Camlai

Two and a half stars. Bring pictures of exactly what you want, don’t assume they’ll understand descriptive terms. I described my preferences like I always do, but ended up crestfallen when I put on my glasses to see the result. I’ve never paid $$$ for such a heartbreaking haircut until now. Plus the shampooing was oddly gentle, I’m used to more thorough scalp work. Hang up your coat, put on a robe, let them know if you’d like coffee or tea. I’m guessing the bagel quarters had gone too stale by my late morning appointment.
I said I was growing my hair out and wanted to clean up split ends while keeping my angled side-​swept bangs. I don’t know if Isabel was trying to compensate for my long intervals between stylist visits, or was just taking too many liberties with my trust, but somehow my wishes were translated into 4 inches getting chopped off and bangs cut short straight across with a weird wisping where I usually part my fringe. I asked her to thicken my bangs up again at least, to which she responded that she’d given me the thickness I’d come in with. She finally corrected it after I disproved her point with a comb to fix the depth of my bangs. Perhaps I should have asked for straight-​styling since I left volume-​styled like a Pomeranian fresh from a groomer. The only good thing I have to say about my experience is that the layers in the back are lovely.

It’s hard finding a new hair stylist. I’m so glad I tried Camlai after reading Unilocal reviews. Cam took the time to understand my hair and provided great advice on maintaining healthy hair. It’s been about two months and my haircut is growing out nicely.

3 years later, my same stylist, my same cut and color, and not one thing I can complain about.
Not only have I moved out of state, but when I’m in town for work and I call my stylist Isabel, she will find room to fit me in, early or late.
FANTASTIC customer service. Above and beyond. I’m still in awe.
It also helps that everyone in Seaside /​Destin asks where I get my hair done. Camlai folks. US Airways VPS to DCA, nonstop. GO.
Pros: Friendly reliable service
Coffee, tea, water
Sometimes snacks
Reliable staff
Consistent cuts
Long lasting color
Affordable pricing
Cons:
Parking can be a pain (but there is a garage at the bottom on 30^th)
That’s it… everything else is great. :)

I am quite surprised to see the recent negative review from the lady with the toddler. I have been going to Camlai — and having David as my stylist — for many, many years. This is a lovely, low-​key salon with excellent service. Does one have to wait a bit — yes, sometimes, but that is hardly unexpected in a personal service business. Most time, however, things are absolutely on schedule. I also have seen children get their hair cut at this salon — although that is not the norm in my experience. Perhaps not the wisest thing in the world to take a two year old — with the whole family in tow — to a small salon where things cannot occur precisely to fit with the little one’s schedule. Anyway, Camlai is great and the negative review is a complete anomoly.

I was shocked to see the review from the woman who complained about the service she got at Camlai when she came with her toddler. I’ve been going there for quite awhile for both hair and waxing (granted, not with a fussy child in tow) and it’s absolutely tops. I’ve recommended it to my friends and they liked it as well. David is my longtime stylist and he does wonders with my curly hair — and with my BFF’s straight hair. It’s a small salon so it’s a very personalized and casual environment, which is great, and the service has always been flawless. My advice is: go there!

This review is about the hairdressing side of Camlai. This is not about a review for Dolores the facialist who is terrific.
Today Camlai made me wait almost 45 minutes past a 10:30 appt to get my son’s hair cut for the first time. We initially waited 25 minutes and when David the hairdresser finally had time to cut our son’s hair I had to change my son’s diaper and David then said he just wanted a few minutes to start someone’s color. Fast forward waiting another 15 minutes and we were still waiting with a very active toddler and David was just midway through the color. Finally got up and left and David said nothing and neither did Camlai the owner who had witnessed everything.
I have been going to this salon for the past three years and am used to waiting a bit. But almost 45 minutes with a toddler when we had an appt was the final straw. Camlai took what was an exciting first haircut for my todder – with grandma, aunt, and dad in tow – and turned it into the last time I will ever visit the place or recommend it to any of my friends.
Beware of the poor customer service from Camlai for haircuts and such.

So, hair cut still best I’ve ever had, however the customer service could use work — like, calling people back and making it a bit easier to schedule.

Called to schedule an appointment for my daughter at this salon and spoke with the receptionist. I asked her if she had a stylist who could work with African American natural hair, she said yes, I said are you sure, she said yes. So we get to the salon, the ‘stylist’ takes a look at my daughter’s curly afro and says that he can’t work with ‘that’ kind of hair. One of the few times in my life that I have felt blatantly discriminated against!
I wouldn’t go back to this place to piss on it if it were on fire.

First time here (went b/​c of the rating and I work down the street!). cute little space, i went for a manicure. the place they do your nails is downstairs and it sort of felt like you were sitting in someone’s basement kitchen (one of the staff member was making her lunch down there!). otherwise, it was relaxing :) for $ 20 (10% for new people. so $ 18), it was about 30mins and i loved the results.
FYI– they just started carrying «london butter» polish, which is an (almost) chemical free nail polish. it’s approx $ 2 more, but apparently good for your nails! came in cool colors.

Camlai has been cutting my hair since I was a kid — she’s the only person I trust with my hair at this point. Since I’m in college and not always in town, I’ll wait six months plus to get my hair cut if need be, just so she can do it! I went back today and she did yet another fantastic job. I’m always ecstatic about how my haircuts turn out.
The salon itself is also quite nice, the staff are friendly and I promise it’s one of the best quality salons you can find in DC. My hair grows out perfectly every time and I always get compliments after it’s been done! Camlai is simply the best.

I’ve been getting my hair done by Isabel since I was a toddler. She is an amazing hair stylist with a delightful personality. I’ve recommended her to several of my friends who agreed. From her haircuts to highlights she never ceases to impress me. I am always getting compliments that my hair looks wonderful and my blond highlights look so natural. Many people seem to think it’s my natural hair color it looks so good. One of the most recent things Isabel has done to my hair which I absolutely love is «la brasileria» I first got the «lighter» treatment which was nice but the strong brasileria treatment was amazing to my hair. My hair is really long and a little frizzie so it’s hard to maintain. I’m a college student and like to have my hair perfectly straight, but I’m so over straightening it. This treatment made my hair so soft, looked really healthy and it required no maintenance stayed nice and straight.

Yes, yes, my review is way overdue… Is here now!
I was trying to find a good colorist to finally cover my over highlighted hair with the hope to get a nice shade of brown… not green as some places have used Ash dye on my hair. Also, changing the color would stop making me go to a hair dresser every 6 weeks and fork-​out a ton of money.
I asked Kat for a good place to get my hair done after Sex and the City movie… how appropriate time to swap girly advice! But once at home, I had forgotten where she told me to go! Thanks to Unilocal… I found great reviews on CamLai and it wasn’t only the same place where Kat had mentioned, but I got Isabelle too, her lovely hairdresser.
Isabelle is the top of the line. Not only she has a lovely personality, she is fun to talk to and can give you a great cut! I walked in with my bleached blonde highlights, and I came out with a great haircut and my hair beautifully darkened. She added low light, butt after a wash I did not like them. I had paid $ 190 plus tips for this cut, color and highlights! I was dissapointed. I called Isabelle and shared my concern. Isabelle asked me to come right back into the salon and she will use a different type of dye as the other did not take my color as well. She made sure I was happy every step of the way. She did not ask me to pay more as she wanted to make sure I was satisfied, and I am!
I give Isabelle 5 stars… if I could give her more she definitely earned them!
One thing… parking across the street on the meters was a total pain. I spent all my change, the receptionist’s change, some of Isabelle’s and even another lady that gave me a couple of quarters to feed the meter. Do yourself a favor and park across the main street into the neighborhood, it’s free, and you don’t have to worry coming out every 30 minutes with your funky aluminum all over your head wearing a black robe looking crazy!
!

I have been getting my hair done by Cam Lai since I was like 12 yrs old. I was so excited when she finally opened her own place… it is SUPER cute. Cam does the most amazing color and cut. I literally get stopped on the street by women who demand to know where I get my hair done. She’s amazing, and so are the other stylists she works w/​. The feel in the salon is fantastic, very clean, simple and intimate. Everyone just sits and laughs and gossips all together.

I was in DC for a business trip, and between meetings, I wanted to pamper myself. A friend recommended Cam Lai, and since I heard that they offer the hair straightening treatment called La Brazilliana, I decided to give it a try. Not only was it the best thing that I’ve ever done to get rid of my frizzy hair, I had a really good experience at the salon. The people were very nice and knowledgeable. Although I only had a hair treatment, I will definitely try their other services next time I’m in town.

I’ve been looking for a regular manicure candidate near me (West End), and I’ve found it! The ladies at Camlai were courteous and friendly, and my manicurist did a great job. And at a reasonable price to boot!

I have been going to Cam Lai for five years– first when she was at another salon, and now at s her own salon. Her work with highlights is amazing– she has a real eye for color and even when I’ve gotten a blow-​out or updo at another salon, the stylists there have complimented me on my highlights.
She also gives me great haircuts that grow out beautifully, so I don’t have to do a lot to maintain them. On top of that, she is so friendly and professional, as is her whole staff. I highly recommend her for haircuts, but I also regularly get soy waxing done there by Dolores. She does an amazing job.