JC Beauty Salon – JAPAN CENTER-

Very high quality haircut, at premium price.
I usually get my haircut with Keiko Morita, who’s been cutting hair at Japan Center Beauty Clinic right below this salon. She just switched to this salon. You can also tell her how you want your hair to be cut.

I’ve been looking for a good salon to get a haircut in SF for a while and I found this on Unilocal and thought I should try.
I’m so happy with the service, Aya cut my hair exactly the way I wanted.
I’m very satisfied!

I have been using Ageha for years… she’s definitely the best !!
Very skillful, at the same time, and very polite, friendly, sweet girl !!
I totally love her… she totally knows what i want… at the same time, knows what’s good for my hair…
I have been having a hard time find another hair stylist ever since she returned to Japan. I have tried many, but still couldn’t settle with one…
I really missed having Ageha around :~(

I had Charles. He was fun to talk to, very professional, and of course, I loved the cut. I don’t usually come here, but a friend was getting her hair done, so I thought I’d just join. He thinned it out (I have long, thick hair), gave it really nice layers, and opened up the front really nicely. He could tell my hair was wavy (weird for an asian) and layered it accordingly. Washing my hair and letting it air dry as I type and it’s falling very nicely into place! Love the cut.
Apparently he specializes in coloring (too bad I don’t plan on doing that until I need to… aka grey hairs).
I had him put curls in my hair, it was a Saturday night. Turned out awesome. He’s done runway in the past apparently, no wonder it came out so beautifully :)

Noriko has been cutting my hair for 16 years and is by far the best stylist I’ve ever had. Her hair cutting skills are top notch. On top of it, her personality and demeanor with every customer is professional while at the same time caring, sweet, and personable. She is one of the nicest and funniest people I know and she always checks in regarding style, length, etc. and makes sure if I am satisfied throughout. I read some of the other reviews on here, and I can’t stress enough that Noriko is in a class of her own at this salon. Ask for Noriko, you will agree once you’ve gone to her!
Since posting this review, I know that Sumi has left the salon – there are several bad reviews about her. The rest of the staff is excellent and professional.

Tried out the new stylist since my favorite one is on vacation. I got haircut and highlight. The style is not what I expected at the first place but turns out to be way better than what I wanted. I got so much good comments. Thank you, Chris!

I think that this place could be better. First of all, friendliness to customers would go a long way. Nobody greeted with smile when I walked in. I had a hooted sweatshirt on and was told that she couldn’t cut my hair like that. I was apologetic while she was looking for something for me to change into. No smile whatsoever. Maybe they can tell us beforehand what kind of attire to wear to the salon. All of other salons I have been to always had something (like scrub) to change into.
I like the way she cuts, but the only problem is she always cuts shorter than I ask. Her first cut leaves enough length, but usually she keeps cutting, cutting, cutting.
Again, at the casher, I paid almost $ 70, no smile. I like the cut, but it is time to bring business somewhere appreciates my money.

One of the worst haircut ever!!! I usually come here to get a haircut whenever I stop by SF… But this time, I had the worst experience, especially I have go to a wedding later… Very very disappointed.
I showed her a photo of the haircut she cut for me before and she was still able to cut it very differently, 10x shorter on the sides, completely butcher my hair. She was so angrily cutting it that I can feel the hostility…
It took her only 30 mins and I can feel that she just want to get it over with. Putting in no effort at all!!!
Never again! Aya… I will never ever see you again!

I went to get my haircut on saturday two weeks ago, it was
first time on this salon, my hairstylist was Sumi (my boyfriend
recommend her –he got his haircut with her couple times).
My hair is heavy and coarse is hard maintenance, I ask her which
style would fit me and be easy maintenance after conversation we
strongly agreed little short lenght, bottom lenght lighter (but not too
light, not too thin).
Now my hair is light, feels so good, easy maintenance (dry, use
wax styling to make shape).
I really love the layers she did it to the middle to end curvy shaped, she pick
some hair and retouch it, her scissor work feels experience skill.
She is Kind of talkative. I brought 3 photos to find out which hairstyle would
fit me the most, her answer was very clear, showed me some similar
photos.She was knowledgeable to answer my questions, before doing my haircut she show me a photo of what my hairstyle would look like.
She is super friendly, honest person. After my haircut was done she told
me to feel free to call her anytime, not to be shy told me to be straightforward
(about hair questions).
I saw her at kinokuniya bookstore yesterday. She greet me with a big smile
and ask me how I was doing with my new hairstyle I said happy and loving it
She checked with serious eyes at my hairstyle right away she told me she had an idea for my next visit
she showed me a photo on her hairstyle book on hand,
that style I love it is so cute (Surprised how now she knows what kind of style
I like) is just a bit shorter than my current one. I really want to try it, I ask
her if that style would fit me and she said (that my hair quality and face line,
head shape much fit it but finally was up to me the decision. I am very
excited about my next hairstyle we confirmed.

I like it. The best salon I went so far in USA. While I was in China, there are more competitive salons but none of them have such good service Junya provided. He is such a nice guy to start with. My friend and I had a back to back appointment for 2 hours but were late for a bit. He waited for us and still really nice, =_​-​, smiled all the time. I was little worried because my hairs have very curly puffs on on the middles and are damaged really bad from last salon. I was trying to explain to him that I wanted to trim a little bit while having nice layers. So he started off by checking the overall hair conditions and then leads me to wash the hair later. The hair wash is so nice and gentle and he did a good job. I was actually relaxed and enjoyed it.
Then he cut my hair very carefully for almost 50 mins with very serious look. I figure that my hair is very challenge to him. We had some casual talks in between but most of the time, he was just focused on trimming the hair. After he finished, he finally had the brightest smiles I ever seen on a hair stylist. lol, he said he was satisfied with the hair and so am I. I felt with the my hair condition, this is as good as the trimming could get. Of course, if I have spare money to spend for straightening or curling, it could be totally different story. but yea, i am pleased.
The finishing massage on the head and shoulder is enjoyable too. and i was charged 50 for all this. totally worth it. He is popular so the appointment queue is always long. next time I am in town, definitely going to find him and get another haircut.

I don’t kwon why this place has 4 stars overall rating. I’ve never experienced such bad treatment before.
I made an appointment at 2:00pm. They didn’t ask me if I have appointed one to cut my hair. Because my friend told me this solon and I just wanted a trim so I thought I don’t care who would treat my hair. When I came, one male Japanese stylist was cutting a woman’s hair. He told me to seat and wait for a moment. A few minutes later, the stylist (a little fat middle-​age woman) came and she even didn’t introduce her name. I said this is my first time here, she didn’t introduce the general price for hair-​cut or things may be I should know before cutting. Instead, she asked me how I find this place.
I told her I wanna maintain my hair length and have some layers, and also cut for the bang. I explained to her I don’t wanna very short bang and I want my face looks smaller, keeping cute n’ younger. Anyway, I just needed a very simple trim coz I haven’t got hair cut for a half year. She washed my hair and said she will do little cut after blowing. When my hair got dried, she ONLY cut the tips of the bang for seconds. Then, she’s keep blowing my hair and asked I wanna curl or straighten. (I told her I had natural wave before) So, I said «I wanna waves» (I mean the waves I have I wanna keep and not straightened my waves), BUT she took the curling iron… I was so confused, asking her use this. She replied me «you said you wanna curl.» I explained again then she’s trying to FINISH THE CUTTING with applying conditioner on my hair. I felt very RIDICULOUS. I came here for a hair cut and she did nothing. (I can wash my hair and do oil-​treatment by myself). She argued «you don’t want cut the length, you don’t want short bang, you don’t want curling… your friend may feel like why you come here… it seems you didn’t get cut…»
She then talked with the male stylist and made him to cut and refused to deal with my hair and they spoke japanese and it was seem like she’s kinda angry with me. I felt very bad to be treated like that. I was trying to make her understand but she’s angry and keep saying «you want this??? you don’t want this???» sth. like that. I told them I just wanna keep the length and have a trim. If I know how to cut, which part should be cut, which part should maintain, where need layers, how to make top hair looks more heavy or maybe other techniques/​skills to make me looks better, then I don’t need to come. I just cut myself. At last, the male stylist cut a little bit for me. I was very unhappy with today’s experience. She even didn’t apologize.
One more thing, I was charged for 55 $ w/​out tip. (my friend got 48 each time).

I was in an emergency situation last week, I had a very important meeting last Saturday and I looked like a mess by Friday afternoon. I actually didn’t expect I could have the appointment with Junya (hope I spell correctly) before the meeting. Fortunately I got a spot on Saturday morning. That was the first time I’ve ever been there and my friend suggested him all the time. He was quite professional and I had no idea how to describe the style I want, so I just told him please make my face looks smaller and less layers (English is not the first language for both of us). He worked almost an hour on my hair and I was pleasant with what it turned out to be.
Plus, the head/​shoulder massage was pretty good.

This place is RIDICULOUS. I don’t know why Unilocal doesn’t give me ‘0 star’ option, because this salon totally doesn’t deserve any positive evaluation from me.
I made a reservation and went there today. After getting seated, the stylist (middle-​age woman in a silly Hello Kitty costume) asked «what style you want?». I tried to explain verbally and with pictures (*I wanted just a very very simple and ordinary hair style– all what I wanted was just a trim anyway), but she said «I don’t understand what you want. I cannot cut your hair.’ Then she literally KICKED ME OUT of the salon, after that 3 min of conversation.
I was shocked, how can this be even possible!?! Even in a «Japanese» place which is supposed to offer a great hospitality? I mean, I’m a Japanese. If this happened in Japan I’m sure she would have been fired on the spot.
Imagine, you go in to a restaurant (with a reservation) and get seated. Then the waitress asks «what you want?» and you say, like, «well, something light with vegetables…» Then she says «I have no idea what you are talking about. If you don’t know what menu exactly you want to eat, I’m not gonna serve you any food.» and clears up the utensils and table cloth, then walks away. No room for discussion, you can do nothing but to leave.
How super-​rude and unacceptable is that? But that was basically what happened to me in this hair salon. I can’t believe it.
At the very least, they have absolute zero respect for my time, taking train+bus all the way from East Bay to this Japan Town (1.5 hr one way).
So, the bottom line: All Unilocal readers! Please, please, please, DO NOT go here. This place must close as soon as possible, for god’s sake.

I came to this salon with high hopes but left in disappointment. I described to my stylist Sumi the haircut that I wanted, she nicely convinced me to try what she had in mind even after I repeatedly told her what I wanted. In the end, I’m left with a short mullet with short layers that only cover my eyes. It will take a year to grow the layers back out… If you try this place be sure to bring visual aid and INSIST on the style that YOU want, don’t let the stylist talk you into trying the style they have in mind.

After calling different places around the city for an appointment and having no luck, I finally was able to reserve a spot at JC in Japantown Kinokuniya Plaza this afternoon for a shampoo/​blow-​dry/​flat-​iron. I was a bit nervous at first, because I have long, frizzy/​curly hair and I have been turned away a few times (or worse, had a stylist completely mess it up) at various salons around the Bay Area. I took a chance on this one because the great reviews suggested the stylists are very skilled and it was the only place around with an open appointment: P
For those of you who enjoy some hard scratching during your hair wash, this place is fantastic. I felt refreshed and completely clean after my stylist went over my scalp so many times. I only wish she had used some leave-​in smoothing conditioner, as it would’ve made her next task much easier.
My stylist tried a few different combs to approach the tangles that had formed, and I could sense a little frustration as she commented, «Your hair’s really curly, isn’t it?». I get this a lot, but I’m glad that instead of just sticking to one method, she thought for a bit and found what works. She chose to apply some smoothing serum, switched to a large brush, and then blow-​dried while combing through with her fingers. After that, she parted my hair into sections and straightened it with a flat iron in very small pieces to achieve the sleekest look.
I paid $ 50 for this style, which I think is a reasonable price for the city. Other salons I found online seemed to start at $ 60 just for wash/​blow-​dry. I was very satisfied with the finished product and will definitely visit again when I’m in Japantown!

So apparently Ageha no longer works there *sob sob*, so I made an appointment with Sumi. She’s really helpful in giving suggestions– I came in with an idea and she recommended longer layers.
I’ve gotten so many compliments!
Only downside– no head/​shoulder massage. D:

This place is the 2^nd location/​expansion to the Japan Center Beauty Clinic downstairs. Hands down, the best! And I only get my cuts by my boy JUNYA!
I love how I can go to him and vaguely describe what I want with my hair, and he does what is asked, but even better! Usually other haircut places, i have to tell them what number cut do I want? And I’m thinking, how the hell should I know?!
I trust Junya so much, I can just go in and tell him to do whatever and he gets the job done. I believe trust is the most important thing when it comes to a haircut, so you can feel comfortable, stress-​free and not worry about getting a bad hair cut. Because everybody knows a bad hair cut = end of the world. Speaking of stress-​free, I love the complimentary head and shoulder massages after the 4 different kinds of shampoo & conditioner rinse! Money well spent every time! And yes, I, a straight guy, will spend a good amount of money for a nice hair cut.
TIP: If you want to book Junya to cut your hair, expect at least a 2 week advance booking.

Junya! What else can I say?
I’ve been going to Junya for haircuts, straightening, color for years. He is super reliable and has NEVER disappointed me. He knows what suits me best and gives the greatest shoulder and head massage ever. :p
He’s on the quiet side, which is great because I’m not into loud nosy hairstylists. Love this place.

This Salon is simply an extension to Japan Center Beauty Clinic downstairs. Some of the staff downstairs have moved their stations upstairs, including Aya.
So now, I come to this Salon now. The only slightly annoying thing I had to get used to was the fact that they have a different phone number from downstairs, so you can’t call the old number you are used to to make your appointments. Otherwise, it’s the same staff, in a newer room/​mirror/​seats etc.
So if you want to book Aya, be sure to call this salon instead of downstairs!

It’s the same crew from the Japan Center Beauty Clinic downstairs. You can definitely trust them! I’ve been going to Junya for haircuts for YEARS. Very friendly, easy to work with, never messes up. Love him!