Thomas West Salon

THANK YOU HAIR GODS! I was in Chicago for the week for work and my hair needed some major TLC. I researched a million places and finally decided on the Thomas West Salon. After reading all the reviews and looking through the stylists I decided to work with Alan. I normally do foil highlights with two tones and am crazy about who touches my hair but this time I wanted to give balayage a go. Alan did an amazing job. It’s the perfect amount of blonde and perfect amount of blended. I am so happy with the color and cut. And am so sad I found this amazing gem in Chicago and can’t take it back to San Francisco with me. I will be back though!

Prices are totally in line with a salon in River North, especially that close to the Loop. Everyone is very attentive and friendly. Great new space. Would recommend Karly any day!

I came here with a Groupon deal ($ 79 for full highlights and a cut/​blow dry, I couldn’t pass it up).
I’ve always wanted highlights, but never had the guts to do it. But new year, new me, right?!
I took some pictures to show my hairstylist, and Grace was amazing! She took 10 minutes to talk to me and understand what I really wanted. I have thick, curly hair that took about 1.5 hours to color. Grace was a bit hard to warm up to when making a conversation, but once we started talking about FOOD (see, it unites everyone) and some places she would recommend, we started going at it.
After she was done, she let the colors sit and then washed my hair. Ladies, you know you’re at a good salon when they take their time washing your hair, and gives you a deep scalp massage at the same time. It was heavenly.
For the cut, she just took off about 3″ and gave me some long layers. And the color turned out to be exactly what I wanted! I was so pleased!
I don’t think I can afford to come to this salon with their regular price menu ($ 225 is what it would’ve costed me w/​o groupon — that’s worth a month of food for me!) But I definitely loved my experience here!

Ladies, BEWARE.
My hair was totally botched after visiting this salon. I went in for a trim and a highlight touch up and the stylist took off over 5 inches and completely destroyed the one side. See images below.
Unfortunately I came here about a week before my engagement photos (which I told the stylist), and now every time I see the photos I am reminded of this horrible, horrible haircut. :(It’s been about 4 months and my hair is just now starting to look normal.

Like others, I purchased the groupon for the full highlights, cut and blowout. I think I was supposed to have another stylist but ended up with Chanita – and it was my lucky day. Usually with the beauty groupons, I figure that if one of the multiple services isn’t awful – it was worth it. In this case Chanita nailed all three! First, with color, I’m a stylist’s nightmare – I show up with my dark Asian hair and want a beautiful light ash brown, but she gave me great highlights, then an amazing cut and a phenomenal blowout! Thanks Chanita!

My first time to Thomas West Salon and I had a great experience with my stylist Blake.
He was extremely thorough and great questions to figure out exactly what I wanted.
My hair turned out the perfect shade of dark brown (not black) and the cut was fabulous.
The pictures don’t do it justice since I took them later in the evening and it was raining outside.
Needless to say, I’m excited to have Blake as my new hair stylist and I highly recommend him!

Just moved to Chicago and decided to find a place not too far from my apartment to get a haircut. It was not cheap, but I WILL be going back. Blake did a wonderful job on my cut and style. He didn’t hurry, and it looked really great at the end. When I need a new color, I’ll be going back to him. Loved the service!

Such a gorgeous salon in a convenient location (Merch Mart).
AJ Schulz is the absolute best. Her knowledge & passion goes way beyond anything I’ve experienced with a stylist in the past. I get complimented on my blonde balayage at least once a week, and my hair looks and feels super healthy. Like Candice Swanepoel level…
In addition to amazing cuts and color, AJ is a total sweetheart and fun to be around. Thomas West is definitely a spa-​like experience, and each appointment begins with a short massage featuring essential oils (shampoos are on point, too). If you have long hair or blonde hair (or just hair), going to AJ is the best decision ever. Highly recommend!

I’ve never had a bad cut or poor service here and I’ve been coming for 3 years now. I have to say Blake is outstanding! If you can, book an appointment with him ASAP! You’ll be thrilled that you did!

Gave this spot a try via Groupon. They had good reviews and a convenient location, so I felt good about trying a new spot to take care of my tresses. The first round didn’t turn out quite right but without hesitation my stylist offered to fix the issue for no additional cost the next day. In the movie superman there is a scene where Superman’s hair is in a museum holding up a 1000 pound weight. My hair is pretty strong, it can’t hold up a weight but let that scene from the movie create a picture in your mind of how strong my hair is, especially when it comes to hair color. I have sympathy for any stylist that tackles the challenge. Over three hours the first round then another three hours the second for results that weren’t all that noticeable. Not the worst but not the best, wasn’t that excited about my experience to go back again.

I used them for my wedding. DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AS ME.
The owner was awful about setting up my appointments and very hard to get a hold of throughout the process. I almost cancelled on them the week of my wedding because they still had not sent me an itinerary and didn’t respond to my email asking for one. They offered me free make up to apologize for the lack of movement on their part but I wish that I just cancelled.
I was the bride and they did my hair/​makeup last and I was over an hour late past when I told them I absolutely had to be out. While my hair was pretty, it was not what I asked for and was entirely missing the braid that I clearly had stated I wanted and had shown pictures of.
One of my bridesmaids told the stylist she wanted a braid and he told her «he honestly wasn’t that great at braids.» He asked someone else if they could help and she said she also wasn’t great with braids. Keep in mind that these were $ 85 up dos… so you’d think they’d be able to follow current trends.
Lindsay did my make up and she was a saint. She was the only one who seemed to care about the situation and made sure to keep her quality high despite the rush we were in.
I never did hear back from the owner about the whole situation.

I came in with a groupon for cut & highlight with Lindsay. She was great! I have curly hair that most stylists cut like straight hair, but I could tell she knew what she was doing. I also appreciated the fact that she gave me exactly what I wanted and made sure I was happy with everything before I left. She was also so sweet and laid back! Highly recommend booking with her (especially fellow curly gals :)
Also, I had a lot come up last month and had to reschedule with the salon 3 times and they were very easy going about it! The front desk staff seemed to be very organized and on time!

Brenna gave me such a great haircut! I used a Groupon which included a deep conditioning treatment plus styling and my hair looked amazing. It was a great experience. The people at the front desk weren’t that friendly and were kind of judgemental about walking in with a bookbag but Brenna more than made up for it by being super sweet and giving me great service! The haircut I got here was beyond amazing, and super flattering. They were for portrait pictures and I’m so thankful and relieved that Brenna gave me such an amazing haircut.

Purchased a Groupon for a haircut and a deep conditioning and was seen by Sara.
The salon itself was pretty nice looking, but the service I received was subpar. I said I didn’t need any fancy layers, just a trim to take away my split ends. Apparently that meant «just don’t really do anything.» The stylist spent less than 2 minutes on the actual cutting part. The «deep conditioning» was also just rubbing some cream on my hair. The blowdrying part was nice at least, and when she was done Sara was like, «Look! All healthy now.» Well sadly I realized all my split ends are still there when I got home.
Maybe this is what I deserve for using a Groupon? But honestly I’m not sure if the service I received was even worth the Groupon price.

Came in today with the groupon– cut, style, and full highlights. So glad with the outcome! My stylist was Brenna and she was so sweet the entire time and did such an awesome job with the color and style. Walked out leaving with the exact haircut I had asked for. Will definitely recommend this place to anyone!
Only thing I will add– I called before purchasing my groupon asking for more info on their availability and a guy answered the phone– was really short with me& said they were all booked for the next two weeks. I ended up calling later on that day (Monday) to make an appointment and a lady answered the phone and made an appt for me for 2 days later!

When my company moved into the mart back in January they gave each of us a few certificates to come back for complimentary blowouts. Thanks thomas! I’m not sure how it took me 8 months to use my certificate, but if there’s anytime I could use a good blowout it’s humid August.
When I called to book an appointment I asked for someone who’s really good at getting curly hair straight. And found myself in the chair of Carly. A very new chair since they had just moved locations a few days beforehand (still in the mart but across the hall of the 2^nd floor).
Carly did a great job of getting it straight in record time, which was appreciated since I had to run back upstairs for one last work meeting before calling it a day. She was also very friendly and knowledgeable about products for my hair. I’d definitely see her again. My sis in law also goes to AJ who seems to book up way in advance, but she also did a good job with my hair when I was in her wedding a few years ago.
Carly’s blowout didn’t last as well as most of mine do, but I’ll chalk that up to my trip to Orlando the next day. Florida summer + curly hair= disaster! But overall, great first experience and I plan on going back as a paying customer next time.

I usually have a regular stylist I go to but the Thomas West salon was closer to where I work and I had a gift card so I figured I would try it! Well that was a big mistake.
In the beginning it seemed like things were going smoothly and the stylist understood what I wanted and was doing a great job, until she got to my bangs… Now, I’ve had bangs in the past and for anyone who has had bangs, it’s a very tricky thing to have done. The length of the cut is very important.
So, before she cut anything in the front, I explained to her in great detail what I wanted and what I didn’t want. I wanted long bangs cut bluntly. Instead I walked out with something rockerbilly’ish, super short and cut unevenly.
So since the cut I have been forced to pin my hair back as much as I can with the help of hairspray so that it looks like I don’t have bangs, till they grow out. My bangs are so horrible, that it would have been easier to have shaved it off instead.
I just think that it sucks that I had such a bad experience there since the salon and staff seemed nice, but if the stylist can’t listen to the clients need, then what’s the point of explaining what is wanted from the visit?

I just got back from this salon, and I couldn’t be happier with my hair. I just moved to Chicago and recently poured through tons of reviews for various salons trying to pick a place. Thomas west had good reviews and I found a Groupon for cut and highlights, so I decided to bite the bullet and go for it!
My stylist was Sara. She was very nice, friendly, and the end result was great. I got full highlights and she made them look very natural and not too gold or too ashy. My cut is pretty basic, but she did just as I asked (didn’t cut too much off!) and the long layers look great. I would definitely recommend this salon and specifically Sara for anyone who is blonde already and needs a touch up or for those looking for highlights for the first time.

I followed Nick D. to Thomas West Salon. He’s been doing my hair for years.
My coloring always looks fresh and natural. I get compliments right after my hair is done and for weeks after. He cuts my hair in a way that takes minimal work for me to maintain a professional look. And he has suggestions for when I want to style it for something more playful. I like someone who can make suggestions to keep me from falling into a rut, while still making sure that my style works for me. Because he does both the cut and the color, I always feel like everything works perfectly together.
He’s also fun to talk to. I feel like he cares about me, my hair, and styling beautiful hair.

I unfortunately WASTED $$$ at this place! I got my hair colored about 3 weeks ago on Friday, July 24^th at 4:30pm and I am not one to complain, but the stylist didn’t do anything to my hair!!! It was barely lightened and she did not add any bayalage highlights like I had told her.
I came in with 3 pictures of what I wanted for bayalage and showed them all to her. Let me also note that my hair was already in ombré from when I colored it last in April. I know I have dark hair and that is why I wanted to dye it again after a few months because I’ve been wanting it to be blonder.
I waited to write this review because I was trying to accept it, but looking at pictures its really disappointing me that my hair doesn’t look any lighter or different for that matter. It looks like I paid to waste time sitting in a chair for 3 hours and spending money for no reason… I have already told all my friends and coworkers to beware! And actually I didn’t have to even, they noticed themselves no change in my hair and said how terrible it is.