Special F/X Salon

My favorite stylist EVER! Gigi Moss is a wizard with color and cuts… she did an amazing romantic style just last month for me… Love, love, love her! Plus… she is a blast to talk with!

I’ve never enjoyed getting my hair cut. Debbie is an artist and fun to chat with. I forgot where I was. Highest recommendation.
I maybe over my haircut phobia.

I’ve followed Kim to Special F/​X. I’ve been a loyal customer for many years now. She has a loyal following of ladies that see her. From the pictures I’ve seen, Kim really does an awesome job with their hair. I highly recommend Kim.

I followed my stylist, Kim V, here when she left Sasha Salon.
Kim is awesome for really any services but she is a Goddess with extensions. I have had mine for 3+ years but she is the 3^rd person I have seen. She is who I will see FOREVER!
The salon itself is nice. Cute. Trendy but not stuffy (which Sasha’s was), it is a comfortable place to get your hair done.
Parking around the area can be tricky depending on the day but I have never struggled. A block away but free is fine by me!

Special F/​X Salon is really nice with beautiful trendy art and really nice friendly staff. Let me tell you I drive all the way from san jose just to see my girl NANCY. SHE IS THE BEST! I dont even tell her what I want any more, I just make an appt with her and sit down, she is that GOOD! I have blond hair with highlights and its like a makeover every timne I see NANCY. Let me put it this way. i wouldnt know what to do without her! I love this place and I love my NANCY!

Debbie is fantastic! She’s always on time and does a great job. I would recommend her to all my friends.

Super awesome job! Very friendly, talented, and well priced! Nancy was awesome! Highly recommended!

Special FX… not really… more like Special ED… they’re a little slow and Terri didn’t really explain what she was doing until the end, regardless of what I wanted… What a SHOCK Eeeeek, Thank goodness it grows back.

..gigi was awesome! she fixed up the problems that my previous stylist made that looked more ridiculous after it grew out. i was skeptical about ever wanting hair this short again. but gigi made me love the undercut. now i just gotta grow out the top :)

So impressed with my experience here. Nancy did a great job! She was polite and friendly and knew exactly the best way to do an ombré on my black hair. She even showed me pictures of her other clients with dark hair to show me what it would look like when it was done. I overheard her telling another stylist that she had a class the next day to learn the newest techniques on a certain style. I appreciate a hairdresser wwho never stops learning and trying to better themself. I will definitely be coming back!

This review is for Amanda. I had my first cut with her today and I thought she was terrific: professional, sweet, and – most importantly – she listens. She did a great job and I’ve already booked my next appointment and recommended her to friends.

So — I don’t even think Terri or Special F/​X even needs another 5 star review, but I just have to do it because they are so amazing.
I moved to SF 4 years ago, and I was in desperate need of color and a cut. Roots down to my earlobes– it was not pretty. A friend recommended Terri, and my life has never been the same.
Not only did she work miracles with my hair and fixed my color, but she is one of the most fun people to talk to. The entire salon is great and everyone is so friendly. They are always prompt and so nice when I come in. I have now been going to her every 5 weeks for the past 4 years, and would recommend her, or any of the other stylists without question,
If you are in San Bruno, or anywhere near by (I go there from the City), you have to go here. Great staff, great hair and a great price. Perfect storm of awesome :)

I can’t speak highly enough about Deb (the salon owner)! She has been doing my cut and color for nearly a decade and is a expert in her field. I have seen a few other stylists and paid more and they did not compare to her talent! Many people have asked for her card based on how she does my highlights very naturally (as I ask for) so that I don’t need constant touch ups.
She takes the time to do consult with her clients needs, doesn’t rush through appointments, and is a great conversationalist. Upon asking, Deb even took the extra time to show me blow dry, styling and curling techniques which has changed the daily appearance of my hair for the better! Deb is a true professional and celebrity stylist hands down.

I finally was able to have some time to get my hair done and changed my routine a bit of going to my regular hair stylist and went with Amanda at special fx.
The salon is very nice. Spacious and organized, no hair on the floor (major pet peeve of mine at a salon)
I was greeted right away by Amanda and we did a short consultation to determine what I wanted done with my hair. She’s very intuitive with seeing your vision.
I am more than pleased with my hair and was treated amazing by Amanda. She took her time with me and made sure that I was happy with my hair. Kudos!

I had a great experience getting my hair done by Lizette. After years of searching for my go-​to stylist here in the bay, I think I’ve finally found her =)
Lizette took the time to really get to know my hair. I have a lot of hair to begin with, so other salons would just hack at my hair with a razor to thin it out. Lizette didn’t do that at all. She worked layers within the back of my hair to still give it body, but also took some of the heaviness out. She managed to give me a great cut, while still maintaining the long length of it. I love my new hair.
The salon overall is clean and kept well. Be sure to bring cash or check with you as a form of payment.
Also, just learned that tipping at hair salons is just like tipping at restaurants. 15−20% is the standard. Unfortunately learned this AFTER I left the salon!
Will definitely be coming back to her again (and giving her a better tip next time haha)!

I have been going to Debbie Cruz for hair cuts and color for years. Deb is the owner Special F/​X Salon. Deb is a pro 100%. Not only can she do the best cut on my hair, but she is one of the best colorists I have ever had. Her salon is top notch with stylists that are all wonderful. There is a nail specialist and the best of hair products. Debs prices are extremely reasonable which is welcome in this economy. The atmosphere is literally joyous! Everyone seems to be having fun. When time permits I enjoy taking my time at the salon just because it’s so delightful! I can’t say enough about how much I like this place and Debbie Cruz!
Wendy Waller

What a great salon! Not overly stuffy or pretentious the way other hair salons can be… I highly recommend Amanda, she does amazing cuts and color! She’s also incredibly sweet! Really, if you are looking for a professional yet REAL hair salon– the kind with actual talent and honest hair stylists, go here!

Everytime I come here I get amazed. Everyone sitting in the chairs walks away with amazing hair. I get my haircuts with Lizette. I always get compliments on my hair. She even came to my apartment to style my hair once.
Bonus: Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt is on the same block :)

So happy to be able to give a great 5 star review for a hair salon. Damn these places can be tricky! So many things can go wrong, what looked like would be great can turn out so-​so, and the price can make or break it.
I was recommended by a co-​worker with fab hair to Amanda at this particular salon. Very excited to try a new place, as I love the gal that’s been doing my hair, but her prices are just TOO high for my wallet.
Amanda works three days a week, but we were able to find an appointment about a week out that worked for my schedule. Definite plus! I went in for a partial highlight and cut, and showed her a few pictures of my hair in the past — what I liked, what I didn’t like. She instantly figured out what I wanted in terms of coloring, explained why, and off she went to mix.
She is super cute, has awesome hair (always a good sign), and the salon was welcoming and clean. Parking was a cinch too (oh, and free — huge plus). We did the regular routine of chatting about life and stuff, which I don’t mind, and she did not book in other people mid-​way through my appt. I understand the need to do that now and then, but sometimes people get a bit crazy and I feel like I am being rushed through the appt — therefore not getting the best haircut, coloring, or styling I am paying for. So another huge plus for her.
She fixed up my layers and gave me a nice trim to make my hair happy again. It had been six months, and long overdue. Then a good blow-​dry (my hair takes forever to dry as I have a ton of it), and she then did the unthinkable. SHE ACTUALLY STYLED MY HAIR AND CURLED IT. WHAT!!! I know. Honestly, most stylists dry my hair super fast and don’t fully finish. Yes, I have a lot of hair, but that annoys me. So of course, a half hour later my hair starts getting frizzy and the style doesn’t look the same. No surprise.
But not Amanda! She dried it all the way through, then took a nice big barrel curling iron and fully styled my hair. SO happy! It didn’t even take that long, which makes me wonder how in the world these other people have managed to skip this part over and over again.
My coloring was perfect. My cut was perfect. My styling — perfect. Price — VERY reasonable. I will be going back, and she is my go-​to hair stylist from this point forward!
Love her!

This is probably not a bad place to get a haircut, but just I needed a style for a very special occasion. This was the only place that could sneak me in since I put off making the appointment until the day before.
I walked in and there was no receptionist to greet me. The salon was full of boys! Ewe! Seriously though, full of guys getting their hairs cut by pretty young things. *makes the I’ve-got-my-eyes-on-you hand gesture*
I went to see Gigi (sp?). She was very friendly and told me that if she curled it up real tight, shellacked it with hairspray, and if I slept on my back that it would look lovely in the morning… Not so much. At no point was I happy with this hairstyle. I spent the afternoon feeling like an awkward, twenty-​something Shirley Temple. And the next day everything had fallen out so much that I had to spend an hour to re-​curl most of it. I might as well have just done it myself and saved my $ 60.
I realize this is partially my fault for getting it done the night before. Though I wish at some point the more experienced party would have said «This might not stay. Do you want to go simpler?» I was a mess the next day. If I had gone with something straighter it probably would have kept better. Live and learn.