Shinbi Salon

I went to kiki today for an ombré look and freshen up my hair. I am beyond thrilled with my cut and color. She was so friendly and helpful and gave me great advice about caring for my hair as well as style tips. I will be coming back for my hair needs.

I have been going to Mimi for about 15years, she is always amazing and consistently provides a wonderful and relaxing experience! Great salon, fabulous friendly hair dressers, and I always leave looking brand new!!! The hair wash lady is fantastic!!!

Excellent! I went into Shinbi to see Kiki at the recommendation of my coworker. It was a pleasant experience all the way through. I have thick, wavy hair that has had plenty of haircut mishaps! Kiki really listened before cutting my hair and talked me through each step she took. She took her time and paid attention to detail. I’m very happy with the results.

Kiki did an amazing job with my hair: cut and color! Highly recommend her for anyone whose looking for a great stylist. Took her time and listened to what I want, we shared ideas and was very pleased with the results!

I drive 2 hours from the Bay Area to get my hair done by Mimi. She is such a kind soul! She listens to exactly what end result you want done with your hair. Even Better I have 100% confidence to tell her «do what you think works with my hair» knowing I will love the end result! I highly recommend this salon!

Hands down the best haircut experience I’ve ever had. I was able to get an appointment quickly. Kiki listened to everything I asked for and gave some suggestions. I got exactly the cut we talked about. She also texted me the next day to make sure I was happy with the cut and see if I had questions. Price was reasonable considering the cost of living in this area. My hair looks amazing. I will definitely be back!

Lovely salon with a calm ambience
The staff is attentive and polite
I had my hair done by Kiki, the owner’s sister. She did a great job on my hair for a wedding reception. I showed her two pictures and she was able to blend the styles into what I was looking for. I have long layered hair and she put soft curls in it that lasted the evening and into the morning which surprise me as I have straight thick Asian hair. Thanks Kiki !

Went to Kiki for my haircut for the first time. She cut off nearly 10 inches of my hair from the waist to a couple inches shy from my shoulders for a long bob. She took her time and cut little by little to make sure my drastic cut wasn’t going to be too short for me. Although I had to come back the next day for a minor texturizing, I am extremely satisfied with the final result! She has a week guarantee and was able to accommodate me right away! I highly recommend her and would definitely go back for my next cut!

I chose this place based on Unilocal reviews when I moved here January 2012, I have not gone anywhere else, ever. Jay is one of the best stylists I have ever had! She is thoughtful, kind, comforting, and precise in her craft. She LISTENED to what I wanted and gave me EXACTLY that. I can’t be happier with the cut she gives me. She also does good brows! I will be sad to lose her when I have to move again…

Do not go here for highlights, or at least don’t get your highlights done by the Japanese lady. I told her I wanted DARK BROWN highlights that are barely noticeable. I only wanted highlights that showed under the sunlight. I specified this at least five times because I’m not supposed to have «in your face» highlights for work. It had to be professional looking.
WITH MY BACK TURNED to the mirror the ENTIRE TIME, she used BLONDE highlights and kept saying «I’m excited! You’re gonna love it!» She can speak and understand English well, she has no excuse for not understanding that I wanted DARK BROWN highlights. She spun the chair around when she was done with my highlights and said «Isn’t it nice?» I said «I TOLD YOU DARK BROWN! What did you do!!!» Her answer? «Dark brown won’t really show on your hair so I used blonde because it will show.» I wanted DARK BROWN with my black hair dummy. I was furious but she kept saying «It looks better!»
She did what SHE WANTED, not WHAT I WANTED, and had the nerve to charge me full price for something I NEVER ASKED FOR. I went to Target and bought black hair dye to fix my hair. If you want your hair done by someone who doesn’t listen to you, she’s your girl.

After reading a few Unilocal reviews and seeing the pictures, I decided to contact Mei at Shinbi to do my hair for my Carmel wedding. I live in Los Angeles so we had several phone conversations and text messages on what I wanted and hairstyle I preferred. She gave me a lot of helpful information and when I met her on my wedding day to do my hair, everything went very smoothly and my hair looked great! It was a great relief to know that even though I wasn’t able to do a wedding trial, my hair ended up looking fantastic and held up the entire night.
So grateful to Mei and her amazing skills!

On my wedding day, Mei took wonderful care of me and my girl posse. She took us right on time and was done with us right on time. Hair and schedules are stressful! But she did a great job of putting us at ease and creating beautiful styles right on time.
Plus I have long, cobwebby blond hair that defies authority. Mei tamed it anyway. It looked soft and romantic but stayed put all night long, even through vigorous dancing and «Come On Ride the Train.» SORCERY.
Expensive, but you won’t find a better deal in Monterey.
Some street parking and pay lot parking.
Definitely recommend for a solid experience, beautiful hair and that «you’re in good hands» feeling.

Let me just start by telling you that I NEVER leave reviews. I only use Unilocal to find restaurants and such, but this last experience at Shinbi absolutely deserves one.
I’ve been to Shinbi a lot; I always get a cut and wash every month and no one knows asian hair like these ladies. It always looks great! The minty conditioner is to die for! Now today is my schools prom and I came with my best friends while they had their hair done (they look amazing too!). Nuch, being a sweet lady, offered to style mine for me too, even though I hadn’t booked an appointment. She promptly washed my hair, lightly massaged my head, and went to work. My hair is very stereotypical Asian hair, it’s thick, coarse and has no texture but Nuch still styled it to perfection! Not a hair out of place and I feel like a million dollars. What really topped it all off was that, when I went to pay, Nuch told me it was for FREE. That’s right, she washed an styled my hair with no appointment for FREE. The ladies at Shinbi are amazing, if you’re looking for a place to get a great cut or style with friendly service, go to Shinbi!

About once every month I go to Jay for my haircut. Now keep in mind I’m not the usual clientele that goes here. I’m in my mid 20’s, young male who honestly has no business in a place like Shinbi’s. But let me assure you, Jay makes you feel welcomed no matter who you are. It doesn’t matter if you have nothing to say or if you have all the problems in the world, going to Jay is going to be your personal Psychiatrist plus give you a free haircut. She’ll make your problems disappear if you have any or she leave you to your peace while she goes to work.
For a hair as short as mine, Jay spends as long as you need to. You’ll get all your necessary massage/​shampoo finished off with personal touches. You can request any style you want or if you’re me, you can depend on Jay’s experience without worrying if your look will turn out wrong. Every time I’ve gone to Shinbi I’ve always had a great experience and I look forward to going again next time.

About five years ago, I had a really bad haircut and a friend recommended Shinbi to me. Then I had a counseling with Mimi, set up an appointment and she fixed it like amazing. Right after I walked out of the salon, I got compliments twice on the farmer’s market. And now, I’ve been going to Mimi for almost five years.
Mimi is not just cutting my hair, she constantly gives me specific advice and shares tips on haircare. She is always patient and professional. When I have no idea about what i should do with my hair, I don’t have to worry about it cauz Mimi has her way to figure it out and it always turns out a great idea. What is worth mentioning is that she is really reliable. She would give you honest feedback so that you can avoid spending unnecessary money on expensive treatments.
One star was taken off because it’s so hard to get an appointment on Saturday. But setting up an appointment is convenient. You can reserve online, call the salon or even text your stylist.
My friend went to Sunny and she insisted that was her most amazing salon experience in U.S. I also heard compliments of the salon from another friend who went to Mei. I guess their hair stylists are all awesome:-)

the world according to noelle
~2012~
5 Unilocal Stars for Mei (my hairstylist)
4 Unilocal Stars for the overall salon experience.
I was a bridesmaid in a wedding on July 7, 2012. I turned to Unilocal to find a local hairstylist. Most of the local salons I called didn’t pick up their phone with the exception of Shinbi Salon. The lady on the phone was polite and booking a hair appointment was easy, at the time of booking I requested Mei because of the photos posted here on Unilocal.
Street parking on a weekend near Shinbi Salon is nearly impossible (much like other downtown cities parking was scarce). When I arrived the salon was packed with clients getting their hair done. They have a small waiting room located in the front.
Mei was on time.
I showed her pictures of different hairstyles I liked. She gave me her professional opinion on what would work well with the shape of my face and bone structure. I ended up going with a hairstyle similar to that of Kate Middelton, Duchess of Cambridge.
Mei has a light touch and quick hands when working with hair. She also has a great personality and is kind. You can tell she’s an expert at what she does. If you’re looking for the best book an appointment with Mei at Shinibi Salon, words cannot do justice to her hairstyling talents!!!

I decided to buy the groupon for Shinbi after reading the positive Unilocal reviews. I’m a stylist hopper. I’ve never been loyal to just one. I’m always wondering if the grass is greener; if perhaps there exists a hair magician who will set free gorgeous, silky, perfectly flattering and sassy tresses upon my melon. Hasn’t happened… yet.
Yesterday was close though. Tuch gave me a solid cut, adding some layers and evening things up. She blew me out, flat ironed me and away I went. $ 35 groupon, $ 20 tip.
She is a sweet heart and very good at what she does. She mentioned that I am welcome to come back for corrections or modifications. «Guaranteed» for a week. Sweet.
I can see myself coming back for a cut… Honestly, I’d come back for her flat iron skills alone.
Go Tuch!

I have been going to Sunny for almost 10 years. She is the only stylist who is able to manage my think hair and give me a cut that not only styles well, but can air dry well.
Also, I am VERY picky about highlights. I naturally have light brown hair and went to Sunny for highlights about 7 of those 10 years. Until I dyed my hair darker again, people thought my color was natural. She will give you the color/​highlights you want without being «chunky.»
She knows what she is doing and you will leave happy.

I got my hair done for a wedding here back in April. They got my hair done quickly and it looked great! It was also very affordable, only $ 40. (All I had done was have it curled, I think up-​dos are a bit more expensive.)
I have another wedding to go to in July and I will be back at Shinbi for another appointment.

Sunny has been cutting my hair now for over 3 years. I can be very specific in telling her what I want OR tell her to do whatever she wants.
Either way, I always end up loving the cut and style she gives me.
Mimi cuts my 2 kids hair and always does a wonderful job too!