Danny Jelaca Salon & Spa — Local services in Miami Beach

Danny Jelaca Salon – A Complete Disaster (And a Waste of Money)

I cannot express enough how disappointed and frustrated I am with my experience at Danny Jelaca Salon in South Beach, Miami. After doing extensive research, this salon consistently came up as one of the best in the area. I’ve been to multiple salons in Miami and have yet to find one that truly delivers quality, so I figured this time, I would spend the money and finally get the service I deserved. What a mistake.

From the beginning, I was in communication with a stylist named Heather, texting back and forth, explaining my concerns due to prior bad experiences. I even provided multiple pictures of my own hair, showing what I wanted, what had gone wrong at other salons, and how I wanted it fixed. Heather reassured me that she was a master balayage specialist and could easily achieve my desired look. She quoted me a price, and I booked an appointment, trusting her expertise.

The Appointment – A Nightmare from Start to Finish

When I arrived for my 1:30 PM appointment, Heather didn’t even acknowledge me. Instead, at 1:35 PM, she was taking endless photos of her previous client’s bleach-blonde hair—over and over again—right in front of me. No greeting, no apology for the delay. The owner had to remind her that I was her client and was waiting. This was my first red flag.

When she finally got to me, she immediately backtracked on everything she promised. Despite reviewing my photos in advance, she told me that my roots were too dark and that there was nothing she could do. Instead of offering solutions, like lightening the top and blending it as per my request, she simply said, “We can just keep coloring it.” That should have been my cue to walk out.

The Actual Service – Incompetence at Its Finest

I asked for a balayage with a subtle ombré effect—darker at the top, gradually lightening towards the ends. Instead, Heather: • Made my hair BLACK on top and dragged the color too far down, making the entire thing look muddy and flat—the exact opposite of what I wanted. • Did not check on my hair once while the color was processing. Instead, she was in the back eating baklava—something I only know because I overheard them talking about it. • The timer went off, and she still didn’t come back. I had to ask the receptionist to go get her. • Never checked the bleach she applied for the highlights. • Never checked the single-process color before rinsing it out.

After she washed my hair and started blow-drying, I saw the disaster unfolding: no highlights, no dimension—just DARK, one-tone hair. When I told her I was uncomfortable and that she should have checked on me, her response? “But your hair looks like what you wanted.”

I pulled out my reference pictures again and said, “I don’t know what YOU see, but this is the opposite of what I asked for.”

Aftermath – Ignored, Avoided, and Even More Money Wasted

Heather offered to “fix” my hair, but after what she had already done, there was no way I was letting her touch it again. I told her I didn’t want to pay, but I also didn’t want to make a scene, so I paid but did not tip.

Since leaving, I have called the salon multiple times to request a full refund, but they have completely ignored my calls. It’s clear they have caller ID and are deliberately avoiding me.

To make matters even worse, because this disaster took so long, I ended up paying almost $40 in parking fees. So now, in addition to the cost of this awful appointment, I am out even more money and still need to pay someone else to fix the mess Heather made. This experience was an absolute nightmare, and I wouldn’t recommend this salon to my worst enemy. Save yourself the money, the stress, and the disappointment—go anywhere else. To make matters worse, I’ve been told several times that the owner would get back to me after his trip to Las Vegas. as of today no response when I call the salon nobody answers they have caller ID. I know that for a fact they’re now...

I came into this experience very hopeful, but it was terrible from start to finish. I had appointments for a color and eyebrow wax. As an aside, I had a haircut appt scheduled first with Danny and he cancelled. Before I arrived, the receptionist called to let me know that the woman who would be waxing my brows closed her book and wouldn't be able to come in. Right before I was about to leave, the receptionist called again and said she was coming in for me. Like many, my hair needed a Covid overhaul. I had about an inch of root and asked for my color to be restored to my natural color. My hair is now black... not even close to my natural brown. My blowout by a junior stylist was fine. It fell flat as soon as I walked outside, but at least he was nice unlike some of the other staff. When I went to check out, my check seemed much higher than expected. When I inquired, I was told that the colorist gave me another service than what I scheduled. No problem if that's what is best, but it was about $100 difference and not even a mention to me. Long story short, my eyebrows had many hairs not removed, trim job cut too much on left brow, and right brow waxed too much in the middle, my hair is now black (not my natural brown), my white dress was destroyed by whomever washed my hair because they got water down my back the entire time. The best part is - they video you and their work numerous times and don't ask for your consent. I knew something was up when the colorist was speaking another language to the receptionist and she started moving around me with her iPhone. Not cool. Find another salon.

I am now updating/adding to this review to let everyone know about the lack of professionalism. I made it known that I did not want to be filmed/photographed and employees at the salon continue to post videos and pictures of me without my consent. The images are inaccurate as they make my hair appear much lighter. Anyone can use a filter and lighting to alter pictures today. The owner reached out two me twice by phone and twice by text, likely because they would like my negative review removed. I told him that I couldn’t speak because I was on a work call and he reached out three additional times in the same day. Attached are photos... Instagram vs Reality

The best part is... Danny called me and told me he had a death in the family and was "up north", which is why he wasn't in the salon last week. Amazingly, he posted pictures and videos from Aspen all week and then made the recent post below confirming that he was in fact in Aspen and not at a funeral. It takes a special type of person to make up lies about a death.

FYI - If you need a great colorist to clean up the mess of Danny Jelaca's Salon, Erica Quince is your girl! It took hours and will take more than one session, but she is great. Highly recommend!

I am editing this review YET AGAIN because Danny’s recent response is untruthful and much too late. Danny, give it up, or I will screenshot and attach your texts with your phone number and your transcribed voicemails from you so that everyone knows how mentally unstable you are. FYI - You still owe AMEX...

Do not go to this Salon! A family member of mine went to Diego to color her hair and he completely ruined her hair! She came in with a picture of Kim Kardashian when she had an ombre and told Diego that is what she wanted. She already had an ombre (medium brown on top and blonde towards the ends) that was previously done awhile back, but wanted to bring the blonde up higher and make the blonde tone more beige like how the picture of Kim K was. Diego assured her he could achieve this look...why could he not? seeing as she already had an ombre so half the work was already done. When Diego finished with her hair it was brown! and looked nothing like the picture. Her ombre was gone! and the brown had a grey tinge to it. On top of getting the opposite of what she wanted and having her hair darker than what she started off with she had to pay $400 for this mess! and was not told about the price until after the services were done. Now I have been doing hair for 15 years and never in my life have I seen such poor service been done in such an upscale salon. My family member is a young girl and didn't know what to do when she was told the price and when she saw her hair. So I called the salon on her behalf to try to explain to them how unhappy was. The woman i spoke to explained to me 1. that the client is responsible to know the price of the services and she should have asked. Never in my years in the salon industry have I heard of this nonsense. You should tell the client the break down before doing anything to their hair. what if she didn't have $400 to spend on her hair?(ombre was not on their price list either) 2. She explained to me that they do not do refunds which is ridiculous seeing as her hair looked better before and no where on their site or in their salon does it say no refunds. They offered for Diego to fix it, but why would she want him to fix it after he ruined her hair? Apparently they care more about money than making a customer happy or retaining them. The one woman I spoke to tried making many excuses on why her hair looked the way it did after the service was done saying that "color can be tricky" and I know it can, but not when someone who already has an ombre still wants an ombre. I honestly could not believe they would not just admit he ruined her color and that they made it seem like the price situation was her fault. We even have pictures to prove to them how bad her hair turned out compared to before, but regardless of that they would not give this poor young girl her money back. Worst people in the...