MJ Salon & Spa

I’ve been going to MJ salon for about 3 – 4 years and I’ve always been really satisfied. Noah is super nice and chill and would actually listen to what I want and never judge me. I’ve been to many other places and they all give their own personal opinions and I would come home annoyed or unsatisfied with the haircut.
I always get a haircut from Noah but once I bleached my hair to blonde and he did a great job. My hair was bleached 5 times over 5 hours but it stayed soft and silky over years. We communicated about getting it done for few months because I was being indecisive. He never forced me to get it done or bothered that I had a hard time making a decision. He was helpful to give some tips on how to take care of my distressed hair, and how to cut my own bangs when they get too long.
Noah is very professional and talented guy, I would definitely recommend him. I’m a hard person to satisfy but he’s been making me happy every time I visited!

This is a solid salon & spa.
Skincare
I’ve been coming here for the past 3 years mainly for acne and I cannot find a better place in the Bay Area. She starts off by removing any make up or residue from face and giving me a facial massage to prep skin for extraction. Her extractions are thorough and does not neglect anything. She then gives me a deep tissue facial massage (in Korean it’s called) and puts on products before finishing off with a facial mask. While the mask is working, she gives me the best back & shoulder massage for 10 – 15 minutes. She says good blood flow is important for complexion ;) In total, about 90 – 120 minutes.
Salon
Noah is an attentive hair stylist. He will listen to what you want and tells you if it’s unrealistic. The result? Exactly how I want it and how I expect it. He does cuts, color, perm etc… But I think his cuts are most exceptional.

So I basically love this place. I’ve been three times now, twice for myself and another with a friend, and the results have been brilliant. The haircuts are epic and the coloring is just as awesome. Noah, my stylist of choice, is extremely skilled, thoughtful, and handsome. A well kept stylist makes me feel far more comfortable when I give them the task of treating my hair.
For both of my visits I’ve had my hair cut and colored. I enjoy having medium length styles and bleached hair. I am a male
Mexican — American/​white mix and my hair can be really funky but Noah looks at whatever pictures I bring in with me and delivers the style in a way that works my hair type. Pricey but entirely well worth it. I love attention and get compliments EVERYWHERE. Just saying…
As I’ve gone from very dark brown to white hair with him, I’ve spent hours in his chair and conversation with him was fun and the time flew by. He checked on my status frequently and I never felt like I had been forgotten. The first stylist I would hangout with outside of a salon setting. Go see him!!! And take cash for tip.

Noah is the first and only hairstylist who really understood my hair and the only stylist I’ve had in a lifetime of haircuts that I feel happy about handing over $ 50 + tip on a regular basis (every three-​four months, rather than dragging myself in for a haircut every six months). With a few guidelines, he gives my super-​fine Asian hair actual shape and movement. He’s much better than the stylists I’ve had in Japantown, where I’ve received many a lackluster flat layered haircut. He is also delightfully calm, cheery, and the salon, though not fancy, is clean and bright, with big windows.

«I got a haircut from Noah today! I’ve attached my „before“ and „after“ selfies to provide context for my review. :) I drove 2 hours to get my hair done; Guess what? It was worth it! I’m no expert but I could tell that he was different from any hair stylist I’ve ever met in the USA. He was very knowledgeable and seemed to know what would fit best with my face shape, neck line, and color. He also considered how I would handle my hair after the cut and whether it was feasible for me or not. In the end, he explained how to maintain my hair. Overall, my experience at MJ was outstanding! All thanks to Noah. And the lady who takes calls and takes care of reservations was very sweet and friendly and responded very quickly even though the salon was closed the day I called; she called me back right away! It was much appreciated!!»

I will go to Noah for my haircuts until he or I leave SF. It’s a bit pricey, but totally worth it.
I am extremely picky about who does my hair (I’ve had the same person cut it when I lived on the East Coast for 15+ years), and was extremely worried about finding a new hair stylist. On my first visit here, all my worries went away!

I’ve had the same haircut for years and decided it was time for something new. This was my first time at a salon for a proper haircut. Noah was really friendly and inviting. I showed him a picture of something that I wanted and thankfully it worked. He cut it perfectly and even made it suitable for my head shape and hair texture and thickness. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ will return.

John Carini is rather new to MJ Salon… He used to be with Rumors on Sacramento Street until the owner died and the landlord of the building forced them out. John has many, many years of experience and is an expert for men and women. He has been a hair stylist all of his adult life and I would not go to anyone else. He and his friend, Mr. Alex now have a spot in the back of the MJ Salon and they have fixed it up to be their own little place of quiet and comfort. Give John a call at: (415) 309‑4515.
Howard Blonsky

Everyone’s review on here is spot on. Noah is amazing. My mother made the appointment and we arrived 5 minutes early. Noah was right on time and started immediately. He started with my mom who originally wanted a digital perm but Noah suggested just a cut and chemical treatment to add some curl due to the length of her hair. He then started on my hair while still working on my mom. I presented somewhat of a challenge as I have dark Asian hair and wanted it colored to a silvery white color and then cut. He bleached my hair twice and added some toner to take out the yellow of the bleach. The cut was perfect and I had no complaints whatsoever. Normally I have to tell the stylist to fix small areas because the blending isn’t done right or they don’t texturize enough. But Noah’s work was spot on. He’s definitely not much of a talker unless you speak Korean, but his English is discernible enough to understand if you listen carefully. All-​in-​all, we both left EXTREMELY satisfied and wishing he lived closer to St. Louis where we are from. I’ve added a collage in the photos to show the color process.

I am super picky about where and who cuts my hair. Anyone knows that going to a new stylist is as nerve-​racking [if not more] than a job interview, as [chances are] your hair may get *effed* up.
Noah knows what he’s doing however. I suggest bringing a few pictures with multiple angles of what you want done to your noggin. And if you’re looking for some creative inspiration, Noah has valuable insight on what works with your face shape.
He works wonders on ladies’ hair (customers whom are usually scheduled around my appointment) and surprisingly (and uncommonly) does a fantastic job with guys’ hair too. Hence me being a regular here.
Guys, salons are going to be on the pricier side. But its definitely affordable as far as salon styling goes. He doesn’t over-​thin-​out hair like a lot of stylist do (because they’re used to women’s hair I’m assuming). He also offer tips on how to style your hair and what sorts of products work best for the kind of look you’re going for.
English IS his second language, however don’t let that put you off. Though he won’t admit it, his English IS very good. For you Korean-​Americans, he can speak to you in Korean and you can respond in English if you’re more comfortable… or you could even just go full-​on. Whatevers, no judging. He’s a really nice guy.
Tips are cash only by the way. So have some change handy.
And guys looking for a new do check-​out
for ideas if you need it.

Sure, the price is high, and the place is hard to get to with public transport. But Noa is definitely worth it — I told him that I wanted a change but nothing TOO drastic — and he delivered. The store is manned by one hair stylist, and you can tell he is an expert. His clients are mostly Asians, with Koreans as a majority. The haircut took a speedy 20 minutes which I appreciated, and the results were great!
Highly recommend Noa, and will definitely drop by in the future.

Noah is an expert at clipping. I got my haircut here today. It was a bit on the pricey side ($ 50 + $ 10 tip) but I am definitely very satisfied with the cut and his care. He gave me some simple tips on maintaining my hairstyle and explained how he layered my hair in the back.
Definitely going back to this place!

I have never reviewed anything before because I never felt they deserved it. MJ Salon is different!
Background: In my country, whenever I go to a salon, they acted as the expert. I go in and tell them to do anything they feel would be perfect for me in their opinion. The recommendations can range from curling, straightening, highlighting, dying hair and etc. After the agreement on the price, they would do everything they promised the same day. It was a great relationship because I don’t have to worry about how my hair cut will look but trust in their judgement. Each time, they would give me different hair styles that matches the latest trend according to your face structure and skin tone.
After arriving in the states, I have been looking for a similar connection with a hair stylist. I have been to many salons with prices ranging from $ 65 to $ 120, just for the hair cut. Salons such as Robert Jenson Salon, diPietro Todd Salon, Japan Center Beauty Clinic, and etc. For each of the salon, I chose the most popular stylist, hoping to find the right stylist who knew what they were doing and can give the right recommendations. Out of all the previous stylist, Tana from Robert Jenson was the best… until my appointment got cancelled by her and I needed a haircut that day because I haven’t had a haircut for a long time and it looked like crap! Plus school was about to begin!
Since I took a day off to had my hair cut, I decided to trust Unilocal reviews and called around to see who can cut my hair. I tried over 5 salons and everyone was booked. Then I clicked on «MJ Salon & Spa» and read great reviews about Noa so I called and he took my appointment right away!
Location: It is near the popular clement shopping area but parking was a little difficult due to all the businesses in the area. If it’s your first time, you could easily miss the store due to the tall trees but it is located near the laundromat.
Atmosphere: The inside of the salon is clean and roomy. Noa was the only hair stylist I saw that day, I’m not sure if he’s the only one or not.
Experience: According to the Unilocal reviews, I thought there would be a language barrier so I brought along my phone’s translator app just in case. But to my surprise, it was easy to communicate with him and he understood everything I asked. I told him «Please make me look pretty.» and he recommended everything after examining my hair and face structure. He highlighted my hair and cut off all the damaged hair. He carefully took his time to give me a great hair cut. The total time he spent on my hair was about 2:30 HR, and he was the only one that did everything from beginning to end, including shampooing and highlighting my hair.
Result: I didn’t have a high expectation because of my previous experiences with other stylists. But I LOVED the result of the hair cut. It looked stylish and I felt confident in my new look. And now I can’t wait to go back and get another haircut with him!
**Sorry for the long review but I think he deserves it because he is nice, knowledgable, professional and cares about your hair. I will be posting pictures of before and after.

MJ Salon
Noah’s a great hair stylist, takes his time, and during the hair treatment portion, he gives an unbelievable head massage.

MJ Salon Review
I don’t usually spend much on a haircut but wanted to see someone who could offer styling advice. It had been six months since I buzzed my hair and wasn’t sure if I could rock something long. I live on the block and read good reviews so I made an appointment with Noah. I was surprised to see him block an hour out when he wrote it down on the book, I don’t think I’ve ever had a haircut take more than 20 minutes.
Noah took at least 5 minutes combing and sizing me up before he suggested something short and simple to style. He did an amazing job, going over each hair a couple of times with a shocking level of perfectionism. After the cut he even rinsed my hair again and did some clever blow drying while trimming my neck so I didn’t have a single hair under my shirt.
I absolutely love the cut, it’s a great boost to the ‘old self esteem. I’m a bit of a cheapskate but It was a steal at $ 45 and Noah earned every penny of the $ 15 tip. I’m so happy I found a kick ass stylist a few steps from my apartment. I can’t recommend Noah highly enough. Thanks so much for taking the time and genuinely caring about the cut!

WARNING: Glowing review ahead.
I got my hair cut here by Noa yesterday. The next day, as my girlfriends were complimenting me, they asked where I’d gotten it done. When I told them, they all gasped/​grimaced in recognition. «Oh, that place is expensive…» they said.
Well, let me tell you! This is definitely one place where the cliché «you get what you paid for» is applicable! In my 23 years of life, this was the most expensive haircut I’d ever gotten ($ 55, minus the tip)… and it shows! :)
I was incredibly nervous in the days leading up to my appointment because I was terrified that I would pay all this money only to come out with a mediocre cut. I couldn’t have been more wrong! I love my haircut, and it feels great whenever I swish my head from side to side! I feel like I’ve lost 5 pounds of heavy, damaged, unattractive hair!
Noa (or «Teacher Noa» for all you Koreans) is highly skilled, thorough, professional, detailed, meticulous, and is an absolute sweetheart to top it off. He started right on time and after listening to what I wanted (an A-​line bob), he explained what he was going to do to my hair to fit my specific face/​head shape and why he would do it. (Ahhh… This is why I, as a Korean, believe firmly that Koreans should only go to Korean stylists. They KNOW everything about our hair and head shape already.)
During the cut, he worked swiftly but with precision and such care, always checking to make sure all the strands were the same length, etc. It was probably the most pleasant 45 minutes of haircutting I’ve ever had, also because we talked about a lot of things, like the current shameful state of Korean politics/​culture, his experience in being in America, etc. haha. He’s a really cool dude.
Afterward, he went over with me on how to maintain my new cut, along with some random tips on hair. I actually learned a lot from him! For example, having a straight middle part (like I did with my previous hair) makes one look younger (I wanted to look older), so he found my natural part with a cool hair-​shaking technique for the desired effect. It’s a hundred times better.
Also, I’m shocked at how well the hair falls back into shape after a shower and drying. This cut is definitely going to be easier to maintain than I thought, perfect for my lazy self! (Low-​maintenance is something I value in everything.)
After reading all this, what more could you ask for? Every girl spends years trying to find the perfect hairdresser; I think I’ve finally found mine.

Great recommendations, especially when you are confused with your own hair style.
Price? I guess it’s decent compare to Japan town men’s hair cut was a $ 45. Overall I’m satisfied with the service and facility. Appointment is required most of the time.

My hair is thanking me as I type out this review…
What can I say? Noah is simply badass!
I was recommended this place through mutual friends and it did not disappoint.
I see hair styling as a total form of art, so when I first met Noah I gave him a general idea of what I wanted but told him specifically, «do what you think looks best». Noah did his magic and basically came up with the same shape as my old stylist, but with his own twist, which I absolutely loved.
Not sure how he does with women’s hair, but I’d recommend Noah to my female friends for sure.
Be sure to come a little early as parking is scarce.

MJ Salon and Spa is by far, the best salon in San Francisco.
Happened to notice this place on Unilocal about a year ago maybe as I was looking for a Korean salon (Koreans do it better… and yes, I am Korean). All the cheap Chinese places just don’t cut it (no pun intended).
Been here 3 times before, with a 4^th visit coming up this weekend. I’ve never had a Unilocal account, but places like this, have finally pushed me over to start one.
Noah is truly an artist. You can have the simplest haircut in the world, but he takes his time to envision the entire process. He gets into zone and just goes at it. Just looking at the way he holds his scissors is amazing also. If you’ve never seen it, you’ll just be amazed and have this blank look on your face. He does everything in a very calm and professional manner. Even before cutting your hair, he will put all the tissue paper and covers on you so hair doesn’t get onto your clothes and such. I’m a guy, and usually, no matter what, hair will be all over your neck and clothes at the end, but I’ve NEVER had this problem here. This place takes care of you. Noah is also very honest. If you tell him a certain hairstyle or bring a picture, he will tell you if you would look good on you or not, and help you find a similar hairstyle that would suit you.
Noah has some of the best customer service I’ve ever experienced. He is very kind but also very genuine, unlike most places. I called them once before, but with no answer (probably because I called too late and they were closed). Noah calls me back saying they had a missed call from me and asked if I needed to set an appointment with them. Okay, now how many local businesses do you know, that will actually give you a call back? Simply amazing (it’s always the little things that get me). All of the other Chinese salons in the Sunset or Richmond district don’t care and will answer the phone while cutting you hair, thereby, not concentrating on your head, and messing up.
As for price, it is $ 40 for men, but that also includes shampoo. Now honestly, I think this price is cheap compared to how good of a job Noah does. You don’t get what you pay for, you get more.
This store is also VERY clean. All their equipment looks like it is brand new. Even seats in the waiting area are big and comfy. The reclined chairs they use for washing are very comfortable. All their equipment is top quality.
All in all, MJ Salon and Spa will forever be my go to place for a haircut. Save yourself the trouble of getting bad haircuts, terrible customer service, and be genuinely welcomed and taken care of here.

I went in decent looking. A 5.5, if you will.
I came out looking stupefyingly beautiful… or as close to that as I’m ever going to get.
If you want to be hot like me — go to MJ and Noah.
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OK, that *was* going to be my review, but then I just couldn’t let it be. The world would go off kilter if I wrote such a short review.
My friend Kathy has been a longtime believer in MJ’s facials. When I used to get facials religiously, we used to debate over coffee whose facial was better. She would not try mine; I would not try hers.
So years went by, each of us going to our own, and in the last year, I stopped getting facials (and it showed… resulting in the 5.5 I was walking into this joint… and I’m being generous).
During dinner one night w/​the men in our lives, Kathy tells me that she is giving me one of her tickets to this place (she bought 14 for $ 950 or something), and that I must try it. This time, I agreed; I was long overdue for some face attention and in recent months, I think I aged about 10 years due to stress and my damn commute to work.
Long story short — MJ and Noah tag-​team you to make you look THE best your face and hair can ever hope to look. If you’re on the uglier side of things — they can’t make you into Charlize Theron, at least not in one visit, but you’ll get as close as you can hope to be.
On one Saturday, I walked in for perhaps the greatest 1.5 hours spent in «beautifying» myself. Not only did MJ massage the skin, she cajoled every muscle in my face, head, neck, arms, and upper back. I kid you not — I came out of this 1.5 hours disoriented; it was THAT good.
On Sunday (yes, open on Sundays!), Noah took my hair and worked some magical color in there, darkening it while still leaving the highlight I have naturally and made my hair shiny. Then he took his scissors to my hair and sculpted it into a cut I could immediately recognize was going to be easier to keep and fall right into place TODAY. I emphase «today» because many other haircuts need a week or settle into a true style whereas Noah’s was good to go that day.
The next weekend, I went again to MJ for my second facial.
And today — — some four days later, I can honestly tell you that my skin is tauter, my complexion is clearer, and the circulation is back in my face. I’m also way more hydrated than when I walked in there. I can tell you that my neck is longer because she beat the hell out of it, relaxing every muscle so that it’s just standing taller.
Seriously, ladies — this is one facial you have to try. Try it, and I promise you WILL be impressed. Your face WILL look better; your skin WILL glow; you WILL feel better overall.
This is not your everyday facial — this is a facial mixed in with quintessential Asian techniques that leave you wondering how you lived without it.
Every girls needs MJ and Noah working on your overall appearance.
Gentlemen — if ever you want to get a gift for your lady that rewards YOU (since she will look AND feel better) — this is it.
Trust me on this. I’m as vain as they come; I would not mislead you!