The Beauty Box Style Studio

Really would like to try them, but I’ve called multiple times, NO answer. Any suggestions on being able to get thru? Left a message only once, but called all throughout the day!

Shah does a wonderful job with my hair, each time she does it. When I was having problems managing my sew in, she set aside time and helped me out. She is really adamant about maintaining healthy hair, which I am so grateful for. She is NOT AT ALL a scissor happy stylist that’s takes all day. My hair is natural. I believe a 4C texture mostly and she tamed it well! You can have her slayyyyyy you hair and still have time to take care of business. Very professional. Punctual. Flexible. My sew in looks very natural. Love it. Can’t wait to get my hair done again. Oh yea and she helped me find my hair before my appointment.

Got a keratin treatment by heather. it looked nice when I left the salon but after one wash, my hair was only frizzier. I asked her to fix it but she asked for $ 60 … Then she just ignored my message afterward.
I find it rude and unprofessional. Oh well I wouldn’t be going back.

As the year of 2014, quickly comes to an end, I wanted to take the opportunity to complete a well-​deserved review for the Beauty Box Style Studio. In April of 2014, my husband and I made a big move from the East Coast to California. With this move, came one of the many challenges/​tasks that women face when moving to a new location… finding a suitable hair salon and stylist. While I am a Black/​Caribbean woman, on the East Coast my hair had been greatly pampered primarily by stylists from Dominican Salons (which the East Coast is well known for– roller sets and blowouts). Sadly, when arriving to California, I quickly realized through countless search engines that the Dominican population is scarce; especially in the Bay Area. Despite my findings, I remained open to the possibility of finding a suitable hair salon with great hair stylists who care about their craft, are timely, professional, and equipped to manage my complex hair type. Prior to finding Beauty Box Style Studio, I must have tried several salons to no avail. This surprised me greatly, because my preference/​style is very simple (classy, but simple). Yet, some stylists showed difficulty simply executing a thorough hair wash, blow dry, and flat ironing style with loose curls. *Sigh*
Thankfully, through additional time of researching Bay Area salons, the Beauty Box Style Studio became known to me. In following, I spoke to the pleasant salon owner, Shahidah with whom I scheduled my first appointment. On June 6, 2014, I attended my first appointment with Shahidah; although, I had my reservations. For starters, I was accustomed to having my hair cared for at Dominican Salons and often avoided salons owned by Black Owners (aside from African Hair Braiding Salons), because such salons have the well-​known reputation of being a «Saturday hang-​out» environment; long hours of wait-​time for service; sometimes less than professional; and unnecessarily expensive at times. Despite what has been previously mentioned, I am aware that not all Black-​Owned salons are like this and so I decided to take a chance with the Beauty Box Style Studio. My first visit with Shahidah was superb! She nailed the execution of my style request! After years of not having worn a sew-​in style, I decided to give it try (partial head sew-​in), which was risky for my first appointment visit. Yet, it came out great! So much so, that it looked and felt like my own natural hair. My husband who does not care for weaves, made no complaints when I returned home, because he could hardly tell that it was not my natural hair. Others assumed the same. Therefore, I continued to return to Shahidah. As great as she is with sew-​ins, she is also great at providing hair maintenance advice for one’s actual hair. She was the one who persuaded me to give my relaxer usage a break and to try the Keratin Treatment for the first time which she and another hair stylist named Heather, both specialize in. The treatment lasts for approximately 12 weeks (with use of good sulfate-​free products), and you do see the difference more after your first hair wash following the treatment. However, take my advice and be patient with the treatment, it is healthier on the hair (making it fuller; displaying more body), so do not expect it to mirror a hair relaxer.
Furthermore, I have had the privilege of finding this suitable hair salon and being serviced by the owner, Shahidah. Shahidah is absolutely gracious, professional, and skilled as a stylist; always perfecting her craft. Her hair maintenance advice and delicacy with each client’s hair reflects all that I have stated. Additionally, I have also been serviced once by Heather, the other stylist of the salon, who contributes to its warm and welcoming atmosphere. Like Shahidah, Heather is professional, skilled, and very easy to communicate with. You can’t go wrong with either of the two. Heather is also a Mary Kay consultant who is knowledgeable about healthy skincare. Moreover, one of the signs of a great business with great workers are those who trust their work ethic and customer satisfactory outcomes so much that they have no need to request Unilocal reviews. For the five months that I have been serviced by the Beauty Style Box Studio, not once have I ever been asked to write a Unilocal review. The time invested in writing this lengthy review should reflect the care and appreciation that I have for the salon and the stylists. Thus, for readers who are considering whether or not to give this salon a try, I greatly urge you to. While, it’s owned by a Black business owner (who is superb), both stylist have and continue to service diverse groups (without limitations of race, ethnicity, culture, or religious backgrounds). So give them a try! I look forward to potentially meeting you all one day while being serviced there. As for Shahidah and Heather, thank you both so very much for all that you have done in 2014 and will continue to do in 2015. Happy New Year in advance!

Thank you Unilocalers! I found this salon through Unilocal and it is great!!! Shah is my stylest and she is wonderful. She takes time to learn about her client’s hair and their hair care routine. I had a keratin treatment done, and my hair came out great! I was so pleased, I booked my daughter and appointment. The prices are reasonable and Shah gets you in and out as soon as possible. Professional, courteous, clean and pleasant. It is a very small shop, but it works. I highly recommend these ladies! Also, they do all types of hair, that is a bonus!!!

This review is LONG OVERDUE but well deserved. I’ve been natural for a year now and I haven’t had the best experiences with salons but I made a appointment with Heather and she was GREAT!!! She made me feel very comfortable I got a silky press and trim. Loved the treatment and the salon and my hair looks really healthy now so if you stop by ask for Heather she’s awesome and very professional.

Shahidah (hope I spelled it correctly) made me LOVE my natural hair again and what an awesome feeling that is! It took me a few months to knock this Unilocal review out, I received a Keratin Tx and Color from her back in December 2013, but don’t be discouraged by my lack of expediency! I intend on visiting her again this month for a repeat of the same. Pricing was on point, service was excellent, and she was ON TIME… major plus since I have a very busy day to day schedule. Beautiful Hair Blessings!

If you are tired of sitting for hours in a hair salon with your hair wet so you can’t leave. If you are tired of setting an appointment and then waiting for an hour or two waiting for your service to begin then you need to contact the beauty box.
The owner is a consummate professional and they truly do outstanding work at at good price and you don’t need to be there all day.
Call this salon it is a different level of service and you will be glad you did.

I was new to the area and was looking for a new salon in the area. I saw some good reviews for Beauty Box and decided to give it a try.
Let me start out by saying that I am very picky when it comes to who I let touch my hair. I have had the same girl do my hair for last 10 years. So this was a big step for me. Before I scheduled an appointment I decided to walk over and just see the salon for myself. I spoke to Shahidah about getting a brazillian blow out. Right away she told me that she no longer uses that brand, and she uses a different brand that is much better for your hair. I was really impressed with this. Most hairstylists just push the «FAD» products on you, but she was more concerned about my hair care.
Within the next week I got keratin treatment (she uses La Textura instead of brazillian blowout). My hair is at the healthiest its ever been. It is shiny and no breakage. Everytime I go out, someone always compliments on how good my hair looks. I have been continuing to get regular blow outs and trims (she does the perfect trims, never too much).
The best thing about this salon/​Shahidah is that she nevers has me waiting. She never double books. Your appointment time is exactly that. I have had some really bad experiences with salons that make you wait forever for your appointment, so I really appreciate how professional she is when it comes to her clients.
Ladies give this place a try. Good hair care and in and out service. Did I mention her prices are very reasonable? Nothing like the $ 300+ keratin treatments in the city.
Love this place!

Best salon in Oakland. I’ve been getting my hair done by the owner Shahidah, for over a year now. Shahidah has helped me get my hair back into shape. Although I had only been going to her for a year, I trusted her enough to cut my hair into a short «Shaunie O’Neal» type of hair style. She did an amazing job. She has hooked me up with weaves in many styles as well.
Her boutique salon is comfortable and chic. She never has me waiting and she never double books. I highly recommend this intimate salon and Shahidah as the number one hair stylist to go to.

Clean, comfortable, artsy environment. I’ve had my natural hair pressed a few times by Shahidah and loved the care and attention she provided. My appointment always starts on time and there is never an issue of over-​booking.
If you’re looking for a non-​hectic hair salon to get your hair done at, this is the place.

I’ve promised to get my hair in better shape. After years of flat ironing I’m embracing my curls. I’m new to the bayand this cute little salon is minutes from my house and next to a cool bakery! Sold. I called thursday for a friday appointment! No problem. Tina was super professional.
I liked the feel of the place when I walked in. Very important. Some beyonce on pandora, nice. Women chatting and laughing. Let’s go. Tina was ready for me when I arrived. I know my hair better than anyone. Duh… and I can be a little obsessive. She was very thorough and listened well as I explained my hair situation. Then she did exactly what we talked about. Perfect. She even does free bang trims! It was also nice to have an affordable stylist that didn’t try to pressure me into buying product. She even gave me a cool coffee cup as a christmas gift.

I have had services here by Tina who cuts and colors my hair to perfection. And my daughters have their hair cared for by Shahidah, who is a flat iron queen! They are professional and get me in and out which is VERY important to me!

As warm and friendly as it gets. Also, the Brazilian Blowout left my hair so silky I wished I had a party that same night.
Tina, the lady who did my treatment, is one of the nicest hairdressers I have met (and also very good at her work).
I loved the place and i would go again without hesitation.

I’m sorry to have to do this. I don’t want to do it. Lets just say this decision to write my FIRST review on Unilocal is based on the fact that i spent $ 55 and had a very bad hair-​cutting experience. You see, she was really really nice. and hip looking. I thought I had found a new stylist that I could relate too in the hair department… I have fine hair but it is THICK. which can be a problem. But she seemed so confident… well, I let her cut my hair with some razor technique (new to me) and it was different lengths on each side when i left the FIRST time, so i went back two hours later and asked her to fix it thinking she would maybe pull out a pair of scissors. and NOPE. that didn’t happen, she still used the razor thingy and so i left the second time. Then, over the rest of the weekend I showered and styled my hair and found it was still really asymmetric and just off. So I waited until the next day they were open and as I stopped in for the THIRD time still expecting scissors to even it out and give it some style… the dreaded razor came at me again! I left with hair very unevenly cut, spiked because its too short at the crown of my head (1 in.), no real style and way way shorter than i wanted (i wanted to keep the length)… is essence all very very bad… Fortunately I was able to schedule a hair appointment with my «normal» stylist and now I have REALLY short hair but at least its symmetric and has a style. Sorry Tina… I hope this doesn’t hurt you professionally but that hair cut left me really really unhappy.

I was in between appointments with my regular hair stylist and needed to get my hair done ASAP for a photo shoot. I called Beauty Box on a Thursday and Tina was able to squeeze me in that Sat.
I was impressed by the salon and the overall professionalism of the stylists. There’s a cute reception area when you walk in — and the work floor is clean and well organized. The salon also keeps a wide variety of professional hair products, which is a huge plus. The first thing Tina asked was «Do you have a preference in what products we use».
I have a short cut and I’m really particular about my hair. I explained to Tina exactly what I wanted and the end result came out great (so did my photos from the shoot:)

I’m a well-​adjusted woman. I’m not afraid of walking alone at night. I’m not afraid of carbohydrates. But I was terrified… I mean *terrified* to get my hair cut. Part of it was shame, I’m sure – it had been almost 2 years since my last cut, and I’ve been hiding my hair in a ponytail for the last 6 months. But also, I’m a complete control freak, and the prospect of sitting still and letting someone else mess with my precious locks gives me heart palpitations.
Rhiannon to the rescue! I told her I wanted to look less severe with my hair up and be able to wear it down without a lot of fuss, and we discussed the pros and cons of side-​swept bangs over a very relaxing shampoo. Then she set to work on the snipping, and kept my anxiety at bay with a pleasant, easy-​flowing conversation.
Result: great cut, happy Maddie.
A few things I especially enjoyed (besides not looking at me as less of a woman because I don’t spend an hour on my hair every morning): Rhiannon is super friendly and even sitting in silence, I don’t get the impression you could ever feel awkward in her chair. Also, unlike lots of stylists, if you say 2 inches, she really does only take off 2 inches. She really takes her time to make sure you get what you asked for. Even if she’s got the shears, you really feel like you’re in the driver’s seat. And that’s an illusion I seriously appreciate.

The Beauty Box is a cute little salon in a quaint, but developing, district Oakland. Equal parts classic and edgy, the full service salon makes a good, and non-​intimidating, choice for adults (both men and women) and children alike.
The women who work here are so kind and friendly, and are very flexible when it comes to their clients’ needs. My usual stylist is Rhiannon who has been taking care of my red ‘do for about 9 months now, in which I get a lot of compliments on, joined the salon right as they started up. A haircut with her will run you an affordable $ 35, with other stylist’s prices in and around that range. Just bring her in a photo, or find one from the many magazines lying around, and she’ll hook you up.
As you may tell from the pictures, the interior is deliciously painted in red with nice touches of chrome and black leather. Comfortable but chic. Love it.

I live in Glenview so I was SO excited when The Beauty Box opened. I’ve been traveling to way West Berkeley to get a haircut and began to believe I was crazy to not be able to find a salon closer to home that I loved. At last — mission accomplished!
I got a great short haircut and style from Ashley in a lovely setting and with fun & genuine conversation with both she and the owner during my cut. These young women know what they’re doing. I am so happy with my new cut and have had many compliments. All for a terrific price and a stroll down the street! Can’t wait to get a cut and color next time!
Take a chance and drop in for a new look. You won’t be disappointed. (For those of you not lucky enough to be in walking distance, no worries — there’s plenty of street parking: meters out front and if you’re willing to walk a couple of blocks, free spaces up or down Park Blvd.)

I have to say I’m not picky about my hair, but I also never seem to get the exact style I want, but today I got just that. I want everyone to go and check out the Beauty Box, they are warm, friendly, and most importantly do a great job. I have a style, and it wasn’t crazy expensive like all the other salons around. Ashley thank you thank you thank you, you are a goddess and I LOVE my hair.