Dulcinea

Ohhhh REX, Thanx again, you always do what I want instead of what you might like, other hair stylist are always doing what I don’t ask but not Rex. There’s some wonderful new product in the shop to please go check it out you will not be disappointed you get one-​on-​one care and I’m really happy to be associated with this business.

I highly recommend Shawn Michael. I’ve been going to him for years and he extremely talented. I’m always very happy with cuts/​colour and he has creative and flattering ideas.

I went to see Shawn based on a friend’s recommendation and positive Unilocal reviews. Well, he lived up to my expectations, which is saying a lot! I have short, pixie-​cut styled hair and good hair cuts along with good highlighting make or break my look. It can be so difficult to find someone who can cut really short hair on a woman, and cut it well. Shawn did just that. It’s easily the best haircut I have had since my hair has been this short. My only regret is that I was traveling at the time, and do not live in California permanently, so unfortunately I will probably never get to return. Regardless, I highly recommend Shawn, especially for my ladies who love to rock shorter hairstyles! Worth every penny.

I’ve been going to Dulcinea for 10 years Rex has taken fantastic care of me has help me go through numerous colors of the rainbow while always nurturing my hair and keeping it lovely and long without Rex I would be bored.

For what it’s worth, I got an excellent cut here, courtesy of Sean Michael. But he’s no longer working at Dulcinea, so I get the opportunity to review THEM (2 stars) without reviewing him specifically (he’s a 4 – 5 star dude).
So what I can really say about Dulcinea is that the owner made me feel very uncomfortable the entire time I was there. It wasn’t anything he was doing to me, it just had to do with his demeanor. Some may think he’s «nice and funny» but to me, it seemed extremely fake and unctuous. Not a fan.
With 30 000 salons lining Adams ave, I won’t be back to this one.

Mellissa is awesome ! She specializes in color and highlights .I would not trust anyone else with my hair. The salon is cute and the owner Rex is really nice and funny. I always leave feeling and looking great !

Rex is just sooooooooo nice and great! He’s the first hair stylist I had here in the States. And I’m just so lucky to find him. Definitely will stay with him.

This is an update to an earlier review.
While I am still not sure I will go back because a hair-​cut lasts a while, this salon actually had the decency to ask me how they could remedy the situation of my last cut at their salon.
I really like management that pays attention to their customers and takes good care of them.
Cheers guys.

Dulcinea is the best place to get your hair done, hands down! When I first moved to San Diego, I had no idea where to get my hair done, so I, of course, turned to Unilocal.All the reviews were great, so I checked it out for myself… and I will never go anywhere else! The whole staff is fun and sweet, always ensuring that you are having a great day, and all know you by first name. It is a very family-​oriented environment, and from my first day there, I was welcomed with open arms. The salon is small, only 4 chairs, but makes for a great, customer-​focused feel. They always have time for you, and I have yet to hear the words «NO» come from any of their mouths in the year that I have gone there — they are extremely accommodating!
But apart from the atmosphere, the skills they possess are truly amazing. Rex is amazing with both cut and color, and has done my hair since the start. The prices are extremely reasonable, and the result is better than I have ever had (and I have gone to very high priced salons in San Francisco, Washington DC, Seattle and San Diego). I have never been so happy with my hair, and I owe it all to Rex!
You are doing yourself a disservice by not GIVING THEM A CALL!!!
You’ll be happy you did :)

Rex was blessed with hands from the gods!
I have been going to dulcinea for three years and I have never left that place disappointed. Rex is the only person I let touch my hair. I went from highlights to platinum blonde to an ombré and every style has come out perfect. When I say I only want a half inch cut that’s exactly what he does. He can give you an amazing blended layered haircut without chopping all your hair off. Everyone that works their is very friendly and talented. They also just remodeled and the salon looks amazing it is the most comfortable environment. If you’re looking for a salon you can stick with go to Dulcinea. You won’t be disappointed!

This place was like night and day compared to the lady who required her second pair of glasses to cut my hair with her pair of un sanitized clippers. After taking my first breath of cat litter from the air, while in the rusty barber’s chair with one good arm rest, I sprung out my seat, ran through the door and escaped as I was beginning to faint at the thought of a 8 $ haircut costing me my life by a small attempt to save money. Save yourself the trouble go see Shawn at Dulcinea!

I’ve been getting my hair cut here for years and I love it! Rex cuts my hair and he does a phenomenal job, perfectly symmetrical, fun, and exactly what I wanted every time! Highly recommend to everyone!

This is a long overdue review for Shawn Michael, the most masterful colorist I’ve ever come across. A few years ago I decided to go red, but was very wary of the brassy or purpley hues I’d gotten before. Shawn has done such a great job with my color that even good friends of mine think I’m a natural redhead. I often sit in the chair without needing any consultation because I trust that he’ll give me the fresh style or color I didn’t even know I wanted. I get compliments on my color on an almost daily basis.
A month ago, weary from fighting the constant battle with my straightener for long, smooth locks, I splurged on a Brazilian blowout, also by Shawn. His meticulous application continues to intimidate any flyaways into submission with little to no effort on my part. I spend just a few minutes under the dryer each morning for hair that looks as if I spent all morning at the salon.
As for Dulcinea, my visits there are never boring. From clients to staff to passersby, there’s always an interesting conversation to take part in or eavesdrop on. I’m always offered a coffee or a bottomless mimosa, and either way I leave a little prettier and a little more buzzed than when I walked in.

Cassie has been doing my hair for about nine years and she is simply the best. My color turns heads everywhere I go. Rex, Dennis and Shaun are equally awesome. Dulcienea is the least pretentious salon you could hope to find. The conversations amongst the staff and customers are always entertaining. Great talent, good people and mimosas, gotta love it.

Dennis is the master of color! Tried many salons in San Diego and this by far is the BEST!

My experience was interesting here to say the least! The owner chased a parking meter person down the street after getting a ticket with a burrito in his hand as I walked in. He showed up 20 minutes late smelling of sweat, burrito and booze. When he cut my hair i realized he never washed his hands becuase he still smelled of food after his gloves came off. It was a great cut so thats why he got a 2 rather than a 1 but I felt so gross with his dirty hands on my face. :(
I paid $ 120 for 1 color and a trim and he took 3 hours to do it. Seemed exspensive and a long time for the services I got. I’d try Cassie but Rex scared me! hah

Kicking myself for not trying them earlier. The reviews are accurate… Cassie is wonderful! I had my first cut with her last night and she was fantastic. I especially appreciate that she’s fast; I don’t like to sit in the chair that long. I will be back!

Honestly this is the first hair cut I’ve had in over 6 years and I had been putting it off for at least a month. I did use Unilocal to narrow down the hair salons in Normal Heights. I picked it because I could walk there and most importantly previous customer feedback.
Deep breath, I made my first call to Dulcinea. Cassie answered and had availability that upcoming Saturday. Perfect. She asked me what I was looking for «I have very long hair and I know it has split ends but I want to keep it as long as possible. I’d like bangs and a hairstyle that keeps the length but doesn’t weigh the hair down.»
Fast forward to Saturday it was a beautiful Saturday and the lovely Cassie greeted me. She took time to listen and made me feel at ease. Taking the time to trim and check if I’d like it shorter here or there. And by the end of about an hour I left Dulcinea with a fantastic hairstyle, a broad smile and expecting to happily return in the future.
Thank you Cassie!

I have been coming here since I was 14 years old and it is absolutely the best. I drive from Rancho Bernardo for it. Dennis always kills it with my hair. I give him a vague idea of what I want and come out with something awesome. I’ve been blond, brunette, red, short, long, straight, and curly and I’m always happy. We drink wine, we share music, and a good time is had by all. I literally set aside half my day for my monthly haircut with Dennis, because it’s my monthly fun time in Normal Heights.

It seems like every day there is a new salon popping up in this city, and they all look like they fell out right out of an Anthropologie catalog. Don’t get me wrong, if I had a budget that accommodated $ 38 drawer pulls I’d probably be all over that place, but that’s not the point. The point is, just because a salon drops big bucks on fancy furniture or a location in the Gaslamp or blasts Robyn at the same decibel they use to torture people in terrorist sects does NOT mean it’s an awesome salon with talented hair dressers.
Take Dulcinea for example. The most unassuming little building in Normal Heights, next to a yoga studio and some art gallery thing I’ve never seen open. Funky, indiscernible theme inside (is it Don Quixote? Mermaids? Boobs? Let’s go with boobs), simple set up, Arcade Fire playing on low in the background.
And yet, despite their lack of Eames chairs or crystal chandeliers, the stylists at Dulcinea are the best. Cassie has been cutting my hair for years, taking me from short to long to blonde and back again (just perfect every time!), and I’ve watched Rex and Dennis send out some simply gorgeous styles from their chairs. They’re all kind, funny, and laid back, unlike some salons where they look at your split ends and Pink Zone yoga pants and act like you personally slaughtered a baby rabbit in front of them. Plus they just let you leave without trying to sell you some goddamn $ 90 bottle of Bumble and Bumble like it’s a matter of life and death. «I’m serious, if you don’t get this smoothing serum… I mean you might not DIE, but all your hair will fall out and no one will ever love you.»
Make an appointment at Dulcinea, receive a fantastic new ‘do, and sip a mimosa while you chat with the stylists and stare at boobies. It’s what the Founding Fathers would want.