Habitude at the Locks

Habitude used to be my absolute favorite pampering. And at true spa pricing, it was not often that I indulged. But, my last few experiences including one this week were just disappointing. A few years ago, I had a haircut which started 45 minutes late. Once she finally got to me, she seemed so rushed and it was too much to pay for a so-so haircut. They had offered a free makeup tryout and then sent along a basket to the counter to see if I wanted to buy any of the things they had used. This week I was treated to a facial as a birthday present. The woman sat me down and asked about my skin routine (which always makes me feel like I'm the most incompetent woman ever - it's quite basic and I don't exfoliate nearly as much as I should, I know). That's fine though and I mentioned my "trouble spots", but she immediately tried to sell me on the "deep cleanse exfoliating" option. When I asked how much it was, she just explained more about it and how great it was. And then said it was $46. I went for it. But, I still felt like it wasn't quite worth it and that had I just gone with the basic (at $106) I wouldn't have gotten a really great facial. Which is ridiculous. Next time I get to treat myself, I'll head back to Olympus Spa in Lynnwood where facials are half the price and the aesthetician seems interested in giving you a fabulous experience. On a positive note, the place is beautiful and calm. I love the private shower room with Aveda products and nice big towels. more

The staff was not very friendly and my masseuse seemed new as I did not get a very good massage at all. I got a "togetherness" massage with my husband and when my masseuse finished first, he berated the masseuse my husband had while we waited for them to finish. Not too professional. I wouldn't recommend this place at all and it's too bad because the ambiance is lovely. more

My highlights did not take the last time I had them done at Fremont Habitude. I called back for a do-over and asked if I could do it at a later date, would they hold my "credit" - I was told yes. I offered to come by so they could see that it didn't take but they said no. On the day of my appt. April 14th, after I had gotten into my gown, the manager said that they could not honor the credit as their policy had changed. That was upsetting to me. She said she didn't have the authority to change that decision. I asked her to get someone on the phone that could! I was given my money back - but what I wanted was to have had my hair done in the first place. Complete lack of customer service and maturity by front desk, management and Boo. Will never go back. I wasn't the only one that left there upset that day. more

I used to go to Habitude for haircuts and color, but got really turned off by the fact they lost staff left and right. It seemed like every time I called for an appointment, my regular stylist had quit. Very frustrating. The haircuts were ok, but are no better than what I'm getting now (for much less money) at the Split Ends Salon on Holman. I also never felt the stylists were that friendly -- their hipness seemed almost forced. The stylist who cut my hair on 9/11/01 told me she "really didn't get into politics and all that" when I expressed my shock at the attacks. Very insensitive. more

I had a pedicure which included a short massage and short soak for my tired feet. The woman who gave me the pedicure was very professional, polite and did a good job. The price was $57 which seemed a little high for what I got as at other salons it looks like you can get a similar pedicure for $30. more

I went there a while ago to get my hair dyed back to my normal dark brown color after having it red. They cut my hair a little to short and dyed my hair black! i wasn't happy at first but then it faded a little pretty quickly and i was fine. About a month or two later my hair had COMPLEATLY lost most of its color and was now a orangish color. I don't think permanent color is supposed to fade that fast. But i know other people they go here who have found there person they love and get great hair cuts. So try here if you want the spa or just a hair cut but don't go for the dye! more

I have hesitated quite a bit before writing this review, but it has gotta be said! I recieved a habitude gift card, and went in for a manicure before a wedding. The manicure was awesome, but the hostess in the spa, and her catty friends were the worst! They were carrying on personal conversations about other staff members, while customers were trying to relax in the waiting area. I gave them a look because they were obviously out of line, so they continued their conversation behind a curtain, (as if those waiting couldn't hear them). The mood was quited, serene, great smell, comfort, then an ongoing conversation about so-and-so, and how they are not good communicators. UG! The environment would have been perfect, I am really disappointed. I wont be coming back. more

I used to go to Habitude regularly when I first moved to Seattle. They were always a little pricey, but not outrageous. Now I can't get a foil and cut there for under $200, and that's just *far* too much money. more

I got my legs waxed there. I followed all the instructions (stay out of the sun for a few days) but still wound up with scary red stripes on my legs that looked lovely on the beach in Hawaii. The red faded, but it took all summer. I e-mailed the company later about my experience, and also, no response. more

While I can't go too often, I dream of Habitude. It's a great space, with custom made wood furniture. The staff are so helpful, it's almost unnerving. Almost. Dried fruits and nuts are set out while you wait to get a massage, pedicure, etc. It's a full service salon so if you can afford to treat yourself, I say DO IT. I love the fragrances that I can put into lotion or shampoo. It's a great space and can be enjoyed in couples too. Aveda is awesome too. more

I really wanted to give Habitude a chance, especially since I live close by. I've been there on three occassions and every time I've had a bad experience, so that's why I will never go back. The last time I was there, I had asked to get my hair cut short and to color it with blonde highlights. Instead I got a trim, about 1 inch cut off and red highlights. I paid $200 for this and wasted almost 3 hrs of my time. I had to go back and get it fixed a few days later which took another 3 hrs. more

My Mom got me a gift certificate for a Habitude Hot Stone Massage. It was wonderful! I enjoyed the use of the sauna and the big mug of Aveda tea. The fresh almonds in the relaxation room were also a nice touch. My massage therapist got me from the sauna and let me customize my own essential oils for the massage. All in all, great experience. I would definitely go back! more

Two friends and I spent an afternoon at Habitude (at the Locks). We had massages, manicures, pedicures, and a "free" make-up consultation. We had planned on just going for massages, but the day we got there they had a lot of openings for mani/pedis so they were offering them at a discount. We signed right up. Unfortunately, the whole day was a disaster and we were frustrated that we had signed up for the extra services because we felt obligated to stay. The women who did our manicures/pedicures hardly talked to us and when then did it was short and rude. The massages were fine, but definitely nothing to write home about. The worst part of the day was the "free" make-up consultation. We were enjoying the time with the make-up gal, until she started pushing her products on us. I understand that it is polite to buy something when you are given a make-up consultation and out of the three of us, two decided on two products each. However, the make-up artists did not feel that was enough and kept pushing the products on us. We continued to politely decline and she got huffy, and after we had gotten dressed followed us to the front counter to let the register workers know that we had bought the products from her (presumably, so that she would be sure to get her commission!) But worst of all, she pointed to my friends that had declined to buy anything and berated her for not purchasing something! Yes, we were paying $275, when we had planned to go in for much less, and we were supposed to be getting a "complimentary" make-up service! It was very frustrating. Two of us wrote letters and never received anything back. I would not recommend this spa. more

I LOVE Habitude but it's really hard to get an appointment on short notice. I usually decide that I need a massage at the last minute and I can never get into Habitude with less than a week's notice (especially on weekends). The services are great when you get in. My only complaint is the fact that they're always offering complementary makeup services. Usually, after a massage or pedicure or whatever, I just want to relax and I find it annoying that the makeup artist won't stop talking to me! more

I was really disappointed in the level of creativity in hair styling I experienced at Habitude. Habitude is an upscale spa and salon close to the Ballard locks that I visited after receiving a gift certificate for services there. I needed a new look, and fast. My stylist got a case of the vapors when I asked him to cut my hair into an ultra-short style. The "color" that I was charged for was a well-kept secret-- I walked out with the same color hair I had walked in with. more

Now, I'm sheepish about even sharing my best kept secret for a mani and a pedi - but it would be wrong not to share. Jill at Habitude at the Locks is amazing talent, and defines the most optimal spa customer service experience bar none. I'm always amazed by her work - I don't know how she does it, but my mani's or pedi's from her last forever, and are so perfect that i often have people ask - if my nails are painted or are they real (i have natural nails, but love a french mani), and love color on my toes - and people even note how will manicured my nails look. I can't even describe it - she is the best value for quality of her work and best customer service. Experience a perfect 10, and go see Jill! more

I have to rave on my new stylist Angela, at Habitude at the Locks. I end up in Angela's chair after a bad hair experience (let's leave it at that), but I just think Angela's been amazing to work with. I love the location of Habitude at the Locks, it is such a relaxed environment, the hours of availability late week days, Saturdays and Sundays. Angela has vision, talent, amazing patience with all my idiosycrancies about my hair! I look forward to getting my hair done by her, and getting to catch up with her. I get so many compliments on my hair color and style, and I feel like I get such a great value for such a skilled stylist, and I can honestly say that I'd love feeling happy about my hair when i walk out of the salon, and I don't feel robbed anymore. I've sent other friends to her, and they have all been so pleased - so ask for Angela, she rocks! more

I spent months admiring a co-worker's hair color (unsure if she had to-die-for natural highlights or whether they were just expertly done) before finally getting the courage to ask her. Desiree at Habitude, she told me, was the key to her hair's perfection. Three years after my last color treatment, Desiree guided me back into the processed hair world first with baby steps (partial foil) to the full shebang (dual process, full foil) and back to all-over color. The compliments I received were many in number, including one that noted my hair had never looked so good. Four stars and not five come from my preference for her color and not her cuts, my lack of experience with other services at Habitude, and the prices that feel insanely high (Desiree's partials started at $40 when she was new talent). more

I'd say that 9/10 times, my expreience at Habitude is fantastic. The other 1 time it is terrible. Once you find someone here you like, don't go to anyone else. If you do, you'll probably regret it. My regular hairdresser (from a different salon) moved, and I was stuck trying to find someone new. I chose to try out some of the stylists at habitude since I was already going there for pedicures, facials, and waxes. I had my bangs cut by the salon head, and she sucked. I tried another girl a few weeks later (Crystal), at the behest of the girl who does my facials sometimes (Amanda, she's awesome), and she did not listen to one word I said. I told her to chop my hair, but she refused to do it because she does updos for weddings, and I said I wanted an updo for my wedding (which is in a year). Instead of chopping my hair (even though I insisted I was fine getting extensions for the wedding) like I told her to, she took less than 1/4 inch off the ends and then put my hair up in a messy updo so I couldn't see what she did until after I left. She also cut my bangs way too short and thin, and gave me a style I needed a flat iron for without asking me if I even owned a flat iron (I don't). I will never get my hair cut at Habitude again. However, most of the other services and people I've had there were so great. Seth, Amanda, and Sonya are really good at facials and body treatments. Sonya is the best waxer I've ever had (eyebrows and whatever else). Mary Kate is really good at pedicures. My advice is find someone you like and stick with them...and avoid the hair salon, they're just as bad as Gene Juarez. more

The noise from the hairdressers downstairs was a huge distraction from the relaxation promised by the services in the day spa upstairs. The employee break room was next door to the area one rests in between spa services with a cup of tea. I tried to relax while listening to the gossip and heavy clomping up the stairs by employees on their way to and from the break room. I wrote to the owner about my experience and never received an acknowlegement or appology. Perhaps I can spare you from spending your hard earned money on a spa that is less than relaxing. more