Cutting Room

Vonny from the Cutting Room has moved to LAN Beauty Salon at 2048 University Ave. It’s on the same block, across the street. Call 510−540−6868.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to get your hair cut by an alcoholic who was really hung over and worked at a salon that looked, felt, and smelt a lot like an AA meeting from the 80’s, then this is your place!
The really hot thing is that if you’re hungover too, these guys will hook you up. Just sit down, and no matter what you told them, they’ll give you the first cut that enters their mind. You’ll come out with something truly unexpected, possibly with custom bald patches thrown in at no additional charge!
Sizzling!

Bonnie was friendly and cut my hair EXACTLY how I asked her to, which is very rare when the cut cost under $ 20. She understood what I wanted, did it quickly and gently. I will return 100% and highly recommend her. Thank you for the great cut!

I have been going off and on for years. I really like Helen and am always happy with my cut. This is not a high end salon so if that’s what you want go elsewhere. if you want an affordable nice looking cut by a friendly easy going stylist I highly recommend Helen!

I am a local Broker, it’s important to look and feel good, and a good hair cut with compliments on how great you look and 20 years young (right in time for your… birthday!) doesnt hurt either~~ I happened upon The Cutting Room and impulsively stopped when I spied «walk ins welcome!»
I met the owner Helen who was ready as I walked in, very nice to speak with and she was gracious to take me right then and there. I showed her a picture of the cut and color I was looking for, (product line is ‘Goldwell’– «Brazil» semipermanent –to enrich a natural brunette. The $ 18 haircut + $ 45 fullcolor includes style/​blowdry/​shampoo with relaxing massage – (you don’t realize how enjoyable this treat is :) until someone does your hair ‚.right?!), and the styling & blowdry, I look better than picture I had shown! I visited on Monday where to my delight I had the entire salon to myself with Helen, no interruptions, all the attention on me, good conversation, laughs, ideas. One of the many reasons I love Bkly as well. If you spend this even if only once or twice a year — my goodness it’s most certainly well worth the visit! Really, I don’t need to spend hundreds at the ‘upscale’ boutiques, this chance encounter proved fruitful! ‘thanks Helen, I love my hair ”

Vonny is sooooo bad. I think a butcher could have cut my hair better.

The staff here is very nice, which is a huge plus. I had a good amount of hair cut and said that I wanted a chin-​length bob and it would need layering because I have crazy-​thick hair. I got the chin-​length cut but it is all very flat (no layering) so my hair is doing some wonky stuff right now. It’s not horrible, but it’s also not the best haircut. They also nicked my husband’s neck a little bit while they were cutting his hair. That being said, I think that my husband is going to give them another try: my search continues.
As a heads-​up they do NOT accept credit cards. Thankfully I had my check book on me, but I was surprised. If you decide to go here grab some cash first!

Finally got fed up with my unruly mop and decided to give this place a try. Showed the stylist a crappy phone photo of myself with acceptable hair and somehow she nailed it in about 20 minutes. I walked in wearing my beanie of shame and didn’t need it on the way out. What else can I say?

If you are looking for a place to get your haircuts in Berkeley, come here! I moved to Berkeley and had to search for a good place for my haircuts for the first time in many years, as I had someone back home my whole life. I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled across this place. It’s near campus and downtown, $ 18 for a cut, fast, and professional. Vonny, the owner, is great and all of the women who she hires are wonderful too. Now, I only come here when I’m due for a haircut. I’m too scared to try anywhere else now that I live in SF.
My boyfriend is also a big fan of the place. He was actually the guinea pig to try it out, although he’s the picky one about hair stylists. For him to be impressed and come back here says a lot.
I believe they are closed on Tuesdays and I’ve even gone at times when they were supposed to be open and it was closed. I’m not sure what that’s all about. You also have to pay an extra $ 4 to make an appointment with someone, which I’ve never heard of at any other place. Other than that, I give this place an A+!
And bring quarters because it’s all street parking!

Vonny rocks!
After a 6 year hiatus, I returned home to my beloved Berkeley and am re-​familiarizing myself with all my old haunts. I came here first in 1993 or so and I’m glad to see things haven’t changed much… To me, it’s the small things like revisiting favorite places of my past that makes me feel like I’m coming home to an old friend.
In any case: Great haircut + good price + awesome staff = The perfect place for me. Vonny is super cool, gives a great haircut and focuses her attention on giving you exactly what you want/​need. Only thing that kinda threw me off was that they don’t except credit cards anymore, but that doesn’t detour me from making this my salon for a long time to come…

I completely forget the name of the woman who cut my hair, but its was one of the worst cuts I had ever gottten. I have a short bob hair style and as I straightened it when I got home I saw all the mistakes she had made. She was also extremely chatty, to the point where stopped trying to have a conversation with her and let her continue to talk and talk and talk. Maybe some of the other stylists would have done a better job but I won’t go back there to find out.

I live in SF and I used to get my hair cut at HairCandy Salon in my hood. When my beloved stylist moved to LA, I tried her replacement and it just didn’t cut it. A co-​worker turned me on to HONDA at the Cutting Room in Berkeley. She followed Honda there from her previous salon and I can see why. She is friendly, skilled, patient, and gives you exactly what you ask for. My friend has thick wavy hair and I have that fine straight Asian hair but she does a great job with either.
The cutting room is not where you want to go for a pampering experience; its pretty bare bones But if you want a great haircut from Honda for 22 bucks, its worth a trip across the bridge. You can call ahead and make an appt with her so you don’t have to wait in line.

Ask for Vonny (the owner). She’s great. (You can call in advance and make a reservation with her, if you don’t want to wait in line.)
Vonny has been cutting my hair for the past several years, and I’ve always been happy with the result. I will never go anywhere else, as long as The Cutting Room stays in business and Vonny remains here. Highly recommended!

I am a simple girl that needs a simple haircut, but I’ve found it hard to find a good place.
This place was affordable, friendly and timely. Juan, from Peru, was very attentive and gave me a great trim.
I am definitely coming back for my next.

From the look of this place, its not somewhere you’d expect to find a really nice haircut. however, it can be – this place is a real mixed bag.
I have pretty simple requests on my hair and i’ve had decent results with all the stylists i’ve had. I would recommend Juan — but as far as i know, he only works there part time. I’ve also had pretty decent results with Josie. Rob has also cut my hair, he seems kinda lazy when he cut it. Anyway, i would recommend it, its a real nice place to get a nice, cheap haircut.

Let me preface this review with the critical information:
I’m a guy. My hair gets curly when longer (3+ inches) The longest I let my hair grow out is 8 inches (when straightened) I look ridiculously young and terrible if my hair is cut very short. This happens almost every time I get my hair cut and washed (because they never remember that my hair curls).
I’ve come here about 5 or 6 times. Twice to get my hair trimmed (when long) and at least three times to get it transformed from long and shaggy to short and professional.
I’ve have never been unhappy with the job they’ve done. Not once. All the guys that work there are fantastic at what they do (they’re the only ones I’ve had cut my hair, Rob and I forget the other guy’s name – he’s hispanic and very friendly)
They really know what they’re doing and they know what looks good. They aren’t simply making your hair shorter – which has been my experience with most other hair places.
Unfortunately they raised their prices (to $ 18 for a haircut, $ 21 with wash) and I’m going to have to find somewhere else to go) What can I say? I’m cheap. Oh, they only take cash!

Got cowlicks? I do, now that I went to the cutting room.
I used to scoff at above paying above $ 25 for a men’s short haircut, and now I realize that it is worth it since I have not had to get a fix-​cut a week later EVER.
Also wonderful was the ‘texturizing’ procedure, involving a half of a scissor that texturizes as it splits about 50% of your hairs, leaving it dry and damaged… I’m in need of some pantene or other such nonsense now

Vonny, the owner is fantastic. I have really difficult to control hair-​thick, wavy and lots of it. I took in a picture and she gave me a great cut. It will grow out to look just like the picture in about 2 weeks. She didn’t put any product in my hair, and the cut STILL looked great. With product it’s even better.
Don’t expect a shampoo or to get your hair blow dried. My hair was still wet when I walked out and they don’t have many hair products. On the good side, she was totally down to earth and recommended I use conditioner until they got more Goldwell in. She’s relaxed and the place is unpretentious.
It’s really worth it for $ 26 including tip. I usually pay way too much-I’m used to paying up to $ 100 in NYC. I highly recommend this place. Call ahead and ask for Vonny.

Yes, the name sounds like an emo kid’s paradise, but it really is all about hair! No blood-​shedding here, honest!
This is for the review by Chester…
I’ve gotta chime in here for Rob. I’ve been getting my haircuts by him since he was with Panache on Telegraph and he’s always done an excellent job. Same goes for my fiancée… she likes to change up her look from time to time and Rob always comes through. The only times I’ve seen him give a less than stellar performance is when he’s bombarded with calls for appointments with him or if you get him started on one of many topics of conversation (chatting it up with him is always easy and fun, so it’s really easy to get distracted from the haircut!).
Also what helps is to be specific on what you want before he gets started and if something needs attention, speak up! This ain’t supercuts so they don’t give one-​size-​fits all standard issue haircuts here. Give him another try… hopefully your next visit will be much better.
With that outta the way, I always find my experience here a pleasant one. Prices are reasonable and the location is convenient to BART and parking. The interior of the place isn’t anything special… it’s actually got a kind of late 70’s feel to it but it works. They seriously need to replace the guest seating though… those cushions look like they’ve seen better days.
Every time I go, I always have to hit up Crepes a Go Go just down the street to get my Nutella and banana crêpe fix… mmm, mmm. Is there such a thing as a Nutella buzz? Maybe that’s why I’m in such a good mood when I walk in for my haircuts… the world may never know.

Worst haircut of my life there last saturday. Think the guy’s name is Rob or Tom. Least effort I’ve ever seen anyone put into their work before. I have to live with the results for a couple of weeks but the trama is ever lasting.
I highly recommend you don’t go there, and if you have to definitely don’t get it cut by Rob/​Tom.