Google reviewers rate Essence Salon 4.6 out of 5 based on 471 reviews, with the owner responding to 94% of them. Clients frequently praise the stylists for their attentiveness, pre-appointment consultations, and ability to translate vague ideas into precise cuts and colors. However, recurring criticisms involve unexpected price increases based on hair volume, last-minute appointment cancellations, and instances where final results did not match specific requests or reference photos.
Google rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 471 reviews (82% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 470 Google reviews (339 with written comments, 33 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 94% of reviews.
Most recent review: October 21, 2026.
Service: Nail Salon serving Mountain View, California.
Data from Google, last updated October 28, 2026.
Photos
Customer reviews
4.6
★★★★★
471 reviews on Google
5★385
4★32
3★16
2★12
1★25
Reviews from Google, shown as published (original wording, unedited).
What customers talk about
We read 339 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“Grace is one of the most senior and professional hairdressers I've worked with.”
“The hair-washing was equally unprofessional: the water fluctuated between freezing and scalding, and the handling was so rough it was physically painful.”
“I’ve been coming here for about a year, and every visit has been a great experience.”
“I had a haircut appointment with Vivian, and unfortunately, it was one of the worst salon experiences I’ve ever had.”
“Highly recommend Grace, especially if you have hair that needs extra care and expertise.”
“Unfortunately, I will not be returning and cannot recommend this salon based on my experience.”
“She's meticulous, clearly experienced, and an excellent communicator.”
“After I saw her cute cut with a lot of texturizing I thought… ok let’s see if the drive is worth it.”
“I found this place via Yelp and even though I chose a less pricey stylist, I've still been completely happy.”
“She is kind, attentive, highly skilled, and really listens while also being honest about what will work best for your hair.”
“I'm absolutely obsessed, she transformed my entire look in a quick hour and I swear I felt my soul leave my body when she was washing my hair, I was in heaven!”
People customers mention
Grace48 reviews
Jennifer26 reviews
Mary13 reviews
Area9 reviews
Sarah8 reviews
Laura8 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Jobs customers hired them for— from Google's service tags and the review text
Team members customers mention
Filter by topic— each topic is highlighted in the reviews in the same color
Lillian BrixiLocal Guide · 31 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Lillian has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I had a bad experience here last year but since then they have more than made up for it. Ellie is amazing and always checks what you want before cutting!!
Price: $160–180
Services: Haircut
Response from the owner · Edited 6 months ago
Hi Lillian,
Thank you for taking the time to update your review. We truly appreciate you giving us the opportunity to make things right.
We’re so glad to hear Ellie was able to help and that your hair is feeling much better as you get closer to your wedding. That means a lot to us. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Such a special time, and we’re happy to be a small part of it.
We look forward to seeing you again and continuing to care for your hair.
With Love,
Jennifer
---
Jan 26, 2026
Hi Lillian,
I’m very sorry that this experience was so upsetting for you, especially with your wedding coming up. I understand how important it was to preserve length, and I regret that we did not meet your expectations on this visit.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak with you and to work with you toward a resolution. We take your feedback seriously and are using it as a reminder of the importance of clear consultation, pacing, and confirmation before beginning any service.
We appreciate the chance to continue caring for you and look forward to seeing you in April to help soften and refine the cut as it grows.
With love,
Jennifer
Anna10 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Anna has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Grace is one of the most senior and professional hairdressers I've worked with. I have very high-volume hair, so she suggested a pre-consultation before my cut. It made a real difference: she understood exactly what I wanted before we started, and the appointment itself ran smoothly without wasting my time.
Once she knows my goal, she doesn't stop until it's done perfectly. She's meticulous, clearly experienced, and an excellent communicator.
I left feeling heard and with exactly the cut I wanted. Highly recommend Grace, especially if you have hair that needs extra care and expertise.
Services: Haircut
Response from the owner · 3 weeks ago
Thank you for trusting us, Anna.
Delighted that you are happy with your experience and the results. Grace’s commitment to understanding each Guest’s goals before beginning is part of what makes her so special.
Grace and all of us look forward to your next visit!
With Love,
Jennifer
Mausami Dave1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Mausami has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Grace is one of those rare stylists you feel lucky to find. I’ve been coming here for about a year, and every visit has been a great experience.
She is kind, attentive, highly skilled, and really listens while also being honest about what will work best for your hair. Her attention to detail is excellent, and her cuts grow out beautifully — I still get compliments weeks later.
The whole salon feels calm, welcoming, and genuinely caring, and Lauren and Sofia make scheduling effortless.
So grateful I found Grace and this salon.
Price: $200+
Services: Haircut, Hairstyling, Hair coloring
Atmosphere: Relaxing, Energetic, Modern
Maintenance: Pristine
Response from the owner · 3 weeks ago
Thank you for your loyalty, Mausami.
It means so much to know that you feel genuinely cared for when you visit us. Thank you also for recognizing Grace, Lauren and Sofia. Creating beautiful results while providing a warm and welcoming experience is what we strive for with every Guest.
Grace and all of us look forward to being of service next time!
With Love,
Jennifer
NandiniLocal Guide · 110 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Nandini has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Absolutely loved my cut and color by Anais!!!! I gave her a very vague idea of what I was looking for and she absolutely killed it. I highly recommend her!
Price: $200+
Services: Haircut, Curly hair, Hair coloring
Atmosphere: Relaxing, Modern, Cozy
Maintenance: Well-kept
Response from the owner · a month ago
Thank you for sharing your experience, Nandini.
We are delighted that Anais brought your vision to life and that you love your new look! Thank you for trusting her and for the recommendation.
Anais and all of us look forward to your next visit!
With Love,
Jennifer
Agnieszka SLocal Guide · 16 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Agnieszka has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I have been to this salon several times and have always been happy with Mary. This time, however, she didn’t have an appointment available that worked for my schedule. I also find $150 + tip for a haircut to be quite expensive, so I decided to book an appointment online with another stylist, whose haircut was listed at $95.
When I arrived, I was told that I would be charged an additional $25 because I have long hair. I had never been charged an additional fee for my hair length at this salon before, so I was quite surprised. I also don’t feel this was communicated clearly during the online booking process. I later found the information on the salon’s website, but I don’t think customers should have to do additional research every time they book an appointment, especially when my previous appointments were charged according to the price shown when booking online.
The haircut itself looks nice, although Claudia styled my hair with waves, but after washing and wearing my hair naturally, I can see that it was cut shorter than I requested. My main concern is simply the lack of transparency regarding the additional charge.I hope the salon can make these pricing details clearer during the booking process in the future.
Price: $120–140
Services: Haircut
Atmosphere: Relaxing
Maintenance: Acceptable
Response from the owner · a month ago
Thank you for sharing your feedback, Agnieszka.
We truly appreciated the opportunity to speak with you and have such an open and thoughtful conversation about your experience.
I am sorry that your haircut was shorter than you requested and that your overall experience did not meet your expectations.
I did want to clarify one thing because transparency with our pricing is very important to us. All service prices on our salon menu and website are listed with a “+” to indicate starting prices, along with a disclaimer explaining that prices may vary based on the time and materials required. Our online booking site also states this before Guests proceed to select a stylist.
You did make a very fair point that the stylist selection page displays “$95” rather than “$95+” or “from $95.” Our online booking platform is provided through Boulevard, our booking software, and unfortunately we cannot change how pricing is displayed on that page. We will share your feedback with Boulevard in hopes that they can make this clearer in the future.
Each stylist has their own approach and professional assessment when working with a Guest’s hair, so pricing may vary based on what is needed for that particular appointment. Any adjustment to the starting price is discussed during the consultation before the service begins.
We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with us and hope you will give us another opportunity in the future. We hope to be of service to you again.
With Love,
Jennifer
Niki Welch5 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Niki has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
UPDATE: After I posted my original review, the salon manager reached out to me directly. She was incredibly kind, listened to my concerns, and offered to have me come back in with a different stylist at no charge. They’d already chosen a stylist that they thought would be a better fit for my goals and discussed my experience with her, which speaks to how seriously they take things.
I went back yesterday and had a completely different experience. The second stylist (Ellie) took time to actually talk with me about my hair, what wasn’t working with the original cut, how my hair behaves in this climate, and what I was hoping to achieve. She made some adjustments to the cut, explained what she was doing, and gave me styling and product recommendations.
I left feeling so much better about my hair and about the salon overall. I styled it myself this morning, and for the first time since the original appointment, I’m seeing the movement and shape I had been trying to get back.
It’s still very early—I haven’t even washed the corrected cut myself yet—so I want to live with it a little longer before saying how it ultimately works for me. But I didn’t want to wait to acknowledge how well Essence responded to my concerns. They could have dismissed a negative review or offered a generic apology. Instead, they reached out, listened, and made a genuine effort to make things right. I really appreciate that.
Haircut 1 (1-star experience): It has taken me three weeks to write this review because I was genuinely upset by the results of my appointment with Grace. Having recently moved to the area, I chose both Essence Salon and Grace specifically based on reviews and booked a master stylist because I wanted more than just a basic haircut.
I brought photos of my own hair showing its natural texture, how it behaved in lower humidity, and how it has been behaving here. I explained my goals: trim my bangs, adjust my overgrown layers to restore movement throughout my curls/waves, preserve my overall length as much as possible, and get some guidance on managing frizz and styling my hair in this much more humid environment.
After briefly discussing the photos, Grace jumped right into the cut. My bangs turned out great, but otherwise I left feeling terrible about my hair. It was several inches shorter, looked choppy and dry, and most importantly, the cut didn’t accomplish what we’d discussed. My layers are still concentrated near the bottom, so my curls still fall together rather than having the movement throughout the length that I specifically wanted to restore.
I also repeatedly asked for advice about styling and humidity protection and was told she’d show me at the end. At the end, she sprayed dry texture spray at my roots and said, “There, more floofy!” That was essentially the extent of the styling education I received.
Grace thanked me for arriving early because my hair was so long and mentioned having another client after me, and the appointment ultimately felt rushed. As a new client, I would have much preferred a thorough consultation and, if there wasn’t enough time to accomplish what I was asking for, to rebook the actual cut.
Ultimately, I didn’t feel listened to. I lost several inches of length without getting the movement I wanted, and I left without the humidity or styling guidance I’d specifically sought. I booked and paid for a master stylist because I wanted that expertise and consultation. Instead, I felt like I simply got a haircut I could have gotten anywhere.
Price: $160–180
Services: Bang trim, Haircut, Hairstyling
Response from the owner · a month ago
Thank you for sharing your experience, Niki.
We are very happy to know that your experience with Ellie was such a positive one and, most importantly, that you are feeling much happier with your hair.
Taking care of our Guests and making them feel happy and confident has always been at the heart of Essence Salon. While things do not always go as expected, we will always listen, learn, and do our best to make things right. We truly appreciate you giving us the opportunity to do that.
Thank you for your openness and kind words about our team. Ellie and all of us look forward to seeing you again!
With Love,
Jennifer
kanika sharma7 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews kanika has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I got an haircut by Anais and I loved her work. I’ve wanted bangs for a very long time but I have thin hair so it never came out well in a way that would add volume to my hair. Anais understood what I wanted and gave a cut that suited my hairtype and face cut.
Price: $100–120
Services: Bang trim, Haircut
Response from the owner · a month ago
Thank you for sharing your experience, Kanika.
Delighted you are happy! It is especially rewarding when a stylist can help a Guest achieve the look they were hoping for. We know Anais will be so happy to hear your kind words.
Anais and all of us look forward to your next visit!
With Love,
Jennifer
D T3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews D has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
My eldest found Essence Salon a few years ago and we have been making a special visit from another city just to get our hair cut here. It's THAT good, and this review is long overdue! We love to see Mary and Grace, but honestly every stylist we've had has been exceptional. They take such great care in not only listening to your needs but also know how to make it work for you. The customer service is wonderful too. You are treated with warmth and respect, offered tea/coffee, and a nice chat whilst your hair is being cut. I know it doesn't sound like much but I have sadly come to experience that this can be rare in other salons! My daughter recently had her hair cut by Ellie for her graduation. Ellie is a wizard - she graciously handled a long and voluminous head of very curly locks into something beautiful and made my girl feel special.
Price: $120–140
Services: Haircut, Curly hair
Response from the owner · 3 months ago
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, D.
Knowing that your family makes the trip to see us means more than you know. We are so grateful for your continued trust and are delighted that Mary, Grace, Ellie, and the entire team have made each visit a special one.
We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
With Love,
Jennifer
Yamilet RochaLocal Guide · 37 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Yamilet has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Grace was amazing and so kind, first time coming to a salon and had the best experience ever!! She gave me consultation for the best cut for me and gave me exactly what i needed, recommend her 1000% The hair treatment I selected was perfect too!!
Price: $180–200
Services: Bang trim, Haircut, Hair hydration treatments
Response from the owner · 3 months ago
Thank you for trying us, Yamilet.
So happy that Grace made your first salon experience such a wonderful one. Thank you for the recommendation.
Grace and all of us look forward to your next visit!
With Love,
Jennifer
Courtney Shepard2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Courtney has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Mary is easily one of the top hair stylists I've ever gone to. She listened intently to the overarching look I was going for (to make my hair look more natural) and instead of just bleaching my head, as most others have, she reintroduced my natural color back into my hair and walked me through the process of what it would take to get back to a lighter, natural blonde. It was so nice to have a professional set clear expectations, even if it'll take more time to get there. On top of that she's hilarious and so friendly. Already looking forward to my next appointment!
Price: $200+
Services: Bang trim, Haircut, Curly hair, Hair coloring, Balayage
Response from the owner · 3 months ago
Thank you for trying us, Courtney.
We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It is so good to know that Mary helped you feel comfortable and well cared for.
We look forward to seeing you again!
With Love,
Jennifer
