Karen Allen Salon & Spa - Riverside Plaza — Attraction in Riverside

NICHOLE IS FREAKING AWESOME. She absoluuuuuuutely listened to my vision for my hair and gently helped guide me towards making an informed decision about what process I should subject my hair to. She really understood what I meant by wanting to achieve a golden-red-orangey color that was incredibly luminous in sunshine BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, that complimented my olive skin tone, which is something that other stylists do not frequently achieve. As I had been regrowing and healing my hair for about 1.5 years since my last hair lightening treatment, Nichole made sure to explain to me the difference between lightening and lifting, and what potential consequences there could be- which were minimal given my desired hair color. She likewise educated me on the hair color products they use, an innovative brand called Colorspace, which was actually created by Lupe Voss, a major player in the Aveda world some time ago. These products are actually just as comparably derived from natural, plant-based sources as Aveda color products, and have been FREAKING FANTAAABULOUS for my hair WITHOUT the color fading that sometimes happens with Aveda color products. Let me emphasize that there's been ZERO damage to hair EVENTHOUGH its original color (dark brown) was lifted to an auburn/golden red color... I FEEL SO BEAUTIFUL. OH MY GOSH. I've never been MORE happy with my hair, nor have I EVER felt more myself with my hair before. I've said it many times already, but I feel like a LATINA LITTLE MERMAID, Y'ALL. What's best is that it looks so natural (to the extent possible), and my natural waves complement the color and its in-sunshine-lumimosity so, so, soooooo well!! Ahhh!! ALSO, the head/neck/arm massage Nichole gave me while my hair was processing was DIVINE. I was instantly transported to another Universe when Nichole applied pressure to my shoulders with her arms. Alsoooo, the treatment and hotel towel process applied to my hair after it was shampooed twice from the color was HEAVENLY. I HONESTLY CANNOTTTTT BELIEVE the cost of my appointment included getting my hair completed colored, having a treatment applied to it with a hot towel, getting a massage, being offered fancy tea and snacks, being blow-dried, AND a hair-cut. MY EXPERIENCE WAS NOTHING SHORT OF SPECTACULAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, NICHOLE!!! I'M 100000000% COMING BACK (AND SO...

I love the two stylists I had here. They are fantastic! My disappointment stems from the experience I had when I got a call from the salon saying my current stylist, whom I'd been exclusively seeing for over a year, was on emergency family leave and wouldn't be able to see me but they had another person available that same day and time. I turned them down and I was sincerely concerned about my regular stylist because she and I had developed a relationship of trust and respect and I truly cared for her and her family (whom she would talk about) and she for me and mine. Women develop friendships in the salon. So even if we didn't hang out outside the salon, we enjoyed each other's company and shared things about ourselves and our lives. Naturally, when I heard she was out for a family emergency, my thoughts turned to her elderly grandparent, to some personal health issues she'd shared with me previously, etc. When I reached out to her via social media, she didn't respond. That made me worry even more. Long story short.... I eventually learned she had left the salon but was forbidden from contacting any of her clients. For months the staff at the salon would contact me and attempt to schedule me with another stylist.... Still maintaining that they didn't know when my stylist would return from "emergency family leave". I eventually learned of the truth....I mean, in Riverside, it's only a matter of time until you run into old friends. I have a degree in business. I was once the director of a multi-million dollar business... I'm familiar with strategies to maximize profits and lower client and employee turnover... But when those strategies caused me to have to consider misrepresenting the truth to my clients and to put profit above what I believed was right, I quit that job. I took a job for less pay, as the single mother of two children, so I could keep my self respect. Just saying.... Don't lie to me...I won't support your business if you do. That said, the actual stylists here have never...

I walked into Kelsi's chair with ALL the nervous energy (like I rehearsed what I wanted to tell her for 3 days), But OMG.

First off, Kelsi is not just a stylist, she's basically a hair goddess. For context I have thin, stick-straight hair that usually looks about as exciting as a plain piece of toast. I get there is only so much I can do with it, usually I’m told a bob cut or straight blunt cut is best. But I felt like the right stylist would get me. I wanted some shape, volume and for someone to just take their time with my cut instead of just putting in minimal effort and writing it off as just me having thin hair. When she talked to me and worked her magic I have never felt so SEEN. She gave my hair texture and movement and SHAPE. Literally addressed every single concern I mentioned. When I left I immediately called my mom (who referred me) and my SIL and basically told everyone how amazed I was with her. I’m ngl like it made me emotional lmao.

Anyways haircut aside her vibes were immaculate, like so effortlessly cool fr. She was professional, creative, and radiating this warm energy that made me feel so comfortable. I cannot recommend her enough. I don’t think I’ve ever left a review for a hairstylist before, but I felt COMPELLED. Anyways this is your sign from the universe to get your hair...