The Color Design Salon

I came here in October 2015 & Nicolette gave me the best cut I’ve ever received. Thanks again girl I love it & will be returning shortly :)!

I’ve been getting my hair colored by TIFFANI for over 10 years, and my last experience solidified my mad respect for this artist! I make a trip to SF a few times a year, and a visit with her is my special treat while I’m there. She is always attentive as to what I am looking to do; my hair is very short, so I can have a lot of fun with color. We have a discussion about what I can realistically get away with beforehand, and then she gets down to business! My hair is always brilliant when she’s done, and the conversation always leaves me laughing. Love, love LOVE Tiffani!!!

Nicolette provides an awesome cut. She cuts your hair exactly as you want it, making suggestions here and there, but ultimately providing what you want. She also takes her time (she curled my hair just as a curtesy — I’m one of the blondes in the pictures), and makes sure her cut is precise. This is one of the cheapest cuts you’ll find in the city and the quality is outstanding. I’d recommend her to anyone!

I personally had a terrible experience with Tiffany. When she applied the formula all over my scalp, I told her that it hurts (I’ve done coloring many times and I never had any trouble). She said it gets better in 5−10min. but it got worse! My eyes started feeling sore and my scalp was burning with so much pain (it’s been 4hours and it still hurts). She finally takes me to wash. but she made my shirt soaked wet. I didn’t think she knew what she was doing.
What I hated about the experience with her is how she handled the situation. After I sat back on the chair, I was in so much pain and at this point, I wasn’t sure if I trusted her to keep doing my hair. Yet I didn’t want to walk out with a half-​done hair either. Instead of trying to calm me down and trying to address the issue, she started blaming the fact that I didn’t wash my hair this morning (it’s usually recommended not to wash before coloring), and she kept asking me what I wanted her to do, whether she should keep doing my hair or not.
Maybe a little sympathy for the pain she caused would’ve been much appreciated and some patience would have made it a little better. Then she walked away without telling me where she was going, and came back later with some other stylist to tell me everything will be okay and i should trust her. blah blah blah I had no choice but to have her finish what she started very reluctantly.
Guess what, she never checked back with me again… :(NEVER EVER going back here.
I had to leave at least one more star for Alex. Thanks for the haircut!

Carmen and Alex are amazing. I’ve been seeing them for many years now and would recommend them to anybody without hesitation. I’m very picky when it comes to my hair but I always walk out of there feeling happy and satisfied. Thanks for always taking care of me and making me look good! ;)

Carmen is a real artist and everyone in the salon makes you feel right at home… the Champagne doesn’t hurt either!

I got my haircut done by Nicolette & she did such a great job. I was thinking of going for an A-​line but I wasn’t sure. She convinced me that I should maybe wait awhile until I felt comfortable doing it unlike other Salons there quick to want to chop off hair. So instead got a trim and she gave life to my hair since it’s has been a few months since I last got one. She gave me volume which I love so much.
I can’t wait to come back in the summer for another cut. I definitelyrecommend going to Nicolette.
Ps. Love the atmoshere & the bubbly they offer.

I HIGHLY recommend Nicolette! She was awesome! In the past I’ve always had terrible experiences in a salon, where they have butchered and chopped my hair off way too short. I would dread how they would make my hair way too flat and sleek to the point I would have a cone shaped head, with not enough volume and fullness. Its been four years since I’ve been to a salon and my hair was long overdue. Nicolette knows what she’s doing and when she cuts your hair you know you’re in good hands! She always delivers I loved the variety and suggestions that she has made to my hair. She cut off a good 5 inches off my hair and she made it not too short with luscious curls just how I love it! She has restore my confidence and I plan to have her again to style my hair. :)

I have been coming to The Color Design Salon for years I love Carmen she definitely has me leaving the salon happy. She is not afraid to tell me no if what I want to do to my hair will damage it. She will suggest what will work & not ruin my hair. Love her & I highly recommend her

I love this place. I’ve been going to Carmen for years. Carmen Lara, the owner is the real deal. She’s great with her customers, she is loyal, she goes out of her way to provide great customer service and she does an AMAZING job with hair color! Totally recommend Carmen and the Color Design Salon.

I started seeing Alex when I was in my 60’s. Until then no one ever understood and styled my hair correctly. I just let him do his thing and no matter what style he chooses it is always great or better. He doesn’t leave much for me to do at home. I just wash it and let it dry naturally and for five weeks that’s all that I need to do to have me hair look naturally handsome and maintain it’s natural loose curl as it grows. I couldn’t be happier. Thanks Alex.

Love this place.. . Everyone is so nice and they know what they are doing– they get it from the salon owner Carmen.
Love Luis Hernandez for hair color! He does a fabulous job coloring my hair and my grey hair! He is honest with you about hair color and what suits you. I looked at old photos of myself and I looked very old because I had been dying my hair too dark and the grey hair would show up in two weeks. Luis brought my shade down a few notches and now I definitely look younger in my photos and the grey hair is not as noticeable when it does grow back. He’s also very sweet and funny (you will have a blast talking to him while you are there) and will fit you in if you call last minute!
If you have kids, there’s a waiting area and snacks too!

Update: After living in a few other cities across the country since I wrote this review, and having tried numerous salons, I have not found anyone that can cut my hair like Claudia, not even close.

I just had another visit with Victor. Yes, we still dating after 6 years and I’m still loving my blonde. I actually live in the East Bay now and still come into the city just to see him. I’ve been seeing Alex the last few years for my cuts. He’s is some as well.

Carmen is an amazing colorist! I’ve been going for about 1.5 years and have been very happy. She’s a lovely woman who walks you through your appointment. I always leave looking like a million bucks! I highly recommend Carmen!

I love this place, always friendly enjoyable atmosphere. Carmen always does a great job! I’ve been going here since day one of the salon opening. Never a let down. Carmen has always got her hands full with my hair because I am a natural blonde but have gone dark red blonde, but she works her magic and it looks great.

I was recommended by a friend to have Carmen do my color. I have been blond for the past 10 years and decided I wanted a change. Carmen did such a wonderful job transitioning me to brunette!
Not only is she very affordable, but she makes it so that your hair color actually grows out… nicely. I know sounds crazy…
Anyway I highly recommend Carmen for color!

This review is for Alex the Stylist… my wife came in for a haircut last week on 6÷21÷13, everyday since, she’s been getting compliments on her hair and people wanted to know who her stylist was. So of course I mention Alex and provide them with the location in SF… Background on Alex, he’s a very down to earth guy and has a great personality… he’s always been hip into the clubs, bars, and dance scene (being a former dancer and breaker back in the dayz) so he knows what’s trending and what looks good… He graduated from the Vidal Sassoon Academy and has been in the industry for over 10 years… so he CAN back up his skills… He’ll ask you how you want your hair to look and if you leave it up to him, he’ll let his creativity take control and give you a look that all the ladies (and guys) will truly appreciate…
The salon is located on Grant, about a block away from Union Square, be prepared to walk because if you know SF, parking is a challenge, but it will be worth it… but only if you like getting compliments on how your hair looks.

I see Victor and Alex.
My color (highlights and all over) looks great, my cut looks great, and the guys who do my work are both true professionals. Is it worth $ 300? Well, I do get a lot of compliments.
The building is a little hard to find, but the people here are very relaxed and accommodating once you’re in, and they’ll make you a mimosa while you wait for your color to take. Very BoHo atmosphere. Feels at home in its just off Maiden Lane location.

I had my hair cut by Claudia on the recommendation of a friend — and Claudia was FANTASTIC! She:
1. took the time to listen to my crazy list of things I wanted from my haircut;
2. took the time to talk to me about what was possible (amazingly, everything I asked for was do-​able!);
3. took the time to teach me how to work with my newly curly hair (she cut 14+ inches off; with my shorter hair it’s much curlier than ever before);
4. made sure I was 100% happy with my haircut at several stages during the actual cut.
5. was very personable and easy to talk to.
The cost of the haircut was ~ $ 70 + tip. Credit cards accepted for the cost of the cut; cash or check only for the tip.
I would go back to Claudia in a heartbeat! You should go too.