Studio Elle in Hamden, CT

Very very sweet and kind people but unfortunately they ruined my hair. The highlights I got there resulted in extreme breakage that not only thinned my hair but resulted in 3-6 inches of loss of length (varying quite a bit across my head - it ended up looking so crooked and weird). Additionally the coloration itself was just not done well. There were odd striped and foil leakage in several places on my head that looked terrible. The color ended up very orange too. Honestly the single worst hair experience I have ever had. Very nice people though, I just wish my hair looked good.

I have been going to Studio Elle for almost 25 years. I cannot say enough about the wonderful and caring staff at the salon. My children have been there since they were little and now they are part of the Studio Elle family as well. From haircuts, massages, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures and great color, we have all our beauty needs met at the salon. We all have had up-dos for proms and special occasions also done here.
It is a very friendly and casual atmosphere upon entering the salon. You can always find outgoing and dedicated staff working here.
I have had each and every member of the staff for one service or another and I have never left feeling disappointed or not fully satisfied with any of my services.
I also have to mention how extremely VERY reasonable the prices are at Studio Elle.
Laura, Melissa, Jose, Suzanne, Kim, Gina, Verna, and Pat are the core that make up this wonderful salon!

Melissa is the best.  She is great with color and cuts my bone straight hair perfectly.  The prices are affordable and I've only had positive experiences.  They always seem to find a way to accommodate me and my crazy schedule.

I wanted to get color done recently for upcoming interviews and browsed online for nearby salons. Initially, a few salons I saw (with good reputations) had 2 week waits, which I couldn't do. I found Studio Elle online and booked with them, since they were very close to where I live. Originally I had it scheduled for one day and changed it because something came up. They had availability that evening so I went in.

To preface, their website is pretty simple, shows the services they offer and the prices. Single process color - $70.

I get there and I meet Jose - now if you look at the other two reviews on here for Salon Elle, Corene S. HATED Jose's work so I was a little nervous, even though this was color, not a cut.

Jose was...eh, not that friendly. I am TALKATIVE. I love when hair stylists talk to me, ask all sorts of questions. Yes, I'm the weirdo who loves small talk. But I expect it when I go to a salon. I go over to the chair, he offers me no spot to put my bag or jacket (I ended up putting them on the ledge where the mirror was). I told him I was there for color and tried finding a photo of what I liked from a few months back. Meanwhile, while I'm browsing facebook for photos, he's going back and forth with an employee/boss/coworker about someone having a pricing issue. Yeah, don't discuss that in front of customers.

Eventually I show him photos and he brings back two shades of red and says he's going to combine them to get the shade I'm looking for. Sure, looks good. On the phone, they said the appointment would take 1.5 hours and it pretty much exactly did.

He seemed to be evenly spreading the color, then I waited about 30 minutes, then he washed it out, all normal. During color and after he asked a few times what I thought - I told him both times my glasses aren't on and I can't see. (A previous salon had these little glasses 'gloves' that you can put on your glasses to prevent dying..guess they don't have these here. INVEST IN THEM, THEY'RE REALLY NICE FOR BLIND CUSTOMERS LIKE ME).

He asked if I wanted my hair dried. I asked the cost ($25) and skipped it. He put some product in and then blow dried it for 30 seconds just to make it not soaking. I went over to put my glasses on and look at the color. It was DARK. And also really really really tangled - what did you put in my hair???? I got home and blowdried and flat ironed my hair and it's definitely a lot darker than I was hoping. I really wanted a dark red, but not much different than what I had (just fixing roots and all over one shade). It's black-ish now and though I have very dark brown hair naturally, this is a smidge too stark for me.

I leave and he says "Okay, $75." I paid and tipped him but uhhhhhh where's the signs that tell prices? No where! I REALLY DISLIKE when a list of your services and prices are not visible to the customer. Let's just make up random prices! I like you, $50. I don't like you, $80! Tip me! Ugh. A good salon is up front about prices and services. Yeah sorry guys, I'm not coming back.

Also their website has no hours, nor does google. It says "By appointment or by chance." Hey, they're honest.

I came in and had my hair done back in September. The best hair cut I have ever had. I have never been to a friendlier or more comfortable salon. Jose, you are the BEST!!!