Salon Istanbul

I am rating this strictly on the hair styling services and not the waxing service that works out of this location (they are great!). I don’t have difficult hair (no perm, color, natural curls even…), so you generally just need to chop off a few inches, and I am fine. However, from the time I entered the place to leaving, it took less than 15 minutes. This was after walking in and they didn’t have me down for an appointment I had made, so there was a short wait. After the shampooing, I realized how badly Mike smelled like smoke. That’s not generally a huge problem as most of the people I have seen do smoke, but it was so overpowering that even with freshly shampooed hair, I smelled it on me the rest of the day. I have never wanted to shower so quickly after getting my hair washed than I did at that time, and I still had several hours of my workday to go.

This is the worst place to go to for hair color! I usually don’t write reviews on Unilocal but this one I had to! Pretty much I left the salon with a hair that I was even embarrassed to walk to my car, I do not recommend this place to anyone, and def don’t want anybody to feel like what I felt!!! I am stuck at home right now with this ugly hair and can’t even go out (it’s that bad). The day when I got my hair done at salon Istanbul was probably one of the worst days of my life!

I hate to write a bad review but I had a horrible color experience. I was looking for a new salon and read the Unilocal reviews on this place and heard great things about «Mike» I went to the salons and got my hair cut by Mike and the cut was good. Then someone else (another guy) did my color. I couldn’t tell in the salon but when I got home there were huge chunks of color with bleed marks. It was awful. I had to pay my usual stylist (who had been out of town) to fix it. She agreed the colorist did a very sloppy job and there were so many bad bleed marks. It actually took her two coloring sessions to fully fix it and correct the patchy color bleed areas.
If you go, get a cut and not color.

I had a very important Black Tie event coming up, which required perfectly styled hair. After extensive research of several local hair salons, I called and made an appointment with Mike for a blow-​out several days in advance. On the day of the event, I was on a very tight schedule. I had my hair appointment at 3 p.m., and counted on it to be over by 4 p. m, which left me with just enough time to get dressed and had my make-​up done. When I showed up at the salon, there was not a single stylist in sight. The woman who greeted me seemed surprised when I told her I had an appointment. She called Mike, who apparently is the salon owner. Turns out, he was unaware of my appointment and was at a dentist office. Imagine my horror and panic. I had less than an hour left to find another salon that could take me in right away, and have my hair done. I’ve got very long hair that took me years to grow, and I don’t trust just anybody to touch it. I never go to a new stylist without a recommendation or at least checking their reviews first. Well, there was no time for that, given that I had to be in my evening dress and full make-​up in less than 2 hours. I had to literally run to Ballston mall, and had my hair done by some random stylist there. Thankfully, I didn’t end up with fried hair. But it was extremely stressful and rushed. Salon Istanbul was totally unprofessional in handling my appointment. First, they messed up the scheduling process. And then there was no follow-​up or apology. I’ve never had to deal with such poor customer service delivered by a hair salon.

I do not know what happened here but Mike gave me what can easily be categorized as the top five worst haircuts of a lifetime. I am still trying to figure out what went wrong. Unfortunately, this is not the first time he messed up (he ruined my hair before by dying it from blonde to dark brown!), but because I like the guy and he’s done good work, I decided to give him another chance.
Well, never again! After getting my roots lifted (I have a highlight job done elsewhere), he asked if I wanted a cut. I said no, but how about a trim? He proceeded to take matters into his own hands and BUTCHER — literally BUTCHER my hair. He pulled various strands together and somehow razor cut it with the scissors. Hair was flying everywhere. It was like he’d taken a hit of crack and just went to town. My jaw practically dropped to the floor. And before I knew it, he was done. I was in a state of shock. First, I had no idea the extent of the damage or even the look he was aiming for. Second, what he did went beyond a simple trim! He clearly cannot listen!
After blowing it dry, I sat and stared in the mirror. I forced a smile but deep inside I wanted to cry. II went from devil may care, sexy, beachy, just got out of bed locks to corporate coiffed DC fembot with wisps of hair annoyingly styled around my jawline. After paying, I went back to my hotel and took a cold hard look in the mirror. Oh what a mess he created! He massively over layered my hair every which why you can. Mind you, I have fine hair so over layering is a bonehead amateur move. He knows I hate layers! Nor did they blend in well together. I looked as if I escaped from a mental ward, or if a dog had gotten a hold of me and chewed my hair off! My beautiful Beverly Hills cut was totally ruined, and for what? A style that had no rhyme or reason.
My boyfriend was pissed for me. He wanted to go to the salon and cut crop circles in his head. He couldn’t believe someone would do that to my hair, especially when I didn’t ask for it. In the meantime, I went back to my current salon on the west coast to get it fixed. The stylist could not believe how poor of a job he did. She said the cut made zero sense. He cut three levels of layers in the back! He also layered the bottom of my hair. Basically, I am missing CHUNKS of hair! She said it looked as if he took a razor to my head. She did her best to blend it in and it took her an HOUR AND A HALF to fix this mess as best as she could. She informed me that I would have to let the rest of it grow. «And please don’t bring me your homework again,» she said.
Mike, you putz with the scissors. You are FIRED.

Are you looking for a new stylist who listens to what you want, is a color artist and understands your hair? That guy is Redouane. He is fun to talk to and really talented. He moved recently and has openings for new clients. After his haircut, my hair just falls into place and the color is fabulous! I feel like I look great and even my husband says that he is glad that Redouane is in my life because I am so much happier when I am confident that my hair looks good. Call him at (703)507−5466 to reach him directly.

this is a great salon. very clean and friendly. i highly recommend Reduoane! he has cut both me and my boyfriend’s hair for years. he also does color, relaxers, etc. extremely nice guy with a great personality who is an EXCELLENT stylist! love this place.

I just moved to Arlington and was looking for a salon and everything seemed so pricey. I found this place and honestly it is the best salon I’ve ever been too! Mike made my hair look the most healthy I have ever seen it before, not to mention the man know hoes to blow dry hair better than a Brazilian and add lots of shine. I’m in love with my color and cut. He has a new customer for life!!! :)

Glad I let Unilocal pick this one for me! Mike did an excellent job with cut and color, and was very reasonably priced ($ 140 for both!) being new in town, I’m so happy to have found a good quality salon on my first try!

WOW!
I used to walk by this place a lot. I didn’t think anything of it until I read these reviews. Before visiting this salon, it was 2 months since I last straightened my hair and 5 months since my last trim. I needed help! Let me preface this by saying I have REALLLLLY thick, wavy/​curly, long hair. HUGE hair. I walked in and Mike immediately greeted me and touched my hair to assess it. He said he loved it and complimented me on it. He got started right away on it.
I am VERY particular with my hair and he exceeded my expectations. First of all, I have NEVER had the stylist wash, cut, and blow dry my hair. The stylists I’ve been to usually have someone else do most of the work. He washed, detangled, blow dried, trimmed, and styled my hair… in LESS THAN AN HOUR!!! LESS THAN AN HOUR! Seriously. That never happens. It usually takes people 2+ hours to do my hair. I was ASTONISHED.
His blow out technique is perfect. I loved it! Not only is he talented, but he is very nice! The customer service was amazing.
Seriously, if I was happy with the results… you will be too! I am usually very weird about going to a stylist. Some stylists don’t know how to handle «course» hair. Glad I found this gem.
MIKE IS THE BEST! Everyone is so nice in the salon. :) $ 70 well spent.

First time customer today, I drive by it every day on the way to work and decided to give it a try. Fresh, updated salon, very clean, and felt very comfortable. Got a cut from Mike. Although he was super busy, he welcomed me in. Extremely professional, excellent cut and style. I’ll definitely be back.

I have come here many a times. And this place is like a necessary evil for me. It’s at a convenient location, so I can drop in easily. However I am not 100% satisfied with their service. I get waxing done here. They are always late in keeping up with their appointments. I always have to wait atleast 15−20minutes past my appointment time. I have got burnt many a times while getting wax done. I think they are too expensive for the level of service they offer.
The good thing is, apart from burning you occasionally, there waxing service is pretty good. Brazilian waxing is pretty neat and quick.

I woke up this morning and decided that I hated my hair and I needed a change. I have been going to the same stylist, who I love, for over five years so I was really hesitant to try anything new. I stopped in Salon Istanbul and they were able to squeeze me in within the hour. Mike cut my hair and did an AMAZING job. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier. He gave me great advice, he has great technique and I am just so pleased. I will definitely be going there again.

I loved my haircut from Rami. He knows what suits you and gives good suggestions. He did an excellent job! I had been looking for a good stylist since a very long time and happy that i finally got a great one.

Terrible customer service! I called ahead to see of they could take walk-​ins before purchasing a GroupOn. They said yes, and I scheduled a 12:45. I arrived at 12:45 on the nose, and I was not seated until 1:15. In those 30 minutes I was able to look at the environment, which was not at all high-​end salon quality; the staff was inattentive at best; and the music made me feel as through I had walked into a hairstylist for a much older crowd. Upon talking to the hairstylist, who did not introduce himself, he was very unwelcoming, and frowned when I mentioned that I was using GroupOn. I felt so uncomfortable with everything that I got up and left without using my GroupOn, and am hoping that it will be refunded. I highly recommend you avoid this place if you use GroupOn.

Mike has been my trusted stylist for over 5 years. I was over the moon to hear that he had opened up Salon Istanbul, and I am a huge supporter of his services. Mike is of a stylist category that is rare to find these days. Most stylists, especially in D.C., can wow with cut and color, but Mike can do that plus finish the job with an incredible blow out. Having grown up in a culture where ladies have their «hair done» on a weekly basis, I found living in D.C. to be nerve-​racking because no one could finish the job like a pro, and I would leave the salon after paying $$$ looking like I had styled myself. HUGE problem.
Problem solved with Mike and Salon Istanbul. I ONLY go to him because I trust that I will leave the salon looking and feeling like a million bucks without spending it.
Here’s to model ready hair every weekend! Thank you, Mike!

I used a living social deal on a keratin treatment today. They were very quick (took less than 2 hours) and the price was great! The salon was not as luxurious as others that I have been, but the service was good.

New in the area and my last adventure trying out a new hairdresser in MD was disastrous so I went in to Salon Istanbul a little nervous, but boy am I glad I did. A friend passed on a groupon that was out for the place and highly recommended all the stylists there. It was easy enough to get an appointment on short noticed, but once you get to the address you do need to walk through the hallways of a residential apartment building and end up at the backdoor of the place. So yeah. weird entrance, but don’t let that put you off. this is definitely a no frills place, so don’t go in there expecting free head massages and mimosas.
Rami did a great job with my cut and color. He was fast, efficient, attentive and helpful in picking out a color that works great for my skintone and did a fantastic job on the cut afterwards! He’s very fast. which made me nervous cuz I really didnt want to lose too much length (don’t we all?) but he is very confident in the cuts he makes and knows what he’s doing. The color and cut turned out great. I took off a start cuz I’m used to having my hair blow dryed with the cut, but you have to pay extra for the blowdry but otherwise it was all well worth the groupon and would recommend it even without the coupon. Ask for Rami!

This is a no frills salon. Rami cut my hair and styled it quickly. It came out awesome! Highly recommend his services.

I’m growing out a pixie cut and was looking for a very specific style. Rami listened to my concerns and delivered with an excellent hair cut! Location is convenient and prices are great.