Zada Salon Spa & Surf

unfortunately, I had a horrible experience with Zada. First lets start with… A gentleman was going business to business selling gift cards at a discount price, there were I believe 6 different visits all with $ 100 each visit value for $ 60.00 for the Gift Certificate. Who could not pass up a $ 600.00 value for $ 60.00 bucks right? Fast forward a few months I had my baby and was just about to go back to work from maternity leave and wanted to get my hair done. Usually I stick to a specific hair stylist but I was out of work for the baby and one of the visits on the gift card was a hair cut so why not I already paid for it right? you could also get highlight for a $ 45.00 upgrade down from the $ 80.00 it usually was so I opted in for that as well. I also took advantage of the massage visit that was on the gift card as well cuz like I said why not I already paid for it right??? There was an option for a $ 10.00 upgrade for a deep tissue massage which I declined upon making the appointment. SO visit comes. I get the deep tissue massage which I never asked for but oh well big deal $ 10.00 bucks I don’t care. Hair time. I get my highlights done DID NOT style my hair like the visit stated… fine whatever, ill style it later … The stylist suggests I purchase some of their hair products, they come from Australia, I admit I like the straightening one but for $ 25.00 bucks a product, Ill wait. Now comes payment time … so I got an upgrade for highlights of $ 45.00 and a upgraded deep tissue massage, which I never asked for, for $ 10.00 so I should be paying about $ 60.00 max with taxes right??? Wrong … bill was about $ 155.00 with their own added gratuity on it … I just bit my tongue and paid it, it was suppose to be my relaxing day since having the new baby … And to top it all off the highlights in the light were a greyish color not the gold color I usually get… I soon went back to my hair stylist to fix the coloring and cut it to which he stated I had several spots missing of color in the back of my hair from when I got it done at Zada. Very disappointed … Ill stick with my stylist.

Love love love Carmen! I love this business and recommend to everyone. Such a treat to have a salon that feel so local to Pismo and the surf community.

Bianca G’s experience was very similar to mine. I got a massage from Rodney, who is described on their website as a surfer who gives surf lessons, not a massage therapist. He superficially and repetitively rubbed my back, legs, arms, put way too much pressure on my rhomboids between my shoulder blades where he said I had knots but I actually just have complicated tendons like everyone else (and I could feel these guys popping as tendons tend to do). He got all kinds of grease in my hair. I couldn’t relax the whole time because I needed to be vigilant to tell him when he was hurting me. Their sign in sheet says if you want to complain, you have to do it to them only and right away. Overall they were nice, but it was shady and I’m not coming back.

I made an appointment with Hannah for a haircut and though it was rather hot in the salon, I can’t complain too much because it was a really hot day and seeing as how our weather is more temperamental here on the central coast not every business/​home is equipped with air conditioning, so it’s understandable. The second I walked in, (with my aunt and 69 yr old mother) Hannah offered and then brought us cold waters in cold glasses. This was probably the nicest salon I’ve had the pleasure to get my hair cut at. Hannah was sweet, non-​judgemental and very capable. She gave me a great haircut and I’m planning on having her do my hair for my wedding. Extremely pleased with my experience. Ask for Hannah.

I came here with my best friend to get our hair done on my wedding day. We had scheduled two appointments so we could both get our hair done at the same time. When we arrived, only Carmen was there and she told us she would have to do both of us herself because the other stylist was out of town. This is NOT something you want to hear when you’re on a very tight schedule on your wedding day. I would have appreciated at least a phone call ahead of time telling us they would not be able to accommodate two appointments at the same time. I ended up in a rush and stressed out for the rest of the day. Our hair looked okay, nothing special. I asked for a blowout with a lot of volume but it was pretty flat.

Let me just start by saying FUCK Zada Salon. (If you don’t wanna read the whole thing, cut to the bottom)
I walked into Zada with a photo and a dream in November of last year (took me awhile to remember Unilocal was a thing since then). The girl in the photo had beautiful silver/​grey hair. I asked Carmen, Salon owner, if she felt comfortable doing such a light, intricate, dye job on my dark brown, previously coloured, hair. She said «no problem! should only take 2 or 3 treatments!» I was elated!
We did the first treatment a few days later, bleaching out the brown & replacing it with blonde. Went great! My hair felt excellent, the color was… well blonde and I was stoked for the second treatment. *FIrst treatment $ 376
After a month of letting it sit, the bottom turned copper (from the old colour treatment I had done myself awhile back) but she said it was a-​okay, we would be able to put it to a platinum blonde and then grey in a third treatment. Apparently to Carmen, platinum blonde means green. *Second treatment $ 200
It was awful! My hair was this weird, greenish, bluish, blondish nastiness! My work told me I had to fix it ASAP or would be out of a job! I was a reck, trying to tell people, and myself, it was just in process & it would be fixed soon.
Upon returning for my third, so called final, treatment Carmen soothed my worries. Telling me that after this next dye job it would be exactly like the girl in the photo. Okay, great, no problem, lets get to work. 2 hours later we were done. In the absolute shit lighting of the salon, it looked pretty good! Looked grey, felt nice still, okay cool! I get home and in the natural light of my home… NOPE THATS NOT GREY. *Third treatment $ 285
After two washes the color was just plain awful. A weird mix of grey & blonde & blue. In certain lighting even looked green. Once again, I was a reck. I called Carmen crying a few days after the New Year because I was so unhappy with my hair. She offered me a fourth treatment for free.
I go in for treatment four only to once again be disappointed. She basically put back the same nastiness from the third treatment so I once again, in a shit lighting, thought it was fine. NOPE!
I ended up doing an at home dye job to a suitable blonde and called it a day. After two months and nearly entering bankruptcy the only thing I came away with was disappointment. I was blonde until about April and now I’m back to my original hair colour.
Moral of the story, ladies don’t accept a bad dye job! Demand your money back! Also, stylists, don’t take a dye job YOU AREN’T CONFIDENT DOING. Thanks for screwing me over Zada.
Ps, I’m still not out of debt.
*Total cost= $ 862
**First & third treatment also included over priced hair care

Love love love my cut and color. Carmen is funny and very welcoming. After trying a few salons in the area this has been by far my best experience. I have found my new salon :)

I found Zada here on Unilocal when I was looking for a salon to do my wedding hair. I live in the Bay Area and my wedding was in Pismo. I called the owner, Carmen and talked to her about squeezing in a trial before the actual day. She recommended I come in when I arrive into town to get a free hair consultation — I was able to show her my hair pics and we came up with a hair plan! While doing this, my husband got his first mani pedi! Then I went back the next day to get a massage by Ricki — FABULOUS! Will definitely go back whenever I am in town — Ricki was AMAZING! Then went in on my wedding day so Carmen could do my updo — it was a side sweep and it was perfect from the get-​go. She did it perfectly on the first try and everyone, including me loved it! While this was happening, my girlfriend and Jr Bridesmaids got their hair done by AND my mom got her makeup done all by Hannah. Zada does it all! Next time we are going to take advantage of the surf school, too! I highly recommend all the ladies at Zada!

My husband and I just had a massage with Ricky and Judith and it was amazing! We are so relaxed. I was worried because of the previous postings regarding massages but I was not disappointed.

I had the pleasure of receiving a wonderful massage from Rikki today. She was excellent! She took the time to discuss my current back pain before the massage and made me feel completely comfortable to be in her hands! She spent just the right amount of time on my back in order to loosen some stubborn knots before moving on to my neck, arms and legs. When I left after only an hour, I felt as though I had been at the spa all day! fabulous! Definitely recommend Rikki!

This is for sure the worst massage we ever had!!!
My husband and I went for the couples massage (which we booked through the hotel). The photo that they have here, on Unilocal,is nothing like the room we been to.
Very pleasant lady at the reception, which was also the lady who gave the massage to my husband. And very, very weird guy, who gave me the massage.
Room for the massage is decorated with very odd paintings, very creepy, with very old furniture and sofa.
There is no white towels on the tables, they are brown (which to be honest doesn‘t look nice on the massage table), and I don‘t think that they where even towels, I think that they where some kind of blankets…
Lady had some kind of uniform, and the guy was dressed in a t-​shirt and jeans.
No white uniforms, like on the photo, or any kind of professionalism, no what so ever.
The first thing I noticed when I lay down on my bed, was disgusting carpet, It was really filthy and you can see that it hasn‘t been properly clean in years (had massive stains all over it).
My husband was sleeping for the most of his massage, he said that lady was literary tickling him, no pressure no what so ever… so he fell asleep and didn‘t wake up until the «massage“was over.
Let me tell you about the guy who gave me the massage…
First of all, he had sweaty hands… Yes. YUCK!!!
Then he was massaging me with his ring on, which yes, I could feel it on my skin, for so many times!
They don‘t use any massage oils… just regular baby oil.
He ask me would I like the pressure or no pressure, so I said, yes a little bit of pressure would be great.
He massage my upper back and my arms, my hands… over and over and over for about 5 minutes, then my legs just till my knees for next 5 minutes and then he told me to turn around on my back… I though maybe he has some different system of massage… so I turn around… The rest of massage was on my back… He massaged my arms, my hands, touched my feet few times, not above my knees… and that was happening for the next 50 minutes!!!
Last few minutes of the massage, he put so much pressure on my neck and shoulders that for the next few days, I was in agony.
Somebody should of explain to this guys that lower back do exist, and that is as important as upper back and shoulders, same with the legs!
I had a very old, scruffy towel over my face, and towards the end it fell down. When I opened my eyes, the guy took the towel and wipe the sweat from his face.
aaaaaaaaa!!! I really thought that I will trow up at that point! Luckily he was done after a minute and we run out of there by the speed of light!
Officially, the worst and the most disgusting massage I ever had!

I definitely recommend Hannah. Best hair cut I’ve ever had, my hair feels so great. Love the vibe, and love the complementary green tea. :) Thank you!

Wonderful experience!!! I wanted a haircut at the last minute while I was in town… Carmen offered to open her salon extra early one morning just to accommodate my crazy schedule. Got an absolutely beautiful haircut from her… Exactly what I wanted and I love it!!! Thank you Carmen!!! You really went above and beyond!

Just had my hair done for the second time with Carmen the owner of Zada. If you want to feel and look beautiful, she has the experience and skills. Today I had a tint touch up, and hair cut, and I feel like a princess. Carmen does not rush you at all, she takes her time, uses her years of experience, and makes you feel special and beautiful! I will be going back to her again & again. Thank you for restoring my youth.

First time here with my girlfriends for Pedi’s and Massages today. Such a fun atmosphere and great service.

Costumer service was good. Went for a massage. I let the lady who have me the massage that my next was hurt and that’s why I came in. She then massaged me as if I said nothing went on with the regular routine. They was no pressure whatsoever ever. I felt like I wanted to instruct her to use her body weight to help her with pressure. A little bit of back information on myself is that I tend to like a softer touch but this was short of a tickle. Price over $ 100 for 60 mins. Just don’t go. Sorry Zeda

I loooooove this place! They always give me good treatment and it’s such a great atmosphere, I’m considering becoming a regular. They are an amazing place and Carmen is such a wonderful woman. I cannot wait to go back.

Was visiting Pismo a few weeks ago and needed a pedicure (yes, I’m a man — get over it!). It was quite the pampering service here on a quiet Friday afternoon in mid-​November. Loved it.
The ambiance was comfortable, and the service was very amiable. It’s pricier than other salons, but I like to get this kind of pampering every once in awhile — so it was worth it. The women who did my friend’s feet and mine were very pleasant and nice, while giving us great tips on places to hit in town during our stay.
And my pedicure still looks good three weeks later! W00t!

Natalie gave me the best color a girl could ever ask for.
Last time I got my hair done with a gal at Shift Salon in SLO she gave me super light on top and dark on bottom. NOT what I was looking for and I had even brought in an older photo of myself with hair that looked nothing like that.
I came in to see Natalie with basically no direction other than «pretty» and «normal» and she knew exactly what I wanted — a better and brighter version of my own brunette hair. She took her time with my very thick and long hair, was super easy to talk to and literally gave me the exact golden hair color that I was unable to put into words.
She gave me a great cut too and blew it out to perfection.
See this girl and you’ll feel like a whole new woman.

I struggled with how many stars to give here, but, tried to be fair. Here’s the good and bad:
5 stars: Carmen has a great set up here. You can go surfing, come back and get a massage and a haircut. Not really, but, it is a pretty cool location!
5 stars: Kevin was an excellent instructor and worked well with all of the kids. Very patient and the kids all really liked him and listened to him. All very positive reinforcement.
My disappointment: We paid for 2 private lessons for our grandkids. Our thought was that private would mean that the instructor would be with the two kids.
What happened was that our kids were put into a 3 day surf school… which meant that they didn’t receive as much attention as they should have.
All that said… the kids loved it. I’ll just be a little more clear about what I’m buying the next time!