Mockingbird Heights

I have been meaning to post a review for a while, and today was the perfect opportunity. I have been going to Mockingbird Heights for the better part of a year — I have been to Ashley three times now. As a preface, I am super picky and not always the best at communicating what I want. On top of that, I have deceptively thick hair that has proven to be a struggle to get the right cut for in the past. I chose Mockingbird Heights based on Unilocal reviews and just happened to end up with Ashley — boy, was I lucky!
First of all, the shop is classy and cute — it is relaxing to be in and a nice escape from mommy-​world ;) I love when I am in there and the glass of bubbly is a plus as well! Right of the bat, Ashley just seemed to know what I wanted. I had a picture with me and she nailed it! All three times, I have received the best cuts and color I have ever had in my life! Each time we have tweaked the cut and color a little and it has been great! The last time, Ashley styled my hair a little differently, and I love it (so does my hubby!)! I did need to go back and have a little bit of my crazy-​thick hair thinned out, but Ashley worked me in (around my kids’ nap schedule) and fixed it in seconds!
I feel like she listens to me and, even better, understands me when I don’t always communicate well. I love this place and Ashley and can’t recommend it enough!
Thanks, Ashley!

I do not go to the salon for my hair, but for their skin services. Stephanie is absolutely amazing! I have been going to get facials from her for almost a year. I never before got compliments on my skin. I was very acne prone. Since following her product suggestions and going in for a monthly facial; that has all changed! It has been 6 weeks (normally 4) since my last facial, and within two days I have received 2 separate compliments on how great and amazing my skin looks! I must say, there is a huge difference! The products are amazing but so is the gal applying them!

jenny mattos did a wonderful, careful job with a cut/​style on my natural grey bob. she «got me» right away and it has movement with easy to style layers. i’ll be back! its a great cut for traveling and @ home.

I have been going to this salon for a few years and love Michelle who is my stylist. When I called and found she was out on maternity leave, I booked my appointment with Frankie for a cut and Ashley for color. They both were great — very professional and knowledgeable. I especially needed my hair highlighted/​lowlighted this time as it had been a while and was looking pretty awful to me. Once we discussed what I was hoping to do, Ashley did her magic and I felt a ton better walking out of there. Within 24 hours I had 5 people compliment me on my hair and color. She did an amazing job and I really appreciate her. She also was easy to talk to and listened to what I wanted to do with my hair. Everyone at this salon is of the highest quality and they take their profession seriously. They want to make you feel and look better when you walk out of there and I always feel amazing.

Love Mockingbird Heights! A unique, up to date salon in Petaluma with friendly and professional staff. Highly recommend Ashley for cut and color. Not only is she the sweetest but has a good eye for style. I dread coloring my hair but have not a worry in my mind that Ashley will do a great job!

I’ve been going to mockingbird pretty much since it opened. All of the girls here are very friendly, the receptionist, Lindsay, is very efficient. This review is really for Jenny Mattos (Bello) though. She works her magic on my hair every 6 weeks. I constantly get asked where I get my hair done, so much so that I keep a stash of her cards in my wallet to hand out. She has done my hair and make up for countless events from Halloween to my wedding. I have never felt more beautiful or received more compliments that on my wedding day. I gave her an idea of what I wanted and let her take the reins. She does my cut, color, make up and hot heads extensions. If you’re looking for a stylist, she’s your girl. Call and make an appointment now!

Great salon! I’ve only recently started coming here for regular a cut/​highlight and couldn’t be happier. Beautiful, understated salon very friendly staff and Frankie does a super job!

Let me just say I have very long, thick hair which can be very overwhelming for some stylists to deal with. This review is for Tiffany and Michelle. I started going to Tiffany when mockingbird heights first opened and she always did an excellent job on my hair. It was shorter then but she spent time making sure my layers were perfect so that it never looked too bulky.
I recently moved back to the area after graduating and was in desperate need of a cut ASAP. Tiffany’s hours are more limited now that she has had a baby and my friend had highly recommended Michelle so I decided to give her a try. I generally get stylists who are very scissor happy with my long hair, so I feel like I constantly have to defend my reasoning for wanting to keep it long and alway end up with a much shorter length then I want. When I sat down with Michelle she simply said to me, «you know, we don’t have to make it shorter if you don’t want.» Point being, she wanted to give me exactly what I wanted instead of using my hair as a tool to try out whatever she felt like. She listened to what I wanted and gave me an awesome cut with great layers and kept the length. My hair is 5 lbs lighter and still long. Why is it so hard to find stylists who are willing an capable of giving you what you want? Both Tiffany and Michelle are super talented and have kept my hair looking healthy and great.
As somewhat of a hair snob and someone who has tried almost every upscale salon within a 100mile radius (joking…sort of) I can confidently say this is the best salon in Petaluma. They’re prices are so reasonable, the salon is very nice, and they’ve got some really talented girls in there… check it out!

I have been going to Jules for years and have always had the most amazing service! I am always treated like a Queen (and for a working mom of 2) that is rare :). This salon embodies not only amazing stylist but they truly have the art of «service» down pat.
I have never experienced such professionalism and quality in my life at any other salon. I am so grateful to Jules for all she has done for me and my daughter who is a major fan of hers as well!
Thanks for all you do and to all of you definitely visit MBH!!!
Best to you
Dolores

Barb is the best.
I am both painfully indecisive and super critical; turns out this combination isn’t the best when you’re trying to get your hair done. I think the only inspiration I’ve ever given is «make me look like a Victoria Secret model» followed by flashing a photo of Lily Aldridge.
That said, sitting down with Barb I have no question that what I’ll walk out with is exactly what I wanted but couldn’t explain.
Barb is crazy talented, listens really well to what the client wants and is always professional while still being one of the coolest people you’ll probably ever meet.
I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.

Had my first experience here today. Wonderful. I have been a client of Stephanie’s (the new esthetician on staff) for 10+ years. Of course I’m a fan of the best, and thats her.
But this Salon… wow. Clean, upscale, professional, tech savvy, very well appointed. It had a kind of oasis feel to me… calm elegance for a busy woman to step into, indulge, then jump back out into the world renewed.
Looking forward to exploring their other salon offerings. And, of course, sticking with my favorite esthetician, Stephanie !

After living in Sonoma County for 10 – 11 years, I have never been able to find a stable salon to do my hair right. Many times I’ve left salons in tears and anger because my new growth didn’t match the rest of my hair, the lady chopped too much hair off, or simply put, the service that I had received wasn’t even close to what I had asked for originally. However, I heard about this salon through an acquaintance, looked them up, and saw many positive reviews. That being said, I decided to give them a shot. Ashley Hance went above and beyond my expectations and transformed my once poor and unfortunate locks from a brassy, uneven mess to a platinum, beautiful, and perfect head of hair. The salon is very nice, and they use wonderful products that leave your hair feeling soft, smooth, and healthy! All of the ladies who work here are very friendly and most importantly, I felt comfortable and was able to relax throughout the entire process of getting my hair done. I am just so thrilled to have found a wonderful, professional environment where I can trust whoever is doing my hair, knowing that I will walk out happy and feeling beautiful! In general, I had an all around wonderful experience.
The salon is very clean and it is kept very nicely, neat, and organized. Yes, the salon is a little bit on the pricey side, but it is REASONABLY expensive. Do not, and I repeat, do NOT let that keep you from coming here… As the saying goes. «you get what you pay for!» And that saying definitely holds true for Mockingbird Heights. I have never been happier with how my hair looks, and I’ve received so many compliments on my color since getting it done. Thank you Mockingbird Heights, and Ashley! You rule! Unfortunately i’ve been having some financial issues so I’ve been stuck doing my roots on my own for the time being, but once I’m in better standings I will definitely come back and have Ashley work her color magic on my hair again. :)

MBH is an amazing place where everyone is talented.
I can go to anyone there (and have-​Tiffany, Jules, Frankie, Michelle, Barb) and be well taken care of.
Of note I love Julianne’s entire body of work she’s ever done on me for the last 5 years and Barb does an amazing cut that is something special. Both are always booked because they are just that good. I fit into their schedule wherever they will take me.
Tiffany the owner has created quite a salon that I would recommend to anyone. I used to get my hair cut and colored in SF and NY when I lived there and this salon is on par with the best city salon I’ve encountered.

«Michelle» was amazing with my 13 year old. Clearly experienced and qualified! She took the time to ask the important questions and delivered an excellent experience. He loved the cut and we will be back again and again!

I tried this place and got Frankie. After cutting for a bit she told me she was scared to cut more. I had pictures but she didn’t want to see them. She said she understood what I wanted. I wanted to cry. I hated my hair. If I’m going to spend $ 100 plus for a haircut. I expect a more confident hairdresser and not to hate my hair when I leave.

Mockingbird Heights is a hidden gem in Petaluma. I used to get my nails done next door and would see all these gorgeous women walking in and out of the salon. You know you can’t go wrong when the owner and stylists all have amazing hair!
The salon itself is a beautiful oasis (check out the bathroom) you wouldn’t expect for the location. They use all top of the line products and have introduced me to some great treatments for my hair. I have to say I am one of the lowest maintenance people you will meet, and I swim — so I have super damaged hair. My hair is very thin and fragile but I have a lot of it.
The real treasure is Francesca Dente (AKA the original Frankie). She has done my color and cuts for the past year and has literally transformed my hair. My hair is the longest, healthiest, and most beautiful it has ever been (in 34 years)!
I highly recommend you book an appointment with her — she is an all around sweetheart and she knows her stuff when it comes to hair. You will not be disappointed.

I have a lot of hair … and its thick … but Tiffany always finds a way to make it awesome! She does my normal haircuts and is a joy to converse with. All the products she uses for my hair (shampoo, conditioner, and thermal protector) makes my hair really silky and soft.
Tiffany is so great, I had to ask her to do my up-​do for my wedding last week. She opened an hour earlier for me on Saturday, and helped calm me down before the big event. She was able to create a hairstyle that allowed me to keep my veil between three tiers of curls so that people could see my hairbun, but also keep the veil lower in the lower part of my head. Despite the complexity, and the vast amount of hairpins in my head, the up-​do didn’t hurt all day. Everything kept in its place, even in 90 degree Cloverdale-​weather.
I also had Jenny Bello (love her last name!) do my makeup for my wedding. Her work is exceptional! I had never gotten my makeup done before, and she was really nice to accommodate to my requests to keep it looking natural. Nothing looked caked-​on, the colors blended in really well (no color disparity at the hairline/​neck area) and my eyes looked really big and round (a huge advantage when you’re Asian). The makeup stayed on me all day — I never got oily, or felt like there was a huge amount of «stuff» on my face. At the end of the day, I was desperate to figure out a way to preserve my makeup for eternity because I was so in love with it!
I’m so thankful that Tiffany and Jenny were there for me on my wedding day. I couldn’t have asked for better stylists.
Last but not least, I have to mention that the interior to Mockingbird Heights is gorgeous — it feels warm, luxurious, and relaxing. I love going into the little back room to pick up my robe and get my pampering on!

Mockingbird Heights is the cutest boutique salon and located in Petaluma — close to home… two great bonus’ for me.
The third and best of all is finding Michelle — she listened to what I wanted and had the confidence to suggest another idea which turned out to be awesome! She is a talented artist and gifted stylist and did a fabulous job on my crazy textured short hair.

First things first – Thanks to all the previous Unilocalers who steered me in Barb Thompson’s direction!
I made an appointment to get my haircut after having done nothing with it for almost a full year. It was lackluster, I was frustrated. I got lost on the way (I am new to town), showed up late, had to stop the blow dry midway through to keep a work conference call, killed my phone battery, locked my keys in my car… sound like a bad day to you?
Well it wasn’t, for one reason only: Barbara Thompson! She didn’t hesitate for a split second in helping me in every single way she possibly could. What a gem!
After all the mini nightmare’s life tried to throw my way that day, I walked out of that salon smiling ear to ear – the way a girl does when she’s just received the haircut she always wanted but never knew how to ask for. =)

Someone asks me who does my hair on a near daily basis. Its all about Barb. If you need a new hair stylist, she is your best bet. If it won’t work, she’ll tell you. If it can be done, she’ll do it… and better than anyone else.
Barb Thompson, you are a hair god.
xoxo