hair stylist you'd recommend

[shaveice]

my wife (who's from japan) often waits till she flies back to japan to have her hair cut cuz she hasn't found a place/stylist here who does (in her opinion) a really good job (without having to take out a loan). in general, i think i'd agree with her. in terms of being technicians (not just cutting hair, but other stuff too, like playing music), the japanese are pretty good. anyway, i was wondering if anyone knows of a good stylist in town who doesn't charge an arm and a leg? (my wife has already been to the usual places like paul brown and salon 808 where she thought the price was way too much for what she got. in case you think she has some fancy do, i should add that she just has straight hair that runs past her shoulders.)

thanks for any suggestions you might have ;)

[kimo55]

Debbie
@ Connie Gayle

[tiptoetulip]

anyway, i was wondering if anyone knows of a good stylist in town who doesn't charge an arm and a leg? (my wife has already been to the usual places like paul brown and salon 808 where she thought the price was way too much for what she got. in case you think she has some fancy do, i should add that she just has straight hair that runs past her shoulders.);)
Hi shaveice,
When your wife finds a good one, lemme know! I always switch from time to time because something always gets to me...either the hairstylist wants to do his/her own thing...or they are too concerned about the next client, etc. I am currently going to Taki's near Pearlridge/Circuit City, but I think I want to go back to a more basic hairstyle (more simple, less layers).

Haircuts can be overpriced, that's for sure! I don't know if she'd want to try "J Salon" which is downtown. Ummm...I think they are on the same street as Indigo, but on the Wai`anae side. Had my hair cut by the owner, Joe, and if anything, he cuts straight hair well. I think he's from New York. Simple set-up in their shop, kinda warehouse-ish, typical trendy types who work there. I enjoyed my experience there, just difficult getting there, and I hate parking downtown. Maybe I'll go back when my hair grows out a bit.

Okay, maybe that doesn't help. Let me know what she decides and how things turn out. ;)

[lavagal]

I truly like Tootsie at Hair Razing Experience at Pucks Alley. The girls there all own the shop and so it's really relaxed. they have a clip board on the counter for clients to review the latest movies, they always have snacks, of which some are made fat free. And last but not least, they are reasonable.
Funny: One is named Tootsie, one is named Cookie, I swear the other one is named Muffin. Just kidding!

[tutusue]

Stafford at Staffords Day Spa in the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center. I've been following him around like a lost, shaggy puppy for about 25 years. He's also very familiar with Asian hair. Highly recommended.

[tiptoetulip]

Funny: One is named Tootsie, one is named Cookie, I swear the other one is named Muffin. Just kidding!
Do they happen to be Korean? I think there was a Tootsie and Cookie at the Fantastic Sam's my mom used to go to. Or maybe those are just popular names! Memorable, at least!

[lavagal]

Do they happen to be Korean? I think there was a Tootsie and Cookie at the Fantastic Sam's my mom used to go to. Or maybe those are just popular names! Memorable, at least!


nah, nah, nah! One was portguese, the other was Japanese, from Kauai. The other one, Cookie, she was Korean! Man, I am still trying to remember Kauai Girlie. They are such a sweet bunch.

[shaveice]

cool! thanks very much for all the suggestions. i'll pass on the info to my wife and let you know what she thinks. it'll take a while, tho cuz her hair will have to get long enuf to cut and since there are several suggestions, it'll take months to go through them all.

arigatooooooooooooo! ;)

[Tiabla]

It's so hard to find a good stylist! It seems like as soon as I find someone I like they decide to change careers or move off island. Right now I'm happy with Allure Day Spa and Salon in Manoa. If you go to a "new talent" stylist (meaning new to the salon; most have several years' experience), the price is significantly cheaper than the regular stylists.

[lavagal]

nah, nah, nah! One was portguese, the other was Japanese, from Kauai. The other one, Cookie, she was Korean! Man, I am still trying to remember Kauai Girlie. They are such a sweet bunch.

The Kauai Girl is Lucy. So you have a choice of Lucy, Tootsie and Cookie at Hair Razing Experience, Pucks Alley.

[shaveice]

you guys know so much and i saw this thread revived with two recent posts so i'll ask: what's the basic deal with hair salons? by that i mean, if a salon has, say, 8 chairs, is it usually the case that one chair is used by the master/owner and the other 7 are used by stylists who are paying "rent" to use that space?

is that what i'm seeing when i walk past a paul brown place at ward? do the "renters" pay a flat fee per month or is it a percentage of their earnings?

recently watched the movies barber shop and beauty shop and it seems that way. (got my hair cut at hairscapes in manoa by lloyd horibe--the owner-- and i think he did a good job <considering the mess he had to work with!>)

[zztype]

Do they happen to be Korean? I think there was a Tootsie and Cookie at the Fantastic Sam's my mom used to go to. Or maybe those are just popular names! Memorable, at least!
You must be talking about Fantastic Sam's in Aiea Shopping Center! Tootsie, Cookie, Sweet Pea, bunch of others...

I've been going to them for years, along with my son.

Only problem I have is that they think my son and I are really cute together. My boy has super short hair, while I try to keep mine just a bit longer, more adult. But sometimes the ladies get caught up in "ho so cuuute daddy and boy look same-same," and I end up with a cut that would make a drill sergeant happy.

Crew cut looks cute on my skinny kid, but when they cut my hair super short, I look like that "boa constrictor that ate the elephant" from Scrivener's contest! http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showpost.php?p=45871&postcount=96

I used to be skinny like my kid, but as the years have progressed, I "ate the elephant" in the middle! :)

[Tiabla]

you guys know so much and i saw this thread revived with two recent posts so i'll ask: what's the basic deal with hair salons? by that i mean, if a salon has, say, 8 chairs, is it usually the case that one chair is used by the master/owner and the other 7 are used by stylists who are paying "rent" to use that space?

is that what i'm seeing when i walk past a paul brown place at ward? do the "renters" pay a flat fee per month or is it a percentage of their earnings?


I'm no expert, but most of the stylists I've visited paid a flat fee for the chair rental and also got 50% of the amount charged to the client. I once visited a stylist who paid a flat fee for the chair rental and got 100% of the amount charged. Here's a page that has some information about hair salons and it looks like there are many ways the pay structure is set up (relevant info at the bottom of the page): http://www.visual-makeover.com/choosea.htm

I have a question: how much does everyone tip your stylist? I usually tip 15-20% but I was talking to some girlfriends the other day and they don't tip at all (one only tips at Christmas!?).

[zztype]

have a question: how much does everyone tip your stylist? I usually tip 15-20% but I was talking to some girlfriends the other day and they don't tip at all (one only tips at Christmas!?).
I tip 20%, usually. If I tip less, I'm VERY unhappy with the service or the cut. If I'm that unhappy, you might get a quarter from me.

[shaveice]

thanks for the link tiabla :)

to answer your question, usually 15 - 20%.