Sassoon Academy

Sassoon has intelligent educators and students. After taking an ABC course I’ve realized what I’ve been missing out on for all these years! Things are done taking time for perfection and the educators always have something thoughtful to say.

AMAZING!!! Educators are absolutely amazing… Coolest experience of my life! As for the reviews that complain about time… It’s education. And I don’t know why you would complain for the price. Anybody expecting a quick cut should go somewhere else. This is for EDUCATION!!! Absolutely incredible in every way!

I got a haircut today. Can I just tell you it was amazing. I’m so impressed with the work done by the student Tracy and also by the instructor Karen. Tracy totally listened to me she wasn’t shy to ask me questions on how I wear my hair. Tracy was so gently with my super curly natural hair. Tracy actually cut my hair better than some professionals that deal with Afro — American hair .
I was a little nervous about letting a student cut my hair, but the attention that Karen (instructor) pays to the students and interacts with the clients was amazing !!! There were five students in the room and each student had a client. Karen moved around the room so gracefully!!! I will most definitely be going back !!!

Instructors badly trained. The place is dirty. They are not number one school for passing a state board and state board licensed. Do you research! As for customers coming for a haircut or colors RUN AWAY unless you want to worse experience of your life… Also
Overprices, I would recommend you don’t waist your money!

I just recently took ABC level 1 hair cutting. I had such a wonderful experience, so much theory, technique and systematic approach to hair cutting.
Kerin was my main instructor for the three out of the five days I was there. My group was a group of seven there was a lot of individual attention and interaction between the instructors and students.
I would highly recommend my fellow hairstylist to take a course there when ever possible.

Great place for inexpensive service. You won’t have a problem if you bring pictures of the work you want done. Highly recommend.

I tried the Sasoon Academy for the first time this past week and had a horrible experience. I will not be back. The fact that the haircut takes 2 – 3 hours is frustrating enough, but my haircut is flat out BAD. The back is shorter than the front (and that was not the style I was going for!) and they cut off quite a few inches more than I had asked. The disagreement between my stylist and the instructor was stressful at times– my intention was not being clearly communicated between the two of them, which is how this uneven haircut resulted. Next time, I’d rather pay more than have to deal with the stress of the student/​instructor relationship and me being a guinea pig.

Very cute slightly angled bob from Lisa! Even better, it was free since she used me as her model!

DON’T WAISTE YOUR MONEY! OVERPRICED! WORSE ACADEMY EVER! All the instructors are HORRIBLY TRAINED and rude on top of it. The place is a mess and dirty, they don’t even know how to wash your hair… they are not number one school for passing a state board and state board licensed that’s what you need ! Do you research! As for customers coming for a decent haircut or colors RUN AWAY unless you want to worse experience of your life…

Last Friday around 8am I called Sassoon Academy to get a hair color appointment and was greeted by Karim’s polite enthusiastic voice. He said there was a 9:15am available that day and if I was late might not be taken. I arrived within the 15 minute grace period and Cat was my colorist and did a perfect expert job. Gina the color instructor along with Cat asked me questions about what color i wanted to achieve. I’d brought the previous written formula with me so they know what to do and we started with a Malibu to remove some of the spotty red that I’d tried to administer at home that was uneven with roots that I’d missed in the back.
Jai who is Cat’s sidekick and an aspiring colorist brought me a cup of water and a cup of coffee after asking if I’d like refreshment. Maria helped blow dry my long hair and Cat wrote the formula so I can keep that same color for subsequent visits. This was such a positive experience that I asked to speak with Wayne the director of the school to tell him how this visit was perfect in every way.

My friend who is taking classes asked me to be a hair model for a trim. She cut my hair and it turned out great. I came back to add some highlights to update my ombré and make it more blended. I decided to come here because I did not want to pay another $ 400 dollars to get some highlights. I figured how hard can it be to do highlights? Long story short, the student totally fucked it up. I thought I made it clear that I wanted face framing highlights at the top to be blended with the blonde on my bottom and for most of my ombré to remain. I know I said «Please keep the blonde» and the student and the instructor helping said that they would bring some brown into the blonde to make it more blended but I would still be pretty light. She gave me highlights which turned out fine, but for whatever reason put dark brown toner in my blonde hair. Never once did I request to be a brunette. Now I have highlights at the top of my head and the bottom is just one dark basic brown that is darker than the highlights at the top. What I have is worse than what I had before. It took me so long to get to the blonde I had as I am naturally dark brown.
lesson learned: you get what you pay for. I will never come back here for color but I would come back here for a trim.

I usually have a great experience here and tell all of my friends.
In the past six months or so though, I almost want to think they have gone under different management, because the quality of service, the level of respect for paying hair models, and the professionalism of their receptionist has gone way down hill.
Also, they have stopped putting adds for hair models in the L.A. weekly which was a way I got many people to try them out bringing them business even though it is a hard sell for most people to have their hair worked on by a student.
This is probably why it is FREE to be a hair model in the Chicago Loop VSA AND they give you complimentary tea or coffee. Also, the interior design of that location is so much better, the instructors and students have better style and attitude, and just seem to be working to be the best hair stylists they can be instead of posing for each other and judging the hair models.
ANYWAY, my most recent trip to VSA Santa Monica after a year and a half of going here was pretty abysmal. They disappointed me. I called ahead to schedule an appointment and was talked down to by a very rude female receptionist who sounded like she was American and probably white. I asked her if she had appointments on x, y, and z days, and she said there were none for a while. This has never happened to me before. O.K. I said, can you tell me when the next available appointment times are? She said, Oh we are booked solid for a while. And I said, I get that, please tell me when you DO have availability so that I can plan around that. She sighs like a teenager and for the first time I get the sense she is looking at a computer. She then tells me the dates and I book an appointment. She then says in a nasty tone of voice, please let us know if you cant make it, O. K? I said fine, and let it go at an unfortunate hiring mistake or that she was having a regressive day.
So the day of my appointment, I travel ALL THE WAY FROM PASADENA *FOLKS*, to make it to my appointment 15 minutes early. I check in with a charming male receptionist, pay, and he gives me my robe. I wait in the hall with other hair models (By the way, in Chicago, they have less space and a proper waiting room with seating and magazines, go figure!)
I am assigned by a young male instructor with what I thought sounded like a Birmingham accent to a female student who literally did not speak enough English to respond to anything I said. Including when i described what I wanted for a hair cut. I am not saying this to be discriminatory, but If the hair stylist cannot confirm or have a conversation about what the person who has to wear the style wants to have on their head, the hair cut is going to suffer. I took a leap of faith and stayed even though it did not seem to bode well for me from the get– go. I thought, the instructor will listen to me and help her, she is probably a great hair stylist.
She was not a great hair stylist, the instructor kept saying beautiful, well done, etc, and I ended up with a really shoddy version of the hair cut I usually get which is an inverted short asymmetrical bob. It was shoddy because the back of it was not cut short enough to look flattering or last longer than a week, it was not done with attention payed to my hair texture, and it did not lie flat or evenly for the next month while it grew out. The instructor quickly had her blow my hair out and flat iron it to disguise the bad cut and pressured me to leave.
VIDAL SASSOON ACADEMY SANTA MONICA: I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU ONE LAST CHANCE please re-​evaluate how you are running things. It has gotten a pretty sad, and I was a devoted customer. I have always felt you could do better, especially in contrast to how fantastic the VSA is in Chicago, but that you have sunk lower is pretty depressing. Nobody wants you to succeed more than I do, please read this and re-​work your approach to customer service.

Amazing place to learn the Cosmetology career. The most professional and caring teachers in the business. Great hair cuts precise and professional and amazing color. It takes a little longer because afterall they are students but the final cut and color is out of this world. Relax, chill out, read a good book and come out looking like a million bucks…

…Hello fellow students or anyone considering taking their courses I did took a comprehensive 6 weeks cutting course last summer it was very informative I must say although it may not be what really is happening in salon industry.
Did refer a friend for a full time Cosmetology course they promised a $ 500 referral fee for future classes or products never got it! ;(they are not number one school for passing a state board and state board licensed that’s what you need ! Do you research!
Went to Santa Monica college for cosmetology and did apply for my examination even though wasn’t done with all my hours. Did pass it right away! Do know someone who went to V.S. She can’t pass exam two time and took Stateboard classes at different schools.
School is overpriced for what it is! Great instructors! Great concept! Poor management ;(not that much attention to state board. Would not refer any students for Cosmetology program! Get you hours elsewhere get you license take ongoing classes if you can’t live without V. S and it’s not B.S. ;)

Wonderful experience! The student and instructor both made me feel comfortable. I walked out with perfect long layers! Very happy!

Long story short they didn’t listen to anything I said. Not even the instructor. I asked for simple side swept bangs and my hair all one length. Anyone should be able to do this and they managed to fuck it up. Veronica couldn’t even wash my hair properly. I’m so disappointed. First and last time I will ever come to this place. Yes it might be cheap Unilocalers, but spend your money wisely somewhere else. Not worth the dissatisfaction.

It may have been after a couple of years when I came to get my highlights at the Sassoon Academy yesterday. I walked into the studio and there was a buzz, like I never felt before. I was just going to get more of my blonde but as I was waiting to be seated, I was literarily excited by the creative look of each person that was being worked on and stunned by the beautiful hair color the head instructor was sporting. I was suddenly having so many ideas for my hair! I walked out with a head of beautiful blonde hair, I wish everyone could experience such mastery on their tresses! Thank you Sassoon Academy!

Everyone is so friendly and kind. Lucas is the best!

Awesome cuts and colors for a fraction of a price elsewhere, if you have the time to wait. My hair has never looked so good as when it’s freshly styled t=from the academy.

I hated getting haircuts. I had hair down to my shoulders, overall just a curly mess. I have had many a time where I ended up going to some Supercuts, getting a bad haircut, going home and shaving my head. I was over wasting my money.
Enter Sassoon. Someone recommended the salon to me so I decided to check it out. The staff was very friendly. They mentioned to me that my haircut could take a few hours.
I didn’t mind and I had the time.
A lot of people don’t believe in miracles, but I was paired with a student named Haley S. who is nothing short of magical. She saw the task at hand and got to work. She washed my hair, which is always my favorite part, and began snipping.
I have never experienced such care, attention to detail, and professionalism. First, they listened to my wishes for the haircut. Second, they mentioned details that highlighted the specifics of my face, head shape, and hairline. Third, they took great care to ensure the haircut was perfect. The attention to detail was fantastic, and time flew because I couldn’t believe the transformation.
I can no longer say that I have hated every haircut I’ve ever gotten all thanks to Haley and the absolute professionals at Sassoon. I love my hair, I love the way I look, and I loved my experience at Sassoon. I will most definitely be back!
Highly recommend to anyone who cares about how they look and are tired of a quick in and out experience at Supercuts, with a terrible haircut.
Sassoon will change the way you see haircuts.

I had an identical experience to Jennifer D.‘s review from 9÷9÷2014. I have been going to the academy for about 12 years and the instructor she mentioned (shaved sides of head with long hair and ponytail on top) is TERRIBLE!!!
I specifically said these words:
1. «Trim.»
2. «I don’t like short layers.»
3. «I don’t want anything that looks choppy.»
I went in with very long hair and long layers. He asked if 2″ was okay to take off and I agreed. However, every time the student cut my hair, it got shorter and shorter. The problem is that this instructor wasn’t supervising enough to notice and when he would come to check (and saw the horrified look on my face), he just continued to praise the student and tell me «it’s not really that much shorter». At one point, the instructor asked if I wanted the student to stop cutting when half of my head already had extremely short layers cut!!! He took off a total of about 7 inches in length and now the shortest choppy layer falls at my ears. I cried on my drive home and P. S., just so you know that I’m not exaggerating, everyone has been making negative comments (coworkers, friends, family members). Usually people are polite and don’t tell you these things, but it’s THAT BAD.
If you get this instructor (Jennifer D. mentioned she thought his name was Matthew), effing run for you life! The best is Randall.
Also, I have to mention that the color services have not been as good recently. Not bad, but not great either. It’s important to state that in the past 10 years or so, the services were absolutely amazing. The noticeable overall decline started this year.

My cuts here have ranged from the greatest I’ve ever had to mediocre but not bad. It is a long time, but worth it when you get the good ones.
I used to love this place, but have gotten the same bad cut the past two times. I believe my instructor was Matthew, but not sure (curly hair on top and shaved on the sides, hipster look). I thought the first time was a bad person, but have now realized it’s not the students’ faults because they are doing exactly what he’s teaching them.
The instructor doesn’t understand how to make layers look good especially face framing — I agree with a previous person, it looks like mullety bangs!
I miss the previous instructors, I always hit great cuts with them! I will still consider coming back, but not to him.

I go there sometimes for highlights. It’s $ 51 for a good 4 hours to do my hair. The students are properly supervised and they do a pretty good job for the price. Make sure you have the time, it can get lengthy.

Matthew is the worst instructor.

1) Had my hair done by Kimberly, they rotate every 6 or 8 weeks so she won’t be there when you read this. Arrived at 2, left at 4:30 Some people left after an hour and a half, one or two were there after I left, depends on the style.
2) My cut was free as I responded to a post on Craigslist, it was not Kimberly’s post, I think it was just random. Some students who need practice post for free haircuts. Some list a price, usually $ 25 — it depends on who posts. Haircuts are not always free, so ask when you call. You don’t need to respond to an ad to be seen, you can call them directly. Now that I’ve been there once I would not have a problem paying the $ 25 or whatever the normal price is.
3) Kimberly was an established stylist who was taking the Sassoon course, she already knew how to cut hair, so I felt very comfortable with her. I have curly hair that looks thick and permed (but it is thin, falling out and dry), and when I walked in, the instructor took one look at me and said «wonderful texture» — had she said «nice perm» I would have walked out — that was a big plus that they knew their hair with just a glance.
One thing I did was ask Kimberly, «What is an inch of hair to you?» and she showed me, that way I knew that we would be on the same track — for the record, my idea of an inch was way shorter than hers, so I think I avoided some major problems by asking instead of saying «just take off an inch.»
4) Because my hair was a bit different, they spent a lot of time on scissors technique — even where to stand when cutting, balance, angles to cut, and things like that. At the end, Kimberly was finished, but the instructor had her «play» with my hair more and add some product that I normally wouldn’t have used (styling wax?). My hair looked great and I felt like a model when I walked out!
5) Wash was included.
6) Tip the stylist. I gave her $ 20 for the amount of work she did, plus she is a student and I figured if she was in LA for 6 weeks she probably wasn’t getting paid to go to school. If she was, meh, she did a good job.
7) Parking structures in the are were 1^st 2 hours free then a little bit for the next block of time, much safer than using the meters.
Definitely bring a book or iPad or something for the wait in between instructor visits to your chair. I’m not terribly chatty when I have my hair cut, so I filled the awkward pauses with my book.
Some of the stylists asked to take photos, maybe like 1 or 2 stylists, they don’t take your name or personal info or anything. Just mentioning so you won’t be surprised. I thought we’d all have photos taken but no.
Kimberly told me that because she used the Sassoon technique, when I come back again they should be able to cut it the same way no mater who I see. It may sound silly, but I think what they did made a difference. When you subtract the waiting period, she must have actively been cutting my hair for an hour and you could tell. It’s been a few weeks now and I use a light curl crème, Bed Head shampoo and conditioner and some pomade/​styling wax and I can replicate the style easily.
I’d like to go back and see what they can do about hair color. Not sure how big a block of time you’d need though.
p. s. if you wear glasses, you may want to wear contacts so you can see what they’re doing. Without glasses I was just looking at my blurry self in the mirror.

I went to Sassoon Academy for a haircut yesterday. Well, I’m a student so I don’t have much money to spend for a simple haircut, especially when the salons here charge exorbitant prices (compared to my homeland, Singapore) for a normal cut and wash.
So, while scrolling through reviews, I found Sassoon Academy and thought why not give it a try since all I’m asking for is just a simple trim and a shorter fringe.
I was early for my appointment fixed at 11.30am, reached there around 11.20am. After paying the student price $ 11.50, I was given my receipt and a drape and told to take a seat while waiting for an instructor to pick me. Just show your student ID to enjoy this special price. The normal haircut price is $ 22.
I was shown to Hilary, and after a short discussion on how I like my hair to be, I was guided to the shampoo area. It wasn’t really the most comfortable shampooing chair I’ve been on but whatever, it’s an academy. The shampooing part was rough with Hilary tugging my hair hard at times. Also, it was really awkward with the other students talking to their clients and we aren’t but it’s alright, I get it that some stylists don’t like to talk so they can focus on their job at hand.
Throughout the entire two and a half hour cut, we didn’t talk much until the end. At first I was waiting for her to start a conversation but since she didn’t, I picked up a book I brought along. The instructor would walk around and help other students but he rarely came over to our corner. Either because my request or hair condition wasn’t too challenging. I noticed the other customers had curlier hair. I have straight hair.
I would give it a 4 stars if my fringe wasn’t exceptionally short and not what I requested. Overall, it was a great experience and I would probably go back again. But next time, I will remember to give a gauge slightly longer than what I want.
Oh, for those who are interested in coloring, when I asked about hair-​dyeing which is one solid color, it’s $ 26. For highlighting, it’s NOT $ 26, but $ 51.

I am still loving the haircut I got from Lauren K a couple weeks ago! I’d heard about the student cuts here and at various salon schools but have never actually tried it out. It wasn’t until my former co-​worker became a student here and put out the call for haircuts that I decided to venture in.
If you don’t take the Big Blue Bus in, park at the Santa Monica Public Library a couple blocks away. It’s the best value for how long you’ll be staying there.
I’m not sure how their regular hair appointments work if you don’t already know someone who will put you on their schedule, but I believe they have a mailing list where they update regular clients with availability for cuts/​color. You do need to allow for a LOT of time to be here compared to your regular cut. I was there for upwards of 3 hours… the students are supervised at every turn for your haircut, and the instructors are often supervising multiple students. So bring your patience, and maybe something to read if you’re not keen on small talk, and be prepared to wait a while.
Although you may get your hair cut for a ridiculously low price (or even free), be sure to tip your stylist as a courtesy. I was incredibly happy with the cut I received, and was actually interested to hear the different techniques and methods that were being applied to my and the surrounding clients’ cuts. I’ll absolutely go back!

I went here the other day and James Thelman was my student stylist. He did a great job and I LOVE my haircut!
I knew going into it from reading reviews that it isn’t a breeze in and out process-​it takes several hours because of feedback from their instructors and if you want a quick hair cut you should go elsewhere.
That being said I had a great experience and James did a fabulous job asking me what type of style I wanted.
He layered my hair and it looks great. I have gotten compliments about it and also learned interesting things about hair during my cut.
It was $ 26.00 and if I go back to him it’s free. $ 5.00 for color. Pretty awesome.
I am used to spending at least $ 60 on a woman’s cut so I was delighted to get such a deal. I tipped in cash because you can’t leave a tip on your card.
Park in one of the public lots since they don’t have parking for clients.