Gary Charles & Associates

Monica is always amazing when it comes to color! She is the only colorist I will see there. She always gives me consistent results and listens to what I’m looking for. For cuts I highly recommend Bridget, Kendall or Alyssa. All three are awesome stylists!

Two years later and I’m still a loyal customer! And I DID end up moving to the suburbs about a year ago. Still making the drive!
My opinion hasn’t changed. Well, actually, I have a bit of a higher opinion because I’m still getting the same quality service and treatment. Kristina and Courtney are still my go-​to girls. Not a single complaint to be had; and yes I am still high maintenance with my current yearning for long, platinum locks.
I’ve read some of the more recent reviews for GC and I have to say, I questioned whether or not we were talking about the same salon. I work in a large mental health practice, and when a therapist and client do not click, they are given a new therapist. So why not apply that same principle to your haircare needs? If you admittedly are basing your review on a bad experience with one stylist/​colorist/​receptionist/​whatever, why not try another before condemning the place?
I understand having a not-​so-​pleasant experience can leave a bad taste in your mouth. I saw someone different for a service because one of my regular ladies was out, and it wasn’t my favorite day at GC. It was just a blowout, so no damage done. It just wasn’t what I’m used to. But I’m not going to take to the internet to bash her because, in all fairness, she doesn’t know me or my hair and she knew that I was going back to my old stylist and she was only filling in with me. Maybe our personalities just didn’t click. And that’s okay. You know why? Because there are at least 10 other stylists to choose from! Luckily, I don’t have to make any changes, because my ladies have been with GC for as long as I’ve been a client (6+ years now).
Free life lesson: if you don’t like the results of a service you paid for, speak up! Most times, the business will do whatever it can to make amends. This goes for all types of businesses. In the age of Unilocalers, no one wants to be the subject of one star reviews. Businesses will generally do what they can to make you a happy, returning customer if you speak to them correctly and voice your concerns.
Oh and on a side note, I’ve never once been force-​sold a product. Nor have I heard any of the colorists or stylists around me doing so. They’ll tell you what they’re using on you, and if you ask they’ll give you recommendations. Don’t want to spend money on expensive products? Don’t. The beauty of free will, ladies and gentlemen!

$ 44 for just a TRIM WITHOUT BLOWDRY by «Master Stylist» who did not listen to what i asked for. Ridiculous !!!

I am stunned at the hateful reviews for this place. I have been coming here for years and have had my hair done, highlights and cut, by many girls and have never had a bad experience. What you have to understand is that there are different levels of stylists hence the different prices. I’ve also had my hair done twice in up dos and my makeup done twice for weddings. They have always done a great job. Yes they do try to sell you products also because that’s part of their job. All you have to say is no thank you and they usually back off right away. They have also recently remodeled the entire place so the inside is modern, relaxing and gorgeous. I go here every chance I can because I don’t trust many to work on my hair and have always had nothing but positive experiences here. Their prices are on the higher end because they are top notch and it’s worth the extra buck. I would definite recommend this salon.

This was my second time at the salon, and I was again very happy with the service. I had my hair colored by Duffy, and cut by Courtney. The color was exactly what I wanted, so light and perfect for the summer. The cut was so cute and I could not believe how easy it was for me to fix it myself. The price was comparable to most salons, and it is worth it. Can’t wait to come back.

AWFUL! The girls are so rude and annoying. I got my hair cut and asked for a completely different style than I received. She rushed through the haircut and I left extremely unhappy and uncomfortable. I had to get the haircut fixed, so wound up paying for two hair cuts because I did not want to go back to Gary Charles. I’d much rather go to a less «fancy» hair salon with people who actually care what you look like and how you feel when you walk out. No thanks!

Great haircuts every time with Courtney. My only complaint is sometimes they are behind schedule. My suggestion to them is to invest more money to have more cruelly-​free beauty and hair products.

I just got back from getting color done by Christina — she was wonderful! I came in with a picture of what I wanted, noting a slight change and asking for her opinion. She recommended something a bit different based on my skin tone and it turned out perfect. I loved that she took a consultative approach — I’ve found that so many stylists don’t have much to offer there, and are sometimes timid about sharing their thoughts for fear they will scare you off or something. She made me feel comfortable and that I could trust her thoughts. I was in and out in about an hour, and the pricing was very reasonable. Good stuff — will definitely go back when a touch up is needed.

Little pricey but I would come here again coz they really work good on my hair. It’s better to pay little more but have haircut done by professionals.

I had my hair and makeup done here for my wedding and all my bridesmaids did the same. We all LOVED it. The stylists there really know what they are doing. If you pick out a hair style they know how to make it work for you. My hair is really thick so whenever I get it done it looks like I have a giant head. However, I did not have to worry about that at Gary Charles. I asked for a low messy side bun and my hair was exactly how I wanted it to be. The makeup artists were also amazing. I went for a glamorous dramatic look for my special day. I don’t normally wear a lot of makeup so it was kind of a risk to do something so over the top. However, the make up artist did a great job. The look was so classy and beautiful. I got so many compliments on my hair and makeup and overall my pictures from my wedding look phenomenal.

Charles tries to make you believe that they are a top notch Philly salon, but let’s be serious, not even close. I scheduled an appointment, I sat for 20 minutes before I was seen and then sat for 10 or more minutes waiting for my colorist. The «green house» room I sat in had broken bulbs making it so dark, that I heard the colorist complain (makes you feel
Real good sitting in the chair). and then a staff member cleaning around me (wait its 630, way too early to start doing your closing responsibilities) I asked for warmth, and instead I have a bald spot from bleach and no blending. Maybe it was the fact that she was doing 2 people at once and I had to see 3 different people in the process and have to tip each of these people??? My hair looks like a box job gone wrong! Now I have to pay even more to go somewhere else and get it fixed!

I used to go to Gary Charles a long time ago. I had no complaint on my colorist. I no longer go there because of serious complaints on the shampoo girl & a stylist that was related to Gary & I was never satisfied with my cut for the price of it. But the shampoo girl that used to work there was dumb as rocks & I used to have my hair long & that was my perogative. Well after you get your hair colored, they send you in to the shampoo room to get the excess color washed out of your hair & the shampoo girl asked me if I was getting my hair cut & I told her no not this time, well she would get belligerent & ask me why not & then say to me you know I like you better in short hair & I gave her a piece of my mind & she would look at me like the lights were on but no one was home. So I then got Gary, the owner, to tell him I had a complaint about her & his response to me was make it quick, I got things to do, I’m busy & I told him for the money I spent he should have all the time in the world & his wife was no better! All she said to me was I will talk to her & she said she knows about the shampoo girl being dumb as rocks & I told her the shampoo girl was rude for her comments & that she did not get a tip & Gary’s wife said I should have still gave the shampoo girl a tip for her services. I should have given a tip to someone that was discourteous to me! I think not! But I found out that the shampoo girl no longer works there but still I refuse to put money into someone’s business for him to say he had no time to hear complaints but Gary has to realize that he is a business & without customers he has no business! And I have found out that they charge whatever they want.
Avoid Gary Charles!!!

I have been going to Gary Charles since I was a little girl and I would go with my mother. They are a bit pricey, but I think still comparable to other salons. If you want lower prices, go to Hair Cuttery and get what you pay for. I go to Kate (color) and Kendall (style) and they both do a wonderful job.

See, it’s hard to Unilocal accurately for them because people are always leaving and they are hiring new people. They did a wonderful job with my makeup but they are so expensive. they keep trying to sell you stuff the whole time which gets annoying.

My friend introduced me to Gary Charles, and I absolutely love it. I’ve had two great hair cuts. Mary Beth does exactly what I ask for. I have very thick, long hair. Many stylists get lost half way through a cut. But Mary Beth has no problem cutting or styling my hair. My friends get their color done here and they look great. I would recommend this salon to everyone. If you walk out unhappy its because you didn’t open your mouth, and tell them what you expect.

If your looking for a colorist, I have one name for you-​HEATHER. She will take your color from drab to fab and the price for a single process is around $ 30-​$ 50 (if I remember correctly). Add partial highlights and the price is around $ 80. WAY better than many places.
As for hairstylists, the girl I went to left, and the one I have gone to the past few times wasn’t that great. I asked for layers and her definition of that was cutting the top portion of my hair one length and the bottom portion another. There was no integration going on. If anyone can recommend a good hair stylist please advise!

I can see I am not the first person to have a very negative experience with this salon. I had my hair and makeup done here for a recent wedding w/​a wedding party. It was an absolute waste of money and time. I was quoted at $ 85 for hair and makeup and ended up spending $ 125.
We were told to be at the salon with clean hair with very little product in it. This means they will not be washing and blow drying your hair — you did most of the work for them. They spent 10 minutes curling my hair, and the curls fell out 3 hours later. That cost me $ 75 dollars. The makeup cost made me look like a Casper the Ghost meets Vegas showgirl that cost me $ 50. Had I known they could charge me extra for using their Clinique makeup, I would have just opened my purse and had them use my own, which I brought just in case. I ended up taking most of it off and redoing it myself. The makeup artists were trying to sell me on their own line of makeup «they make themselves.» When I said if it was made in house, they said no. When I asked where it was manufactured and if it was made locally they had absolutely no idea. They put out some cheese and crackers for us while we were waiting which was nice. I assume the extra $ 40 I was charged on top of my quote covered the Cracker Barrel and Ritz.

Love it how some of these reviews are from the people that work there! Ha! Well, here’s the deal-​This place is way overpriced. I had some guy cut my hair that looked like he was 12. I said over and over and over again~DO Not take a razor to my hair! Did he listen? Nope. I went back to have my hair put into an updo-​I even took pictures-​The girl had no clue as to what she was doing. We paid a crazy amount of money for something one of my girldfriends could have done.
I can’t say that the staff was friendly, if I wanted that kind of treatment I would go downtown. Funny how this place is in far Norhteast Philly and they act like it’s a high class establishment. It’s too expensive for the kind of service they offer.
No. I would never go back.

I am docking some stars for poor waxing service. I have gone there semi-​regularly for brows for 2 years, but the past 2 waxes were awful. I desperately wanted to call and give them a chance to right things, but how?
On my last visit my sister-​in-​law and I had our eyebrows waxed. It was a nightmare. We left bleeding, itchy and more red than ever before. The itching and bumps didn’t go away for nearly a week!
I used to view them as a quality establishment, but after 2 bad waxes in a row, from different people, I will now go elsewhere. I would also advise you to do the same, at least for waxing.

I’m sure they cut and color well judging from these other review, but I wen’t in to just get my hair styled for a wedding and I paid too much for something that i could have just done myself.
Although, theire customer service wasn’t bad.