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San Francisco Sexiest Hair Salons
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Alex Chases Salon
www.alexchasessalon.com
166 Geary Street #1207
Union Square
415.397.5505
One of the biggest names in San Francisco hairdressing, Alex Chases has two salons in the city. This one in Geary Street is a magnet for millionaire executives, socialites and models, which is no surprise seeing as it's just meters from the Chanel store. If you want the top man, you'll have to book a year in advance, but the other stylists are just as talented. The salon is clean and modern, and overlooks Union Square. The vibe is very laid back and you'll wonder how the staff here manage to smile as much as they do. The answer is, they genuinely love their job, and when you see that love being passed through their fingers, into your hair, then it's win-win for everybody. They use some of the best shampoos ever, here, and it's not uncommon for clients to not need to wash their hair for days afterwards, they're that good.
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The Dry Bar
www.thedrybar.com
1908 Fillmore Street
415.347.8908
It does what it says, really. This is a no-cut, no-color, just simply a wash and blow kind of place. What a great idea! We don't always want or need a cut, we just want to look fabulous. This salon is great for just diving inside, getting blown (!), and hopping back out again. A million dollar look, that costs just thirty five. The salon is very, very comfortable. They have the biggest chairs you've ever seen, in front of each of the sinks, but try not to get too comfortable. The rest of the decor is very light and white, with sunny yellow accents and lots of freshness. To your flat fee blow out, you can add extras such as L'Oreal treatments, scalp massage, even an updo. They'll also come out to your house if you ask them.
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Dekko Salon
www.dekkosalon.com
1325 Indiana Street
415.285.8848
It's not hard to be hip in San Fran, but this place is especially so. Their stylists are works of art in themselves, very beautiful and with some very interesting - and colorful - hair cuts of their own to take inspiration from. The salon's a little out of the way, on Indiana Street, but it's worth the trek. It's a haven of peace and quiet, and the decor is fresh, a la mode, with lots of chrome and black leather, and a clever smattering of rosewood. They're specialists in the growing trend for Japanese straightening, and their thermal repair treatment is worth traveling the extra mile for. Aside from the funky cuts and daring colors they do here, an added bonus is that you can park right outside.
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Bryan Roberts Salon & Color Bar
www.bryanrobertssalon.com
561 Castro St.
415.626.7700
A one-stop beauty shop for everything from cuts and colors, to skincare, make-up and lots of TLC. They use Aveda products, exclusively, so if this is your brand, get booking. The salon itself is right in the heart of Castro, a vibrant location, but don't worry, you can leave all the busy-ness behind for a couple of hours, and relax in this warm-toned, sophisticated salon. The leather chairs have a 60s retro feel to them, and the clever mix of rosewood and darkwood is evocative of something from Mad Men. They have a huge range of products to purchase onsite, so be sure to ask your stylist what heavenly wonders she's using on your locks, so you can recreate the feeling back home.
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Keith James Salon
www.kingofblondes.com
870 Market Street
The Flood Building
415.445.9500
High-end, intimate salon in Market Street. This place doesn't mince words about its mission statement - they want you to look beautiful, end of. On arrival, they'll ask loads of pertinent questions related to your style, face shape, maintenance and own hair care regime, so be sure of what you're after. It's a very chic little place, with mint green walls, lovely wide chairs and sofas, and a total commitment to your happiness. Color consultations are mandatory for first-timers, but they're also free. Additionally, the wondrous Kikue Yamazaki operates a divine lap manicure service, while you wait for your color to process.
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Grasshopper Salon
www.grasshopper-salon.com
28 South Park Street
415.495.0424
Inspired by the 70s TV show, Kung-Fu, this Eastern-inspired salon believes in teaching and educating not just its stylists, but also their clients, in the finer points of hair design, technology and maintenance. Consultations are a big part of the experience at Grasshopper, and each hair station has a full length mirror so you can see the bigger picture as they work on you. Head shots sometimes aren't enough, right?! As you'd expect from an Oriental-inspired salon, it's very peaceful, with neutral decor, lovely Buddha statues, and lots of Feng Shui. Stylists are patient and methodical, and definitely know their stuff. So if you're unsure of which direction you want to take, style-wise, you can rely on their knowledge and opinion.
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The Barber Lounge
www.barberlounge.com
854 Folsom St.
415.934.0411
Billed as 'the reinvention of the barber shop', this salon was voted 2011 Best of San Francisco DIY: Best Salon, so it must be doing something right. It's a loft space that incorporates a barber shop, a salon and a spa. It's spread over a huge 5,500sq ft, and uses the large wall space to rotate a series of original artwork by some of San Francisco's most respected artists, as well as up and coming talent. You can get color, treatments, blowouts and straightening, as well as tanning, massage, manicures, skincare and waxing. Clientele is an equal mix of male and female, so it's very cosmopolitan, and there's so much space, it feels like you're at a loft party. You can also hire the loft for private events. A singles night, perhaps?
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Mercer Street
www.mercerstreetsalon.com
3012 Fillmore Street
415.674.4444
This salon (actually in Fillmore Street) was voted into the list of top 100 salons in the country by Elle magazine in 2009 and 2010. It's always busy, so book well in advance. If you do, you'll be treated to some ultra-professional styling like you'd expect to see in all the glossies - cutting edge styles, something a bit different. They like to experiment here, but only if you're comfortable. They also employ the relatively new INOA coloring system. It's not the biggest salon in the world, but it's friendly and bustling, and easy to feel energized with the young vibe oozing out of both the trendy clientele and the smiling staff.
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Vim & Vigor Salon
www.vimandvigorsalon.com
272 King St.
415.777.4247
Super cool salon with a very creative edge. They take their styling inspiration from everything around them, as their name suggests - music, fashion, the street etc. Decor is sleek and sexy, with shiny black floors, purple lighting, and a nightclub feel. You can watch runway shows on the chic flatscreen TVs by each hair station, as your stylist transforms you into a creature of the night. Colors are particularly recommended here, and they also have tanning booths so you can combine a cut with topping up your tan. A vibrant salon that has a really energized buzz about it.
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Centana Salon Spa
www.cetanasalonspa.com
155 Brannan St.
415.371.1335
Hair, skin and nail specialists, based in Brannan Street, right near the Bay, on a quiet, almost residential street. Products are almost exclusively Aveda, and their ethos is based on sustainability, organic wellness, consciousness and hair education. The salon applies one of the most rigorous training schemes for all new stylists, so you know you're getting top-notch technicians working your precious locks. The salon is softly lit, with lots of wood, big tall plants, and a spa-like ambiance. Hair texturizing is a specialty, and if you're not too fussy, it's worth booking in with the 'New Talent' crew, who are there to learn, after all. And, they much, much cheaper than the higher end stylists. Not many big name San Fran salons are willing to let their trainees loose on their clients, which just goes to prove how confident these guys are, in their own teaching.
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