The Orchid Salon

I got my haircut by Kim a couple of years ago using a LivingSocial deal and was happy with the results. I wasn’t sure I was going to stick with her, though, as I live in Pleasanton and it seemed like a slog to get to her salon, despite her BART-​convenient location. But she absolutely makes me love my hair and is worth the cost and time of my trip to SF. Plus, she is a real sweetie! I can’t recommend her enough.

I have been going to Kim at the Orchid Salon for two years now and I absolutely love her. I started out with a Living Social deal, as I was looking for someone new to work with my hair. I’d done some shopping around of different stylists in SF, but couldn’t find someone who I connected with and never was quite satisfied with my hair after an appointment.
I’m blonde, and my hair is (more or less) straight, but over the years I’ve gone darker. I started highlighting ten years ago (always professionally) but my hair had become very dry and frizzy and broke constantly at the ends. Despite using high end shampoos/​conditioners and leave-​in products, it was obvious that some subpar work was doing damage.
From the first appointment on, I immediately felt comfortable with Kim. I am always thrilled with the cut and color, she listens to what I have to say and has never pressured me into a cut or treatment I did not want. She’s also very knowledgable and I enjoy hearing the science and explanations behind why/​how she does what she does. In the two years since I’ve been going to her my hair has returned to a happy and healthy state and looks shiny and new for long after our visits.
In addition to being an excellent hair stylist, Kim is very personable and sweet. I immensely enjoy our sessions together, it always feels like I’m visiting a friend and look forward to my next appointment.
I highly, highly recommend her.

Kim is wonderful. I finally have found the perfect hair stylist after trying many different places and never getting the perfect result. She is caring, listens to what you want, explains every step and gives you the perfect result you want. Her expertise and knowledge is amazing. Also, with her super friendly behavior makes you feel comfortable all the time. Lover her, totally. I will only go back to her for my haircut as long as I am in Bay Area.

I have been seeing Kim for my color and cut for over a year and LOVE her! She is extremely knowledgeable about her craft, listens to what you what, and most of all is a caring and fun person to talk to during the appointment. She always gives me a hairstyle that I want to show off! She also carries excellent products, but is never pushy about selling them. At my appointment this past weekend, I purchased a Wet Brush-​Pro from her that is a safe brush to use on wet hair. I love this product! And I have Kim to thank as her expertise led me to the right tool. Without a doubt, Kim is the best!

Very happy with my experience. I got my cut and color yesterday and I spent a lovely afternoon with Kim, hiding away from the rain, while she worked her magic with my hair. She made me some hibiscus tea and we had a nice chat and by the end of it I was transformed into this sexy, blond, irresistible creature… ok, just kidding, but I did look pretty good ;) I left a happy camper and I will definitely be back…

Kim is wonderful. Although she is a one-​woman show she always makes me feel like I’m at a spa. She is calming and encouraging and isn’t afraid to make a suggestion or disagree if it is in your best beauty interest. She is also very gentle with her mannerisms and the way she handles you.
I highly recommend!

I have been to many salons over the years and, having recently moved from Boston, have been on the hunt for a salon to call «home» in the Bay Area. I live in Rockridge, so the prospect of going into the city on a regular basis to have my hair colored and cut seemed unrealistic, but I got a Living Social deal and decided to give Kim a try.
First off, this is an incredibly easy and convenient place to get to. 20 minutes door to door (by BART) makes it as convenient as any local salon in Oakland or Berkeley. It’s an adorable and cozy nook — one of a series of one-​room, one-​person salons in what appears to be a refitted office building a block from the Montgomery BART station. The salon is comfortable and bright and warm, personal and private, and the nature of the space enhances the sense of spending time being individually pampered and attended to by Kim, who is simply a delightful person.
Beyond her lovely nature, though, (and perhaps even more important), she is clearly an incredibly knowledgeable professional. I have quite awful hair — thin and fine and have had some recent issues with my scalp. Kim examined my scalp carefully, clearly knew what she was doing, and made very thoughtful and sophisticated comments and suggestions about caring for my hair and scalp in addition to recommending a dermatologist (at my request). She asked detailed questions about my hair and made choices as to product, color and cut based on the personal and complex profile that she was clearly assembling.
In the end, she did as lovely a job on my hair as I have ever had. Generally, while I may like the color and cut that I’ve gotten, I often can’t wait to get home, wash and restyle it — I have almost never liked the way may hair looked coming straight from a salon. Today, though, I passed several mirrors on my way home and felt that my hair could not have looked better: I had no thought of restyling (or doing just a bit of my own trimming…). I will certainly be returning to Kim as my regular colorist/​stylist and cannot recommend her highly enough.

I got a living social deal and tried this salon out. Here is my four word review. Ready?
Kim Rocks — Go There.

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Kim and the amazing cut/​color she did for me! I will definitely be coming back! Such a cute little place! Thinking of getting a pixie cut soon and I will be coming back to Kim for it for sure: D

I purchased a living social deal and was able to set up an appointment with Kim within a reasonable time frame. She is extremely friendly and did an amazing job on my hair! Located in the financial district her salon is very easy to find, it’s small but extremely cozy. Kim took the time to listen to my needs even prior to my visit and give me her intake on how to go about with my hair services without extremely damaging my hair. I went in for a cut and color; she gave me great tips on how to style my hair without any chemicals or heat. Her head massage was so soothing it almost put me to sleep. She took the time to explain step by step what she was doing to my hair. Kim is so personable and professional and did an amazing job on my hair! I enjoyed my experience visiting Kim!
I have always bounced around salons because I had never encountered a stylist who I was ultimately happy with, until now! I can honestly say I will definitely be going back to see Kim for my future hair needs and will definitely be recommending her to others! Kim Rocks!

Ok– I have never once Unilocaled. I actually kind of loath Unilocal because everyone thinks they are a professional critic on every subject and sometimes these bad reviews really hurt a good, small business that is trying to make its way. I know people who are good at their jobs and work hard in a competitive city that have actually been fired over a bad Unilocal review. Good employees who had a bad day. NOT cool.
All that being said– I wanted to put out some good vibes and love for Kim at The Orchid Salon. Yesterday was my first trip to her salon which is on market street in an awesome co-​op type space that is convenient to get to by bart, muni or on foot.
She listened to what I was looking for, gave great feed back and did an awesome job on my color, cut and fabulous blow out. She also just one great chick and we had great conversations. I totally support her and her business and highly recommend her to anyone. Get in There!
Thanks Kim

Had my hair done with Kim for the first time yesterday (color + cut). Fantastic experience. I really appreciate her incredibly personal approach — she takes the time to listen and get to know your personality, preferences and gives her input and professional advice. Her salon is also very cozy (its a 1-​person room on a floor with many other similar salons), and it feels incredibly «zen» just being there.

Tonight was my first salon experience with Kim and I was beyond thrilled with the results. She was incredibly nice and really great at her job. The experience from start to finish was beyond expectations.
She was not only easy to talk to but offered me great tips about my hair without pushing products or treatments on me.
I will most definitely be back!

My salon experience was great from start to finish. Kim is attentive, experienced, and friendly. I bought the Living Social deal and although Kim didn’t have availability for a couple of months out, I’m glad I waited.
Kim listened to what I wanted to do with my hair and she was very supportive. She previously taught at the Paul Mitchell School and I trusted her expertise and recommendations.
She was also very aware of my time since I had taken a lunchtime appointment and had to head back to work. She finished up my haircut/​blowdry in a little over an hour.
I will definitely be going back to Kim for my next haircut!

Kim is awesome. I came in for the first time with a Living Social deal.
I really enjoyed my time in her salon, which is so conveniently located right near Montgomery BART. She listened to what my needs were (cut off the super dry ends and cover up the grays with some lovely color) and she totally delivered! She was careful, meticulous and fun to talk to the whole long time I was there getting colored and cut. She also took the time to explain what she was doing, what products she was using and why, and to give me tips on styling, etc.
She also sends reminders via text and email about your appt so that’s convenient.
I walked out of her salon feeling amazing! My hair looks lovely.
I highly recommend you book with her.

Kim is wonderful and very professional. I had the long hair and I came to do a short bob, she was fantastic and did an awesome job, exactly as I wanted it to look.
I’ll be coming back because I had the most fulfilling experience with this hairstylist. She gives best head massage too!

If I could give more stars, I would! Kim is fantastic! I went there for a highlight, cut and blowout, and Kim took the time to listen to my situation (I’m getting married in a week and traveling extensively after) and suggest the best way to style and color my hair for easy maintenance. She is incredibly easy to talk to and the time flew by with great conversation.
The floor her salon is located on is definitely unique — as another Unilocaler mentions, it’s a floor of independent salon and spa services so you walk down a hallway of small rooms with different salons, but it’s laid out really well and the rooms have full glass walls on the outside so it’s bright and airy and very cute. I was a little unsure of what to do when I first got there, as there is no reception (since everyone is independent), but you just have to walk halfway down the hallway to her salon and have a seat in the «waiting area» (a few chairs in the hallway) if someone is in her salon. Very easy and relaxed.
The only thing I’m sad about is I’m moving away I won’t be able to go back. Kim would definitely be my new stylist if I was staying, and I would recommend her to anyone. My color is amazing and I love the cut! Thank you Kim!

I just bought a deal from LivingSocial because I’ve been looking for a new hair stylist. My last one I paid $ 100 for my haircut and although it was nice it didn’t feel like a spectacular haircut.
I liked Kim right away. When I called to schedule my haircut appointment, I told her I had really long hair and was having questions on styling and how I’d like to get it cut. She responded, «I’ll schedule you in for longer than an hour.» What great customer service.
Today, when I arrived at her salon, she greeted me very warmly and we talked easily. We spent a good 15 minutes going over my hair and my bangs and my lifestyle. She really listened to me even before she started cutting. Once we had discussed everything thoroughly, she took her time washing my hair and giving me a great head massage.
When she finished with my hair, it felt long, smooth, sexy yet had really great style and texture. I love it. I’ve been looking for a hairdresser for a while now and I think I just found her. I just loved the time she took with me, the way we talked about my hair, there was no assumptions, she could hear how I wanted something even though I wasn’t saying it.
Thanks Kim, I’ll be back.

Kim is THE BEST color technician I’ve ever had touch my hair — she is particularly wonderful at achieving the right blonde tones, my favorite. I thought i would never be able to pull off blonde hair, but I was up for the adventure and Kim was up for the challenge: she blew my mind! I wasn’t brassy or highlighter yellow & I loved what she’s done, every time.
Kim has done my hair for the last few years and I have always been satisfied with her work. Her eye for what shades of color look best given one’s skin tone is amazing, and she is very picky about getting it right. Kim is bubbly, warm, and welcoming, and she has SO much experience. She listens to your hair-​hopes, asks good questions, clearly communicates and carefully executes!
There isn’t much more you can ask for in a stylist — Kim makes dreams come true! I highly recommend booking her @ The Orchid Salon.

Kim did a fantastic job on my color and cut! Kim has many years of hands-​on and teaching experience. She is an expert, very professional and a total sweetheart. Her salon is very clean and comfortable.
Overall, I’m very pleased with the results and would recommend Kim to anyone.