Blue Chair Salon

Paul blends art and talent with the ability to listen to what clients want. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to do my teenage daughters first radical color change. She loves it and she is getting lots of compliments that it fits her personality.

The best haircut I’ve ever had.
I moved here from San Francisco where I had my hair cut at numerous pricey salons over the years, and never was completely satisfied and pretty much dreaded getting my hair cut.
No longer. Paul listens. His cutting skill is impeccable.
My hair has looked terrific for 3 months, and I’m going back again with anticipation !
He has my highest recommendation.

I first went to Paul a few years ago when it was too hard to get down to my previous stylist in another city. I had been seeing her for at least 10 years, so I was nervous about finding someone else I would like working with. I had a pixie cut at the time, and needed to make sure I could find someone who could keep it looking fresh, unique and feminine. I consulted with Paul, and was immediately comfortable in his presence. Over the past 4 years, I’ve changed my hair a bit here and there, and it always comes out looking spectacular, both color and cut. Paul is an artist, and has a keen eye on the shapes, colors and styles that will flatter you. I highly recommend him !

I always know that I am going to get an excellent hair cut when I go see Paul. The men’s cut I have received other places like Bishop’s is fine and all, but with Paul I never have to ask him to texture my hair or lighten the cut. He is a pro and very easy to work with. You should go see him.

Paul is amazing! I’ve been going to Paul for 15 years now and have followed him from salon to salon. His attention to detail and expertise in color is exceptional. Truly amazing work

I would give this salon four negative stars if available. I called and talk to Paul to discuss the color of my hair and what I was looking for prior to making an appointment. My hair had gold tones brought out by a recent professional perm and I wanted to have an all over blond coloring. He said that he could and set up the apportionment to allow extra time if needed.
It took me an hour and a half to drive to the salon upon which I arrive a little early hoping to get in faster to avoid rush hour traffic on my way home. That day, the temperature was in the 90’s. I went into the salon to find that it was just a room rented in a building. As I walked in, he was just finishing up with a client. It was 1:40 pm. He said that he needed to go get something to eat, so I couldn’t wait inside in the air conditioned room because he was going to close the salon and leave. So, I had to wait outside in my car, baking at 90 while he ate. If that wasn’t bad enough, after he arrived it took him all but about two minutes to tell me that he would have to bleach my hair, that it would cost over 300 dollars, and take five hours to do so he wasn’t going to do it. How unprofessional. He saw what I look like before he went for lunch and could have mention it then instead of having me wait in a hot car for nothing. Even more, I spent 25 dollars in gas and three hours and 20 minutes of my time for that type of disrespect.
I ended up going to a hair stylist that works out of her home. 40 minutes and a all over color toner gave me the color that I wanted for 50 dollars. Which that, I can say with confidence to save your money and go some place else.

Amazing doesn’t begin to describe how great Paul is. I came to paul in desperation after my hair was destroyed by another stylist. (Where a hat for two weeks destroyed). Paul quickly put me in recovery mode and I left my very 1^st appt with a refreshed head of hair. I now see Paul faithfully and after every appt I receive compliments on my hair. His experience speaks volumes, his technique is impeccable, and his company is always enjoyable. I truly can’t say enough good things about Blue Chair. I finally found my perfect stylist that I can fully trust.

Paul is a hair artist. He really cares about what he does, and cares about you feeling happy with what he does with your hair.
If you’re looking for someone who’s going to listen to everything you have to say about your hair and the hopes you have for your new ‘do, this is the guy. Whenever I don’t know what to do with this length, or those bangs, he whips out a solution that I love. Trust this man, because he knows what he’s doing.

Paul saved my day! I have been seeing Paul over the past years and have been very pleased. Due to my busy schedule I made a mistake to go to a salon close to my home and get a touch-​up on my gray. I also asked for a few hilights to brighten my color. Anyone can touch-​up roots and add a little pizazz. Well, wrong decision because I came out with striped red hilights… it was horrifying! The gal tried corrective color and it even became worse. I contacted Paul and let him know what I did. He was so cool and non judgemental. He spent hours on «fixing» my mess! He said «your hair is a part of your body» and it needs to look fabulous. He made a great point that the beautiful new dress would look more awesome with a great color and cut! Moral of the story… nurture the hair you have with the best stylist who really has experience and knowledge. I will never go to anyone else to save time. Paul truly is the best in Portland!
Susan M.

So I came to Blue Chair, and met Paul because a friend of mine’s hair looks amazing! Third visit to Paul– and it keeps getting better! I wanted to go more blonde, but was afraid of the dried out frizz thing my hair does, and want to keep the length. You know! All the stuff. It is refreshing to have someone who actually listens and then suggests what to do to get the look you are after. Even to go as far as to tell you what would look even better. Trust this man! My hair looks great! Thanks Paul!!!

it was March 2011 & my girlfriend had been in Portland for about a month. She is a Unilocal user & & saw favorable reviews of Paul & the Blue Chair.
She colors & cuts her hair about every 6 weeks.
About a week after seeing Paul she called & was terribly distraught. so much so that i flew up to see her that weekend. her hair was trashed. falling out, ratty & breaking off. it looked like she was malnourished or other wise sick.
terrible.
she releated a story of Paul not paying attention to what he was doing. he was preoccupied with a new employees lack of work ethic.
After a couple of attempts at salvage she gave up & cut it very short. Even then what was left looked terrible.
That was over a year ago & it is just now getting near the optimal original length. She is not prone to complain but i feel compelled to say something. This has been a longstanding source of distress & embarrasment for her. At times difficult to address adequately & to watch.
My head is almost shaved so I can only speak as an observer.
If you go especially if you are a new customer consider mentioning to him that its important to you that he pay close attention to what he is doing.
Every one has a bad day so i cant rate him a «me thinks not».
but be sure you pay attention to whether or not he is.

I have been going to Paul for five years and have always had fantastic haircuts that consistently receive compliments… which is a first for me. I have very difficult hair. It is extremely thick and heavy, has a couple odd cowlicks and waves stubbornly in places. Making it worse is that I am not very great at styling my hair. Additionally, at most I want to spend five minutes on it… and feel lucky to even have that much time with my two kids. When I moved to Portland, I tried several high end places and while I left looking great, I could not redo the style and within a month my less-​than-​perfect styling attempts were pointless because the cut would be outgrown anyway.
After explaining my situation to Paul and giving him a basic guideline (not wanting bangs), he worked to give me a low maintenance, very stylish cut that I could style myself. He told me that even if I got caught in a windstorm it would look great. And it did! Even better it looked great after a month, then two and even three months later. It was a little more work to style as it got longer but it looked like I had purposely cut it longer, not let it go.
Needless to say I have been a regular ever since.

Just left the salon and my hair looks great. Paul is outstanding when it comes to color. And, he is good stylist. I have been his client for over 5 years.

I sent Paul a message directly to respond to his allegation that I was a fake customer. For all potential future customers who are reading these reviews before you head to Blue Chair, like I did, I assure you, my review is real. And also note the way that Paul responded… discounting a real customers review, and arguing with them. This is not the place you want to spend your money. As I think all you fellow Unilocal reviewers would agree, there is nothing unethical about sharing your experience with others, even if it’s three months later (when I joined Unilocal).

This place rocks! Best color, best cut, best atmosphere! Thx Paul!

I hate getting bad haircuts, and I hate complaining to the stylist after a bad haircut. I feel bad because there is nothing that can be done. The hair is cut and all I can do is wait for it to grow out.
Good gravy, did I get a bad haircut here. Maybe the guy was having an off day but this wavy haired girl is miserable and uncomfortable in this hair.
The overall shape is wrong and my waves have been cut incorrectly (in my ‘hair-​owner’ opinion — since I’m no formally trained hair stylist).
I chose this salon for the Vidal Sassoon training but have been sorely disappointed. My hair lacks movement and ease. I guess since I don’t have the stick straight hair Vidal, himself, used to work with, I got gypped on a good cut.
oh well, me & my hair are moving on.
ETA: got a message that I could come back to see how my hair could be fixed. Props to the stylist for going out of his way to contact me. That’s nice :)

Paul is really really good at what he does. And I’m picky :) Just a haircut but he spent a lot of time making everything perfect. It’s been a few months since I went in and the haircut grew out well. Time for my next appt!

I came to Blue Chair after an awful experience with a color correction at Bliss (this is when you screw up your own hair trying to be thrifty with home hair color and end up paying twice as much to have a professional fix what inevitably goes wrong.) My home hair color was live-​able, just not what I wanted, but the girl at Bliss made it a LOT worse and then refused to fix it.
Emily at Blue Chair was willing to take me on and was able to fix the horrible color job I’d gotten at Bliss. I’ve been back to see her twice since then, and my hair comes back to life a little more with each visit. Between the hair color damage, and my need to be able to wear my naturally very curly hair both curly and straight, Emily’s cuts and color somehow manage to make my hair look healthy and low maintenance.
I worked at a salon part time through college and have had my hair done by very talented people over the years, and I can easily say Emily is one of the best. She listens and works with you to give you what you want, and isn’t afraid to recommend something else if she thinks a different approach would look better. The home hair color /​Bliss experience was a disaster, but it all worked out in the end because now I have an awesome stylist!

You guys, I’m not a natural blonde. At least, not since I was 12.
Go ahead and take your time dealing with the shock, the disappointment, call me a fraud, a phony, what have you; I can take it.
I really don’t know what color my hair is anymore. What I do know is that for 4 years up until last October I was dying it brown from a box for about $ 7 every couple months. I fear large financial commitments. But I ain’t no professional! And I wanted a change. And dying and dying and dying your hair and then trying to mix in a bit of bleach can often result in a charming shade similar to that of a butternut squash. Surely you know this.
Enter the amazing Cana. She’s cut my hair since I’ve lived here, but now we’re treading on some serious reconstructive coloring. Takes a pro. A pro, she is.
I was there for eight hours (8 hours! What a high maintenance hussy!) as she patiently applied three different processes and the finest color weave I’ve ever seen, all while totally humoring me and explaining every step because she knows I like to understand the process. I do not envy this woman, I have many hairs (8 hours, really?).
But it came out great and after another visit we actually achieved the color I wanted without all my delicate, beaten hair breaking off at my crown.
And I’m not going to drop the price, but trust me she’s definitely reasonable even to the $ 7-​box girl.
Blue Chair Salon is really great too. All the stylists are super different from one another and I’ve seen them all do hair, and they’re great and everyone chats and it’s a grand old time.