Addison Salon

10 STARS! I absolutely love my cut! Having had long hair down to my lower back for as long as I can remember, I wanted to try something new and go short above the shoulders. I surprisingly wasn’t terrified at all because I knew Addison would do an amazing job– and he did! The cut is light with lots of layers, which is exactly what I wanted. He knows what’s best for everyone’s hair type and face shape. Every time I get my hair cut by Addison, it grows out perfectly with no uneven-​ness. His technique and passion with every cut ensures that you’ll leave ecstatic about your new do.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND! THANK YOU, ADDISON!

I have been getting my hair cuts from Carmen for the last five years. She is a great stylist and has always consistent. Totally recommend her.

When I tell people that I drive all the way to SF for my haircuts, I usually get a bewildered look (as in why would you do that?!). After I finish gushing over Addison, there is no more room for debate as I have found my cutter for life. Yup, it’s serious.
This story started when I was 19 years old working as a receptionist at a high end hair salon here in SJ while I was in college. Addison was hired by the owner of the hair salon I worked at to come and do a training. When my boss asked me to be a hair model for him, I jumped at the chance. I distinctly remember Addison giving me the most bold haircut I’d ever had– it was boy short, almost a bob yet not quite. It was slightly long in the front, and textured in the back. It framed my face in such a way that I felt chic and classy. I vowed to myself that I would track him down after I finished college so that I could get haircuts from this man again.
Fast forward 15 years later, and I’m proud to say that I’ve been coming to him for the last 10 years. Didn’t I tell you this was serious? From the time you sit in Addison’s chair, you can trust that he is in tune with what your specific hair needs are. And he knows how to give you what you want. With his extensive Vidal Sassoon training (which is like the Harvard for hair schools) and years of experience, you know that his scissors will be guided with precision.
As a haircutter, he is gentle, concise and just *gets* it. Watching him cut my hair is like watching a skilled artisan at his craft. When it comes to hairdressers, that’s a pretty tall order and he steps up to the plate and hits a home run every time.
When the cut is over, you have the sheer pleasure of getting your hair blow-​dried by Addison which is another treat in itself. Why is this such a treat you ask? His blow drying adroitness makes you literally want to close your eyes and fall asleep in his chair.
To close, I want to tell you that Addison is also one of the most gracious and humble human beings you will meet. He really is the whole package.

I just got the worst haircut of my life — and at 48, not only is that devastating, but it also says a lot about how amateur this salon is. I should have known better than to choose a hair cutting place with only 35 reviews when the vast majority of salons have hundreds! But I was being lazy, and wanted to go somewhere near my home.
I fell for the reviews that said it was an «elegant» place: I should have turned around and walked out when I saw the droopy indoor plants, floor covered in hair, laundry machines in plain view and counter tops cluttered with hair products, accessories and other junk. The salon was messy and not clean. But I am chicken about offending and persevered. Of course I should have also walked out when I saw that the place was empty at 12pm on a FRIDAY.
I should also have walked out when Carmen, who has the personality of an undertaker, and who is meant to be a stylist (!) kept repeating ‘so what IS it you want’ when I suggested I would like a stylish cut with some layers, not the blunt shoulder-​length hair I was currently wearing. I was asking for her professional advice, duh.
I went home with a shorter, blunt, boring $ 95 haircut. It was only when my teenage daughter said to me sarcastically at dinner «nice bob mom» that I made an appointment to return. Oh my god, terrible mistake.
I showed Carmen how the right side of my hair was fuller, heavier and straighter cut than my left, and that I would simply like more visible layers. Fast forward 15 minutes later, and I am hearing my hair being SHREDDED, not cut, with her scissors (I don’t remember this being done ever after the 90s). This is the technique where instead of closing the scissors to make a clean cut, you pass the open scissors across a large segment of hair in order to tear it. I now have 2 distinct haircuts, one on the right side which is feathered, weedy, thin and short; and one on the left side which looks more like a slightly layered bob. I already have very fine hair! Any reasonably intelligent person could see that shredding my hair would have disastrous effect. Carmen also has the clever technique of turning your chair away from the mirror so that you can’t see what’s going on.
Guess what Carmen said to me after the deed was done: «You wanted more layers, and this would make the bottom look thin». All I wanted was something better than a bob. If I posted a picture of myself (which I won’t for obvious reasons) with this haircut, I promise you it would be the end of normal business for Addison.

Addison Salon is elegantly understated and Angel is a Hair Whisperer. I recently moved to the area and was trying a new stylist for the first time in 15 years. I have short salt and pepper hair so it can look frumpy easily if the cut is not good. Angel spent 10 minutes literally running her fingers through my hair and observing the hair growth patterns and texture. She asked about my lifestyle and goals for the cut and then started working her magic. She cuts the sides looking in the mirror so that you look good from all angles of your profile. I LOVE my new style — soft, wispy and youthful! She is a lovely, talented young woman and my new treasured stylist!

London Vidal Sassoon trained. Addison has worked in many top salons. His work is impeccable and perfect. He is sociable and extremely kind and gentle, but you are there for the best haircut/​style you can find. My wife calls him the Zen Master for his understanding of current style perfectly applied to your look and his ability to it happen. His technique is only equalled by his intelligence. You will NOT find a better stylist anywhere. I have had cuts all of the world and none can match his skill. I keep coming back to him as everyone else just disappoints me. He has cut my hair for over 25 years and now he takes care of my entire family. Even my five year old son, Kai, and my seven year old daughter, Chloe, will not let anyone else cut their hair now. With him, they are just too stylish!

I love Addison Salon. I’ve been getting my curly hair cut or colored there for over 3 years now. Each of the stylists who’s worked on my hair has been amazing at what they do. (At Addison, each stylist does part of the whole – some just color, others mainly cut, etc). They’re kind and attentive, without making you feel like they’re doing you a favor by doing your hair.
In truth, I feel like I’m in a spa when Camilla colors my hair– she’s gentle, professional, and a brilliant artist at coloring and styling while making sure I’m relaxed throughout. Everybody there who has done my hair is extraordinarily gifted AND, though they offer their opinions, if you ask, they always try to please. Camilla’s amazing with taming my waves without straightening, keeping my hair healthy, and making sure my natural color and anything she might weave in looks right for my skin tone, hair style, or event…
Carrie Jo is also amazing at color, friendly and fun. Carmen is like Edward Scissor Hands, a fairy whose delicate snips seem other-​worldly as she cuts hair just so with a hundred thousand gentle and rapid scissor movements around my head — it’s an unusual experience! Her cuts are so fabulous that my daughter and I find we can go longer than usual between cuts because she has shaped it so perfectly for our hair (my daughter’s long and straight, mine shoulder length and curly).
Sam, the receptionist, is smart and kind, and Addison the owner is welcoming without being pushy. Addison Salon is definitely an island of tranquility and excellence in a sea of so-​so salons.

Addison Salon is fantastic. I’ve had my hair cut by Addison and Carmen, and both are excellent at what they do. With Addison, I love that I always walk away feeling that my cut frames my face, will allow me to achieve some shape from very straight hair, is suited to my morning routine (I don’t want to fuss too much with product and styling!), and will last awhile. Given all of these factors, I’m more than happy to pay a bit more to visit Addison!

Addison has been cutting my hair since I was a little girl, way back in the day when my mom found him at Architects and Heroes! Unfortunately we moved away from SF a long time ago, but whenever we return we always make sure to stop by for a haircut! (Which sadly isn’t as often as we’d like!)
Addison is super nice and friendly, but concentrates on getting the job done, and he managed to fix my botched hair (from Platinum Salon in NYC — which incidentally is my first review on Unilocal b/​c it was THAT bad) and give my hair the layers it needed. Although it’s grown out a lot since then, I can’t bear to find someone to cut it here! Maybe I can hold out until March when I return??? :)
All in all, two thumbs up!

My husband and i have been going to Addison now for over 10 years. We have our haircuts done usually by Angel who does an amazing job and we’re always happy. My husband’s hair always looks so nice and beautifully cut. I trust Angel as she has never given me any weird looks but always feminine, easy to care for, etc. She’s also very nice and personable. I have also had my hair cut by Carmen who is also great and who saved me when a stylist at Posh Salon butchered my hair the day before my sister’s wedding. She had to go short because the other stylist didn’t leave much to work with and I ended up with a pretty cute pixie bob which grew out nicely.

I can only speak about my experience 3 years ago and I unfortunately forgot my stylist’s name, but I received a decent cut. Nice layout & good location for the salon, but being the poor grad student that I was, I couldn’t afford to get my hair cut there again.

At Addison Salon they don’t need to make you feel bad when you walk in just to prove how great they are. Addison Salon relies on making you look wonderful and feel fabulous as you leave. Addison has been cutting my hair for quite a while now, and I’ve even recruited my husband to being a loyal customer. I can’t say enough positive about this place and all the staff.

Carrie Jo for color and Angel for cuts are awesome!!! Plus, they are entertaining and great conversationalists. I love going to the salon!

This was my first time to this salon. Called them on a Sunday morning and Carmen was able to take me in at 3 that afternoon. The salon is small and in a very nice neighborhood. Carmen was nice and very professional. I told her how I normally style my hair and that I wanted something new. She made some suggestions and cut my hair perfectly. She was familiar with men’s hair and asian’s hair and cut it accordingly.
The only negative that I have is that it was a bit much. I paid $ 80 for a cut that cost $ 40 at other salons. However, because Carmen seemed to be an expertise with asian male hair I will probably go there again.

Angel Gives and amazing hair cut for a fair price, and she is so sweet and lovely. Every hair cut I have had has been great and has grown out very well.
Carrie Jo is the most brilliant colorist hat I have ever encountered. She is the Queen of «juicy hair» and is truly a master of her trade. Bonus… She is a total sweetheart.
The salon always has a super friendly receptionist and a nice clean environment. Lots of natural light, great magazines and coffee shop next door for the caffeine fix pre hair stylin’.
Un-​metered street parking is not hard to find.
These ladies will not disappoint!!!

I go to Addison Salon specifically to see Carrie Jo and Angel. Although the salon is nice too. It’s clean, the staff efficient, and not pretentious.
Angel’s haircuts are fantastic! She’s a real professional. Every snip is completely thought out and done with precision. I’ve never had anyone cut my hair that had so much focus. So every hair cut she gives me is perfect. EVERY TIME. And it stays that way for 8 weeks, sometimes longer. She doesnt over layer, cut too much off, or use some wacky new technique that doesnt lay right after a week. Just a straight up fantastic, pretty cut that makes you feel like a million bucks!
Carrie Jo specializes in color. She has a lot of experience with hair color and it shows. I’m one of those dark blonds that’s not really blond or brown, just kind of blah. I want my hair to have pizazz without looking over done. Carrie gives me something amazing every time. Last time she gave me chunky blond pieces that, if you can believe it, looked natural! And I loved that no one else had hair color like mine. I got so many compliments. Plus when I leave my hair is sparkly and soft. She must put some super duper finisher on. I dont know what she does exactly but it’s magic!
If you are looking for a new hair cuttress or colorist, I cant recommend these two highly enough. Finally I love my hair.

Addison is seriously a nice place. There’s tons of windows so light just pours in to both floors and the music is pretty varied, which for me is important at a place where I’m mostly going to stare at a mirror for an hour or so.
I’ve been going to Tina for at least four years and she is absolutely fantastic. Sam at the front desk is also very cool. Many of the other stylists seem a bit restrained and overly quiet but that doesn’t bother me too much. And, the prices while not overly expensive are definitely on the higher side.
Plus you can hop over to Fraiche after to grab a Blue Bottle coffee!

Camila who colors my hair and Angel who gives me a haircut are both great! I get complements regarding my hair all the time.
I am so glad I found this place.

When i was little, I went to a smoke-​filled barber shop with my dad for haircuts. In college, i grew my hair long (small of my back) so I didn’t need to go for cuts that often, and I’d end up at a different place each time.
So when I finally found a good short haircut that I liked, I went to Carmen on my S.O.‘s recommendation. She is by far the best person I’ve had for my haircutting needs. Her fingers are strong but they are so gentle at the same time. I always come out looking good. She’s also really good to talk to and I like hearing about her travels (ask her when she’s going back to Japan to go shopping :)).
Recommended for men or women.

Excellent place for a haircut! My bf and I are forever devoted to Addison!
I’ve had the best haircuts here, previously I’d been going to Vidal Sassoon in NYC. I thank Angel (formerly from Vidal) for her graciousness and gentle cuts that still look great even after 8 weeks. Angel’s a pro, and I highly recommend her.