Alec Xander’s Salon & Spa

A few months ago I purchased a groupon for a haircut at Alec Xander’s. It was a little odd that when I showed up for my appointment (mid-​afternoon on a weekday) the place was locked and nobody was inside. A man came and let me in before long, and then I awkwardly waited a few more moments for the stylist to arrive. Aside from this odd beginning, the experience was fantastic! Great service, friendly people, and she did something magical with a curling iron that I have never been able to reproduce! I give it 4 stars instead of 5 only because I have been calling in hopes of making another appointment but nobody ever answers the phone! I finally just left a voicemail today, asking someone to call me to make an appointment. The website lists typical hours for a salon, but I am wondering if it is actually open when it says. (?)

I love this salon, Its a cute little place near downtown pasadena and its unexpectedly lovely. Its always so clean and smells good, the owner is so nice and funny. I got to talk to him while waiting for my appointment and he was so friendly and easy going. Heather is the best, she’s the lady I go to. She’s warm and friendly and knows what she is doing! She isn’t snobby at all but easy going and nice and knowledgeable. She will do what you want and not go scissor happy or be rude about what you want. She leaves me feeling like a million bucks, she takes her time, is careful and lets you know whats she is doing. She has a good professional opinion, and I love going there and feeling welcomed in the warm and cozy environment. They use the best hair products, Keratese is an amazing brand and my hair looks vibrant, shiny, and healthy upon walking out. I really do feel like a celebrity the way she curls my hair is perfect. The prices are very good i paid around 120 for highlights and cut and blow dry! I love making the day trip here to come and feel like a princess for a few hours, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a good and knowledgable hair person who is friendly at a clean and quiet salon with the best products and good prices. I won’t go anywhere else! I made an appointment for this friday and its my third time going! Me and me room mate are NEVER disappointed with our luscious locks! I never can duplicate what she does, and i wish i could! She’s amazing!

What a joke. These people don’t even answer their phone. Voicemail only! And they don’t return calls!

1^st time went there with Groupon for color and cut. Very satisfied, although I waited 45 minuted for my appointment at 10am. Second time went for color and could see my gray hairs after 1 wash. When I called the owner, he had to wait for his 1 (and only) stylist to come back from vacation. When I talked to her, she said that it was the shampoo I used. I have been coloring my hair for about 15 years and have never heard of that especially after 1 wash and using salon grade products. They gave me a partial refund because I had no desire to go back for a fix (which when I originally went, it took 2 hour for a color). I think that I should have received a full refund, but I took partial because it was better than nothing. I am giving 2 stars because if my last experience there.

Loved this place! Discovered it due to a recent Groupon and so happy I did, it’s a gem hidden next to the Sierra Madre area in East Pasadena. My appointment was with Natalie, who was absolutely wonderful, and in a very short time and lovely conversation, I walked out with a great new ‘do. Will be back for sure!
They have a full line of services, check them out at
, you won’t be disappointed!

I just left the salon today after getting a haircut and color and I am very happy with the results. My hair looks very healthy and shiny, to be more specific I got a blue black color and it looks amazing. Natalie did a wonderful job and her positive and professional attitude makes the environment even more pleasurable.

This was possibly the greatest experience I have had at a salon in a long time. The appointment was right on time and I was warmly greeted with a cup of hot green tea. It’s so hard to find a good stylist these days but I do believe I have found mine! Nathalie listened to what I wanted and gave me a look that was fresh, fit my lifestyle and my personality. As a college student I rarely have the time to eat let alone style my hair, but nathalie gave me a look that takes 15 minutes, is young and «beachy». I’m definately coming back!

On Monday, I had an appointment at 2pm. At 2:45pm, I was told it would be 10 more minutes. Don’t know about you, but I don’t have a spare hour to sit in a waiting room. I rescheduled for Wednesday. The owner was very sincerely apologetic explaining that the one stylist he had working took longer because the previous customer had longer, thicker hair than expected, wanted more highlights, etc. Ok, no problem, but when I walked in at 2pm, he already knew it would be a very long wait. I would have liked to have been given the option at that time to wait or reschedule. Better yet, he had my phone number and could have saved me the drive there altogether with a phone call. The disrespect for my time was not endearing to say the least. (I had a Groupon for this salon, or I probably would not have rescheduled at all.)
Wednesday rolled around and I went back in. I was warmly greeted and immediately taken in for my appointment. The girls apologized again and were very friendly, helpful, wonderful in fact. At this point, my opinion had turned around and I was willing to give the place the benefit of the doubt. I had a very specific haircut in mind and explained it thoroughly. The stylist listened attentively and got to work. She finished, styling it a bit ‘young’ for me, but I’m used to going home and «fixing» my hair the way I like it vs. the way the stylist likes it, so no biggie. I tipped her, thanked her and went home. In the light of my own bathroom up close, I was dumbfounded. The cut looked awful! There is a chunk of hair missing over my right ear, the back is completely uneven. I could have done a better job myself blindfolded. That was yesterday. Today I have another appointment to get it fixed somewhere else, but I know it will take weeks to a month to recover, and I have an event in 7 days! I am seriously considering a wig at this point. I gave this place 2 stars based SOLELY on how nice the employees are.

Ok so I know I’ve boasted about this place before… but honestly can you ever say enough good things about the cutest little salon everrrr! After a few hours of pampering in there I came out feeling like a million as usual. If you haven’t had the chance to go yet, you have to make an appointment and check this place out! You know you deserve it!!!
You’d never expect there to be a shopping plaza in the midst of this super adorable residential area (imagine the Hamptons meets LA). As soon as you walk in the vibe begins seeping in… from the nice music playing, to the ultra luxe décor, to the calming scented candles, to the energetic & fun ambiance of the employees… they simply never fail to make you feel like you’re the star without forking out the big buck$!!! And they don’t just have quality work but with a snobby attitude, they are truly absolute sweethearts (especially my stylist Carmen lol). All the nail gals have been awesome too, and the custom massage chairs you sit in are to DIE for!!! Although I’m a regular at this point, honestly I was shocked at how they remembered my every preference that I’d stated the time before. I love the personal small town feel you get here… with NO shortage of quality products, they’re seriously using the most TOP notch stuff and I expect nothing less on my lovely locks ;)