Nu Yu

I come to Nu Yu just to see Nikki. She always takes great care of my hair and is extremely professional. I wouldn’t trust any other stylist!

Rude, hours are all over the place, prices are to high, they «forgot» to call and tell me they cancelled my appointment.
Never again!

I used to go to an Aveda salon back home and since I had just moved to the area I found NuYu via Unilocal.Taking the reviews with a grain of salt, I decided to give it a try since it was convenient to my new place and I am not too neurotic with my hair.
Called and made an appointment for a Saturday. A day or two before my appointment I get a call that their credit card machine is down so I need to bring a check or cash… inconvenient but not a deal breaker.
First impression walking in: tiny, but you can write it off as cozy. Jaylyn was running late but while I was waiting, the in-​house esthetician offered a special of $ 5 a gelish shellac manicure which I agreed to get done while my hair was being processed (more about that later).
Finally got in the chair and there seemed to be a miscommunication when booking my appointment… as I was there for only color, NOT a cut. Got that sorted out and gave her a brief rundown of my hair history and what my previous hairstylist did for me (high & lowlights with an all over toner) and how I lot of hair so typically need more color mixed up. Let her have control over what colors to use and what would look best. Sat down for the manicure as she started to foil my head and this is where it starts to go wrong.
The manicurist told me the gelish polish typically last for about two weeks… not really true as I have had mine last for a month. However, I have never had a dry manicure in a salon before. She did not place my hands in warm water to soften the cuticles, instead she applied this cuticle gel and started scraping my nails. It was the most PAINFUL experience and the base of my nails hurt to the touch for days afterward. When she scraped along the inside of my nail to get out «dirt» it honestly felt like she was trying to torture me… but it doesn’t end there. As she was applying the polish she told me there was «run off» into my cuticle due to the fact that I was not pressing my fingers flat… WTF?! I have had gelish manicures done for YEARS and that has never happened before. She went on to say about how they were having problems with the light they were using – DUH! of course you are, it’s not even made by the same company that manufactures the polish and probably bought off Amazon. This ended up resulting in the polish being uneven and only one top coat. Honestly, I could’ve done a better manicure on myself at home.
Moving on… Jaylyn takes me back to her chair and finishes foiling (in a different pattern and direction than I’m used to) after she mixes more color. A mere 10 minutes later she has me go back to wash out only half of the foils… Yes you heard me, half. So as I’m lying in the sink waiting for the other half of the foils to finish processing, I’m definitely questioning how it will look. Fortunately it came out decent, although I’m not sure why she didn’t do an overall toner like I had mentioned at the beginning.
As it turns out, you get charged an additional $ 55 for extra color… couldn’t you have disclaimed that when I told you at the start that I probably needed extra color?! I have NEVER been charged for extra color and the fact that it got added on at the end left a bad taste in my mouth. Also I got charged the full price for the manicure but at that point whatever as everyone is cleaning up around me so I’m feeling extra rushed to get out of there.
TL;DR
Won’t be back
— Worst manicure of my life –3
— Hidden cost for extra color –2
— Everyone was nice/​friendly +1
— Easy to find with lots of parking +1

This review is specifically for Nikki. I’m very disappointed with her service and ability to listen to customers. Yesterday my daughter had an appointment for a blow dry for a special event the following day. I asked Nikki for a blow dry with round brush. My daughter finished the appointment with elaborate braids which were NOT appropriate for the event. I was waiting in the salon but Nikki did not bother to ask my opinion about the braids. She simply did it. I’m so disappointed that she did not honor my initial request. Who wants a stylist who DOES NOT LISTEN? Maybe she should be in another profession as listening is not one of her skills.

I have been getting cuts and color at both Nu Yu in Acton and its sister shop Naturally You in Concord for over two years and I recommend both shops highly. Katie does my hair and I have been pleased every time with her ability to listen and translate my preferences into styles that I love wearing.

Had a bad experience with a haircut gone awry, but the owner and her star salonist rescued it for me. It looked great when Debbie, one of the stars at the salon, finished it up.
The owner is dedicated to pleasing her clients and always open to suggestion, few salons have such an atmosphere. The Aveda facial/​chakra therapy are out of this world. I try to go once amonth. Olga, the therapist has magic hands. When I leave there after a treatment day, I feel renewed and calm…
The prices are in par with most salons in Acton but service and quality quite a bit better than the others I’ve tried.
For now, this is my go to place for a feel good day…

This is a great Aveda hair salon located a little outside the city, but perfect if you are in the suburbs and need a quick trim. I went there for a semi color and trim last weekend and the service was great. The hair stylist kept the chit chat going but didn’t bore me or pressure me to talk too much. The color went on well, and she even brought me a magazine (read my mind) without me having to ask. The price was right — at 95 $ for the color, trim and dry. I was a little bothered that I couldn’t put the tip on my credit card along with the service, but that’s a minor detail considering how well everything else went. I will definitely go back. A no-​fuss haircut and color at an affordable price.