two inches from the end, but the scissors weren't sharp enough and ended up just mangling it. And even the strands that the scissors did manage to fucking hack off -- it wasn't a clean cut, so it caused my hair to just split millions of times.
Why would a stylist be so negligent as to use DULL scissors on a client? This is honestly the POOREST JOB I've ever seen -- my mom has given me nicer fucking bowl cuts and those Vietnamese ladies who charge only $8 can do a more professional job. I am really, really upset about this and I don't even care about hair that much.
Guys are obviously happy with this place, but I advise any girl who wants to keep her hair nice to stay the hell away. If you absolutely must go, ask the stylist if their shit is fucking sharpened or better yet -- have them sharpen it in front of you. If I could give 0 stars, I would.
Comment from Steve J. of
Public Barber Salon
11/6/2009
Ouch.. Ruby... Sorry, you had a disappointing experience…
More »
i have been going to Public for almost a year & every experience has left me with a different impression. though the salon is always inviting & clean with great music (from David Bowie to Atmosphere) filling the space, i wouldn't recommend going here without a specific stylist in mind. i have been cut & styled by almost everyone that works here (except the owner, Steve). seriously, i get around.
cut #1: the stylist i had, who shall remain nameless because i can't remember her name, was nice but very distracted. she kept looking towards the front of the salon, checking out who was coming in & what other stylists were doing. i would be fine with that if she didn't have my hair in one hand & a pair of scissors in the other. i was on edge the whole time, hoping that she wouldn't make a mistake.
cut #2: i arrived on time for a 7:00 appointment & was told that there was some confusion with the schedule & i would have to wait. i would normally be pissed if i had to wait 45 minutes but Steve, the owner, gave me a beer & his incessant apologies. i was styled by a different girl this time. she was friendly & did a great job BUT it took forever. i know i have a lot of hair but not enough to keep me in the chair for an hour and a half. i think Steve realized how irritated i was by the time i left because he rang me up himself & gave me an extra stamp on my "get 10 cuts get 1 free" card.
cut#3: i came in to get a basic trim & take advantage of the Hot on Yelp promotion. i was scheduled with the same stylist i had the first time... hooray. she seemed even less interested in my hair this time, perhaps because she knew i wasn't paying full price? who knows.
cut #4: i decided to bring back my bangs & made an appointment with Ahna based on my roomie's recommendation. she was great & listened to what i wanted but also gave me her opinion without pressuring me. Ahna's great to talk to & she even put up with me when i started getting indecisive. i recommend her 100%.
cut #5: BY FAR, THE BEST SALON EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE! i would like to thank you Steve (i know you read these reviews :] ) for bringing Cotton into the salon. as a person he is funny, sassy, fierce, & friendly. as a stylist, he is attentive, smart, & talented. i walked in knowing i wanted something different but that something different was yet to be decided. i walked out with mod, blunt-cut bangs & a Bridget Bardot-esque layered cut that i LOVE & am still getting compliments on. if Cotton had been there from the beginning, this would no doubt be a five star review.
i've gone to Public over & over just because their prices are so low. i will go back to Public because of the music, cool art, free PBR, awesome management, and, most of all, for Cotton... love you boo!
So there I was with ends of my hair frizzy and unhealthy, wanting a trim and hating the thought of spending $80 for my hair to look relatively the same with an inch or two snipped off.
I can't help it. As much of a girlie girl as I am, I sometimes just can't justify spending the big bucks on my hair.
[Enter Public Barber]
I LOVE it! They separate the shampoo from the cut from the blow out. That means I can get a great cut without the shampoo and blow out for just $31! The cheap Asian in me is rejoicing!
Ahna sat me down in her chair and asked me what I wanted. She listened intently and went to work, constantly asking me questions:
How short can I go with the layers?
What didn't you like about your last cut?
What do you think of a few more bangs?
She was SO sweet and expressed her concern that she didn't want me leaving thinking my hair looked exactly the same! I was so pleasantly surprised that my trim turned out to be a great, though slight, style change and I loved it! After finishing, Ahna even gave me tips on different ways I could style my hair, which is more than most stylists have ever done.
My new fav salon.
Hiiiiii Sarahhhhhhhh
Sarah is great. Heart her. She makes me look pretty everytime. I will pay to fly from Los Angeles to San Francisco so that she can make me look the way that I do.
Oh and they're cheap. Yes they are.
26.00.
For people who don't like to shower at home, 31.00.
Dream.
Over the years, I have had appointments at a number of pricey, upscale salons and the moment I walk in the door I am almost always sorry. The pretension, the noise, and, frankly, the coldness of the staff ... salons can be horribly unwelcoming environments, which has always baffled me given the industry they are in and the money their clients are prepared to spend.
I recently moved back to San Francisco after a number of years and was dreading the process of finding a new place to get my hair cut. (See comments above.) So, as I have come to do, I checked Yelp ... and the reviews of Public Barber Salon (in my old neighborhood!) blew me away. The prices were great, the customer service was great ... there was beer! Everything was great according the reviews. (And, perhaps most importantly, if something wasn't great, the owner did everything in his power to make it right ... Where do you see that these days?)
Last evening I got to experience Public Barber Salon for myself and the rumors are true. Sarah cut my hair and just did a bang up job ... I have paid three times as much for haircuts that couldn't hold a candle to this one. Really. Sarah was friendly and conversational but was also very focused on her task.
But, getting back to my initial comments about salons, the atmosphere at Public Barber Salon is relaxed, fun, and yet very professional (a difficult happy-medium to hit, I find). I did not walk in and feel that I had to apologize for my very existence ... nor did I feel attacked by pushy niceness. I felt very comfortable and, as a result, ready to trust my stylist.
Public Barber Salon was just right and I will definitely return.
Oh yeah, they really do offer you beer ... a can of beer ... it's a great touch.
I am very happy with my haircut. Erika is a gem, she listened to what I wanted and gave me excellent feed back. She was attentive, friendly, and the haircut she gave me is awesome. I walked out of there with an amazing cut and some Bumble & bumble products for under $80. That is a steal. I have found my new stylist and salon.
This place rocks. Cool art, cool staff, cool vibe. The folks working here are very friendly and do a good job. The place was packed.
Sarah listened to me, asked questions, then cut my hair exactly like we talked about. None of that describe-the-haircut-you-want-then-they-cut-it-the -way-they-want stuff. She even trimmed my beard without making me look like a dork. I'm definitely going back.
Also, they take walk-ins! No more 8 week advance appointments. I'm sure they'd prefer if you called ahead but they let me come in with 30 mins notice.
Although I received a decent cut from Public Barber Salon, I was unhappy to be charged the "long haircut" price for my short haircut (the length is like this:
http://www.mynewhair.i...
I asked why I was being charged for the long haircut, and the stylist told me that the short haircut price was only for short-short, like boy-short hair. If that's really true, then Public Barber Salon should change the way they advertise their prices - because my hair is certainly not "long" or even "medium."
Comment from Steve J. of
Public Barber Salon
9/20/2009
Please email your address @ publiclounge@gmail.com I will…
More »
Dear Public Barber Salon:
Sorry I came it looking so tacky and tired the other day. Wow, did your free beer turn my frown all kinds of upside down. Your hair-design location is just the right touch of cool with some pop-art for good measure, but the attitude is totally missing-- a pleasant surprise!
Give my regards to Sarah, she fixed months of scissor-mistreatment. I feel great about the value of my new haircut, and will drop your name post-compliments. Only problem: your frequent haircut card (buy-10-get-1-free) is pretty silly. Do you think I'm so faithful to get my next 10 cuts from you. You're great, but I'm not looking for an LTR right now.
Keep it going,
L
Great price point, very cute inside, nice staff.
Cotton gave me my cut, and I'm very weary of new people touching my hair. I'm just one of those that always wants cute hair but doesn't want to pay, you know what I mean. But Cotton was GREAT.
I'm coming back and I want him to cut it everytime!
I hated my last haircut. This is coming from someone who for years cut her own hair. My shaggy, uneven mane never bothered me. But, for the first time in my life, I hated my hair cut. I couldn't figured out why. I made an appointment for my boyfriend, and went with him. While siting with him, I kept my eye on the stylists. They were quick. Masterful. So I asked if I could get my hair cut, too, and they were able to fit me in an hour later.
Erica sat me down and asked me what I wanted. I told her I hated my last cut. She explained that the layers probably needed to go a little higher, and that I needed more texture. I told her I liked my hair to look piecy, a little messy. I wash and go. I don't blow dry and I don't do anything else other than rub a little styling cream into it. It needs to dry and look good. She understood all this. She even explained that maybe the person who cut my hair last was afraid to go a little further with the thinning out (I have really thick hair--and I mean really, really thick) which might explain why it turned into such a shapeless blob. Note: she is so nice, she even refused to say that the person screwed up the cut.
The other thing I really like about this place is the optional wash. I don't like people touching me, and I especially cringe at having people wash my hair. It makes getting cuts a rare thing for me as I hate the shampooing part.
I also love that you can make appointments the day of or next day. It sure cuts down on the planning a month in advance to get in with a stylist. How the hell am I supposed to know a month, or weeks in advance, that I need a haircut? I'm just one of those people who look in the mirror and say, "Wow, my hair is shitty, I need to get it trimmed."
For ease and convenience, price point, and the wonderful and masterful work of Erica, I will be back, again and again. Finally, I've found a place that fits into my schedule, and not have to schedule my life around getting a cut.
Thank you for a great haircut.
I came in early, expecting to wait, but the owner, Steve took me in immediately. He asked a lot of questions about what I wanted, not in an annoying hairdresser way, but in a way that made it very clear that he takes a customers needs very seriously.
He spent a good 45 minutes on me, and did very good job keeping me comfortable and entertained throughout the experience.
Overall, 5/5 for the most enjoyable haircut I have ever gotten, and everyone I have shown says the new cut looks great.
Steve, if you are reading this (and I know you read these), thanks for a great experience, I will definitely be back again.
I almost didn't write this review because I'm selfish and want to keep this place to myself. But then again, it looks like over a hundred other people already know about it. Regardless, I won't let it out that this is by far the best place I've had a cut in years --that I was simply impressed by Jen's work (my hair looks great), her professionalism --unpretentious attitude. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that she's easy on the eyes, too. But then I guess that's neither here nor there because I'm not telling anyone.
It's been about a month now and I loving my cut more and more each day.
Before Paul, my hair was a hot nappy mess. I still rock a messy 'do, but at least it's got some style now.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/31/2009
After I saw Ligaya T.'s cut from Public, I knew I had to go.
I'm a haircut-phobe. I let my long black… Read more »
I came here a couple weeks ago because my hair was lookin' to' up. I called and made an appointment and got one the same day (I think they only take same day & next day). When I got there, I was greeted promptly and was offered a nice cold PBR.
Erika helped me with my mess of hair... which is not an easy feat. I'm one of those people that likes their hair long, but not too long. Layered, but not too layered... you get the point :-O She was super easy to talk too, no long awkward silences and was really sweet. On top of it all, she knew exactly what to do, despite my vagueness. When I saw my mom that night she asked me where I got my hair cut and I'm taking her with me tomorrow!
I haven't been this happy with a haircut in such a long time and I highly recommend Erika & Public.
I have a beautiful bob on a mane that would send most hair stylists running and screaming out the door. Seriously, I have great hair, but SOOOOOO much of it!!!! This is not a joke, I have enough hair to divvy up between AT LEAST 2-3 people and they would still have full-coverage! So, back to my beautiful bob . . . Thank you Steve Jester!!! He has given me the best haircut I have ever had! I have been "surfing" salons for years (9 years to be exact), waiting for the day a stylist could understand my hair and cut it right . . . the day has come where I am now a loyal customer to Public!
BONUS: Awesome atmosphere with great design and music.
OMG this place is amazing! Erica cut my hair, and was really great. I brought in lots of pics of exactly what I wanted. I came in with my hair styled like I normally wear it and told her what I liked about my last cut so she could see, then explained what I would've like from the other hair cut. She added the layers I wanted, kept the length that I liked, and changed the things I wished I had earlier. She gave alot of advice on styling tips and answered all my questions(I had alot) about styling, keeping my hair healthy, and products that she recommended.
I will definately go back, I felt very relaxed and the staff was very friendly and helpful.
Before coming to Public, I had a hard and fast rule of never paying more than $20 for a haircut. Why would I? I'm a typical straight guy with short hair and I need a haircut every month. Should I really be paying as much for my haircut as I do for my Internet bill?
I doubt no more. Public is AMAZING--I've come here five times now and had a perfect haircut every time. It's not outrageously expensive ($26 for a guy's cut + $5 if you need it shampooed) and I never have to walk out feeling blah about my hair. I've had it cut by a different person every time and while each stylist has his or her own take on my hair, it always looks awesome. And it grows out well, so I still look put-together when my hair gets long (and not like a Koosh ball.)
The people there are really cool. Very hipster, but in the nice fun way (not the pretentious Radiohead-and-silly-hats way). In short, I've finally found my go-to hair salon in the City, and I won't be going anywhere else.
I thought I had given up on yelping. I wasn't going to write any more reviews, just look things up like a search engine. Until Ahna at Public Barber Salon gave me such a great cut, I had to spread the good news.
I had a terrible case of the "fat face" after my last stylist decided to give me a trim. I couldn't figure it out, where did my cheekbones go? Did I gain 10 pounds and it accumulated all in my face? At any rate, I have places to be on the weekends and I can't go out looking like chubby bunny. So I yelped Public Barber Salon, read all these great things about Ahna and promptly scheduled my appointment.
Right away, I could tell she had a warm spirit. Very friendly and inviting. I loved how she listened. A lot of stylists don't really listen to you, but she was really attentive. I told her I wanted more layers, and please do something about the fat face syndrome. She obviously knew what she was doing because she analyzed my haircut, my facial structure and lifted one single chunk of hair saying "This here is the problem." No joke, after she swept that piece back, I grew cheekbones. AMAZING.
I felt like I was in safe hands. I let her do her thing, and as the hour progressed my smile got bigger. She gives amazing neck massages, I would recommend spending the 50 bucks for the additional blowout and shampoo. She was very thorough, cutting when my hair was wet, and then after blow drying it, she cut it dry. It's really hard finding a stylist you trust, but after just one hour, I can definitely say I'm a regular of Ahna's at Public Barber Salon.
Thank you so much! You made my day and I'll be seeing you soon :]
3rd time. Another awesome cut.
fast, easy, cheap, cool music, beer, great stylist, these are all words I can and will use to describe this place.
Time: 5:30p Saturday
Why: my friend was bored and was contemplating getting a haircut. I told her about Public and called them up to see if they had an opening and then decided I wanted a trim also so 2 openings. I asked for Ahna and my friend didn't care. Boom we had two appointments set up.
The rest: Showed up 1/2 hr early, my friend went off with Jen (I think that was who it was) and got started right away and I chilled drinking a PBR and reading a magazine while waiting for Ahna to finish with her previous appt. Found out apparently we came in a just the right time since they were super busy earlier today. Talked with Ahna to see how I wanted my hair cut and it turned out perfectly.
Public is the place to go for a fast, inexpensive but professionally done haircut.
Plus they always have interesting artwork hanging on their walls and great music blasting out their speakers.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/23/2009
had my hair cut there 2 times.
1st time was by Ahna and she was awesome! Had the whole deal; wash,… Read more »
This is hands down the best bang for your buck. Good prices, chill atmosphere, and a good haircut. I have been going to Steve for the past year and half and normally do not get attached to the person who cuts my hair i.e. just get me in, whoever is available, but now I make the effort to get on his schedule. Always has good suggestions and takes the time to cut your hair right. I had long hair and he gave me the hard truth that it was time to cut it, and super happy with the outcome. Sometimes there is a bit of a wait, but nothing a PBR and good magazine selection can't remedy.
First let me say I was amazed to be contacted by the owner, Steve, within days of posting my two-star. He urged me to return to "make it right". I felt awful, and had let the cut grow out a month or so, and had made an appt at another salon. I dillied, I dallied, I was "too busy." He writes again. And again! So I thought okay, this guy really does care. Or maybe he just wants to butcher my head as punishment! (Hair paranoia can be a terrible thing.)
So I go in feeling incredibly sheepish, and worried about dirty looks and icy vibes, but he was very, very cool about it. He really wanted to see what had happened with the cut, and said he'd just clean it up for me while checking it out. He said my review had been discussed in a staff meeting that week. So I felt like a real sh*t when he checked the cut and didn't find anything especially wrong with it - the lines were fine.
So, with nothing left to lose in the feeling-stupid department, I asked well what is WRONG, why is this part hanging down like a dead thing on the side of my face? As he worked, he realized something that I'd heard from another stylist a while ago, but forgotten - my hair is much more abundant than it looks. You cut and cut and it just doesn't seem to go anywhere, while the hair piles up around your feet. And it's heavy - it needs a lot of layering so it doesn't hang like a dead thing. On top of that, it all curves in the same direction, so one side of my head behaves differently from the other.
So he's cutting. And cutting. Far from it being "just a cleanup", this is a full on cut. He goes back over it a second, a third, and a fourth time.
Then I understood that the problem with the previous cut is that gal didn't quite realize this about my hair (and I'd forgotten, and was being passive), and she just didn't go over it as much as it needed to really be an awesome cut.
Steve told me some interesting things about his business:
1. His "niche" is low-cost cuts of high quality. He said that is a well-filled niche in some other places, but not as well here.
2. They work on volume (obviously, since they don't rely on price point), but they focus on reaching a funky-hip client base.
3. Steve loves this 'hood, and lives quite near, as do I. He feels a real part of it and supports its arts, culture, and diversity. We agreed that a vintage store would be the perfect addition to this area.
4. Steve appears to be a tough-but-fair boss (that's me as a client not an employee!). I.e., he is in charge and active with his business and the people who work for him.
5. The business is new and all about word of mouth.
Other good stuff:
- They offer you a beer when you sit down in the chair.
- There is a frequently changing hanging of local artists' work on the walls and occasional art openings here. Stop by and check it out - there's always something interesting on the walls.
- You can drop in (that's the commonest way) or make an appointment with a specific stylist on day-of or next day.
So, my new review: On one hand, gal didn't quite get my hair, which resulted in an unhappy haircut for me in the first place. On the other hand, I could have been more proactive in my own cut. The fact that Steve was so concerned and willing to redo (even after discovering it wasn't so bad after all!) means this business gets 5 stars from me.
Take-home messages: Communicate. Know your hair. Bring stylist pix of the cut you want. Speak up if something doesn't feel right.
And go here! This is an awesome, friendly, locally owned salon that offers an excellent price point along with great service. You won't be sorry. I know I'll be going back. Thanks, Steve!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/2/2009
So sad. The cut was so bad I've been wearing a ponytail ever since. The gal who cut my hair was… Read more »
Comment from Steve J. of
Public Barber Salon
8/8/2009
Otay, Im still looking forward to you coming in for a…
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Within an hour of my first scissor here, I got stopped by THREE people asking to touch my hair! TOUCH. So I let them, and they sighed long and adoringly. Now if that's not testament to an excellent cut and blow, I don't know what is. Forget a dog or Irish accent, if you want women's hands all over you, Public is the answer!
Funky and hip, working the distressed meets old school barber meets intellectual look, the salon's got killer aesthetics and rotating selection of local art. Definitely doesn't look like a joint with Super Cuts prices; $31 for a long hair cut. I know, I rubbed my eyes too!
The owner, Steve, was "shear" genius. He cleaned up my mangy mop, working it to shine with their array of fine Italian products, and had an easy going chair side manner. We had a moment singing along to Prince together. Bumping soundscape too!
Ten visit punch card? You bet! You're looking at a customer for life!
A friend got me an appointment here and the first thing that caught my eye was the incredible artwork hanging on the walls - hauntingly beautiful portraits of people...I'll have to get the name of the artist. The next thing that made an impression was the offer of a cold beer. I respectfully declined, but really liked the idea of relaxing with a cold one while waiting for the stylist. I didn't have to wait long because the owner, Steve Jester, greeted me with a warm smile and a hand shake. And he led me to where he works his craft - and began. I told him to do what he thought felt right and he did! I'm very particular about my haircuts, but this one was absolutely awesome. I'm so happy with my cut and I will be returning and telling everyone about this gem!!
Yeah dude, I'll have a haircut and a PBR, thank you. I strolled in here last Friday without an appointment, was greeted warmly and told it would just be a little while and would I like a beer? Yessssss. I waited about thirty seconds before Jen, my would-be stylist called me up. I showed her a picture of what I had in mind, and she looked at it for like a second and I mumbled, "That's what I had in mind, but if it's just something similar, that's cool." I must say, I was amazed by how exactly my end-product resembled that photo I showed her.
So there I was, drinking my PBR, getting my hair did, chatting. I actually enjoyed the conversation and felt a little moved by it. I felt like I had so much attention paid to my hair and for a very reasonable price.
The whole place felt hipster to me, in a good and not too pretentious way. It is next door to a glass dildo store, which is neither here nor there. They give you a punch card so you can earn a free haircut after ten previous ones. I'm glad that this place is right up the street from me, and I'll definitely be back.
I hate getting my hair cut because I always end up paying so much for the whole ordeal. This place is nice because it cuts the cost down by leaving out the wash, which I can do at home, and making the blow out optional.
On top of being a good deal price-wise, the people working there are really awesome. I almost never am able to keep a conversation going with my stylists, but everyone here acted like a real person. We got along so well that after my cut, a blow out was thrown in for free because no one else was waiting to be shorn.
I also really like the idea of the art wall, with rotating shows every 6 weeks. Gives you something different to look at and adds another dimension to the place. They have openings for the shows, which is pretty cool.
So I am a Yelp virgin, but this place deserves the praise, so here's my first review EVER! But this salon, and SARAH!!!! deserve some praise!
My husband and I went there for his haircut, and I were EXTREMELY apprehensive. We had bad experiences with salons before, and I wasn't sure if this place would butcher Frank's hair like the other places did.
When we walked in the salon seemed a bit shabby, not what I am used to, but then again neither are the prices. First, Frank gets offered a beer (strange), and a few minutes later Sarah walks up. Now she's got the modern look, and I mean way too modern for my comfort zone, and now I am nervous. I explain to her about the cut, and she goes to work and WOW! First of all, no buzzing, scissor cut!!!!! For the first time in a year, someone actually listened to what we asked for. She actually did not trim where we asked her not to, and cut it like Frank wanted. And all was done in about 15-20 minutes, and only cost $26. She explained how to style the hair as well, and what products to use. And I am speechless.
So the moral of the story -- if you want a great haircut at a great rate, Public Barber Salon is the place! Ask for Sarah! She is fantastic!
I've been a picky bastard when it comes to my hair, and have been going to the same girl for almost five years (having followed her to three salons). Unfortunately, economics caught up to me, and I just can't afford the $55 + tip haircuts every other month anymore. My Yelphunt led me to Public where I dropped in a 7 pm on a Friday night.
The place is an unassuming little storefront downtown on Geary, right next door to a glass dildo store (in case you need to kill some time while you're waiting). It's a cool space, with just a few stations and some nice pop art on the walls.
I had to wait for 15 minutes or so, but Ahna was able to see me before they closed up. She was very complimentary of my hair, and had a lot of ideas of how I should be cutting/styling it. I like to let a stylist do what they're comfortable with, so I let her do her thing. She spent much more time on my hair than I expected and was very insistent that I need to learn to work with my natural hair, rather than against it (which I've always done). I left being really stoked on the haircut.
For $26 + tip, I really felt like I got the same attention, albeit without the wash and head massage of pricier salons I've always gone to. And hey, I wash my hair every day, I think I can handle a quick shower before a haircut. Public does offer it, for an extra $5.
Love this place!!! I go to Jasmine all the time, she is great. I have long hair, with lots of long layers...she did a good job with it. I used to go to Festoon, or Solei and couple of other more expensive places, but I am definitely a fan of Public Barber. You can only make daily or next day appointments, which is great for me because I'm usually pretty impulsive when it comes to getting my hair did! Plus they give you a PBR, what can beat that?!?
winning the best feeling ever.
what else can i say?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/13/2009
I just got a cut again today & love love love it.
I've been going to P.B.S. [public barber salon]… Read more »
