Luigi Bruni Capelli Moderni

My stylist was Christy (or Kristie, not sure how to spell her name). From the second we met, I had a feeling — that feeling you have on a blind date that it’s about to get really awkward.
My entire life, I have been a big chicken about getting my haircut because I donate 14″ at a time every 2 years to Locks of Love. When I met Christy, I told her that. Instead of easing my apprehensions, she gave me attitude for being nervous… and berated me for choosing to donate to Locks of Love instead of a local organization. From the get go, Christy was already acting like she was doing me the greatest favor by spending every second of the time I had paid her to do my hair. I had arrived 10 mins early to discuss my hairstyle that I wanted. After all, 14″ is a little more than just a trim.
Christy approached me 2 mins after our appt time, and this was our conversation:
CHRISTY (intimidatingly): «you have a lot of hair, I don’t have time to let you go through all these styles. We need to get started if we’re going to be done ***on time***»
ME (timidly): «well, can we please at least discuss what you’re going to do before we just chop it off?»
CHRISTY (annoyed): «well, I’ll do long layers… do you want to do this? if not, then you can stop now.»
ME (anxious/​scared): «No no I just want to make sure we are on the same page about what I want. My previous stylist would always do a lot of layers because I have a lot of hair and it weighs down around my crown.»
CHRISTY (disrespectfully): «Ew, that’s not my style… that’s an ugly mushroom. NO.» …VERBATIM
ME (after 10 – 15 minutes of her blowdrying, though she’d been so rude): «Thank you for your patience»
CHRISTY: «Oh I’m used to all this now»
…Like seriously? My previous hairstylist spent 1.5 hours with me and made sure I loved my style, AND would be easygoing and talk to me the whole time. I missed her so much during this extremely uncomfortable encounter. ***45 min *** = Luigi’s ridiculously short time slots, which are supposed to include style consultation, hair wash, conditioning, cut, blowdry, and finishing touches… I’m sorry… Are you all robots?
In the end, Christy cut my hair 3 inches shorter than we had «discussed»…after a 1-​year wait of finding the right stylist, it only took 45 minutes for my hair to disappear from being at my butt, to now being at my shoulders. In addition, when I asked to see the back, she rushed me to finish up saying «yeah, great, it looks great… ok bye!»
…I have no idea what I paid $ 60 bucks for…
To be judged about my donation choice?
To be mocked about my hairstyle preference?
To be told I’m being a nuisance for being nervous?
To be rushed, disrespected, and dismissed by my dresser?
To have 14″ of my hair chopped off hastily without any solid consultation first?
To literally feel like I had been on one of the most awkward «dates» of my life???
I strongly believe in tipping people in customer service… but this is one of the RARE occasions where I did not leave a tip. Christy, I’m truly sorry we had this encounter. I don’t know what your problem was with me. But women trust you with one of their most vulnerable assets. Please don’t take that trust for granted. I really wish you had taken more time to listen. Good luck with your future clients.

Ashley Palenkas is the best stylist in the state of MI! She specializes in color correction, great lengths extensions, hair styles for special events, make up, and more. She’s super friendly and really FUNNY! Ashley is always smiling. She is passionate about the fashion industry and it shows! She is always up to date on the latest trends and styles and always has amazing suggestions on a little change. I get so many compliments on my hair everywhere I go, thanks ASHLEY! I always look forward to how beautiful she makes me feel after an appointment with her. Plus she uses the best smelling products in the industry. JUST LOVE ASHLEY P! MY STYLIST FOR LIFE!

While the salon and general vibe within is fair for Birmingham wannabe standards, this review gets 1-​star after my many attempts to get a haircut and color that I ask for (but unfortunately never get). The finished product itself is fair… but when a person asks a hairstylist for long layers and instead gets a medium bob with no layers, there’s a problem. I can’t speak about any of the other staffers, but I will say that Jenna never delivers the basic cut requested.
Here’s the thing — if a skilled hairdresser can’t deliver a cut, whether it be because of one’s hair texture, length, etc. then said stylist should use her big girl words to convey that message. That would be the obvious thing to do. Though, I don’t think Jenna scores very high on the IQ meter.
Speaking of meters… I also feel slightly annoyed for reasons the average reader may not agree with, but here it goes… I am a very generous tipper (we’re talking 40% tip even for the cuts I am not happy with). The last time I was there, my car needed quarters for the meter (this is never a habitual problem for me when at the salon). I was in the middle of a haircut and couldn’t get to my car. Jenna seemed so sweet, having someone run to the meter for me. I reached for my purse and she said, «Don’t worry about it». Now, I wouldn’t expect the salon to foot the bill for every meter that expired. I do however feel that it’s good customer service for Jenna to dig deep into her pockets for 4 quarters without feeling the need to add a dollar to my haircut… especially when I give her a minimum for $ 20 (yes, sometimes I give $ 30) for a $ 50 haircut. I mean, if the tables were turned, I would’ve filled the meter once with my four quarters. I understand not everyone is like me and I am not an entitled idiot who got where I am in life because I know the owner of a salon. Not sure if that’s Jenna’s scenario, but I can’t imagine her getting a job at Luigi Bruni on her own «merit». I mean, how could she? She doesn’t listen to her client and doesn’t communicate appropriately. She’s an average hairdresser at a «high-​end» salon. It doesn’t add up.
Everyone else seems so amazing at the salon. I have friends who go to other people at LB and they get awesome results. It was their contentment that led me to the salon. Unfortunately, I asked the wrong patron for the wrong referral.
As a means of paying it forward, I will do you a favor. Here’s my referral to you, the reader: the salon itself is fine. While most people love their hairdressers, I would suggest you make an appointment with anyone there BUT Jenna.

I called Luigi Bruni on a Saturday in a total bind and in need of a blowout. They set me up with Kevin and OMG he was the best stylist I’ve ever worked with. I have naturally curly hair and he knew to flat iron the kinks along my hairline (since I usually do that after all my other blowouts I’ve had). He was personable and honest, and I truly enjoyed my time with him. I will definitely be back even if I do have to drive 30 minutes to see him!

Tony is amazing! I was in town for a family wedding and wanted to get a blow out and got hooked up with him and I’m thankful I did! Super sweet, great personality and did an amazing job with my hair (I have a lot of hair that has natural curl that take forever to blow dry and style — hence why I don’t do it myself) thanks Tony!

Patti is the bomb! She kills it everytime! I’ve had a variety of cuts & color treatments from Patti @ luigi bruni over the years. She has an amazing talent, & is able to give me exactly the look I want, even when I don’t even know what I want (I’ve had quite a range of looks throughout the years lol)! She has a magic touch that creates supermodel sexy hair. The service quality far exceeds any other salon I’ve been to. It is worth the $. I wish I could have Patti blow dry my hair everyday!

I’ve had two fantastic experiences at Luigi, both with Christy. The salon itself is glitzy and vibrant and usually very busy, so make sure you have an appointment ahead of time.
Christy is very knowledgeable and listens to what you have to say about your hair and what you want done to it, and she’s quite reasonably priced for a Birmingham salon.
The first time I went I had Christy style my hair for my senior prom, and it looked STUNNING. I showed her a picture and she was able to give me just what I wanted — it looked great in pictures and was super flattering to my face and my existing highlights in my hair. I went back recently to get a few inches cut off, and it turned out beautifully — my hair is so much easier to style and looks fantastic. I highly reccomend Christy!
The only small downside is parking. The street parking outside the salon and on the strip can be anxiety inducing because the street is so narrow.

Made an appointment with Jenna, and she is amazing! I didn’t have a look in mind, I just wanted my hair to look good and refreshed for summer. Jenna took the time to get to know my hair and gave me a cut and color that went beyond my expectations. I received so many compliments after seeing her. She is so sweet and you can tell she is passionate about what she does. I have never stuck with a stylist for long because I couldn’t find someone I really loved, but I think I finally found my hair home.

I had a fantastic experience at Luigi. I came here for my brother’s wedding to get dolled up with the bride-​to-​be and her bridal party. I had my first updo in over 10 years, and absolutely loved it. Kelly did an AMAZING job, and I cannot wait to return for a haircut when I’m in town in July. She did this really sleek Mad Men-​era pony look on me, and it lasted all night.
I also had my makeup done and was beyond impressed. I wish I had 10 more formal events to go to so that I could have Haley do my makeup. It was so light and classy — I felt super sophisticated with the hair and makeup combined. I may have my makeup done for my sister’s bridal shower, just because. I’m that obsessed with the look she did.
The total for both services before tip was $ 150, and it was entirely worth it.

This is the best salon I have ever been to. I’d like to detail every section of my visit, so bear with the length of this review!
1. The Salon Itself
This salon is tucked into the heart of the cute shopping sector of Birmingham, Michigan. There are a ton of upscale and boutique shops surrounding the salon which adds a level of prestige to the salon itself. As you walk into the salon (downstairs), you are greeted with brightness. The salon has a color palate of whites, blacks, and silvers. I felt like I was walking into a nice salon in Los Angeles instead of Birmingham. And the floor! I’m obsessed with the floor. It looks like it’s sparkled-​concrete.
2. The Style
Perhaps the most important part of the review: the style. I am (or was) a dark brunette and I wanted to go blonde, i.e. Khloe Kardashian’s latest color. The entire process took over four hours, but the product is flawless. I was colored by Kevin (HIGHLY recommend). Obviously, the process took a very long time, but it was well worth it. A botched blonde dye-​job looks atrocious, and the care that was taken into ensuring my hair looked great was obvious. I had little to no breakage and even with the intense processing, my hair still feels relatively healthy.
3. The Experience
When you walk in, you are greeted by extremely kind receptionists. They give you a robe and they offer you water, tea, or coffee. Also this is standard, it is still a very welcomed thing. I believe there was a wedding party (or two) in the salon as well, so the place was packed. However, nobody looked stressed and everyone acted extremely professional. I have been to many salons where the stylists gossip about each other or their clients, but this could not be further from the case here. Other stylist would come by and ask if anyone needed help or to compliment how great Kevin was doing. The only thing that irks me at salons is when stylists mess with their own hair during the day, like curling it or styling it between clients. I think this is a personal annoyance and not an actual problem, however. The price of my experience DID cost an arm and a leg, but for finding a stylist and a salon that is phenomenal and getting an amazing color, it was well worth it.
Also, the owner is awesome!

I moved to Birmingham just about a week ago from Marina del Rey, CA and was guided to Luigi by my husband, a local wedding photographer…(«Brides LOVE Luigi», he said!) and upon calling the salon Luigi was happy to accept a new client! Not only is he an AWESOME hair stylist (I had cut and color) who knows EXACTLY what I needed, he is a super cool fun guy! His assistant Nicole was a doll as well and the salon was fantastic … They have a client for life in me!

Where to begin… LUIGI!!! Such an amazing human being! Beyond skilled in his profession and definitely on the cutting edge of all things GLAM! A joy to be around and he always puts a smile on my face:)
The Vibe from the moment you walk in is similar to walking on the set of a glamorous photo shoot. It’s like walking into a beautiful dream. It’s exquisite and reminiscent of a boutiquey salon in Manhattan!
They have an awesome line of products that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else, so come prepared if your a product junkie like me!
The staff is always pleasant, knowledgable and looking like a page out of Vogue!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Did I say I LOVE this place?! LOVE XO

I’m fairly new to Michigan and have been dreading finding a hairdresser. I’ve been putting off a haircut since I moved here, but finally followed the advice of Unilocal and made an appointment with Ashley at Luigi Bruni. So glad I did!
The salon is very nice — clean, friendly, professional, etc. Ashley is super sweet and knew exactly what I wanted without me having to say hardly anything. She did an amazing job bringing life back to my dull head of hair, and took her time making sure it was just right. I am so happy with the results and will definitely be back again soon. I’m planning to try coloring my hair on my next visit, and fully trust that Ashley will do a great job.
Prices were very reasonable, although to be fair, I’m used to paying NYC prices. My cut and blow out was $ 65 (before tipping) if that helps.
As a side note, Ashley’s business card says she also does makeup application. If her own makeup is any indication, I imagine she is very talented at that as well. I’ll certainly give it a try if the weather ever warms up enough for me to leave my house!

This place is the best! From calling to schedule an appointment, to text and email reminders, to checking in, getting your hair done, and finally checking out-​everyone is super professional, nice and accommodating! They always work to squeeze in your appointment and are not at all upset if you have to reschedule last minute. The inside of the salon is great, and they always have champagne on request, gratis. The product selection is fantastic (hello, Oribe!) and well priced too. I get my hair done by Ashley and she is AMAZING! So sweet, always remembers little things about you, and best of all does an amazing job! I am hair-​hopeless, but she always gives me quick tips for at home that actually work and I can actually recreate. I will be going here for a long time! The only tiny bummer is poor cell service inside, but it really gives you an excuse to unwind and unplug!

Love this salon! Ashley P cuts my hubby’s hair and my hair… we just adore her! I am getting tons of compliments on my color too (which Ashley did!) love love love this salon and I can’t wait to go back again!!!

To be honest I only started coming to this salon because my stylist Amy moved here. My first appointment at the new salon was great! I have to say they hands down have the koolest floor you will ever see, it is all sparkles which I love! The salon overall is very beautiful, a lot nice then the salon Amy moved from. The staff is very friendly and there is a good vibe throughout the whole place. I like the parking here also, although you still have to pay it is available right outside the front door, so you don’t have to park down the street and walk. I will definitely be coming here as long as Amy stays.

When I moved to Michigan from Las Vegas, I decided I would have to find someone new to do my hair (highlights and base), rather than continue to fly into Las Vegas every couple months to see my long-​time hair stylist there. I chose this place based on the reviews on Unilocal,and got an appointment with Ashley. She is beyond talented. It is seriously like magic how she gets my almost-​black hair to look like I’ve been the most gorgeous shade of blond since birth. She also is great at cuts and drying my hair to be frizz-​free (not an easy task). The salon, itself, is nice and carries top-​of-​the-​line salon products.

Amazing salon with very talented staff. I have been getting my hair done/​colored by Luigi since before he opened his salon and have followed him throughout his career because he is just that good. I get compliments on my hair on a daily basis. Renata is an incredible manicurist. Highly recommend!

Beautiful salon, equally beautiful staff. So far, I have loved the services at Luigi. My close friends have been coming here for some time, and I finally made the switch– and I’m glad I did! My hair looks better than usual. The vibe here is friendly and welcoming, not snobby, so don’t be scared! I feel the prices are right in line with any other salon in the area, but I think you will get a little more for your buck at Luigi Bruni. I have been buying Oribe hair products here for a while, you will simply LOVE them. Just like I recommend medical skin care products for their effectiveness, I recommend Oribe for his genius hair transforming line. Google him if you don’t know who he is.

Best haircut and eyebrows I have ever gotten. Granted the haircut cost me about $ 70 and $ 30 for the eyesbrows (120 with tip included)…it still was well worth it.
I got my hair cut there probably 2 years ago (long time. and about 5 cuts ago) and I totally forgot who cut my hair. The owner was busy at the time but the girl was super nice. Everyone else walking around looked like they had just walked out of a mag after they were finished.
Eyebrows were def more expensive then anywhere else I have gone and she used tweezers and other tools (no threading or waxing) but she made them look great. I ended up taking a pic and trying to keep the shape but if you want a new look and eyebows to got perfectly with your face I would recommend going there. The girl who is amazing at eyebrows is Leslie and so call ahead to make sure she has a spot if you are getting your hair done too. I don’t think there is anywhere else. in chicago, ny, or LA i have found that does such a great job in eyebrows. Maybe eliza in NYC but not sure?
There was a lot of great energy at the salon, everyone was helpful in explaining products and not pushing it on you, it was fun spending the time getting the talk and talking to my stylist and not just awkward chitchat. Everyone was pretty outgoing and stylist and knew what would look good on you and how to keep it that way.
The only down side was that it was more of high maintenance haircut then I would have liked and looked AMAZING the first few weeks and then I just let it grow out. I go to school so no way I could go back and keep getting it cut (I wish i could). It grew out really well. which is how I tell it was a good cut in the first place. They do an amazing job with bangs and how you want your hair and color to go for the entire look.