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Refuge Salon & Spa
Category: Beauty and Spas Hair Salons Hair Salons [Edit]
1815 W Sunset BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90026
Neighborhood: Echo Park
(213) 483-1675
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 10 am - 8 pm
Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
$115 for $150 Certificate
Stanton C. said: "At Essensuals London, you are treated like a VIP from start to finish, especially me since my stylist is Gin. He's a genuine talent, the kind you…" read more »
170 reviews for Refuge Salon & Spa
170 reviews in English
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Review from Olivia A.
Los Angeles, CA
10/9/2011
I have been coloring my own hair for over a decade now and rarely let professionals get involved because they f it up approximately all the time. Refuge was a different experience. I went to Russell because he'd done a really great ombre on my good friend.
I went in with a list of issues... like the fact that I've done everything to my hair ever and it usually turns bright red no matter what color I put into it. Russell actually paid attention.
And I had kinda intense requests...like new roots and a very specific reddish coral color and ombre highlights and I wanted it to grow out without having to dye it again a month later.
It took an obscene amount of time and multiple processes, but my hair looked exactly like I wanted at the end -- like it did when I was a kid with natural highlights and that softness that only kids have.
A month later and it looks even better than it did! The root color Russell picked is actually my root color (whew) and the reddish color stuck around. I'm still super happy and will definitely go back. Russell is a sweetheart.
I will agree that the place needed AC in the summer months... i definitely felt sweaty the whole time. But they're supposed to be getting AC soon and the talent is definitely there. -
Review from Elizabeth N.
Los Angeles, CA
10/19/2011
This is a review not based on the quality of services but the ineptness of the staff. I bought a Groupon and scheduled an appointment for the last day it was good for. I called in 2 months in advance and made an appointment with the receptionist. I also called in a few days before to confirm the appointment. When I came in for my appointment, they didn't even have my appointment on the books. The staff was scrambling to figure out what had went wrong. There was no real explanation as to what went wrong except that they don't know why it didn't show up in their system. I suspect the receptionist just didn't know what she was doing or was just too lazy to even look up my appointment to really confirm and was just talking out of her you know what. I had left work early just for this appointment and actually came from a far way, and the owner couldn't even comp me for anything (which is what you should expect for being this inconvenienced and when it's clearly the businesses fault.) Seriously, if any of these people had business acumen they would realize that they've lost a potential customer that could have generated them $$$$, and a simple comp would have made me feel better, but I'm so upset at their lack of resolution, (which was to just come back at another time) that I will never EVER come here again. Also, I didn't like their facilities, there was NO airconditioning and it was HOT. It was seriously a strange environment. It was also ridiculously hard to find, being hidden in back of some parking lot.
I recently received an email from the owner that she would comp me for some services and that she was sorry for what had happened, but she should have did this when I was still at the salon, not in response to my negative review. As a businessperson, I appreciate proactivity vs. reactivity. -
Review from Mary R.
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I booked an appointment here through Lifebooker. The salon is set up in a warehouse, which is aesthetically a pretty cool setup. There's lots of space and it's a very casual environment. There's no air conditioning, which makes it HOT. Despite the fan directed on my body, I was pretty uncomfortable for the entire cut, and I was wearing just jean shorts and a tank top. By the time my stylist was finished, I felt super gross and sweaty. But, I got a pretty solid haircut, so I guess it was worth it?
Important tip for newbies: The salon warehouse is set back from the road and poorly marked, so it's pretty hard to find. Not sure why they don't put a sign out front (I had to call for directions). You'll see a restaurant (Tom's, I think?), which is located to the right of the salon. Just walk down the gently sloped parking lot until you see the gray/green warehouse building.
No issues with my lifebooker discount. I paid via credit card, which my stylist ran with a square hookup to her iphone. Kind of a surprising setup for a business, but whatever. -
Review from Hulk H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/9/2012
I go here all the time. I love the staff and the trendy neighborhood. It can get hot during the summer. I hope they get a swamp cooler
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Review from Bonnie H.
TOLUCA TER, CA
7/21/2011
I had a really amazing relationship with my hairstylist in Orange County. Then she moved to Colorado...Since then (2+ years ago) I haven't found anyone who I've really been excited to see. *Drumroll* UNTIL NOW!
Nicole has cut my hair twice. Each time I love what she does, and we have a great time while she is cutting it. I'm not the pickiest person in the world when it comes to hair, but I have had some of the best and worst cuts in my day. Nicole does a fantastic job and I will continue to go to her until I go bald. -
Review from Nikhil S.
Los Angeles, CA
6/25/2011
OK here goes, I don't write that many Yelp reviews, only when a place moves me big time, be it a great experience or a warning to others....nothing in between. And we all know how hard it can be to find the right place for you to get yo hair did. Plenty of pretenders, not enough of the real deal. Well it goes without saying that the peeps at Refuge, specifically Jill, are the raddest kids to cut hair I've come upon in my many moons in LALA land.
They totally put you at ease when you walk to the chair by offering a cold adult beverage. I'm kinda a sucker for that, offer me a beer and I will follow you into the depths of hell (as long as there is more beer there) but that being said I always have a great time. Jill is such a rad chick, half the time I forget I'm getting my hair cut cuz we are shooting the shoot the whole time.
But to the nuts and bolts of this review, cuz it is a salon, and we all want our hair to look good. I have yet to walk out of this place not feeling like a millions bucks. Hair has always looked good. Have always got great comments. Always enjoy my time there. The price is right, chill atmosphere, cool building, around the corner from me in EP. There really isn't much more to say. If you are looking for a new place or are just curious go to Refuge and ask for Jill. You will not be dissapointed! -
Review from Hilary M.
Los Angeles, CA
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Courtney Rice at refuge is amazing! She knows color and really listens to what you say! She also gives great cuts. Go here!
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Review from m h.
San Francisco, CA
7/19/2011
Nicole Gehweiler. I'm a huge fan.
Perhaps I'm the luckiest girl in the world, or perhaps my having NEVER given in to $100+ haircuts keeps me in a good, affordable hair cut Karma flow.
I never (I can't) pay a lot for hair cuts, yet in every major city I've lived in - NYC, SF and now, LA, I've randomly found affordable hair cuts that have people asking me "Where DID you get your hair cut?!"
It was a $15 cut at a barber shop in NYC, Supercuts in SF, and now Refuge Salon - with Nicole. I spent a little more than I have in the past but well, there's inflation and heck, I'm all grown up now. I deserve a little extra pampering. (My cut was $40)
Nicole is lovely, talented, and super fair with her pricing. Heck, just go get your hair cut! And, tell her Megan sent you. -
Review from Elyse M.
San Francisco, CA
5/29/2011
Sasha is my favorite person in Silverlake and I lived here for two years. Regardless of her coiffure ability, she is a rad conversationalist: doesn't get offended when I say something snarky and judgemental, thinks political incorrectness is hilarious, and has great taste in movies. And tabloids.
I've since moved from LA, but luckily get to go back for business trips. And haircuts. And updates on the Kardashians and Sasha's boyfriend. -
Review from Cindy B.
4/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review is for Sasha at Refuge.
I found Sasha using Lifebooker. It was the first time using the site to book a haircut but my hair was needing it. It was getting too long--long enough to make a hair bra--and let's face it, I'm not going to be in Maxim anytime soon so it had to go. Also, summer is approaching and having dark hair and lots of it just makes the weather feel hotter.
I told Sasha that I wanted 4 inches off, layers framing the face and she did just that. She also blew dry my hair to show off my cute new cut. Got compliments on it all day. That's priceless.
My haircut was also 50% off when booking through Lifebooker. That was for the cut and a blow dry. If you haven't already, sign up for Lifebooker.
http://www.lifebooker....
Will definitely come back! -
Review from Marah A.
New York, NY
Updated - 10/12/2011
I was contacted personally by the salon's owner. There was a new stylist that was causing a lot of trouble and also bad salon experiences and reviews. I appreciate that the owner took the time to personally write me and apologize for my VERY BAD experience. That said I am a little gun shy to ever return. This stylist was bad but I did have other concerns about this place. I hope they continue to improve the space has potential.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/9/2011
Horrible! I have never actually had a hair experience this bad. The space was dirty and completely… Read more »
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Review from Laura M.
Los Angeles, CA
6/9/2011
Russell is the bomb! I have had a lot of haircuts and I have never had a single person sit and spend the amount of time with me that he did before they started working on my hair. He really took the time to figure out what I wanted and was trying to do and understood how to style my type of hair.
My hair is super fine and almost always wherever I go people cut too many layers leaving it looking choppy and sparse. I love the cut he gave me and he showed me how to blow it out myself and I was actually able to copy the look on my own. This is no small feat. He seems very knowledgeable about color too and I would for sure go to him for that some time in the future. -
Review from Stephen S.
Los Angeles, CA
5/31/2011
I'm not too proud to admit it - I am usually terrified before I get my hair cut. I'm not gonna trust these precious locks to just anyone!
Jill, at the recently relocated Refuge, alleviated all my fears this afternoon when I walked in for a cut. I'm not exaggerating when I say I've never been this happy walking out of a salon. I was literally bouncing on the walk home.
First of all, Refuge is a really cool space - very open lots of natural light and an industrial, stripped-down design. The friendly staff even offered me a beer when I walked in. That alone is worth a trip back.
My stylist, Jill, was great. I wanted a different look but didn't have many ideas about what I was going for. She gave me a couple options, then got started, taking it slowly enough so that I could make the decisions of what needed to go. I ended up wanting to get rid of most of my hair, which I thought would've been a little scary, except that it's a great cut which I can do a couple different things with.
It's pretty close to my neighborhood, so the convenience is nice, but I'd be coming back anyway. No pretention from the stylists, cool atmosphere, great haircut, and the price is right. I don't imagine I'll be getting my hair did anywhere else. -
Review from Jamora C.
Los Angeles, CA
4/3/2011
My experiences at Refuge have always been great. I never get a bad haircut, they give out beer (so awesome, especially for someone who lived in Irvine for 4 years... the most square of all places), and the hair dresses are always a delight!
This review is mostly for Erika, who did an excellent job at giving me a whole new look. I had long, unruly hair that had not been cut for what seemed like centuries. I wanted to dye it a new color and to cut it short. She looked at some of the pictures I wanted and helped me pick out the look we wanted. Erika was also patient enough to cut my hair midway, so we could see if I wanted it shorter after all. The best thing we did to my hair was the color. Erika helped me to pick a realistic and natural color (a copper-ish dark brown) that still had some pop to it. Overall, the hair cut was done well (carefully cut layers), the color looked great, and the style was young looking and perfect for my face shape. She was so nice and awesome to chat with. Thank you Erika for making me look amazing! -
Review from Sara Jane C.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 6/24/2011
Adding another stylist to my fav list..Thanks Jill! I got the summer color and cut I needed. I've been a fan of the salon for a while...I just feel comfortable and I love the space.
Also hilarious that I didn't intend to end up with a "trendy" grow-out, but apparently everyone really liked my "ombre"...totally not intentional, just lazy. Good job gal!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/30/2010
Thank you Sasha! My hair is thin, but there is a lot of it and it's quite time consuming to… Read more »
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Review from Christianne R.
Los Angeles, CA
10/29/2011
I found Refuge through a Living Social deal back a month or so ago. This deal was exclusively for a hair cut with Natale Verdone. I was cautious going in, not having any prior recommendations on the salon or the stylist - but was more than pleasantly surprised at what a fantastic cut Natale gave me! She really listened to me and also gave great suggestions on ways to improve upon my current look. Natale, I found out, has just moved over to the salon Shag - in Los Feliz. I will be following her there, as she was really this amazing!! So happy to have met this talented stylist!
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Review from Joanne L.
Los Angeles, CA
3/31/2011
I had high hopes for Refuge after reading all the great reviews - alas, unlike the other reviewers, I just didn't have that great of an experience.
PROS:
- I used a Groupon, and Nikki allowed me to combine my haircut with a manicure.
CONS:
- Their website states both wet and dry haircuts are available; however when I asked for a wet cut my hairstylist informed me that she only does dry cuts.
- When I called to make an appointment with my Groupon, I was told over the phone that the gel manicure would be $25 (due to a $5 off promo), but was actually OVERCHARGED at time of payment for the full price $30 - so that would make my tip nearly 30%
- When I got home I noticed that on several of my nails, the polish was not applied evenly, particularly in the corners of the nails
TIPS:
*Make sure you know the exact service you want and confirm your stylist can do it before you go in
*Have exact change available if paying with cash
I may go back again for a haircut in the future since they do seem to have some talented hairstylists but wouldn't recommend the manicure/nail services. Hope you have a better experience than me! -
Review from Natascha S.
Los Angeles, CA
9/30/2011
Courtney Rice is my go to lady for blow outs, cuts and balayage! balayage is her specialty, she is usually pretty booked so make an appointment, she is worth the few day wait! Always leave loving my hair!
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Review from mindy y.
Glendale, CA
7/21/2011
I got a hair rescue from Sasha and she's so amazing. I showed her a photo and described what I was looking for, within an hour, it was like magic. My scrappy dry hair was clean cut with lots of volume and boy was it healthy. Great movement and the bangs were sexy- swept to the side and layered. She over-delivered- It's so hard to find a stylist that can listen to your idea and come through. To top it all off she is really fun to chat with and super cool. The salon is hidden which gives it a cool vibe. Don't expect shiny floors or chandeliers, this is a character place. Very fun.
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Review from Emilie C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/29/2011
Thank you, Sasha!!! Sasha took an awful "chunk" cut I have been trying to hide/grow-out and gave me a awesome hair cut. I am growing my hair out for my Sept. wedding. In the past, when I've told stylists that I'm growing out my hair I get an eye-roll and a 3 inch trim. Sasha took off just what was needed to blend the shelf-like layers an offending stylist (not from Refuge, btw) hacked into my hair.
The only thing that bugs is that you have to pay $5 to park in the huge parking lot. That's a bit wack, but there is plentiful free and metered street parking. -
Review from erica u.
Laguna Beach, CA
5/13/2011
I love Jill!
I am super picky about my blonde hair, and I was extremely happy with Jill's highlights!! The result was a perfect golden blonde (high and low lights), and the color was super close to the root which I love.
And she's a sweetheart : ) I live in Laguna Beach, so I probably can't be a regular, but I sure wish I could be! 100% satisfied! -
Review from Hazel M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/8/2011
I love this place because of Sasha. I first went to Sasha last year for my friend's wedding. I originally was going to see another stylist that had an offer for a hair cut with any hair color service but when I got there there was a scheduling mishap. Sasha introduced herself and offered to work on me with the same deal. She's amazing with color and gave me a blow out style with soft waves after giving me a trim. The wedding was actually the next day but she showed me how to save the look by using bobby pins. I didn't wash my hair for 4 days! Haha, it lasted that long.
Anyway, I was and still am a starving grad student. There was a Groupon offer recently and so I grabbed the chance to see Sasha again. She works great with my hair's texture: wavy, medium/thin hair. I can never redo her blowouts, but I love how my recent hair cut falls when it's dry. I will be back for more once I get a steady income.
Refuge isn't too expensive compared to other places. They have quality stylists from the look of reviews/ratings... Sasha is proof. Try Refuge if you haven't found a stylist you trust with your hair. -
Review from LJ B.
Los Angeles, CA
8/16/2011
Just wanted to take a moment and rave about Ester. I received one of - if not the - best haircut of my life from her recently. Not only did she know exactly what she was doing (she also teaches at the institute) and cut my hair perfectly, she listened to everything I said in a way no hair stylist has before. She took into account my hair type as well as the amount of care and time I put into it, and executed exactly what I wanted, while making some minor adjustments to make sure the style would work for my hair. E.g. the photo I brought in had a haircut with bangs, and Ester made sure that the bangs she gave me worked for my curly hair by making them longer and showing me how to style them, and hide them, if necessary.
I'm normally a person who skips from salon to salon, often based on groupons and other discounts, but I'm sticking with Refuge, and specifically Ester, from now on. It's affordably priced, but more than that, it's worth foregoing a coupon to not have to stress about your next haircut.
Only downside: I was a little lost getting to their new digs because it's set back and sort of hidden from view behind a parking lot. But after calling for a little assistance I got there just fine. They should just put up a "this way to Refuge" sign... -
Review from Judd F.
Los Angeles, CA
4/11/2011
I randomly went here after not getting an appointment at another local trendy place. A guy named Russel took care of me and he gave me EXACTLY the haircut I wanted.
Usually when I tell the barber what I want he gets out his electric clippers and goes to work, Russel relied on more advance techniques: cutting all the hair to a short length with a razor tooth.
The way my head felt while he was cutting it reminded me of that scene in Edward Scissorhands when all the neighborhood women were orgiastically getting their hair tailored.
This is a great place for a good haircut and an authentic experience. Ask for Russel, I have since heard he works magic on women as well. -
Review from Claribelle C.
Los Angeles, CA
2/14/2011
I often drove past the unassuming http://3303sunset.com building, wondering what it was. I came here for the first time some Saturdays back when I found out that they offered a range of beauty services. That day I decided to get my stache and brow waxed w/brow tint. Often when I've gotten waxed, my skin gets red and puffy even with the sensitive skin wax, but I understand that for me, this is a necessary evil, all in the name of beauty.
Anyhow, I went in and Sarah helped me out. I was a bit nervous about the brows because I've had botched, spotty jobs (thank goodness for bangs), but Sarah did a fantastic job of cleaning up and accentuating my natural brow arch. The tint was great because it looked so natural immediately after (only takes a few min) and the even better part is that my skin was for once NOT red and puffy from the wax. I was especially happy that my former stache was not replaced with a puffy red skin stache that is imprinted on my face for about an hour after a facial wax. I was so pleased with the results that Sarah sold me on scheduling a pumpkin enzyme peel facial the following Saturday.
When I came the following week it was crazytown at 3303 with a photoshoot and ongoing Groupon deal (which I WISH I knew about). The facial was done in the same room that I had gotten my face waxed, so it isn't the most relaxing quiet place, but the facial itself was phenomenal. Sarah was incredibly helpful in briefly explaining what she was doing throughout the facial and why it was important. It also came with a nice shoulder, arm and scalp massage which helped me relax and drown out the hustle bustle of the room next door. I'm happy to say that a few weeks later, my face continues to glow, I will most certainly go back and am considering it as a monthly treat for myself. If you're in the neighborhood, you should by all means stop by. -
Review from Sarah U.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 10/10/2011
Got a sweet message from the owner, Miriam. She was very quick to respond, so It seems that this was an isolated incident and not reflective of the salon itself.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/1/2011
Bought a LivingSocial deal with Natale Verdone. I was 10 minutes late to my appointment. Talked to… Read more »
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Review from Gillian S.
Los Angeles, CA
8/22/2011
I went into the salon based off the strong Yelp reviews, photos of the cool warehouse-y space, and because on the website, Ester said she liked redheads (I can do that!).
Ester totally blew my mind. She cut 10+ inches off my hair, totally transforming me, and spent two solid hours on my hair. She was an absolute pleasure the whole time, and it's so good to know that your stylist is having as much fun as you are. I left the salon feeling like a whole new person, paying a super reasonable rate, and knowing that I'm coming back next time. -
Review from Andrew I.
Los Angeles, CA
7/25/2011
First off, I have to say I've followed my stylist, Natale, alllll across Los Angeles to this space which is absolutely gorgeous. Natale is an absolute dream to have handle my hair. We just have a brief chat about the aesthetics of the look I want, and she's off! I trust her absolutely, and I'm glad she's introduced me to an amazing space like Refuge Salon & Spa. Everyone needs to see what Natale and the other stylists are doing at this spacious locale over in Echo Park!
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Review from Kate M.
Los Angeles, CA
10/17/2010
Gosh, I have such mixed feelings about this place. Great location, nice big parking lot, and neat minimalist decor. They were also really flexible and took me in on a Sunday afternoon when I called in the morning, which is awesome since so many places are closed on Sundays. So this place gets an A+ for ambiance/hours/parking.
BUT...my haircut was terrible. It didn't look bad if it was what I wanted (in fact, I've received many compliments on it). But I said I didn't want 2 things: 1) a bob, and 2) an A-line cut. Guess what I came home with? A cross between a bob and an A-line, with the hair shorter in back than in the front. So not totally one or the other, but definitely not at all what I wanted. I also requested that my hair be long enough to pull into a ponytail, and it's not long enough for that, either. This is the first haircut that I've cried about since I was 5 and my mom cut off all my long hair and gave me some awful early 90s-style bangs. Yikes.
But at least the price was reasonable for a haircut. I paid $40 for the cut, which is totally reasonable for this neighborhood. I hear via this site that the other stylists are awesome. Or maybe I wasn't forceful enough when I said "NO BOBS, NO A-LINES." It might be worth another shot, but I gotta wait about 4 months until this terribly short haircut grows long enough to cut again. Ugh. -
Review from Jaclyn S.
10/9/2010
If there is pretty in your hair, Sasha will find it and coax it out.
I went to her for a cut after she gave me the prettiest blow-out I've ever had. Loose waves, lots of movement, hair bouncing with every step. I felt like I should be on The Hills, or at the very least like Natasha Bedingfield songs should play when I stroll down the sidewalk.
The cut lived up to expectations. Sasha thinned my thick hair from underneath, kept the long layers and length, and framed my face. Weeks later her cut still minimizes my hair's unruliness and falls into a pretty 'U' down my back. Honestly, I can't believe I can afford to go see a hair magician like her on my grad student budget! Oh and she's fun. Woohoo!
Also consider going to Sasha for color - she's been doing mine for a while now and will do what it takes to get your color just right with a minimum of damage to your hair. She does a proper consultation and also explains exactly what she's doing. Bonus - no secret charges for hair length.
Refuge as a salon overall is also a good time. You always feel like you're coming to a party. The stylists are all really laid back, parking is a breeze, and the huge airy space always looks like it's about to host a band or an art show. The last night I was there they were preparing for a rockabilly-style hoedown. I don't know what that is but it sounds like a blast.Listed in: Getting Pretty in LA
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Review from Shellie R.
Los Angeles, CA
6/10/2011 3 Check-ins Here
After a few "mis-communications," with my hairstylist of 6 years, I decided to put this head of hair back on the market.
As many people know breaking up is hard to do especially when it
Involves your hair...but it was time, long over due.
I searched yelp, asked friends, window shopped and Refuge it was.
Anyone who knows me knows I love my hair more than air, so finding someone without meeting them and letting them have their way with m hair is a big step for this girl.
I AM SO GLAD I DID!!
I booked an appointment with Antionette on short notice through their very convenient and easy to use website.
The girls at the Front desk when I came in were friendly and greeted me as soon as I walked. Antionette was waiting and ready for me.
My hair looks and feels amazing. The bf likes it, I love it...can't stop brushing it and running my fingers through it.
Antionette is great. She is funny, a foodie, has great taste in apps and really listened to what I wanted. After putting up with what I have been for the last year she is a breath of fresh air. Very happy and makes you feel comfortable. Her prices are better than my old stylist, she's nicer, the cut is better. I should have ended that bad romance long ago now that I know what I was missing.
Needless to say I took a leap of faith and I won! I booked a color appointment on the spot.
I think I've found my new make me pretty girl.
Thank You! -
Review from Laura B.
Los Angeles, CA
5/15/2011
This review is for Sasha (booked through Lifebooker). I'm really shocked that Sasha got such great reviews, I don't know if she wasn't paying attention while cutting my hair or what happened, but this was hands down THE WORST cut I have ever had in my life!!!
Unfortunately I came here the day before my college graduation just looking for a trim to clean up my split ends. I walked out of the salon with the left side of my hair about 2 inches longer than the right. The left side also didn't have any layers, and the right side had a ton of really choppy, uneven layers. It was SO uneven and looked aweful (I cried about it all night... horrible feeling)! My boyfriend, friends, and family all agreed that it was really uneven and did not look good (you KNOW it's bad when your friends can't even lie to you about it or even try to make you feel better).
I ended up having to cut my own hair to even out the length, but unfortunately there was nothing I could do about the layers. I now have to go to another salon (one which I will pay full, high price for... not taking that chance again!) to get it fixed. -
Review from Annie Y.
Los Angeles, CA
8/24/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Sasha is a miracle worker! I wanted to chop off all my hair in a pixie cut a la Carey Mulligan, but I don't think I communicated exactly what I wanted very well, because the cut she gave me was longer and shaped differently. I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but after a few days at home, I've fallen in love with it and gotten so many compliments from friends. My bangs fall effortlessly, and the layers are gorgeous.
The only thing that sucked was I booked my appointment for 11 but they moved it to 10:30, only to keep me waiting until 11 anyway. It wasn't a big deal, though -- Sasha recommended a great bakery down the street called Lark that I highly recommend checking out if you're waiting for your haircut. -
Review from Alex T.
Glendale, CA
9/13/2010
I've had facials in a few places in the L.A. area. This is by far the best place. My skin has never felt better.
Stephanie helped me and she was beyond helpful and great with her hands.
From the moment I walked in until I left I was comfortable and treated well.
Will definitely be seeing Stephanie for all my facials. -
Review from Leslie M.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 6/1/2011
I've been wanting a new fresh look, but was freakin' terrified of those streaky highlights I had way back in high school, or almost as bad, those orange brassy highlights from my early twenties. Eeeeek!
Anywho, I came to Jill searching for a something new and summery and she NAILED IT. Beachy ombre of the perfect shade, with brighter tips on the ends for fun. I don't know how this stuff works, but it looks fantastic. Long story short, best summer hair EVER.
I've sent four other friends to Jill so far (because they couldn't believe the results and asked me outright for the referral). They are all picky creative types, and they have all been so super happy. Highly recommended!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/1/2010
I am one of those girls who gets out of the chair, drives home, and inevitably ends up unhappy my… Read more »
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Review from Ryan L.
Beverly Hills, CA
12/9/2010 1 photo
Russel is the only hairdresser I let touch my hair!
He brought my hair back from a super damaged bleach nightmare. He does my cuts and color and all my many hair treatments.
He is super detail oriented! I'm very picky and I like that he indulges my inner perfectionist. He always listens to what a want, but I usually let him do whatever he suggests because he's very up to date on what's hip. I know he does a lot of fashion shoots and he keeps up on what's edgy.
Russ is what I need in a hair dresser- he'll listen to whatever I ask for but then tell's me he's not going to let me do any sort of hair kamikaze move just because I broke up with my boyfriend.
He won't let me do anything that damages my hair or anything that will make me look unattractive. If I come in in some sort of p.m.s. induced rage and say "Russ I need a platinum bob" he laughs at me and says something like "no honey you need a gin and tonic, a trim and a good conditioning treatment" Thank you Russ!
I've been going to him for a while now and I really like the new salon he's at. Very friendly and open. Parking lot is a big plus. Refuge feels like an open space art experiment, and i'm not sure that it isn't.
I send all my friends to Russ and have only heard positive things! -
Review from lindsey b.
Los Angeles, CA
6/21/2011
Listen up! I'm super excited to announce that the powers of yelp have lead to a beautiful and miraculous thing! So if you keep track of my reviews, which aren't plentiful so quit complaining, you'll notice that I found hair perfection with Lacy Thompson at a different salon. And then, upon learning that she had left this salon, I was disheartened and posted my sadness on yelp. Well guess what! She saw my review and she contacted me and she was all like, "I've moved to Refuge!". So I hop skipped it over to Refuge in Echo Park and had hair cut bliss again. Thank you yelp! And thank you Lacy and thank you Refuge and thank you everyone!
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Review from Gaea W.
Los Angeles, CA
1/17/2011 2 photos
Russel (Russ) is amazing ! Go see him ! He saved my hair !
Russ revived my extremely damaged over highlighted hair with a single process color and some meticulously done baliage highlights, it looks BEAUTIFUL now ! I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL. SEE PHOTOS. Very reasonable prices and a great space that's also used for events, music shows, art shows etc. And there is parking. Win win win win.
Here's the full story: I totally screwed up my hair by trying to highlight and tone it myself and wound up with damaged hair (from the bleach) that was both brassy orange and blue. It was a mess.
After taking one look at my massively thick, wavy and extremely long discolored hair he immediately re-arranged his schedule so that he could properly attend to my hair.
He applied a single process light brown color to even out my color overall. He was very gentle and extremely meticulous about everything, you can tell he truly cares about his clients and loves his job. The color came out beautifully, although since my hair was SO damaged the color came out darker than I had hoped...Pricing wise, I should have been charged for a color correction, but he only charged me for a single process color $75. which is less than half what a color correction costs. Oh, and he spent HOURS on my hair since it's so long/thick-which many stylists charge extra for.
The next morning I booked another appt. with Russ to try and bring some of the lightness back to my hair. Even though Monday is Russ' day off and Refuge is closed he called me back right away. After explaining how I felt about the color being darker than I'd expected he offered to see me after I got off work that evening-ON HIS DAY OFF ! -to try and brighten me back up with some highlights.
He recommended doing Baliage highlights instead of foils since he literally didn't think my hair could handle a bunch of highlights and he didn't want to risk my hair starting to fall out. He gave me beautiful Baliage highlights which give you a very natural sunkissed look, a deep conditioning treatment, and a cellophane treatment-he worked on my hair for over 5 hours until 11:00 pm and get this, HE DIDN'T CHARGE ME anything. The Baliage alone should have been $200. He said he felt bad that he didn't warn me properly about how my hair may react to the color since it was so damaged and that since I wasn't totally happy with it it was his job to fix it free of charge. This was way above and beyond nice, this is just crazy amazing nice.
Russ has officially earned my hair business for as long as I live in LA. You should go see him, I'm sure he will take amazing care of you like he did me. -
Review from Angela J.
Long Beach, CA
3/14/2011
I first heard about Refuge Salon & Spa through a http://Groupon.com deal and was foremost impressed with the wbsite that allowed me to book my appointment online. You get a brief bio of all of the salonists with their background and expertise. It was easy to navigate and the prices were very reasonable. As I drove up to the location, I was a little apprehensive at first since there is no sign and it is located in a black warehouse building. When I walked in, however, I was quickly comforted and my decision averted due to the amazing energy this place harbors; the salon had this "cheers" neighborhood vibe going on and everyone was super friendly.
My stylist, Tiffany, put me right at ease, knowing exactly how I wanted my hair cut and assisted me in choosing a celophane treatment to add shine and deep condition my hair. She made me very comfortable and it felt great to be able to have a casual conversation with her while I sat in her station for the duration of my hair appt. Some of what I experienced was the other (equally as fab) salonists get mad creative with hair models that had an event that evening. It was truly a work of art! I highly recommend this chic salon to anyone looking for a resonably priced hair cut with fab results and a unique experience to go with it. A+! -
Review from adriana r.
Los Angeles, CA
10/11/2010
Absolutely love this place. Never really paid more than 20 for a haircut before and when I went here I was kind of hesitant to pay 60. But then I went and only go here now. I love this place and I love Erica (Erika?). She does such a great job with my hair and does free bang trims! :D Just gotta call ahead and schedule in the 20 minutes to do it.
Anyway, that's it for now. This was longgg overdue.
