Studio DNA
Category: Hair Salons [Edit]
Neighborhood: Santa Monica902 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401 (310) 451-3200
Do you work long hard days and can't get hair appts?…
Announced 5 days ago
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sat 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sun 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: No
78 Reviews for Studio DNA
One of Studio DNA's Favorite Reviews
Looking for a salon that is closer than my current stylist, with a stylist that understands thick wavy hair, I came across the glowing reviews on Yelp for Studio DNA. Hair grows back so I thought I'd play some Russian Roulette with my hair and give this place a try.
The place is conveniently located for me, the staff was very friendly, from the receptionist that made my appointment to the receptionist who greeted me with an iced tea and snack.
I was looking for a cut and partial highlight, and they were able to get me in this weekend with Angel. Angel was great! She listened to what I wanted, took a look at the pictures of examples of type of style I was looking for and made some recommendations for color and cut.
Angel was quiet, intent on her work, and I actually really like that! I was able to read my magazine without the forced conversation of small talk and trying to hold a conversation over a loud blow dryer. I'm sure as I return every 6 weeks a more natural relationship will develop, because she was very nice and relatable.
The best part was I loved my color, I was looking for something subtle and natural that would lift my dark hair color for summer, and she did a fantastic job. And my cut was also better than I thought it would be. Not an exact copy but an interpretation of the photos I'd brought in, to best compliment my features. I recommend Angel for both cut and color!
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I neglected my hair for a year. I had the worst hair cut of my life so I left it grow out with roots and all. I have naturally curly hair so it's not the easiest to cut and color in under 2 hours. I told my stylist that I needed to be out of there in 2 hours bc I had another appointment to go to and she was able to cut and highlight my hair in 2 hours flat. I was impressed.
I would have given 5 stars but the shampoo girl was clueless on curly hair. You have to use a wide tooth comb with curly hair sweetie. Wide tooth means W I D E, not something straight hair kids consider wide.
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Moved to santa monica 3 years ago and tried different places in the area but was not satisfied. I read reviews on yelp so i made an appointment one sunday afternoon. Well it was the best phone call i ever made. i loved my stylist, Rosie, and I loved my hair cut. It was exactly what i was looking for and Rosie listened to me and did her thing. Rosie is my new hair girl and i already booked an appointment for my next trim.
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Studio DNA's "in da Klub Hair Nights" with phDJ... this place just gets better & better. The only thing that they could possible do to top this is open a second location a 'lil closer to home... ohmy, guess what they just did?
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1 Previous Review:
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06/02/2008
o... m... g...! Mimosas & muffins while Aubrey & the staff at Studio DnA work their magic!
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On Saturday, I got my bangs trimmed while sipping a mimosa. It doesn't get better than that.
I love Studio DNA. For years, I got my hair cut at random places recommended by my mother. Some were wonderful, others were terrible. But I've finally found a place all my own. Rosie has given me bangs that everyone compliments along with a coloring job that I love. She calls them "panels", which consist of chunks of color underneath a dark overtone, and my hair looks super healthy and wonderful.
And they have this wonderful magazine bar filled with any type of periodical you could ever want. As well as snacks and coffee (while I was getting my hair colored, I grabbed a few handfuls of chex mix and some chocolate). I love this place! I'd hang out here every day if I could.
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Yes, I found it! My new favorite hair salon in Santa Monica. Not only did my hair stylist do wonders to my super-thin locks, but everyone there looked amazing. All looks where trendy, yet not too punky. I'm going there again and again thanks to Joe. I suggest this to everyone rich or poor - you can get a great cut for as low as $65 and I promise you that is an amazing deal!
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this place rocks. LOVE LOVE LOVE Summer. best stylist ever. period.
stopped going to my regular guy (well, used to be anyway) because of this awesome and Summer, the funky homosapien. this place has such a chill vibe and who can dislike a place that carries so much Bumble & Bumble products?? hair heaven. trust.
This is my new salon.
I'm a San Diego local transplanted to Venice Beach and I needed a place to call my own in the west side. My hair is a bit on the extreme (longish fauxhawk dyed some crazy color... red in this case), so I can't just go to a barber and expect good results. Because of that, I was a bit nervous about trying new places. Based on the Yelp reviews I gave studio DNA a shot.
When I called to make an appointment, I got to speaking with a lady who was very nice, and we talked about my hair, my availability, and other minor details. When I described my hair, she immediately suggested that I get my hair worked on by Summer. I made an appointment for 3:15 and that was that.
About an hour later I was phoned by them as due to a backlog my appointment was pushed to 4. No problem.
I arrived early, and was greeted by a very nice girl who told me about the free parking in the back, and who offered to move my car if I stayed long enough to get a ticket. Very nice of her. Coffee, tea or water was also offered. Nice touch. The place was clean, austere in a hip way, and I felt comfortable there, which doesn't happen all the time for us guys in salons.
After a bit of a wait, I was greeted by Summer and the work went underway. Summer is awesome. I gave her free reign and she went with a purple+turquoise+silver color after giving me an excellent cut. She wanted to try a different take on my style but I wasn't ready for it. She was totally great to work with, and I love that she was constantly communicating with me, which was excellent. During the lightening procedure I was constantly being asked if I was OK, though was having a blast people-watching while drinking coffee and surfing the web on my phone. They are very attentive and it really adds to the experience.
I was also shampooed several times, given an outstanding head massage, and got a hot towel facial. Sounds metro, right? Whatever, it kicks ass, and I will be back again.
I have long, fine, frizzy hair that I battle with every day. Until I met Juliana,my only choices were, cut it short and let it go, (not flattering at all for my face) or blow it out and flat iron it, (I don't have the time or ability to do it by myself) Juliana gave me a great, long layered cut, showed me how to use a diffuser and educated me on what products to use and now my hair looks great after about 5 to 10 minutes! As for my husband, he likes his hair a little long on top and shorter on the sides and Juliana nails it every time.
Wow. That's really all I can say about Angel. I've been to pretty much every salon in LA. My hair is very hard to cut, long curly and a lot of it. I've had some pretty bad cuts in the past which makes me very nervous entering any salon. Angel gave me an amazing cut. She was very friendly and sat with me first for 20 minutes to go over what I wanted and what would work with my current cut. She showed me how much she was going to cut and made me very comfortable. Not to mention her assistant, Amy is extremely accomodating and very sweet. Brought me citrus infused water!
So I was about to call Angel this week and tell her how much I loved the cut when I actually received a handwritten (not an email) thank you card from her!
Oh you bet your ass I'll be back here in 8 weeks and recommending it to all my friends.
Thanks Angel!
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LOVE THIS PLACE. thank you yelp!
I was only in town saturday to sunday, and was in desperate need of a haircut. The following chain of events took roughly 5 minutes:
-go to yelp.com
-read the glowing reviews for studio dna
-call in a desperate attempt to get a cut last minute
-got an appointment with Summer, a "Level 2" stylist
Got to the salon about an hour and a half later, and Summer greeted me as soon as I entered the door. I was immediately excited because she had crazy awesome hair and lots of tattoos and knew I wouldn't get a boring bob.
I brought in a picture and she knew exactly how to edit it to get the same look for my hair (took in a pic of Reese Witherspoon's new hair cut, and she told me how she was going to change it to suit my Japanese hair).
Was amazed at how much experience and interest she had in Japanese hair and culture (I think she had more knowledge than I do!) and we talked the entire time about boyfriends, the bay area (where she used to live and where I live now), and was at ease the entire time.
Bottom line though, is the hair cut, because I don't mind having a bitchy stylist if i get amazing results. LOVED IT. Omg, she totally knew what I wanted and put her own funky touch on it, making the bottom choppy and deconstructed.
I have never had hair this short before, and I was super nervous about it, but she totally put me at ease and I absolutely LOVE my new hair! I've already gotten rave reviews from all my friends and family. I am so thankful for YELP guiding my way :)
Thanks Yelp, Thanks Studio DNA, but most importantly, Thanks Summer!!!
Oh yea, good thing to know if you've never been here, and something I found useful:
Summer told me they try to book their regulars during the week so their weekends are free for walk-ins and last minute appts. I thought that was a great idea, because everyone thinks weekends are booked full...this way they can grab new clientele by being available at the last minute! I live in the bay now, but would fly down to get my hair cut up all fancy-like from Summer!
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If you come visit me I will give you a better review than anything you are reading on this website. Just look at my beautifully hair. So So Stunning. I have a large head (Really a head that is big in size) and they help hide it with such a stunningly good looking hair cuts. I never planned on being a model but every time I walk out of that place I just feel like I don't have a choice. My hair stylist Julianna is top notch. Ask for her specifically if you want the best cut ever.
PS. They have two really really really cute dogs!
PPS. Danny Rocks!!
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I stopped trying to figure out women a long time ago. Rembrandt may have been able to paint them with masterful accuracy. But if ever he solved the complexities of the female psyche, its answers lie waiting in Pandora's box. Men who have dared attempt to open its secrets have been smite by the mighty winds of unpredictability.
The one thing I have learned? A girl's hair comes before all else (with shoes a close second). When it comes to my own cut, a quick skin fade and trim up top closes the deal in fifteen minutes. Finding a salon to hook up Moms for Mom's Day? I'd probably have an easier time learning quantum physics. But thanks to the ladies of Yelp, my decision was made easy. Fifty-plus 5 star reviews can't be wrong, especially when it comes to women's hair. Big ups to Julie G. and Zizi B. for some extra recommendations, too.
The receptionist was totally patient, as I must have sounded like Rainman trying to describe my mom and her needs. Let me preface the visit with a quick history of her hair. She's had long hair and a similar style pretty much her entire life. She rarely pays a visit to the high-end salon. I was half expecting her to shoot my Mother's Day idea down with the quickness... but not only was she up for it, she wanted a significantly shorter cut. Needless to say, she was nervous before going in... I'm guessing the thought of a new salon and stylist can shake any gal.
The first game ball (see how I'm keeping the review somewhat "dude" here?) goes to the booking agent. She knocked the ball outta the park with the choice of stylist. The second game ball goes to the stylist, Rosie. I dropped a nervous mom off in the morning, caught a movie and returned to a hair cut that made even my normally non-discerning opinion heard. Her hair looked exactly like the magazine photo my mom brought in (a newer shot of Christina Applegate's "layered" do... see, I'm learning!) and the coloring was fantastic. Rosie and my mom were chatting up like they'd been pals forever. It was really cool to see Moms so at ease by the end of the visit. They also threw in a free, artsy bracelet for Mother's Day!
To cap it all off, I get a call from the salon a few minutes after we left. They had forgotten about a Mother's Day discount! Talk about customer service... I think my mom's next visits out to LA will be more about her future appointments with Rosie than seeing me hehehe.
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Every time I go to a hair salon, I imagine myself walking out, beautiful, confident with my head held high like those old school Vidal Sassoon commercials. It never ever happens, though. I usually walk out with a shrug and way too many products that I don't need.
Until today! When I walked out, I even did the hair toss thing. I had a cut and color with Angel and I feel like a new, beautiful lady. She transformed me from a meh blond to a dramatic, warm brunette. She's also extremely personable, so I didn't have to sit there in awkward silence. I have never loved my hair before; now, I love my hair and my stylist. I'm thrilled.
Great, great, great.
Damn, I am so INCREDIBLY disappointed with my haircut.
I've just moved to Santa Monica, which forced me to stray - albeit reluctantly - from my tried and true San Francisco stylist Heather, and try a new stylist.
Studio DNA has incredibly good reviews on Yelp, which made me not think twice about coming here for my first Santa Monica haircut.
But these good reviews were praising not only the salon, but the stylist - a stylist, in every case, other than the one who cut MY hair. Let that be a lesson to you, my friends - pay more attention to these kinds of details than I did.
Rosie. Oh, Rosie. New kid on the block with a kickin' sense of personal style, a pleasant personality, and intriguing dye job. Honey, did I do you wrong in a prior life? Or were you just so distracted that day that you grabbed the weed-wacker instead of your typical precision shears?
Anyway, here's how it went down: Rosie sat me down and asked what I wanted. I told her that I wanted a trim with some layering to give my thinnish, mid-length curly hair some body. I added that I didn't want my "bangs" (e.g. front hair sections, which I usually flip to one side) to be cut without any layering, so please give them some body/ texture.
Rosie nodded distractedly, not saying a word or asking any questions. She didn't ask me what I meant by "layered," didn't ask me whether I swept my forelocks to one side or the other (which the aforementioned Heather asked me every single time), and didn't pause to think whether her concept of what I was asking for might not look so attractive. She then proceeded to give me the haircut from hell.
My bangs were cut so short that when I wake up in the morning, the hair near the front of my face sticks straight up in the air. I've had to resort to using bobby pins to not look like a poodle. If not the worst haircut I've ever had, this does take second place.
It is no exaggeration to say that when I look in the mirror, I feel ugly. I feel angry. I feel hideously unattractive This, after forking over some not insignificant cash.
I will say this:
It's okay to misunderstand somebody. Miscommunications happen.
What is NOT okay is failing to ask your customer a single clarifying question when hearing instructions that you find to be ambiguous, to ensure that you DON'T misunderstand, especially when the butcher job you're about to give won't be so attractive.
Moral of the story, ladies (or gents) with curly hair: You might inquire, politely and gently, whether a stylist other than Rosie would be available to cut your hair at Studio DNA.
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Everything about DNA salon is Gorgeous!
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I got a cut and some very cool coloring at Studio DNA just a few hours ago, and I just have to login and compliment Julianna's work. I have long dark brown hair, and wanted a gradation of red halfway up into my length, with 3-4 inches of blond at the tips. It's unusual and very fun, and Julianna (with the help of Sasha) pulled it off perfectly. She was great when it came to both listening to and giving advice, and make sure I was comfortable at each step.
The result is way better than I expected, and I'm definitely a loyal client from this day forth. The salon has a great relaxed atmosphere, and is filled with awesome people who -will- take care of you :) They're pure lovelies.
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This is my third time at Studio DNA. The first time I went was at the Holiday Yelp Event where one of the stylists gave me a hair treatment. It went so well that I decided to go a second time and I was matched up with Leo. Leo gave me the best haircut of my life and some awesome highlights. However, I felt bad leaving my original stylist so I went back to her for some highlights. They were great highlights but they were not me, which takes me to visit number three @ Studio DNA.
I was running very late and I was scared I was going to miss my appointment with Leo. I called the salon and told them I was running a half hour late. They spoke to Leo and he said he was okay with it and he could still do my hair. I got there out of breath and sweaty. I must have looked horrible. I saw Leo and began to apologize profusely and he was so great about it and greeted me with that nice smile of his and offered me water (which I totally needed with the 90 degree weather).
I am struggling to find words to describe Leo because he is a genuinely amazing person. So let me list those amazing qualities:
- he takes the time to look at my hair, see what has been done to it and lets me explain what I want all while listening to me attentively
- he explains everything that is being done to my hair (i.e. what products he's currently using, what he's doing with the scissors, the hair dye color and how long it's going to take)
- he can hold a fantastic conversation
- he leaves me looking like a million bucks
Visit Leo. He will make you look and feel great.
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EDIT: I was terribly remiss when I wrote my review. I did not let anyone know which stylist I was reviewing. It is Rosie.
Now according to Suzie Q. there are no reviews for Rosie which is why she stepped into some sort of trap. Suzie Q. did you see the same Rosie, because, quite frankly, you are not describing the same person (apart from the kickin' style). You are definitely entitled to your opinion, but I think you are dead wrong. Rosie is amazing and there are over 5 other people who think so. By the way, I have curly, long hair and she seemed to know what to do with it.
I read some of your other reviews and it also appears that you find most things to be medicore or awful. You should really spend some time finding things you like.
To everyone else, I apologize for my rant. I am new on Yelp. I wouldn't normally defend someone, but Rosie is the sweetest person and an amazing stylist and I couldn't let someone malign her this way.
ORIGINAL POST: I will make this short and sweet!
I love this place! My stylist, the front desk, the owners, the other clients (I get chatting all of the time), the coffee and the service (other stylists have asked me if I needed anything - ain't that cool.)
Sometimes you want a place where you can disappear for a while. Studio DNA is that place for me.
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I read a lot of reviews on hair salons in LA before heading out there on vacation this past week. I needed a fresh cut, and I figured LA would be the place to do it as I had just moved back home from college and away from my old stylist and hadn't found a good local one yet. People recommended Studio DNA to me, and after reading lots of reviews of the place on Yelp, I decided to take the plunge and get my hair cut. I was handed over to a stylist named Summer who did the most beautiful haircut on me! I wanted something short and very different from my previous style, and she gave me just that. I brought in a photo for inspiration and Summer went to work for over an hour on my hair. I came out with a gorgeous haircut. Summer is fantastic and I highly recommend her! The salon itself is beautiful and modern, and they give you drinks and snacks while you get your hair cut, which is a very cute touch. Oh, and no one is snooty or snobby here either! I love it.
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Crap! I shoulda photographed that awesome chandelier! I admired it the entire time I was in the chair while my color processed. Aubrey told me they planned it that way, that they intended for people to have that nice view while they are being shampooed, looking up.
That gives you an indication of the thought & thoughtfulness that has gone into the very pleasing interior design of DNA.
Yesterday was my first visit to Aubrey's chair. What in holy hell took me so long to find my way to DNA?!! I've been missing out. Thanks Dawson for the extra little push I needed. And thanks for photographing the gorgeous bathroom, you saved me the trouble.
Where to begin?!! I had such a good time!! DNA was like a party from start to finish. I was there about 3 hours. My hair was dried out and needed major help. Aubrey knew exactly what to do. He is an artist who knows his stuff:
I learned the reason my color has not "taken" correctly at previous salons, and I learned how underlying short hair "lifts" longer hair when it's properly cut. I learned this, and more.
I finally finally finally got the short cut I have wanted for so so long, but could never find anyone to pull it off. You all will see it tomorrow at BGL, and then I will post photos. It's a surprise!
And when time repairs the damage to my hair, then Aubrey and I are gonna do some serious creative color!
OK, so I've known Danny for awhile. I didn't know he operated the salon with Aubrey. I didn't know that proceeds from the beautiful handmade products they sell in the shop help to empower South African women. (Aubrey is from South Africa.) I didn't know the salon was relatively new, has been open slightly more than a year. I didn't know I would be charmed by Cagney & Lacey, the new additions to DNA, who happen to be Chihuahua puppies. Lordy you should see these little angels. They like to chew on your hair, so they will be good for drumming up business, haha!
Studio DNA is everything it claims to be, i.e., an upscale salon minus the attitude. I gots no patience with 'tude, so this works for me. I had a joyous time chatting with Aubrey (I think we bonded), and his assistant Amy (we bonded too). Danny.....(bonding mission successful!) Haha I may have bonded with at least one of the dogs as well!
Prices? It's a bargain.
Parking in crazy permit-controlled SaMo? It's easy in DNA's underground garage! Wooohooo!
Friendly people? Studio DNA is bursting with them. Efficient, smart, knowledgeable, creative, professional, cool-looking staff with amazing hair styles! The place has wonderful energy, is what it is, in a nutshell.
Hurry hurry hurry to Studio DNA. Trust me.
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I had the pleasure of having Leo as my stylist on Saturday and I'm in love with the cut. He took the time to talk to me about what I was looking for and how I wear my hair on a daily basis and my responses obviously had an effect on how he decided to cut my hair. In addition, the gentlemen at the front desk were warm and welcoming and the salon is a beautiful space with lots of natural sunlight.
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I live right up the block and was desperate for a trim before catching a redeye to NYC. I had walked past a few times and stopped in at 4pm on a Thursday. They said that Summer was Tier 2 (not the cheapest, not the most expensive) and I said "Great, book it." I was back at 6pm, and out the door at 7:15 with a new stylist and a great haircut!
Summer instantly makes you feel at home, and we bonded over having both moved from the same neighborhood in SF. I went back last Friday for a color and I am thrilled as well. Summer even washed my hair herself ... no pretense here!
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I was looking to switch up after going to my hairstylist for over 5 years. I was understandably nervous about trying something new, but i am SO GLAD i did. My hair looks awesome and my husband has not only noticed it, but has complimented it many times.
The interior of the salon is totally enlightened. Everything from the entrance to the candy bar to the fixtures to the stylists are customer-focused. No awkward leaning back into the sink to get a hair wash - the basin is places at neck level! Each station has a arm-level pull out shelf for your water or tea cup. And your stylist is totally focused on you and your hair.
I would like to echo many things that Jessica E. said about Leo. He was all business - got into my hair, found its true nature and made it really sing. My whole view of my hair has been revitalized. He absolutely did not sell products (but I also ended up buying something of my own free will).
I left Studio DNA feeling and looking awesome and cannot wait to go back for more.
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I heart Leo!!
Seriously, it could be official hair love, the way I feel about him. He took time to teach me how to style it myself, so that I don't end up in tears the next time I wash it and can't make it look the way he did. And my favorite part, or one of them, he just played with my hair for awhile. I think I would pay just for that.
To add to my experience, since I was there a little early and Leo was running a bit behind, one of the women there washed my hair for a good 15 minutes and then wrapped my head in hot towels and left me to relax, only coming back to replace the towels when they cooled. I fell asleep.
It wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be and Leo was definitely not a product pusher (but of course I bought some of my own free will).
All in all, perfect experience and I will follow Leo for the rest of my life!
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I just moved to the Santa Monica area and needed to find a new salon. I found Studio DNA on Yelp. It had some great reviews so I decided to check it out. Overall, the salon is great. Amazing staff, free parking, and great coffee during those early morning appointments.
I totally lucked out finding Christi. She is fantastic. I couldn't be happier with my haircuts over the past few months. Best shampoo/massage ever! Highly recommended.
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Stopped by while I was in town. Aubrey improves every year.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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08/23/2007
My hair stylist is one of the most important people in my world.After living in Manhattan and then… Read more »
Went there today as a walkin, not sure what all the fuss is about, nothing to to write home about, not a bad cut, but not a great cut..
I think I will still keep looking,...
A lot of hair salons can be intimidating to the average Joe, filled as they can be with uber-trendy looking muppets who react with disdain if you don't want an organic kelp protein pack massaged into your scalp by someone named Marcel while the music of Botswanan monks is piped overhead.
We only get our hair cuts so someone will want to shag us. If we didn't want that, we would go back to looking like cavemen.
In fact, most men only want a few things out of their hair chopping experience.
We don't want to over pay
We don't want too much fuss (so we feel girly)
We don't want some fashionably stupid haircut
We do want a good haircut
We like to see pretty ladies while we have our hair cut.
Thankfully, Studio DNA listens to all the rules and more.
It is a good price, not pretentious, run by 2 really great gents in Danny and Aubrey, nice location, good parking, great haircuts and chock full of stunning, friendly, talented goddesses!
The place has zero attitude, it is always warm, welcoming and never judgmental about the sorry state of your follicles.
The delicious and talented Angel always takes care of my noggin fur, and does it superbly, all the while being super cool and friendly.
I love this place, I love the staff, I love that my hair looks as good 2/3 weeks after as it did the day Angel worked her magic.
Good parking too!
So a message to all men....Get your hair cut here - afterwards, people WILL want to shag you!
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Though Leo is a friend of mine and has been doing my hair in Boston for 5 years or so, I came out to Santa Monica to visit. Since I haven't had my hair done since he left Boston in January, he offered to fix me up. Leo gave me the best hair cut of my life. He takes his time and never rushes his services. The cut is very hip and extremely easy for me to get the same result at home as he did in the studio.
The salon itself is a great atmosphere, staff is super friendly...everyone had a smile on their face. Loved the decor!!
Leo is definitely Santa Monica's newest asset!!!
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A lot of things suck but Studio DNA doesn't suck.
I suck. My hair sucks.
It's been three weeks since I've been to Studio DNA. First off, they are a great salon. Spacious. Chill ambient music. Great employees. Easy parking.
They were running a little over schedule so they gave me a complimentary conditioning wrap. Yah! They kept the boy occupied while I was getting my hair done. Good. They kept ME occupied while cutting my hair chatting with me about Britney. My most favorite celeb in the world. She doesn't suck.
Tina, my stylist, doesn't suck. She worked her magic cutting layers and giving me wonderful bouncy waves.
Unfortunately, time and hair washing sucks. My bangs grew long and I tried to cut them myself.
well. THAT sucked.
My bangs are looking like this:
http://img153.imagesha...
What should i do?
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I was completely and utterly oblivious to how one goes about finding a place to get my hair done for my wedding. In my confusion I turned to the wisdom of the internet, and stumbled across these reviews of Studio DNA.
I'm not what one would call "hip," "edgy," or even remotely "fashionable." I frequently go years between haircuts. Still, after hearing about the magical touch of the DNA-folk, I booked a wedding hair trial with Christi.
She spent about an hour and a half with me just for the trial, which was excellent. She actually used the inspiration pictures I brought with me! The hair was very cool, and I was happy. While I was in Christi's chair I happened to mention that I was also searching for a wedding day makeup artist. I know, I know. I'm right next to Hollywood. I shouldn't be able to sneeze without hitting a makeup artist. Still, since I was developing trust in Christi's services I thought she could help me out. Boy, did she ever.
It turns out that Angel is a multi-talented lady. I scheduled a makeup trial with her for the next week, and it went just as well as my hair trial with Christi.
When it came to the day of the wedding, the ENTIRE staff of Studio DNA was incredible to me. They gave me and my Maid of Honor tons of attention, and they even gave me a lovely (and entirely unexpected) wedding gift! Oh yeah...my hair and makeup received more compliments than I could even count. Words used were: stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, unique, perfect, and amazing. That about sums it up!
It was an experience I won't soon forget, and now that I'm feeling brave enough to try my first different hairstyle in 12 years I'll be making a return visit ASAP.
Thanks so much, Studio DNA! You've gained a very satisfied convert.
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I guess this is more of a review of a stylist rather than the business itself. I am a student whose budget is rather small, so I set aside some cash to finally get a decent haircut, and picked this place based on all the great reviews. The receptionist was super friendly on the phone, and listened to my concerns about trying a new stylist. He booked me with Angel.
I got in for the next morning, and when I got there they whisked me back to the shampoo bowls. Everyone was pretty friendly. I'd had the same haircut for awhile and wanted a change - I was thinking about bangs, and brought in 7 or so pictures of haircuts I thought might look good on me. Angel told me she thought I had a good face shape for it, and I picked out a picture of a girl with sleek straight hair for her to copy.
Needless to say, by the end of the whole thing, I look more like a hairy dog than any human being. I understand some stylists like to focus while they're working on you're hair, but she spoke maybe two words to me the whole time, which was awkward for me as a I sat in the chair staring at her butcher my hair. She cut straight-across bangs which might have been cute had they actually been straight. She also put a large amount of curl creme in my hair, then realized I said I wanted a straight style, and proceeded to spray my entire head with brown hair powder. By the time I was all "styled" my hair was so curled into my face all you could see was my eyes.
I tried not to cry and get out of there as fast as I could, but she tried to sell me the curl crap she put in my hair, and then the receptionist failed to give me the new-customer discount, so I had to call back and have them change my total, which made my 10% tip into a 25% since they didn't change that too.
All in all, everyone seemed really nice and I'm sure Angel is nice too (not that I would know, she didn't talk to me). I just didn't feel as welcomed as all the reviews made it sound like I'd be, and for the $90 I paid and as clear as I thought I was with what I wanted, I just expected more. I used to work at another salon in Los Angeles, and I guess my standards were just higher in terms of customer service and listening to clients' wants. But this was just my experience, and obviously I'm in the minority out of all of these reviews.
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Yay, Yelp! You haven't let me down. I needed a new salon and I've found one.
Confession time. For a girl that wears a lot of cashmere, buys too many handbags, and uses Fekkai shampoo, I'm pretty cheap when it comes to haircuts. I guess because my hair is long and always looks the same, I figured it wouldn't matter much. Plus, I'd never met one stylist that felt like "The One." So, I'd go to Paul Mitchell School and spend half the day just to get a simple haircut. Nowadays, I'm too lazy and have no desire to drive to Sherman Oaks or trust those crazy kids over at Vidal Sassoon Academy.
I had my haircut with Rosie today. She was pleasant to chat with, easygoing, did a nice job on my hair, and it only took an hour start to finish. She asked lots of questions, probably to make sure she did what I wanted, and she didn't try to upsell me on any unnecessary products or services. I hate being made to feel like I'm cheap because I don't need another bottle of $25 shampoo.
The salon is nice and comfortable, upscale without being snooty. The staff was pleasant even during the first phone call when you usually wind up speaking to a surly receptionist.
I think I've finally found my place. It's close to home, reasonably priced, and I look forward to letting Rosie get more creative with me.
Oh, and they give a 20% discount to new customers. Fantastic!
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that its great...
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If you are looking for a good hair cut, super friendly service, and a fun environment, then Studio DNA is the place to be! The friendly service started right when I booked my appointment. They were busy, so instead of leaving me on hold forever, they politely asked if they could call me back in in a few minutes. I appreciated that so much!!! a A few minutes later when they called back, they not only booked my appointment and got my info, they made sure that I knew where the salon was located, and they told me where they had FREE PARKING!!!
I also received a confirmation call the day before.
I tend to show up a few minutes early to places, so naturally I got to the salon about 15 minutes early, and to my surprise Christi was already ready for me! I brought a picture of what I would like my hair to look like, and before we even washed my hair Christi sat me down and we discussed what I wanted and the condition of my hair. After that she washed and massaged my hair and scalp with Bumble and Bumble products (which I loved so much I bought some)!
After that she began to cut my hair. She was so friendly the entire time. We had great conversation! She was also really good about making sure I was happy with the way my hair was looking. She knew that it was the first time I had bangs in a really long time, so she slowly cut them to make sure I was happy with the length.
All in all, I loved my experience there! The shop was super cute. Christi actually took the time to cut my hair the way I wanted. I did not ever feel like she was rushing through the hair cut. I loved the final result, and she even gave me a hug after wards!!! I felt like they gave me the "Beverly Hills quality" without all the snobbery. Oh, and to top it all off, I received a postcard in the mail about a week later from Christi thanking me for coming in! Studio DNA you rock my socks!!! :)
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Got a haircut from Leo, who is actually one of their new stylists. He just moved and was in his first week at StudioDNA. I really enjoyed my experience. He was very atte