
REVIEWS
REVIEWS
Excellent salon, impeccable service. They are masters at what they do. I have had the privilege of working with both Alex and Ashleigh. Their attention to detail and perfectionism is unmatched. So happy I found this gem.
Virginia gave me a perfectly shaped bob haircut yesterday. She was meticulous in her snipping and layering. Best haircut I have had in a couple of years. Very sweet too! Also appreciated the person who made the appointment letting me know that the salon was across from the cinema so I found it easily. Great job all around.
Such an amazing hair stylist! They makes sure you get the cut that you want. I’ve been going to her for years for this reason.
Alex is incredibly talented and very thorough. She always gives 100% every time she does my hair and always takes great care of me. I am very picky about my blonde and sometimes have had a hard time getting what I want from previous colorists, however Alex always gives me what I ask for and suggests great affordable products for me to use. She’s always down for my questions and concerns when it comes to my color and haircuts so I never feel like I’m asking a lame question. She’s amazing I love Alex and nobody else touches my hair!
Really great place! Very happy with the balayage 😀 Special thanks to Kelsey for the wonderful work.
I went here because it was close to my house and had good reviews.Alex did a good job. (I did hair for 5 years myself) so I can tell when someone doesn’t know what they are doing.he didn’t push me on products although I did buy moroccanoil fromhim because it was probably the cheapest I’ve seen it (I I’ve checked amazon) overall a good experience, I will go back.
Great job by their staff… have come here a few times and they always leave me smiling!
Alex’s hair salon is great! Great service and Alex is really good with color. I am very happy with my highlights !! xoxo
Jaida is the best and makes me feel confident. Valerie is very welcoming and professional.
Such a classy hair salon. Great service, beautiful interior. They really make you feel comfortable and check up during the haircut to see if the customer is satisfied with the work so far. I loved my haircut they gave me. All I suggest to the owner that they provide drinks such as water or juice as hospitality since their price point is high.
Alex is a blonde mastermind, he is literally the only person I will allow to dye my hair. The first time I went to him was for a color correction after another hair stylist completely ruined my hair color. This other stylist, which had been pretty cheap, had made my hair so brassy on the top and grey on the bottom that I had to have it redone within the same week. Alex completely rescued it. Although it is a somewhat expensive place to get your hair done, you really truly get what you pay for, I learned the hard way that it’s not worth going cheap on hair coloring. Another thing I love about Alex is that he always listens to what you want and continues to get your input throughout the appointment. Never before have I had a hair stylist that really gives you exactly what you ask for rather than just what they think is best. He really wants YOU to like what you get. I don’t even live in Santa Barbara anymore but I make sure to make appointments with Alex when I visit because I just don’t trust anyone else. So many places I have gone I’ve left not quite liking what I get, its wonderful going into a hair appointment knowing that you’ll love what you leave with! Highly recommended! Thanks so much Alex!
I recently got a haircut here and I must say it was one of the best salon experiences I’ve had! Virginia was so patient and did such a great job! I loved how she was able to give me the haircut exactly how I had described to her. I was impressed by her attention to detail and you can tell how passionate she is about making it a great experience for you. I will be back and will definitely get an appointment with Virginia!
Cut about a foot off of my hair to donate (a huge deal for someone who hasn’t cut my hair in 10 years)
They did a great job! I was very happy with the result, and will come back again!
thank you alex & ashley for perfecting the blonde tone in my hair and getting the brassyness out from previous stylist . it’s been a mission but you did it and i’m happy i found you . they are super knowledgeable and worth the price ! thanks again 🙂
This is a long overdue review. I went to this salon in after another salon botched my balayage. Alex gave me my natural color back at my roots and blended it seamlessly to give me the perfect balayage that I wanted. After that experience, I have been going to this salon for everything hair-related. I have had my hair cut by Virginia twice, and each time she does a superb job. She pays so much attention to detail and is willing to change anything if you want it a bit different. I went in this past week to chop off about 4 inches and after she did that I ended up wanting it a little shorter, so she went back over and cut off another 2″ with her effortless precision. I love the salon, the stylists, and the hair that I get as a result!!
I love this place and my stylist, Jaida Lynn. Been coming to her for color, keratin straightening treatments and hair extensions for about 6 months, every 2 months. It’s convenient being at paseo Nuevo mall. Good energy there.
I can’t even express how happy I am with my hair!!!! I had been going to the same place for over 10 years and finally decided to take a chance somewhere else. I got my hair cut by Alex and couldn’t believe how amazing my hair looked. He does meticulous work and the staff there is extremely welcoming!!!! I’m looking forward to my next visit!!!
Alex is a master at what he does. Accomodating, friendly and so knowledgeable. His staff service is impeccable as always. Love the bead curtains!
See you guys soon.
OMG this place was my saving grace! I was completing a week long trip through CA, and through the sun, sand, and air my hair was needing help ASAP. First off, they were able to get me in on the same day I called which is almost unheard of in most salons. Major props to that! I had a haircut with Kelsey and was so happy with the results. I felt she really listened to all my concerns and also pointed out a few tweaks she wanted to cut differently with my hair. Love that! Last thing I need is someone who will just cut my hair and let go.
All the gals were so nice, the front desk was a major help in guiding my foreign ass to the place. Also, they were having a killer sale on Oribe and other high-end products which I snagged. I really wish I lived in the area because I’d have only Kelsey cut my hair. Come up to Seattle to cut my hair please!
I love this salon! I found them on Yelp. My hairdresser’s before would always cut my length off more than I wanted. Kelsey gives me the best cuts and has helped me get my hair way longer. Not to mention their color skills are the best!!! My hair was black for years. Kelsey started lighting it. It looks so good and it didn’t get damaged at all. She is pure magic! I can completely trust her to with my hair. I also go for bow outs on special occasions. Another benefit is that everyone that works there and other clients are all really friendly. It’s a great atmosphere. I’m never going to go anywhere else! Best salon ever!
Honestly, I was so nervous about getting highlights (1st time). But I did my research and found these guys had many positive reviews -so I went for it. Betsy did an amazing job, I absolutely love it!
This was my first time here and I was nervous because the last salon I went to gave me a white blonde streaky look. Coming into Alex’s Salon, I wanted to fix my root line and have more of a settled blonde that looked natural with my skin tone. My hairstylist Betsy gave me exactly that! She took the time to sit down with me before my appointment and go over everything that I wanted and made sure I got it. I have never been so pleased with my hair results from a salon, definitely going back! It is on the pricier side but I’d say it’s worth it.
My hairstylist from my hometown is from Santa Barbara, so I reached out to her to ask her where I should get my haircut when I moved here. She told me that she learned everything she knows from Alex, so I made an appointment with him. Even though I was just getting a trim I left feeling really cute, like I got so much more than just a basic trim. Thank you, Alex!
Alex spent a good 20 minutes talking with me about exactly what I wanted and my hair. I appreciated the time he spent working to find out what I was looking for.
It’s been tough finding someone to replace my sis who can cut my very straight hair (a bad cut shows up and cannot be hidden) and I was very pleased with Alex’s work.
I recommend him to anyone who is in Santa Barbara and is looking for a stylist.
I ask you this because Hans colored my hair yesterday and I have now found the Derek Hough of Hairstying in Santa Barbara. My color looks amazing! Perfect! I love it!
Hans is the master. He was born in Austria ( yes, The sound of Music) and has been coloring hair since he has been 14. He has trained many of the colorists in Santa Barbara. I promise you he knows hair. From coloring to cutting to styling!
I have been to a lot of colorists and I am extremely fussy! I am so happy I found him!
Just go and see for yourself.
I have seen Jaida Mata now several times for cut and color and could not be more impressed! She is thorough with her consultation and really knows her stuff. I feel confident referring friends and family to see Jaida! The salon is very clean and friendly, easy to find across from paseo movie theater. Thank you Jaida for giving me the confident and easy to manage look!
I have been to a lot of colorists and I am extremely fussy! I am so happy I found him!
Alex and Jadah worked on my hair, and they walked me through what they were going to do. I was skeptical about lightening my hair, because I had really thick, long, dark hair which would’ve made it a difficult task to do so, however, unlike many other salons, Alex wasn’t afraid to take on this task due to his experience and specialization in this area. At the end, I was completely amazed and astonished. My hair came out beautifully. I can’t stop looking at my hair in the mirror, but it is absolutely gorgeous.
In short, if you’re looking for skilled staff, friendly service, and amazing results, this is definitely the place you should go to.
I went to another salon and they really messed up my hair. I don’t even want to talk about how bad it was. I was in tears and I didn’t know what to do, and a friend recommended Candice.
The other salon had messed up my highlights really badly and left red and orange tones in my natural brown hair. It was truly awful and they told me I was stuck with it and couldn’t fix it. (A salon in Carpinteria with Asian designs outside)
Anyway when I went to Candice I was crying and she was so, so nice. She sat me down and was so reassuring and told me step by step exactly how she was going to fix it and really helped me calm down.
I don’t know how she did it, but I left the salon today with the most beautiful natural brown color with really subtle highlights. It feels so soft and it is so shiny it’s distracting! Lol. There is no horrible red left and I can’t even describe how happy I am!!!
Five stars for Candice!!! I wish I could give more! I will be back!!
Also–her head massage practically put me in a coma lol. Sooo relaxing. This woman is seriously amazing.
I’ve been going to Alex for almost 3 years now. Since then my hair has gotten healthier and actually grew an extra 6 inches which I could never do before I came to Alex’s because it would constantly break and require serious cutting. Alex and his stylists are great listeners and are EXCELLENT with color. I get the perfect color every time. Alex and the stylists are always very punctual, friendly and professional as well. I always feel like a princess at Alex’s and look like one coming out every time. If your hair is your pride and you want to look amazing you need to go to Alex’s Beauty Bar!
Such an amazing hair stylist! They makes sure you get the cut that you want. I’ve been going to her for years for this reason.
I have been working with Alex for the past several years and have absolutely nothing but good things to say. He’s great at what he does and I won’t hesitate to recommend any friends to Alex’s Salon in Santa Barbara.
I have VERY long curly hair and so I am always worried when I go to the hair salon as my hair is difficult to cut. I was so impressed by Virginia though and her gentleness with my hair and how she stuck to what I wanted her to do WHILE giving her expert advice on what would look best. I walked out of this hair cut for the first time in a long time (hence why I have long hair–I’ve been scarred before) very very happy with my hair!
The owner was very sweet too and expressed my concern about having a previously bad haircut and talked to Virginia before to let her know that I was nervous and to be gentle with my hair 🙂 Very sweet! They really know their stuff at this salon. Virginia had a great knowledge of how to cut my hair right!
I just got out of a haircut appointment with Virginia and she did such a great job! Aside from being super easy going, she made me feel comfortable about my decision to cut my hair short. In the end I have no complaints she completely exceeded my expectations! (:
Needed a wash and blow dry while visiting Santa Barbara. I requested an appointment online and received a speedy response. My blow dry was perfect. I will return my next trip to SB
I had such a great experience! This was the first time I’ve loved my hair cut and color as soon as I saw it in the mirror. Alex is fantastic with the coloring and knowing what fits your face/skin tone best. I recommend him to anyone and will absolutely be returning.
Virginia did an amazing job cutting my hair! I always struggled with finding a person to cut my hair exactly how I wanted and she’s the first to do just that. She was also very sweet and took her time.
Alex’s salon was kind, knowledgeable, and efficient. They have definitely earned the title of, SALON. From great haircuts, to high quality hair coloring, and to being given the best advice of which high-end products are best, this facility offered the works. I highly recommend all to stop on by and give this Alex’s a try!
** Kayli is my stylist!
Alex is amazing! He really takes the time to look at your hair and see what works. He gives you options to make sure it is what you want. I can express how happy I was with my hair. Also, the staff was great very accommodating and friendly. They make sure you are taken care of, thank you!
Amazing customer service, extremely friendly staff, very thorough consultation. Can’t wait to see my hair when it’s all done ! 🙂
I’ve been going to Alex for over 6 years now and he’s the only person I trust with my hair!! He’s the king of ombré and balayage, I wouldn’t go anywhere else. He’s so kind and will not only listen to what you’re looking for, but give you awesome recommendations and his professional opinion – something I find invaluable!
After several horrifying experiences at other salons (my hair was stripped to cheetah print at one point!!) I’m super picky about who does my hair. Even when I lived in San Francisco for two years I would only let Alex do my hair when I’m home!
Thank you Alex for so many great hair days (and years!)
Highly recommend Torrie! Went in to get my hair fixed after a terrible cut and she exceeded my hopes for fixing it! Love my new cut! Thankful!!
Cassidy did an absolutely amazing job on my hair! I went in for a blow out and beach waves for a friends wedding and was so thrilled with the result. She was super personable, and knowledgeable. I enjoyed chatting with her, and she took extra care making sure the shorter layers of my hair blended in with the rest of the waves rather than sticking out as they began to do. I appreciated her skill and the time she took to make sure I was happy with the end result. I got so many compliments at the wedding, and will definitely be going back if I’m in the area again.
Alex, his staff and the salon were all amazing ! I made an appointment out of the blue hoping to get a refresh for spring – much lighter hair and a beach wave cut. Alex was a professional. He asked me intuitive questions about I wanted – he explained to what he was doing and why – and finally he made the experience relaxing and enjoyable. I left feeling pretty and 100% happy with the results. I have never had someone get it exactly right like that before. I will absolutely be going back. Clearly the other staff was doing amazing things too. They were all nice and respectful of each other’s work. It seemed like a good environment.
I was happy with the results of my rose gold hair! I did not have a bad experience elsewhere but knowing that the color I wanted can be a challenge, I wanted to make sure I had the right person to do it. I think Alex effectively understand my goal – I brought in a couple of pictures. After the consultation I felt confident that he could do it. The salon had a relaxing comfortable vibe. I think the work speaks for itself and that is what matters most.
I’ve been a client of Alex for the past 7 years, so before he even started this salon. I couldn’t believe I had yet to leave a review! Alex is a master at his craft. I’ve had my hair dyed, highlighted, and masterfully chopped off (several times!). He is wonderful in explaining what upkeep is required with the various colors, what hues look better with your coloring, and figuring out how to translate your haircut inspiration onto your head so it looks great. In the last year I had Alex cut pretty much all my hair off. I went from bra-line hair to a pixie cut. Since then, I’ve kept that up, and am now growing my hair back out.
At my most recent appointment, Alex figured out how to fix my awkward growth look great. It had started looking like a mullet, ew. He took the time to understand what kind of hair style my goal look was going to be, and cut accordingly. I felt great walking out. I know when I go to him I will leave looking great.
I went to Alex’s Salon 2 weeks ago and had my hair done by Kelsey! She did an awesome job! My hair was extremely damaged from being over processed by another salon in my area! She gave me tips on my hair and recommended products that would help the condition. I would highly recommend this hairdresser! As far as the salon itself….. I was greeted by the owner and the receptionist, who in turn offered me coffee or water while I waited!! Awesome service and so friendly!!! I live a distance away, but I will be back!!! Great shopping in the mall too!!!!Thank you Alex and crew for a great experience!!
They booked me with Jaida who was great, happy, helpful and very fast! She was waiting and ready for me at reception when I walked in. I had a 3pm appointment and was done within about 35-40 mins with a blow out and curl (I do have short bob hair cut). I have fine, straight hair and she was able to give me volume and a nice beach wave/ curl for my photos. Having never done my hair before, she adapted well to what products would work best and using a straightener instead of a curling iron to get the desired outcome.
In addition to the prompt service at the salon, I received text messages to remind me of my service which was a nice touch. The salon was clean and had a nice vibe.
The only thing I didn’t care for was having to book with a credit card at the time of my call. I was going to schedule an appointment online and when it requested my cc I decided to just call the salon thinking I could avoid that. Instead the receptionist still needed my cc info for a $43 blow out. I’m sure they have their reasons, but at my salon in LA where my cut/ color runs me $200 or more, I never have to give my cc to book an appointment.
Overall, the experience was great and I will go back if in the area and need anything.
I get my hair cut, colored, and keratin treated by her. Whether it’s just a trim or chopping off 13 inches I’ve always been very impressed with the results. I have a lot a lot of hair and she will happily spend the time thinning and layering until we are satisfied with the results. I get my hair balayaged, and she really turns it into an art form. It’s so natural and well blended that my own family couldn’t even tell that my hair was colored–instead, the last time I visited home, they told me that my hair looked like I’d been out in the sun a lot. This subtle, brighter, sun kissed look is exactly what I was going for. This brings me to my final point, which is that she listens to what you want. She is, of course, happy to offer her expertise and talk through what will look best and what is feasible, but at the end of the day I always feel like I get exactly what I ask for (i.e. “trims” do not result in me losing 4 inches of length, and my balayage doesn’t look like an ombre–which is not to say that she couldn’t do an ombre, it’s just not what I ask for.)
PS. Kelsey is super sweet and great to talk to. We have a lot of fun every time I go in!
The last time Alex did my hair, I met my fiance afterwards. He was sitting inside a restaurant, and he actually told me that he noticed my hair while I was walking across the parking lot! I will keep seeing Alex as long as he is around.
Quality of service – 5/5
Fair pricing – 5/5
Location/atmosphere – 5/5
This is kind of a review of both locations – Isla Vista and Santa Barbara – because I dealt with both of them in this experience. So long story short, I made a big mistake trying to go blonde from a box, using Born Blonde box bleach on very long dyed brown hair. The bleach left me with very strange and stubborn spots of dark in random places on my hair, Barbie-yellow roots, and orange everywhere else. Basically, my hair was in a very dire state…(ratchet)
I walked into the Isla Vista location on a whim, just desperate for someone to look at my hair and advise me further. I’d even considered going to other fancy, possibly more pricy State St. salons after reading Yelp reviews. But I’m really glad I walked into Alex’s Beauty Bar in IV. The girl there saw my hair and said that Alex would be the best for the job but that he was at the SB location that day and it would have to wait two days if I wanted it in IV. I said today would be better, and she called the SB location for me and they said I could come in anytime. What a relief!
So I took the bus and found the place, and Alex and Felicia immediately made me feel assured that my tough situation would be fixed. They started on me right away. So within an hour of pursuing an appointment I was already being worked on!
Alex offered me two options and advised me on how he hoped to reconcile the situation – fixing the current color while still allowing me to go blonde in the future. They bleached my hair all over, getting rid of the spots and leveling out the tone a bit, and then they used a demi-permanent brown dye that will fade to a lighter golden brown in about a month, allowing me to start the highlighting/blonding process. The total for bleach and color on very long hair was $180.
Long story short, GO HERE. I have only had one hairstylist in my whole life back home in the Bay Area, and it took a lot for me to have faith in someone new in such a desperate situation. Alex and Felicia are both fantastic – very kind, understanding, and helpful. Definitely recommend!
Alex knows his shuff! I have a full head of hair, it’s pretty fluffy and big and looks awful when if a stylist doesn’t know how to layer properly. I’ve had issues with this for years because I didn’t necessarily want layers but to take some weight off my head. Alex is Edward Scissorhands! Does amazing work “texturizing” the ends of my hair and takes his time. He has a friendly staff as well and uses pleasant products on my hair. Worth the price. Thanks Alex, for all your advice and being honest about what would look good with my head/face shape, skin tone, etc.
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LOCATION
Alex's Salon
11 W De La Guerra St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Located in Paseo Nuevo across from the Paseo Nuevo Cinema
Call: (805) 845-8849
HOURS
Tues - Sat: 10 am to 7 pm
Sun-Mon: Closed
After hours appointments available for special ocassions.