Magnolia Avenue Salon

We have a Gem of a Master Hair Cutter/ Colorist at the Magnolia Avenue Salon. My hair has NEVER looked this good. Karen Davis has her cutting craft down and impressed me with her color application . The Salon aesthetics are beautiful and I felt cared for and pampered. Thank you Magnolia Salon, My wavy/curly/frizzy hair looks perfect and everyone has been asking me ""Where did I get my hair done?"" more

My first experience was as a sceptical walk-in. Now it's the only salon I go to. Their service is amazing. I have dropped in with a hair emergency three times and each time they fit me in and saved the day. I also like that I can get my eyebrows waxed and nails done while I'm waiting for my color to process. more

I'm new to the area and hadn't found a new hairstylist yet. For whatever reason, I thought I could touch up my own highlights with a kit from Rite-Aid. What a big brassy mess! After researching the internet, I decided to try Magnolia Avenue Salon to fix the problem. They were very helpful, from the initial phone call to make the appointment, to the consultation and color correction. Paige and a senior stylist both looked at my hair and formulated the best way to fix it. Then Paige listened to what I wanted as the final result and confidently applied the color. The results are outstanding! My hair color is beautiful, with a few face framing highlights, and my hair texture is smooth and silky. I'm so grateful that my hair mistake helped me find Paige! more

I use to love my hair. But then I started going gray and my hair became curly and frizzy after having children. Auburn hair is very difficult to match and hence very difficult to get rid of the gray. I tried many other salons and usually ended up with reddish purple hair. Not anymore. Amanda colors my hair perfectly. My cousins saw me for the first time in years and didn't even notice i was coloring my hair, and when i told them how gray i was, they couldn't believe it. Amanda also uses the Keratin treatment on my hair which has taken out the frizz and awkard wave and makes my hair incredibly easy to style (i usually just wash and go). One tip...book your appointment atleast 4 - 6 weeks ahead of time. I do this religiously and i have never had to wait for my appointment (which was not the case at other salons). I love this salon and I love my hair again! more

I looked on-line and saw many high ratings for the salon so figured I could be assured that I would recieve great service. Then I called to book an appointment and from there it was all down hill. Booking should not be that difficult.Then I recieved a confirmation and arrived and then was told I had arrived on the wrong day and time. I was originally booked with Amanda. Her mother stepped in, who is the owner and said she would take me instead if I could wait a while. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach but my roots were totally grown out and my hair was in need of a good trim. I had plans for the night. A first date. The total atmosphere was chaos. I was very uneasy when Amanda and her mother Karen seemed to be at each other. As my touch up was setting I tried my best to get lost in a magazine. it took 7 magazines cover to cover to be noticed again. Then I finally was washed by a very nice woman and set over in a chair to await Karen's arrival. She had left the salon for some reason, maybe lunch. Then she scoffed at my previous haircut and offered to ""relieve"" me of the bulk of my hair. She cut a huge hole in the back of my hair. It will take at least a year to recover my thickness. I think the left is considerably shorter than the right side. I am certain that I asked that she not cut my bangs too short. They are above my brows! Not stylish in the least. To top this all off, my roots are purple in the sunlight. I never want to see those crazy people again or I would go back and ask for my money back. Pros: Save you from my mistake Cons: Hair beyond repair more

I am a stylist/colorist who is not impressed with a lot of salons in Northern California. Magnolia Ave. is one of the exceptions. All of the staff is required to produce perfection in both coloring and cutting. Vicki and Karen are always attending/teaching classes here in the United States.. For this reason I have sent my own clients to them. Pros: Experienced and It. more

I love these guys. As a man in his 50s with curly hair, my business and professional image is dependent on a great haircut. Having curly hair makes it difficult to maintain the ""edge,"" as a bad haircut quickly devolves into my having ""wings."" It's a fine line between a natural look and a Woodstock revival. So when Karen Davis cut my hair I was really impressed and relieved to look in the mirror and see chic. The second pleasant surprise was that when I asked her about color she made it easy, natural, and well blended. My hair is now in great shape, soft, and well, ""happening."" I went out for drinks after with two female friends who lavished compliments on me and on Karen. Guys, this is the place to go. 5 stars. See you in 4 weeks, Karen! Pros: Karen Davis Exorcised 10 Years of Gray more

Having been a former hair model, I have had MANY different hair styles/highlights & colors, and I am very particular when selecting a hair salon. I have just had my 1st experience at Magnolia Ave Salon, and KAREN DAVIS DID A MAGNIFICENT JOB ON MY HAIR, with great highlights & a fabulous new cut -I WOULD NOT HESITATE to recommend her salon to anyone - her staff is professional & friendly, the salon's atmosphere is lovely - it was a definite 5 star experience & am so glad to find a salon in Marin that has a clue as to what good styling & color is all about - MAGNOLIA AVE. SALON IS THE BEST!! Pros: pro color & cuts/wonderful staff/great atmosphere/ more

I have been going to Russ for over 15 years. I went from having old fashioned hair cuts to modern cuts. The color always looks natural. He always listens to what you want and will let you know if that will work. I never feel rushed when I am there. You never leave until every hair is in place. Thanks for always making my hair look so wonderful more

It is not easy to style my graying, longish, curly hair - but Amanda made it fabulous! She listened carefully to the look I wanted - professional but feminine - and patiently crafted it - cut, color, not to forget tinting and shaping eyebrows. What was dfistinctive about the experience was not only the great results - (I keep getting compliments) but the attentiveness and care she showed made the whole experience in this gorgeous salon one I am eager to repeat. (Also they use and sell my favorite hair stuff, Kerastase!) Pros: Wonderful styling, color work more

I have been a client of Amanda's for the past 3 years & i've never been less then 100% satisfied with my highlights & cut! i have delicate fine blonde hair and Amanda takes her time to make sure my hair is PERFECT and never damaged.. she is a extreme perfectionist and i would only trust her to do my hair. Pros: customer service Cons: parking in the afternoon more

I went in here a few months ago asking for LOWlights and a few highlights blended in. The receptionist told me she was booking me with a professional who had been in the business for years. The owners daughter Amanda worked on my hair, she is about 18 years old, and working under her mother, who checks to make sure she is doing everything right about every 5 minutes! It's a joke... It took her 41/2 hours to do a job that typically takes everyone else that has done my hair 1 hour. She put ALL HIGHLIGHTS in, and basically fried my hair to a crisp. I had to constantly ask her if she was burning my hair, and hey guess what... I was right, she did. Chemicals also dripped on my face twice and I think we all know that isn't very comfortable. I am now in the process of bringing my dead, straw-like hair back to life, after paying $300 to have it completely destroyed. I have to say I don't really blame people for thinking that this is a reputable salon, but please think twice about booking an appointment with the owner, her daughter, or any employees. I really wish I never walked into that place, and wish everyone whose hair they have ruined, the best. Hint: use Aveda products to restore your hair, they are all natural, and so far its the only product that makes my hair look like something other than MAGNOLIA AVANUE MESS! Pros: Nice looking interior Cons: They will ruin your hair... more

Mai listened to me and knew how picky I was. I never enjoyed myself better and really loved her work and her attention to detail. My color was over processed when she 1st met me,and she listened to me and only did what was neccessary not just what her wallet thought I should do! Furthermore; the mani/pedi with lemons and limes was exceptional! Yeah for Mai! Pros: She really delivers customer service and quality in her work Cons: Sometimes I have to wait, but I always respect perfection! more

Mai has been doing my hair and nails for at least five years. Because of her caring demeanor, I followed her here from her prior workplace at Bon Air Shopping Center. Prior to meeting Mai, I did my nails and hair at all kinds of places. But I stuck with Mai because she is a very skilled and capable cosmetologist. She has never forced me to take a color that I did not like, nor could I imagine her doing so. Moreover, in the time that I have been with her, I have had her color my hair dozens of times. I have never experienced any chemical burns or fried hair. My hair is soft and glistening, because she takes care of it well. As for her her manicure work, she is great. She will spend the time necessary to give you a proper manicure. I highly recommend her. She is an upscale beautician. Pros: Accomodating and Professional more

Thank heavens I found this place! I'd been bouncing around from salon to salon for a couple of years, occasionally getting a decent cut, or a good color here and there, but no place where I really felt at home. I just got so tired of the inconsistency. I'd been admiring what Karen had done for a friend's hair, but it wasn't until she got ahold of my daughter that I realized what I'd been missing. I've been going to her ever since and I get compliments almost every day on my hair, something that certainly hasn't happened to me in a long, long time. more

Karen has been highlighting and coloring my hair for almost 10 years. I found her by simply looking for the person with the best color highlights (very natural) and asking who she used for hair cut and color. She used Karen. Now everyone asks me who I use . . and now they all go to Karen. Her expertise is remarkable and her professionalism incredible. Check out Magnolia Salon!!! Pros: Always best hair color and professionalism from Karen more

What are you all talking about? Karen coloured my hair and now it has been so overprocessed that it is the texture of straw and the colour is horrible. It looks just awful; a real disaster. It's a terrible colour, even my boyfiend keeps telling me to return and complain, but there's no way I'll let her go near my hair again. more

I have never had such a fabulous hair cut! I have had no 'bad hair days' in between hair cuts for the past two years with Russ Bard. He is a super styler and colorer. Each time I walk out of the salon, I know I will not have a problem with my hair. Couple this with the most wonderful color specilalist. Russ is so talented, he not only hides my grey, but it looks so natural; just like when I was a small girl. Who could resist this type of service? I love the compliments I receive, both style and color, and the knowledge that I can really make my hair behave in between appointments. Thank you, Russ, for your creativity and talent! more

See Antonio for the Best haircut and Amanda for Great color! I strongly recommend Magnolia Avenue Salon especially to those like me that are looking for unpretentious, friendly professionals. My hair is greying prematurely and has drawn embarrassing comments from assoicates and women alike. I'd never colored my hair before and was very skeptical. However, Amanda explained the process completely - and convincingly, and Antonio gave me a great, contemporary cut. They were both professional, expert and even fun to work with. My hair now looks perfect for business and any social occasion. Moreover, I feel and look 10 years younger! Pros: Professional Stylists, Competent Staff more

Before I experienced Karen's talents... I didn't realize I was just tolerating the way my hair looked - now I love it! Karen has a real gift - she's a great listener! You tell her what you're seeking and she delivers. She informs you of her plan and how it works - and the result is always far beyond my expectations. I used to pay double at a salon in SF and never had the results even remotely like Karen provides. One very special thing about her is that she cares about the way you look - possibly more than you even do! Everyone in Marin talks about her talent as a colorist (which is masterly), but her cuts are very special as well. Another thing I really like about her is that she's truly invested in your health. She's had a lot of recommendations regarding my diet etc that has really made a difference in my health,hair, completion, and nails. I've recently moved 3,000 miles away from her salon and am already planning to have her take care of me as frequently as I can get back to Marin.Yes ladies - she's that good... A couple other points to take advantage of while you're there: Amanda gives an amazing blowdry that lasts for days! Another thing special about Amanda is her attention to detail... The one time she did my foils - she scrutinized every hair an my head. The results were incredible. Before Magnolia - I would always just default to requesting a full foil because I like to be very blond. They have been wonderful at recommending when I should really just do a partial. It saves me money and my color stays better balanced. I obviously think this salon is a very special place between the results, customer service, and the genuine care that some people just have and some don't They got it! Pros: They are masters of the whole package Cons: It's a time investment for an exceptional result more