Balisimo Salon

I am a professional working mommy. My life is extremely busy. After my second child and a promotion at my firm I no longer was taking the time to care for my appearance as I did before the babies. I was always feeling too plump and my hair was always in a straggly pony tail. I'm sure many of you can relate to this situation. After about 6 months of not being able to find the time to take an appointment with my regular gal in San Francisco on Maiden Lane my hair was virtually in total neglect and my self esteem was at it's lowest. I also had a convention speaking engagement looming on my calendar. So, I decided to snap out of my funk and ask my law partner and mommy friend where she got her hair lightened and cut. She highly recommended Jon Jay and Michael at Balisimo Salon, downtown Los Altos. Ok, good location only 5 minutes or so from my home in Palo Alto. My entire experience was outstanding. Not only are Jon Jay and Michael very talented hair artists, but they are also very nice, unpretentious people. Jon Jay and Michael listened to me as I explained my months of hair neglect. They discussed my options with me, listened to my maintenance issues and made suggestions. THANK YOU GUYS! We decided on a color for my ugly gray roots and a natural looking easy to maintain blonde partial highlight. Now I have had highlights before, but never this beautiful and meticulous. Jon Jay gave me a rich dark blonde color background and then proceeded to add some strategically placed highlights that are really shinny and light. The highlights frame my face really well and make my blue eyes "pop". These highlights look like sun lightening...really fine and well placed. Then Michael saw me for my cut. Why was I so afraid to have angled side bangs and long layers? Michael worked wonders with his scissors. He created a personal look for me that was even better than the picture I showed him from my wedding 8 years ago and he insisted I needed to be updated and professional. The overall effect is very sophisticated. More importantly, I feel womanly again and I feel attractive. I left the salon feeling beautiful and energized. This was a last minute Sunday appointment. Can you believe these guys were working on my hair early Sunday morning? The atmosphere is friendly, professional and so comfortable. I felt like I've known them for years! You can reach Jon Jay and Michael at Balisimo at their 24 hour appointment request line 650-888-8577, please tell them that Angie sent you because I am confident they will make you look and feel great. Pros: Sunday Appointments and Wonderful Silky Color Results Cons: None Noticed more

In our defense of some of these reviews, we have been in business for 17 years doing Tipper Gore's hair and MTV's show Made. We welcome constructive criticism but hope the readers know the difference between constructive and destructive. I welcome anyone to come and let us prove our service and expertise. Pros: parking ambience, expertise Cons: appointment availabilities more

I agree with those you wrote negative reviews of Balisimo. I've never been to a salon where they can't make change; where they can't make appts when called (I'm waiting for a callback); there doesn't seem to be anybody in charge. I have a wonderful stylist there whom I've followed from salon to salon. The stylists no doubt pay for the space and it seems to me that part of what they are paying for would be receptionist duties. I wish she would leave. more

Everywhere I go men and women are always saying, "Great color, nice haircut." I'm stopped in airports and in lines at sales counters when I'm shopping to accept compliments about my hair. Be sure you ask for Jon J and Michael Chen or just call them direct on a private 24 hour appointment line at: 650-888-8577. I am going to tell all my friends to see them. I went to see them last week at the recommendation of my boss that has used them for years. I needed the works to attend an important graduation ceremony and I wanted to change my hairstyle and color. They saw me right away and my new look is very lovely. My new haircut is terrific and so easy to manage. The whole experience on a scale of 1-10 was a 12. I can't wait to see the boys for my next visit. Pros: Sunday Appointments Available. Best Highlights. Cons: The Public Will Stop & Admire Your Hair :-) more

Being a recent transplant in the Silicon Valley, I have been searching for a hair salon I could call home. When I tried to get in with a stylist one of my co-workers recommended and couldn't, I thought I would try Balisimo. I was sorely wrong in going to this salon. From the moment I stepped in the door I was treated rudely by the woman at the front desk and then completely mishandled by my stylist. She was arrogant, curt and over-inflatted. She didn't listen to a thing I had asked her to do and then had the nerve to charge an over-inflatted price for a really crappy haircut. I would warn...stay away! I am not ever going back! Cons: Rude, regrettable more

It is in my experience with the salon that the owner/receptionist has stayed in business as long as she has thru luck and a few exceptional hairdressers. The owner has no aptitude in dealing with the public and has even less skills with personalized customer service. She had brains enough to hire a mostly qualified, talented, creative and exceptional staff which carry the salon on their reputation alone. If you are lucky enough to get an appointment with the few great stylist you are in for a treat...with professional treatment, quality haircolor and hairdesign. It's too bad that the owner doesn't just eliminate her presence from the salon and hire a competent front desk person and she would have the high end salon she thinks she has now! Pros: few great hairstylist, good location Cons: indignent owner, poor customer service, price vs quality more

I dropped by to pick up a product, and it was impossible to get someone to operate the register. An employee told me to come back tomorrow! The person who did help didn't listen to me and couldn't tell a conditioner bottle from a shampoo bottle (total airhead). There might be a few decent stylists there, but the people I interacted with seemed lazy and have extremely poor people skills and business sense. My guess is that the salon owner wrote the only positive review on this webpage. Cons: disastrous service more

Professionals that know their field well. People sometime expect certain things from a salon, I expect specialized, custom detailed knowledge of color, cuts, style and that is what you get @ Balisimo. They cut to the chase and get you what you need, a look that emphasizes you. The colorists are experts in correction and chemistry. Pros: Experts, Specialized, Professionals Cons: Must have appt more

I made an appt. to get my hair done for a wedding more than 2weeks in advance and they not did NOT write it down, but no one in the salon was willing to help. One stylist was very disgusted at my treatment and volunteered to do my hair. This was an extremely special occasion as I was a bridesmaid in the wedding. I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO BALISIMO SALON. I could'nt believe their salon was featured on an MTV special. There are so many other excellent salons in Los Altos and the Bay area and the MTV crew just decided, for reasons unknown to me, to pick Balisimo. The salon owner should teach his/her staff common courtesy & class. L.A. residents will not tolerate poor treatment. Pros: good hairproducts Cons: lunch parking is bad , Snooty staff more