Festoon Salon

07/20/2008 Posted by eck123

I've been getting my hair cut at Festoon on a recommendation from a friend living in the East Bay (I recently moved from SF over here). I went for a couple of hair cuts and was relatively happy with the service. I went on Friday to get a cut and the person cutting my hair didn't listen to what I wanted and I ended up leaving the salon not being happy with my hair. I wanted to tell her before I left but she already had another client waiting for her so I didn't feel like I could make that person wait any longer. I called the next day and mentioned to them that I wanted to come back in to get my cut fixed and the receptionist was very accommodating and fit me in right away. I went in and was able to get a cut that is more of what I wanted (although, it's not exactly - and I don't think I'm trying to get anything fancy, just a bob that doesn't look like it belongs on a soccer mom). I thought this "fix" was going to be complimentary (or at least, discounted) since it was actually an extension of the previous day's cut. I was shocked when I was charged for a full price cut on my way out. With tipping the stylists and paying for two haircuts, I've now invested $150 in a hair cut that I don't love. If I was planning on spending that much on a cut, I would have gone to a different salon. I will not (nor will any of the friends I've talk to about this) be going back to Festoon. We all think that they should have better customer service then that. I'm actually disappointed b/c overall I liked the salon.

Cons: terrible customer service

10/24/2007 Posted by laverhoff

The first time I went to Festoon's I thought the customer service was terrible but I got a really great haircut. I was left waiting for a half hour and no one checked in with me during that time to let me know what was going on. The front desk people were really rude to me when I checked in and while I waited. I went back for a second time and this time I was late. I called to say I would be late and they said everything was fine. After a really long, bad day I rushed over there and was looking forward to a nice haircut. However, when I got there, I was told I was too late (20 minutes) and would have to pay half price and reschedule or pay full price for a "dry cut". Again, the front desk people were VERY rude. I think that if you are going to leave people waiting, then you should at least accommodate people when they are late. I wished they would have told me my options when I called to say I'd be 15 minutes late instead of waiting to tell me when I got there. Had I known 15 minutes was the maximum time I could be late I would not have wasted my time, nor would I have sat there the first time waiting a half hour for them.

Pros: Parking

Cons: Bad customer service, bad value

10/17/2007 Posted by alduarte

I've been going to Bruno for about 3 years. He is pretty much the perfect stylist and I should know because I have been getting my hair cut at high end salons for many years, mostly because I want a cute funky hair cut and the concept salon stylists are trained to do that. I often get stopped on the street by people asking who cuts my hair, because it is the cutest cut EVER! Bruno I love you!!! Yes, a cut with Bruno is expensive. I'm an academic, so I don't have a lot of money, but I always leave my appointments with Bruno feeling so great about myself that it is worth it. He is expertly trained and he is the sweetest person as well. He listens to what you want and isn't pushy at all. Book well in advance and have a great time!

09/20/2007 Posted by gidget1234

I wrote a review called "BAD HAIR DAY!!!" about my exprience with Danielle at the salon. Not long afterwards, the salon contacted me and offered me a complimentary haircut to make up for it. I was impressed with how important it was to them that their reputation be maintained. I never expected to be offered a free service. I went to Anthony for my second cut. He was really good about listening to what I wanted. After Danielle's cut, I went to another salon and had it "fixed", which meant getting a short cut. Now I'm working on growing it out. Although I'm not at a length where my hair will be what I want it to be, Anthony did his best to give me something that will ease the growing out phase. It's still not my ideal cut, but Anthony was very attentive and really worked with me. The customer service was spectacular and I'm willing to try again when my hair is closer to a length that will really allow stylists to show what they can do. Thanks for responding to my last post, Festoon.

Pros: nice atmosphere, nice front desk staff

Cons: inexperienced hairdresser, late for appt time

08/02/2007 Posted by negarma

great service...pretty good considering its in berkeley although the "gourmet" berkeley has nicer things. if you have the time, go to sf....everything seems better there...bbut beware of the priciness as well.

05/27/2007 Posted by bugmenot21856

the manager and the clerks are very snotty and even rude...the hair stylists are competent--if you can get an appt. many are booked 3 months in advance--which doesn't really work for many folks. thus, the staff pushes the interns on you--never allow that! this salon has the reputation of 86ing customers who do not follow in step with the average 3 month wait. sorry, this just isn't worth all that insult.

Cons: horrible staff attitude makes wait staff at zuni cafe seem absolutely gooey with love!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

05/17/2007 Posted by xochixochi

What I like about this place is that you can get a good haircut with a junior stylist at an affordable price. Color is pricey but haircuts are reliably good. I've gone there twice after other salons butchered my hair and both stylists did a great job. It DOES get crowded, though, even early on a weekday morning so if you're looking for solitude, look elsewhere. For $35/haircut, however, I'll put up with a crowd for an hour or so.

Pros: Great Value, haircuts

Cons: crowded

09/22/2006 Posted by duchie

This is a casual salon with talented people working in it. However, they overbook, overcharge, and tend to spend a lot of time talking about how great they are. Their prices for their top stylists are very high. Assistants do the washing, mixing, drying, and styling. The stylist has forgotton to color my hair--I had to remind him--another time he started to put on all-over color instead of highlights. For the money, I expect the stylist to at least read the little index card with my information on it. The trainees who do comb out are often not good at all and I have twice asked for a restyling from the senior stylist. This makes me feel like a nuisance. I've gone to the salon about 5 times, but I'm not going back. Cost of highlights, cut, and 2 products was $280. As a college professor, I can't afford it. The cuts were good, but I always felt ripped off. I just can't make myself go back. The owner seems to be very full of himself, I'm sorry to say. If the price were reasonable, I might put up with the mediocre treatment.

09/06/2006 Posted by kalamazoo32

I went to Festoon after being slightly dissatisfied with my current stylist (plus I live close to the Berkeley salon). I got an appointment quickly, probably because the stylist was pretty new. I experienced all the things mentioned in the other reviews: she was not ready for me when I arrived on time and I had to wait quite a while. She was overbooked and had to get someone else to use a blowdryer on my hair while she talked to a client in the next chair, which I have never had happen anywhere else. The whole appointment took forever. The style and color were both pretty bad. In fact, I would say that my hair almost looked better before I went in than it did when I left. I asked her to do something pretty similar to what I had and she managed to cut it far far too short in the front, leave too much on top, and make my color much more boring. In fact the whole style was boring. I was not impressed. So if you have a good stylist there, it is probably okay, but they are definitely overbooking the stylists and the quality may be kind of uneven.

Pros: Friendly ambience

Cons: Rushed service, pressure to buy products

05/31/2006 Posted by morganemmery

I am always weary about going to a new salon, but I was very confident that my experience at Festoon would be positive and I would be really happy with my results. And guess what? I was ectastic about it. The entire staff from the front desk to the stylists to the assistants and even the small dogs that run around were so welcoming and friendly. I went to a student, who did an amazing job cutting my hair. She was able to give me the exact cut that I was thinking of, and actually, she made it even better than what I was invisioning.

Pros: Atmosphere, Well trained stylists