Accolades Salon Spa

I’ve gone to Accolades for hair, facial, and massage and would give them 5 stars for all my hair appointments and 4 to 5 stars for the facial and massage. Last week I was there for something new — a pedicure and gel manicure. The pedicure was great but the manicure not so much. I really don’t like to complain so I just filed the jagged edges when I got home and decided I could live with the spots on the sides of the nail beds that didn’t get any gel polish on them as I had gotten french tip and it was clear on the nail beds so not super noticeable. The next day the white parts started peeling up. That night I tried to «glue» them back down again with clear nail polish. That worked temporarily but it was very noticeable and my coworkers and clients started commenting on it. I finally called to let Accolades know I wasn’t happy with the service. They were very understanding and tried to find a time that worked. With someone more experienced I could get an appointment in about 2 weeks. When I mentioned that in the meantime i would need to find another place to have the polish taken off, she said she would try to rearrange some things and get me in sooner. I was called back that I could get in the next morning at 9. Awesome! Great! I don’t live close to Accolades but it had always been worth it to drive there because of how great my hair always looked. It took 40 minutes for me to get there only to find out that the lady I was supposed to see had called in sick. I almost started crying. I was asked if I could come back later. That wasn’t possible. I asked if I could at least have the gel polish removed while I was there because it looked horrible. If I wanted to wait or come back, someone could do it at 10. I said nevermind I’ll deal with it. I haven’t heard anything back from Accolades. I just called and canceled my haircut and color which was scheduled for next week. Will I go back? Meh… maybe sometime in the future. For now, I am on the hunt for a new hairstylist. If you want to head to Accolades for your hair, go see Linnea. She is Amazing!

HORRIFIC experience. I made an appointment for a highlight. The stylist recommended I try bleach and tone because it gives the platinum color I was wanting for the highlight. She also said it’s cheaper and lower maintenance. My hair was past my shoulder, so am shocked she suggested it but I listened, as she mentioned she’d been in the industry for several years. After the process was over, my hair was instantly fried, elastic like a rubber band, and ended in a mohawk. I have since had to chop my hair, undergo numerous hair treatments, and color my hair dark. May hair is still recovering…10 months later. I will NEVER go back. Absolutely terrible.

Pour service, unprofessional staff, and unknowledgeable stylist, would not recommend this salon at any time, came in to get a haircut and a massage, end up having to go to a new salon to have it fixed and having to go to a chiropractor after the massage. Staff is not knowledgeable and unprofessional, they do not know what they are doing, if you care about your hair or body do not go to Accolades Salon and Spa.

Horrible massage. The therapist didn’t ask me anything about what I would want, and then proceeded to provide the worst massage I have ever had, so bad that I seriously considered stopping it after about 10 minutes but didn’t because I didn’t want to embarrass him or me (my mistake). I sent an email to the spa afterwards expressing my disappointment and providing specific reasons why, and received a response that said something like «each massage therapist has his/​her own style, and we are sorry you didn’t like it, but we think he’s great.» I will never, ever go back and would suggest that you find somewhere else if you are looking for a spa treatment.

I get regular massages and this was one of the worst I’ve ever had. Very rough and fast/​jerky motions — not at all relaxing — and especially bad on delicate facial area. Really makes me wonder about her training and whether the owner/​manager has any process in place to evaluate services offered. Salon noise and 50 minutes instead of 60 as others have mentioned. Definitely will not return or recommend.

Gel manicure was fine. Wax experience was poor.
This was my first visit to the salon. I scheduled a gel manicure, regular pedicure and a full Brazilian wax in preparation for vacation.
If you’re considering trying out the waxing services, skip it. At the end of a very fast waxing, the lady left the room without asking if I was satisfied with the work. I had asked her to remove all the hair but she left a patch of hair about an inch and a half wide only on one side. The other side all hair was removed. what a lopsided crap job and waste of $ 80 plus tip.
The gel manicure was fine. No complaints there.

Accolades has been my go-​to salon since I moved to the Twin Cities 10 years ago. I’ve only ever had one bad haircut there, and it ended up being fine because when I went back the next day, a different stylist fixed it at no charge. Almost every stylist I’ve ever had here has been awesome! As long as I live in the metro area, I won’t go anywhere else.

Want a great mani/​pedi? Go to any number of the cheaper salons around the cities. $ 75 for a pedi that is fine at best. The mani I got was a mess and though I asked the technician to clean around the nails she still did a poor job. She was a nice woman but just not good at it? When I told the receptionist she gave me $ 10 off. Nice, if the mani was $ 20, which it is definitely not. Too bad, I wanted to support this mostly female operated local business and I have in the past… But the services are mediocre for the prices.

I have had many, many mani-​pedis in my life, but since moving to the Twin Cities and trying to find a good place, I have embarrassingly ragged hands. Painfully ragged hands. Rough, dry skin everywhere! Gah!
And I do not do nail polish — not on my feet nor on my hands. I prefer a nice buff, but most of the buffs I have had put a pretty weak shine on my nails – only in the center of the tips. It’s also important that the tech knows how to work with the cracked cuticles on my hands and callouses I have on my feet.
Samantha was amazing! My nails are so fully glossy, they look like the have a coat of clear polish on them. I also noticed that as she was exfoliating my feet, she was checking to make sure she got them smooth, and I was actually impressed with the foot and leg massage she did — I am a professional massage therapist so that is quite a feat. (Haha!) She also explained to me why she was leaving something the way it was, if she did.
It is really rare to find someone who has such a great combination of communication skills, technical skills, pride in their work — and attention to detail.
When I go back, I will be sure to request her.

I was really excited to try this place, since I had passed it nearly every day as a former student of St. Kate’s. Though this is mostly a hair salon, I had signed up for a Groupon for their spa service. I was surprised they were booked so far in advance to be able to squeeze in an appointment, but I thought maybe it was because they were so popular.
Wow, I felt like I waited a really long time to get started on my massage. I was disappointed when they brought me into a tiny room that had to have been a storage closet in a past life, directly adjacent to the area they did hair.
As I was waiting, I noticed I could hear the hair dryers running, despite their best efforts to have music playing. I did my best to settle in.
The masseuse was a nice enough lady, but I felt she was rougher than other masseuses at places I had recently been. She asked me plenty of times if the pressure was okay and she adjusted a couple of times, but I still walked out pretty sore.

I have yet to find a good massage place in the Twin Cities and Accolades is no exception. Massage purchased via Groupon, canceled 7 hours beforehand by Accolades. The receptionist apologized but it was disappointing. Rescheduled massage the next day started about 15 minutes late, which would have been OK had we gone 15 minutes after… Or had anyone acknowledged/​apologized. All told it was about 50 minutes of massage instead of 60. I mentioned I had a Groupon when I called to schedule it, but the free cappuccino wasn’t offered when I arrived. I didn’t care but don’t get excited if you were hoping for that!
The massage room was kind of janky and I could hear some salon noise, though there was a white noise machine and the therapist had nice music. I also heard about the «upgrade» that other reviewers did. She actually did a nice job with the actual massage, but puttered around the room a bit after she finished, which was weird and not relaxing. Finally, the overall experience (including a pitch at the end for some monthly club while I’m still recovering and now running late for the next thing in my day!) soured me on this place. For the quality of the room, massage table, lotion, background noise, etc., they shouldn’t be charging $ 90 for a 60 minute massage. I’m willing to pay that (contrary to what salons may think about Groupon users) but not for this level of experience.

REVIEW ON 60 minutes ANTIOXIDANT FACIAL BLAST.
–You will NOT receive a full 60 minutes secession of antioxidant facial blast BECAUSE they also consider changing out of your clothes in that 60 minutes. My sister and I did the mistake of «upgrading» the antioxidant facial blast. We should have just stuck to the 30 minutes secession and save $ 20. So, I will say that they FALSELY ADVERTISE this particular service because we did NOT receive a full 60 minute secession, the service that we purchased. The Accolades Salon Spa staff that provides this service told my sisters and I that they only say 60 minutes because they also consider the time it takes for their clients to change out of their clothes and the client’s skin will determine if the secession will last 60 minutes. SERIOUSLY!!! WHAT THE HELL! We bought 2 60 minutes antioxidant facial blast and both secession lasted 40 minutes. Now, I’m thinking if the 30 minutes secession actually last 30 minutes.
REVIEW ON MANI/​PEDICURE
The pedicure was great but the manicure was just ok. My sister’s finger nails look a lot like the pictures on here, which shows a poor job done by Accolades Salon Spa staffs.
My sisters and I will NOT GOT BACK to this salon.

Accolades is a nice place, but nothing fancy. I received a groupon deal for a massage and a mani-​pedi. I got my massage from Lorena and she was great! She used the right amount of pressure and was accommodating to my needs. Surprisingly, it was quiet in the massage room and I didn’t hear the noise from out in the salon. The building is small and cramped, so I was expecting to hear the hair dryers and people talking. Then I got a mani-​pedi from Hailee. The salon doesn’t have as many colors to pick from as I was hoping. Hailee was great! She was slow and careful. I like that the salon uses healthy organic products for the mani-​pedi. I’d go back but the price, service, and distance from my home will keep me going to my little nail salon in town instead.

I just received one of the worst haircuts of my life.
I came in with a Groupon that was given to me as a gift since I was in the market for a new hair stylist. I asked for a longer, graduated bob and even showed the stylist a few reference photos. It’s hard for me to write a compliant since in the moment she seemed to track along with what I was looking for, explaining her process and asking me questions along the way. With that said, when the layers seemed too short I went along with it and trusted her final vision.
Bad idea. The attached photo is NOT what I asked for. This isn’t just a cut that happens to be a style I’m having second thoughts about, it’s glaringly unprofessional. When I went home to take a closer look, I found stray long clumps of hair all along the ends and the whole left side of my cut has super short choppy layers that make no sense. I am extremely angered by the result and believe this should never happen at a salon that is at all reputable. It’s kind of a joke! Except for the fact that it’s not I have to live with this horrible cut until it grows out. I don’t even want to go back to have someone there «fix» it. The entire establishment has lost my trust.

The only reason I come back here is for Angela and Elena. They are two really great estheticians and are always very polite and do an excellent job. I’ve had my hair cut here once and it was completely overpriced. Another time, I had Angie for a wax and she called me when I got home to ask if I had stolen earrings that the customer before me had left in the room. I was really offended by that and will never, ever go back to her again. Way to treat regular customers, huh? The service from the receptionists is always a little snooty, too. One afternoon around 4 (not around closing time), she was mopping the floor within inches of my feet while I was waiting and sighing loudly. I asked if she wanted me to leave, but I guess she didn’t, or that’s what I determined her little grunt to indicate.

I will speak re: my hair cuts that I’ve gotten for the last 10 years, with Jenny. I cannot speak to the other services.
I am kinda shocked by all of the negative reviews (but I think that possibly the reliability and quality of the review are directly proportional to the number of blatant grammatical errors?). Been getting haircuts from Jenny for the last 10 years or so, and I will not go anywhere else. Upon arrival, I am greeted with an offer for tea, water, coffee, and sometimes a glass of wine! After a consult with my stylist, I get shampooed and conditioned, but also get a neck, head and scalp massage along with a mini facial. Jenny ALWAYS listens intently to my concerns and I have never walked away disappointed.
Recently, on my last visit on Dec 31^st 2014, not only did Jenny provide exactly what I was wanting in a haircut, but she gave me a style with the versatility and ease of styling. It’s like she read my mind, and gave me the PERFECT haircut! Styling, working, and daily activities are actually a lot easier now. Always love going to see Jenny. Going to the salon has become a relaxing and wonderfully social experience. I am a customer of Accolades for life.

I bought a Groupon for the organic mani/​pedi and 60 minute massage for $ 76. I booked the services for all one after another, three total hours.
The mani/​pedi was average, not too impressed with the precision of the manicure. You can see see natural nail around the edges of the polish.
The massage is where I was totally underwhelmed. The male masseuse asked how he could help me and I explained that I would like my back and shoulders massaged. He then informed me that the Groupon covered a total body 60 minute massage and I was referring to trigger point therapy «and would need to pay $ 18 for additional deep tissue massage.»
What?! Ok. Well I went for the $ 18 «upgrade» because I thought it would be worth it. Unfortunately the massage wasn’t good at all, compared to Massage Envy therapists where I normally go.
I wouldn’t go back.

I bought the groupon for an express pedi and gel manicure. I overpaid. The afternoon of the appt I had lost 2 of the gel nails already, and 2 days later as I sit here, another one is going. She never soaked my nails and the cuticles were not dealt with. All I have are over dried out nails and peeling gel. Thanks. I also remember physically jerking my foot back and saying out loud OUCH twice during the pedi. Never again. I won’t call the gal out specifically, since she did allow me to «just read» and didn’t force conversation. I also had to ask for my «complimentary» mimosa…

I had my one and only appt at Accolades this week (week of 1÷27÷14). My first impression of the place was mixed, as I know the space used to be a Super America gas station, so in the back of my mind I was thinking about if it was really appropriate to build on top of it – lingering gas or whatever (takes many years for a space to be «clean» after being used as a gas station). Second impression was terrible, as the day of my service there was a 6″ snowfall overnight and by 6p they still hadn’t plowed the lot, so there was no where to park so I had to park on the street.
I used a Groupon so I got paired with a new stylist to the salon, Rob, who is trying to build his client base. He seemed very nervous and unsure of himself – tried too hard to impress, etc. I should’ve known it wasn’t for me when he pulled out that board of hair swatches to match my color, and then he said that while although he’s been doing color for years, he was new to this color line and wanted to get a second opinion as to which route to take. So that was very reassuring, naturally.
As he applied the highlights, the color mix splattered on me (luckily on the robe) a few times, and they were big blobs, not little flecks. I’m not really sure what I think of the color now, but I have a feeling in 2 weeks or so it is going to look too brassy already, as it doesn’t seem to be a good match for my complexion and natural blonde color. In fact, everyone in there who was getting blonde hair color/​highlights was getting basically the same color applied – didn’t seem to be any innovative thinking going on! Just a lot of follow the leader (read: make the hair look like the color swatches in front of them).
My haircut was very disappointing. I told him I didn’t want more layers cut in, as I hate how they grow out on me and I just wanted to clean up the bottom part so the current layers could grow out again at a more even rate so I could be back to square one. So what does he do? Cuts in a ton of layers. They are way too short for the rest if my hair and look terrible. I just did my hair this morning and I hate it. He also didn’t cut enough off the bottom at first, so I had to have him cut another ¾″ or so off, just to make it look somewhat like how I wanted. Then he started thinning it out with thinning shears, and now I have this overall hair helmet that looks like the color job a 44-​yr-​old soccer mom in an SNL skit would want with the haircut to match.
He spent more time than anything talking about how he’s had so many jobs, knows everyone locally in the biz, how he remembered the owner of this salon from when he trained him at the Aveda Inst, etc. He also stated he knew exactly what I did and didn’t want in my hair style/​color, and while I’m not 100% sure if I like the color yet or not, I know that this hair cut is nothing like I specifically asked for – it’s everything I said I didn’t want.
One last thing – when I was checking out, he was trying to make very small talk with the receptionist and she wouldn’t even look at him (not sure her name, but she looked to be about 24 – 27, long brown hair). She couldn’t have been any ruder.
Long story short, I was not impressed, wouldn’t go back, and wouldn’t recommend to anyone who wanted a quality cut and color.

I purchased a daily deal for a pampering spa day which included a haircut, color, foot scrub, mini facial and bottle of polish. This deal supposedly retailed for $ 240 for my expectations were high. Later, I found out this $ 240 value is highly inflated and no one in their right mind would pay that much. Beware of reported daily deal «values.»
My stylist Josy was very nice and quite skilled. My haircut and color look fantastic. She also performed the foot scrub and mini facial and both were very nice but quite short and limited. The foot scrub was merely a scrub without even a layer of lotion and the facial was basically just washing my face and putting some toner/​cream on it. That’s fine but to say this package retails for $ 240 is downright bogus. My stylist said she normally charges $ 130 for those services minus the foot scrub (they do the mini facial with all haircuts I guess). Just knowing I was kinda scammed and paying almost full price left a very sour taste in my mouth, which wouldn’t have been there otherwise. While I was there, they were running a lot of different promotions. It seems like they consistently rely on having to lower their prices. This is annoying. Just set reasonable prices and be done with it.
The regular prices at Accolades are somewhat high. The spa itself is dated and the décor is kind of hilarious (craftsman toolboxes for storage, fish tank tvs, and lava lamps all over the place). If you want to charge frou frou prices, you really have to be luxe. That said, I don’t care that much about the décor if the service is good and the price is right.
This is an Aveda concept salon but they mostly use the owner’s formulated products. These other products are all natural and seemed to be pretty good but just don’t expect a lot of Aveda.
As a side note, the not-​so-​gentleman sylist who was apparently not wearing any underwear and let his pants fall down to expose 2 inches of butt crack should rethink his pants choice.