Salon UPstage

I was not satisfied with my hair and was definitely not satisfied with the price I had to pay for it.

Marife is my go to girl for the whole family. I go to her for hair and eyebrows. She never fails to satisfy. They have the best prices and customer service. If I need a last minute appt, shes available! Mahalo from Dante and the kids!!!

This is a long awaited and deserved review for Salon UpStage and the manager, Chanyle Nakamura aka KiLLAHcHANChAN!!! #KILLAHCHANSTYLE! I love this beezy and I followed her from her former salon because she is just that FABULOUS at what she does. If you want something fresh, new, and not like any other then Chan is yo girl and best friend. You want to be a unicorn? You want to be Barbie? You want something sleek and sexy? Whatever your cup of tea and she serves it to you. She is fabulous at coloring, cutting and not to mention the immaculate blow out at the end. Hawaii needs to step it up in its blow out game, but don’t worry she got you! If you have an idea or a picture, she’ll make it real for you. Don’t shun out her coworkers tho! Ashley and FeFe will take care of your needs as well, I’ve seen them turn out some party up-​dos, waxing, and ombres! I love Salon UpStage and it’s homey & fresh vibe. Not to mention its on the west side and easy to find!

I have to keep it real, my experience here was three stars out of five. This salon is located in Waipahu behind of the Times Shopping Center on the side street. It’s kind of a random location, there’s street parking as well as a little lot. The location is great for me because I live in Kapolei. I wanted to go silver/​gray, my normal hair color is dark brown, so I knew the process was going to be long.
I went in randomly, I called before hand and they had an opening. Which they said they did, the phone etiquette does need to be tightened up. I caught a slight attitude from the person that answered, although I didn’t ask who was speaking and they did not tell me either.
The first person who did my hair was Fefe and I’m not sure if she really knew how to take my hair to a lighter color. She kept asking for help from Ashlay the other stylist working and that’s what made me conclude her hair coloring skills might’ve not been so strong. My friend Chan actually is the manager at this shop but I wasn’t sure if she was in or not, but my schedule has been so busy this year that I really just wanted to get my hair done. Fefe took my hair from dark brown to a slight auburn tone, by the end of this first long session my head so raw. They were nice about it though, I used the free deep condition. I came in around 9:30am and left around 4/​5pm. Fefe processed my hair two times this first session I went in. I paid about $ 200, I thought this was kind of steep since my hair is at the time was only about ¾ inches long. I think she used four or five bowls and a bowl of opalex, maybe that’s why it was expensive? I enjoyed Fifi’s vibe, she has a nice personality and always asked how I was doing if I needed water or anything.
I scheduled another appointment with Ashlay which Fefe recommended because I feel like she just wasn’t ready for a hard hair transformation from my dark brown to silver/​gray. I scheduled it for the next week, they said this would be good for my hair since it needed to rest because of all the processing to it. Ashlay is a cute stylist and seemed to be more confident in her coloring skills, she although did ask Chan for a lot of advice throughout this second session. We ended up processing my hair twice again. The power went out for a while, but I got compensated 20% off my overall session. My appointment was at 9:30/10am and I didn’t get out till about 4/​5pm again. At the end my scalp was burnt out again, but she handled me with care and kept asking me how I was doing. It came out okay, there was some slight parts where it was light blonde and not silver/​gray and it was not an even consistent blend throughout. It came out to about $ 160 this time and I they used about the same amount of bowls and opalex included.
I think at the end of my second session my stylists were over it, and I was too. lol
All in all my stylists were nice girls, but next time for coloring I might go with all the recommendations on here and just go to Chan. I’m still silver/​gray but I’ve just been doing it myself. I’ve been using a gray toner from Sally’s that keeps my silver/​gray in check when it fades out from washes. I’ve also been using this purple shampoo that takes out the brassiness of the blonde that’s the foundation.
Overall I spent almost $ 500 to lift my dark brown hair to silver/​gray that was only ¾ inches long. Is that normal? I have no idea, that’s the only part I’m probably still gona wonder about, because before this I hadn’t stepped into a salon for about three years, only barber shops.
Mahalo to Fefe, Ashlay, and Chan. You girls really helped take me to the lightness that I wanted and I know the color I was asking for was hard to achieve.

I don’t doubt that the work here is great because you can clearly see from the pictures that the hairstylists are very talented.
With that being said, my experience was not great starting from when I called to make an appointment. The receptionist who picked up sounded like she just woke up from a nap, which is cool because we all need naps sometimes. I asked to schedule a haircut for Sunday and that it was my first time so I wasn’t sure, or I didn’t have a specific stylist in mind to book with. I would take whoever was available for my 1pm appointment. She took down my name and number. She didn’t say which stylists were working that day or who would be cutting my hair. I didn’t know, I thought maybe that’s just how they roll here. Ok cool, no problem.
So I arrive at the place on Sunday and it is pretty sketchy looking as other reviewers have pointed out. Everything and the doors are painted black so you can’t really see inside and maybe no sunshine comes in? Anyway, I walk in and there’s no reception lady, but 2 ladies sitting on the couch next to the entrance. I say hi, she says hi. I say I have an appointment at 1 for a haircut. She asks with who. I said I didn’t know because when I made the appointment, told receptionist it was my first time here and that I would take whoever was available. She then looks up and nods to another stylist who was in the middle of doing someone else’s hair, and that stylist told me to have a seat. I thought maybe the stylist was almost done with the previous client but upon closer inspection, she had just started sectioning off hair and getting ready to dye. So I sit and wait some more. After sitting and waiting for 30 minutes without any communication, I for the first time in my entire hair salon visiting experience, walked out. I just got up and left.
My question is if I have an appointment at 1, why do I have to wait that long for a haircut? And if the stylist was already booked during that time, why was I not told to book at a different time? And why did the stylist not say, hey it’ll just be a few more minutes? Or sorry for the wait… Or just any kind of communication to let me know what’s going on? We all have busy lives and waiting for a haircut on a Sunday afternoon when I had an appointment seems strange. There were no other clients in there other than the one that was getting her hair did.
Would I recommend this place based on my experience alone? No. I think if you have a friend or relative who has previously gone here to get their hair did and can give you a specific stylist they recommend, then you would probably have better luck and a better experience than I did. I realize I’m the only one who has rated this place one star and might receive flack or criticism over it, but this was my experience.

(Late Post)
Great Service! When I called in Ashley accommodated me in right away. Staff there was so welcoming and family oriented. Thanks Ashley! For an amazing look, I am definitely coming back.
Looks maybe deceiving from the outside, but it’s beautifully done by great owners. Keep up the great work and to the boss lady «Owner» no work too hard, your truly blessed in all aspects.

Got my hair done by my girl Marife (aka FeFe). All I told her was that I wanted my hair «super choppy and super layered,» and she was able to provide me that when no one else could for the last 2 and a half years!!! PRAISE THE LAWD!
Also I love how parking isn’t crowded and I also LOVED their waiting area! Super comfortable in A/​C, and very spacious! Friendly staff, all smiles, good music to jam to; nothing but GOOD VIBES!
Marife’s info:
IG — STYLIST_​FEFE
hashtag — #hairbyfefe & #browsbyfefe
email —
HIT HER UPPPPP!!! Thanks, Mafi!

Wonderful staff. Very accommodating. I had Fefe she was great, gave me a full color and layered hair cut. Nice personality and my hair came out beautiful. I wish we took a before pic but loved the ending results!!!

Okay, so I’ll admit that I was a little sketched out by the outside of the salon, but it’s so nice when you enter! So, if you’re sitting outside in your car reading this review, just get off your butt and go meet these sweet ladies!
I chopped my hair and got my brows done, and I’m so happy! Ashley was so patient and really took her time to get my long A-​line bob right. She was so detail-​oriented, which is good since it’s a pretty difficult look to get right.
Marife did my brows, and they looked so amazing. She also really took her time, and even gave me a lesson on filling them in since I was doing it wrong my whole life!
They were all so nice and welcoming, and made sure to keep us comfortable. I don’t dye my hair, but the work they were doing really made me tempted! Go check them out! Affordable, yet impressive!

Chanyle is my girl! The first time I’ve experienced an AWESOME hair stylist. I showed her how I wanted my hair and she went above&beyond with it, on point! Besides having amazing talent she also has an amazing personality! Always energetic, smiling, & positive… I’ll forever be a regular client!!!
Follow her on IG: @killahchanchan or look up her #Hashtag #killahchanhair
* Love you girl & keep doing your thing, YOUR THE BOMB!

Thank you Ms Monica A. AWESOME JOB w/​my hair. Love it! I highly recommend her, if you need to get your hair done.

The first time I came here was because of my girl Monica. She is really good at hair and shes gonna color my hair for the very first time! Cant wait till see the outcome but i know it’ll be bomb Now shes my go-​to girl for my hair.

For someone who has been coloring their hair since 16 years old… I’ve had my fair share of experiences with different salons/​hairstylists. Usually leaving either unsatisfied or having something nice done but not what I asked for. However…
@KILLAHCHANCHAN (follow her on IG), Chan, did a more than AMAZING JOB and it’s safe to say that I have found my go to hairstylist/​salon and will never go to anyone else.
I met her through my cousin who always did her hair with Chan and I followed her on IG to see more of her work… Most hairstylists I see or went to specialize in (or only can do) reds/​browns/​blondes ombrés and balayages. Chan can do ALL that AND make the most amazing, unique-​for-​you color creations. She’s awesome with mixing colors and playing around with different color schemes. She’s comfortable with and loves doing crazy/​funky hair colors!
I booked an appointment with her for both my friend and I and was so happy that not only was she available but was going to accommodate us both AT THE SAME TIME. If you do your hair frequently, you know that it usually takes at least 4 hours+. I was thinking that we were gonna have to wait for each other to be done and that Chan was gonna take us one after another.
We got there at about 10 am and the salon is located right behind Times/​by the Waipahu transit center on the corner behind the laundromat. The salon just opened so it was very clean, organized, and fresh! I appreciated how days before our appointment, she took the time to converse with each of us to make sure she knew what we wanted and the state of our current hair and its history. So we walked into our appointment feeling comfortable and with a price quote!
She alternated between the both of us but made us both feel at home and relaxed. She didn’t rush and it was nice that she didn’t have any other appointments. We had the salon to ourselves! She also gives the best head washes which for most girls who do their hair, is something important! She took her time and made sure we enjoyed it.
We finished at around 3pm! I got a ash brown balayage and my friend got a ruby red ombré. We both got so many compliments on them and till this day, about a month later, my hair still looks amazing!
Chan is a hairstylist that not only loves what she does but appreciates and is dually interested in her clients and what they want. You’ll walk out of Salon Upstage feeling beautiful! She’s very fun, funny, personable, and you feel like you’ve known her forever.
You won’t regret your experience with her! I highly recommend her.

Just got my hair done at this Salon by Killah Chan Chan! I am very happy to call her my new stylist now! Her hair cutting and layering skills will amaze you! She’s very precise and a perfectionist! I also loved when she gave me that awesome scalp massage! It was great! I love small salons because it’s def got more of that comfy feel to it! I will def be back! Very happy with my new hair style!

Love love love!!! You HAVE to go see Chan she’s so good! She gives GREAT massages and she’ll also sing to you

Chan is life! I get countless compliments when she colors my hair. This last visit I was just going to retouch my blonde color but ended up walking out with a dark red look. It was amazing! She’s extremely patient and really tries to work with you to create a hairstyle that you will love. Most of the time I just tell her to do whatever she wants and I’ve never been disappointed.

I got myself a new Hair Fairy!
I absolutely adore Chan!
She does magic with her hands. I got my hair done on Friday, 9-​12-​2014 and I still in a state of shock as to how awesome it came out! We just celebrated my Daughter’s First Birthday with a Alice in Wonderland theme, and I was not about to show up with a faded mahogany ombré. As indecisive as I was on the color, Chan was so patient and very accommodating. I decided in the spirit of Alice in Wonderland, to take a leap outta my comfort zone and go with a BLUE OMBRE. Crazy huh?! Well I’m glad Chan was so gun-​ho about it, because I absolutely love it!
I would definitely recommend using her. Sweet, personable and really patient! She really understands what look you’re trying to achieve and knows that you can’t rush hair! I will definitely be back!

Love love love! Can never go wrong with killahchanchan’s work! I went for my first time with a friend and she accommodated the both of us at the same time. She’s definitely great at styling quality hair at her customers convenience! I am in love with my ruby red ombré, as well as my friends. I will not let any one else touch my hair but her because I’ve finally found a stylist to trust. She’s super friendly and she gives you what you pay for. In addition to her customer service, she gives great, and I mean GREAT, hair washes! I swear, it’s awesome and relaxing. Great job Chan! I see so much potential in your shop! See you when I come home again!