Manifesto Lifestyle Salon

After my hairstylist at another salon went on maternity leave, I sampled several new salons before landing at Manifesto with Sally. The salon has a great vibe, quality products, and comfortable, engaging and talented stylists. My whole family, including my 3-​year old son, all get haircuts with Sally and couldn’t be happier!

I love the mood at this place and have been coming here for about five years now. The tea, the scalp massage, the scents of Aveda products all make the space calm, fun and welcoming. Sally is amazing with cut and intricate colour and I always leave with a huge smile on my face, feeling beautiful. Senior stylists cost more than junior stylists, but Sally is absolutely worth the cost.

I’m a little sad about this salon. I was a regular client when the salon was called Joji’s. For some reason, I kept going back even though the outcome of each cut seems to be a toss-​up. Over the course of two years it seemed that the quality of the stylists were highly variable, to the point where I’ve given up.
I’ve had some really good cuts that match my face, and I’ve gotten some excellent color — it isn’t inexpensive, but there were definitely some positive moments.
But then I’ve gone back and asked for the same thing from a different (usually junior) stylist (when the one who cut my hair previously was gone or not available), gotten a TOTALLY different cut that doesn’t match my face or head shape, or even what I asked for. It generally looks like the same «in» cut I’ve seen on half the people around me.
I liked some of the Aveda products. I found the stylists friendly and some quite good. I like the scalp massage. So there are many positive aspects. I really wanted to remain loyal to this place (!), but what I need most of all in a salon is to have trust that the stylists will have the sense and experience to adapt a style or cut to the person before applying it to everyone.
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UPDATE (2015): I’d like to note that the owner of Manifesto contacted me personally regarding this review and offered to meet with me. I take this is a sign that the owners care about what they are doing. Since writing this review I’ve moved on and found a different stylist that I like and trust, and so I have not taken her up on her offer. My intent is not to bash this salon. Not every place is for everyone. I’ve tried to describe the difficulties I had back in 2013 – 2014, and I hope that any person reading this review can balance my past experience with the other experiences described here.

I really like coming to Manifesto. The atmosphere is so welcoming, and the shoulder massage is always a lovely addition! I have been to other salons in the past but keep ending up coming back to Manifesto to see Regi. I recommended Manifesto to a friend who is never satisfied with her hair, and for the first time in her life she was happy with her haircut — that speaks volumes!

I’ve been going to Regi since she worked downtown which is a total of about 7 years. What a relief to find someone who knows how to cut curls ! Regi. Knows. Curls. In addition to many other types of hair, of course. She also does a great job of highlights which last through haircuts. I cannot imagine anyone with the wisdom beyond her years and exceptional people skills more suited to owning her own business and I’m glad to see the salon is thriving.

I felt I had to write a review because all of the others are bashing the place. I’ve never had a bad experience here, and after going twice initially (back in 2011), they knew my name, the couple products I like and ask how my dog is. Very, very friendly personable staff which gives the place a great neighbourhood/​community feel.
My experience with mens cuts have been great, no issues or problems and I’ve always left with a great cut. Manifesto is my go-​to for haircuts on Commercial Dr. and has been since I moved to Vancouver over two years ago.

My wife and I have been coming hear for years. The service is really great. I really like the environment as well as the care that the stylists take. Brought my six year old in today for a cut after dad. It has alway been a struggle with him and haircuts (especially the kid places). He loved his experience.

Josh was flat out terrible and not even nice. Messed up my hair completely. Firstly, it took 3 hours instead of 1.5. He was distracted by other people and his own hair which he was fixing up while dying mine. Also he argued with what I said I wanted (the grown out side fringe) which led to him layering just one side of my hair — he forgot to layer one side of my hair!?!
The one thing that was good about this salon is Marina, the stylist who was able to fix my hair (thank you Marina!). She even showed me a part on the back of my hair that was a straight horizontal line of dye (ie not anything close to ombré). It was bad. As nice and talented as Marina is, I wouldn’t go back to a hair salon who hires people like Josh who do such shoddy work.

I’ve spent about $ 300 every time I’ve been there and I’ve had the following happen to me:
1. They have forgotten about my appointments multiple times (told me one time, then booked a different time and blamed it on me/​forgotten about an appointment completely)
2. Been talked to in an extremely condescending way (ex. I’ll be explaining something to a hair dresser and they’ll start talking to someone else)
3. Been given blotchy hair colour multiple times.
4. Have had bad service overall.
I don’t know why I kept giving them chances, but I will not be going there anymore.

Sally gave me the best haircut I’ve ever had! I have weird waves and very thick hair, so hairdressers often find my hair to be a challenge to cut. Sally thinned it out with flattering layers, and two months later it still looks fabulous! And she recommended just the right product to smooth it down without irritating my very sensitive baby.