Monalisa Hair Design

Today, I was reminded of how important the right stylist is to achieving the haircut you want.
Though I had grown accustomed to mid-​range ($ 30) hair cuts from trained stylists in LA, I recently moved to NY and was introduced to a very good stylist that charges $ 12 there. Since I was in town but really needed a haircut, I figured I’d give this place a try and trim my hair before heading back to my usual stylist.
Bad move. I had my hair cut by the guy (David?). As mentioned in previous reviews, he clearly has no idea what he’s doing, but thinks that he does. I’m not going to go into detail about his technical skills, or lack thereof, except that I felt my hair was being hacked like a bush. Side note, I went in because the woman (Becky?) seemed to be doing a great job with another client.
The first time David said he was finished, I was in complete shock. I had requested a typical Asian male fauxhawk that spikes slightly to the right. What I got was a ONE INCH difference in length between left and right sides, with the left almost completely gone and the right side barely cut. Though he kept saying it would look different with gel, I knew I had to step in and guide him myself before it was too late. I ended up having him cut the right side so it was almost as short as the left. All the while, he kept insisting that the difference in length was to achieve the right tilt effect I had requested. Just no. The final product had the overall shape I was going for, albeit uneven in some places and extremely short. Definitely not the trim I had requested, but at least I can be seen in public.
I understand you get what you pay for, but even for $ 12, the first attempt was mediocre. I don’t think it would’ve turned out as it did without me stepping in, even though he kept saying things to make it sound like he knew what he was doing. The one good thing about David was that he immediately started paying closer attention to his work and listened to my suggestions once he realized how distressed I was at how it turned out the first time. I think he tried his best.
So. 1 star for the cut, and 1 star for the effort.

I’m sitting at the hair salon now waiting for someone to fix my son’s hair. My mom brought him earlier for a boy’s haircut. Told them to leave the bangs long. When he comes home, not only are the bangs half an inch above the eyebrow, but they’re longer on one side. Seriously! How can you mess up a boys’ haircut so bad! Now they tell me to sit here and while we wait for the person that cut his hair to finish with her client to look at the books and pick a hairstyle. What hairstyle are we supposed to pick if you already messed up the hair? We can only ask to make his bangs even so he doesn’t look like a fool at school.

CASH ONLY! There’s no sign that says this anywhere. Cash or check.
I came here last weekend with my boyfriend, who has been coming here to get his usual cut with Amy ever since he was in middle school. He won’t go to anywhere else; the few times he DID go somewhere else for his haircut while we were in Socal for college, he never liked the results.
For girls, on the other hand, getting a haircut is a slightly different story. Some girls are extremely picky, while others don’t care so much. I fall somewhere in the middle: if I want a drastic hairstyle change, I won’t go to an Asian hair salon. But if I just need a trim, then I’ll go to an Asian hair salon with a good reputation. The prices are cheaper, which can be a significant factor to consider particularly when you have longer hair.
I got my hair trimmed by Amy. I went with the safest trim you can get — just about an inch shorter, not too layered, U-​shape rather than V-​shaped hair, trim side-​bangs. Amy was very nice and friendly, focused on her work, and wasn’t too chatty (although she’s the type that if you are a chatty customer, she’ll be more than happy to chat with you). I was happy with the results — not elated, but it’s decent.
For females with long hair (past shoulders) it’s $ 25 and up. I don’t know how much/​if they charge for bang trims. If/​when I find out, I’ll let ya know!

I am writing this review hoping Becky can read this. Becky is great as a hair dresser. She spends lots of time for a haircut and I really have no complaint about her technique. Recently my family and I have to use another hair dresser; why?
Each time we arrive for an appointment, and this happened more than three times, we always had to wait for at least 30 minutes. Really, once in a while, I can understand she is behind and we don’t mind waiting.
We made an appointment at 3 pm today for two. My son and husband arrived at 2:50pm and she took in another person. Each of haircut would lasts about 30 minutes at least which pushes our appointments to 30 minutes behind x 2= one hour. This is the main reason why we decide to look for another salon. In the past, she also rushed through one of my son’s haircuts and he was really unhappy coming back; they were not even.
I understand she is more busy now than before, but there are other salons around for us to choose. We also showed up for our appointments. We usually stay with our hair dresser for along time.
It happened many times in the past and we come to realize that maybe she does not need any more customers. We followed her from her previous salons to Mona Lisa.
I don’t think our family will come back. I do not like writing this review. Sorry, Becky, we feel that you don’t take us seriously when we called for appointments. We called because we do not want to wait as we do not have the time to spare. Others may have lots of time to wait around or they can just pop in and out. For us, time is the essence of everything; every minute counts.
I knew Saturday might be busy so I did ask for the last appointment for me and my son as she took a good amount of time with my hair. So I asked my husband and son to see her first and I will try to book an appointment during weekdays. She text-​ed us she was open at 3 pm.
The incident above happened more than three times in the past. We come to realize that she does not really need her old customers anymore; now that she is very busy.
Best wishes and thank you!

I have been coming here for the past 2 years and I have always walked out satisfied with my haircut. Be sure to ask for Becky. She is the best stylist around and she really knows what she is doing. I am definitely coming back here again. Becky, you are amazing!

Been coming to this place since 1997 and don’t trust any other place to cut my hair.
I am a long haired male that gets a styled haircut that requires a pre-​soak and consists of layering and thinning. Any other place would charge me at least $ 18+ to do this but it cost me $ 15 here. David is my go to barber and does a great job every time. I don’t even need to tell him what style to cut, he knows right away and gets the job done in a timely matter. If you are a male and have a similar hair style to mine, I’d recommend David.
As for the venue, it is clean and the barbers are nice. These people have been doing this for 15+ years so they are professionals at what they do. Good customer service for everyone whether you speak Mandarin, Cantonese, or English. I always leave the place extremely satisfied and feel like a «xiao shuai ge».
They accept both walk ins and appointments. I would usually hit up David to see if he is free before going so you should probably call them and ask the specific barbers schedule. You could just walk in and get seated right away; the most you would wait would be like 10 minutes.
Anyways I will continue to come here and get my haircuts by David until they close down or I move far away.

Can’t beat $ 12. Shelly is the only person I have let cut my hair for the last 15 years!!! SHE IS THAT GOOD!!!

the place is very clean, no strong chemical smell, there is a lot of place parking spaces, there many experience hair stylist over there, the price is fair and awesome, Look for Becky, she is the best all time.

I permanently straightened my long hair for $ 140 total (20% off because they are having a 15^th anniversary special until the end of 2012)! I got a great haircut too free of charge! The haircut turned out just the way I wanted it to, and Shirley refused a tip because I was a college student. Such a good deal! Shirley also agreed to come in early at 8 (normally it opens at 9) since it was a 4 – 5 hour process, which was very nice of her.
I’ve been coming here for years to get my hair cut by Shirley. I usually bring in a picture of the hair/​bangs I want, and she’s done a great job every time.

Tried this place plenty of times and have been cut by 3 different barbers. Terrible results each time.
I’ve come here maybe around 7 times. Each time I come out of the place angry at the results. Whenever I come back, I come back with more accurate descriptions (and eventually even bringing in photos of what I want). Sadly none of these things make any differences. I don’t know why I’ve given them so many chances.
To make it short, I’m not coming back here ever again.

Went here for about 6 years during high school and had mostly good experiences. Whether I was growing the hair out or keeping it trimmed short, for a simple haircut guys’, $ 12 ain’t bad. Not the greatest, but an ok value. I haven’t been back in years, but would give it a 3.5 stars with the option.
One word of advice, if the guy (the owner, I believe, only guy who cuts there as far as I know) is the only one available, then come back later. Maybe he’s better with certain kinds of hair, but when it came to me and my brother he was by far the worst person there.

This place really isn’t too bad, its not terribly crowded when I went for a weekend I guess because they have enough people helping and most of the people there are pretty used to asian hair cut styles so that you don’t end up with a supercuts nightmare.
For 12 bucks, its in a pretty convenient location in the tiny Ranch 99 plaza and have people there that are pretty friendly.
I’m pretty sure this place is cash only like most asian hair cut places (either that or there is probably some sort of minimum).
The lady that cut my hair, Jenny said she is only there on the weekends but besides the fact that’s usually when I go get my haircuts I also wouldn’t be too scared to have someone else there cut my hair. Most of the clients seems like old repeat customers who mostly speak chinese with the staff.
The place itself is clean and fairly modern — pretty much standard of what you would expect for a hair salon these days. But I like the fact that it’s a decent size so I don’t feel claustrophobic that the place is only like a tiny room.
UPDATE: dropping my review to only 3 stars since there is a new place which is better in the same plaza

$ 12 haircuts. I personally try to get Shelly to cut my hair whenever possible though everyone here is pretty solid.

$ 12 for a haircut. Great if you want a simple haircut.