Lumen Hair Salon in Madison, WI

When I arrived right on time for my 10:30 appt, I wasn't greeted in a normal way. It felt like I'd walked into someone's party to which I hadn't been invited. But when I explained I actually had an appointment, I was directed by Erin--who was supposed to be my stylist--to take a seat in the small spot acting as a waiting room. She introduced herself from the nearby chair (maybe 10-12 feet away from me) while she was working on her client's hair. I sat down. The client said softly to Erin, "Sorry," presumably for exceeding the length of the appt, but that's not her fault obviously. Erin said loudly, "I'm not! I knew this was going to take a long time!" Because this is a small shop, I'm new, and I'd already felt like I'd intruded where I wasn't welcome, I said, "Oh, I'm in no hurry!" But I wondered, if she knew her service was going to exceed the time frame she'd booked for her client, why did she book me in that time frame? And 20 minutes passed. No acknowledgment of me. No offer of water, coffee, nothing. No gratitude for my patience. I didn't exist. Or, worse. I felt they wanted me to leave. During this time, Erin gossiped with her client, asked her client if she wanted her to rewash her hair, she cut every single hair in the client's bangs and then went over them again (I've really never seen anything so vain--though I'm sure it was an awesome cut), curled the hair again, cut another hair, talked about so and so's husband and then paused for awhile to just gape at her work and to talk some more. And never once a nod toward my existence. I wanted to cry. It felt deliberately mean girl. So, I stood up and put on my coat. At that, Erin asked, "Are you cold?" I said no, "I'm leaving." And I think the client asked, "You're leaving?" But not a word from Erin or the other stylist there. And I left. No one cared that a client left. No one has contacted me. This was so mean. Living a block away, this experience was a disappointment for me with the Tenney-Lapham business district.

Charlene did an awesome job coloring my hair. She made it look so natural. Highly recommend her. She knows what she is doing!!!

Best haircut EVER. Holy Toledo, this was fantastic- Erin somehow figured out exactly what I wanted and I LOVE it. Bonus points for excellent atmosphere and conversation. Absolutely going back!

I came to Lumen after a balayage gone wrong at another salon. It was patchy and yellow and horrible. I was in Madison for a wedding and was desperate to not look as bad as I did. By some miracle, Erin had an opening the morning before the wedding, and she was an angel in accommodating a longer overhaul appointment. Erin is a master - she looked over the fiasco on my head and set to work while putting me at ease with fun conversation. It was honestly one of the best hair appointment experiences I've ever had, and I still can't believe what an awesome job she did. She's amazing...wish I lived here so I could always come to her!!

Erin did my hair (dye and bangs), and she is wonderful. I am originally from San Francisco, and moved to Madison last year. I have had some trouble finding a good stylist here, as I LOOOOVED my SF salon. After going to a few people, Erin is the person I will be sticking with. I was able to get a quick appointment with no hassle. I told her what I wanted, she executed it BEAUTIFULLY. Most importantly, she gave me the color I asked for and then I chickened out AFTER she darkened my hair and wanted it a a shade or two lighter (again, color was great, I am just a wuss). I walked in later that day and asked her if she could lighten it a bit. She sweetly told me "Of course!" and told me to come in the next day. I then told her I wouldn't be able to come in on Saturday because it's my anniversary and asked to come in next week instead. She is so wonderful that she said "we can't let you celebrate your anniversary with something you're not used to - come in tonight and we can get it a little lighter." SHE IS WONDERFUL. My fiancee actually loves/prefers the color she dyed it, I just need to take baby steps to such a drastic change.