Kellie Williams

I’ve been seeing Kellie for ~7 years, and she is, hands-​down, the best, most intelligent, and most fun hairdresser I’ve ever had! She’s phenomenal with curly and short hair and also extremely gifted with color.
She has a thorough understanding of what is needed to achieve an ideal short-​term aesthetic look as well as how that affects hair long term. For example, she takes the time to explain how a specific treatment may damage hair, so you have all the important information and can make an informed decision.

This review was a long time coming, as Kellie has been doing my hair on and off for 8 years or so… the «off» times were when I lived out of state (we’re talking thousands of miles away), and even then, got in to see her a couple times on visits home. I’ve followed her to 3 different salons in 3 cities. And I lived over an hour away the whole time.
What I love about Kellie (aside from her amazing personality and friendliness): she’s a perfectionist and will always make sure you love your hair from every angle. She’s honest about what will and won’t work for your hair and style. She’s a master of her craft and yet continually learns and educates herself every chance she gets. She’s just very cool and nonjudgmental and fun to be around!
In short: if you’re looking for someone to trust with your locks (a big deal, for me), Kellie is your gal!

I’m updating my feathered bombshell do to the full 5 stars. Today, at the end of my appointment, a costumer in another chair told Kellie my do looked like a magazine cover. Needless to say, the stylist doing this woman’s hair, while smiling in agreement, looked a little concerned. Probably because she had some serious shoes to fill at that point. LOVE Kellie. The girl knows what she’s doing.

I found Kellie on Unilocal and I’m very glad I did. I’d been with the same hairdresser for about 20 years but changed because she was just too far away and what with gas prices being what they are, I wanted something closer. I love the convenience of biking to SPANK and parking my bike inside their building where I can keep an eye on it. I wasn’t very happy with my first cut for the first couple weeks, but I think that was mostly because I didn’t explain to Kellie what I wanted very well and my cut took time to grow into. I ended up loving the cut and appreciating the detail. The second appointment I missed and Kellie was extremely gracious when I called to acknowledge my error. At my third appointment, I was better able to articulate what I wanted and I got an absolutely gorgeous cut. Kellie is a sweetheart of a gal and I like the vibes at SPANK. And, hey folks, I’m no spring chicken (67) but feel young at heart, so this place and Kellie are a great fit for me. (I think Kellie is much more lovely in person than her photo would suggest. I don’t think the photo captures her softness or sweetness.)

I have never had a better haircut in my whole life. I have been a client of Kellie’s for about a year and a half and it seems like my cuts keep getting better. I often just leave it up to her what I would like done, I have short hair and like it funky and I am always so amazed at how much I love the cut. My hair looks so good sometimes I wear it the way it ended up after I was sleeping.
Also she remembers a lot about my personal life as we talk while she works, and I swear I have some friends who can’t even remember things.
If you haven’t loved your hair in some time, go see Kellie and she will help you fall in love all over again.

Kellie at Spank is AWESOME! I described the color and cut I wanted to her, and she is the FIRST stylist/​colorist ever to have gotten it just exactly right! Lots have come kinda close, but none have been perfect. Until Kellie Williams. She LISTENS. Highly recommend!
Also, salon is clean, and convenient, (I live in Alameda) and the rest of the staff seem very friendly.

The search has come to an end! Hurray! Kellie is fantastic! I tried so many different stylists and there was always something that didn’t work out. They wouldn’t listen, not get the hair color right, do highlights I wouldn’t see, thinned my hair too much or not enough, took forever or charged way too much.
I was so happy to have finally found my favorite stylist in SF but when I moved to the East Bay I knew I had to start my search all over again since I like to be able to be somewhat spontaneous.
Speaking of … I was able to get an appointment with Kellie for the next day. I had a root touch-​up and a cut done. And she was simply fantastic. This time, I wanted to tell my hair story and theories about what went wrong with other cuts. Previously, I would just tell generally what I was looking for and then have them do what they wanted to. Kellie listened so well to everything I had on my mind and I totally felt as if she knew what had gone wrong with my hair appointments before. By the way she asked questions and explained everything to me, I could tell she really knows what she is talking about. I also liked that she has a very precise haircutting and coloring technique. The color was just exactly right and the cut one of the best I ever got. I was so happy when I left the salon. After the next few days when I did my hair myself and it was so easy to handle and still looked great without Kellie’s help, I was completely convinced. Go see Kellie, you’ll love what she does.

Serendipity and Sephora came together so I could find Kellie, and my hair has never received such stylish and careful attention!
It began while I was returning some makeup I’d bought for my upcoming wedding at Sephora. As I lamented to the friendly salesperson about wedding expenses, including an upcoming Vidal Sassoon cut + color, she very excitedly told me about her «friend in the East Bay who is a great hair stylist who still gets excited about hair and is very affordable,» aka Kellie Williams. Something about her enthusiasm — and her great hair — convinced me, and I immediately called and canceled my VS appointment and made an appointment with Kellie.
I have super fine, short hair, and no one has ever given it the same attention as Kellie did. She spent 15 minutes on the consultation alone, and then did some fun, funky blonde highlights and tamed my «hairline from hell.» Plus, she *listened* to what I wanted and wasn’t offended when I asked her to change a few things — so rare in a hair stylist. I ended up with a great pixie that is dynamic and has a lot of texture, not just another short haircut.
I would definitely recommend Kellie to others — you won’t be disappointed!

Kellie is great, and her hair cuts are even better.
Why are you still reading this?
No seriously, I just told you how great her skills are and its obvious you need a hair cut or you wouldn’t be reading this, so get goin. You wont be disappointed.
Are you REALLY still here?

Kellie IS the best! She listens to what you want and follows trough. She is by far the best stylist i have ever had. I will continue to travel cross bay to see her.

(This post has been moved over to Kellie’s new site, but was originally posted about a year ago… I am still a loyal client.)
When it comes to my hair, I am a tough customer, (meaning; self obsessed). My hair isn’t particular difficult to deal with, in fact, it’s long, straight, and quite healthy. But like life, it can also be complicated, with strange cowlicks, and the ability show every mistake. It’s fickle, only likes expensive products, and takes strangely to permanent hair color. All of these add up to me feeling like I am a «high maintenance» customer. Let me tell you… Nobody ever wants to feel that way. We all want to believe that we could care less, and that we are cool with whatever life brings to us.,…but when we have a negative hair experience. hell hath no fury!
So when my long time and beloved stylist moved to LA, I was distraught! Now I would have to start out all over again to find the perfect blend of rocking fashionista, great listener, comedian, creative power-​house, and compassionate mind-​reading guru.
I will not lie, that is a tall order. That person might not even exist.
Except she does, and her name is Kellie.
When I told Kellie that I had been shopping around for a new stylist, she not only rose to the occasion, but instilled a sense of relief in me that I had not felt in months. It was all gonna be ok!
So if you want to get your hair done by an inspired, highly skilled, imaginative good listener… make an appointment .
You wont be sorry.
And you’ll have a god time.
You might have to ask your hair out for a drink afterwards because it will look so good.
Kellie, you rule!!!

(this post was moved over from her last site and still holds true! I’m going to see her this Saturday for a cut and am super excited!)
I recently got a cut from Kelli. My best friend had recommended her when she was at Barbarella. I only change hair stylists when absolutely necessary, and I’m wary of new ones. I brought in a photograph and a sketch of what I wanted my hair to look like. She discussed the cut and my hair up front. At one point she asked if I was open to having asymmetrical hair. I said yes, but then she ended up cutting it symmetrical because it wasn’t working.
The result: a very cute cut! I have received many compliments on it. Its short and fun to play with. I love that she talked through how she styled my hair so that I could duplicate it at home. She is very knowledgeable about products too.
AND I had a great time sitting in the chair and yakking with Kelli about music and art and other mundane stuff. I usually hesitate on making small talk when getting my hair cut, but I felt relaxed and enjoyed the time I spent.
I’ll definitely be going back for my next cut!

Kellie has an eye for edgy, stylish cuts. When I was looking for a change from the longish, surfer hairstyle I had been (unsuccessfully) trying to make work for almost two years, I trusted Kellie to discover a new look for me. She went to work with a straight blade, taking off length and adding texture. Let’s just say I’ve been getting a lot more, umm, compliments ever since.
I don’t even bother describing for Kellie any misguided vision I may have concocted for my hair between visits. She asks, but my answer is always the same: «I’m really happy with what you’ve been doing; I don’t have the eye for this stuff that you do so I’m just going to trust you, like always, to find the best look for me.»
I started seeing Kellie when I lived in the Berkeley area, and now that I’ve moved across the Bay, I’m making the BART commute just so I can stick with her. While traveling internationally recently, I found out she would be switching salon’s, something I actually feared would happen over my extended absence, leaving me in serious danger of a not-​so-​SuperCut. I immediately exhausted every cyber snooping resource I could think of to try to track Kellie down because that’s how good she really is.
Thankfully, Kellie was one step ahead and sent me an email to let me know how to make my next appointment when I get back. Top of the to-​do list on my return: get a haircut with Kellie at Alexander Pope Salon.

Kellie deserves her own listing because:
–The majority of reviews for Genray where she used to be stationed were for her and her mad skills
–She has moved salons (to Alexander Pope) and working for herself now. Book directly through her from here on out. AND OMG SHE IS LESS EXPENSIVE NOW!!! $ 40 cuts was what she last quoted me. Also, get a discount if you follow her from Genray to Alexander Pope.
–A new reason for me to love Kellie:
Pheremone-​tingling sexy guy was running his hands through my hair and not only professed to love it but had to know where I had it done*. This one-​ups the constant compliments I get from chicks.
Sex sells, right? I consider that whole exchange damn personal, but within the realm of useful for hair consumers to know.
*This may indicate a certain metrosexuality, but obviously I go for that.