C-J’s Salon

Review for Calvin Chu. Calvin has been my trusted hair consultant for many years. He is an expert at providing Asian and contemporary cuts for men. His own salon is chic and you can tell he cares a lot about his craft. Super nice guy to work with. Quick tip: You must call him for an appointment at (510) 368‑1111.

I have been blessed with Calvin (Ka) handling my hair and giving me trendy and cool Asian-​style haircuts for the past 8+ years. He is an expert in all types of Asian-​style haircuts (for both men and women) as well as Western-​style and is always on top of what the most current popular styles are. Calvin (Ka) is a very friendly individual with tons of experience and amazing skills, and he is a wonderful listener who will tailor to your needs. If you are still wondering where to get that Asian-​style haircut that you have always wanted from watching Asian dramas/​music videos or Japanese animes, look no further and give Calvin (Ka) a call at (510) 368‑1111 to make an appointment and get your dream hairstyle!

Still going here after 4 years. I went through lots of phases of different styles and he is good with American and Asian hair styles. Everything came out the way I wanted it, but some of them just weren’t for me. Bring pictures of the hair cuts you like to help him recreate what is on your mind and he will deliver.

Cheryl has been cutting and coloring my hair for 17 years and I follow her everywhere. Now it is on to her new shop on Redwood Rd.

I’ve been going to this place for almost a year now and I will keep coming. Cheryl knows exactly what I want, cuts and styles nicely, and also does an amazing ombré that isn’t awkward or obnoxiously visible, it blends in perfectly. I recommend her and this saloon highly! It’s a bit expensive but it’s worth it.

Though Tony is great has empathy takes time and loves his job the co owners are both artificial, cruel, backstabbing individuals. The woman who does the massages and facials and I assume is the J in the business is rough, money powered and abrasive… the completely plastic other owner is a lying cheat manhunter… to sit in her chair is to hear gossip you do not ask for and personal accounts on your life she can chat about later… recently she got a breast reduction I am assuming because they got in the way of her shears… she is the absolute of

It’s been 2-​years and still I flock to this gem for one reason only: Calvin Chu.
I’m updating with a few more pics of his work. I say work because clearly, he’s an artist. I continually challenge him with ideas and styles, and am delighted by the end of the session.
If you’re a guy who can get over the stigma of getting a haircut at a salon and wants a supreme quality cut, give Calvin a ring: (510) 368‑1111

I wrote this review below back in February and waited a few months to post because I wanted to cool off and make sure I write a decent review without losing the details, so here goes:
I have been with Calvin for over two years and my biggest issue is that I got tired of the short a-​line bob. For the past year I have been growing my hair from a short bob to a «lob.» Calvin has argued endlessly that there is no such thing as a long bob, and has begrudgingly trimmed my hair only ½ an inch every time I visited the past few haircuts he gave me. I have written before about how he doesn’t like to not cut so little, but his skill as a stylist is, now evident to me, somewhat hampered by his artistic ego. Granted, I don’t see all the details in my hair — I am busy with two little ones under age of 4. I spend 10 – 15 minutes on my hair, and that is a luxury. I realized that that I have baby hairs growing out postpartum but my issue with my hair were the odd layers on the sides.
No matter what I seem to do I can’t grow it long and my hair constantly messy even after a haircut. I expressed my frustration to Calvin on my last visit with him, and he finally told me that my hair has never recovered from the postpartum loss and thinness (even though my baby is 20 months!). He also said that, like a chef, he «can only deliver good hair if he has good ingredients.» Ouch. I asked if there is anything he can do to fix my hair, he combs and toss through my hair and says that he has done everything right and there is nothing he can suggest other than calling the doctor. Double ouch. What was more embarrassing is that he said this in front of a bunch of other stylist (close quarters there) and the two that were there also laughed and chuckled.
I had lab work done and the doctor informed me that there is nothing wrong with me. My hair, even with the thin areas, is quite common among women postpartum. I have decided that there has to be a way to make my hair look better, and a second opinion is what I need. I am very glad that I have found it, elsewhere. I now rock a hairstyle that solved my problems and my hair does not look like it is messy all the time any more.

I have been looking for a new place for haircuts since moving to the East Bay. I found CJ’s on Unilocal and read about Calvin Chu. After 20 years with one hairstylist on the peninsula, I think I have found one in the East Bay. Calvin knows how to cut «guy’s hair» that is stylish, yet low-​maintenance. He has great attention to detail and my wife loves the haircuts.
I have seen nothing but quality coming out of CJ’s from ALL of the stylists, and would highly recommend them for men and women!

My fellow Asian American brothers understand the difficulty of finding a stylist who knows how to cut our hair. It’s not as simple as walking into any old barber shop and getting a satisfactory cut.
After years of bad hair days, I have finally found my go-​to hair guy.
Calvin takes his time when cutting your hair and is serious about his trade. His attention to detail is unsurpassed.
Bottom line: If you are an Asian American male and have been frustrated with hack jobs that pass barely for haircuts, go to Calvin. You won’t be disappointed.

Calvin is an excellent stylist for those who are seeking a precision cut. He really knows his way around different heads. For example, he pointed out to me where my hair grows more thickly on one side than another (apparently true for most people) and where my cow licks are located, and the direction in which my hair grows (spiral right to left). Great stuff to know for working your hair at home.
However he is not a good listener and imposes his ideas on the client. So I am thinking about whether I will return. You know? His cut is excellent, but not what I wanted. So, what to do? Tune in next month.

*sigh* I put off this review for a long time because I really really wanted to love this place. I really wanted to love the haircut Calvin gave me as much as he said I would.
It’s been over a month now, I kept thinking, «Well I just need to grow into the haircut then I’ll love it» but it hasn’t happened yet.
Calvin is super friendly and really talkative, we hit it off and we were chatting up a storm the whole time I was there. He said really bold things like «You are going to LOVE your haircut so much you’ll think of me every time you’re in the shower» or «This haircut is going to be so perfect you don’ t even need to style it. Just wash it and let it air dry». Then as if to prove his point, when he was done cutting my hair — he didn’t even blow dry it. Just put some smoothing crème on it, combed it out, and sent me on my way.
A little while later, when my hair had dried out and I was finally seeing the shape of my haircut, I was really disappointed. It was really shaggy and the way it was cut — it dries in an unkempt looking way. My bangs are also shaggy and thick. If I put up my hair, my bangs look like I have a Beatles’ haircut. Not cool.
I don’t mind putting 15 – 20 minutes of work into my hair every morning but Calvin said he would give me a low maintenance haircut that I wouldn’t need to do anything to, «No straightening, no curling, it’s going to have so much style!» Sadly that’s not the case and it takes closer to 30 – 40 minutes to do my hair if I want to wear it down. It’s so shaggy that I have to spend a lot more time finding, separating and flat-​ironing all the layers. I’ve just been wearing my hair back a lot lately. I’ll just have to grow it out and go somewhere else.
Sorry, Calvin. You gave me one of the most fun hair-​cutting experiences but sadly the haircut didn’t live up to your hype.