Xcelerate Salon

Lori and the crew do a fabulous job. She’s been cutting my hair since this was Isa’s Salon in 1993, so that alone should attest to her skill with hair. On top of that, you get a wide-​ranging conversation on spirituality, gender politics, music, family, whatever.

Make sure you are specific on what you want… Lost three inches of hair that I didn’t know I was getting cut off. Went in with exact notes on hair coloring and left with it looking exactly the same. 150 $ for a really bad hair cut.

New years eve and I had no where to get my hair cut. Thankfully I got out of work and Xcelerate took me in as a walk in late in the afternoon.
I was partnered up with Glen for my haircut, he nailed the typical short on the sides and leave the top long which I’ve been rocking for a few years now.
He fit me in before my trip to Thailand and the haircut was even better the next go around.
If you’re looking for an exceptionally good men’s haircut and accommodating appointments give Xcelerate a try.

I loved getting my hair done here. I did a walk in apt first thing on a Saturday morning and was helped straight away. All the staff are really friendly here. I had a cut and blowout from Lan. She was so friendly and smiley. The cut was lovely and I got a lot of compliments from friends. It has started to grow out nicely too. I’ll be going back here!

I have been going to Tony for several years. His cuts are some of the best I have had. He understood my fine yet sometimes curly hair from the first cut. The salon is professional, attractive, and has a great friendly staff. As long as Tony is there I am there.

I have been going to Xcelerate Salon for years now and really like the environment and the service. Lan is the absolute best, and always gives me a cut and color that I’m exactly asking for. She is really personable and friendly, and cares a lot about doing a great job on your hair. It’s a good price considering the service, and the guarantee that you’ll be happy with your hair when you leave!

This is a review for Ayako:
I followed Ayako to this salon after she left Rubio and Raven like someone else also said. I did the Japanese straightening perm a couple months ago and my hair is still shiny and straight. It makes my morning so much easier! This time, she used a less harsh chemical as I have highlights. Ayako was very diligent and careful not to damage my hair and the result was superb.
The salon is funky and very SF but does give an outdated feeling. All staff are very friendly and nice.

Glen has been cutting and coloring my hair for about 10 years. He has such an excellent eye. I am never disappointed. My hair is long and Glen knows how to shape it, keeping the length, adding just the right touches of color as needed. I am thankful that I have found someone who understands hair, has a fine eye for cut and color, and is so much fun to be around. The salon is warm and friendly. Highly recommend.

I followed Ayako-​san after she left her previous salon because after several years of my failed attempts to find the perfect stylist for me, I am sticking to Ayako for good!
Not only is she an amazing stylist with attention to every detail of her haircut, I think the most important factor for me to become her regular client is because she actually listens! I’ve had so many horrible experiences in the past when I described what I wanted my haircut to be to other stylists, they somehow all decided to turn my hair into something completely opposite of what I wanted it to be, and not in a good way either. Arghhh.
Ayako-​san not only listens to what I want my haircut to be like, she also gives very honest and straightforward feedbacks/​suggestions as well so I know exactly what the end product of my haircut will look like. No unpleasant surprises at all.
So if you want to get a fabulous haircut (oh I am so loving my bob haircut I got from her yesterday) with an amazing stylist, I highly recommend you schedule an appointment with Ayako!

I’m new to this salon but I followed Ayako here when she left Rubio and Raven. The salon is comfortable and has all the basics but the real reason I go to Xcelerate is because of Ayako. She has been cutting my hair for some time now. I appreciate that my hair looks good as it grows out even after about six weeks. I trust her implicitly. I never have to tell her how I want my hair cut. I ask her to do what she thinks is necessary and I’m always satisfied.

I followed Ayako to this salon after she left Rubio and Raven. The salon has a friendly and funky vibe. No digital perms available here, but Ayako is still doing her stellar haircuts (and color too). She’s one of the few stylists who gives haircuts that look fantastic even after months of growing out.

I am a 44 year old male who has had long curly hair for most of my life.
I started adding some color to my hair two years ago, using the SPLAT style color
I got at walgreens.
After growing tired of having the color wash out I decided to try a salon.
After reading Unilocal I chose Xcelerate since I live a block away and they had consistently excellent reviews.
My stylit was named Lan and she gets high marks in all categories.
I found her chair-​side manner very helpful and engaging. We went through my options in quite a pleasant fashion. I had not had a pro-​cut in a few years and she gave great advice and answered several of my questions.
I got a sweet haircut from her that was perfect for my long curls. The cut was affordable and looked great both right away and the next day after a shower.
A few days later I went back to get the color done.
The color was lots of fun. I gave LAN some artistic licence based on what I had been doing before. I showed her some photos and she did a great job going off of what I had done to take it to the next level.
She dissuaded me from over-​bleaching my hair, which was points for putting health of hair before style.
Then we put on the three colors of purple in a partial ombré.
While my color was being done, several of the people working there remarked on how it looked. They were genuine in their appreciation, wh at was being done was not something they do every day so it was fun for everyone.
Lan did a excellent job of blending the three colors of purple. She told me that they would come out more after a few washes and that has proven to be true. She suggested a few highlights of magenta and it turned out to be a great choice.
She gave great advice and had a smooth, professional, yet warm demeanor that put me at my ease for my first major hair-​salon experience.
I was offered choices of products in a very gentle manner. I do not like when people are push with products and they were very low key about it at this salon. Kudos.
Since my visit I have gotten many many complements on how my hair looks. Even strangers or passers-​by will comment on it.
I not only got a great hair cut and color but had a fun and informative experience.

One of the best facials I’ve had. Hi-​tech, relaxing and I was really enthralled by the woman from Jerusalem who was thorough, friendly, and professional. To top it off, this was an affordable super facial. Great staff and salon. PS, make sure you check out the bathroom, it’s a hoot!

I went to this salon primarily because it was near my house, seemed like it had good reviews and there was a Unilocal deal offered. I was incredibly disappointed. My stylist was Hector and I told him my routine was to wash and flatiron my very curly hair every few days. I clearly explained that I had a baby and had very little time to do my hair every morning so was looking for side swept bangs and easy layers that didn’t require a lot of styling or product. Well, he started chopping away and left me with big chunky layers that look awful. After cutting those in around my face with no blending whatsoever, the back was left much longer and incredibly awkward (mullet-​y!). I didn’t realize it immediately given how he styled my hair and the ridiculous amount of product he used. Once I washed it and tried to style it myself, I saw how bad it really looked. Tried calling the salon a few times and no one answered, so finally left a voice mail. I got a pretty non-​apologetic voice mail back (after quite a while, you would expect a faster response to a clearly upset customer) where they actually tried to tell me I was wrong and they’re sure I got a good haircut. Had to go somewhere else to fix it and pay significantly more money as I definitely did not trust them to do anything about it.

Lori at Xcelerate has been cutting my hair for over 15 years now. I know that is a long time to stick with one person and I’ve tried moving on, especially after moving out of the city. But each of the few times I’ve gone somewhere else for the convenience of proximity, I’ve left disappointed that I didn’t make the drive into the city to get it done right. Fifteen years and never one bad cut. Fifteen years and I’m stuck, no one has the eye or the talent like Lori (or the other folks at that salon). She is a magician with scissors. I leave looking great and confident every single time.
Other perks: hot towels to dry, a wash and condition before but also an extra rinse after the cut, «what can we get you to drink? coffee? tea? a glass of wine?», great prices on products, easy parking.
5+ Stars

I know Zev from back in the day. So when my boy needed a trim I recalled Zev now worked at Xcelerate and signed him up for a Saturday afternoon cut.
The boys words two days after the fact? «It looks awesome and I did nothing to it this morning. Literally nothing.»
I’d told Zev I thought he should head in the suave geeky range, and that’s exactly what we got. Something that with product can be styled up and go classic and without just looks damn cute tussled.
The service itself was spot on friendly and warm and I myself adored they had a two for one OPI sale.
We’ll definitely be back and specifically for that Zev character. And maybe a little bit for their OPI. :D

Great find. I like the ambiance, the area where it’s located, the price, and best of all the consistently fabulous haircuts I get there!
People working in the shop are very friendly – from the owner Lorrie, to the other cast of characters giving facials, hair coloring, and giving hair cuts. From the moment I walk through the door I get recognized, given a drink (coffee, tea or the real stuff) and the wait has never been but a few minutes.
Plus if you don’t like the cut the next day you can call and let em know and so far it’s been absolutely no problem to get an adjustment. I feel I have found a great place!
Oh, and they have a million products for purchase, and if they don’t have it they will direct you to where you can find it!

I’m still going to see Lori and I haven’t had one bad cut yet. I walk in with overgrown hair that is lifeless and heavy and leave with bouncy, shiny locks. Lori takes great care to ensure that my hair is colored in a proper manner so that it’s not damaged long term.
Love the warm towels used to dry off my hair!

Worst pedicure ever. … Just terrible.
I was suppose to have a manicure too but
Left after my pedicure.

After moving to Noe Valley last year, I decided it was time to find a hair stylist closer to my home, rather than trekking down to South Park every time I needed a cut. I walk by Xcelerate Salon every time I go to 24^th street stores, so I decided to give this place a go. Overall, I’m now a fan.
Highlights:
— Able to get in same day as I called
— Great head massage during shampoo
— Warm towels used before/​after shampoo… very relaxing
— My stylist — Lan — was very nice and easy to chat with… but also let me read my magazine :)
— Most importantly, I love my haircut. I have long slightly wavy hair that needs good layers in order for it to have any volume. Lan did a great job on it.
Lowlights:
— The blowout and post-​cut styling wasn’t great… actually, they were pretty bad. It was a little frizzy, parted in the most unflattering way for my face, and just eh. I was nervous because I couldn’t tell whether the actual cut was good given the bad styling. But, thankfully, after having a few days to play with it, I’m happy to report it’s a fantastic cut.
— Their rates are a tad over-​priced. I paid $ 65 for the cut, and I would say the overall experience was more in the $ 50 – 60 range. And I’m not a averse to paying a lot for a fantastic cut and salon experience. When I lived in NYC a few years ago, i was okay paying $ 120 because it was an incredibly beautiful and stunning salon, the cut was always perfection, and the styling made you feel ready for a photo shoot. Xcelerate hits the most important one of those points — a great cut — but not the others.
Overall, it’s worth it. If you’re a Noe Valley resident, I’d put this spot on the top of your list to try.