Keith James Salon

I have been seeing Keith for 15+ years now. My mom actually had me see him when I decided to make my black hair «blonde.» I’m pretty sure Keith may be a miracle worker. He makes me feel beautiful after I see him and even in between visits (even when the rest of me is not feeling very good, my hair always feels pretty:). I’m not actually sure what I would do without him! He really does beautiful work and I’m so glad that my mom «made» me go see him to fix the mess I originally made of my hair!

I’ve been seeing Keith for several years and my hair has never been in better shape: it is longer than I ever thought I could grow it, shimmeringly blonde, and very strong. Keith IS the King of Blondes. A lot of people come to him for corrective color (I did.) but you have to understand something about Keith:
He’s your hair’s friend first, and your friend second. Like in 90 210, he’s Dylan, your hair is Kelly, and you are Brenda. And sorry, Keith is choosing your hair. What does this mean? It means the «I will be you self-​esteem fairy» and also try to sell you some jeggings that look like body paint, doesn’t fly in Keith’s world.
So Keith will give it to you straight: this is what you can do, this is what your expectations should be, etc. And maybe you won’t like what he has to say. Maybe you don’t like the fact he can’t transport you be to a you that was 2 years ago when you were living in a different city and dating that guy. Because that was the hair you realize made you happy, right? (Honey, hair won’t fix your life.)
You’ll go traipsing around the city until you find someone who says what you want to hear and you pay them to do some delusional thing that is not chemically possible, and then you get all angry and go further down a hair color spiral where you’ll start to do random and more desperate things, while lingering over old photographs and buying haircolor from Walgreens.
Or:
You’ll stay, and your hair will look better and better. And you’ll enjoy coming back to the lovely decorated salon, and chatting about «Shahs of Sunset», and listening to fun music. Keith will bring you water and your phone while you process. He’ll bring you a lollipop and unwrap it for you. He separates the US Weeklys from the O Magazines from the Elle Décor. When you leave, your hair is shiny and as you step into Union Square, it catches the wind and you feel great.

Master of high and low lights! Color came out just as requested time and time again. Thanks Keith!!!

I’ve been coming to Keith for a few years now. He wasn’t crowned King of Blondes for nothin’! Keith is an incredible artist. I am a low maintenance gal yet also crazy picky when it comes to my hair — that’s not a fun or easy mix to satisfy. Keith gave me all my options from the get go. I chose to come less frequently (my low maintenance side). Yet, my «grow-​out» looks completely natural as he said it would. The best part is that he suggested the low maintenance approach after really listening to me. That is a skill, in itself, that I have found many hair professionals don’t have. Combine that with his artistic eye and I feel really lucky to have found him. I will keep coming to Keith for as long as he’ll have me. Bonus: He is a kind, genuine, and funny man to boot.

What a stellar job this guy does!!! Run don’t walk!

I expected more based off the reviews. The results were not as we discussed. In the consultation he explained how he would have highlights peeking through my natural base color. The end result? Blonde highlights to the extreme. Not much «peeking» going on. They’re now growing out with a clear demarcation line. Also the highlights were applied patchily in one area near my temple, resulting in the dreaded leopard spot. Hugh McGuire of S.F. was WAY, way better. So sad he moved to New York. For now, my search for the best blonde stylist in S.F. continues!

The second time Keith did my hair it turned out better than the first time, which I didn’t think was possible!
My husband and two male co-​workers commented on how good my hair looks blonde!
Go Keith!

I went to Keith James for the 1^st time yesterday for a color and cut. I have been to quite a few hair stylists through the years, and I have to say the reviews are true – Keith is top notch in his field. I am very impressed with Keith’s talent and professionalism. He spent a good amount of time with me discussing different options for my hair, ensuring we had the same vision. The end result looks super — both sophisticated and soft. …Thank you Keith!

Hail to the King of the Blondes!
Over the years I think I’ve been through countless colorists and every shade of blonde possible., yet I can’t remember ever being this happy 3 weeks post an appointment!
Coming off of a bad experience with bleach I was hesitant to color my hair but my roots were embarassing so I did my research and found Keith. He matched me with the perfect color, good enough to get your ex crawling back! ;P haha
But seriously I don’t know if I can ever go back to anyone else when I know there’s this kind of perfection out there. I highly recommend Keith to everyone!

When I moved to SF a year ago, I did a ton of research looking for a colorist to do my bleach-​and-​tone. The colorist I found had amazing reviews, magazine write ups, and a great reputation… and my hair fell out in clumps after she overlapped and overprocessed my hair. I freaked out.
And then I found Keith. I’ve been a very light (artificial, shhh) blonde for years and say with confidence that he is the BEST colorist on the planet. There’s no breakage. The color is always exactly what I want — from an ashy platinum to a buttery blonde. For such a high end salon, Keith is really down to earth and does a fabulous job of understanding what you want — and making it happen.
Yes, it’s expensive. But to have gorgeous color and to be able to sit in that chair and feel zero anxiety and KNOW that I’ll love my hair when I leave — and that I’ll leave with as much hair as I had when I came in! — makes it worth every penny.

Today I was touched by an angel. No seriously, I was.
I recently moved to the Bay Area from NY and decided to try out a neighborhood salon for highlights. Huge mistake that left my hair yellow, orange and stripped of any shine. My husband likened my new look to Scott Peterson, and my self confidence plummeted.
Thankfully, a friend found Keith’s site and sent me the link. I called him right away, and from that moment, I knew I’d be in good hands. He calmed me down over the phone and graciously squeezed me in to his schedule. The consultation was fantastic – Keith was thoughtful and honest about the current state of my hair and what was possible in terms of immediate correction. I signed his waiver without hesitation (which when you read it, makes a whole lot of sense and makes me wonder why all salons don’t do this) and he got down to business.
As Keith worked on my hair and talked me through what he was doing, I found myself quickly slipping into a state of ultimate relaxation. I’ve never been to a salon where the chairs at the sink are more like beds! It was amazing.
When my treatment was done and I looked in the mirror, I absolutely could not believe the transformation. I looked like me again! I didn’t look anything like the monster that walked in a few hours before, and I walked out with my self confidence back in check.
Keith worked an absolute miracle on my hair, and I’m insanely lucky that I found him.

Keith is a genius. I came to the King of Blondes for my very first hair coloring experience– I am naturally blonde but bleach out in the summer then get roots in the winter, and I wanted someone who could recreate my natural Northern European blonde but make it even better. And Keith did not disappoint– my hair color was absolutely gorgeous and shimmering and lovely but looked so natural. He also listened very well to what I asked for and delivered. My only complaint is that I wish it wasn’t so very expensive… but you get what you pay for, ladies and gentlemen.

I just got back from my first time at the Keith James salon and I don’t think there are any words to describe how happy I am– but I will try!
I just moved to San Francisco from NYC and had been going to some very upscale salons (Butterfly, Jon Barrett, and Oscar Blandi most recently!) and no one there even holds a candle to Keith James. I had gone in for a consultation a week ago since it’s my first time, and we discussed exactly what needed to be done (my hair had been orange-​y at the roots from my NY hair salons!). I knew from reviews that I would probably have a good experience here, but I didn’t realize how good! Keith is a hair GENUIS. I seriously never knew my hair could look this good. I couldn’t stop gushing when he had finished my blow dry. I have NEVER, ever, ever been THIS happy with my hair color — and I have been highlighting my hair a LONG time at a lot of very top salons in NYC). I really want to just sit and look at my hair in the mirror all afternoon– that is how amazing of a colorist he is. My hair isn’t orange anymore, it is a very very beautiful shade of blonde– I went on my Ipad and facetimed my friend in NY after I got back because I am so excited about my new color, I want everyone to see!
I also feel that he cares about the health of the hair– he used a detox treatment after my highlights and my hair feels incredibly soft and looks so healthy now!
Keith James is amazing!!! The salon is also very cozy and in a very convenient location. I would give him 100 stars if I could!!!

I don’t Unilocal much, as you can see… it’s been awhile, but when someone goes over & beyond, I’ll bust back into my Unilocal account to give them a shout out!
Long story short (ok, maybe not THAT short): It’s hard to find a good colorist who specializes in blondes in SF & will actually spend the time & effort to make sure you leave with beautiful hair. (Note: I have LONG LONG hair, so this makes the hunt even harder… lots of stylists are too LAZY to deal with waist-​length hair). I had found a lady who I was satisfied with & stuck with her for 10 years. She recently retired, moved out of the country… and thus the hunt for a new stylist began. The first lady I went to (worked in same salon & was supposedly great with blonde) decided to dye my roots RED (which is NOT a good color on me), and then sloppily throw in some highlights, and over-​processing my hair… um WTF? She had the «recipe» from my former stylist… how could this happen? Hmph. I’m not one to complain, I just moved on & decided to continue my hunt, checking out every blonde I saw on the streets, searching for that perfect hair… and voila! Found it! A girl in my ballet class has beautiful hair & she recommended Keith James to me! When I checked out his website & discovered he was the «king of blondes,» I knew I’d found exactly what I was searching for.
I made an appointment for a consultation, which I’ve never done before, but I didn’t mind. I was excited to meet THE king & see what he had to say. I loved that he did the consultation first so we could discuss the game plan. I showed him pictures of my hair before the «red root» explosion on top my head. He was honest and told me that it would take a few appointments to get my hair «back» but that it would look a lot better than it did. I’m a patient person, and this plan really worked for me… I didn’t want to destroy my hair by doing to much at once and I’d already lived a couple months with weird ass hair, so we scheduled an appointment for the next weekend. And can I just say… I am more than pleased with the results!!! My hair turned out even better than I had expected… so I can only imagine how it will look with consecutive appointments throughout the months! :)
Not only is he the king… he is the master! I love everything about him! The salon is whimsical & intimate, Keith is engaging & fun, it was like hanging out with a good friend, and his skills are insane!
Yes, he does make you fill out a liability form… but as a small business, I understand why (to protect yourself). Plus, I always think that if someone messes up your hair… why would you want to go back to that same stylist to fix it? So not a big deal in my eyes.
I would definitely recommend him! He is worth every penny! (P.s. his prices are comparable to many salons in SF… but you get what you pay for with him!)

Keith James is hands down THE BEST colorist in the bay area. I found out about the «King of Blondes» in a magazine article and am so mad at myself that I didn’t pay him a visit sooner!. I went in looking for «Gwenyth Paltrow» + «my hair color when I was 5» and he brought out the bright, beautiful and true blonde in me! Keith James sets a new standard for hair coloring and brings San Francisco a level of expertise that is unsurpassed by any other stylist I’ve experienced.

I have been a client of Keith’s for 9 years — yes 9! There is NO ONE better!
He is an amazing colorist. I am not someone who spends much time on my hair but I want it to look bright and natural. He always takes my lifestyle into consideration when highlighting and cutting my hair. He is honest, no nonsense and I trust him 100% with my locks. I told him early on that I didn’t want to be a slave to my highlights and that coming every six weeks was not an option for me. I tend to go about every 12 weeks, which I am sure makes most people cringe but Keith makes it work. I have followed Keith to several different location but his current location is the most intimate. It is relaxing, comfortable and clean. I get compliments on my often and I love giving Keith the credit.
Keith has a tremendous gift. If your hair is lame it is your own fault because you could just call Keith and look fabulous!

When you are looking at yourself in the bathroom mirror, really up close like I know you do… do you think «Damn, my hair is fricking gorgeous! I mean really. really…gorgeous…like almost impossibly gorgeous. so many delightful colors that produce a really perfect (fill in the blank) color.»? If you don’t then you need to go and make a trip to Keith so that you will say that to yourself.
He is legit! I thought. is he really worth it? and the answer is YES!
From the serenity of his salon, to his fantastic humor and great playlists, to the other fabulous women you will meet (there are usually only 2 people in there at a time with Keith so you get to know your salon mate), to the way he is able to interpret your description of what would make your hair perfect, to his attention to detail and to you… really. there is nothing left to be desired… except maybe someone who sings along with you to Prince classics when they come on… Oh wait… he does that too!
I heart Keith and my hair when he does it!

I have been Keith’s customer for over 6 years. I am not a big Unilocaler, but the negative reviews made me want to write something. Obviously, since I chose to come back to Keith for almost 7 years, I love his work. I get red highlights and a cut from him. I don’t have to explain to Keith what I want — he knows how to make me happy. Keith adjusts the cut to the season and the color is always a tiny bit different, but always phenomenal! I get a ton of compliments on my hair style, thanks to Keith.
Reading other Unilocaler’s reviews, I really don’t believe that Keith was soliciting anyone’s Unilocal reviews! In fact, I would be shocked to learn that he solicited reviews from some random 1-​time customer and not from someone who have been coming to him for 7 years.
I have never seen Keith lose his temper — not once in all of my interactions. He is always professional and polite. My only problem with Keith is that he gets booked long in advance and it’s hard to get same week appointment. I just have to learn to be more organized about scheduling them. Oh, Keith also came in twice to get my hair done at 7am on a weekend before my flights to Vegas when I forgot to book appointments in advance!
By the way, Keith also saved my wedding day by doing my hair style last second because the trial that I had with another stylist was horrific (they made my hair super curly and didn’t do an up-​do as I requested!). There was no hair trial with Keith — he just made it perfect on my big day! The style was so me — it was unbelievable! Keith doesn’t do wedding hair though and I promised him to keep it a secret. Well, cat is out of the bag!

I’m a bit hesitant to write this review for fear of never being able to get another appointment… booking years in advance due to the massive flood of people who will be calling and booking appointments with Keith. I must set my fears aside and push forward because Keith is so amazing and talented that I can’t try to keep him a secret.
Upon entering his space in the Flood building I was pleasantly welcomed and asked if I’d like to change into a smock, and after I did this was asked if I’d like anything to drink… diet coke, water… I chose the diet coke.
Keith is very easy to talk to; he makes you feel welcome and at ease. We were the only ones in his beautifully decorated space, so it was like hanging out with a friend chatting and listening to music. Speaking of the décor… I subscribe to Architectural Digest and it was like a page had been torn out from the latest issue… love it!
Before he started we talked about my hair, what I wanted… very thin, natural looking highlights… and what I didn’t want… stripes. I was amazed at how quickly and thoroughly he analyzed my hair… natural blonde with fine hair but a lot of it. He knew things that previous stylists had done just by going through my hair… he knew they used heat at the last salon I went to during the highlight process, which he said wasn’t good for my type of hair. Also that they cheated in the way they highlighted the sides, so it didn’t look quite right.
By the way, this is why I started searching for the «best blonde highlights San Francisco». I want my hair to look amazing when I leave, not immediately notice the foil slipped and didn’t highlight to the roots (not even sure if that’s the reason, but you shouldn’t notice this right after it’s finished!) I usually pay between $ 135 – 165 for highlights and I expect them to look amazing after I leave. Keith does charge more than this, but I don’t mind paying for quality.
And now we should probably get to the «after»…the results of his magic… I was in shock… literally IN SHOCK at how amazing my hair looked. I’m not that easily impressed, but I can say with 100% certainty that this was the absolute BEST highlight and blowout I’ve ever had in my life. Seriously, it was that good. It looks so beautiful and natural. I look amazing!
Before this appointment I was considering flying to New York or LA to try to find someone, but decided to give San Francisco one last try. Keith has essentially saved me time and money by being so fabulous! I don’t have to fly somewhere else to find the best… he’s right here in my neighborhood!!!
On an aside, the new guy I’m dating literally says every time I see him how amazing my hair is… he can’t stop touching it! Now if that isn’t a sign of Keith’s amazing talents, I’m not sure what else is.
Thank you for being so good at what you do Keith! I’ll only ever let you (and my new man) touch my hair! :)

Two years ago I chopped off my insanely long virgin hair and donated it to Locks of Love. Well, I had my boyfriend chop it off at 4 a.m. after a particularly indulgent night. What resulted was the best hipster haircut in the world. And that’s how it remained until last year when I was told I should look like a grown up for my cousin’s wedding. So I relented and got a haircut.
Then earlier this year I went to see the Raveonettes at Bimbos. During the show, my friend leaned over to me and told me she thought I should get my hair cut and colored like Sharin Foo’s. I said I’d never dyed my hair in my life (manic panic does not count). And she talked me into it. Not the Sharin Foo cut and color, but to go blonde.
Growing up I spent a ton of time on the beach and in the sun. So my hair was pretty blonde. I knew it would work with my coloring. And I set out in search of the best colorist. Keith James was recommended by several gorgeous blondes. So I gave it a shot.
And now I’m hooked. Keith is great. He is fun and funny — but not too chatty. I can’t stand overly chatty. And Stacy, his assistant, is a total sweetheart too and gives a great head massage. Keith is a perfectionist and his color looks natural, even as it’s growing out.
I pushed it a little too far between colorings recently — I think it was 4 months. And it didn’t look THAT bad. One of my Jersey friends grabbed my hair when we were in NYC and said «I forget, did you tell me when you were getting this fixed?», but my Jersey friends are bitches. Like seeks like, I know. But if I had gone to some cheapo place, I would have looked like tweaker trash long before that.
It isn’t cheap, but you get what you pay for.