Carrie’l Salon & Spa

Again, I can’t say enough great things about this place! This is hands down THE BEST, full service salon and spa in the city.
Located off Jasper Ave, this salon and spa is located in a 4 level converted house, but don’t let that fool you. There is ample parking on the side streets (2 hour free, as well as meter) and a private parking lot located behind the building. Inside, the spa is posh, clean and tranquil. The main level houses the reception area and front desk with products and merchandise for sale, the hair cutting floor and manicure/​pedicure stations. Upstairs’ is the color bar. And the lower levels are where the massage rooms and facial’s, waxing and laser treatments (to name a few) take place. The bottom level boasts men’s and women’s locker rooms with what I have to describe as the greatest and most relaxing showers ever, along with complimentary hair products and toiletries for use.
For such a high end place, the staff are extremely friendly, outgoing, polite and really care about their clientele. Not only is everyone extremely knowledgeable in their respected fields but they take time to really get to know you! I am a huge fan of great customer service and the staff at Carrie L Salon are top notch.
Booking appointments have never been easier! Here you have the option of calling or booking online. The online booking is easy to navigate and you can pick your esthetician/​masseurs or hair dresser as well as date and time. If the time you pick is not available, you are also given several alternate options. I especially like that if I call in and book, the reception staff will always put me with the same staff member that I usually see. Another small detail that I love, is every time before I leave and I am paying for my services I am always offered the option to re-​book my next appointment. This is really convenient and great business skills! Staff have also time and time again showed that they are willing to accommodate me as best they can, wether it is for last minute appointments, or getting squeezed in with a favorite esthetician.
I have also purchased gift certificates in the past, which I was able to prepay with my credit card over the phone. This is a great gift idea, for virtually anyone in your life! Again, they are a full service salon and spa and there is something for everyone! They even cater to a lot of men and have specialized facials and such for men too!
As for spa packages, there are pre made packages that you can choose from, individual or couples, with the option to add a light lunch. There is also the option to build your own packages.
I come here religiously for facials and massages. Whenever my skin is feeling dull, I schedule and appointment here and Shanyn who is my go to girl, makes me look great again! Also, Nikki is my favorite for massages, I have never had a better massage in my life!
I highly recommend this place. You will NOT be disappointed. I have never left left here feeling less than fabulous!

On the rare occasion that i get my hair done, i indulge myself and go here. The staff is wonderful, caring, and accommodating. They make it feel like a Spa even if you’re just having a hair cut. I’ve been fortunate in not being rushed when i do go because i happen to have had appointments which were not immediately followed by another person. I like when a stylist takes the extra time to make sure i’m content with what’s done, and the fact that i can come back in to have it corrected if something is off is a bonus.
The building in which they’re located is homey and warm inside. The staff is bustling and just the right level of chatty. They offer coffee, tea, or water with services. The only thing i haven’t liked about Carrie’l is the price. It’s just high enough that it feels like you’re owed the atmosphere you’re given. It’s always worthwhile as long as they maintain that.
There is parking behind the building, but be careful there. Many larger, SUV type vehicles often inhabit the lot and it’s a tight squeeze anyhow. If you’re going to park there instead of on the street, you should be intensely aware of the size of your vehicle to avoid hitting other patrons’ cars.
As other reviewers have said, tips are accepted as cash and so you should be aware and have some on-​hand ahead of time to avoid awkwardness if you intend to tip.

I would like to give it a 2.5, however, we all know the scoring criteria…
I have been going to Carrie’l about a year now. My companion got me a significant Gift Certificate as he goes here for his massage. Truth be told, he is quite happy with the service he receives and feels that the person who does it is very good.
In my case, I go for my hair. I get it cut whenever I have time to go, so, no I don’t automatically reschedule every 8 weeks like clockwork. When I first went and at the end I was asked, the person doing my hair quickly answered for me «no, she will make her own appointment» to the person at the desk. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure how to take it and so I jokingly (but it is true) given my work schedule, I cannot commit 8 weeks in advance to get my haircut. This went without incident the first time, so I though, but now when I go I go through it almost every time when I leave that someone assumes that I’ll be rescheduling for my next cut in 8 weeks and I need to say «no, I’ll call in». In having to do this, it bothers me a bit as I have noticed that there is an almost «whatever» kind of attitude or a «oh, she is one of those» …I could be imagining it and am over sensitive… boh, not sure.
What I haven’t been crazy about is the fact that I have had to always check the sides of my hair when I get home and unfortunately had to fix it myself at least ¹⁄₃ of the time since going there. That is, literally trim it so the sides match, despite the fact that I often ask there and most times the person that does my hair does check… That is, when she isn’t in a hurry. And this is where I feel my critique kicks in. Maybe it is because I have the gift certificate and use it exclusively for my haircut or perhaps because I like to try to go in on Tuesdays (they offer 10% discount if you book on this day), I am not sure… all I do know is that I feel like perhaps I am not considered a «real» client more times than not. The person that does my hair is perfectly pleasant and does inform me of the products she is using on my hair, ect. She also makes small conversation to which I do participate. However, it doesn’t lessen the feeling I have sometimes that she would rather get to the next client quicker than double (or yes, triple check) that the sides of my hair match. This last time, there was a considerable difference and once I got home I had to trim more than I ever have.
Some of you may be asking, «Why not just go back and get it taken care of?» In a word… convenience. I already have trouble carving out the time to go and get my haircut (I work in the North End and don’t get home until after 6pm) and given that, how many of you would have the will and time to call in to say, «Hi there, I would like to come in to get my hair ‘corrected’ since one side is longer than the other.» Meanwhile, I have already left a 10−20% tip (yes, it does vary depending on the quality of my whole experience) for the original appointment.
I realize that everyone’s experience is different and yes, it IS a relationship you do create with your stylist. I guess I am waiting for that to happen since I don’t know how long you have to be going somewhere to feel like they realize you are a «real» client and not some «fly by night» person coming in for the sake of convenience.
Will I be returning? I am hoping to… Hopefully, this review won’t impact my next cut… I guess we shall see ;-)

Hair type — curly
Stylist Name: Lindsay
What I wanted: to go from brunette to redhead
I cannot say enough how much I liked Lindsay and the Carriel Salon!!! I went in with short brown hair that had previously been butchered by a stylist (at a different salon). I asked Lindsay if she could give me red hair that had a bit of a ginger touch. She did just that AND she fixed my hair so that it actually looked nice again — I wear it curly usually but she cut it so it falls nicely curly and I can straighten if I want.
I loved how well she understood what I wanted and how she chatted the entire time but was not annoying. The salon itself was also very interesting — the upstairs has a colour bar where chairs are set around high tables. Then while you are waiting for your colour to process, you have a table to sit at! I read magazines and had a drink (only water but they offered other things like tea). Plus I was able to talk to some of the other people getting their hair coloured at the same time. It was a really nice atmosphere.
Lindsay told me about the products she was using in my hair but I only bought a conditioner and she didn’t make me feel judged or as though I had insulted her by not buying the products she had used. It was nice not to be pressured :). The product they use is Davines — I liked it but still had other product to finish.
Overall, love the salon and I will be back!!!

Carrie’l have completely outdone themselves with their new notification system! I get text messages to remind me of my appointments! FANTASTIC
Also they have the best stylist and colourists in the city! Lindsey is by far the best hair dresser I have ever had. I would be lost without her!
p. s. If you want a great massage, Carrie’l is the place to go!

I had a «hair color emergency» that I wanted taken care of immediately, so I looked online and called a couple places including Carrie’l. Nobody could fit me in that day except here. My appointment was to be in 2.5 hours from when I called. I was driving from Sherwood Park and that is a good half hour drive or so. On my way I had called to let them know I would be 10 mins. late due to driving conditions which they didn’t have a problem with.
Parking was very tight (I had to do a 3 or 4 point turn to get out barely)
Inside it looks great and clean but seemed to be crowded with too many staff.
The lady who greeted me was very pleasant, took my coat and offered me a drink and walked me up to where I would meet with the colorist.
Thats when it all went downhill. First the lady who would be coloring my hair came over and told me that they wouldn’t have time to do my hair that day because they close before it would be done and that someone should have told me that over the phone!!!
Yes! Someone should have. I had someone watch my kids for me and drove all the way from Sherwood Park wasting my gas and time not to mention I have a hair color emergency and didn’t want to go out anywhere as it was until it was fixed.
She then told me we could make an appointment for in a couple days. I decided to go with it.
Talking about color and prices… I showed her a picture of what I would like. She was very unsure of herself and didn’t really give me answers as to if she could do this (which really shouldn’t of been that hard) and how much it would cost.
She told me it would probably take a couple times coming back to get what I was going for and that each appt. would cost min. $ 200
I told her my max budget was $ 200 and I wanted a cut as well.
After figuring something out I also mentioned online how it says 20% off on Tuesdays. She left for a moment to talk to another worker and when she came back told me that was only good for with a different employee (who wouldn’t even be working on Tuesday?) and that this girl wasn’t as experienced and that she would have to watch over and help her. She then told me since I was a new customer I would get 10% off anyway.
She never mentioned this to me earlier when I was telling her of the money crunch I was in when it came to budget. Plus she just shot down other staff members that worked there, Tacky.
So I made an appointment and didn’t show of course… Waste my time, I’ll waste yours.

I went here for a pedicure before my vacation. Amber the girl I had was nice enough, but was much more interested in talking to the other staff than me. She cut the cuticle on my big toe pretty badly and it began to bleed. I dont look forward to getting salt water in that on my vacation. In the end I loved the color, but some of the nails aren’t even fully covered in the polish. It all took under an hour. This seems very fast considering that if she hadn’t of cut my toe, it would have been over even sooner since time was spent trying to stop the bleeding. The final massage was good. The front desk staff were a little unfriendly. The bad outweighs the good for me on this visit.

It could be that I just have bad luck, but I have a had a couple of uncomfortable experiences here. For example, on one occasion a staff member at reception was clearly upset about something, started yelling, and then just took off out the door leaving the rest of the staff, and customers, perplexed. On a second occasion, I had an esthetician who started asking me very bizarre questions during my pedicure… afterwards she asked me several times «you will refer people to me, right?»
That being said, my pedicure turned out really lovely. I will probably consider giving Carrie’l another try in the future, and perhaps request a different esthetician and chalk the staff meltdown to an exceptionally bad day…

Carrie’l is my happy place. I go at least twice a month for spa treatments and I’d give them 5 stars for every visit. The girls that work there are amazing and I love just coming in and being taken care of. The prices are high, which is the only downside, but I feel the service you receive justifies the cost. I’ve gone in for waxing, massages, facials and spray tans, all to fabulous results. I have never gotten my hair done there (which seems to be the most reviewed service) but I do buy some of the products they stock — the Davines leave-​in conditioner is officially on my can’t-live-without list. Carrie’l really gives clients the star treatment. In November they hosted a VIP wine & cheese night with huge discounts, prizes and swag bags. It was awesome. Lastly but not leastly, I love that they text me when my next appointment is and I can just send «C» to confirm, since I so frequently miss calls. Lovely!

Nice full service salon. But for most people it is all about your own stylist and they do seem to come and go from here a lot. I do like that you can book on-​line and that there is a 10% discount on Tuesdays which is good because a cut and single colour is about $ 150 not including tip.
There is limited parking in the back.

I love Carrie’l, partly because I know Carrie and absolutely adore her and her family. The salon always does an amazing job and I can be a picky client. The staff is very knowledgable about how to dye one color to another and fix color disasters. They are also very concious about not drying your hair out by giving you hydration treatments. There is usually someone around offering complementary hand massages. What more could a girl ask for?
The spa is always clean and the staff are always friendly and eager to help. They also carry an amazing make up line called Jane Irdell. It is a very light makeup line. I can’t stand heavy makeup but I love this brand. It is definitely worth the price tag and the staff will always help you pick out the shade that best matches your skin tone.
Complementary tea and cucumber water are always available which is a nice treat while getting your hair done as well there is always up-​to-​date magazines on hand.
The only downside is the cost. Carrie’l is very high end and with that comes an expensive price tag. If I was not on a student budget I would opt to always go to Carrie’l.

My regular waxer moved to this location from the whyte avenue salon she was at previously. I only went here because she moved here.
I know she is a good waxer and so I decided to take a chance and go to this salon instead. I know that everyone has to have different prices, but I was annoyed that I was paying almost $ 25 more for the exact same service I received from her only a couple months ago. I didn’t find the experience any more uplifting due to the new location.
I decided to not go back, not because the service was not good (it always was), but because I could not fathom paying $ 25 more for the same wax.
If you don’t mind the extra cash splurge, go in and ask for Shannyn for a wax. She makes you feel so comfortable in you’re awkward position and she is very gentle. She will also make you laugh throughout your entire visit.

I love a salon or a spa located inside a regular house. I think it gives it a more welcoming feel and cozy atmosphere. Carrie’l is one of those spas. The house itself doesn’t look like it has been renovated or updated on the outside, but the spa’s interior and the quality of service provided here make up for this shortcoming.
I have been to Carrie’l twice: once for a hair cut and once for a Recover Touch facial. Both procedures yielded amazing results. My hair stylist listened to my requests intently, and gave me exactly the hair cut I wanted. I asked for long layers that frame the face, and I begged that my hair be cut in a way that make it easy and quick to style in the morning. The stylist gave me what I asked for. I will not say that this was the best hair cut of my life (I am still looking for my one and only hairstylist) but I left Carrie’l satisfied.
Recover Touch facial was heavenly and left my skin glowing. Thanks to Edmonton’s dry climate, I am constantly looking for ways to moisturize and plump up my skin and eliminate dullness. At Carrie’l, this mission was accomplished. Every single mask, serum and moisturizer used by my esthetician was packed with vitamins and brightening complexes, and totally agreed with my skin.
The reason I visited Carrie’l in the first place is because it sells Davines products. Ladies, I strongly recommend you try MoMo conditioner from this line, especially if you hair is colour treated.
The girls working at Carrie’l are friendly and helpful, and make sure you have the time of your life, once you come in for your appointment.

I won’t lie, when I saw the location of this Salon & Spa I almost canceled my appointment. It is located in a house, and it looks very small from the outside. My judgments were incredibly wrong. This place is immaculate, the décor is very earthy and you feel at peace when you enter the doors. I get facials at Carrie’l monthly and back massages on a regular basis. The facials are perfectly timed and I always wish that they could last a full 8-​hours. The ambiance is relaxing and soothing, and the whole process is well worth the cost. With Carrie’l you definitely get what you pay for.

This is the ultimate spa experience in Edmonton. I recently took my friend here for her stagette weekend and treated myself while I was at it. I recommend having a facial and a massage here to really get the full experience of being pampered. Their padded beds are so comfortable you’ll think you’re in heaven and the products they use are top quality. The massage therapists have a skilled touch and the estheticians are refined in their work. I fell asleep during my facial it was so well-​choreographed and soothing. The facecloths they use come right out of a hot oven and they don’t just «wipe» but gently move the facecloth about your face finishing by dragging it under your chin in way that’s positively hypnotic. Mind you, you snap out of it when you get the bill; but you have to be prepared when you come here. Nothing’s cheap. But the experience is worth it, right from the spa slippers they give you at the front door down to the change rooms with luscious creams, steam shower, fresh cut flowers and beautiful waiting room. You won’t forget this experience and it’ll make you want to come back.

This is an interesting location because it’s in a mostly residential neighbourhood. In fact, it is a house. Don’t let that throw you off though because once you step inside you can see that it’s a full salon and spa.
The first and last thing you see is the products they have available for sale. They offer high end salon products, as do many others, but have some interesting lines unavailable elsewhere.
Next, you’ll see the hair salon. I was actually introduced to this place because I’d won a gift certificate for a haircut. I’d called ahead and made an appointment not really knowing what I was getting into. I was very impressed with my stylist. It was obvious he had a passion for hair. At the time my hair was longer and straight (as usual) which turned out to be his specialty.
During my haircut, I was able to observe some of the other clients — most of whom were regulars. There was a woman getting a makeup lesson which was fascinating to watch because the makeup artist was really educated about the products available and how they work with different types of skin.
It was obvious to me that the staff who work there are experts in their field. They are all passionate about what they do and it really shows!
I recommend checking out their website, too. I noticed that they have a unique leg wax that is supposed to be gentler on your skin. Considering how sensitive my skin is and how much I’ve jumped during bikini waxes, I’m likely going to give it a shot!