Leila Color Salon

I recently made the big move from blonde to brunette and noticed that the color was fading quickly. I’ve known Leila for a while but never visited her salon, so when she saw my hair and immediately said «Come see me, I will make your hair look amazing», I decided to give it a shot. The work that Leila did on my hair was like nothing I had seen before, and I’ve been getting my hair highlighted and colored for years. Her process was thorough, detailed and precise. The finished product was absolutely beautiful and she perfectly blended some golden tones in with the brown that just made my hair look very natural and warm. I would recommend Leila to anyone looking to have color done, as she truly knows what she’s doing and perfects it!

I have had my hair cut at Leila’s five times now, and colored three times. Go see Leila and you’ll soon have a friend who also has a great eye for hair and what color would look good on you.
Leila rescued my hair when it had been colored too dark and cut in layers that were too long. I came back in three weeks just to say hello. Leila said that my hair needed to be cut again — and she was right. Leila is a perfectionist when it comes to hair — and meticulous about making sure the haircut and color is perfect.
The shop is an easy walk from Courthouse metro. Leila’s prices are quite reasonable. She won’t push shampoo or conditioner. I have found that Leila and Lila (?) are quite nice and I think of them as friends who happen to help my hair look great.
I stop and say hello when I walk by just because. They are a neighborhood treasure and I’m happy to have found a great place to get my hair looking fabulous. Recommend.

I called at 4pm for a 6pm haircut appointment and they were able to fit me in. They asked me to arrive at 5:45pm but did not start on washing my hair until 6:30pm. Although they did offer me a glass of wine while I waited, I was a bit frustrated that I had to leave work early only to sit in a chair and wait for 45 minutes.
The other reviews are spot-​on about Leila’s behavior (loud, distracted, over-​sharing) and the atmosphere of the salon (very informal, asked me to stand-​up as she cut my hair because it was long) but she did a good job with my haircut and that’s all I really wanted. Considering the last-​minute nature of my request, for $ 65 (haircut and blow-​dry) it was an okay experience. Also, I gave her $ 100 bill and she asked if I wanted change… ummm, on a $ 65 bill? yes, please.
Note: I believe she now takes credit cards (via that attachment to her smartphone) but I would call to double-​check.

I have been going to Leila for years! She has been coloring & cutting my hair, as well as waxing my eyebrows, since I moved back into the area. My hair color is always perfect and cut is always what I am looking for. I have blonde hair and I have had some terrible experiences over the years, but it is always perfect with her. I have even taken my own sister to have Leila cut her hair. She also is eyebrow expert, which is rare to find in a hair stylist. It is one stop shopping at her salon. For years I went to stuffy, overpriced salons where no one remembers you at all and never got as good as services as I receive with Leila. Leila salon is intimate, quiet and very relaxing. It is also right next to the metro if needed.
I cannot say enough great things about her!

After spending the better part of a year trying to get my hair-​cut fixed and suffering through failure after failure at other salons I found my salvation in Franceska at the Leila Salon!
My first visit was actually a couple of months ago, I came in desperate for a trim to fix the latest in difficult cuts and Franceska not only fixed it, she made it GREAT!
I went in yesterday to get more of a real cut, I’ve been letting it grow to get rid of these last few hellish layers making things difficult for me, and she did an amazing job!
She listened to me, offered advice as well, but still did what I wanted! This is a very big deal. A VERY big deal.
She also didn’t cut my hair while it was dry. In fact, she said «if I cut while it is dry, many mistakes will be made!» I told her I loved her when she said that. One of the things other stylists who mess things up have been doing to me is cutting dry and trying to justify why that is the better way – which of course it obviously isn’t seeing as how all those cuts were so crappy!
I can’t give any feedback on their coloring practices, but I will say (regarding another Unilocaler’s review) that Leila herself is back in action so if your goal is to have her do your color, you are in luck again!
The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because paying with a credit card was not an option (but we figured out something), they definitely need to get that set up. And also, I was COVERED in little hair clippings! They were on my pants, shoes, down my neck… ugh. But it seems that no salons really watch the ol’ clippings anymore, none of the places I have been keep them off you as well as they used to when I was younger…

Ok — first off — I heart Leila. She has colored my hair BEAUTIFULLY and isn’t bad at cuts either. Her skill #1 is as a colorist. The reason I am giving the salon 2 stars is because Leila has been on medical leave for probably over a year now and another stylist seems to be doing everything. That other stylist, does not have Leila’s experience/​talent with color and definitely has a different approach to cuts. I feel bad saying this, but she really doesn’t cut any better than a corporate «McSalon» or something. If you are in early 50s and want your hair to look like her hair, no problem. Otherwise, good luck explaining what you want. So — until Leila is back… this is not «Leila Color Salon.»

I think this place really all depends on the day.
First time I went in Leila gave me a great cut. Granted, it took a while as she is very talkative… in addition some «family drama» went down while I was there which included a visit by a sobbing friend of hers. She spent a few minutes outside talking to the woman… which I tried to bear with because it clearly wasn’t welcomed but, err… things happen?
Anyway, my haircut was really cute, so I went back. Things went downhill. I made an appointment… supposedly with Leila. Her assistant who actually cut my hair informed me that she wouldn’t be working for 2 months… and had been off for that month – so umm, maybe she could have told me that over the phone?! Anyway, this haircut, notSOgood. She trimmed it… it was fine, I paid nearly $ 100. Ridiculously overpriced, plus a tip for the shampooer and stylist?! The service has to be superb for that. Also, they do NOT take credit card which the fail to mention and every customer I’ve seen ends up running across the street to the ATM.

I visited Leila’s salon twice and although the first visit went relatively well, my second visit was appalling. I made an appointment for 4pm, only to watch Leila spend all of her time cutting 2 gentlemen’s hair that walked in off the street. Her brand new assistant, who was clearly not trained or experienced did my color and proceeded to torture me as she blew dry my hair because she clearly had no idea how to handle a brush or a hair dryer. I was then charged $ 95 for the service I received by a 19 year old assistant. Shocking and completely unacceptable. I will not be going back and I suggest you find an alternative.