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Sole' Salon
Rating Details »
Categories: Hair Salons, Hair Removal, Skin Care [Edit]
5689 Bay St(between Christie Ave & Shellmound St)
Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 654-1422
Aveda Facials and waxing 50% off.
Value Pricing in our Spa is available Sun, Mon, Tues and Thurs. Call today and reserve your next treatment.
Announced 17 hours ago- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
Sponsored Result
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129 reviews for Sole' Salon
This place is AWEEESSSOOOMEEE!!!! :D
I havent gotten a haircut this beautiful for yearrss~~!!
I highly recommend Nathalie, shes super sweet and rly know what she is doing!! I'm going to get my hair colored by her next week, and I'm rly excited! :]
The place looked clean, and had a great ambience. Everyone was rly friendly and they even offered me some super delicious tasting tea while I waited for my appointment!! :D
The cut looks so good, I love my new hair!!
Ollie is gone, boo!
Ollie, where did you go?
Also, model calls changed to Wednesdays...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/2/2009
I think I've found my hair home!!
I've fallen in love with Aveda products not to mention my super… Read more »
I want to give this place and ALICIA 5 stars because she is so friendly and so good at understanding what I want out of my hair style. I walked in today completely nervous because the hair stylist that had cut my hair for the past 3 years had messed up the cut and I didn't know whether I should go back to the one that messed up my hair or try Alicia, who had been dying my hair and keeping me satisfied with the coloring.
I finally decided to give Alicia a shot... and she was a life savor! I liked how she talked to me and how we figured out what would look best on me TOGETHER! With my previous stylist, I had to show her an exact picture of what I want otherwise the hair cut would always be a nightmare. But Alicia is very good at communicating with me and she did my hair exactly how I wanted it. She even gave advice on when I should have my next hair cut and the timeline for my hair to grow to the length I desired.
Overall, she is very very good! I love going to her for hair cut, coloring and even just having a good chit chat! Thanks Alicia! Now I don't have to drive over the bridge to go to the city for a hair cut anymore!
I go here intermittently. They seem to be pretty busy, so you have to book in advance and i don't like being tied down by all those rules.
However, Jennifer does a good job and has good suggestions for the haircut, which i like.
I used to live above Bay Street, so it was only natural I would come here for haircuts. Loved the massage before the cut and the hair stylists are super friendly. Each time, I would leave feeling pretty good, but it wasn't anything to rave about. I've had haircuts before where my girlfriends would ask who did my hair, but I haven't had the same response with this place.
One haircut that did stand out was with Jennifer, a bubbly stylist who suggested to go with an edgier cut, and I loved it.
All in all, I would definitely come back if I happened to be back on Bay Street, but I probably wouldn't drive across the Bay Bridge for it.
I had 2 appointments for hair blow and hair straightening and we were told it would cost us 50$. When we got there, she asked us if we wanted straight down to the end or some loose curls or bigger curls, so we thought why not, let's go for some loose curls, but we were not told that this would cost us 15$ more! I am not a big fan of surprises, so I didn't like to be charged more than I am told and I was not told!
otherwise, she was nice and friendly, she did a relatively good job and the place was also nice and clean and big, so altogether, I liked the work she did but not the surprise part.
I just had a horrific experience there yesterday..... had to pay extra for things that were added on the spot and hate the haircut..... worst ever ... and the colour..... dark.... just what I didn't want.... extra hightlights that are so badly done that can't even be found......
I was confident because it was Aveda but was a right disappointment... never to go back.......
Since I've lived in the East Bay, I've been looking for a good salon and Sole Salon was recommended to me by a friend. For someone who is far too familiar with hideous haircuts, it was no surprise that I was skeptical about trying out a new salon and paying big bucks for a haircut my 5 year old cousin could probably do. Fortunately, Sole Salon knows a thing or two about cutting/styling hair. I have nothing negative to say about the entire experience.
When you walk in, you're greeted with a smile and a calming atmosphere. You almost feel like you're in a day spa rather than a salon. They guide you into a private, curtained-off area to place your things and put on the black hairdresser smock. As you wait in the salon area for your appointment, they give you tea/water, which was perfect for calming my pre-haircut jitters. They also give you a short written survey so your hairdresser can tailor the haircut to your lifestyle and maintenance routine (types of products you use, how often you wash, etc). DELIA was amazing! She was young and hip and did a wonderful job of really understanding what I wanted. I wanted to go short, but was traumatized by past haircut heartbreaks. Considerate of my apprehension, Delia suggested a short haircut, but said she would leave my front strands a bit longer so I wouldn't entirely miss the length I was used to. I gave her the green light and the rest is history. Best haircut I've gotten. Needless to say, I turned a few heads as I walked out of this place.
From tea to head massages while shampooing your hair, you will leave here feeling refreshed and free of post-haircut remorse. Prices are reasonable, too. I'll definitely be back for my next haircut.
I have had more than a fair share of unattractive haircuts, but the one I got here from Alicia was by far THE WORST ONE YET.
I went in with a handful of pictures to give her an idea of what I wanted, including a few depicting the haircut of my worst nightmare. To keep this review from becoming a novella, I will just say that she was hasty and sloppy which resutled in a shaggy , uneven, way-too-short, bowl cut with one hank of hair cut bluntly at about mid-cheek level that DID NOT blend in with th rest of the slob-job. My cut ended up being nearly identical to the photo of my worst nightmare hairstyle. DId she not notice the big black X I drew through it when I explained it was NOT what I wanted? (I was going more for a chin-length, sleek bob. )
Needless to say, I left in tears and have had to use 30 bobby pins to put my hair back until it grows out (it's almost been 2 months and I'm not even close.) I still tipped her, because even though she can't cut hair, she's sweet but I am sick of feeling bad for the stylist when I'm the one paying. Don't they teach people how to cut thin, fine, hair in beauty college?
I really WANT to like this place, but I can't keep going back if they don't know how to cut my hair.
Still waiting on the refund promised me.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/21/2009
I had a call from the owner inviting me back to finish my facial package even though it had expired.… Read more »
I had several positive experiences at this salon, even with the trainees. They are overseen by Tony, who is a nice guy and a good stylist. But like Carol and another reviewer here, I was BANNED because I dared to ask for a slight correction.
For some reason, my previous narration was deleted here, and I don't have time to re-write it. The bottom line is that the trainee who was cutting my hair had very bad memory problems. She asked me 5 times in 10 minutes on which side I parted my hair. I won't name her because poor memory seems the least of her problems. Perhaps my not wanting to deal with her reaction was why, when put on the spot by Tony asking "It looks great, doesn't it?" (with her standing right there), I didn't disagree.
I tried to live with it, but it wasn't working. So, I called to ask for some tweaking of the back. The receptionist basically said that if Tony reviewed my hair when I left, that was the end of the story. I couldn't tell if she was a poor communicator or wasn't clear on what I wanted, so I asked -- calmly and politely, with no sense of dire urgency -- to speak to a manager.
Later that day I get a call from an IRATE man, one of the owners: Guy, the dark-haired guy at the counter who never smiles and is often surly. Immediately after I said hello, he starts YELLING AT ME. (No kidding. He's YELLING at me.) He tells me that he had to come into work on his day off because of me. What the heck? Are they BOTH INSANE?
Can you imagine starting a conversation like that with a customer? Can you imagine assuming that your receptionist (which change with the wind at Sole Salon) got it exactly right, that there was no miscommunication and just launching in to yelling at the customer? Talk about over the top Diva. Given that I couldn't get a word in edgewise in this verbal tirade, I hung up. But he called me back to yell at me somemore! Most outrageous behavior I've ever encountered at a business.
I didn't write a review then because I figured he was in a bad mood, perhaps because business was down. Why should the rest of the salon suffer because he has an anger-management problem. I expected he would calm down later and call me back to apologize for his RAGING, but that never happened. Just the opposite.
One year later, wanting to be ensured of a good cut for some upcoming events, I call to make an appointment with Tony (the nice guy and good hair stylist) only to be told by a flustered receptionist that someone named Guy (co-owner) will have to call me back. Apparently, my phone number came up on some "alert" list.
Background on my one previous encounter with Angry Guy: He was manning the counter when I said that something had changed in hair product I purchased. The first bottle was fine, but the newer bottles didn't work. Was there a change in formula? I asked. No, there wasn't, he dismissed me, and gave me only partial credit -- and the Evil Eye. Again, I ignored it. The rest of the people at the salon were nice enough.
As it turns out, there HAD been a major change in the product. Aveda had removed the VOCs, which the lady at the Hillsdale Mall Aveda store told me was simply alcohol. I bought a bottle, added some rubbing alcohol, and voila, it worked fine again. So, Angry Guy, you were wrong and moreover, you treated me like a shoplifter when I had a valid complaint. (Oh, and by the way, the Sole stylists knew that the product had changed, too. So it seems you were lying.)
You know what, Sole? If business is so great that a co-owner feels free to verbally abuse a customer -- especially one who'd spent a bit of cash there over many appointments -- then good for you. But you're still a jerk, Angry Guy, and I would not give you a penny of my business even if you got over your stupid little ill-conceived grudge. In fact, I think you get a thrill abusing people.
UPDATE: Angry Guy just called me. He said that I had had several exchanges with his receptionists. I said he was mistaken; perhaps he's thinking of someone else? He persisted, in the craziest way imaginable, not letting me get a word in (same as before). I hung up. HE CALLED ME BACK! I told him if he called me one more time, I would consider it harassment. He said, "You are an unhappy woman."
I am not making this up. Why would I bother? I'm too busy for this kind of nonsense. I write it because if you're the type who caves to bullies, you might think he is justified if he pulls this number on you. He's not. This is dysfunctional behavior.
Comment from Guy S. of
Sole' Salon
9/1/2009
Solé Salon believes in treating our team and guests with…
More »
I cross the Bay Bridge just to come here. Alicia is the BEST! I love, love, love getting my hair done at this salon, been going here for about a year now and can't complain. Love that it is clean and smells so good...Aveda scents linger everywhere. Their staff is very friendly and helpful in assisting you in choosing the right products that best fit your needs and lifestyle. Most of all, I am more than satisfied with my cut and color every time. I feel that my stylist really pays attention to my wants. Try coming on Model Tuesdays if it's only a cut that you need, so much cheaper!
I'm so late on half of this update.
I say half, because the other half is pretty recent.
Okay, I'm going to start making sense right about....
Now.
Much props need to be given to a couple of other stylists in this place.
I mentioned before that I loved Jenney, and if her schedule fits with mine next time I need to go back, I'll surely be seeing her for my nappy hair needs. Alas, she only works Saturdays.
I think just about everyone who has had Tony work on their mane can pretty much assure you that he's awesome. But what I didn't know about him, was that he's super sweet and funny. I only say that because I was initially intimidated. If you can fork out the $125 for a haircut, he is worth it. I looked fabulous when he cut it, and it grew out beautifully. Kudos for that, my man.
I also loved Nathalie. She is not only great at what she does, but she also had this low-key personality. She held a conversation but didn't talk my ear off. Nathalie listens, and then executes. Very cool, and I love my hair. It's one of those rare haircuts that keep getting better as the days pass. As a side note: My uber picky mom loved her hair too, and THAT is quite the accomplishment. At 50 bucks for a fabulous chop, there's not much to complain about.
Lastly, an honorable mention goes to Abby. This lady did not cut my hair, but of two people who are very close to me and also hard to please. They were very happy with her.
I thank this place once more for living up to all expectations on return visits.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/15/2007
Since I moved to the Bay Area two years ago, looking for a stylist has been nothing short of a… Read more »
This is such an easy-going salon. My hairstylist got what I was looking for, understood that I am a very low-maintenance wash n' wear kind lady, and delivered to me what I wanted and then some! My cut was just right. Highly recommend this place.
Sole came highly recommended from all of my coworkers, so i thought i would give it a try since I am new to the bay area.
the salon is beautiful and all the the people at the front desk were awesome.
My stylist was tracy, and she was AMAZING. i havent had a cut in 8 months, and i have been cutting my own bangs, so my hair was pretty tragic. she seriously worked some magic because i love my cut. she totally got what i wanted and was super quick too! i also received an amazing scalp and shoulder massage. i am so happy with my experience and made an appointment to see her again in 8 weeks.
go see tracy!!
Abby does an amazing job with hair!! !! She is so talented, detailed, thorough and a perfectionist!
Carmen does my eyebrows and well , they're perfect.
This salon is top notch. A+ I have no idea why there are some other reviews on here from people that were angry about them following their policies. Get over it, they're clearly stated on their salon menu/offerings. Whiney Berkeley residents. They never shut up.
My roomie went here and liked it, so recommended it to me (and believe me, she is picky like me :P), specifically Delia. So, considering I go to a different hairstylist every time (there's so many out there, you gotta check 'em all out right?) I decided to give this place a try. I went for a trim and dye, and Delia did her thang with all natural ingredients (I swear the crap in the box for $5 I used to use in hs isn't good for your head). I liked the overall result, but as usual, I focus a lot on the service and all-around experience I get in the places I check out.
So Delia's obviously social, we talk about random yet essential topics of discussion ranging from our careers, love lives, and of course, our hair (who else better to ask about it?). Let's just say she inspired and confirmed my beliefs of wanting to live life to its fullest-in any aspect of our lives...from those 3 topics and others, we have the choice to live a passionate and this-is-flippin'-amazing type of lifestyle. You can't let the ephemeral notion of security entice you into staying in anything, whether it's an alright career, an unhealthy relationship, etc. Btw we didn't really go in depth on all this, it's mostly me just reflecting. Life's too short to live a crappy one, is the overall gist here.
So anyhows, she remembered her convos with my roomie too (which was a month or so ago) and that's what it's all about...connecting and bonding with your hairstylist (like in those chick flick movies). She told me to come back in a few months to redye but I don't like doing it that often because of the cost and damage, but she said their products don't damage and I could just redye the top part for less. So okay, I'll do it...go to a hairstylist for the second time for the first time in my life. You stick to what's good, right?
I work in Emeryville but had not ventured into this salon because I thought it was just an Aveda store. Wrong, there is a full salon behind the product isle.
This place is really nice. I got a cut / color from a "student" who was hardly a novice.
Perfect color brown.
Thanks!
Just moved to Emeryville and did not know any good places for a cut so found this one on yelp and it was next to our place so I went for the $20 model cut special they have on Tuesdays.
Biggest con was that the model cut took 1 hour mainly because the master instructs the student in how to cut the hair. But the student cut my hair much shorter than I wanted, but I'm a guy and my hair will grow back in a few weeks.
Overall experience was decent. Next time I am asking directly for the master Tony.
I've been to this salon 3 times and each time I have a different person when I am a color model and each time when I have gotten my lowlights or highlights; I always get really good complements after. The price for highlights can run over $150 and bleaching is always involved with my black hair, here; I pay $45 no bleaching involved and I feel that they are under a good supervision/watchful eye of the person who runs the place. If you don't mind the wait (took about 2 hours), the cost will definitely compensate for it! Haven't gotten a haircut from there yet.
Got an appt on Model Tuesday - $20. freaking sweet
got an appren, Jennifer, who loves her job and has been been there a while.
i was a little shy about going to a salon but she was really nice. Made me feel comfortable. She looked at my hair, checked with the Director and with me and went to work.
I had a great time. And it was a really pretty, clean, and modern place.
Jaz is awesome, what can I say? Great with color (I like getting a reddish blackish brown color), great with wavy hair (love my cut). I've been back I don't know how many times now.
The Model Tuesday is great, too. Get your cut by an apprentice (overlooked by the Director) for $20. Brought my boyfriend and our friend (also a guy); they love it, it's just too bad their hair grows out so fast.
Got a facial by Carmen - loved the foot massage at the beginning, and everything that came after. Wonderfully relaxing!
So I'm a repeat client. :)
Let me first give you some background, I became a client of Tony Demartile (co-owner and director) as an insecure pre-teen. I walked into our local town hair shop full of insecurities about my horribly frizzy and coarse hair, expecting absolutely nothing. There wasn't a hair stylist around that could do anything with my hair, including the owner of the shop. My mother and I had tried trendy upscale salons, grandmom hair shops and Salons specializing in "ethnic" hair types. We finally gave up giving in to the local spot and a scrunchy... until Tony (still in High School himself at that time). I still remember my mother pulling up to get me and seeing her mouth drop open for a good few minutes, she had never seen my horrible hair look so good either.
Since then I have strayed a few times, once because I was living in NY, once because I was being cheap and tried to go the cheap route and once because I decided to try a snooty SF salon that had been featured in Allure magazine. I can tell you that each and every time I have ended up scurrying back to Sole, promising myself never to stray again. Mainly because even now, years later Tony is still the only person that knows what to do with my hair.
Now I will be the first to admit, I cannot afford Tony and out of his clientele I am probably on the lower end of the income scale but he is worth every single penny he charges and more. He is a hair artist, not just a stylist and I have yet to leave his salon feeling anything less than fabulous. I can go to him and say: "do whatever you want" or bring a photo and say "I want this" and I know Tony will not disappoint. He always provides honest feedback and direction and he has yet to be wrong about anything concerning my hair.
In addition to his talent, it is so nice to hang out with him and shoot the breeze while he designs my hair. He is pleasant and kind and nice to talk with. His salon showcases beautiful pieces of artwork and has such a relaxing ambiance. The other members of his team are equally pleasant and from what I have seen pretty talented as well.
I highly recommend this salon and specifically, Tony.
Yes, I went here.
No, I'm not ashamed.
Yes, I had a cup of tea as I walked in.
Yes, appointment was easy to make.
Yes, Delia was very nice and did a great job.
Yes, I enjoyed it.
Yes, I put the smock on backward.
Yes, I went home with Aveda products.
Yes I would go back...but I no longer have hair.
Not that I have the experience with many of these places to compare, but it was a good one. Prices are fair, staff is very nice. Place is very clean. I just didn't know what to do with the smock.
I just got my haircut here. Nice salon with friendly staff and clean modern atmosphere. I got a stylist in training who just got out of training. He paid lots of attention to detail but my hair still didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. A full hour was spent on me starting off with a cup of tea, scalp massage, shampoo, some trimming with scissors, trimming with machine, wash again, trim with scissors, machine again, and finally blow dry. it was time to see results by applying gel but a fancy hair salon had no gel, NO GEL for my hair. He applied some nasty dry stuff and said it would look fine once I go home and put some gel in. Apparently my hair still feels long on top and front but the back and sides are done well according to the complements I got. I might give it another shot next month and update my review. I did tip him well for the scalp massage as that was the highlight.
From the moment I walked in and was greeted by Guy (he always greets me by name and with a big, warm welcome smile) until the moment I left, I felt so relaxed and comfortable here. This salon is a tranquil serene place in the midst of the loud strip of retail shops that is known as Bay Street. For all you divas out there, you can just keep walking past Sole as this is for us down-to-earth people. Everyone in the salon is friendly and pretty easy-going. There are no 'tudes here.
I just got my hair cut tonight by Jaz who I love, love, love! She was the first one to cut my hair after we relocated back to the Bay Area from the midwest. She and I always have a good laugh about my "mushroom head" hairstyle that was given to me by my white-bread midwest stylist who freaked out when she saw all my thick (asian) hair but that's a whole 'nother yelp story.
Anyway, go see Jaz - the girl is a riot and she can cut hair (asian or not)! She listens to what you want and then helps fine-tune that so it fits your lifestyle, hair-shape and hair texture. Oh yah, she also cuts the hubby's hair and we both love it. He no longer has to use the glue-like hair product to style his hair. Jaz is da bomb!
I've used the same stylist for 10+ years, and so when I relocated from NY to the Bay Area, I waited a full year before trying out someone new. When my split ends became so out of control that I was fighting to pull the comb through each morning, I knew it was time to (wo)man up and go get a haircut. Of course I turned to Yelp, which led me to Tracy at Sole Salon.
The first time, I was pretty terrified and played it safe. Still, Tracy was super-friendly and took my "I don't do hair dryers and product so please give me wash-and-wear" very seriously. My hair looked great for months. I just went back for my 2nd cut, and feeling braver, allowed Tracy to take off a fair amount of length and give me some layers. I was nervous that this wouldn't be as wash-and-wear, but it's been a week or so, and looks pretty great.
Minus one star for being thisclose to out of my price range. $65 for a haircut is definitely a lot, but Tracy is totally worth it. Keeping my fingers crossed that she stays at this price level for awhile.
After years of salon's where I walked out looking like
a) a boy
b) a poodle or
c) a combination of a boy with a poodle on my head,
I have finally found a salon that realizes that I do not want to look like a boy . I have too round of a face and end up looking like a blow fish instead of a boy, and I don't want to look like a poodle either. I'm not into fluffy hair and my days of dying it pink are over, but I digress.
Natalie has got me covered. I walked out with color and hair that made me look like the girl that I am and made my boyfriend go oohlala. Any haircut that can get me some more nooky is well worth the money. Wait, does that make me sound like I'm in some weird way paying for sex? Hmmm...
The salon looks nice, but I'd rather have a great haircut in a shabby joint than the one I got here. I went in for highlights and a cut, so they made me an appointment with the girl that does the best blonde highlights. She did a great job, but the cut wasn't what I described. I'll find someone else.
AS IF this place needs another 5 star review but the reason I started going here was b/c of Yelp so if this review pushes another new client to check out the best hair salon I've ever been to then I guess it will have been worth it to write it. My story is the typical "Ihatemyhairandhaveneverfoundaplacethatcanhandleit ." As a result, I've never really had much optimism when it comes to hair cuts and colorings.
After I moved to Berkeley there were a lot of referrals from friends - I checked out La Tour and Elixir. Both were nice places with friendly people and had hefty prices to match. AND I never walked out completely satisfied but just nodded and smiled because I knew it wasn't their fault - my hair was just hopeless.
THEN I walked into Sole and met Abby who I've been going to for the past 2 years. Even though her prices went up immediately after my first appointment I'm too hooked to even consider going anywhere else. Every time I leave the salon I look in the mirror and love love my haircut/color. Even if I feel a little iffy leaving the place I'm always a believer again after I shower the next morning and my hair is doing some other great thing. I went in for a bang trim one time and in just 5 minutes and $15 Abby revitalized my cut and now it's good to go for another 2 months!!
Thanks to Abby I get compliments about my cut and color and I've already referred a whole Sole group following. Though I've since moved across the bay to San Francisco I'm a Sole loyal through and through and I continue to trek across the bay to see her because, well, she's just that worth it. Thanks Abby, thanks Sole and thanks YELP for making me believe that those of us born with hideous hair have the chance to turn it all around!!
I love Sole. Everyone that works here is completely welcoming and I love coming here after a stressful work week.
So far, I have had the joy of having my hair colored and cut by Dahlia and Jazz. Both of them have done a great job with my hair and I feel comfortable going to them because they both have Asian hair like mine.
It is great to go to a salon that makes you feel at home. Kudos to Tony and Guy for running such an awesome salon!
Note: Abby does a great job with my husband's hair so she gets five stars too!
PS I am going to have a facial next week at Sole and am looking forward to review that experience too!
Great aesthetician, Carmen, at Sole Salon. Likely the best facial I've ever had. And I have had many.
Carmen is just fabulous and knows what's she's doing. Lots of product is used during the facial on your face and neck . And, there is lots of facial, shoulder, and head massage--Aveda has a 5-point massage style for their facials. The products are herbal, smell good, and are great for your skin. Carmen did gentle and not painful extractions, and used lots of steam on my face, too. Wonderful massage. The best.
The room where I received the facial was candle-lit, and very comfortable. Tony, director at Sole Salon, has a lot of great music, and there is a very nice sound system connected into the aesthetician's room. So that added to the enjoyment of my facial.
The table/bed was comfortable with absolutely the softest sheets and loftiest blankets, and it was supportive of my back. Carmen uses a towel warmer so you don't have to hear the bing of a microwave timer go off every time she needs a warm towel.
They have a Green Science 4-facial discount offer right now for $250.
Enjoy and relax!
I love that they have Model Tuesdays for the apprentices, $20 cut and $45 color. I've been going here for over a year now and to see Jennifer, one of the apprentices. Ever since moving to the east bay from sf, i had to find a more convenient and good salon to get my hair done, i'm so glad my friend told me about this place! You can't beat the price and the service is impeccable. When I was younger I hated getting haircuts and would always cry afterwards so picking the right salon is important to me. I'm sad Jennifer will no longer be an apprentice anymore, but don't worry, I'll still be seeing her whatever the cost.
Sole was recommended to me by my sister and has exceeded all of my expectations. The salon in general is spacious, yet cozy and relaxing. The young girl at the front desk was friendly, enthusiastic and funny. Alicia, my new favorite stylist in the world, is the greatest! My highlights are picture perfect! I wasn't sure of how I wanted to cut my hair, she said she had an idea, I trusted her completely, and my hair has never looked better! I have gotten more hair complements in the past couple of weeks then i had in like 10 years! She was a complete sweetheart, and made a couple of recommendations for products that i now live by. For being so young, she's good at what she does and will have a great career and future in hair styling. I already scheduled my next appointment and recommend Sole Salon and Alicia to anyone who has good taste and who wants good hair!
I find myself feeling "torn" about a lot of salons lately and that makes me sad. I feel like if I'm going to pay $140, I should really love what's been done, but sadly that was not the case.
I will go on record right now as saying that I am incapable of making a long-term appointment for a cut and/or color. Can't do it. I don't know when I'll decide that I absolutely have to have a new 'do or what I'll even want. I wake up one morning and think "today ... today I must have new hair." And thus my story begins.
Several months back I went to a different salon in my 'hood and I really liked the experience. Alas, their reservation system is wonky and I didn't know if I could get an appointment at all that day because you leave a message and have to wait for someone to call you back. I waited about an hour and nada. So I called Sole, a salon I'd been wanting to try for several years (even though my friend A swears they're a bunch of racist assholes who banned her from the joint for complaining about what they did to her "ethnic hair"). Surprise, surprise I was able to get an appointment that day for either a cut or color but not both. I went with color because I was going to a wedding and I wanted gorgeous blonde highlights.
First, I was born a blonde and stayed that way until sometime right before college. I know what blonde shades look good with my skin tone (pink). Second, I asked for a full crown of honey and platinum highlights. She (and forgive me, I can't remember her name) didn't know what I meant when I used the term "crown." Am I the only one here who knows that means the top of your noggin? So she set to work putting the foils in and pretty much left me alone to read my magazine which I really loved. I hate it when the stylist tries to become my BFF in the time I'm sitting in her chair. So fake.
While I'm in the chair, she asks me if I'd like to even up the rest of my color - absolutely, I say (I needed it, I admit). So she does that. I know this is raising the cost of what I'm having done - originally quoted at $80 and up depending on length and processing time and all those other fun terms they use to jack up the costs.
We get to the back room and she starts washing my hair. She shampoo smells divine, although I know it's not the chamomile one ... you know, the one they use on blondes. Nope, it's clove. Bad sign. At that moment, I knew I was still a brunette with a bunch of blonde stripes in my head. I couldn't say how I knew, just that I did (maybe because this happened to me years before?).
I get back to my seat and yup, brown with blonde streaks. Not subtle highlights. Not a crown of golden blonde. Caramel and platinum streaks, nowhere near uniform ... and again, not blonde. Fine, whatever. It's blonder than when I came in and it doesn't look bad, just not what I asked for.
She rings me up at a whopping price of $140 ... now, I knew it wasn't going to be $80 anymore, but $140? Really? For a handful of blonde streaks, a base color that you slopped on after you put my foils on my less than chin-length hair? Yeah, my short hair. Apparently so.
I paid the piper and she tried to get me to schedule another appointment to come back for a cut and touch up. Maybe some other time, dear.
It wasn't until weeks later when I was going through my purse and looked at the receipt carefully that she charged me for EXTRA LENGTH HAIR. I have an effing bob! She purposefully charged me extra for something that was absolutely not called for. That - more than anything - is exactly why I will not be back.
If I had wanted to get my eyebrows done in a hair washing chair in the back of a salon next to a wall so that the esthetician could only do her thing from one side of my body with no additional lighting, I would have gone to Supercuts or the nail salon down the street.
Even if I were pleased with the results (which I'm not), this would still be very disappointing---especially for $20.
I chose this place because it was an Aveda salon, and the Walter Claudio Aveda salon I used to go to in Santa Barbara was exceptional.
Don't waste your money here--at least on waxing.
I can't imagine where they would have put me for a bikini wax!
UPDATE 2/10/08 - The owner sent me a note and told me that they have moved the brow design station into the "once-vacant treatment room." I definitely appreciated the note and that they're making improvements. I probably still won't go back, but it's good to see that future customers may have a better experience than I did.
I know... I know... how could I possibly rate this salon so low? I'm genuinely glad that everybody ELSE has had such a delightul experience at Sole Salon - because if the management treated more clients like they did me, they'd be out of business.
10/23/07 I had an appointment with Tracey, a senior stylist at Sole Salon, exactly one week after my disastrous "soccer mom" haircut at Glam Up. I like flexibility in my style, and I really prefer to let the artist do their magic; I am not the kind of client who comes in with a 'red carpet pic' and says: make me look like THIS! I like to trust that the stylist will consult with me, make some suggestions, and ask for some general parameters... and then I like to sit back and enjoy the experience.
Tracey was peppy and adorable... I introduced myself; told her that I don't want to look like some suburban stay-at-home mom... that I love vintage clothes, Japanese fashion magazines, and European designers I told her that I regularly do high tea and wear vintage and contemporary hats, so I specifically stated that I wanted to KEEP the length so that I could wear my hair up. I was also looking to hip up the layers that Maiko at Glam Up had all but obliterated.
To her credit, the consultation was a solid 10 minutes, at least. Tracey asked me how I felt about "not a mullet" and upon seeing my expression, quickly revised it to, "an extreme shag". I told her that I did that back in 1998, and was not looking for that at all, plus, I need to be able to look professional when I'm working as a management consultant... or at board meetings for the Military Academy that my son attends. I honestly believed that we had an understanding about what my parameters and goals were in this cut.
Tracey wielded the scissors very skillfully... with great confidence - and that is a sincere compliment. But... she kept making repeated passes all over my head, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that an alarming volume (and length) of my hair was covering the floor.
While I had agreed to some "disconnected layers" in my hair, I ended up with exactly what I had told Tracey I didn't want: "not a mullet". The sections around the crown of my head are short: 2-3" and very deeply layered... and then there are sparse, straggly... tendrils in a "V" shape across my back.
I took a deep breath, and tried to make the adjustment; maybe it would grow on me; but I could not reconcile the dramatic short layers with my very emphatic desire to "keep the length". Tracey countered that I still had the "illusion of length" - but I was disappointed because it didn't give me much to work with in the way of putting my hair up for wearing hats, and was so far removed from what I'd agreed to. Tracey chirped that I could always come back and lop the longer layers off and do a really "edgy bob". Which... again: was not where I was going with my style.
I never make snap judgements about a new cut... but my experience with Tracey left me feeling like I'd had a one night stand - kind of dirty and ashamed, like I'd gone too far with a stranger... and that's essentially what happened. It would have been much better for her to err on the side of being conservative... and give me the time to adjust and establish more trust.
I called and got a "revision appointment" with Tracey on October 30th. I got... maybe five minutes total of chair time with her; she clearly squashed me in between other clients, to thin out the right side, which was uneven and "heavy". I told her that I was struggling with how to work with the style, given my professional committments and current wardrobe. I'm an almost 33 year old woman; having "emo" hair looks really odd on somebody in a suit and Christian Louboutin pumps, holding an Hermes Birkin bag, you know?
I emailed the salon and outlined my continuing concerns about the cut... I didn't want to just show up at the salon and have other clients hear me express dissatisfaction with my cut. I was told the Artistic Director, Tony was also available to revise cuts... and even though I'd wanted to keep my much-cherished length, I decided that he might be best suited to transition me to that edgy bob.
I emailed them on 11/11/07 and requested a revision service; on 11/14/07 I got an email that said they were "consulting their attorney". WTF??? What ever happened to "CUSTOMER SERVICE"? Guy and Tony, who head the salon never saw me or my hair and refused to consider a consultation. THEY TOOK NO OWNERSHIP IN THE SITUATION.
Tony said, "The reason we're so successful is because we deliver the style that our clients want. We can't satisfy you, so we can't see you again." Diva, please! They banned me from the salon. I can't even see a different stylist. Not that I'd want to, now.
11/23/07 - they emailed and said their only "obligation" was to refund my $55 fee for the cut. If you want arrogance and attitude, then look no further!
I have an addiction to cheap haircuts, as can be witnessed by my reviews of multiple Supercuts locations, and even my one-time $5 beauty school haircut on International Ave in Oakland. Some of these experiences I've deeply regretted, yet I still can't bear to shell out $75 for my twice-yearly trim.
Enter high-end salons such as DiPietro Todd and Sole, which offer affordable cuts ($20 at Sole) in posh salons. I went to Sole today for an apprentice haircut and experienced attentive service and delicious-smelling products being rubbed into my scalp. The cut itself was slow to allow time for the teacher to demonstrate and critique, but I didn't mind as Jess (Jaz?) was a pleasant person to talk to.
No push to buy products (I actually asked for recommendations before anything was suggested) and overall excellent service. And, at least on a Thursday, a same-day appointment.
I take two steps forward
I take two steps back
We come together
'Cause opposites attract
Sole Salon adds some much needed crunch to the white bread Bay Street Mall. It's calm and inviting decor whispers "serenity" as it competes with big placard signs advertising "4 DAYS UNTIL XMAS BUY 3FOR$25 GAP SOCKS!"
Everyone says this, but I really don't give that big a shit about my hair. 90% of the time, these days, I just let it do whatever it does on its own, even if that means I have scary cat lady hair. So I wanted a manageable cut to help me as I grow my once-sexy shag into something longer and more glamorous.
Delia was a wonderful stylist and did an excellent job. I have no idea what to do with my hair, and she gave some great suggestions as to how to grow it out. She only recently became a stylist, but you'd guess she had been doing it for years as she gave an awesome energizing scalp massage prior to the wash and cut.
But really, what impressed me most about this salon was that it was FRIENDLY and AFFORDABLE. All in all, I spent $55 (incl. tip) for my cut - very very manageable. And even better, Delia was incredibly easy to talk to. Most of the time there can be a lot of awkward silences or weird looks from the stylist, but she and I talked about all sorts of things.
I was convinced that to get a good cut in the Bay Area I needed to spends hundreds of dollars (which I've done), but Sole Salon proved me wrong. I was sure that a salon couldn't embrace such seemingly incompatible attributes, but it combines relaxation, efficiency, and talent brilliantly, and I think I've found a new standby.
EEEEEeeee! I love this place! I had such a fantastic experience. I've never been to a salon that massages your head and shoulders. Being the massage whore that I am, I welcomed the massage with opened arms. It could have been a bit more deep tissue but whatever, it was still a massage!
Jazlyn took care of me. She was so nice and did a great job with my hair. I've never had a blow out in my life and the outcome was so beautiful. I've never seen my hair so full and bouncy in my life!
The haircut was $35- but Jaz did some upselling and sold hair products to me... we'll I just hhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaavvvvvvvveee to recreate this do at home. I ened up spending a little bit too much with the products included. BUT it was worth it!
I already booked a wash/blow-out for next month. I gots to look gooooodd for a wedding I'm going to!! Can't wait to see you again, Jaz!! Did I tell you Jaz also does makeup, well, I'll be testing that out tooooooo!!!!
