The Hot Comb Salon

I had a wonderful experience at The Hot Comb Salon. Jacinta and her staff are amazing and my hair came out silky and full of life! Will definitely return!

Had an appointment for a wash, blowout, conditioning, and a trim… I’m a nice person so I’ll start with the good. My hair texture came out silky and straight after the blowout and flat iron. The bad– very very very unprofessional. The experience wasn’t a good one for several reasons. The content of conversations and rude comments were unnecessary. That should never be the case in a place of service dealing with women with all types of backgrounds– the service industry should make customers feel at ease from whatever they are going through during the week– just very uncomfortable … she also didn’t leave any length to the hair I had grown out and suggested I had NO options besides a bob which wasn’t entirely true. Ultimately she cut 4 inches off the back and even asked if she could cut more in the back just to complete whatever vision she had for a bob. I didn’t want a bob to begin with so I declined the offer to get an even shorter one. I was so discouraged i just let her finish and hated the end result. She also gave me bangs which I haven’t worn since I was 10 because I have a round face shape and those don’t go well together. Overall I was just really unhappy once I left. The style looks way too old for me and looks like a bad wig from the 80’s. I gave 2 stars just because my hair was straight when I left which was the only upside. Huge Disappointment after a $ 105 bill not including my 15% tip I add for services

I found this salon on Unilocal after months of trying to find a salon that specializes in natural hair care. After reading the reviews on Unilocal,I decided to give The Hot Comb Salon a try a made my appointment online. I am so glad I found this place because my hair always comes out amazing. Jacinta is an amazing stylist and truly cares about maintaining healthy hair. I don’t even style my hair anymore because I only let Jacinta put hands on this head lol. I would definitely recommend her to anyone I know. 5+ stars

Love love love Jacinta! I miss her! She was my stylist for 5 years and I am serious about taking a trip every 2 weeks to get my hair done! Hard to find a good stylist here in the Bay Area. They cannot top her.
The shop is clean, contemporary and the people are nice. Great place to start if your going back to natural or are natural and need a stylist. Jacinta got me off braids and to looking beautiful with my own hair.
Prices are average and she offers a variety of conditioning treatments, including STEAM CONDITIONING which is needed for natural hair!

Jacinta is a fantastic stylist and very down to earth. I truly enjoy myself each and every time I visit the salon. Not to mention how fabulous my hair looks when I leave. Jacinta is very professional and is very accomodating. You will not regret your decision to visit this salon.

Jacinta is fantastic! I just left her shop and my hair looks amazing. Seriously, it’s so shiny and full of life! Just to give you guys a visual, my hair texture is 4C. That said, shiny isn’t an adjective that I use frequently when describing my coils. :) The ambiance of the place is down to earth and soothing. Jacinta is so bubbly and professional. Her laugh is contagious. I highly recommend her.

I love Jacinta Appleton (the owner) she is a sweetheart and excellent stylist. We have now been together for many years. If you are looking to straighten your hair – she is undoubtedly the best. I wear my hair curly and straight and Jacinta worked with me to find a style that lets me rock it both ways. Love this woman!

LOVE Jacinta! My hair was silky soft when I left and it lasted a pretty minute. The service is excellent. I don’t get to go out with my girls much but I felt like I was with my girls with people I’d never met. The lady at the front desk, as well as the other customers, were super easy to talk to without being too loud or unnecessary, I will be back when I get back to Chicago.

The search for my forever stylist may have ended. Jacinta really worked some magic on my sad head of hair. I called to make my appointment, and was directed to the website where I could choose my appointment time, choose my services, and see the prices up front; $ 90 for a wash cut and style. No guess work which I fully appreciated. The website also sent appointment reminders which was awesome.
I walked in with all kinds of split ends, lots of color damage, and a lot of anxiety because I’ve had a series of bad salon experiences over the last year. The energy on the salon put me at ease right away; everyone was friendly and professional which matters a lot to me. I got there right at my scheduled time, and did have to wait a bit, but it wasn’t an unreasonable amount of time. Jacinta made sure to check in with me to see if I was alright, and to let me know about how long before she was able to style my hair.
The person who shampooed my hair did a great job, and sat me under the steamer with conditioner, and blew my hair dry with a flat paddle brush. She did a great job without burning my hair like some salons do.
Jacinta listened to how I wanted my hair to be cut, and did a great job. She didn’t get scissor happy, but still left my hair looking much healthier. The best part was that she didn’t judge me when I walked in looking a hot mess, she just got to work and made my hair look better than I could have hoped for. I felt so much better when I walked out of the salon with shiny and healthy looking hair. Thanks Jacinta!!!

I was referred to Jacinta about a year & half ago and I must say it’s by far one of the best referrals I’ve received. The atmosphere is always pleasant, the décor is warm and the conversation is always friendly.
My natural hair is tammed now and I feel like I control it and it doesn’t control me. I definitely recommend her to women with natural hair.

I was so happy to finally find a salon that catered to natural hair. I LOVE LOVE LOVE JACINTA! That woman works wonders on my hair! I get tons of compliments every time i leave her chair, and my boyfriend can’t keep his hands out my hair (lol). Fierce skills aside, Jacinta has an awesome, warm personality, and makes you feel more than welcome.

I have been going to Jacinta for 2 years now and not only is my hair always perfect but every person that sits in her chair leaves looking fabulous!!! Whether your hair is short, long, kinky, or curly she works wonders. I recently had Jacinta dye and highlight my hair and it came out spectacular. The color is exactly what I wanted and my hair still looks and feels healthy. I have really thick, Natural hair so I know the importance of a stylist who knows what she is doing. Also I enjoy the welcoming and fun environment of the salon. All of the stylists are warm and friendly and the clients are nice as well.

Second time at the Salon and I’ve learned that no matter what you will never get out of there in under 2.5 hours for a wash and blow-​dry. So the first time, I was there I spent $ 65 for a simple wash and blow-​dry and then the second time I was there I made the mistake of asking Jacinta for a trim in addition to the wash and blow-​dry and the price shocked the heck out of me. Now I would expect to pay $ 65 for wash and blow-​dry and even almost $ 95 for a wash, blow-​dry and trim but to have to pay this place $ 95 was way too much. I have never paid $ 30 for just a trim in addition to a wash and blow-​dry. I’ve gone to many salons and this is the first time I’ve been sticker shock. Frankie at Mario Tricoci at 900 North Michigan avenue has years of experience and great cutting skills and I’ve never paid that much for a trim. I was really looking forward to going to a salon closer to home but I would rather sacrifice my Saturdays by making the trip to MT, park my car at 900 north, spend one hour at the salon, pay $ 75 for a wash, blow-​dry and cut or $ 55 for wash and blow dry than spend $ 65-​$ 95 at hot comb. Some people take gouging to a whole new level.
I was not impressed.

This place is great! It is hard to find salons in the city that are specifically for African American hair. I did my own hair for years because I did not know of stylists or did not feel comfortable going to other salons. I feel right at home at the Hot Comb because everyone has hair like me. Tasha is amazing! But I’m sure the other stylists are just as good. Some services are a bit expensive but I would still recommend.

Tasha is the Best ever! Since my last review, my hair has grown out so much.
I currently am wearing my own hair now and it’s beautiful!!!

Jacinta, Jacinta! Never will I get my hair pressed out by anyone again! I’ve been going since Winter of 2013 and she has brought my hair back to life! I haven’t been taking care of my hair and there had been some serious damage. My hair now is healthier, longer and the volume is just beautiful :) Best Salon in the South Loop/​Chicagoland area!

I have been seeing Jacinta since September 2012. I have NEVER had a problem with her. As I read some of these reviews I can not help but laugh. Some of these reviews are close-​minded and simply comical. My hair is gorgeous and I receive tons of compliments on it. It’s healthy, and full of life. If you make a hair appt, and before anyone puts water and or comb to hair, you should speak up and make sure everyone is on one accord.
Please give Jacinta a try. Individuals are quick to talk about a hairstylist late, but yet will wait 1 plus hours in a doctors or dentist office with no problem. Wait in a nail shop for an hour or more for service, but oh no a stylist who is a human being gets nailed to a wall for being late. If you are a regular client of Jacinta’s you would know it’s not often she is late.

So I scheduled an appointment with Jasinta (not sure if that’s spelled correctly) because of the reviews I read. I showed up early and her assistant started doing my hair. Mrs. Jasinta did not show up until an hour later (I scheduled an appointment with Jasinta not her assistant!!) to pick up where her assistant left off. She started working on my hair but had no idea WHAT I WANTED as she did not ask, I guess she figured she knew what was best and just started working on my hair. I stopped her and brought her up to speed. She did a good job straightening my hair (my hair’s natural) But she started styling (curling and shaping) my hair without asking WHAT I WANTED. Ugh! (To busy talking to the other stylist about her work out and whatnot.)
A whopping $ 95 later for a wash, trim and blow dry on short natural hair, I was done. I wouldn’t say it was the best experience. Your hair will be done, (the way Jasinta wants it) but you’ll pay wayyyyy to much for it!

Jacinta does a great job. She is a very friendly and warm person. She also has skills. I have very course kinky coily 4C natural hair. I have not been taking good care of it at all (so it is very dry and in bad condition). However she made it shiny and bouncy and it has lasted for almost 2 weeks. Most of the pictures on Unilocal show straight styles. However, I got a wash and flat iron with curls, and they looked great.
The wash girl is also great. She actually scrubs your scalp and gets it clean. She does a great job. The client before me also had very type-​4 hair, and Jacinta got it very very straight. Considering how dry my hair was, it should have sucked every once of moisture out of the humid summer air and puffed up within a few days. However I left Chicago and went to the super-​crazy-​humid climate of New Orleans. My hair still did not puff up.
I am very glad that I found this place. It’s close to the metro and close to the loop (I went after work and got there in 30 min). It’s now convenient to go after work to have my hair done rather than making the 1 hour or 1 and a half commute to the West or South side somewhere on 2 buses and a train. The price is also reasonable– which I appreciate ($ 65 for wash, and flat iron that includes a sit under the steamer).
I originally was going to try AJ’s, but after a phone call to a super rude receptionist and a second super rude conversation from Mr. AJ– I thought twice about giving my money to people who acted like jerks on the phone and decided against it. (They were offended when I asked which stylist were most familiar with coily 4C hair. Their response was– «What choo mean?! All our stylist is good!» WOW. No thank you. I subsequently heard from the customers in hot comb salon that AJ’s stylists are partial to loose curls similar to type-​A or B. They definitely would have ruined my hair. Hot comb salon saved my life for a job interview and I will be returning soon.

Overview: never again. Worst shampoo/​blowdry girl ever. Jacinta showed up an hour and half after my appointment time, took breaks to talk on the phone, didn’t explain pricing, and ignored request.
Explanation Let me begin by saying I am not a salon girl. I typically do all hair care processes myself: condition, cut, style, whatever. Hot Comb reminded me why I should remain a DIY girl for life.
Very few times in my adult life have I been completely ignored when explicitly stating a request especially when paying for a service. The entire time I was there I was told that I didn’t know about/​understand my hair, which is shocking because i kept hearing how «I had a good grade of hair.»
So first I made an 10:0 am appointment and I arrived at 9:45 Jacinta arrived at 11:45. Problem one. So then her assisant, who claims to be all about natural hair, uses the cheapest shampoo in the world, washes my hair in one big lump and then goes to have me sit under the dryer with Miziani conditioner (silicone city) still in one big lump. I stopped her and asked her to section my hair to keep it stretched. She looked at me like I had 6 heads. She did submit to my request but that was the last comprise for a while.
She washed, conditioned, detangled my hair (aka ripped out). She detangled my hair from the root and refused to make sections prior to blow drying. My hair had turned to straw thanks to that nasty shampoo and was dry coming right out of the bowl. AMAZING! Considering I have Lo porosity hair that takes days to dry naturally I could tell my hair was stripped and dying. I reached up and felt that my hair had matted, tangled and was crying. I did the same. Thats right I sat there with tears rolling down my face watching clumps of hair fall to the floor. She told me we could stop. GREAT! So I can leave with my hair in the worst state I’ve ever seen and still pay you? Oh no.
She then continues to blow fry my hair and I constantly ask her make smaller sections, but she doesn’t care. She claims the hair falling out what shed hair. Girl please. Lets not tell lies. One moment she is complimenting my hair, which clearly takes knowledge to maintain, and then insulting me with clearly false claims. Shed hair is not a short broken pieces.
She whips then blowdries the same sections over and over. I tell her to stop and twist the section of hair and ask her to pin it out of the way. She listens for all of 2 sections and then unwraps and re blow dry and dry section. Thanks for the heat exposure.
So I’m done crying and just want to leave. I have been there for 2 hours at this point and the famous flat ironing Jancita has just gotten ready for me. She then flat irons my hair until it is straight, limp, and thin. I AM TALKING LIFELESS. I said I didn’t want my hair very straight to which she replied, «everyone should see their hair straight at least once» and then she flat ironed my hair to the point where it looked like I had a bad relaxer. All of this while she answered 2 calls and stopped to talk to two salesman that came in.
She didn’t explain the pricing and just gave me a number which was different from the website.
My boyfriend picked me up and asked me on sight «when are you going to give that girl back her weave» my hair is thin and wispy and I fear heat damaged.
I would NEVER go back. I tried to be open to the experience, but after hours of being ignored and listening to other stylist inappropriate conversation (they were discussing a «homosexuals man» from some TV show making jokes about his sexuality) I can honestly say this was a horrible experience that will not be repeated again.
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