American Male Salon

12/01/07

Discounts may not be real

by tommy3827 at Citysearch

The haircuts are OK but the "Just In Time" program seems to be a trick. My last four appointments were all "Just In Time" appointments, where you get a discount since you're taking a last minute slot that someone else canceled. When it came time to pay, the cashier "forgot" to give me the discount and I had to remind them, else they'd charge me the maximum rate. I can understand forgetting one time but all four times they forgot. I don't know if it's deliberate or they're just really disorganized. You have to stay on top of them, which frankly I resent. Their advertised discounts don't count for much if they only honor them under duress.

Response from this business

pjsacino– January 16, 2008 at 22:57:00 PST

Thanks for your comments and patronage. We?re sorry to hear you had to remind the front desk coordinator about the Just In Time Discounts. As far as we are aware, American Male is the only salon to offer such a discount program in the area and possibly all of California. Many full service salons only go up in their rates rather than offering any disounts. Occasionally clients will call in and make an appointment but not mention the JIT discount and or it doesn?t get manually flagged on the appointment ticket. In either event we always honor the discount. We?ll make every effort to prevent it in the future. The JIT program is one of several innovative things we offer as a full service salon for guys. Soon you?ll be able to make your appointments 24/7 online.

11/10/09

This place works for me

by B Hershal at Citysearch

I got my hair cut with Doris today and she did a great job!

I really love the cut and the layers. She was pretty cool in helping me decide because I'm not very good at making decisions when it comes to getting a new haircut (they stylist usually knows best). The mini scalp massage during the shampoo was good too, I love scalp massages.

Everyone was friendly, funny and professional. They also had ESPN on to watch. Definite thumbs up for that.

I wouldn't normally spend as much on a haircut (as a man with thin hair) but this was worth it. Doris was really, really great :)

11/06/09

Once a great place, but no more.

by CDBN at Citysearch

The death of a great salon. Once a great place to get a fabulous haircut and other male grooming services.

My boys and husband have been clients for several years. Over the past 2 years the girls have started to dress like they have just rolled out of bed, are consistently late and the quality of service is just not there any longer. The disorganization of this salon is maddening when you have a schedule to keep, a job to go to and children with activities to attend.

It would appear that AM cannot keep a receptionist for very long and it is a constant battle to receive your discounts and to get them to write down your appointment for the correct date and time.

The last straw was approximately 3 weeks ago when the phone calls from the salon started to come in asking us not to take calls from our regular stylist. Saying she had been fired along with other information that customers need not be privy to. Messages were left on both my husbands cell phone as well as our home phone. Now we are being harassed to make appointments. This will NOT happen.

My greater concern is allowing my children to get their haircuts while the 'adults' talk about subjects not meant for little ears. The owner is a dramatic mess and seems to always be on edge. Listening to how he speaks to staff and people on the phone is not only uncomfortable, but very unprofessional.

The quality of services has drastically declined and is definitely not worth the premium pricing. I take pause to how the stylists dress now and wonder how much of the $50.00 per cut they are receiving when the stylists seemingly do not even own anything more than tank tops, old jeans, t-shirts and jogging pants. Definitely not something one expects when the salon advertises its name as being a luxury salon and spa and charges as if they are one.

Although we are sad to see a once nice place go, we are happy with the new salon my husband found for the males in our family. May the original American Male Salon and Spa rest in peace.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Drama, incessant calls, bad business practices, owner

Response from this business

pjsacino– November 11, 2009 at 13:44:17 PST

To quote Mark Twain: The reports of our death have been greatly exaggerated.

However, we do take all reviews seriously to improve our company. We apologize for your recent experience. Celebrating our 5th year as California's first salon for men, we strive to offer top services as we have to over 6,000 guys. When a stylist leaves, we offer, as we did your guys, the choice to try another professional, even for FREE. We left messages so they wouldn't come in for their appointment expecting that stylist. Often change can be great. Last week, a customer of 4 years, said that his new stylist here was "fantastic." We extend the same Free offer again to your guys & to try for example, Lynn- over 25 yrs exp. & master colorist, Susan- over 25 yrs exp. & former owner of 2 salons, or Doris- over 10 yrs exp & trained in France. We hope you'll take advantage of our offer as we continue to provide Silicon Valley men, teens & boys top salon services & always with a 100% satisfaction guaranty.

10/16/09

A great Value for what you get.

by rskater at Citysearch

It's nice to not worry about my haircut. I can just sit back and let them handle it. It's a great place for a guy to come and not be intimidated like it is at a beauty parlor with chatter, chemical smells and a noisy atmosphere. The last place I was going to was crazy with everyone talking with each other while they worked me. I felt like I was just a dog getting groomed and was going to get a pat on the head and bandana around my neck when I was done LOL.

Here, no matter what stylist I have they're friendly, capable and care about how I look and focus on me. I have also tried other things that a hair cut and it's nice to get it done all in one place and with the same person.

• Pros: it's all good

06/16/08

Cool Mens Salon

by dnewsome at Citysearch

Just moved to the area and setting up where to go for all the places I need such as a place to get my hair cut and other stuff. I found the salon cool and was happy with my cut. The stylist was Lynn and she help me with a new look with some color highlights. She took the time to work with me but it didn't take a lifetime to get done. I found the price resonable and about what I had been paying in Seattle. I ended up getting a package for six haircuts so it's even cheaper. It's nice that I can go back there or free clean up in between my appointments too. People were friendly and had snacks and sports on the TV. Parking lot was tight cuz they're near Trader Joe's though.

• Pros: Comfortable, friendly place, stylists was very good
• Cons: parking a bit tight in the mall

07/14/07

Great Place

by tstewart02 at Citysearch

I found out about American Male Salon by a coworker. He has been going to them for a couple of years, so I decided to give them a try. I really had been having a tough time the place I had been going to. The stylist I had just couldn?t cut my hair the same way twice but I liked her so I just kept going back (yea kinda dumb). American Male charges a little more than I had been paying but not that much, plus I can go back for a free clean up so to me it is good deal. They take notes on how I want my hair cut so I get the same results every time and I have had two different stylists. It can get frustrating getting an appointment last minute though so you?ll have to call a couple of days ahead or make your next appointment before you leave. I recently have been trying other services such as a back wax and the men?s facial treatments. I really think it is cool to get them done without feeling weirded out. If you are looking for a good place for all the services for guys check them out. It is by no means a frilly, smelly beauty shop or bunch of old barbers

• Pros: nice atmosphere and people who know what they are doing
• Cons: hard to to a walk in for a hair cut...but ok if call and make an appointment

07/02/07

Great haircut, but...what happen to the beer?

by dktownsend at Citysearch

Great haircut, great products & very friendly & knowledgeable staff, but....

AM markets themselves as an extraordinary salon catering to men (& serving micro brews...cool concept); however, upon arrivel I was offered a "water or soda". I thought to myself, that's strange, all of the editorials I read mentioned something like, "guests are greeted with a micro beer". I have constant access to bottled water, juice & soda at my office, the gym and at home...so why would I or any other guest want more "water or soda"? I didn't want to say, "hey where's my beer", so I just sat there in the lobby comtemplating and reconciling my expectations with the PR campaign. No hard feelings AM... I will be back, but please correct the leaks to the on-line press or let your receptionist know that when a customer walks in, you offer them a cold one.

• Pros: AM listens & delivers personal service
• Cons: Didn't seem very unique to justify a 300% increase in the costs of a haricut

Response from this business

pjsacino– July 15, 2007 at 10:41:10 PDT

Above all, it is great to hear that you had a great haircut, we offer great products, feel our staff friendly and knowledgeable and that you?ll be back. That?s what we?re all about. We do position ourselves as a full service professional salon for men but don?t promote ourselves as a salon/micro brewery. Sorry about the beer, but the County of Santa Clara has restricted us from offering beer/wine to our clients. We do feel we have been singled out by the county, and would have explained that restriction had you asked. A 300% increase in the cost would mean an original price of $12. To offer guys truly professional hair/color services by an experienced cosmetologist, not a cheap ?12-min. chop,? we charge a reasonable fee to obtain top employee personnel (not renters), to get the result our clients want. For under $50, besides a quality haircut with many extras, a FREE neck clean up is included in between your appointments. A great value over other higher end salons in the area.

03/13/07

I'm happy to stop the butchering

by samwilson2002 at Citysearch

I'm happy to stop the butchering. After almost three years of qoing to the cheap 15 minute places that are truly not that SUPER or GREAT, I found American Male Salon. Yea it is more than what I had been spending, but then my girlfreind spends almost a hundred bucks on herself. I finally had a true professional hair stylist spend the time to care about and figure out how to cut my hair. The extras included were different than what I expected but nice and didn't add much time. And in between cuts I get to go in free for a clean up around my neck and ears so to me it is a good deal. It's not a foo foo place and they really want me to feel comfortable about other things I can get done there.

For little more than this chain's typical $20 cut, guys can upgrade to a full grooming experience.

by Katie Heffernan at Citysearch

In Short
Tapping into a growing trend, this full-service salon was designed with the modern man in mind. Many locations provide complimentary beverages (read: beer) and some strategically set up TVs so guys can pass the time watching sports while getting their toes buffed. Classic barbershop services include haircuts, color and hot towels, but newer takes on male grooming go as far as mini facials, skin-conditioning paraffin hand dips, scalp massages and waxing services.

01/27/07

Cool place

by mdrake2001 at Citysearch

I received a gift certificate from my wife about a year ago. I recently got a call from the salon reminding me that I hadn?t used it yet and hoped that I would come in soon. I was so surprised that they called me as I had forgotten about it. I also know that most businesses almost hope you don?t ever use them. So I decided to schedule an appointment which included a haircut, men?s manicure and pedicure (which I had never had before). I was very pleased with the services I received. I never realized how good having my feet taken care of was. I liked how they treated me and plan on going back as a regular customer. It was real cool that they wanted me to try them out more than just keeping the money my wife had spent.