- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Splitends Salon
Rating Details »
Category: Hair Salons [Edit]
765 Saint Clair StSuite A
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(949) 645-1223
Free Bang Trims
Come in and get a free bang trim. Clients or not!
1 of 12
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
168 reviews for Splitends Salon
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
12/30/2009
1/13/2010
1/12/2010
11/20/2009
12/13/2009
12/10/2009
1/6/2010
1/1/2010
12/15/2009
Updated - 11/20/2009
Updated - 8/21/2009
4/24/2009
7/15/2009
3/13/2009
5/31/2009
11/4/2009
6/10/2009
6/22/2009
1/9/2009
5/30/2009
Updated - 11/20/2008
2 photos
11/22/2008
9/30/2008
4/8/2009
9/2/2009
9/21/2008
10/8/2008
8/5/2008
11/2/2008
6/5/2009
9/1/2009
1/27/2009
Updated - 2/13/2009
3/12/2009
Updated - 12/17/2008
4/1/2008
4/15/2008
5/12/2008
5/14/2008
5/9/2008
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
Janice, my appointed hairdresser, was not available on the day I was coming in, so Chris H., another stylist, said he was well qualified to cut my hair. He was wonderful to work with. He introduced himself, asked me what I wanted, and gave me his advice. He kept the length, trimmed the back and sculpted my hairstyle exactly the way I imagined it. My haircut is gonna grow out and will still look good in a few months.
THIS PLACE KNOWS ASIAN HAIR.
You must go here and get a cut, it is worth every penny.
I'm a hairdresser-hopper, I admit it. I have never been able to find a salon that has decent enough hours or skill that I'll go back again and again, except for this one.
I came in with a beanie over my hair that hadn't been dyed or cut in two months. It looked pretty sorry for being on my head. Janice discussed with me what cut and colored I preferred, she took time to look over my hair and decide what to do. What really surprised me is when she dyed my hair, she did it thoroughly and with such care. I'm used to practically having a bowl of hair dye dumped on my head and having to remain seated for fifteen minutes.
I love my cut and color. It was worth every penny and I will surely be a repeat customer and come back for the FREE BANG TRIMS!
I'm an addict and need to get my hair cut on the regular!
Thank goodness for Splitends Salon!
I have been coming to Gina for over a year: no longer living in the area, I still make a point to get in and let her do her magic every 4-6 wks.Gina is very candid and funny. You will be amused and leave fabulously coiffed.
I have long hair and do not like to fuss with it much. I like to wake up and have it be happy, healthy, with little need to blow dry, style, products, etc.,,Gina's cuts give my hair shape and movement with little to no effort on my part. She always gives me pointers on things I can do at home but in all honesty b/c the cut is good, I really don't need to do anything. And I get compliments all the time.
I am not adventurous and as stylized as some of the other patrons I've seen at the salon but if I were to go out of my comfort zone and try something new, I have full confidence in Gina's skills: she knows what will look good. Tell her what you're going for and let her do her thing. You cannot micromanage artistry!
As for price: I think it is really quite reasonable.
I have never had any difficulty scheduling a cut. The space is clean, small and charming, the artwork is always different, they play good music, and everyone is really nice.
This place is a gem.
I came here because my hair was a huge mess and I had no idea what I wanted to do with it. I been to a lot of places and they gave me nothing but shitty haircuts but from the recommendation of my friend I tried out splitends.
The place is TINY but the people that work there are absolutely cool. This is a small place so you will be paying a little bit more but they provide pretty good service. I was able to get a good haircut and they offered me somethign to drink too while I was getting my haircut.
We went over different ideas for style but in the end Janice was able to pick something I liked. She is super cool and every time I go back she remembers me.
I recommend to this everyone but only reason I give this place 4 instead of 5 is because of the price otherwise its the best.
Won't be going back... the space is pretty cool and it was interesting to see the art, but I wasn't a fan of Nicole and was not impressed by the haircut.
The main issue I had with Nicole was that she charged me more than the advertised price on the website, I'm guessing because of conversation we had about my occupation and her comment of how she was tight on money. It wasn't too big of a deal at the time, but a pretty big turn off in thinking about coming to SplitEnds in the future.
To be fair, I wasn't sure what sort of haircut I wanted, but tried to tell Nicole how I would like a change, more layers, and more style. I ended up with the exact same cut I came in with, just a little bit shorter. I felt like for a haircut from a salon I should walk out feeling fantastic, not like I walked out of a SuperCuts.
I definitely had a better experience up at Le Joli, but will keep looking for the right place.
I love Janice! She's cut my hair three times now and I have really loved each cut. The first time I went in I was a bit nervous, I had read the reviews on yelp and wasn't sure if she was going to be nice about my hair or not -- it hadn't been cut in over six months. But she is a complete sweetheart and couldn't have been nicer. She listened to my incredibly vague descriptions, which must have been irritating, and somehow cut my hair exactly the way I envisioned.
One thing that really impressed me about Janice is her honesty. I have never colored my hair before and was thinking about coloring it during my first visit, and I asked Janice her opinion. She could have told me I should dye my hair, she would have made more money off of me that way, but she didn't. She told me that she didn't recommend it for me because my natural hair color was beautiful as is.
I love the tiny atmosphere of the place and both Janice and Gina are so friendly, it feels more like hanging out with friends than a hair appointment. Even though this place is a bit of a drive for me, I can't see myself switching salons anytime soon.
This place was great! I was very happy with my hair cut and coloring. It is more of a place where the atmosphere is like going to a friends house to get your hair cut, it is very relaxed and does not have a formal set up. But the staff are friendly and knowledgeable.
It's not that it was a bad haircut. It was a good haircut. And Gina was really outgoing, which made for a rare non-awkward haircut. But...
[1] She doesn't do cuts without using a razor. I didn't know this until I was already in the chair, and I didn't want to be rude and just leave, so I agreed to let her use the razor on the condition that she used it minimally. To her credit, she upheld her end of the bargain.
[2] I wanted to be really impressed and really love the haircut (an experience I haven't had in a very long time), but it just didn't happen. She didn't really change my hair much, and after I washed my hair, it looked the same as it did before the haircut.
So basically... My hair looks the same as before, except my ends are now a little more damaged looking than they were prior to the razor-ness. Like I said, the hair cut wasn't bad. It was good, but I expected more.
so i've been going through some of the reviews here and a lot of them are just blah blah blah, too expensive, blah blah blah, Gina was crass, blah blah blah, Janice was blunt.
well you know what? you guys need to either get a job or grow thicker skin.
first off, the prices are listed on the website, and if you're really THAT concerned with what the exact pricing is, seriously just go in a talk to them, they'll def work something out with you. those guys who are complaining how it's sooo expensive, well DUH. it's a salon, it isn't your local $10 barber. if you didn't want to pay the money, don't make an appointment.
secondly, those who are all uptight with Gina and Janice need to take the cactus out of their butt. seriously, who dropped a house on your sister?
Gina is wild, crass, and out there. she drops f-bombs like no tomorrow, and has ridiculous stories about her escapades. but to be honest, this is part of the reason why she is amazing. she gossips with you and treats you like a friend. and don't tell me like you've never bitched about some girl who scorned you and cursed about her while doing so.
furthermore, she's amazing at what she does. i mainly go to her for color (i get my roots touched up once a month). i'm a naturally black haired asian, who went lady gaga white platinum blonde. Gina is a GODDESS with bleach. she is able to take my hair from black to white with MINIMAL, and i do mean MINIMAL scalp irritation. AND, she doesn't charge until the job is done. (cause taking black hair to white is not an easy or quick process)
then there's Janice, who i've never booked an appointment with, but is always there and friendly, and sometimes helps out when Gina gets her hands full. Janice is bluntly honest. okay. deal with it. but we all need someone like that in our lives, ESPECIALLY when it comes to our appearance. would you rather have your friends just nod and say your haircut looks "great" when it really looks like you got your head stuck in a garbage disposal? UM. NO. if you can't take the truth, then maybe you should go elsewhere. cause the truth hurts, deal with it.
that said, Janice is QUEEN of blowouts, and knows her way around a hair dryer and a brush like no one i've ever seen.
trust me guys, if you're up for a good time while getting beautified, thick skin, and a good sense of humor. this place is perfect for you. and seriously, there's recognizing quality, and then there's being snooty (and no one likes a stuck up bitch). I've gotten my hair cut and colored at major salons across in the US. Vidal Sassoon, Paul Mitchell, Bumble & Bumble, Oscar Blandi, and Frederic Fekkai. I know quality. I know $$$$.
bottom line, Gina and Janice are some of the best, without the $$$$$$$$ price tag, and the uptight attitude. (though my stylist at Bumble & Bumble in NY was pretty chill)
gina never ceases to amaze me! i went back yesterday for another incredible cut. it's not often i leave a hair salon grinning from ear to ear!
i wanted to totally chang up my 'do and was extremely nervous. i even brought a picture with me and everything! what i love about gina is that she has an uncanny way of knowing exactly what i'm looking for and combines that with her expertise on what styles would suit me best and voila! within minutes she was done and it looked amazing! not only that, styling it this morning was effortless! a quick blowdry and i was done!
thank youuuu gina! you're the best!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/25/2008
I LOVE MY HAIRCUT FROM GINA! just went there yesterday after reading all the great reviews and she's… Read more »
I forgot to mention:
FREEEE BAAANG TRIMMMMMS.
I adore this place. Just got back from Vegas where I was victim to an onslaught of hair compliments.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
8/12/2008
Always gives me the haircut I never knew I wanted.
To quote the infamous Jessica Simpson (where'd she… Read more »
Having had a less than so-so experience here the week before (Chris the smoking bear was a know-it-all jerk to me), I came with my friend who wanted to go irrespective of my experience, to provide moral support for her drastic haircut. She was going from long and straight to short and sassy. Chris gave her the cut she wanted, but neither of us were really impressed by his level of service.
Maybe all the positive reviews on Yelp gave him a big head, but Chris was a little aloof during the process. He also took a smoke break and came back stinking of cigarettes.
Imagine! Having someone with cigarette smelly fingers working on your pretty head of hair. Whatever.
I wouldn't come here and my friend is going to get touch ups from her regular stylist who costs about half of what Chris charged.
Finally I have a chance to write a review about this place. I was actually waiting to go back then write a review, but I never went back, and I'm glad I never went back.
I set up an appointment with Chris, and he was a very cool guy, he knew some of my co-workers blah blah. I went there right b4 my bday so i can look all G up! He was talking to me and he told me he was going to cut it, i told him what i kinda wanted but he just cut it so I can style my self, didn't really help me on a style when i asked him I wanted a certain style. He basically just did a small cut and put wax in my hair and when i left my hair was all down and that cut alone was $50 bucks!!! He said i needed to grow my hair out more then he can work with it better im like huh? I wanted a crazy style but I just a BLAH style and i just end up doing my own hair..
Honestly he is a cool guy, im sure he can cut very good, but I dont recommend him for guy hair cuts. Place is pricey for a guy hair cut. There all nice there, and they treat you good thats my only + about it.
Hmmm, this place is a bit tough to review ...
I REALLY want to give it 4-stars, or even 5, because my haircut is excellent. I've been to Gina twice and the end result is great.
Now, with that said, anywhere you pay $60+ for a haircut I believe you should expect a professional experience which I believe is lacking from Split Ends. Currently, it's kind of like SuperCuts with an attitude which, in my book, does not make for a $60 + tip experience.
It is possible to have an edgy but professional atmoshpere, so watch your language Ex. "Yeah girl, that's fucked up." I am your client, not your buddy.
What also is annoying is that you can't get exact pricing when you call to schedule an appointment. Sorry if I have to ask exactly how much my highlights will cost, but we're in the middle of a recession (possibly a depression), people! Take your nose out of the air and quote me a price. Instead, Christopher gave me this big lecture about "product plus time equals cost." You're the owner, take ownership and set an amount.
And, although I personally haven't experienced this, it is beyond impolite to critique what a previous stylist has done. Ex. "This haircolor looks like shit!" Sitting in a chair, wrapped up in a smock with your hair dripping wet makes one vulnerable enough.
Finally, if you're going to post photos of your immaculately clean salon, that is exactly what it should look like when I get there for my haircut. Both times, it's been a complete disaster.
At this point, I'm struggling on whether to go back ...
The Good: They are professional. Well, at least Christopher is. He's an expert, even featured on television. The setting is clean, nice, and calming. They treat you like royalty, making sure everything is comfortable. And of course, they know how to do hair.
The Bad: Although they are pro's, I still don't like the idea of spending $50 on a haircut.
Try: Here once if you really want a stylecut. After you get the style, go to cheaper places to maintain your hair.
Don't Try: :)
I love this place! Janice is amazing with long, straight hair, and it's only $60 for a cut. Great salon, not too expensive, FREE bang trims, and everyone is so nice!
....no idea what any of these negative reviews are about.
So I went around 3 weeks ago because I had a formal event to attend and I wanted to look my best. After literally going to every hair cutters near the UCI campus and getting my hair totally butchered, I decided to go to Splitends based off of all the positive reviews on Yelp.
I had an appointment at 4:00 but I kind of got lost along the way when I accidentally took the 73 instead of staying on Bristol, which made me around 10 minutes late. I felt really bad since I'm normally really punctual but the staff was really understanding and even helped me find my way!
When I got in Chris asked me if I wanted a beer (which I passed on) and what I wanted to do with my hair, but I pretty much let him do whatever he wanted. The overall haircut was a pretty quick razor cut, which didn't seem too amazing at the time, but in the end with the styling and everything, it was probably the best hair cut I've EVER had. I don't know how he did it, but it was exactly what I wanted but couldn't describe. (I'm just going to add that I have NEVER left a hair salon actually liking my haircut, and normally I just wait a couple weeks until it grows out and looks better, but when I left Splitends, I was really excited)
Summary:
- The staff is super friendly
- Your hair will look ridiculously good when you leave
- Kind of pricey but worth it
Imagine - it's Friday, the workday is almost over, and your hair is unruly. What a girl to do? Like most nerdy kids, I hop onto Yelp to see what's happening in my hood (Not my "hood"- hood, but near my work.
After browsing through a couple of options, I settled on Splitends, since most of the yelpers liked it.
Don't get confused, St. Clair street is a cul-de-sac, and Splitends is located at the cusp of the sac in that wood box/cabin thing. Yes, you can barely see it, but there is a salon in there.
Generally the salon doesn't accept walk-ins, but I lucked out and Yolie made an exception for me. She sat me down and we talked about what I was looking for in hair cut; in the meanwhile, she was checking how my hair grew out and giving her recommendations.
We mutally agreed upon a style that would fit with my lifestyle and keep me updated.
Yolie is not fastest cutter, but she was meticulous. With her tools, she snipped and razor'd my hair to achieve the lightness that I wanted for summertime!
And Yolie is a pleasant young lady; I know that I'm going to have an okay time when you can bond over The Office.
A hair cut cost me USd$60 + tip and it's more than what I usually pay, but I'm willing to shell out every once in a while. :) I'll definitely be back to check out free bangs trims. :)
This review is a bit late but I've been to splitends twice, once with Gina and once with Janice. First time I saw Gina, i thought she was cool person, lots of personality and i trusted her with my hair based on all the positive yelp reviews. But then she sat me down to wash my hair and all these F-bombs came flying out of her mouth! WTH I came here to get a relaxing salon experience and I've got you saying "FUCK!" in my ear!! WTF!!!
I was going for that typical A-line bob that everyone was getting. However, she did NOT listen to what I wanted. I told her to NOT touch the front portion of my hair and to just take it up in the back. She totally chopped off INCHES in the front and I seriously just sat in the chair cringing on the inside because I was so horrified at what she was doing! She's definitely more into doing what she wants to do, and doesn't really listen to the customer. Even though my hair was super short after, the haircut was alright....i'm not a big fan of the razor, it only works if you're going for a certain kind of look.
Second time, I tried Janice. Now...I would say it was a traumatizing experience in that I decided to be honest with her and told her I had used a box color on my hair. Well excuse me for my honesty but I dont appreciate someone insulting me and my hair and saying how my hair is fucked up. This crazy bitch was seriously like "does this seriously look good to you? I don't...I think it looks like shit....I dont know who did your hair before but its fucked up!" Seriously, people go to you to fix their hair and to make them feel GOOD, not like a piece of shit because of their past haircuts/styles. After that episode, i basically shut up for the rest of my appointment with her and i think she got the hint that she was too blunt and tried to make nice. If you want brutal honest and a cut to your self-esteem....then sure go for Janice, if that's your thing!
This salon needs to work on their customer service skills, if they're going to expect people to pay as much as they do for hair services.
Gina is the bomb, that's all I gotta say...
No really, I came in with long hair that I've had for awhile and wanted something different and funky. Like she says, she is the go to person for bobs and I got an awesome graduated bob out of it. Oh and beautiful highlights. She was also very nice even though my dumb ass was late cause of my lame gps but that's another story. Thanks girl!
It's been a while since that fateful day when I first read Amanda P's review and took a chance on an unknown salon called 'splitends'. As they say, the rest is history.
I've been going to Christopher on and off (mostly on) during this time with a few wanderings to my ex stylists up in the Bay Area and a few times down here with new stylists, but mostly it's been Chris who has been cutting my hair.
This last cut was different again.... a new look.... a new look I really really REALLY like! I don't know.... I was feeling really down all week and for a few moments after my haircut, I was on a high. I felt REALLY great. That's what I love about getting a haircut -- a seriously good haircut. It can alter your mood tremendously!!
Besides that, the salon is really on top of new products to enhance your hairdos and there is always something there I feel I want -- and yes, I end up buying -- more often than not *sigh*
So there ya go..... splitends has always been there for me and my hair and I like the easy going atmosphere which always puts me in a good mood when I leave. What more can I say??? It's as good as it gets.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/6/2007
UPDATED 06-02-2008: I wasn't aware of all the hatin' on splitends until I went in for my cut today.… Read more »
Comment from Christopher H. of
Splitends Salon
7/15/2009
Stop updating :)
More »
After reading the hundreds of reviews from fellow yelpers about this place, I decided to give it a try. My hair needed major TLC and I really needed to find a new go-to hairstylist closer to home.
So I called to make an appointment and ended up with Janice. Naturally, I was very excited because of all the great reviews!! I arrived the day of my appointment excited and nervous about what was to come. In the back of my mind, I was hoping that Janice and I would click and we did! Janice has a great personality! She is very approachable and professional. I really liked her.
On to the haircut. My hair can be very difficult. It is super thick and coarse, but is isn't impossible to work with. We started talking about color and cut. She convinced me that panels of copper would look good on me and I agreed. I've never had copper so I thought, why not?? We decided to take off a few inches off the length (my hair reached past my bra strap) and shape the bangs a bit more. A few minutes into the haircut, she became brutally honest about how horrible my hair cut was. She was saying that she didn't know what my previous hairstylist was going for and pretty much saying that he murdered my hair cut. I love the honesty, but this made me feel quite uncomfortable. I wanted to get my hair done in order to relax and feel good, but instead I felt insecure about what she was thinking about my hair!!
All in all, the haircut turned out ok. It wasn't mindblowing (which was what I was hoping for). The color was interesting, I really liked it (this feeling did not last very long because the color only last about 2 1/2 weeks) . The main thing that I did not like was the product that she put in my hair. It felt sticky and heavy. I disliked it so much that after my appointment I went home and took a shower just to get that stuff out of my hair. That was not something that I would want to do after paying that much money to get my hair done.
The salon is nice and clean. The staff is friendly enough. It's just not the place for me.
Seriously... is it just me, or do they kind of get razor happy at this place?
I've had my fair share of cuts... the good, the bad, the ugly. I wouldn't go as far to say that my cut ended up ugly or bad, but more along the lines of "Okay... well, I see you shearing off chunks of my hair with that razor in your hand, but I'm going to trust you because I think you're wicked cool and I might end up liking the end result." Yeah, maybe it's my fault for having that kind of "just do what you want" attitude, but hey, hair grows back. But isn't it a little sad that a day after getting my hair cut here, that's the thought in my head... that hey, it'll all grow back in a few weeks or so.
So maybe the whole razor happy style just doesn't work for me, but I'm sure it works for tons of people (I mean, it HAS to considering all the 5* reviews in this joint). BUT, I got another little bit to vent about... ALL the talk that they do as they cut your hair. From the get-go, homegirl had me hold the little mirror so I could check out how supposedly horrific my current cut was:
"You see this?? This sucks ass. Hair should not look this way... but don't worry, I'm going to fix this right now."
I could've done without the horrendous review of my hair and the shame that swept over me as I thought I must've looked like a huge douche walking around with hair like that. But like she said... she'd fix me right up.
So in between the chunks of hair getting razored off, I get intervals of "What did this last girl do to you??", "Wow... this really sucks ass", and my favorite "Hold on... I'm trying to figure out how she screwed up your hair."
REALLY??? Is this all really necessary?? I mean, if you delivered what you preached, I would've been all about you. But alas, there was no deliverance and I ended up with hair that just feels really thinned out and looks a little... suck ass-ish.
After going to the same lady since the youngin' days of 14 to get my hair done, she ended up leaving the salon she was at and I needed to find someone new. I went to another salon last time to get my hair done, and the cut was great, but I still wanted to shop around for a new stylist. Then I met Chris. He told me that he was bringing in an amazing stylist named Nicole who had been working up in LA and was moving back to Orange County.
I first met Nicole at The Box gallery opening in March and she was a doll. But I had just had my hair cut about 2 weeks before so I knew it would be a bit before I would need it cut again.
When Chris put up all her info on the website I decided to read all her little facts. But the one that caught my eye the most was that she specializes in cutting curly and wavy hair. Could I have finally found someone that would let my natural wave shine?! I knew that I would be booking an appointment with her as soon as my hair was long enough. But lucky for me I ran into her a few weeks later and when I told her I wanted to book with her she ran her fingers through my little mop of hair and said I could make an appointment for the following week if I wanted because she could work with what I had. [Mind you my hair was kinda short, but very very thick and I really needed the bulk taken out.]
So yesterday was the day, and it was fantastic. Everyone at Splitends is so nice. When I walked in I said "hi" to everyone, Janice came over and offered me water, soda, wine, or beer. I opted for the wine because who doesn't need a drink at 3pm on a Tuesday?
Nicole got started on me right away. We talked about what I was wanting to cut off, how I liked to wear my bangs, what my natural hair is like, and what kind of products I normally use. I'm seriously terrible with products, but she was so helpful and said she would show me how to use them.
The cut was quick. I spent the time talking to the girls about everything from shoes to concerts. Then when it was time for her to blow dry me she showed me 3 different ways that I could do my hair. Yay for options! I'm a girls that needs that kind of thing. At the end she showed me how to use the product which was super easy and not intimidating at all. Seriously, if I have to do like 10 steps to get my hair to look awesome, it's just not worth it to me. I ended up getting the matt gum which is so fantastic. When I woke up this morning all I had to do was scrunch up the back of my hair and it was good to go. Easy is what I love!
The best part was that Nicole told me if I ever need to come in and have her help me style it I can. Like if the product just isn't working for me the way she made it work, I can go in and we'll work side by side so she can show me. I've never had anyone offer something like that to me before, which just makes the whole new style thing less intimidating.
I simply adore the crew at Splitends. They're professional but not stuffy. The space is fantastic because it doubles as a gallery. Free wifi! Booze! And the salon cape they put on you even has arm holes so you can easily drink and not get hair all over your clothes.
Nicole is brand new but she's worked with Chris for years and trained under him, so just like the rest of the staff, she follows Chris's technique. Plus if you have that wavy or curly hair, she definitely knows how to handle it. It's fantastic to actually be back to my natural hair texture, and looking hot with it.
Much much love for her. It's fantastic to have found a stylist again! So go book with Nicole people! You'll have a great time while getting your hair cut, plus you'll look amazing afterwards. It's a total win-win.
I found Splitends here on Yelp. I was looking for a new place to get a hair cut. I saw the promotion for "Free Bang Trim" and thought, "Is there really anything free anymore?" I took a chance, called Splitends, and made an appointment w/Janice. I got an appointment the next day. Some of the reviews said the stylists can be rude-borderline-brutally honest and lots of swearing in the salon. I was nervous that I would walk in, the stylists would look me over, and usher me through the door. I even wore a semi-hip outfit so I would fit in!
But I was worried for no reason. The day of the appointment, I arrived 15 minutes early. I was told the place was hard to find. I walked in and was happily greeted by all the stylists. Janice was still cleaning up but sat me down right away. She introduced herself, asked me about my hair, how I like my bangs, and how I style it. I asked her for ideas and she openly shared what would work for my face structure and hair type. She went to work on fixing my blunt and outgrown bangs and made them super cute! She continued with her hair consult and never once pushed me for a full (paying) hair cut. She was very honest, easy to talk to, and very "in the know" of how to work your hair.
When I left, I tried to tip, but she politely declined. "It really is free," she said. I wanted to hug her! She invited me back for a few more free bang trims before my real cut. I left with a few dollars saved and with bangs singing w/joy and style.
Pros: Friendly staff, no swearing at all, not pushing any products, attentive stylist
Cons: Little parking (had to street park), space is much smaller than photographed, little AC (only a window unit), had to call twice to make an appointment (no one picked up first time)
After all the compliments from yelp, i finally had my first haircut with GIna. The place was much smaller than what it seem from the pictures, it wasn't as fancy as what I'd expected. Reading past reviews about Gina, I knew she was very opinionated and isn't afraid to say what she thinks, but I was not too happy when she kept on talking about how bad my current hair style looks. She kept saying "OMG, I can't believe someone would do this to your hair (referring to my previous hairdresser)". I thought my hair was fine, and honestly I think it looks better than after she'd cut it.
I told her i only want to trim it, and I want to keep my long hair. She trimmed 4 inches off my hair and didn't do much else to it, because she wanted me to grow out my short layers. I'd rather go to someone who'd listen to what I want and not what they think would look good. I mean i'm sure she knows what she's doing and she'd done a great job on other clients, but she's just not for me.
Initially, I thought I found my hair savior in Gina.
Now I think she's way overrated.
I went to her three times .. make that six ... in the past 3 months.
Six meaning I had to go back twice after her last cut & color.
One side of my hair was much longer than the other and it looked
nothing like the picture I brought her. She razored the back very short when it was quite clear in the picture I brought that the back was not nearly that short.
Then I went back again because I thought my color was slightly too dark and asked her to put a LITTLE blonde back in it. She put so many foils in that my hair was pretty much bright, solid yellow when I left there. I had to hide my hair under a baseball cap and go to another salon the next day to fix the mess she left me with.
In the end ... because of her rockin expertise ... that hairdo session(s) cost me $353!
Thanks Gina!
My bangs were getting too long.. and I only had an hour lunch. I yelped around for the closest hair salons. I called plenty of places up and down Irvine, Newport and Costa Mesa and to my dissapointment.. some salons were not open at the time, didn't have time for just bang trims, or cost the same as a full hair cut. GROSS.
The work phone rang 20 minutes later.. and it was a guy from Split Ends on the line. I guess they had caller ID! anyway, i asked how much bang trims cost... and he said it was FREE!!! i was so shocked, seriously. I kept saying, really?? even if i've never been there before?? AND HE EVEN TOLD ME BLOWDRYS WERE FREE OF COST TOO! wow. heaven.
anyway, i got lost getting to this place because i thought it was directly in the Camp. Finally got to the location, and its super tiny but very cute & clean. Janice gave me my bang trim. I usually wear my bangs side swept but I told her I wanted something different. I kind of wanted the straight bang thanggg .. but then I also wanted to be able to sweep em over if I didn't like em. She did her thing and she was very nice too.
Long story short, i told her I would call her to make an appointment for a haircut in the future. I tried to tip her but they don't accept tips! WHAT THE HECK! wow. i left this place amazed. although my bangs were a lil funky munky, i would definitely go back to this place for their awesome customer service!
You might not realize it, but how your hair looks makes a huge difference. Hair is subconsciously one of the most important features that either enhances or diminishes a person's attractiveness.
That being said, I go to Chris. He's expensive, but I love what he does to my hair so much that he's worth every penny. I am the most picky person when it comes to how I want my hair cut. Since I keep my hair au naturele with no dye or highlights, the cut is essential for me. What I look for in a cut is that it is chic, suits me well, accomplishes the 'look' I am trying achieve, is relatively low-maintenance, is versatile enough to style differently, and after a month or two it doesn't grow out all funky and weird like the average salon cut. Even though I suck at describing my 'ideal cut' to stylists, Chris understands and delivers exactly what I want. I don't walk out like a Canto with a mullet coming straight from Hong Kong.
He's fast, but the blow-out is awesome. He also recommends the best product. Usually, I don't use most of the products that I purchase unless it's a special occasion. But the OSIS hair powder that he suggested is so essential to me now that I use it religiously on a daily basis. It has helped to boost the volume in my fine, flat Asian hair.
It's too bad he's in the OC. Since I moved to L.A, it's been tough to find time in my schedule to come in for a cut. I have tried to find a place just as good, but unfortunately I have been disappointed. So I'm going to make time to keep going to Split-ends.
Split-ends is THE place to go if you want to come out looking like a sexy, cute kitten!
Overrated!
Going to salon is not just about the cut but a good customer service.
Why would I put out money for a stylist with attitude? There are so many salons around, good customer service is what brings people back. The actual cut was ok-but the lack of professionalism was really the deciding factor.
I was instantly turned off once I heard the stylist Chris and Gina bad mouth a client after they have left the salon. That's just not cool. It's also the first time I have been in a salon where the stylist takes off to go outside for a smoke in the middle of the cut, leaving me not knowing what's happening. Another strange thing is after finishing the cut, Chris just walked away and suddenly Gina came in to do the quickest blow-dry possible. It almost seemed like the "star" has left the stage and the stagehand has come in for the clean up. It was like some weird performance. Am I supposed to be impressed by this? If they just cut the crap and do the work and be alot more humble maybe they will get more returning customers.
Excuse me~~~ I have been looking for the famous Japanese "Hair manicure" for long, long time, and I found it here!!!! It makes your hair so smooth and shine! I just love it!. Thank you for offering this great thing in US. You have to try it. Not like hair color. The hint of color with pretty shine on your hair. Thank you, thank you! And all people work there are so much FUN and good looking!!!!!! LOL.
Tiny non-descript place tucked between a tire shop and car rental establishment across from The Lab in Costa Mesa.
Beware when first trying to come to this place. I suggest looking at the picture of the building first because there is no specific sign that says "Splitends HERE!". I passed it a few times on my first visit and was almost late to my appointment. But sorta recognized the building and thought I should park and walk in.
The hair stylists here are all really friendly and personable. They make conversation with you w/o sounding intrusive or insincere.
I was matched up with Janice and am very happy with her. I go for a more easy to manage, nothing too fancy sort of cut, but I've seen her do more "jazzy" stuff to hair so I'm sure if you want a funky look, she can also please. This is definately my go-to place for my hair now.
A late update but one all the same (November/December?? 08).
Ms. Gina fluffed up my do' with some red she-banging highlights that are always exciting. The lady knows what she's doing.
/squeals
You see what good hair does to people?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/20/2007
11 juillet
ANOTHER awesome snip snip from the awesome chic chic GINA. Better known as you're Mane… Read more »
I waited a while to write this review because we all know how nice your hair looks that day in the salon, and the next day... disaster. Not this time.
Alright, so i hate getting my haircut. I've been traumatized by Supercuts far too many times so i just eventually said to hell with it and just let it grow... and grow... and grow... Before you knew it my hair was getting caught in zipping up sweaters,and car windows,and my mouth. Gross. I knew i shoulda gotten a cut a long time ago, but no. I'd need QUITE some convincing.
My boy recommended this place, and to be honest at first i was really skeptical. I have this idea in my head that haircuts for guys are easier, girls are more complicated (or maybe just more particular?) about their hair. I did a LOT of research before i actually called and made an appointment.
I left my house about an hour earlier, and got there way early before my scheduled appointment. The place is small but quaint and very artsy. It's hard to find so i was glad my preparation came in handy. Parking was terrible, and since i'm no pro at parallel parking, i waited for a little to get parking on the street.
When i walked in i was immediately greeted by my stylist, Gina, and she took me right in. My boy was ranting and raving about this chick, and i was about to see why. Naturally i'm really shy around new people, but the girls there were so friendly and down to earth; i felt like i was in someone's bedroom chatting up about guys and life. There were two other women across from me who made me laugh more than i'd ever laughed in a hair salon before.
Gina was done with my hair in a matter of minutes and i was impressed! I swear i think she got done with everything in about 10 minutes? Or maybe time just flied because i was enjoying the company.
My hair was not a drastic ordeal, and she actually listened to me about not wanting to cut off too much length. I liked the way she styled it, and it stayed that way throughout the whole day.
The only thing that i regret was not taking that powder stuff that adds volume to your hair. I totally forgot about it. And i dont remember what it's called either. I'll definitely be back when i want a change, which might be sooner than later now that i've found someone i can trust with my hair!
What can I say? Another awesome haircut from Gina! I feel like I am just repeating myself at this point but if you want change go see her! I know some people think $60 is a lot for a hair cut but it's really not. Especially after you see the outcome!
I would pay $60 just to be in her company for an hour! haha okay not really, I don't pay for my friends. But to say the least she is beyond cool, super talented and hilarious!
It's a great salon with an exceptional staff. They really make you feel comfortable and that's hard to find.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
11/3/2008
I went back to Gina again and this time I asked for a mullet! I'm not ever that risky or spontaneous… Read more »
An Open Letter of Apology to my Regular Stylist:
It is with great shame and guilt that I write this review. You knew it when we met, I'm a beauty-whore. Cosmetics, haircare, skincare, haircuts.....I love it all and I know no loyalty when it comes to getting a new look. I've kept silent for far too long and I feel that I must tell the truth.
I've been to another stylist.....and it was GOOD!!!!
It's true, I went to Splitends and Gina cut my hair. Not just cut my hair, but gave me a whole new look that was completely different from anything you've ever given me. Please don't cry....I can see you tearing up. I'm sorry!! But I had to, you see....I'm going to be on TV.
That's right Gina is going to be featured on a TV show and she needed customers to come in and get a haircut on camera. She posted a thread on yelp asking for volunteers and I was lucky enough to be one of the first to respond. I know, it sounds so sleazy...a cheap yelp hook-up.
So not only am I disloyal customer, I'm also a cheap attention whore. How could I resist? A free haircut from the "best stylist in the OC" and the opportunity to be on TV. So there I was, sitting in Gina's chair in the tiny, sleek Splitends salon/art gallery......thinking how could I betray my stylist. I got over it once Gina picked up her razor and went through my overgrown head of hair with lightening speed.
I know there was some tension when I came to see you recently. You knew right away I had been somewhere else when you saw my shorter hair and that my perfectly blunt bangs had been razored.
I just wanted you to know that even though I shared a special experience with Gina, I still appreciate all you do. Besides, she's too far away.....if I had any friends in the OC who need an awesome cut, I'd send them to Gina in a heartbeat. She's sassy and one kick-ass stylist.
Anyhow, I'm really sorry I cheated on you....but if you ever move away, or give me a bad color.....you'll know where I went!!
Yours Truly,
Monica P.
I'm not trying to be a hater or anything but this place is just whatever.
Maybe it's just me but I've always came out of a hairsalon in tears.. Kudos to them for saving me the sprinklers but I wasn't like OMGILOVEMYHAIR either..
Tired of the guy who has been cutting my hair, who never really listens to what I want but cuts how he wants my hair. Which is fine I don't have a problem with that but punk isn't really my style, as for Gina she may look like a Rock Star but she listens and gives feedback on what she thinks will look good.
I love the attention that you also get at this salon it is small but its great being her only client at your appointment time. I hate when you have a stylist who does 2-3 people at a time and makes you wait while you watch the other chick next to you get highlights. It's great money for them but unless they can time it correctly you are seating for a really long time for no reason.
She is great with a razor!
Love my bangs; love the volume she gave me... Thanks Gina!
For about a decade, my hair was faithful to Greg of Matiz Salon in Ventura. Then came the breakup -- I couldn't handle our long-distance relationship. It was amicable, and we still hook up every now and then for blowouts that make me look like a sex kitten. But I needed to find someone new. I was ready for a commitment.
Thus started my four-year search for a great hair place in Orange County. I don't know what's wrong with 99% of the stylists here. They're either REALLY expensive, or they really want to give me crappy layers that make me look like a hedgehog. There's no in between. The one guy I got to a second date with suddenly decided he wasn't going to work on Wednesdays or Thursdays anymore -- which is when I want my hair done.
Then I finally listened to some of my IRL BFFs: Nina F. and Jessica K. They talked about Gina at Splitends like she was some sort of goddess sent from Hair Heaven to make the world beautiful. Ever skeptical, but in dire need of highlights before a girls' trip to San Diego, I made my appointment.
The whole experience was great. I haven't had a haircut this amazing in a long time. And my color started out a bit too dark, so I went back a week later to become more blonder-er. Gina, a firm proponent of the "client must love their hair when they walk out or I'll be sad" philosophy, cheerfully took care of it and my hair is now so sassy I can barely stand to look at it.
Best of all, she's just a totally cool person who I enjoy talking to for two hours. Which is good since the reading materials there are way too cool for me. :)
Today was a tale of two haircuts.
5 months ago, I got my hair cut by Gina at Splitends. It was awesome, but my mom asked me in her accent, "Leelee, vai do you look so pahnk?" I'm not punk, people. Not a single safety pin has pierced my skin ever.
Cut forward 5 months. I'm in a manic bookkeeping, life-getting-together-spree, paying the bills, scrubbing the toilets -- like people on speed, but I wasn't. And I really needed a haircut fast. Since Gina is rad like Teresa who would cut my hair in SF, I assumed she'd be booked up. I called a place recommended by someone I knew who said I could get a fast appointment. I went, in pollyanna hopes that throwing caution to the wind would yield positive results. Well, even Pollyanna got hit by a car. It was a disaster. Freakin' butcher job. I'm pretty flexible with the jaggies, but the hair was a mess, and in an effort to fix it, the stylist chopped off random pieces that would take months to grow back.
I ran home and called Splitends. They got me in same day within a couple of hours with Gina. I walked away psyched. I let her chop off as much of my hair as she wanted to, because frankly, she's the hair designer. When my friend Silvia, who had seen the butcher job a few hours before, saw it, she said "oh my god, it's so cute!!" And then she demanded Gina's business card which she got.
So! After two times at Splitends, here's what rocks about Gina:
1) She has a good sense of style and she's good at reading your style from conversation and your clothes. She's given me two really different cuts I never would have thought to get (and might have feared) but that have turned out awesome.
2) I can get an appointment with her sooner than a month ahead of time, though I fully expect that will change soon.
3) When I bitterly complained that I'd paid $60 for the butcher cut and also mentioned I was a grad student, Gina said that if I was strapped for cash I could pay later. Really sweet, but I totally paid her for her brilliance.
4) They play good music in the salon.
5) They gave me good wine.
6) Most importantly, twice now, good hair!! Same as #1, but bears repeating.
I would note, though, that salons typically work best when you go in and your sense of style and aesthetic matches the aesthetics of the place. So your mileage may vary if you really like forever 21, guess, or bebe. But if you lean hipster (elitist attitude not required), this place is amazing.
