Maven Salon — Local services in San Diego

Amazing experience with Nicole Cournoyer at Maven. My favorite balayage, hands down, I've ever received, and I've been getting balayage for roughly the last 10 years. :) I found Nicole and the salon through Google and her work on instagram (@nkc_hair) while visiting in San Diego. Nicole had a warm, relaxed, inviting energy and she made space and time for me to show her and explain to her what I was hoping to accomplish without feeling rushed. She listened intently and presently, and she asked all the right questions to ensure I felt heard. She was very communicative and transparent about process, vision, pricing and how everything would work which eased any questions. Talking to her was a pleasure, and I absolutely LOVE my hair. She nailed the vision I was hoping for; my hair also feels super healthy which was important to me with going blonder. Overall, she was a joy to chat with, she finished my hair in about 2 hours, which is record timing for any balayage I've had, and my experience did not feel rushed at all. She accomplished the exact vision I wanted with ease and confidence. Will 100% be back when I officially make the move to SD. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a beautiful, natural balayage and great customer service! (The salon is also beautiful, clean and filled with plants and light,...

Nicole is amazing! By far the best balayage I've ever had.

I have dark brown hair so balayage and highlights in the past have either looked fake, killed my hair, or were "natural looking" but almost nonexistent after multiple hours and hundreds of dollars. I explained what I wanted, and she did an even better job than I could have imagined. I'll gladly admit I'm very particular when it comes to makeup and hair. It's natural without being underwhelming, and it's detailed, polished work that didn't eat up half my day. She is the first stylist that superseded my expectations.

I also loved the products and the treatments she recommended - my hair has never felt healthier, and I'm not struggling to comb through it after I shower. The salon's product prices were the same as what I found online, so I'm happy to support a local business. Also love that they renovated an old auto repair shop - it's a unique, urban local spot with bright,...

After 20 years of loyalty to another salon, I took a leap and trusted my wife’s long-standing recommendation: Jess Gonsalves at Maven. My hair had been through it; severely damaged, over-processed, and left with a bleached-out orange hue instead of the rich ginger I was dreaming of.

Jess worked absolute magic. From our very first session in early 2024 (right before my wedding!), she began the transformation: bringing my hair back to life with expert color correction, deep conditioning, and incredible care. I now see her every 4–6 weeks for color, gloss, and treatments, and my hair has never looked—or felt—better.

It’s now a gorgeous, dimensional copper-ginger tone with a healthy shine I hadn’t seen in years. Jess is a true master of her craft: knowledgeable, attentive, honest, and so talented. I’ll never trust anyone else with my hair again.

If your hair needs saving or you’re just ready to love it again, go see Jess. She’s...