Elizabeth David Salon

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I won’t be going anywhere else. Thanks, Michele, for giving me hair I can live with. After years of trying –unsuccessfully– to hide my wild, frizzy hair from the world… you’ve made my dream come true!

I got the Keratin Straightening Treatment here about a month ago. Let me just say that Michelle Nunes rocked my world! I came into the salon a frizzy-​lioness mess and left looking like an A-​list celebrity. I’m talking Kardashian hair here.
Best part is, the second I left the salon (I hadn’t even gotten to the end of the block) I got a compliment from a stranger! Cha-​CHING! This absolutely made my purchase worth it 100 times over. Who cares if I am 100% satisfied with my hair (which I am– even a month later it still looks amazing), the people of San Francisco have flashed their official sign of approval!!! ;)
Thank you Michelle! See you again in 3 months for another treatment!

In ten years I’ve shown very little loyalty to any hair stylist because I’m never quite satisfied with how my unruly hair looks when finished, with the exception of Joslyn. Joslyn at Elizabeth David salon gives the best haircuts I have ever had. She is worth every penny at a premium price. She listens and then makes suggestions that inevitably look better than anything you could have imagined. I would rather get my hair cut by Joslyn then get another stylist to do it for even a fraction of the cost because her cuts will grow out better anyhow (although I did recently get my hair hacked in Cambodia and will now need her to clean up the mess – sorry Joslyn!)

I love Caryn Cohen! She is the most personable amazing stylist I have ever had. She listens to what you want, shows you pictures of your idea and other possibilities and then gives you an amazing cut. I have seen her for 8 years and love every cut I get. She is funny, down to earth and gives you her honest opinion when needed.

I feel like I won the lottery finding Elizabeth David salon on Geary in San Francisco. Joslyn cut my hair so perfectly to my face — I just LOVE it! I returned for color/​highlights with Troy and I could not be happier with the result. More important, they are both wonderful people, and it is a pleasurable break in the day visit their salon. I also am glad they opened so close to my office in the Flood Building, just a short walk away, and close to BART.

It doesn’t get any better than finding «the one»…the salon, and more importantly, the stylist, that just gets it. Haircuts are like relationships… takes you a while to get over bad ones, leaving you untrusting and sans haircut for awhile. Great ones make you SO happy. I’d had more disappointing haircuts than I could shake a stick at. I happened to hear from a friend (with gorgeous hair) that Joslyn was fabulous, so I got on Unilocal (thanks Unilocal!) The earliest appt was with (highly praised) Caryn, a stylist that «understood long hair» .booked it!
Uneasily and wearily stepping into the salon today, I was not expecting the awesome results that ensued. I am completely impressed by and grateful for Caryn Cohen’s skillz. Loved my relaxing shampoo, was offered something to drink, everyone was friendly, spoke about my preferences (*like to keep it long*). Caryn really listened, sized it all up, then knew exactly what to do… and had realistic suggestions for my everyday haircare. Not being disappointed after a haircut is such a refreshing experience… loving the end product is priceless, shopping afterwards downtown and wanting to buy everything b/​c your new haircut makes anything in the near vicinity of it look abnormally fantastic is dangerous! Beware!
*Sidenote*: She didn’t use even use any product– this haircut stood out all on its own! Amazing. Caryn takes her time and works wonders. Happy to have found a new home for my hair.

Caryn Cohen gives the best haircuts in the city! I have been going to Caryn for over 10 years. She continues to stay ultra current and I have never had a bad cut. If I show her a picture of how I want my hair to look she gets it there! She has taken my hair from long and layered to a short, sleek bob and back again. And I have liked every cut. Caryn is also super fun and easy to talk to. Trust me– you don’t need to go anywhere else.

Hair is my favorite accessory. You can use it to perfect any outfit. You can dress it up or dress it down. And the best part, you’ll never walk into a party and see someone else with your hair on. Sure it may be a similar color, cut, or style, but it’ll rarely be the same.
This is why I choose to spend my hard earned money on Caryn Cohen. I’ve been growing my hair out for about 7 – 8 months now. I started with a very short Posh Spice bob and on my way to va-​va-​voom stripper hair. So unlike most women who want their new hair cut noticed, I don’t. Well the cut that is. I do want people to notice a change but I just don’t want it to look shorter. Caryn is the only stylist I’ve been to who I can go in for a trim and walk out with my hair looking longer. Yes, longer.
Here’s the kind of compliments I got after my most recent cut, «Wow! Your hair is getting so long and it still looks really healthy and bouncy!» and «Did you do your hair differently today? It looks a lot longer!»
So yes, Caryn is a hair genius. I’d put her at over 200 on the IQ-​hair scale. (If you’re a nerd like me you understand that this is very high.) Caryn is not only great at long cuts, but any cuts. Since I started with her my hair has been nearly every length and I’ve loved every cut.
Also I feel like Caryn is great for those people who aren’t sure of what to do. She’s a no nonsense stylist and will tell you what will and won’t work for you. And if she’s not happy with something, she will spend as long as she needs to making it perfect. I have one spot on my bangs that hangs heavy and every time I go in, she spends about 5 minutes on that one part making sure it lays perfect. But despite being a perfectionist, she’s really easy going. And she’s funny. None of that, «so do you like, have a boyfriend?» hair dresser talk. If she’s asking you a question it’s cause she actually wants to know.
Also every time you leave, Caryn will be sure that she’s taught you a new trick to getting better volume, making your natural waves nice not frizzy, blow drying the right direction for your bangs/​hair so it lays well, etc. etc. etc. Whatever it is that you suffer from, flat crown, flipped out left side, etc. she probably has a great tip for you, so don’t be shy, ask. Consider her your hair’s therapist.
«So I think my bangs are fighting with my hair. I can never get them to go together!» or… «Omg! You’ll never believe what my bottom layers have been doing lately! They are totally flipping out!»
I hope I got in everything I love about Caryn, but if you’re looking for a new stylist who will make you look like a rockstar, go to Caryn Cohen. Her cuts are $ 100 but worth every single penny. She is at Elizabeth David Salon Friday and Saturday and at Secret Agent Salon Tues — Thurs.
Oh yeah and about the salon itself…
The Elizabeth David Salon is a very cute, small salon with 4 chairs. It’s bright and cozy inside and for some reason makes me feel like I’m in Europe (even though I’ve never been to Europe *i know, i know, i’m soo lame*). The building itself has a giant gold «W» on the front. You go up the super cute, SUPER old elevator to the 4^th floor. EDS is just to the right of the elevators. There’s still water and sparkling water and coffee and tea and magazines and books and all that good stuff while you wait.
So run, don’t walk to Caryn Cohen! But if I can’t get an appointment cause of you, I may hunt you down. :-)

Caryn Cohen is simply a wonderful stylist. I have the straightest hair ever and you can really see if someone gives you a good haircut or not. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten a haircut where you can tell one side is off and doesn’t flow quite right (and these cuts were from high end salons). She gives such attention to detail and gets it right every time which I really value.
She’s also very creative. I’ve been going to her for 8+ years now and she surprises me every time with new ideas of what would work well with my hair as well as what’s on trend and relevant. She even has an inspirational picture book of her favorite looks and ideas. I’m always happy with what she comes up with.
Caryn recently moved from Di Pietro Todd to Secret Agent Salon on California and I was more than thrilled to visit her there now that she’s made the move.

My long-​time stylist Joslyn Podesto, along with colorist Troy Payne, recently founded the Elizabeth David salon. I first met Joslyn and Troy while they were at di Pietro Todd, and I am so happy that they have struck out on their own! The environment at Elizabeth David is much more calm and less frenetic than DPT, but it still has a great downtown location, and all of the «amenities» — coffee, tea, top quality products, etc.
Joslyn has been cutting my hair for about four years now. She always gets it exactly right — layered but not too layered. She has an opinion but always wants to hear mine, and every haircut still starts with a consultation so I never feel like she is taking me for granted as a client. Plus, she has a very warm and easygoing personality. Unlike pretty much every other hairstylist I have seen in this town, she doesn’t regale you with gross stories about partying and her lovelife. She’s classy. The best!
Troy is an extremely talented and professional colorist. I get blonde highlights, and blonde is very, very tricky, but Troy gets it 100% right. Even my husband has noticed the huge improvement from my previous colorist. 5 stars for Troy and Joslyn!

Although I have a thick head of hair, it’s always been tough to manage. In the past, I’ve had to compensate with a handful of gel or by keeping it cropped very short. I had never found someone who could cut it well, at any price, so I resigned myself to the sub-​$ 20 barber chair.
I was recently back in the job market and interview circuit and needed a good haircut. I went to Joslyn Podesto on the recommendation of a buddy of mine and was very impressed. The cut itself is probably the best I’ve ever had. Looks good and professional even without product in it.
The salon itself is in a cool old building with those old-​fashioned elevators. They seem friendly and unpretentious, but with nice little classy touches like offering local coffees and teas.