Nick James

Let me start by saying that I hate getting my hair cut. I avoid it at all costs and it had been a year and a half since my last cut.
I’m in SLC for work and had some time to kill. I am not in love with my salon back home and decided to give a new place in a new city a whirl. Because I’m socially awkward to the max, I wanted someplace I could book online and that had mostly good reviews.
The rest is history. Kennedy gave me the best cut I’ve ever had and I walked out of the salon feeling like a 10. She was able to take my «please just make my hair less tragic» plea and turn my raggedy split ends into a cute, layered cut. I have a few weird cowlicks that usually don’t play well with layers but she clearly just knows what she’s doing with hair because dang, mine has never looked better.
I loved the laid back vibe of the salon and the fact that everyone, stylists and clients, were casually chatting and no one seemed catty or judgy. The next time I’m in town and in need of a cut or color, this is the place I will be.

Okay, I am an older gentleman and rarely use words like super duper or yummy. Sorry.
Being new to SLC, I had no idea where to get my hair done. I don’t have much hair, even though I am growing it long, trying to become more pretentiously hip. It is very difficult for a hair salon to make me happy. I am narcissistic, vain, and I hope a salon can take 30 years off my age. To make this even more complex, my scalp is quite sensitive.
This salon is very laid back and follows no corporate convention or rule. The folks working there, including Nick, are just into doing hair, and ultimate means and end in achieving profit, are largely ignored. This is a unique concept in the avarice world we live in. My color and hair cost thirty dollars. THIRTY DOLLARS! I was willing to spend more then a hundred. When I asked for «product,» Nick said, and I quote, «We never sell products to new clients.» Huh? He then proceeded to tell me that product wouldn’t help my hair anyway. Huh? Am I in America?
My hair looks great and my wife, who doesn’t think I should color my hair, complemented me on my hair color. Nick is obviously a colorist par excellence. Kennedy, another stylist in the salon, trimmed my beard for free. Free! Am I in the United States?
This is a great salon and my wife will be making an appointment soon.

I had a sad experience here. I made my appointment online and had to wait a while to get in, but I’d done my research and nervously hoped this would be the best choice.
I’m going through a lot of extremely difficult stuff at work and home and am battling a severe case of depression. This hair appointment was going to be a very big deal for me — I had not had my hair done professionally in years. I was extremely nervous and hoped a somewhat big change (getting bangs) would help make me look and feel better and improve my general outlook. Money had been an issue previously so this was also going to be a big treat.
It took some complicated orchestrating to get off work and travel some distance to make the appointment. I received two email confirmations confirming the date, time, and address of my appointment.
When I arrived at the salon, it was largely empty. There was a colorfully tattooed man in a pink dress mixing hair solution in the back and one client in a chair. I thought perhaps the tattooed man might be Nick — the owner & stylist I made my appointment with. They were both blonde, though the tattooed man was wearing long blonde Elsa-​type wig.
A woman sort of wandering around the salon with a broom (though she wasn’t really sweeping the hair from the floor) verified my appointment slot on the computer and asked if I wanted some water or tea. I said water, and sat down. It was so quiet — the two waiting area chairs are positioned in front of a large window and it was a very hot, uncomfortable place to sit.
The water didn’t come until several minutes later. At this point it was past my appointment time and the gentleman in the wig was still cutting the other customer’s hair. A short haired girl came out of the back and seemed to be leaving… she paused at the door and asked if I’d been helped. I told her I’d been checked in, and she left, presumably on break.
Some time later the customer had gone and the wigged/​tattooed man (sorry, if I knew his name I’d use it) had disappeared along with the broom lady (ditto on the name thing). I was alone for several minutes. The short haired girl came back, smiled at me and spent some time at the computer. I’m quite shy, I’m sure someone else would have made a lot more noise, perhaps asking about their appointment directly. I was trying to gather my nerve to do so, as it was now 15 minutes past my appointment time.
Finally, the man in a wig came back out from the back. He had changed into a black, spaghetti strapped jumpsuit. The girl at the computer might have said something to him, I can’t remember, but finally she turned to me and asked if I was waiting for Nick. I said I was and hope sprung up that the wigged man might be him after all. The girl sat down next to me and said, «I’m so sorry, Nick took this week off» (it was Thursday) «to take care of some… «(she paused here) «personal things.» She paused again. «I thought he would have canceled all his appointments — that you would have been contacted. I’m sorry…»
I almost cried right then and there. I don’t have the time or budget to frequent salons; as I said it had been years. I didn’t really know what to expect, and the disappointment was huge.
The wigged man complimented me on my hair and was very nice. The girl wanted to reschedule me, but I was so disappointed I could barely speak. I tried to excuse myself without betraying the wobble in my voice as I held back my tears. I cried all the way home.
I’m a little embarrassed — I know this probably sounds melodramatic and ridiculous. I think it’s just everything I’m going through… I didn’t realize how much hope I’d put in this appointment, and how much I’d been looking forward to it.
Regardless, I don’t think I will give this salon another try. I understand that Nick was probably dealing with something loads more important than my silly hope for a trim and new bangs, and perhaps he did contact most of his appointments. Maybe he forgot to check the internet-​based appointments, I don’t know. I think my main complaints are:
1. I received email confirmations for my appointment only the day before when my appt should have been canceled days previously.
2. It took the staff nearly 20 minutes to figure out I was waiting for Nick and tell me he was gone.
3. No amends were made — no discount off of a future appointment, no offer to fit me into the other stylist’s schedules, no questions about my own schedule or what I might have gone through to be there that day. They were nice though, just disorganized, I guess.
I’m sure Nick is just as great as everyone says he is. I just had a very disappointing experience due to probably an unusual combination of circumstances. I’d recommend others call personally and confirm the appointment as the email confirmations are meaningless.

Great atmosphere, loved my hair, will be back, drinks from the coffee shop next door doesn’t hurt either. They really know what there doing. Price was great too, expect around 100 to 200. They were great, really makes me want to step my hair game up.

Nick is a master at his trade! High recommend this salon, especially Nick James himself. Ashley was great too! I needed a color correction and now my hair looks natural and healthy again.

I had my hair cut by Nick a few months ago and could not be happier! It is clear that he and his entire team are talented and highly sought after, yet the atmosphere remains laid back and welcoming. He took the time to consult with me and helped me bridge the gap between the look I wanted and what my hair type would actually allow. He’s a lovely person and such a delight to talk to. I left the salon feeling like a princess!

Nick James at Nick James. Duh. He’s a master colorist, and arguably the best in Salt Lake. He used to be one of only 2 salons in Salt Lake to sell/​use Oribe (talk about the BEST products), and now sticks to Kerastase. Two more reasons you should go to him: he uses an online booking/​services program which is super-​duper convenient, and he’s affordable. Like super reasonable with his pricing. Oh yeah, and free blow-​outs in-​between services. So 3 reasons to go to him. Like that’s not enough…

Superior customer service! Lovely ambiance. Exceptional artistry by Nick. Fabulous head and neck massage courtesy Kate. Thrilled to have found a new salon home in SLC on my first go.

Daniel at Nick James is great! I didn’t feel judged at all when I told him I hadn’t had a hair cut in 6 months! He got my hair back in order and looking fantastic. The salon itself is also a nice little oasis downtown — with nice drinks from next door too while you wait! I will definitely be coming back here — sooner than 6 months!

Nick is amazing. His salon is beautiful, and he is one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. I trust him completely with my hair, and he always does an amazing job with a cut or color. I recommend him to everyone!

I stopped by Nick James to book an appointment and briefly consult with a stylist. I spoke to Daniel who took a look at my hair and formed a game plan for my next day appointment.
I had a great experience at the salon. Daniel wasn’t phased by my half gray, half dyed hair. He worked to even it out as much as possible and did a great job with the color. I love the color and the way my hair was styled. It didn’t seem like I was there that long since he brought me a stack of magazines and some cold water (since it was 99º out). Great stylist, friendly staff, overall enjoyable experience.

I went in for a blow out for a wedding I had that night, Katie did the most amazing job with my blow out and even had another person come help blow dry and curl so I could get out of there faster. They were an absolute blast! While I never leave reviews I couldn’t help but come rave about them here. I will definitely be going back.

I visited Nick James salon yesterday and got my hair cut by Daniel. He is GREAT! He is newer to the salon and just moved back after living and working in San Diego.
I recently moved to Salt Lake City and had to begin the daunting task of finding a new hair stylist. This sounds really snobby, but I am the type of girl that will literally stand up and leave your chair if you don’t do some sort of consultation with me at the beginning of the visit. That was my absolute favorite thing about Daniel. I felt like his first goal was to listen and that goes very far with me! After having a poor experience with another stylist in the city who simply decided I should have «bangs» and went ahead and cut them, (which basically ended up being a lifeless chunk in the front of my hair) Daniel was able to fix the issue and made sure to let me know if I wasn’t happy to pop back in and he’d fix it. (Wasn’t happy? Umm… yeah right!)
I also feel like he was the first stylist that wasn’t afraid to cut my hair! My hair is quite long (middle of my back or so) and I like quite a bit of obvious layering in it. I think most stylists think I’m joking or something because NO girl with long hair actual wants shorter pieces in it! The layers he cut are perfect and I couldn’t be happier! He also gives beautiful blow-​drys and an excellent scalp massage at the shampoo bowl.
Plus, even though we all know they say it to all the girls, it never hurts when you walk into an appointment and your stylist talks about how pretty your hair is. (;
Go see him! He is great and you will be so happy!

Nick is the best in town. And now I need to write more or Unilocal’s algorithm won’t take my review seriously. His attention to detail, over the top effort to make people comfortable, and kind soul all culminate into an experience that is relaxing, and ultimately produces better-​than-​expected results. He’s become a dear friend, and he never disappoints in his performance. Nick and his staff, are LITERALLY the best in town.

Nick is beyond professional and provided, probably, the best customer service I have ever received! Thank you Nick — I will see you again soon!

I have gone to salons in Boston and NY, but Nick is by far the best of them all. He is an amazing colorist, and can achieve the color that you dream about. My hair would always come out looking reddish or brassy (I have brown hair), but Nick makes it look like a rich golden brown, exactly what I’ve tried to achieve in the past. He is also an amazing hair-​cutter and I walk out of there looking like I am ready for a magazine shoot. I have total confidence in him and Katie, and can tell you that you will be 150% satisfied if you go.

I have never provided feedback online; however, feel compelled to do so after my first appointment with Nick James.
I have been looking for a good colorist since arriving in town, and Nick did not disappoint. Not only did he improve the color/​highlights (I hate to say «correct» implying that it was originally done «wrong» to begin with), but explained to me that he would process it in a different way to minimize the damaging effects of processing. Call me crazy, but my hair actually feels better AFTER being colored/​highlighted. How is that possible?
BIG fan!

I’ve been going to Nick for over a year and it’s been such a flawless experience.
Since my last review he has colored my hair a few times. Not only does he understand hair incredibly well, he knows my hair personally and everything is customized. With that, his number one priority when it comes to color is hair health. The color I have wasn’t done in one appointment. He could totally bleach my hair into oblivion but Nick treats my hair with such incredible care.

Hey. Change the name! My French is a little off and we don’t need the frogs as a benchmark! Nick is awesome. My haircut schedule got messed up and his response was simple. «I’m off tomorrow. Text me tomorrow and I’ll meet you there to get you taken care of… for free!» I won’t accept that offer but I love what he does with my hair and I love the way in which they deal with mistakes. Please, just change the name! I can’t refer people if I can’t pronounce difficult French words… Katie is cool too.

Nick made my hair beautiful for a photo shoot, so nice in fact I did not want to wash my hair!