HCS Salon

The women were very helpful, friendly, and amiable. Although I didn’t use any of their services, I would happily return.

I have natural African– American hair that is very thick. I wanted to do away with my afro and get a pixie cut. My appointment was with Cece and she did a fantastic job! I wanted a pixie cut but wanted to keep my natural hair and she nailed it! She was very careful to keep checking with me as she cut to make sure she was giving me the sharp look I wanted. The pricing was really great too. Highly recommend!

I am so happy to have found this place! I spent most of the morning researching stylists specializing in african american hair, and stumbled upon this place. I’m an african american female with natural hair who was looking for someone to cut my hair into a fade/​fauxhawk. I was able to walk-​in and get the exact cut that I wanted. I came in with a picture of what I wanted and Mr. Jeff was not only able to mimic the cut, but also gave suggestions of how to tweak the cut to make it work better for my styling needs. He welcomed my input and asked questions every step of the way to make sure to get it right. After initially cutting my hair, I got a shampoo and deep condition, and after that he did some final touch up cutting to make sure that I left with my hair looking perfect! I’m so happy with my experience, and I highly recommend this place!
P. S. Bring cash!

This is the only place go to to get my hair relaxed (I still call it a perm, but whatevs). Miss Cynthia is who you want to go to… she always does a stellar job. I started going to the Hair Corner Salon when it was in a tiny spot just off of North Lamar, and I haven’t looked back.
I try to schedule at least a week ahead, because spots fill up quickly… but they always call if someone cancels to see if you want the open spot. The salon is clean and they have wifi. There have been times when the appointment for a perm has stretched into a 2 hour affair, but it seems to have gotten better as of late. To be safe, give yourself plenty of time if you have somewhere to be.
Again, Miss Cynthia can handle your relaxer when you need that shizt tamed. I hope she stays on board for a long, long time, because I don’t plan on going anywhere.

My two roommates and I came here because we wanted to get cornrows for an event. We were not disappointed. Preshia (sp?) was as sweet as can be and did an awesome job. The other ladies who helped my friends were great too. Price was reasonable and they did it all really fast. Would definitely recommend!

Sonya is awesome for eyebrows! Detailed and nice and thorough. Love the hard way too!

This review is for Sonya, an aesthetic artist if ever there was one! I am a nervous brow waxer but had gotten tired of looking – well – hairy. So because of Unilocal reviews (and because I walk past HCS fairly often on my way to Chipotle), I decided to give HCS a try and made an appointment with Sonya. I was not disappointed! She took my nervousness in stride, explained everything she was doing, and gave me amazing brows, keeping my natural line and even making me look better than I expected! I will be back.

My wife and I have been going here since 2006 and it’s always a pleasure. Mrs. Rene welcomed us with open arms. Her and her husband invited them into their church in Bastrop. The other staff there, who have remained there in her passing, have always been helpful and really good. Quinton is currently my barber and he’s the closet thing to me getting a New Orleans style hair cut. His prices are really good as well. He is flexible for time and can do appointments. My wife goes to Ms. Cynthia and Ms. Lisa and loves it.

I recently moved to Austin, and I have desperately been searching for a hair stylist that can work with natural hair. Quinton was a gem! He took my hair from drab to fab! He was professional and very upbeat. I was nervous, due to the fact that he was a young stylist, but don’t judge a book by its cover… open the book, and read the pages! Lol. Thank you Quinton.

My brows look horrible right now. I had to come to this site to update my review and remind myself that I need Sonya to shape my brows! She has a great eye, uses really good waxing products and never takes too much off.
Time to make an appointment!

I’ve been natural for years and have been uninspired lately. I found this place on Unilocal and Google and decided to check it out. I wanted a tapered cut (low on the side, high on top), with a goal of twisting out the top and sides as it grows out. I had an appointment with Quentin, who was very professional. He washed and cut my hair meticulously, and I’m very, very happy with the results. I was also impressed by the different types of clients there were (white, black, Latino, Asian, male, female, etc). I would definitely recommend going there, especially if you have textured hair, but again, there were all types of people in there, and they all walked out looking great!

I have now been to HCS to get a takeout, relaxer and full sew-​in three times. I had been going to a place on Guadalupe on 31^st, but after my first time meeting with Cici and the other ladies at HCS I plan on continuing to frequent the business and recommend to my friends in need. The salon is diverse and Cici does GREAT hair. I come out of there looking like a million bucks and Cici has always given me some great tips on how to keep my hair in good condition until next time. I watch the other ladies that do hair in the salon — Cynthia and Thy and their clients always come out looking great. There are even a few barbers, but I usually don’t get a chance to check out their handiwork.
Yes, it takes a bit of time to get your hair done but that is to be expected as an African American women with hair that I prefer relaxed. Parking is generous and there’s a Starbucks nearby should you have the desire for a drink. I’m usually able to get scheduled within a week and Cici is very flexible with her hours — even fitting me in once when I showed up on the WRONG day.
Give HCS a try — I bet there will be someone there to fix up your hair no matter the texture or style you are interested in.

Sonya Ramos– What a gem!
There is no one like her in town for waxing. She has a gentle hand and an artist’s eye. She’s friendly, professional, and absolutely amazing. I have very sensitive skin, and she’s the ONLY person who hasn’t left my skin damaged in some way. She shares excellent information on how to better care for my chocolate skin. I truly appreciate that because such expertise is so hard to find.
(I have tried to go to three other more bourgeois salons/​spas in a pinch and ended up sorely disappointed. Either the shaping was wrong, or I ended up with peeling skin or scars.)
I never leave town for an event until I’ve been in to see her. Yes, she’s THAT GOOD.
I always leave my appointment looking like my natural self, just enhanced.
Although I’m a natural, I haven’t been in for any hair services, so I can’t speak on that.

Moved into the area about a month and half ago. Found HCS by googling on my google maps for a waxing salon. Sonya is amazing! I would recommend her to everyone.

Renea has been my stylist for three years now. She and her assistant, Cynthia, do a great job coloring, conditioning, and cutting my hair. I wear my curly hair in a short natural. Renea does a good job showing me quick variations to do with my hair. In the seven years that I’ve been in Austin, she’s the best that I’ve found!
The shop’s atmosphere is great: quiet, professional, and fairly punctual.
The only difficulty that I had was when I requested another stylist to do two-​strand twists. I saw a bit of competition for business between the two naturalist stylists.
So my advise is to stick with Renea (the owner) for your Black hair care.
(Always, always use hair salon owners, when possible. This advise is for any hair salon.)
Being Austin, there are two non-​black stylists. These stylists and Renea style hair for black, white, Latins, Austin, and all others.
There was a barber, Bill Williams, that did a great job with my boys’ hair. I can not review the new barber.

I’m here to review for both my aunt and myself. My aunt has been going to see Rene for over 30 years and LOVES her — obviously, if you stay with someone that long, you like their work. LOL. I always heard about my aunt talk about them and they are now by my work. I was in a huge hurry about a week ago and decided to run into this place, not even putting it all together that this was Rene’s place! I walked in and asked «how long would it take for me to get a real quick haircut»? The woman — Thi (I think that was her name) said «oh, 30 minutes or less». She got to work and I was super happy in and out in 25 minutes! Awesome job and even styled it! It was the best thing ever and remember, they’ve been doing hair for A LONG TIME! Make it happen!

First and foremost i am the most stubborn person, as well as picky! i hardly like to try anything new and i’m usually a person afraid of change… until my cousin told me about Desiree Romero! She’s my favorite at hcs salon! She’s never let me down! (: I’m nineteen and doing my hair was always just to let it grow or add some layers. My first time i visited desiree i told her i wanted highlights, i automatically fell in love. she’s friendly, hard working, and made me feel so comfortable! i’ve never trusted a person with my hair as much as i do her!
I recently just got extensions, and i absolutely love them! i appreciate that she’s always there to help me with my decisions, and gives me helpful advice about what to do! i still consider myself a new customer, but i don’t plan on changing my stylist anytime soon! she’s amazing!
even if you’re picky as hell, i definitely recommend her!!! go! you won’t regret it! (:

I have lived in Austin for a year and a half and one of the first things I had to do was find a hair salon who specialized in African American hair. Well I found one place and I hated it so I never went back.
I literally stumbled upon HCS through a google search and I liked the website and all the prices were laid out upfront (which I confirmed when I made my appointment).
I felt very welcomed in this salon and there wasn’t all the gossiping going on that is typical in Black hair salons. My stylist Renee was very professional and talked to me about my hair regimen (or lack thereof). Her focus is on healthy hair and I appreciate that. She is very good at squeezing me in for an appointment because I tend to forget to call and wait to the last minute. Oops
She is an amazing stylist and cutter. I have trust issues with letting just anyone doing my hair but I will continue to visit Renee and HCS until either I leave Austin or heaven forbid they close.
The prices are pretty typical of what you will find at a Black hair salon.

I have actually been to this salon twice, once way back in the day when they were on Lamar near 2222 and then again when they moved to Barbara Jordan, if I had known I wouldn’t have made the second appointment.
So, I have natural black hair an Afro if you prefer and I went there the first time for a hair cut, the poor girl did not have experience cutting a fro and well, when she got done, my hair was the shape of an egg. I like to wash and wear my fro and leave the curls intact instead of combing them out like a 70’s fro, so the cut she gave me messed up that plan.
The second time I went there I went to get braids. I am not a normal wearer of braids and I know they hurt and are tight, but I told the stylist over and over again, I didn’t want them tight, I just wanted my hair in braids so I could get some wigs to wear for a little bit and not have to tend to my fro as much. Needless to say, I looked like I had a face lift (I have arched eyebrows and it didn’t look cute), the braids were so tight, and I had a headache for the two days I kept them in. When I took out the braids from my natural hair they were so tight that I had gobs of hair falling out.
NOTE: Tight braids are not good for your hair, all they do is tare out your hair, yeah sure they stay in longer, but in the end you’ll have no hair.
This salon may be good at some things, but I don’t think natural hair care is one of them.
I am still in search of a salon that can take care of my fro.

I went here on the recommendation someone. It was a detour from my usual (Jackson Ruiz) because I was hoping they might be able to do something better with my naps. Note: this salon is geared primarily towards African-​Americans.
Another note: I have never been dissatisfied with Jackson Ruiz, I like them, I was just looking for something different.
That said, after my almost three hour appointment, I definitely wouldn’t go here again. They didn’t do a horrible job. It was okay. It is just that for about the same price I pay at Jackson Ruiz, I get a much better haircut/​style and better service (I just wish Aveda would do something about their über smelly products).
Here I got the equivalent of a handtowel to cover my neck and shoulders and shampoo and water was splashed all over me. After the stylist was done washing my hair she sat me, my tiny towel, and my water soaked shirt under a dryer to bide time while she worked on another woman’s hair. She then washed another person’s hair and sat them under the dryer before finally returning for me. After my hour of sweating under the dryer, she combed out my hair, cut it, and flat ironed it. I don’t know about you but the best part of going to the salon for me is the super silky smooth blow-​out. I can flat iron my own hair. Thanks HCS salon, but I won’t be back.
Oh and the 1970s protective plastic covering over the chairs… tacky!