Pomp & Proper

unreal. i get charged over 200 dollars for a simple cut and a few colour streaks on one side… its an aweful job to say the least and overpriced
i tried talking to the manager and they never really got back to me with a solution or a refund. i even settled for a wash and style! but they might screw that up too

Jenn did an awesome job on my curly hair. I went to her after reading all the remarks on this page. After not having a hair stylist in several years, I’ve finally met my match!

When I walked into the salon it had great vibe. Everyone seemed cheerful and kind. I booked an appointment with Susan after researching salons and stylists that are good with thick wavy hair. She did a nice job with my hair. Im picky and have high expectations. I appreciate stylists that take their time… and don’t use the hair thinning razors and instead use the scissor method to cut my hair. The only con was the upselling as another user mentioned. I find it to be superficial — and you want to trust your stylist but when that happens you question it. I know in some salons the upselling is a required part of their job — so its not just Susan… But I could do without it!

This was my first (and last) time at Pomp and Proper. The cut and colour were fine, but I’m giving the salon low marks for up-​selling me and causing me to spend the most money I’ve ever spent in a hair salon.
After reading all the great reviews, I decided to give it a try. When it turned out Alicia had gone somewhere else, I made an appointment with Susan. She’s a good stylist and friendly, and I didn’t dislike the cut or colour. It didn’t blow me away, or make me want to switch from my old stylist. It was decent. But she advised me that my hair could use extra conditioning for $ 20 extra, so I agreed. I thought it was going to be a special treatment that would require an extra rich conditioner to be left in my hair for 15 minutes or so. But all she did was put conditioner in my hair and leave it on for a minute or so. Then, when I was paying, she tried to sell me the products she’d used (I hate that sort of sales tactic), and it turned out the «special» conditioner was $ 34. I could have purchased the whole bottle and used several applications.
Including the tip, I paid about $ 260 for a cut and highlights. I have chin length hair. My usual stylist charges me $ 180 including tip.
Hair cut/​colour is expensive enough. As a customer, I don’t appreciate the old-​fashioned up-​sell so my stylist can make a few extra bucks off me.

I moved to Vancouver and missed my stylist of 8 years from Ontario — I was so nervous to try a new place that I waited two years before my hair got so unruly it could be put off no longer.
Jen at Pomp and Proper was so wonderful. She was running a bit late (hey it happens) but made up for it by grabbing me a coffee and apologizing afterwards.
She listened to EVERYTHING I wanted. Not too short, no short bangs, I showed her a picture and we went with it. She also recommended products and styling tips after I admitted having no clue about anything but there was no pressure to buy anything — just sincere recommendations.
I now have a stylist in Vancouver and won’t wait 2 years (eek) before a haircut anymore :)

Just one word you need to know when going here for a cut: Shane.
That’s it. He is by far one of the best hair dressers I’ve ever had. Just one thing I’d like to see the owners do and that is to change your chairs! I leaned forward to get something from the counter in front of me and chair tipped over. I almost fell and banged my face on the counter. You guys need to bolt the chairs to the ground before a lawsuit comes to visit.

This is a late review, but I wanted to note my experience. I had my appointment with Susan probably just 2 before she went of mat leave. She did a pretty good job on hair styling, it looked good, but it look like she was bored of cutting long layered hair, she didn’t put a lot of effort to make a conversation as the other hair stylist I saw in the salon. I would probably try another hair stylist next time. Other than that the salon is were hip and stylish.

It’s not like this salon needs any more Unilocal stars, but I wanted to add more anyways, as I think they deserve it.
I’ve been going to Pomp & Proper for over 3 years now (after a long search for a good hair salon in the city) and have been pretty happy with the results every single visit.
From the stylists, I highly recommend Susan. She’s absolutely great and has been the reason I go back every time! She listens to what I want and gives lasting, good cuts! I love it!
I also recently got a haircut from Jen there, who I also recommend. (yes, I’ve cheated, but only because Susan was on mat leave) Jen carefully listened to what I wanted for my cut and gave me exactly what I asked for!
They’re both very sweet, attentive and definitely reliable stylists. Take my word for it!
Also a little tip – an unwritten haircut rule – with every stylist no matter where you go, if you have a something in mind, it’s good to have a reference picture to show them. ;)

I see Jessy @ Pomp & Proper for color & cuts. Today she applied a demi permanent color to make it rich and shiny. Highly recommend Jessy to anyone looking for a young enthusiastic professional who really cares about her client’s needs.

Jessy is a really good stylist. She is easy to talk to, listens to what you have to say and then gives you great options for your hair. She invested time and care in to my haircut explaining exactly what she was doing. Moreover, she gave me great styling tips. To me that’s super important because you want to keep your hair looking good! I liked the relaxed atmosphere (I have a strong aversion to highty flighty gossipy hair salons) at Pomp and Proper. I certainly found a good hair stylist in Jessy at Pomp and Proper. Will be back again! :)

Jocelyn at P&P is one amazing hair stylist. She remembers her clients and what they like/​dislike, and pays attention to all the little details. I got my first hair cut with her in April (which I loved), and have gone back for 2 (free) bang trims already, and each time she does a great job! After trying so many different hair stylists since moving to Vancouver, Jocelyn is by far the best.

I have stuck by my hairstylist Jocelyn for years and she’s here at Pomp & Proper. You’ll recognize a number of staff from their old says of Axis hair salon and perhaps even One Salon if you remember that place (it’s gone now).
But the owner Jasmine and her staff are excellent and I highly recommend Pomp & Proper.

I met Alicia from Pomp and Proper when she styled my hair for my sister’s wedding a couple summers ago. I had been given some terrible, stiff updo’s in the past so I was nervous about the result, but Alicia did a wonderful job; I have been going to her as my stylist ever since.
Alicia always does a great job on my hair. I always love the cut and when I have gone in for colour I have found that she is incredibly good at colour treatments. Alicia always finds a way to match my vision with a colour that flatters me. I would highly recommend Alicia to anyone.

I’ve been coming to Pomp and Proper for over a year now and Susan keeps me coming back:) She always does such a great job on my hair and may I include very thorough.
Great service is what makes a person come back and Susan has all the makings of it, like the way she greets her clients and walks them to the door upon leaving.
Might I mention that it varies whomever is at reception, but they are always very pleasant and genuine. You leave me smiling after I walk out the door, so thanks!

Susan is a great stylist! I went in over the summer and said «do whatever you want… I just don’t want bangs» and she chopped off ¾ of my hair and it looked (and still looks) fabulous! After going to a stylist who refused to change my hair for years, it’s refreshing to have someone who is willing to take risks along with me!
Oh, and the scalp massage is very relaxing. :)

I am writing a review specifically about a perm that was done by Alicia. I am perfectly satisfied with the haircuts I’ve received from her in the past, but when I recently went to have a perm done, I was quite disappointed.
I had been getting perms done since I was 12 years old, and have never had a problem with a perm waning and losing its curl. I have had several perms done with boxed dye in my hair, and even then the perm retained and I would have to grow it out and cut those layers off in order to go back to straight hair. I have had both traditional perms as well as digital perms, with varying sizes of rods and hair lengths.
During my appointment Alicia kept the first application of chemicals on my hair for about 10 – 15 minutes, rinsed, then repeated with the neutralizing chemicals for another 15 minutes. I don’t know if this is a new technique, or if this was done intentionally because I specified a «loose» curl look. After she dried my hair, my bangs were disappointingly straight, while one side of my head was sort of curly, and the other side of my head was wavy at best.
In any case, I waited three days before washing my hair after the appointment, have since been using curl retaining styling products, shampoos, conditioners, and mousses, etc. Three weeks later, my hair is completely straight again and will not hold a style, even if I use a curling iron and hair spray.
I would continue to go to Alicia for haircuts as there is no doubt she is skilled at that. But, I will go back to seeing an asian stylist who understands how to perm this fine, straight, asian-​specific hair. This time it wasn’t worth it for the price I paid.

I went for years without a good salon, trying one place and then the next. I’ve had the stylist who leaned on my head while cutting my hair to the point where my neck hurt at the end. The chatty one who pays no attention to what they are doing to my head. The one that looks so bad you think, «How can this person possibly have a job trying to make me look good?»
Then I found Pomp and Proper. They just do a good job, in a classy, understated way. One of my favorite words is elegant. To me, it means the beauty of simplicity, and I think that applies here.
And hey… I always come away looking great!

I went here as it was close and the reviews on Unilocal were good and I needed/​wanted a change after not having a hair cut for 6 months due to a new baby. I was disappointed, not by the salon but by the stylist, Shane.
When we discussed my cut he didn’t really have any suggestions. I told him my requirements (wanted to go from mommy to a bit yummy, needed to be easy to maintain, I am willing to blow dry and style) but he didn’t say too much, rather followed my lead as opposed to giving me different options. I was the one to mention bangs.
Then I got my hair washed and conditioned but no massage with the conditioner. What is up with that? It takes 2 minutes and is something I really look forward to with a hair cut. Then I got doused with the nozzle and had water all over my face and shirt. It wasn’t a huge deal but in 25 years of salon hair cuts, I’ve never had that happen. Then he spent about 15 minutes cutting my hair and it didn’t appear he paid much attention. I’m used to stylists cutting, blow drying and going back to do a bit of clean up with the scissors. None of that here. I’ve since gone to another salon and stylist who said that my cut, while all right didn’t show a lot of technical finesse which is why I think my cut was so quick.
By the time I was done I ended up with a nicely styled, slightly cleaner version of the haircut I had before. I did get a 25% discount for being a new customer and getting wet. I don’t know if the stylist had a late night the night before, didn’t care or just isn’t good in the morning (the cut was at 10am). Even with the discount, it wasn’t worth $ 50 for a mediocre half hour experience.

I have been coming to Pomp & Proper since it opened in early 2009. The salon is small and inviting. The staff are friendly and unpretentious, unlike another salon on Main St that shall remain nameless. I am always offered tea or coffee the minute I sit down to wait, which I really appreciate.
The salon also offers the opportunity to change into a robe before a haircut, even if you’re not having your hair coloured. I never have to worry about little hairs getting caught in my clothes and itching me afterward.
Alicia has been cutting my hair since I started going to Pomp & Proper, so I can’t comment on abilities the other stylists. She does a wonderful job each time. Unfortunately I just entered the corporate world and thus have an intentionally «business» haircut for the time being, but I know she can work wonders with avant-​garde cuts too, if that’s your thing.
Prices are reasonable, you can usually get an appointment within a week, and they offer free fringe trims.

Went for a haircut today and realized that I had forgot to mention that they give amazing scalp massages.
Now I’m all done up for the night with nowhere to go. Sigh!