Kiva Salon

Rude front desk. Walked in looking for something and the lady at the front desk said «Nope» and then ignored me.

The spa i s worn out but even so I give Sandra 5 stars! Have been going to Kiva on Pearson for years to see Sandra and I saw her at Macy’s today– she is still amazing. Best facial ever!

Wow!
For starters, I most recently showed up to my appointment and the lady at the front tried to tell me Ward wasn’t there — she was Asian and I believe her name was Laura. I have been seeing Ward for almost 4 years now and he has NEVER missed an appointment. She tried to pawn me off to some Glen character — REALLY??? Shortly after being confronted with this news, Ward walked in. This girl then denied telling me Ward wasn’t available — REALLY??? This salon has no morals and I can’t believe they lied to my face.
Where do I begin. Poor Ward lucked out at this salon, he was transferred from the Kiva Pearson up to the Macy’s 4^th floor location — within a week of starting. The salon on Pearson shut down over night! As a dedicated client, I followed him. This place was absolutely disgusting, leaky faucets, unfinished construction and broken unmatched chairs to name a few. The only reason I kept coming back was because NO ONE does hair the way Ward does. His attention to detail is incredible and I felt awful for him having to work in such an unprofessional and lousy place.
Ward now works at Studio Vitál over on Maple and State. The salon is absolutely GORGEOUS and you can see the difference on his face. I highly suggest you save yourself from disappointment and make your way over to Studio Vitál and see Chicago’s BEST colorist!

If I could give zero stars, I would. I used to go to the Kiva on Pearson, and it was great. I learned that it closed, so I came to the Water Tower location for a massage. While the service provider was just fine, the spa itself is a wreck.
First, the bathroom is dirty and smells bad, and the wall is basically unfinished construction. They do have a sign claiming that they are renovating, but the service provider seemed pretty skeptical. And renovation or not, the toilet seat should be free of other peoples’ urine, if nothing else. This isn’t a gas station.
Next, you change in a mall-​style changing room, and you then need to awkwardly carry your belongings around in a box, juggling everything while essentially in a Macys in a robe and foam, disposable sandals.
This spa has no spa amenities, yet it is the same price for services as the Pearson location was, which had full spa amenities. How can they charge the same, when there is no spa to speak of? I went to a very public waiting area, and was then taken into a closet. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the service took place in a closet. The vents and things in the ceiling are still there, and there is an unusable shower stall basically in your face the entire time. There is no room to put your box of belongings down, and no space to dress or undress. The masseuse herself barely has space to work.
Throughout the massage, I could hear three music systems competing for my attention. The spa music was blaring, the music from Macy’s was blaring, and then pop music from God knows where else was also blaring. Every word spoken by others at the spa or others getting services was audible, and doors were slamming the entire time. I never knew that a spa could be so jarring. I was gritting my teeth trying to block out the three songs the entire time. The masseuse was very apologetic, but made sure to tell me multiple times that there was nothing she could do.
To top it off, there is no shower to rinse off the lotions at the end. One would think that if there is no shower, you just put your clothing on and leave. But no… they somehow find a way to make you even more uncomfortable. They strangely sponge bath you with a wet towel. It was so awkward… I can’t even do this experience justice.
Needless to say, I have some balance remaining on the gift card that I will certainly not be using for a service. This place is horrendous. Don’t waste your money or your time, unless you want to leave more tense than you were when you got there.

I am not a spontaneous person but I was staying downtown and wanted to be wild and get my hair done at a new place. I chose the wrong one. Told stylist I was letting my hair grow and didn’t want any length cut off. He kept raving the whole time through how I was just going to love my «new fresh hairdo». That scared me right there. I didn’t want a new one, just a touch up on my old one. When he finished with my mullet I shrieked about where the hair on my sides had gone. He said he did just as I asked and kept the length in the back. I said” I didn’t say the back, I said keep the length all over”. Why would anyone ask for a mullet for God’s sake? I think he either forgot or slipped with the scissors and cut the side and therefore had to cover his tracks, leaving me no choice but to have him cut the back to meet the sides. He bragged how he had been cutting hair for 50 years. That doesn’t give a client confidence, quite the opposite. My fears were justified. Even with the correction it was a cock-​eyed unbalanced cut.

After contacting the salon and leaving a message for the manager nobody contact me back to follow up. Very frustrating and surprising because of the salon connect to Macy’s.

Really! Just don’t go for an updo. No curling iron, no flat iron, no hairspray, no talent. Just don’t.

Believe the other reviews when they say this is a TERRIBLE experience!!! I went to get a simple blow out. A girl who could barely be bothered walked up to me as if I was putting her out, didn’t introduce herself, then led me back to wash my hair with mostly cold water that dripped all the way down the back of my top… Trying to make the best of it I followed her to get the blow out… She sat me in a seat with cut hair ALL OVER IT! On the seat, around the floor, EVERYWHERE!
I wanted to leave then and there but my hair was wet so I decided to stay and get it over with as soon as possible! She finished, didn’t show me the back with a mirror, just stated that she was done… My hair was still damp in parts!!! I ran like the wind!!! Couldn’t get out fast enough! I did see her name on the receipt that she gave me was Kate. I wouldn’t be surprised if it had been her first day or blowout EVER!
Sloppy work, no professionalism and filthy work area! It doesn’t get worse… You’ve been warned!!!

THE worst manicure ever. Do not ever go here for anything. It is really dirty (which is surprising because it is in such a good location). They charge 24 dollars for a manicure. TWENTY FOUR DOLLARS. worth about 5 dollars at the most.

My wife had the worse salon experience she has ever had at kiva. I am writing about it as I feel I haven’t done justice otherwise considering she came home in such a bad emotional state. She got to the salon and asked for the best colorist they had. The man who tried to color her hair would not wear his glasses and as a result got black dye all over her face. She complained and he yelled at her and pulled her towel off of her in a physical way. Even if they fired the guy I can tell you no one helped make the situation better so it doesn’t matter as My wife left crying. It’s an expensive salon as well
My advice is to stay away! The city and neighborhood offers much better!

Had my first visit – actually by accident – at Kiva last week. Total satisfaction. Luck of the draw I got a stylist (Dawn) who was courteous, professional and did a really great job. I knew she was serious about it when she asked me to uncross my legs so I didn’t get out of ‘square’ for her lining up her hair work. Surprised me, but hey, the results show she knew what she was doing, so who am I to complain? I’m sure I’ll go back and I know I’ll ask for her. I wanted to do a mani/​pedi, but the Golf Gods were calling and I couldn’t take the time for it. I’ll book more clock time when I return. Nicely played, Kiva gang. Bravi!

Do not mix up this location with the Kiva Spa at 196 E. Pearson like I did or you will likely be VERY disappointed. I have been to the Kiva Spa at 196 E. Pearson several times and had excellent treatments and experiences, not so much at the Kiva located within Macy’s at Water Tower. My mistake for confusing the two and scheduling at the wrong location, it will never happen again (at either spa on that block).
I had booked a 50 minute facial and 50 minute massage.
Top Ten Reasons to go to Kiva Salon at Macy’s Water Tower:
1. You like your spa to have a lobby with dirty and warped drop ceiling tiles.
2. In your facial treatment room, you prefer not to hear the soothing spa music but rather the pop music blaring into the room from the Junior’s Department at Macy’s.
3. You prefer to have the ceiling speaker and HVAC vent in your treatment room covered in dust.
4. You like it when your esthetician leaves the room three times during your treatment.
5. You enjoy the mystery of not knowing where to go after your facial as your esthetician only tells you your masseuse is waiting and begins to leave the room. You ask for further clarification and she leaves the room after she knocks your robe off the door.
6. Your experience isn’t complete without a walk down the hall looking for your masseuse, carrying all your belongings in your bare feet as they have «no slippers your size.»
7. You enjoy a gamble and prefer that your masseuse focus on areas that she feels need work and do not mind that she doesn’t ask about any health issues.
8. Dirty towels stuffed into and hanging out of the HVAC vent are your cup of tea.
9. A coffee cup is your first glassware choice for water following your massage.
10. You desire a very disappointing spa experience.

Had a great manicure at Kiva. I’d go back.

This review is for the Kiva at Macy’s Watertower (I couldn’t find the Unilocal page for that location).
I received a gift card to this place — thank god — because if I had to pay for the crappy massage I got I would be PISSED.
I went in for a neck-​back-​shoulder massage and received the standard form you fill out prior to receiving a massage. I noted I had been having some mild neck pain and had extremely sensitive skin. The masseuse never looked at the form (after I filled it out she promptly placed it on the counter without glancing at it). Also, she never verbally inquired if I was experiencing any pain, wanted her to focus on something in particular, etc.
However, her lack of curiosity was not for lack of care — she probably talked about 33% of the time I was on the table. Seriously, she would not stop asking me about my personal life. It was annoying and not what I wanted.
As I mentioned above, I came in for a neck-​back-​shoulder massage. You can imagine my surprise, then, when she wasted a good 10 – 15 minutes on my legs. I’m glad I shaved them that day!
My shoulders and back did get a lot of love during the massage, but she never touched my neck. Huh. Also, I was only rubbed for 40 minutes — not 50 (there was a clock in the room).
Finally…when I went to check out, she tried to charge me $ 5 more than the price quoted on the services menu!
Overall, this place sucked. Now that I’ve written this review, I’m dropping my initial 2-​stars to a 1-​star.