Artika

I really wanted to like this salon.

by cassandrac86 at Citysearch

I really wanted to like this salon.

I recently moved from the Santa Barbara area to Whittier and wanted to find an Aveda salon. The salon I was going to in SB was an Aveda salon and I had such a great experience there...never a bad cut, they always started my appt. on time, and my cut was always a great value, even after my stylist received two raises.

After seeing a promotion on facebook, I purchased a gift card to Artika so I could try out their services. I booked an appointment with Aracely after reading some reviews online. Being a new client in a new salon, I was nervous walking in to my appointment. Aracely's consultation with me was very blunt/brief. It basically consisted of her abruptly asking, 'Well, what are you here for?" I did not feel very welcome or at ease. I have very fine hair that I wear in an angled bob with bangs and showed her a picture of my last cut. She washed and dried my hair and began to cut. I have a sensitive scalp and she was quite rough with her comb on my wet hair. When done, she told me she was going to texturize my hair. I figured it would only be minimal, as we hadn't agreed to heavy texturizing. Wrong. She thinned and chunked out my hair WAY too much. When I was home I noticed it felt strange, was the wrong shape (straight versus angled bob), that I had some VERY short layers, and my hair looked more damaged/fly-away then before. Also, I had quite a "shelf" of awkwardly cut hair near the nape of my neck. It was as if the back of my bob wasn't touched at all.

I called the salon and the manager was insistent on having me return so that another stylist could "fix" it. The $ I had paid for the original cut was refunded to my gift card. I arrived for my appt. with Lauren 5 minutes early. I was not seen until THIRTY FIVE minutes after my appt. time, because the receptionist didn't tell her I was there. Lauren reshaped the cut and explained that Aracely had not texturized my hair properly.

The next day I noticed I still had pieces of longer hair awkwardly sticking out of the back of my bob. I had to return AGAIN to have it fixed, This time, it was blamed on my cowlick. (Isn't it a stylist's job to notice and address things like that?) At this point, I figured I just needed to cut my losses so I used up my gift card on product so I wouldn't have to return.

Bottom line: I find it really hard to believe that it took two stylists and three visits to correctly shape the back of a bob. This salon's services are overpriced by about $10 (it's pricier than the Aveda salon I was going to in ritzy Santa Barbara), they don't seem to take your individual hair texture into account, and they don't seem to respect clients' time. I am going elsewhere as I wait MONTHS for all of these awful layers to grow out and my hair to fill back in. What a waste of time + energy.

Love my hair!

by iclairebear2 at Citysearch

I am another faithful devotee of Artika. I always walk out of there feeling so much more attractive than when I walk in. Lauren is terrific. Sometimes I don't even know what I want or how to describe what I want to try and she just somehow knows and then translates it into a beautiful haircut. I also love that I am able to reproduce the look on my own after I get home and wash my hair. I feel like with other cuts it would always look pretty good in the salon, but then I'd get home and it would never look like that again. Not so here.

Friendly and professional

by Kteacher at Citysearch

After trying many different hair salons, I finally lucked out with Artika. My stylist was Lauren and she is a wonderful person and stylist, she colored and cut my hair, and gave me a wonderful head and neck massage, so relaxing. I really enjoyed the whole experience and I was very satisfied with the results. :)

• Pros: Great results

Curly Hair Masters!

Contributor at Citysearch

Earlier this year I cut my hair to donate it in support of my aunt who is fighting breast cancer (and winning!) Id been growing out my hair since I was 18 (24 now) so it was a BIG deal! From when I first made my appointment I knew i'd be ok. Ii was setup with a stylist named Lauren who specializes and LOVES to style and cut curly hair. She is truly amazing! We cut off over 14 inches of hair and weren't left with much but she worked her magic and created a beautiful, bouncy manageable curly bob cut - with a bit of an edge. I just went back to get a trim and Lauren was as sweet as ever, remebered just what my hair looked like when she first cut it and once again worked her magic. If you have curly hair andf arte looking to take a rsik - artika is the place and Lauren is the woman for ther job. Great! Great! Great!

Best experience at a Salon EVER!

by CSMobileUser2 at Citysearch

I have moved and had trouble finding a Salon that would give me everything...great service, great stylist and fab price. By recomendation I ended up in Artika, and my God was my friend right! After being a brunette for so long, I wanted to go lighter and was very hesitant. The stylist and her assistant made feel at ease, totally the boost I needed! I should have known it would be great, this place has great reviews from everywhere. On another review a client mentioned they had a bad expeience with the same stylist I got, I'm not a regular and did NOT have that problem at all. Sometimes its the emotional client...not the stylist. I will however, be a regular client from now on! Best experience I have EVER had at a salon, and not only was my hair exxxxxxactly what I wanted ( I wanted to scream, but a bit embarassed. I did squeek in happiness in the car though) but I think its the people that truly make it the cherry on top!