A Shear Encounter

I have been a client for over 15 years. Great people that care about their work and customers! Love the hair stylists including Ginger, Katelyn, Grace… Also love their spa and nail services. Consistently happy with the services for me and my teenage girls.

Don’t get on their e-​mail list. You can NEVER get off!!!

Had a very strange experience here. I can’t complain about the updo I had done, but the front desk and owner were rude and disorganized. Will never be back.

Love love love this place!!! People are nice atmosphere is awesome everything is just great

I went for a wrap and chocolate no-​chip & left super relaxed and satisfied. Aside from the, expected, up selling attempts it was a perfect experience with very nice staff & a great atmosphere. From the minute I walked in to the minute I left I felt pampered and catered to.

I got my hair highlighted and cut back in November. 1 star for last minute appointments (right before thanksgiving!) and a star for the friendly staff. The girl who did my hair was nice and friendly, I cannot recall her name, but she had been there awhile. Now, I have been coloring my hair since about 8^th grade, and I know I do not get it done often enough nor do I care for it properly (expensive!). I always know the question of «what do you use on your hair» is coming, and I always cringe. Most stylists gloss over it or give suggestions, she made me feel outright shameful (and continued to push product until I finally purchased something). I felt like I was getting in trouble! Anyway, I explained to her what I wanted, a cleanup on the cut– a long bob, longer in the front and highlights. The color was fine, darker than I asked for, and more golden (which I specifically said that i DO NOT WANT– I have alot of red in my skin tone and it makes it look worse, also after my hair gets colored, it warms up alot on its own). But, I’ve had better and I’ve had worse– 3 stars for the color.
The cut started fine and ended up making me sad. I have some sideswept bangs that just don’t grow out, ever. I like that they are minimal and I do not want big chunky side bangs. However, she layered the side of my hair in a way that she cut more bangs. I part my hair on the side. The side with the part always lays nicely, the other side tends to poof out too much for my liking. With the layering that she did, it now looked even BIGGER. I told her NOT to layer it. When it parts on the side and flips over, it naturally has a layered look, I do not need more layers. If she would have just stopped it would have been fine, but she ended up taking more off and adding layers, so the front no longer fell longer than the back, infact, it was the opposite. The hairstyle looked very old and made me look much older and frumpy. I would not get another haircut here.
With that being said, I would not be opposed to trying out some spa services, but there are other places I would rather try first!

I’ve stopped going here since I’ve grown out my hair — I used to have shorter shoulder length hair. They kept giving me the same haircut even after I described what I wanted. So what haircut was I getting? I call it the political mom bob or the Nancy Pelosi. Seriously, google Nancy Pelosi and that is how they would cut my hair every time.
I had a friend get a pixie cut here and it was pretty awesome. I just never got what I wanted/​described/​brought a picture of.

Loved my haircut … Mandy was great! I have been looking for a good salon for a while with reasonable prices. This is definitely a winner.

I discovered A Shear Encounter through Unilocal,I’m so glad I came! They use Aquage products which smell wonderful and do a great job. The main reason I am so pleased with this salon was my stylist, Indra. Indra understood what I was looking for in a hair cut, taught me little tricks along the way, and was extremely sweet and easy to talk to. Needless to say, she has a new client!

I have gone through a variety of high end salons (I will not name here, but trust me) and NONE have provided the level of service that Ginger and her team of professionals provide. I have never been disappointed and am always treated like a VIP. I have observed that all customers are treated in a similar manner. I can’t imagine going anywhere else. Oh, and did I mention that I always look FABULOUS when I leave the salon, and I am able to recreate they style when I get home? I almost don’t want to tell anyone how great this salon is and keep it to myself!
LOVE THIS SALON!

Can’t say enough about this place. I always go in and see Nicki or Geri when I have a hot date night. Get my hair, nails and everything tipsy topsy. I love the pampering.

Easy to enjoy A Shear Encounter — been having my hairs cared for, for years — Operated by two sisters, Verna & Ginger, they’ve led a staff who, on any day, anyone of the staff can offer a trim and shape up.
Getting older, and at age 57 they’ve kept my hair alive and growing — always thank them for introducing me to Nioxin years back — Any which way, the whole family has been able to get a shear encounter — even Harry — and he has the most hair, and visits them the least — and so it goes —
Did I mention the spa side of the salon — get a massage — ahhh!
Again — the entire experience and level of professionalism that is available in a local neighborhood environment — say no more — just go give them a visit (and a try) —
Don’t forget to ask for a banana Tootsie Roll when you’re cleaned up and on your way out the door.

I have been coming here on and off since I was like 16… so I cannot even believe I NEVER wrote a review! =[
Well here it is!
The salon is located in a tucked away strip off of York Rd. which gives it a private and comfortable feel. The place just smells relaxing when you walk in from whatever scents they have going on inside, which I love. They also offer you a drink the second you walk in, I prefer the water with the cucumber floating in it… ahhhhhh…refreshing!
I have gone in here for haircuts, up-do’s (and TRUST that I worked that shit!), wax jobs, wedding hair and makeup and as of recently, my first color job. All experiences have been super pleasant and my girl, Ginger, one of the owners/​directors is AMAZING!!! She makes you feel like family and you know you can trust her with your hurrrr!!! They are on the pricey side, but it’s definitely to be expected due to the service they provide and the area. I will continue to go see Ginger and you should too! =]]

A Shear Encounter in Elmhurst is such a treat! Ginger, the owner, was my hairdresser for years, but I live in Chicago now and it’s a hike for me to get to Elmhurst for a cut (plus I’ve always been a slacker when it comes to my own hair.) But my mom popped yesterday for a ladies spa day since I just had a baby and we’re going on vacation. A mani/​pedi and a tan are definitely in order for my post-​baby body (which is looking surprisingly ok) before we hit the beach.
Brenda did my twenty nails, and they are pretty and pearly and purple. She even came in early so my mom and I could be spoiled together. The manicure area in front is bright and sunny, and the pedicure chairs and tubs are in the spa in the back. I enjoyed a chair massage while I sipped my cucumber water, and my mom informed me the beautiful pictures on the walls were taken by Ginger herself while vacationing. It’s a beautiful, super-​relaxing environment.
Nadia did our «Fake Bake» spray tans. This was a first for me, and I think it’s of the utmost importance to feel completely comfortable while you’re in nothing but your birthday suit while a stranger sprays on your new glow. Nadia is genuinely sweet and knowledgeable about the product, but at the same time matter-​of-​fact. This is key since you’re going to be stripping down. She’s seen it all, I’m sure, so I felt confident and comfortable. The process takes a few minutes, and a little drying time, and I am golden and ready to rock my two piece for the first time in over a decade.
A Shear Encounter can always be counted on for amazing cuts and color, but all of their spa services should not be overlooked. This is the perfect example of a small business that has blossomed and grown but not lost any of it’s original charm. Bravo to Ginger, Verna and their great staff.

Really liked this place. Went there for the first time a few weeks ago and love what they did with my hair. At first I thought it was a little short, but after a few days I am a huge fan. They were meticulous with details and also served me wine… cannot lose. And they had a nice looking spa and good jewelry and product for sale. I will def be back.

I love love love their massage options. If you’ve never had one I highly recommend this place. Their main business is hair and they do a damn good job. Friendly and reliable staff.

Been going there since April, 2007, Ginger and her team are fantastic, I actually found the salon using this site. I am very happy with the work they do, they are very friendly, not too over priced and best of all my hair looks and feels better then it has in YEARS!

Visit Nicki when you have a chance for a quick cut and color. She does edgy hair– which I love! I like when I have an idea and she refines it so it suits me– I usually get hair with personality. Also, this salon gets an extra star for service– cucumber water that normally seems odd, is very refreshing while getting your hair done. Also, in the winter they give you a heated neck pad while your color is processing.