Gumdrop Hairdressing in Montclair, NJ

I use to love coming to this salon. My whole life I struggled with trying to find stylists who are able to cut, highlight and style my hair in order to boost my confidence! When I found this place 7 or so years ago, I was so happy! The staff were so friendly and listened to my concerns and made my hair look great. Honestly I don't know what happened the past two or three years. I really didn't want to write this review but the past two experiences I've had here have not been pleasant. My hair is fried from the highlighting I received after my latest appointment a few weeks ago. I have naturally ashy dark blonde hair that is thin dry and curly in texture. I do expect when I get my hair highlighted that it will become more dry and change the curl pattern a bit but this time my hair is hardly even manageable. I try very hard not to use heat products on my hair. Once every couple months. Now I feel the only solution to combat how unmanageable my hair has become is to wear my hair up in a bun to hide it. It's really upsetting. As for the cut itself, one side is cut shorter than the other. When I try to dry my hair naturally it looks like I was electrocuted. I loved my long curly hair prior to this. I took pride in it. Now it's shorter and unmanageable and I look at it in disgust. The worst part is I paid alot of money. 500+ dollars on the cut and highlight. I wish I could have received some honestly if my hair was not in a good condition to highlight. I don't highlight my hair very often (one a year ) but now my hair is ruined. Other minor things I've noticed is that everything seems more rushed and they have their stylists working like they are in a factory. It's kinda upsetting to see. A lot of stylists are working back and forth with two clients at once meanwhile you hear other stylists laughing and giggling in the back. I noticed a trend on their instagram that all the hair cuts and styles and highlight techniques all kinda look the same. Everyone seems to be getting the same cut and highlight. Idk if that's just a coincidence though. Lastly beware of the newer women assistant who is washing hair. She has the roughest approach on clients scalps. This women had me almost in tears. She is rough scrubbing the scalp with the acrylic long nails and yanks on the hair and neck as if you aren't a human. She does not take into account there is a human sitting in the chair and is washing hair and pulling on necks and scalps like she is working on a mannequin. I really want to continue to go here but I'm wary now. Give three starts because the staff is over all friendly but I just don't think the quality is worth the price anymore and prices keep going up and up.

This salon is wonderful! My son and daughter in law live in Montclair, and my daughter in law, who has her hair done by Andros, shared his name with me. Whenever I'm back East (from California), I always schedule an appointment with Andros. Not only is he good at his craft, he's also a wonderful human.

Andros came recommended from another Gumdrop client. I was looking for a hairstylist for my wedding, and based on the photos samples Andros shared, it was the exactly the hair style I was looking for! Andros listened to what I was looking for. My bridesmaids and I were very happy with our hair styles. I would not only recommend using him for hair cuts and coloring, but also for styling hair for events!

I have been a long-time client of Nicole's, and I cannot say enough positive things about her. Nicole is a hair artist, she is always in tune with what I want, and pays full attention to detail. She makes sure that I am always comfortable, and my hair is accurate to my vision. Some of the colors and looks she's created, even beyond my own, are truly a work of art. I am normally a pretty impatient person, but for where it matters, (like my hair, or my annual physical) I appreciate every moment of time I'm given. I have never left an appointment with Nicole disappointed, and I know she gives the same amount of time and effort to every client she works with. If you want a life changing self-care experience at a chic, trendy & welcoming salon, GO TO GUMDROP!

I went to the salon to have my hair colored by Nicole as a returning client. My appointment was at 2:30pm, and at 3:10pm, 40 minutes after my appointment, I went to the receptionist to ask what the delay was and saw Nicole was nowhere near complete with the client she was still helping. The receptionist offered to reschedule my appointment, to which I said yes, and left. As I left, I felt totally disrespected as Nicole never addressed me and she saw me rescheduling my appointment. The lack of care for a client's time was upsetting to me. I called the salon when I left to share my experience, explaining to the manager I spoke with that I'm a mom with very little free time, I work full time, I have an event this weekend that I wanted my hair done for, and to have an appointment start 40+ minutes late without so much as addressing me about it is not acceptable -- especially because salons like Gumdrop hold customers accountable for being late, no-shows, etc. -- charging a customer full price should they miss or be 40 minutes late to their appointment. The manager I spoke with was very apologetic and validating. This all took a turn when the owner called me. He compared the experience to a doctor's office, saying that I wouldn't act this way at a doctor's office, that a stylist being 40 minutes late is totally "normal and happens," and that he doesn't WANT to give me anything in return to compensate me for my time but that he would offer a discount if I wanted it. The fact that he even called me with the tone that he did, and said he wouldn't comp me an appointment -- and said this all very begrudgingly -- was DISTURBING. The owner, I believe named VJ, was gaslighting me, saying that he watched the camera and she finished right as I left, and that these are scenarios that all customers should be okay with. I have never been treated like this before and this is a business that you should stay FAR away from. The owner then called me back 5 minutes later to apologize for his behavior, sharing that he didn't have the full side of the story and offering me 50% off? The entitlement, the bizarre behavior, the lack of validation, the avoiding of giving an apology, the gaslighting, all of it was extremely strange. 0/10 would not recommend. Would rather drive back to Jersey City salons where I was treated with respect, empathy and validation. Wow.