Robert Gold Salon & Spa

I had a great first experience here. I was looking for a place to do a quick root touch-​up and blow out, and a friend recommended this salon. She has been coming here for years and her color always looks great.
Very courteous, professional and accommodating service — the owner offered to blow dry my hair even though they didn’t have openings for it (I forgot to schedule a blow out after my color appointment). So even though I goofed on that, they still made room for me.
Prices are reasonable, too — I will definitely be back.

What an awful experience.
I called a few weeks out and tried to make an appointment for my daughters (ages 4 and 6).
As other reviews noted, the receptionist is extremely rude and doesn’t seem to remember that she is in a service business. It took 15 minutes to make an appointment for my daughters because she simply didn’t want kids in the salon any day/​time other than Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
I finally took an appointment at an allotted child– friendly time and came in as scheduled.
After the haircuts, I went to pay and the receptionist told me that for two kids’ haircuts, the charge would be $ 90. I asked her three more times if that was the right price. After all, I paid $ 20-​$ 25 at an upscale boutique in the city for a kids’ cut. Why would the price be double at this tiny (and completely customer free) salon in the suburbs?
She was very short and extremely condescending when I told her that I couldn’t believe what she was charging. In so many words, she let me know she didn’t care what I thought.
Turns out, this obnoxious woman is the wife of the salon owner! No wonder why she doesn’t care about her customers or her job!
Needless to say, we will never return and will make sure all of our friends and family know never to patronize this place.
They should be embarrassed at their complete lack of service.

I have been going to Robert Gold for years. I’ve read a few of the «negative» reviews, and they’ve prompted me to write this one.
I have had nothing but positive experiences with the staff, and the haircut. I used to be one of those guys who went where it was cheapest (SuperCuts and the like)… I happened into Robert Gold ’cause it was convenient.
Yes, I pay more than $ 8.00 for my haircut… but I can really see the difference in the cut.
The receptionist (usually Ann) at the front desk has never been anything but pleasant, polite and professional in person, and on the phone (maybe it helps if you call/​come in with a smile?)
After the many years I’ve had Robert cutting and styling my hair, and the many conversations we’ve had while sitting in the chair, I almost feel as though he and the staff are extended members of my family.

Robert himself seems like a very sweet man, but the staff isn’t very friendly. The quality of work does not equate the pricing. It seems like they don’t care very much about doing great hair. I left there feeling like I could have done my hair better at home. I also noticed the prices for products are insanely marked up.

I used to be a loyal customer, but lately and consistently service is down, prices are up They have a huge turn around on dedicated employees, and they are just leaving. I can only guess its the bad atmosphere in this salon. Perhaps it starts when you call in or are greeted at the reception area.
Remember customer focus, honesty, and treat all equally, for they are your bread and butter

Robert Gold Salon is great.
The receptionist was nice, and they immediately led me to complimentary coffees, teas, and sandwiches. Ahhh! I loved it!
I was so incredibly lucky to have found Melissa at Robert Gold. She is the most in-​tune colorist I have ever met. She listened to all of my ideas and repeated them back to me when she described the process she would use on me. She did a mix of Highlights, Lowlights, and Balliage. She even took into consideration that she would have to color me two shades lighter as I was about to have a Keratin treatment done to my hair 2 days later.
With Melissa I was able to sit back and relax (which is someothing that I have found so hard to do at other salons) and chat, as though we were old friends, not missing a beat with each other.
I am finally ready to make a commitment to a colorist, something I have never been able to promise before. Thanks Melissa!

I decided to try this place because they had a $ 20 off coupon on their website and I was looking for a new hairstylist. Little did I know they would pair me with a stylist whose normal price is $ 80– way more than I would usually pay! I thought that was a little misleading, since I was told the offer was good with «junior stylists.»
The salon itself is nice and clean, but nothing too spectacular, or at least nothing to justify the prices they are charging! My cut was OK, but again, not worth the money! I have had better cuts for much cheaper. I was also annoyed because I had to insist on what I wanted from my stylist– she wanted to give me a short haircut, and I simply do not want short hair! I actually had to argue with her about how I wanted my hair to look! I really did not like how she styled it either– my hair was really frizzy and she put products in it that I could tell from the label were not for my hair type!
The worst part about Robert Gold was the girl at the reception desk– very rude and condescending. All in all, this place is simply not worth the prices they charge. I would recommend trying somewhere else, or if you are willing to spend the money, go somewhere where they actually know what they are doing!

Horrible attitude from the woman at the front desk. It’s truly unfortunate because I was trying this salon out while looking for a new stylist. I had my hair done for an event and loved it but I’m not going to a salon where I dread dealing with the person at the front desk every time I get my hair done. Stay away or endure a very RUDE woman!

I’ve driven by this place hundreds of times, but never really noticed it. I signed up for a long layered haircut with Karolina through
(people that have graduated from beauty school and are doing internship/​apprenticeships at a salon before they get their own chair who will cut for free), and found out that it was here.
They have free parking in the back, which was a wonderful surprise, and it is such a relaxing atmosphere. It’s calm, peaceful, Norah Jones in the background, cup of coffee if you’d like, family run place. It’s very North Shore (read: wealthy suburban), but I, as a recent grad with little money, didn’t feel intimidated! There isn’t a lot of friendly chitchat though, which I’m used to.
Karolina did a great job. I’ve always wondered where those salons are that will tell YOU what they think looks good for your lifestyle and face shape, and this is one of those places. After asking me what I was looking for (not much, I admit), she showed me how she’d like to cut my hair and improve on what I already had going (awkward layers from another salon apprentice at a different place and grown-​out-​too-​long-​bangs).
And boy did she improve on my haircut. She did this layering technique I’ve NEVER seen before that made my layers look natural and soft, instead of choppy and blunt. And the owner came in and checked every ten minutes or so, and by the end of it he kept saying what a beautiful job she had done, and he joked that she should teach him!
Minus one star due to the cost. I got my hair did for free (not including tip), but haircuts generally will run you $ 65 – 85. Yikes.
But can I tell the difference between my usual $ 25 haircut and this place? You bet I can.
Will I be back? I’ve been converted. I guess I’ll have to save up, because I just can’t go back to my $ 25 cuts now!

I have been going to Janet on and off at Robert Gold for about 4 years now. Every time I get a haircut at a different salon because of the price, I end up going back to Janet. The salon is an extremely warm environment. The entire Gold family is on staff at the salon which just adds to the friendly environment. Bob is always on the floor and whenever I walk in, I am immediately greeted with a hug and the question, «How is your mother?» (who has been seeing Bob for 5+ years).
Janet is completely on with the latest trends. I recently cut all of my hair off into a long pixie, and have received a multitude of compliments on the cut. She definitely knows what she is doing. The one downside… which is the reason for the 4 stars… it is expensive. I pay $ 75.00 for a haircut (by Janet) and with short hair, I have to go in every 6 weeks (I do get free trims in between the cuts though). This is difficult for me to afford, since I am a student, but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make.
It is a wonderful salon…

Technically, I never received any service here, but why am I writing a review? because the service and attitude from the front desk, already turned me off from the get go…
I was visiting from Southern California to attend a wedding in Chicago. Wanted to get my hair done, but didn’t know any salons. So I picked this spot close to where I’m staying, and went in to inquire about availability for a style and cost, and the receptionist asked «do you have an appt??»
«Umm NO. Like I said, I’m inquiring about availability, miss.» STRIKE ONE.
«I just want something really simple, a side ponytail with curls, but professional & tight enough it will last all day. How much will that cost?» I asked
«Well that’s an updo… it will be an X-​amount of ridiculous dollars»
AN UPDO? didn’t I just say ponytail? Not only that, I’ve never seen a more straight, I-know-what-I’m-talking-about attitude, not a bit of sweet customer service, on salon receptionist/​staff faces I’ve ever had to converse with.
STRIKE TWO.
Back where I’m from — where I believe everything is more expensive — I think it’s just ridiculous how much they would charge me without wash&blow-dry… style ONLY for that much??? Oh please… So overall, the whole thing is just STRIKE THREE for me and I was out of there…
No thanks, I’ll try another salon. Maybe they’ll be more reasonably priced & maybe most importantly, nicer to me.

I am thrilled that I found this salon and spa a couple of years ago after years of searching for downtown style closer to home. The atmosphere is sophisticated but not pretentious – the staff will make you feel like one of the family while making you look like a million bucks. Janet is a superior stylist with Oak Street experience who knows how to manage thick, wavy hair. Melissa is a fantastic colorist that will make you look beautiful and natural. Robert Gold has been there every time I have and has always made sure that I love my new do. A visit at Robert Gold is a real self-​esteem booster and more than worth the price.

A haircut is as good as the direction you give the stylist. For example, you discuss what you want. A good stylist will tell you what works best for your lifestyle, hair texture, face shape, etc.
I tried Robert Gold Salon because of a story that I saw in the Tribune about places where apprentices will cut your hair gratus. What did I have to lose? Hair grows back.
I was delighted to meet Nicole who was finishing up her apprenticeship. We talked about what I wanted (no frills) and how I needed something easy, especially because I have no time (run my own business and have two small children) and something that would not look horrendous as it grows out because who knows when I would have time to come back.
As she cut my hair, the owner — who is on the floor — would glance over and halfway through he checked her work. I LOVED the cut. It’s shoulder length, flips up at the end (or I can wear it under), longish layers. I LOVE it so much, I came back as a paying customer, which was yesterday.
Nicole is now a bonafide stylist. She is young, smart, and fabulous at what she does. She understands hair and all the intracacies. She is happy to style your hair anyway you want because she knows at the end of the day, you are the one wearing it. But she will tell you what will work best, too. She also knows all the latest styles, what’s classic, what;s hip and new.
The bonus is that because she is new, she charges only $ 45. That is a bargain beyond compare considering parking is free. I would put her styling up against any $ 100 plus downtown stylist, where aftere parking and the 20 pecernt tip you are talking $ 140.
So if you start going to her now, you get that price. As she clocks in her time, however, the price will go up. But I can tell you now that I would pay top dollar. Because when you find a great stylist, you want to stick with that person.