Sam and Bill’s Hair Design

I am loyal to Sam and Bills salon, they are great! My stylist is Whitney, and she does amazing work with my hair. I have always had complaints and trouble because I have a lot of hair, but Whitney takes her time and I have never been disappointed. So glad I have finally found such a great stylist!

I’ve been getting my hair cut by Shilo for well over a year now. She is nothing short of a miracle worker. She can make me look handsome in half an hour and more importantly she can make me feel comfortable and entertained while doing so.
Sam & Bills is a fantastic business filled with the upmost professional people. I have never had a single reason to complain about a thing. Thank you, Shilo especially, for constantly making me handsomified!

I’ve been getting my haircut here for almost a year now. Stephanie Anne always does an excellent job on my hair. It is very easy to schedule appointments, and they are very accommodating for my schedule.
The one time in the past six months that I got my haircut somewhere else, my wife almost kicked me out of the house. It looked like my hair had been attacked by a badger. Don’t make the same mistake that I did.
The staff is super friendly, and they remember you by name when you come in. Top-​notch service, and top-​notch haircuts.

Don’t Say That You Don’t Like Your Cut or You’re Fired!
For the record, I’m writing this review based on my experience only — it was the positive reviews of others that made me want to try this business in the first place.
I arrive at the appointment, meet the stylist — she’s friendly, has great hair, I’m thinking this is a good start. We discuss my hair issues — my previous stylist that I loved moved out of state so I’m in hair purgatory at the moment — and agree on a style. Unfortunately, her vision and mine were not in sync when the cut was finished — I’ll get to that in a sec.
As the stylist was cutting my hair, I noticed she favored the right side. I finally asked if she was going to cut more off the left to make both even and she did — a bit, but it was (is) still uneven (not intentionally). When she was finished, I didn’t get that «LOVE IT» feeling — it looked lopsided and like I was wearing a helmet in the front. I had asked for lighter, fringed bangs — they’re heavy and cut in an uneven diagonal line (NOT fringed). She was going for a bob, but the front is choppy, the back is cute, and there are two sides hanging long in between that make no sense whatsoever (those sides need to be shorter to blend in better). Maybe if I was sitting for a photo, those odd sides would work, but they look like dog ears (behind the front cut).
I did see good parts of the cut, didn’t care for the helmet front, should have said something then, but didn’t want to make a big deal out of it (especially as she was telling me how horrible her former boss was and how she cried every day at the other place — I didn’t want to upset her — and note to stylist: customers don’t really want to hear this). So I kept my mouth shut, paid, and went to lunch and looked at my hair more — my friend with me agreed it seemed like two different cuts (and wasn’t working) — RANDOM people I asked said similar. Before I drove home, I called the salon back and was told that the stylist wasn’t busy at that moment and I could come back then for her to fix it.
I did and the stylist gave me a major attitude right from the start telling me it was ‘what we discussed’. NOTE: I was not angry with that stylist — but I did not think she was going to hear what I was trying to say because she was defensive as soon as I walked into her room. I returned to the reception desk and asked if someone else could help me (I told her what happened). The reception person was very nice, looked for someone else, but all were busy with other clients. Another person came out and said someone would ‘fix it’ but again, all were busy. They finally said that one of the owners would fix it but she was busy for at least another 25 minutes. I couldn’t wait that long to then get it re-​cut so I scheduled an appointment for another day and I left thinking that all was well.
The following day, I get a call from the guy that owns the place asking me what happened. I told him — and he implied that it was I who had the attitude and ‘made a scene’. HONEST TO GODDESS READERS OF THIS REVIEW — I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT! I thought all was fine when I left the second time — and was happy that an owner would see the work that was done when I went in the following week.
The other owner seemed more worried that his customers heard me discussing the problem at the desk — the salon is small and people are having their hair cut in that vicinity (granted, I was speaking in my normal tone of voice — not whispering). If he’s so concerned about people overhearing anything that may make his salon seem less than perfect, then add a private consultation room to avoid this.
Neither owner ever saw what my hair looks like — they have no idea of how the finished cut looks now. Instead, Greg said he’d refund my money and wished me well with another salon (this all on the phone). You know what? I’m better than fine with that.
UPDATE: Greg is not being completely honest w/​his response here. My account of what happened is not dramatized (albeit a touch of humor was intended), it is accurate. As we spoke (on phone), Greg was fine about my coming back until I said the salon was small (which is why someone may have overheard), then he abruptly said he would refund my money. Defensive much?
I paid $ 50 for a water spritz (no wash), cut, & blow dry. The cut was bad — all I wanted was for the front to blend in with the back. Something they could have fixed it in minutes, but instead I was treated as if I had done something wrong because I chose to tell them about it. That’s just not fair — especially since neither owner saw the cut.
For the record, we own a business too — and our customers are NEVER treated like that.

Great location and reputation — however, as I chose them for being a Redken salon, and gave them the formula used in my hair, was very disappointed with the end result.

I moved to Raleigh in 2003 and have been going to Sam and Bill’s ever since. Jessica is wonderful and she always has great suggestions on what to do with my hair next whether it’s a cut or color. Jessica’s cutting techniques always make my hair look great with little styling needed. I’m a wash and dry kinda girl, but still want to look trendy and Jessica gives me just that.

kari is the best!!!

I love getting my hair cut here-​such a great location and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Sarah cut my hair most recently, and she was great! Although it is a little pricey for college students, I think it’s worth it.

Jessica is great. Once I found her, I knew I’d go nowhere else in Raleigh for a haircut. the staff is very nice; the space is a converted house, which I love; and I appreciate their text/​email reminder system so I won’t forget an appointment. whether you go for a basic trim or something a bit more stylish, Sam and Bill’s is a great place to go.

Growing up, I was taught a very important lessons by my father:
«You NEVER pay for cheap sushi or cheap haircuts. Nothing good can come from either of those decisions.»
It took a few poor decisions of my own before I stumbled upon Sam and Bill’s. It’s location is fairly ideal (near NCSU and Cameron Village), but the house that the business occupies can blend quietly into the neighborhood if you aren’t actively looking for it. Nevertheless, the salon is friendly and inviting and all of the staff members do a great job of making you feel at ease. I judge a salon/​barbershop by their ability to really listen to the customer; to do what we want rather than what the professional thinks is best. As the great GE Executive Jack Donaghy once said, «my hair is my headsuit,» then I feel the same damn way. Sam and Bill’s stylists always listened to my needs, spent extra time dealing with my picky nuances and in the end, delivered a consistently outstanding haircut for around $ 20.
Great place to go if you are looking for rock-​solid salon in Raleigh.

Nice atmosphere, friendly folks. I got a cut and color. I would have given it a five; however, discovered I had a big streak of dye on the side of my cheek after I got home. A bit embarrassing as I’d stopped for lunch after getting my hair done.

Greg and Sandy Brown own Sam and Bill’s, which is located in a charming 90 year-​old restored home that has a warm and inviting atmosphere featuring hardwood floors, fireplaces, and a coffee bar for your comfort. Conveniently located beside Cameron Village in the heart of Raleigh, additional treats of new restaurants and shopping are only a few steps away.
I got my hair cut and colored by Erin, who was outstanding. I can’t speak for any of the other stylists, but Erin does great color, cuts and does the best temporary straightening of curly hair I’ve seen. My hair is REALLY curly, and she made it perfectly straight and not frizzy. Trust me that is not easy to do.
It’s nice to support a place where the owners and everyone who works there takes such pride in their business. Greg, the owner, greeted me by name after meeting me one time, 2 months earlier. And, he even remembered that I was in a band and asked me about that. It’s nice to find well-​run small businesses and even better when you get a great haircut and color!