Leepin’ Lizards Hair Place

Man after I wrote my online review the owner messaged me, not to apologize or ask if there was anything she could do to fix my experience but to make sure that I knew that the profile for Leepin Lizards on Unilocal does state that they don’t accept credit cards.
Which, is true! But I thought that it was quite petty to point out that I should have known.

Jamie is for sure my go to stylist now! Great atmosphere, friendly people, and such a sensory pleasure for a Sunday afternoon! Jamie understood what I wanted, was Beyond patient with how thick and porous my hair is, and gave me a model look that will be easy to work with on my own! :D

I’ve been going to Donna for probably over 9 years now. She gives me a rockin’ hair cut and color for an amazing price! I really enjoy the quiet laid back atmosphere at Leapin’ Lizard. I get compliments all the time about my hair…
Thank you!!!

I moved to Oregon from Michigan in 2006. I had hair down to my waist and was ready for a change. I asked Google to recommend a salon. Along with some very uppity-​looking salons, was a little place called Leepin’ Lizards. I called and explained that I was ready to ditch my long locks for a pixie ‘do — something that one does not want to trust to just anyone. I went in and let Marilyn work her magic. I’ve been going back every 6 weeks since. Every once in a while, I say, «I want something a little different, surprise me.» Marilyn does and it’s always good. She knows that for me, «doing my hair» amounts to washing it and MAYBE adding some mousse and giving it (my hair) a shake. I think there is a hair dryer in my house, but I don’t know where it is. I couldn’t even find a comb the other day. I am, what you would call, very low-​maintenance when it comes to hair. Marilyn works it. Complete strangers have (not kidding) complimented me on my hair. A woman on an airplane once said (with an obvious attempt to not sound bitter), «…and I suppose your hair is natural, too.» It’s not me. It’s Marilyn. As in «she’s not born with it, it’s Marilyn.» If you’re looking for a stark and sterile «boutique» experience, don’t go to Leepin’ Lizards (unless by «Stark» you mean you want to discuss the Starks of Winterfell). But if you are looking for someone who REALLY knows hair, who cares about all living beings, who has a great sense of style, an amazing sense of humor, and will do right by your hair, go to Leepin’ Lizards and see Marilyn (or Jamie — though he’s never cut my hair, I adore him!).

Finding a comfortable, hip hair salon is hard to find.
Luckily, I found Leepin’ Lizards back in its mid-1990’s location on NW 21^st Ave. I was in high school, wearing babydoll dresses and petticoats and dreaming of Manic Panic red hair. Leepin’ Lizards hairstylists were the coolest.
Flash forward over the last 20 years (gulp): I have been following Donna Brown ever since. Though my Manic Panic days are for the most part over, I still love vintage slips and the haircuts I get at Leepin’ Lizards. And, I’m still getting compliments on my cuts and color!
The process for me goes like this: I bring in about 10 photos of what I want and Donna does her magic. What I like about Donna’s work is that she gets to know your hair and what works with the texture and thickness. She also knows that I am a slacker and only come in about every 6 months (or, more… mainly more…). Each cut and color grows out nice.
I just returned from another cut and color and am in love with it. Donna helped guide my hodgepodge of ideas into a really great look. She is wizard with bangs.
Few pro tips:
Parking is only for 2 hours out front and depending on what you are getting done, you may need to find longterm parking a few blocks away.
Cash or checks only.
Bring photos.
Walk around the Goose Hollow neighborhood and show off your new ‘do.
I haven’t seen the other stylists but they are all really nice and have longtime customers like Donna.

Look forward to my appointments with Marilyn with anticipation because they are fun and I leave looking great. She takes time to get to know your style and challenges (I’m lazy and have a constant battle against bike helmet hair). Been a happy client for 8 years!

Before we moved out of state, I was a standard feature at Marilyn Devine’s beauty salon. It was not only a very cool place with a fun & funky vibe, but the talent there was outstanding. Plus the cost could not be beat. Well, we got back to town for a visit and the very first thing I did was hunt up Marilyn Devine and Leapin’ Lizards to get my hair (and my hair piece) taken care of. She is as fantastic as always. It doesn’t matter if you like to wear your hair in crazy colors and wild cuts or if you are conservative and demure in your appearance. Leapin’ Lizards is the single best salon I have ever been to and I will always go back whenever I’m in town :)

One day, there was near panic when some of my friends didn’t know where our favorite hair designer had gone… turns out Donna had returned to LL and all was well.
Sometimes I think that finding the right hair designer is second only to finding the love of your life. Fortunately, I find the former!
Donna never tries to make you do something you don’t want; she works with you and never bullies. Having said that, trust her instincts because they are great! She is particularly good at getting my very fine, limp hair to have some shape and body.

Time passes. The bangs stay the same. My high opinion stays the same.
I followed Donna to another salon, and back here to LL in their new location in Goose Hollow. It’s a cute little pocket neighborhood that feels far away but is easily accessible by MAX and bus.

I have been a loyal customer for 10 years.
When I met Marilyn Divine, out and about in Portland, I didn’t know she had a salon. I had told her I needed a hair cut and she said to me something like, «How often do you get your haircut?»
I said, «Every 2 weeks cause it looks like crap if I go longer.»
And she answered, «Well I’ll give you a haircut that will look good even longer than 2 weeks. As it grows in, it will STILL look good. Then you can choose whether you need to come back in in 2, 3, or whenever.»
She proved her claim and I’ve been sitting in her chair for 10 years from then.
I’m living proof of her mens haircuts, but I have also arrived early and seen her do her magic on a few women. And they seemed to have left pretty happy.

i have been a loyal customer for several years. while traveling or hanging in portland, i am always asked where i get my hair done or if i am a hairstylist — people want my haircut. i always refer them to marilyn, owner of leepin lizards. she may not give them my hair cut but she will give them what works best for them.
for my first hair appointment, she had done some homework prior to our meeting, showing me examples of possible hairdos that she thought would work for me.. how often does that ever happen? this told me all i need to know about her expertise — she counsels, listens, suggests, steers me in the right direction, based on the shape of my head, the texture of my hair, the cowlicks that run counter to my ideas. so much info. she knows my head. she knows me. you can’t ask for much more from your trusted hairstylist!
today her fellow stylist jamie gifted me with a lovely blue feather attachment, which i am now sporting with glee. yes, i recommend both these individuals for their expertise, their know-​how, and the way they make you feel and look. thank you, marilyn and jamie.

I went from long layers to a sassy short crop, and I’m loving it! Jamie did a great job with my hair, needed only a few key words and photos, and talked me through a few decisions (bangs? no bangs? how much texture?). I have been getting compliments on my new cut all week … extremely reasonable price, a friendly locally-​owned shop, and GLBT friendly! What’s not to like?!

If you’re like me and particular about your hair, this is absolutely the place you want to go! Nestled in the heart of NW, Leaping Lizards has not only a staff of extremely talented hair stylists, but you leave there feeling like a million bucks. I go to Jeremy, and he’s awesome. He always cuts my hair exactly how I like it, and that is no easy task. One major plus about this place is its comfortable and friendly atmosphere. I can’t stand a busy salon where I have to wait long periods of time to just get a trim. They don’t push product on you either! It is a bit spendy, but you get more than your moneys worth. They take appointments too, which bishops doesn’t do. They do all sorts of hair styles, from simple to crazy. I highly suggest trying this place out!

When I moved to Portland I decided to shed my long blonde locks in favor of a sassier shorter cut. I went to Brindy and she gave me a great cut! Just what I wanted, and without that awkward first-​day-​of-​a-​new-​hairstyle feel. Since then, she’s seen me through about a dozen colors (including platinum!) and probably 5 – 6 different styles. I like to switch it up, ad she’s good at keeping up with my changing mind!

This place rocks! My partner and I have been customers for 15 years. We go every 6 — 7 weeks for our cut & color — our spa day. Marilyn the owner is a hoot! (She’s also an improv comedian at the Brody Theater). The atmosphere is very relaxed with a alternative vibe to it, and the prices are extremely reasonable too!

Lets see what i can say and what I should not say: Hmmm I went there for color and got the wrong color. However they didn’t burn my hair nor give me a blond wig by mistake, so i suppose they merit a 2 star. I am not going back!