Daniel’s Hair Salon

I love Daniel’s! I have been coming here for years and they always make me feel right at home. And Daniel treats me like a princess. I went to another salon in a pinch and regretted it. Came back to Daniel and he got my color and texture back to where it looks its best. I know better now and will stay with Daniel. And I love the convenient location downtown and the beautiful old-​school DC building.

I will start by saying I’m a super hair snob. Some of the local salons I’ve tried are: Christophe’s, Aveda, Okyo, Immortal Beloved, every PR Partners in DC, Bang Salon, Urban Style Lab, Molecule, Blondie’s, Ozuki, Celadon. I have long thick dark Asian hair that I like highlighted to look natural and layered.
Now that you know that,…know this: I absolutely had to write a review for Daniel. Here are some of the reasons I think he may be the best kept secret in DC.
1. My hair has never looked better and I’m used to going to premier salons in NYC and paying premium prices.
2.I booked an appointment early on Sunday and he squeezed me in on the same day.
3. He gave me a complimentary deep conditioning treatment.
4. I’m used to sitting for 6 hours to get my hair done. I was in and out in around 2 hours and I had color correction highlights and a cut. (My hair is long and thick and Asian hair which he highlighted an amazingly natural Carmel)
5. I feel like I could tackle fashion week with this cut and color. And that’s how you should feel!!!

I look at a lot of things when I consider a hair salon. Mood of the place, location, the staff, the music, the offerings, the website and so much more. This place made me happy in every single way. I bought products (great selection) and got a wash ans blow out which they did a great job of on my curly thick uncontrollable hair. My sister was with me and she (who is notoriously picky) got her hair cut dramatically. Her hair is tough to control and Daniel did an amazing job counseling her, giving advice and creating a perfect end result. Needless to say I was jealous because she paid half as much as I had for a haircut (my haircut was at a Georgetown salon). Daniel was so on top of his work that our friend who just came with us for moral support caught Daniel’s eye and he trimmed her hair for free just because he could tell she needed it! Great guy, and his staff were all very talkative and nice too. Overall, this salon was just what I was looking for in terms of location, price, staff and results.

Made the appointment at the last minute because I was traveling to DC for work. Daniel was warm and attentive. The salon is well appointed. Color, cut and style A+. Also was given coffee, invited to relax, and given lots of advice about hair care. I will make the effort to return next time I’m in the area.

Don’t go here. It doesn’t even deserve 1 star. Daniel — the owner — cut my hair so poorly that I had to get it fixed the next day. The right side was a full two inches shorter than the left. It’s dirty, crawling with bored employees who aren’t working, and unprofessional.

Nicole Butler is a magician! Her color and cuts are downright brilliant. She wields her tools like a true artist should and she LISTENS. She can make your dream hair a reality. No matter what ethnicity, color you crave, hair you have always wanted, she can make it happen. It’s not often that I give such a glowing review to a place I’ve only been twice, but Nicole warrants this and more. She is one of the best stylists I have ever had and you will be doing yourself (and your hair, love life, etc.) a favor by booking some time in her chair.

Ask for Calvin. He did a quick hair style for me for a wedding. It was exactly what I wanted and lasted all night.

Please do me and yourself a favor AND avoid this sub-​par salon!!! I should have known better after reading the reviews for this place, but I had a «social deal» for a haircut and figured I would give it a shot.
Long story short, I asked for a trim and left with really short hair that is also slightly uneven. Luckily, I’m pretty low maintenance when it comes to hair and I’ll just wait for it to grow out, but would like to spare others from such an awful experience!!!

I was calling this salon because I had a deal coupon for one thing and I was thinking about making a day of it before I go on vacation later this month. There are no prices on the website and when I call to ask about a pedicure, I’m told they don’t do pedicures. What? It went something like this:
«Oh, it says manicures and pedicures on your website.»
«Yeah, I know, but we don’t have them here.»
«Oh, um, how much is a lower leg wax?»
«Just call back tomorrow, she’s not here and I don’t know how much she charges.»
*click*
Luckily, I was able to get a refund on my coupon.

I’m new to Daniel Hair Salon. I followed my insanely talented stylist named Nicole and her equally as talented colleague Toni. Nicole and Toni are phenomenal. Both style ALL hair types — but as a black female, I’m definitely a loyal customer. They specialize in healthy hair — whether its processed or natural. I’ve been going to Nicole for about 5yrs now and I constantly get compliments on my hair. And it also helps that she’s a master colorist as well. Nicole and Toni are also fast. For a regular wash/​style, I am in and out in 45−50minutes. No double booking of appointments here.
Daniel’s has a great location between Dupont Circle and Farragut North stations. Lots of food and shopping nearby. And Daniel’s salon is huge! A very charming and spacious brownstone on M st. Wherever Nicole goes, I will follow. Highly recommended. And very reasonably priced as well.

I don’t understand why the bad reviews. I love Daniel! He has been cutting hair for 30 years and he definitely knows what he’s doing. Brought my mom in for a haircut and coloring. The person who had previously cut her hair had given her a mullet. She also had 5 different shades of color. He fixed the colors, toned it down to the right shade and added the perfect blend of highlights. She is one of the pickiest woman I know and she was beyond pleased.
Brought her for a second time for her birthday this past weekend and she left a happy customer. I myself have come here twice for a haircut. The second time I came because I had gone to someone who jacked my bangs up and had me looking like a 10 year old. He was able to add layers to the front to blend it in. I should have come here to begin with.
Brenda is a sweetheart too. She hasn’t cut my hair yet, but I love the blunt bob cut she currently has (done by Daniel) so I’m thinking about doing that the next time I want a drastic change. I will continue to come here and ignore all these negative reviews :)

Brazilian wax? Beware!
I had a Bloomspot deal for a Brazilian — $ 39. Not bad.
Roca (Raca? Rocka? Not sure how to spell her name) is a teeney little Asian woman who packs a punch. Prepare thyself for multiple rips from the same patch of skin over and over again. I took a shot of gin and two Advil before the wax based on Julie F’s review.
It wasn’t enough.
I wavered between laughing and crying due to the humiliation and pain.
I’m a sucker for a coupon/​deal — but no future discount will ever be enough to entice me to return.

HORRIBLE experience! I
I hadn’t heard of this salon before but
had a deal on it for a TWO hour European facial for $ 60 ($ 120 original value) and since I work in Dupont Circle I decided to try it. I am originally from Europe and I have gotten very good authentic European facials there. The description on Bloomspot for the facial said that it would be a deep, extraction, deep exfoliation and masks treatment. I even called to make sure it included deep extraction of the blackheads and the person assured me it would.
To book my appointment I had to call back several times because there was a woman with a thick English accent that kept answering and telling me to call back later. I finally got a hold of another person and they booked my appointment wrong, I wanted Thursday at 11AM and the person booked me Friday at 11AM. I show up that Thursday at 11AM and the owner kept calling for the facial aesthetician and she wasn’t coming down. Finally, the book keeping lady asks me if my appointment is at 12PM and I said that it was supposed to be at 11AM and I have been waiting for 15 minutes. Then she tells me I am in the book for Friday at 11AM so I have to come back the next day. I asked if there is any way to squeeze me in later in the day and I was told that they only have one lady that does facials and she is booked all through the day.
I couldn’t come that Friday so I had to cancel my appointment.
I finally rescheduled for Friday, June 10^th.
A day before the facial, June 9^th Bloomspot emailed me to tell me that they made a mistake and it is actually a one hour facial instead of a two hour facial. The ONLY reason I bought it was because it was a TWO hour facial, because I had already bought a one hour facial through Bloomspot for another salon. I also bought it because it was a EUROPEAN deep extraction facial. I disregarded the email and thought that the salon would still grant the two hours since it wasn’t my fault it was falsely advertised.
I came in at 12.30AM when my appointment was. I was told to go to the 3RD floor where it was so hot, it felt like a sauna.
The lady, I think her name was Ricco was nice but could barely speak English. She told me the steps of the facial and it sounded promising. But instead I got something completely different than I expected!
There was no deep extraction included that removed my blackheads, all she did was put a bunch of masks, oils and massage my face and neck… something I could have done at home because I have products to do my own masks. It was nothing like a European facial like they claimed! While she was putting masks in my face I specifically asked her if this is somehow going to remove my blackheads and she said it definitely will. Her definition of a deep extraction was apparently putting some scrubby masks on my face and then using a wet cloth to clean it up. I looked in the mirror afterwards and my face was exactly as it was when I had entered that room… only softer. Also while I was on the bed she asked me if I have a Bloomspot paper or a Living Social one, I said Bloomspot and she told me they made a mistake and it is not two hours because she never does two hours, because and I quote «it is too much for the skin to take»?! Too much for the skin to take? She didn’t do anything to remove my blackheads so how would my skin even be agitated or irritated?!
She also put another mask on my face and she said it needs to dry so she left the room for 10 minutes. She came back and smelled like smoke so she definitely went to have her smoke break. and the original value of this is $ 120? HAHA. Don’t go there and spend 120 dollars on something you can literally do at home yourself and spend 40 bucks on creams and masks.
I was disappointed all together at the salon’s services and the aesthetician that I did my facial. I don’t understand how something can be so falsely advertised.
I called Bloomspot to complain today because as I said the only reason I bought this deal was because it was a TWO hour EUROPEAN facial and it turned out not to be. Bloomspot was nice and refunded me the $ 60 in bloombucks that I can use for future deals through Bloomspot. good enough for now.
If you are like me and you bought a deal for this salon through Bloomspot and you want to have a deep EXTRACTION done that really removes your blackheads you won’t get it at Daniel’s Salon because Ricco is their only facial «specialist». Call Bloomspot and get your money refunded. Bloomspot would have given me a refund to my bank account if I hadn’t used it at the salon but they need to pay the salon now so that is why they could only grant a Bloomspot credit of $ 60.

I was extremely disappointed with this place. They were overbooked and understaffed. They shifted me around (or tried to) to other hairdressers at the last minute. The cut itself (which was with daniel himself no less) was third rate, and took all of 5 mins (because he overbooked). He took no time to hear what I wanted, there was no blow drying, no effort to see if the cut looked any good, which it did not.
I went there because of a living social deal ($ 50 for $ 100 dollars worth of hair treatment), but because they don’t post their prices, you’re not sure what you can get for the money. It turns out $ 100 dollars gets you a conditioning treatment and a 5 min haircut, without blowdry. Save your money!
I am very particular about my haircuts, and oftentimes they don’t turn out the way I want, but when the hairstylist makes no effort to listen and gives you a 5 min haircut (I’m not kidding on this. it was extremely unprofessional), I feel justified in getting on Unilocal and writing a bad review.
All in all, I got the distinct impression that Daniel’s isn’t an honest place or a very professional place. If you don’t want to feel misused, go someplace else.

I really hate to give such a low rating, but my experience here was really poor. Quick run down: no AC, only one competent employee (Brenda), ineffective Keratin treatment.
I came to Daniel’s Hair Salon to redeem a voucher for a Brazilian Keratin Treatment. I had trouble from the beginning booking an appointment. The women who answered the phone spoke English with a very heavy accent and kept asking me to call back to reach the person who performs this service. I ended up having to call back 5 times (each time, I called back at the exact hour the receptionist told me to) in order to get in touch with someone who could help me.
I was able to book an appointment during my lunch our for the next day. When I got to the salon, 5 minutes early, I was directed upstairs without any further instruction or assistance. I get upstairs and there are two people sitting in the styling chairs chatting, and another person just staring into the mirror. No one pays me any attention so finally I ask if any of them work there. The women chatting say no, the person checking himself out just ignores me (I figured out later that he did in fact work there). Finally, after standing around for a few minutes feeling like an idiot someone comes in and tells me to get myself a smock. Then Brenda comes in and tells me she’ll be with me in just a minute after she blow dries someone else’s hair. She says we’ll be doing my hair upstairs because their AC is busted and it’s cooler up here.
So I sit and wait about 10 minutes and Brenda tells me that another woman is going to wash my hair and she’ll be back in a few minutes. She leaves, and comes back and is surprised to find that no one has washed my hair yet. She seats me at the washing station and after a few more minutes (it’s 30 minutes past my appointment time by now) a woman comes over to wash my hair. This was the most unpleasant hair washing experience I have ever endured. There was the tolerable soap and water all up in my ears and running down my face, but the water was also scalding when she first put it on my head (she didn’t test it first), and she kept lifting my head to get the hair closer to my neck, each time rubbing her damp boob on my face. It was absolutely terrible.
While my hair is being washed, Brenda is saying she’s concerned because there is now no one down stairs (where her belongings are, as well as the reception area) because it’s so hot, so she wants to do my hair down stairs after all. She is dripping with sweat because it’s so warm inside.
So she leads me down stairs and proceeds to start the treatment. Brenda is very pleasant and seemed to be the only person in the salon with any clue. As she’s doing my hair there are two people at the reception desk, one on the phone, and another line is ringing off the hook. Brenda finally tells one of the other receptionists to answer the phone after it rings about 10 times. Later one, another customer comes down to pay and the receptionist asks the customer how much the service she received is supposed to cost. It was bonkers.
Okay, so now the treatment. I’ve had one other Keratin treatment, back in November. It made me fall in love with my hair. It did everything I read it should do: made my hair dry quicker, eliminated frizz, hair dried straight (like, really straight), etc. I was expecting a similar experience. I visited the salon on Wednesday May 25^th at lunch time. I did everything right: waited to wash my hair over 48 hours, used organic, non-​sulfate shampoo, no clips or hair ties. Immediately after the treatment my hair felt differently than it did last time: heavier and kind of sticky. I thought maybe it was just a different product. After washing my hair for the first time, it wasn’t soft or smooth any more and dried with a significant amount of wave, very unlike the first time I had this done. This morning, my bangs (which I told Brenda were my biggest concern), were a big wavy mess by the time I got to work because of the heat and humidity.
Brenda was really very friendly so I feel really bad leaving such a negative review. I have no idea what went wrong with my Keratin treatment, but it’s totally unsatisfactory, as was my experience overall with this salon.

Love Daniel’s.
First of all, it’s a cool place to come. It looks like someone’s Victorian home transformed into a hair salon. The salon is huge and spacious and you never feel cramped or have to wait. Everyone is always welcoming and Daniel himself is charming to all the clients.
Second, Brenda is a genius. I first came to her when a salon down the street chopped my hair off and made me look like a Dutch boy. I was really upset and thought that not much could be done to fix it. Brenda was amazing, she not only fixed the horrible haircut, but made it look amazing and glam, and I got tons of compliments on it afterwards. She also charged me that time much less than the normal price because she felt that I had to pay twice for a haircut.
I’ve been going to Brenda every since. She’s done everything for me from haircuts (different styles many times), updos (she did a 20s look and a Lady Gaga bow for me) and highlights. Every time I come out of the salon looking amazing and I have great confidence in Brenda and her magic hands.

I have never written a negative Unilocal review, but this was the WORST haircut I have ever had :(Daniel cut my hair and did not listen to what I wanted at all. I ended up coming out with my hair longer on one side than the other. When I went back for him to fix it, he bluntly chopped the longer side. I asked for bouncy layers and he gave me blunt, flat hair instead. Also, between him and his assistant, they could not straighten my hair well at all… I ended up with poorly flatironed hair that still had ripples in it. I walked in with fabulous hair and walked out with a haircut I would expect from Super Cuts.
I will not be returning and wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.

I got the Brazilian/​Keratin treatment from Daniel himself about two weeks ago. Not only was the price amazing (seriously, the least expensive place in DC by about half), but Daniel was charming and a perfect stylist. I was his only client in that time period, and he gave me all the attention a stylist should give its client.
I wanted to wait a little bit to make sure my hair didn’t fall out or anything dramatic before writing a review, but thankfully I just love my hair. I’ll definitely be a repeat customer!

Just an FYI for those out there looking for Brazilian/​Keratin treatments: Ronnie no longer works there, BUT lovely Brenda does, and the global keratin she uses is so gentle, the process is fast, and she’s a meticulous person, which is what this process needs.
My only cons: While I was getting shampooed upstairs, she went out to smoke a cigarette. Now, I smoke occasionally too, but I don’t really want to pay for someone else’s cigarette-​hands to be in my hair. Also, Daniel himself was too lazy to finish a blowout for another customer, and midway through MY blowdrying, he made Brenda switch with him. He immediately switched the setting to high (when it’s supposed to stay on medium for the treatment). Brenda, obviously irked, ran back quickly and snatched the dryer out of his hand.
Now for the upside: when you have Brenda’s full attention, you’re in very good hands. She was informative and took her time, even though it was right at the end of the day. I know people don’t always like the look of the interior, but come on, clearly daniel wanted this to be his little man-​pad, what do you expect?
The process itself took less than 2 hours, was 200 dollars (I dare you to find a Keratin treatment in the tri-​state area for less — you cant.) and smelled really nice. With global Keratin, you only have to wait 48 hours to wash it out, opposed to the normal 72, and as a curly girl it is amazing to have my hair AIR-​DRY nearly perfectly straight, totally frizz free, and with no products in it. I haven’t even bothered trying to blowdry, no need. Super shiny, and I think it dries faster too! I love it and will go back to see Brenda again!

I went to Daniel’s yesterday for a hair cut. The staff there didn’t do the appointment correctly so lucky me, the appt that was supposed to be there cancelled! Well, the salon itself is nice, I don’t know why there are bad reviews about the décor, its all wood and mirrors, I think its cool.
I saw Santos and asked for a basic hair cut. My hair was long and boring, down to the middle of my back and very straight. I had been growing out an old bleach job and had enough hair now to chop it off. I asked to keep it long but have some shape to it. He did long layers and did as I asked. its still long enough to put up. I LOVE the cut! Even my husband likes it. which is hard to do, believe me. Santos is great, he used to do my hair about ten years ago so I am so happy I found him again! I highly recommend him.