Beach Break Salon

It took me about 30 minutes before someone could get to my appointment. Cala helped me with a complimentary consultation. She was amazing! She did a two process bleach on two strands of my black hair to see how far it would lift. I had a lot of questions/​requests since my hair is permed and I wanted to dye it purple next. She gave me tips for coloring my hair and recommended some environmentally-​friendly and good-​for-​you products.
Unfortunately, they did not offer the hair dye I was looking for. The Paul Mitchell dye selection is limited for non-​natural colors.
I haven’t gone back yet for a paid salon visit, but I definitely will next time I can!

One of the best salons I’ve been to! Dustin did an amazing job taking me from white blonde to a beautiful red! Not only was he super friendly but he also seemed excited for the service, which I loved! Dustin seems to have a full schedule but when my color fades he always finds a time to squeeze me in between his guests so I can always look great! THANK YOU Dustin! I will be back!

I really like getting my hair cut here. I have been to more expensive barber shops and salons, but the service here is just as good. In particular, Melanie is amazing. She cuts my hair just the way I like. In fact, she helped me figure out what I like! Also, the music is usually pretty/​vibe is pretty chill – except for when they play older country which is not what I want to listen to while getting a trim.

My experience with Beach Break wasn’t bad, just frustrating, though they did their best to rectify the situation.
I called about a week or so ahead of time to make an appointment to have my hair cut on my birthday, when I would be off work. I got an appointment easily, and the person on the phone was very kind. I didn’t have a specific stylist I wanted to see, but I was told that my appointment was made with Dustin.
When the day for my appointment came, I received a call an hour before my appointment from Dustin. He explained that he had an emergency appointment he had to fit in and that he had to cancel mine so that he could take care of this other appointment. He was very remorseful and provided other times that he could see me the following week. He also offered me a free haircut for the inconvenience and said that he would make sure we did something fantastic with my hair during our next appointment. I thought this was nice and accepted.
When I went in for my rescheduled appointment, it turns out that Dustin had again scheduled another appointment with someone who is probably a regular client (judging by their conversation I could overhear). I was assigned to another girl, which was fine, but he did not acknowledge this or greet me or anything; I was just assigned to the other stylist.
When the time came to pay, the new stylist had no idea that I was getting a free haircut, and she called Dustin over to deal with it. He didn’t apologize or anything for the fact that he glossed over me yet again in favor of someone else, and told me to make sure I left a good tip for the stylist who cut my hair because my haircut was free. It was a little patronizing for him to offer me a free haircut and then continue to remind me that I received a free haircut, like it was somehow my fault or that I might not tip because of that. I’m an adult; I know how to tip and I know how salons work, and of course I tipped the stylist. It was just weird and annoying.
The haircut I did receive was decent (not the best ever but perfectly adequate), and I liked that they offered me wine (though my cut hair kept falling into my glass!), so I don’t want to say «don’t go here» or suggest that the entire business is flawed, but I was just really put off by Dustin’s scheduling mishaps. It seemed like he was wiling to sacrifice my simple haircut in favor of higher-​paying customers. I understand that his long-​time clients and higher-​paying clients are probably much more important than a new client who just wants a haircut, but it really annoyed me that he kept shirking me off. If he didn’t want to do a simple haircut, he could have just scheduled me with someone else from the start.

Initially, I looked this place up online because a salon that I wanted to go to earlier in the day did not have any openings. I booked a haircut appointment the same day. I came in 3 minutes late, but they were so nice about it. They offered me something to drink and was so welcoming the entire time. I showed Alex what I wanted as a haircut and he did an amazing job! I absolutely loved my hair. Before this haircut, my hair looked miserable, but Alex did not make me feel bad about it at all. He did a great job and I will definitely come back for another haircut in the future.

I discovered them through their work for collecting and cutting hair for UF’s Relay for Life (Cancer fundraiser). My sister donated her hair and she has really thick hair that most stylists find difficult to cut and end up doing a poor job. But the Beach Break Salon took time and my sister ended up with the best haircut she’s ever had! So I went and I loved it. I think it was Brandy (?) who did my hair. She was polite and methodical in cutting my hair. And it seemed like she took the time to get my hair cut just right. The service is great. The place is young, the people who work there are younger so I feel like they have an understanding of what younger clients want e.g. modern hair cut.

Quite possibly the best color – anywhere. Dustin treats color as a combination of chemistry and art. The result has been color I routinely get compliments on and questions about who does my color. He’s also figured out the ideal length and cut for my hair. Can’t recommend highly enough.

Best haircut in Gainesville! Melanie did a great job! I have had 3 haircuts since moving here and finally found the best place! I called at the last second and she told me to come in right away. They offer you a free drink of basically any kind which is nice. Washed my hair twice to ensure I looked great out the door. Put in a great gel in my hair but didn’t try to upsell me on it. (I purchased because of the lack of hard sell actually) The place is very relaxing with of course a beach theme. All the employees seem to get a long and was a very nice atmosphere!

Moving from Miami, I knew it would be hard to find someone who can cut a complex bob to perfection or to my liking. I went three weeks ago and decided to give this place a shot. I spent about two hours narrating and guiding my stylist. But after a while I just settled. I was so unhappy. The back was uneven. i asked for a sharp edge. There was no sharp edge. I just kept my hair up In a clip. Yesterday I went somewhere else and I’m finally confident again.

I’ve only had my eyebrows done here, but Annie does such a good job that I have to brag on her. She takes her time doing them, I’m usually in there for about 20 minutes, but the first couple times I would say I was in there for about 30 minutes. Really shapes your eyebrows. Very very nice loves to strike a conversation with you. I recommend calling the day before or morning of when you want to get them done, she’s busy!

Do no get you hair cut by Tasha. The only reason I am giving one star is because of this specific stylist. The salon as whole is good and the manager is very nice. Again, the stylist I want to warn everyone about is Tasha. I went into the salon with hair down to the bottom of my back. I asked Tasha to trim 1in off the end and then I showed her a picture of a girl with hair as long as mine that had a V cut (google) and I asked her if she could shape my hair that way. «Yeah no problem but I’ll have to take some length of the sides.» I told her I’m fine with that as long as my hair is still long and it doesn’t come up to my shoulders. Well, not only did Tasha cut my hair to my shoulders (about 6 inches) but it barely has any V cut to it. I noticed she was struggling when she had to call over another stylist. All the time I had only been shown my hair once and it was after the 1in trim. So my hair that I had spent over a year growing out and taking care of is gone. I was visibly upset and Tasha had the audacity to tell me, «It will grow out and plus it looks really healthy now.» I have struggled with self-​esteem issues but my long hair was something I always got complements on and like most women I am/​was very attached to my hair. Annie, the manager, was kind enough to refund my money but not having to pay 40 $ for a trim has not come close to replacing the self esteem that I have lost. I feel like Tasha stole something from me and even though it is just hair, I feel violated. I wish this review wasn’t true and I very much wish it could have been an excellent review; however, this is what happens when an incompetent stylist who does not communicate with her clients, «trims» your hair.

The best salon experience I’ve had in a long time! I went in today to get my bangs fixed from a precious cut that didn’t go so well. The woman who fixed me up was understanding and took the time to make sure everything looked perfect before I left. Better yet, she didn’t charge me for it! It was such a kind gesture, it made my whole day. I definitely recommend this place!

I went last month and had a great experience! It was so great that I sent my roommate there a couple weeks later. I was going from a light light blonde to a brown/​blonde and my roommate was doing what’s known as an «ombré»? We both loved the way out hair turned out! I’m used to paying close to $ 200 for a cut and color, wash, and blow out and walked away paying substantially less! I would definitely recommend Cala, our stylist, to anyone looking for great service!

Simply the best eyebrow wax in Gainesville. I miss Annie! She makes your brows looked Photoshopped in real life, with minimal pain. The salon itself is clean, relaxed, and pleasant. Can’t recommend enough!

I LOVE this place. Tara is the best! She has fixed my hair disasters every time I’ve done stupid things to it, and that happens often. I always come out of there looking like a superstar. Moreover, she is very knowledgeable about color and cutting techniques, and if she doesn’t know something, Becca and Brenda do! They’re an awesome team and I wouldn’t ever THINK of going anywhere else in Gainesville. Also, free flowing Landshark, wine, or coffee makes the experience even that much better. :)

Rebecca did my highlights and did a fantastic job, and I’m very picky about my hair. The salon is welcoming and friendly, decorated in a beachy theme. It’s a Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, so they offer Paul Mitchell products. Rebecca is an official Paul Mitchell educator and is very knowledgeable about her field. It’s very hard to find a salon where you enjoy the ambiance, your hairstylist and the price you pay for services. This salon rocks on all three!

I lived in Gainesville for 6 years and it took me 5 to find a place I could trust to cut it. Some places were good for my budget, but I didn’t trust for more than a trim and others were over-​priced and didn’t wow me in any way.
After I moved out by midtown, I decided to go to Beach Break Salon. I had seen that surfboard outside many-​a-​times, but never stopped in. I’m so glad that I did! I decided to cut my hair short after years of long hair and was a little nervous. Rachael did an amazing job and cut my hair exactly how I wanted it. Everything from the scalp massage to having my hair blow-​dried was perfect. The staff are friendly and courteous. This is where I’ll be going whenever I’m back in Gainesville and need my hair cut.
Thanks Beach Break!

AVOID. I’ve been twice now and received horrible haircuts both times and from two different stylists. My boyfriend has been 2 – 3 times and will not be going back because no matter who he sees, he’s always disappointed. I don’t know if they’re incapable of listening or if they just are unskilled, but regardless it’s not worth the risk.
They won’t even let you come in to get your cut corrected for free unless you see the same stylist – if you see a different one, you have to pay. Which means walking around with a terrible cut until the same person who messed it up in the first place is available to see you.
Terrible policies, over-​priced, disappointing salon.
**Edited in response to the business’ reply — they only offered to refund the cost of my haircut and correct it for free with a different stylist after I left this review. This review was left in response to a phone conversation where they unequivocally stated that I would have to pay if I wanted to see someone else for a correction. If they had done the right thing in the first place, I wouldn’t have felt the need to leave a review at all.

Orie, alas, has left Beach Break to become a hair academy instructor elsewhere which was his dream, so I have a new stylist at Beach Break. Her name is Laura and she, like Orie, is a very skilled, caring, and adept stylist who did a great job on my haircut. She was able to work me in with short notice and yet took ample time to listen to what I desired in my haircut and ensure I got a fresh, simple, attractive, short cut for summer. I think this is proof the entire salon is very well-​run and everyone working there can and will do a first-​rate job. I’m very impressed by this salon!

Chelsea is amazing… terrific at highlights… perfect amount of blonde, listened to exactly what I asked for and was able to do it.
Super cool salon with a great vibe and talented staff. I have had my hair done at numerous places all over the world and this was one of the best highlight jobs ever at the best price ever. I am super happy to have this salon here in Gainesville. I cant wait to go back!
Thank you