Now that I’ve had my hair colored, I just can’t stop! Imagine the elation I felt to be contacted by the folks at Kelly Cardenas Salon to try out their newest location in Hillcrest. Tucked away on 5th Avenue, Kelly Cardenas Salon is quite the retreat. It’s a very clean, minimalist space with Kelly’s infamous dreads logo sprinkled throughout.
I was greeted by Roxy, who contacted me initially, and was immediately offered a beverage and a place to store my personal belongings before being guided to a room to change into a robe. The workspace is large with an industrial look, and is quite organized. The hair dryers drop from the ceiling, which really eliminates the feel of being tangled with other stylists. The “Color Bar” is where all of the pigmentation magic happens!
My favorite part of the salon was the room where the hair washing occurs, but I didn’t have an opportunity to take any pictures because there were clients being attended to at the time. It’s different from any other salon I’ve been to because usually the hair washing station is out in the open like the rest of the salon. At KCS, their hair washing station is enclosed in a separate room and darkened, with soothing music playing in the background. It takes that service to a higher and more zen level. It’s like going to your favorite massage parlor, but for your hair!
Salvador was my stylist for the day and he took such good care of me, asking me questions to ensure I get the color and cut I want, but gave me good guidance so that I understand what’s really best for me. He did such a wonderful job that I went back again to get my second color selection with him. I started with a subtle burgundy color for my first color change, then six weeks later I opted for a more vibrant purple.
From beginning to end, I felt completely taken care of, and didn’t have a worry in the world other than to enjoy the experience. Not only did I have a great cut and color, but I also felt more informed about how to best style my hair and how to keep the color lasting all the way up to my next appointment. Everyone was warm and kind, which made the atmosphere feel like I was with friends and family rather than just stylist and client, and the customer service was first class. I want to thank everyone at Kelly Cardenas Salon for one of the best salon experiences I have ever had!
From left to right: Ashley, Fernando, Roxy and Salvador.
(FTC Disclosure: I was offered a service free of charge as a courtesy, but not necessarily for the purposes of a review. Although I did receive a service free of charge, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.)