Nucleus

I really needed to find a new place to get my hair cut after moving here and checked out this place after reading some reviews here on Unilocal.Definitely listen to others because I was very impressed with the place. Gabriel has cut my hair three times now and done an excellent job. The people here are super friendly and easy to talk to. The prices for a mens cut (mine is $ 35) is worth it if you want someone cutting your hair that knows what they’re doing. Everytime I’ve come in (via appointment, just make one online) I’ve never had to wait. They will even send you a reminder email the day before to let you know you’re appointment is coming up (to aid in your busy schedule).
I will definitely keep coming back here because the service is great and the atmosphere is definitely chill. Hit up Gabriel if you are a guy, he does an awesome job!

After fishing for a new hair guru suggestions on Twitter, I ended up here at Nucleus to see Jake thanks to a mutual ‘tweep’. The easy online booking convinced me to do it, in the end. It was funny because I wasn’t entirely convinced this would be a great experience and I’m so not a hair worrier. But I’ve never had my hair cut by a straight dude before, so I was a little… hesitant.
Totally for naught. Not only did we talk a little baseball and a lot of social media, I got a great cut! Now, I haven’t had a haircut I was mad at in at least 10 years, so I guess it doesn’t matter, but not only did Jake take the time to explain what he was doing with the layers and such as he did, but he asked me if I have any cowlicks. None of the 7 – 10 people I’ve seen in the past 10 years has asked me that. Such a simple, basic, important question, and it seems so weird now that I’d never been asked it before!
Since I am a little more hesitant about color than cut (dude, it’s way more expensive to fix a bad color job than a bad cut, you know?), I always get a cut before booking color with a new stylist. And I sure did snatch up the first appointment for a color with Jake that I could! I’ll be going back whenever I need to now!

It is from here that I’ve gotten my first bondafide bad haircut. They accept walk ins and are a few blocks from my place of residence, so I figured why not?
Kala was my hairdresser. I brought pictures, gave instructions, did everything I was supposed to do. It was a little bit of a challenging cut but I’d had it many times before. Don’t touch the bangs, hair on my crown stick ups when it’s too short, nothing touching my neck, ears showing, longer on the top, no helmet head. Basically your average male haircut with a few idiosyncrasies. Maybe I gave too many instructions because when it came time to cut the hair, I could feel her hands shaking. I’m thinking maybe she’s not used to cutting short hair, but I wish she’d had said something before it started. She was mostly silent, looking intent and meticulous, which I didn’t mind at all. That was, until she kicked me out of the chair before we were done for the next customer.
The haircut looked like a helmet, my pixie sideburns turned into mutton chops, and it was cut so short right above my ears that it looked like someone took a buzz razor and drew a diagonal line. One side is shorter than the other, so I’m a little colder on that side. I was going to give this review 3 stars, because she did get the hair off my neck, until I went home and found out how freaking easy it is to give myself the haircut I wanted and in the process discovered how uneven she left both sides of my hair.
I’m still washing product out of my hair 3 days later. I wish she’d have asked before she put it in, as I kind of insinuated that I don’t use and/​or like it by explaining that my toiletry cabinet consists of tooth brush, paste, floss, and a bar of soap. That was minor though.
Also, she cut the price which was nice. On the other hand, I’d probably have paid to not have this haircut if I could have.

I was referred here, or specifically to Jake Gravbrot, via dudes I know with good hair
My hair isn’t very easy to work with I’ve learned after 27 years, and I’ve gotten an infinite amount of shitty supercuts… eventually I decided enough was enough and made appointment here with Jake.
Pretty cool cause you can make arrangements online via his website for time that works for you. Location is fairly easy and accomodating to street parking within a couple block radius. Interior was cool hip clean type vibe.
Jake did dope job on hair. I am working on a mini hawk thing, and it looks pretty good. I’ll definitely continue going to Jake, and am so glad the supercut days are finished

Ok, so it looks like Nucleus has moved from its Capitol Hill location to Queen Anne. The new name is Salon Swagger, in the same space as the old Nucleus, and Julea is still working at that location. I’ve moved my review to Salon Swagger to follow her.

For full disclosure — Will Francelangia (shop owner) is a friend.
He is awesome and funny, can put one at ease. Plus he gave me a mean haircut and by mean I mean good.

Disappointed… felt like I did not get a haircut. Could not return for touch-​up on bangs b/​c stylist is not there full-​time. I did not want to over hear the stylist tell a walk-​in the price of a haircut and quickly say that cash is preferred. I expect to hear“cash only” from a mom and pop’s or smaller shop-​not Nucleus.

My new guy’s stylist sets up shop here on Saturdays, so I hung around while she cut, trimmed, and shaped his beard, stache, and hair into a more manageable, sexy mop.
Lisa is her name, and behind her friendly demeanor is a supremely knowledgeable stylist with an experienced eye and a deft hand with a blade. What impressed me most was how easily she interacted with us while expertly crafting his look; she not only knew every section but had a long term game plan for maintenance and upkeep. And she communicated it like a pro to boot.
Price seemed reasonable, about $ 30 pre tip. The shop was clean and spacious with a relatively small waiting area. Located on the same block as Toulouse Petit, parking can be challenging; I recommend heading a couple blocks down around Safeway for open 2hr spots.
Lastly, the staff recommended a great Greek place (Athena’s?) the next block over that we were very happy with! Win and Win.

Went back for Billy, he was gone. So I had the most precious of darlings cut my hair in a panic for an oober hot date with the man I’m now dating, in absolute love with, and will eventually marry.
Her name is Kala, and if you have the pleasure of getting her, thank your lucky stars. Because she is lovely and loves what she does!
$ 30 for a killer ‘do! Can’t beat that.

Like clockwork, I get my hair cut by Kate Moore every six weeks.
Kate is fantastic. On my first visit, she took a lot of time to understand what I wanted and did a really good job. On subsequent visits, she remembered what I liked and replicated it with little explanation required on my part.
While a little more expensive than what I was used to paying at Rudy’s and Zero-​Zero, overall, I’m very happy with Kate and Nucelus, and I can’t imagine going anywhere else.

I love Nucleus and hairdresser extraordinaire Julie Giles!
This was the very first review I wrote for Unilocal and felt that after over two years it deserved an update. I recently grew my first beard. Being inexperienced in the growing and grooming of facial hair I wanted a pro to help me sculpt the neckline.
When I walked in today I told Julie, «I brought you some more work.» She smiled, sat me down in her chair and we discussed the details before commencing. She did a fantastic job as usual – she knows just how I like my hair cut. She also gave me some useful tips to help maintain my new beard. Oh, and the scalp massage? Heaven.
I walked in to Nucleus looking like Chewbacca and an hour later walked out looking like a handsome young Obi-​Wan Kenobi. Thanks Julie!

So here it is my birthday week… I am unemployed, feeling old and a little blah. The grey hair (what I refer to as my «wings») doesn’t help with the feeling old. I know I can’t spend a bunch of money to get my hair done but I just can’t do the boxed stuff. After many years of having my hair colored professionally, I just can’t but I am feeling like it might be the way I will have to go right now. I do some salon hunting on Unilocal and decide to think about some more before I make any decisions.
I go back to job hunting on Craigslist and I see a beauty section under services. I didn’t even know it was there! I think to myself WTH, why not see what they have. I find this ad that says half off color and foils @ Nucleus. WOOHOO! Sold! Right up my alley. I call Brian at the number listed and was able to make an appt for the following day.
Nucleus is a small salon, just a few chairs. Apparently they felt the need for a change and another stylist, Will, was painting the walls while I was there. Brian made me feel totally comfortable and I think I laughed within 30 seconds of sitting in the chair. I told him what color I have been doing lately but said I am open to suggestion. We discussed a few options and ended up trying something I have never done and I love it! My color was touched up and low lights added. Honestly if I had realized I was having 2 things done that would cost me twice as much as I expected I wouldn’t have gotten the low lights but I was caught up in the moment and in need of some change. So what if I can’t go out on my birthday now, at least I like my new hair color!
Brian is new at Nucleus. He told me he had been working in a barber shop. (I probably should have guessed since he used a comb on my hair instead of a brush… I have to admit that was a new one for me, I never use a comb .) I really appreciated that he took the time to talk to me about what I wanted/didn’t want and then came up with an idea that I had never thought of but loved.
In the end I walked out spending more than I had originally planned but with hair I love — and I am pretty sure everyone I passed on the street while walking home loved it too!
I definitely suggest going to see Brian and welcome him to Nucleus! He really cares about what you want for your hair and the atmosphere in the salon is very welcoming.

5 stars!!! Ok, I think it was Kate who helped us today (Sunday ⁵⁄₂₄ @ 4pm) but I may be wrong, I am bad with names. Regardless she was perfect. She did to my hair EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED. I bleached out the underneath and dyed it pink, and let my purple hair flow over it, looks perfect, a nd after she did a blowout, I think I may be convert to at least the occaisonal straightening. She also washed, trimmed and styled boys hair. And Sara was in the midst of recovering from a terrible haircut @ mastercuts (never trust anyone who says they are a master) and she fixed it! she fixed it good Plus she is so non upselling, and a good chatter. We will all soooo go back. They rock!
**plus the price was beyond reasonable

I recently got a wonderful haircut from Kate. She took her time, listened to me and gave me suggestions on how it might look the best. Considering I have very long, very thick hair this was very good experience.
To me, Nucleus is very affordable. I will definitely be going back.

Julea cuts my hair and always does a good job. She’s fun and always has a good conversation going. Also, the last hair cut she gave my wife was super excellent. I though it was very cute.
The place is a little pricey (or maybe I’m just cheap) but very very worth it.

Calling all brides! Admittedly, I’m not the most knowledgeable about hair or makeup, and when it was time to find help on my wedding day, I was torn between spending a pile of money someone who would wow me, or spending a reasonable amount on someone who would do so-​so.
A friend laughed me off and said to call Julea who could do both: a great job at a great price. She was right!
The morning of my wedding we ran into time restraints and Julea had less than an hour to finish both hair and makeup… did she stress? Did she complain? Nuh-​uh. Did she still manage to do her best on a time limit! Yep!
Fantastic!

I am currently in possession of the best Julea haircut I have ever recieved! It’s so tight I can’t help from kissing the mirror every morning!!!
It’s true… and it’s a deep kiss, so um… I’m kinda sorry to my roomate for all of the Chapstick on the bathroom mirror… my bad.

I found Julea through Unilocal and I am so happy! The first time we met I asked her to cut my hair off so I could send it to the little kids! (This is big for me since I have always had long hair.)
Now with 11 inches less hair I flip and l flaunt my sassy short hair and tell everyone about my best kept beauty secret, Julea!

After seeing two friends get really great haircuts from Julea and reading all of these super fantastic reviews, I got myself an appointment with Julea. I am now feeling the victim of severe hair envy and phantasmagoria.
I went to see Julea just after her return from vacation and probably should have taken that as my cue to either cancel or reschedule until a later date. But, feeling like she was my golden ticket to great hair, I kept the appointment. I have also had a HORRIBLE time trying to find someone that won’t butcher my much fretted over thick, heavy, long black hair or someone who will, AT LEAST, evenly cut it.
I was slightly worried when she pointed out that she had slept on the plane incorrectly and was unable to move her neck through its full range of motion. I did my best to keep my hopes up, my hair aspirations known and my eyes wide open just in case she fell over on the floor and started writhing in neck pain.
My haircut would be totally awesome if and only if it were 10 years ago and I asked for the haircut that Rachel has on Friends. Unfortunately, it is 2008 and I disliked that haircut when it was all the rage. My appointment was interrupted with a friend returning a set of keys to her, which turned into a longer than necessary chat, and was eventually rushed because her next appointment showed up. I left Nucleus with a damp and dated haircut and dashed dreams for fantastic hair. Now I have to endure 3 more months of growing this mess out and trying to find someone all over again. All that being said, Julea is very nice, chatty and interesting. Just take the scissors out of her hands and away from your head before you get the conversation going.

«Mmm…I look good. I mean really good. Hey everyone, come and see how good I look!»

That’s how I felt when I walked out of Nucleus. Now I’m kicking myself wondering why I didn’t go there sooner.
Julea did my ‘do this weekend and I couldn’t be happier. It’s exactly what I had in mind. Ok, that’s a lie, it’s even better. I felt so good about my hair afterwards. It wasn’t one of those mediocre dye jobs that you think «I just need to get used to it». No, it was more like «I fucking love it!»…and I’m not just being narcissistic here, right away I got compliments on my hair. Not only is Julea talented, she is also super sweet, friendly and laid-​back. She is totally someone I can be around for 2 hours getting my hair dyed and not get impatient or uncomfortable. In fact, the whole staff there was friendly! The shop is fairly small and it seemed like they were a pretty tight knit group. They also made me laugh, which is always a plus.
The prices are reasonable (I got my whole head of hair dyed plus some blonde streaks for $ 65) and the location is great! Since it’s so close to my house, I don’t have to worry about parking or walking too far, which is another plus for me! For those of you who aren’t so lucky, I recommend giving yourself a few minutes to find parking if you’re driving. Or ride the bus — it’s close to several of the Capitol Hill bus stops.
Even if this place wasn’t so close to my house I’d make the trek there. I can’t wait for my shitty self-​inflicted haircut to grow out a bit so I can go back there for a cut and have Julea work her magic again.
Update ⁵⁄₀₈: I finally got my hair cut and Julea did a fantastic job! She gave me a cute cut, but kept the length that I’ve been working so hard to grow! She has also given me a few bang trims and they are always perfect. I won’t let anyone else touch my hair now!