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Saints Hair Studio
Rating Details »
Category: Hair Salons [Edit]
Neighborhood: Santa Monica211 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 899-9041
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
15 reviews for Saints Hair Studio
NOTE: This review is about product sales and light services - have not gotten a full haircut here (yet)!
I walk by this salon nearly every day on my way to the gym. Something about those shelves of gleaming expensive salon brand hair products always calls to me. But being a cheapskate by nature, I've always made do with Pantene products, or something of the like.
After a recent haircut (not at Saints), I decided to go all out and treat my hair to some really nice shampoo. I wandered in and asked the owner of the salon what he recommended. Of course he suggested Kerastase, the most expensive brand they carry, but that's what I was expecting - that's why I went in there instead of to Target like I usually do. He was great about explaining why each particular product would work with my hair type and my maintenance habits (which are pretty much nonexistent). He compared my hair cuticles to 'tiles on a roof' - i mean, it's hard to get poetic about hair, but that was pretty close.
I've also gone in there to get my bangs trimmed by Greg. I keep meaning to book a full appointment with him but I now have a girl at another salon I like also and feel bad cheating on her. Why is life so complicated?! Anyway, when Greg has trimmed my bangs he has been just the sweetest, most wonderful person in my life for those ten minutes. When he's not busy, he would play with my hair a little bit, putting some Bumble and Bumble surf spray in there to show me how it works...basically, treating me like a real client and not just some cheapskate on her way to the gym.
Between the gorgeous products, knowledgeable owner and friendly staff, this place is tops!
The prices are high, but hopefully after a full haircut here I'll realize it's worth that extra cash!
Is parking a skank?
Yes.
Does Saints charge a LOT for a haircut or perm?
Oh yes.
But does Roy do a bang-up job of both?
Yes, yes, yes, times infinity.
You get what you pay for.
Yes, you're $250 lighter from your combination shampoo, haircut, and plethora of Aveda products you apparently must have, but...
DAYUM...
Girl, you're lookin' F-I-N-E with a capital HOT.
All the employees are friendly, yet professional.
Selection of magazines? Meh... Maybe B+. Heavy on the cuisine and gossip rags, a bit light on Cosmo and its ilk.
Bring your own Archie Comics, if that's your bag.
And oh -- lest you forget, please make an appointment.
Unless you like a two hour wait that ISN'T part of your perm.
Go to Jinky's Cafe afterward, and celebrate your sexy new hair, with some sexy pancakes and kinky orange juice.
Have been going to Carol-Ann for my haircut and color needs for the last 3 1/2 years now and will never go anywhere else as long as I'm in the LA area! In addition to knowing exactly what to do with my hair - whether or not I feel like I have any ideas for the month - I count on her advice for products, tools and styling tips. She never tries to sell useless crap that will inevitably sit in my cabinet for years.
I can always count on Carol-Ann to make me look and feel like a new woman!
Greg is also awesome and though he claims he won't do "date" hair, he does a wicked job at it.
Thanks guys!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/28/2006 First to Review
I had my hair done at Saints by Christi-Anna (I believe that was her name, but I'm so forgetful)… Read more »
Believe me when I say that I am SUPER CAUTIOUS when it comes to my hair, and who I choose to style, cut, and color it. It was a little difficult to find someone in this vast empire of hair salons and so called "stylists, colorists" etc...
However, thank goodness I finally found Saints Hair Salon. Please trust me when I say that if you see Carol Ann you will not ever be disappointed. In fact, every time I go and see her, I can sit down and be rest assured that she'll know EXACTLY what to do, even if I don't! I feel super stellar after she's done with her masterpiece, my hair :) So go and have your own masterpiece created by Carol Ann. You'll see!
Hi to everyone that has thick frizzy hair!!!!
You have to go see Carol Ann.
Have her make your morning blowout so easy with the Brazil blowout.
Its FANTASTIC!!!!
I love that i get more time in bed in the morning, and my hair just looks sooooooooooooo GOOD.
It was around $300 but worth every $.
I have had so many compliments and feel and look great.
Thanks Carol Ann.xxxxxxx
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/28/2009
I'm writing this to let as many people as possible know that Carol-Ann at Saints is the best stylist… Read more »
Tina is the bomb - she is the best stylist I've come across during my time living in both LA and NYC. She has mad skills, is very cool and flexible with scheduling. Highly recommended.
I can't vouch for the other stylists, but Michelle is a dream. $80 for the cut $35 for a conditioning treatment. A bargain, considering the results.
I had been agonizing over where to get a cut ever since I moved to Los Angeles. So much so, in fact, that I waited a full year to actually do anything about it. I waited until I was so frustrated by my Yeti-like appearance that I found myself sitting in front of my monitor at work, staring down a pair of scissors.
It was then that I decided to ask my coworker (with shiny, lovely locks) if she happened to have any recommendations.
"Actually, yes I do. Michelle at Saints in Santa Monica. She's amazing."
I shouldn't have doubted her for a moment, but I am constantly worried about dropping mucho bucks on something mediocre. People seem to do a lot of it in this city, no second thoughts. It's beyond me.
In any case...
I have long, thick, bushy, curly hair. It snarls and it's hot. I had yet to go to a stylist who didn't want to cut it all off, just for the sake of preventing aching arm muscles on their part. They also typically cut it so that it either looks good straight OR so that it looks good curly. Never had I had something that allowed me to do both.
I walked into Saints, conveniently close to free parking at the 3rd Street Promenade, squinting from the bright mid-day sun. The place is dimly lit, cool, comfortable, and didn't reek of harsh chemicals. The woman at the counter smiled warmly and made eye contact. I asked for Michelle and she stood up to shake my hand. "I'm Michelle," she said and led me to a chair. I noticed her mile high heels and marveled that someone could spend the better part of a day standing in them.
We discussed the cut and she was blunt and honest. Refreshing. Her suggestions were an improvement upon what I had been thinking, so over we went to sink to wash my hair. Hoorah scalp massages. She suggested a conditioning mask, I figured, "why not," and went for the extra treatment. She sat me down with some trashy magazines under the dryer and went to work on another customer.
The girl had thin, wispy, damaged blonde hair and a round face. I could see her holding up a photo of an impish, angular model with thick glossy hair and an angular hipster cut. Michelle said, "You don't have the same hair she does. It's not going to look like that on you. Why don't we..." and continued on until she had talked the girl out of an enormous mistake. I tried not to smirk. Honesty is a little too rare, so it was fantastic to see that she had zero qualms telling it like she saw it.
After about 20 minutes of "how to please your man," "*insert celebrity name here* is a fatty fat fatty," and "I was a teenage herpes/apartheid/Hollywood survivor," Michelle rinsed out the hair treatment and blow-dried my hair. It was lovely, shiny and the cut fit my face.
I couldn't be happier.
Carol-Ann Kennedy is the name. I'm obviously not a stylish person or one who cares too much about such things, but based on the evidence I figure she must be pretty good: I never got compliments on my hair cuts until I started seeing Carol-Ann. I have never failed to get one or more compliments after each time I have visited Carol-Ann.
Besides the great haircuts, Carol-Ann has been a way for me to keep track of what's going on in the lives of former colleagues who also get their hair cut with her. She seems to know where everybody is and what they are up to. I'm very careful what I talk about :)
Best feature: The most relaxing hairwash / scalp massage you've ever had. Worries will melt away.
I have a color appointment later today so I can't speak to the service yet. But I just called them and spent a good 5-10 minutes chatting with Roy about my issue. He's the owner by the way. And cool and helpful. I liked him, and not just because of that adorable Chinese-Cockney accent thing he's got going on. Can't wait to go. More later.
So I went. The color's great, if a bit uneven (didn't cover all my gray, missed a noticable spot). The blowout is just eh! Would I go again? Maybe, in a bind, but the money I paid is what I pay for some of the best colorists in NYC and I'm not sure these guys are in that league. Definitely decent service, though, just not top-notch.
I was in town for a wedding and needed someone to style my hair as I stupidly forgot to pack my curling iron. I had 2 hours before the wedding and luckily, they had an immediate opening and booked Shana for me. She was very nice. I felt like she did a great job of washing my hair. She spent a good 10 mins scrubbing and massaging my scalp. Ahhh...I was in heaven for that 10 mins.
She spent the next 50 mins curling my hair, making sure it stays for the whole night (it was REALLY windy outside) - 3 days later, still curly!
I got a lot of compliments that night - so thank you Shana! You a did wonderful job. Sorry I wasn't chatty but I did have a good nap though =-)
Roy: "Saints."
Me: "Hello! I was wondering if Donna was working today?"
Roy: "Yes."
Me: "What times is she working?"
Roy: "Supposedly ten."
Me: "um... until when?"
Roy: "All Day."
Me: "Alright... what time do you close?"
Roy: "Can I *help* you?"
Me: ".... i wanted to book with her but i just wanted to see what times she was available first--"
Roy: "So....?"
Me: "You know what? Nevermind."
I was disappointed. The lady that did my highlights like dug her fingers into my neck while she was rinsing me to the point it actually hurt, you know every time she ran her hand around the back of my neck.
When talking to her while she was doing my highlights she spoke to herself in the mirror rather than speaking to me, which I thought was strange. She recommended a product that after speaking to other "hair professionals" turns out is more for like gray hair or whatever than blond.
I was left under the dryer for so long my butt seriously was hurting!
And my pretty blond highlights turned a nasty orange gross color. And she layered my hair when I said i wanted more volume, which is really my bad, I typically don't like layers, but thought I'd give it a shot in case it worked out this time.
And I thought the parking situation was sucky, there's a 2 hour limit in the parking garage and good luck finding street parking down there.
I wish my experience would have been better.
Carole Anne is the best! Awesome cuts and amazing color. She is great and does exactly what you tell her to do. Highly recommended!!!
Carol-Anne is amazing. I first off, love her to pieces (she's just a cool chick), and she is really good about suggesting colors/cuts and refreshingly blunt (and clear) about why what you might want may not work for you. Moreover, if you go with her suggestion and you don't like it, she's more than happy to go with what you wanted in the first place. I find her super easy to work and laugh with, and the prices are (LA) reasonable as well. She's hilarious and down to earth, and I'm happy to travel from the east side to the west for her...totally worth it in gas $$ and good times.
my official hair place in LA, even though it's a good 40 min drive from home. why?
1. back when i was trimming my own hair, i accidentally cut my bangs way to short. luckily, i only had to endure cruel jokes about spiking up my bangs for a short while. somehow ivy (?) fixed it. it even looked kinda cool in a rock star way.
2. another time i was obsessed with becoming a blonde. the colorist bluntly told me as an asian chick, there is no such thing as natural looking blond. i'm glad he didn't give me the whole bleached head that i wanted but instead put in some nicely toned blond highlights.
they really know what they're doing (i've always been happy with my hair here), and prices are reasonable.
