Vetiver Organic Hair Spa in Issaquah, WA

Less than one star, but I had to click one to post. Worst haircut EVER. Worst colour ever. Lied about organic products. Condescending and a bit rude. Waaaaaay over priced. They charge by the hour and while I sat, waiting for them to cut someone else's hair, my time just wracked up. Tick. Tick. Tick. Is the mob cutting my hair?! Just awful.

Best haircut I have ever received, balanced, shaped very well, and easy to maintain......very thoughtful services.

I had the worst experience here today that I have had with any service provider in all my life. In May I visited this salon as a new client as my longtime organic hairdresser moved out-of-state. During that first appointment Richard, the owner of Vetiver, explained they only use truly non-toxic products and pointed out that nearly all products commercially available contain either petroleum, synthetic fragrance, or both. I had been seeing a world-renowned naturopath and biological dentist for two years so I'd already gone to painstaking lengths to clear our main residence and vacation home of toxic products, cleaning chemicals, etc. I was surprised to learn hair products I thought were safe because they were labeled organic may not be safe. At the end of the first appointment I bought several hundred dollars worth of products from Vetiver (soaps, shampoo, conditioners), proceeded home and threw out nearly every toiletry, product and bottle in our shower and bathroom. I assured my husband this was necessary and for our safety. The only product I didn't toss was an organic shampoo and conditioner I had recently purchased from my prior organic hair salon which was over half full. I read the label and did not see any of the bad ingredients I had jotted down during my appointment with Richard, so I figured I could finish off that last bottle then switch to the new bottles I'd purchased from Vetiver. And that's just what I did. Two weeks before my second appointment with Richard I had finished off my old product and switch to the spirulina products I'd purchased from him. The morning of my appointment I washed, conditioned and dried my hair in order to make it ready for Richard, put a dab of Organic undiluted pure Ylang Ylang essential oil on my wrist and drove nearly an hour from my home in Woodinville to Vetiver salon in Issaquah. When I arrived Richard was busy checking out his prior client which ran over 15 minutes, so I waited patiently in the waiting area. When I sat down in the styling chair Richard immediately started in saying he could smell something synthetic and I must still be using toxic products on my hair. I explained I had just washed my hair less than two hours ago using his products and had only used one other product since my last appointment 3 months prior which was purchased from my prior organic salon. Richard became visibly agitated and began berating me saying, "We can't be fucking around with this!" I politely asked him not to cuss at me. He then told me to leave the salon and that he wouldn't be doing my hair. I was stunned, quietly picked up my purse, and left the salon. Richard's wife sat at the front reception desk, witnessed the way he cussed at me and spoke to me and did absolutely nothing about it. I would have been completely mortified if I ever witnessed my husband or business associate treat a customer that way. What kind of person treats another human being that way? It was truly ugly. Richard seems to have a true desire to help the environment and create a non-toxic space for his clients, but he goes about it with a blistering self-righteousness that is so insulting, alienating and disdainful that he's actually doing more harm than good. I was incredibly disappointed by his behavior and apparent lack of impulse control. I will never go back nor will I ever recommend Vetiver to anyone.

It is a beautiful building. Yes. But that's not what I needed. I try to support small local businesses, so I've hesitated a long time in writing this review, but I need to put in my two cents here, just as I count on other Yelpers to honestly report their experiences. This was the worst haircut I've ever gotten in my life. I was headed out of town for a company event, so I did not have time to go back in for repair, but it was cut too short, so I had to wait a very long time with an awful style that didn't suit me at all. I had asked for something to accentuate my curls and I got a blunt cut that made my natural curls flatten out. It really looked bad. I'm sorry I went here for the first time for an important event. I showed up looking like hell. It took about 6 months to get it long enough to try again. Ugh. I showed up because of the natural products. I was encouraged by their saying they are hair artists and I was trusting them to create something beautiful for me, giving them just a few guidelines, like length and keeping my curls. Did not work out. Perhaps their styles might suit someone else better.

Both stylists are great and very personable. The atmosphere in the salon is relaxing and beautiful. I have always been very happy with my haircuts and color. The salon hosts local artists so there is always a cool exhibit to enjoy while you are there. Best experience I have ever had while having my hair done.