Michelle Whiteside

I had posted something in a facebook group looking for a colorist. After many years of coloring my own hair, I decided to venture out and pay a professional. Michelle sent me a private message, and I let her know how nervous I was, and that I really didn’t have a lot of money to spend on getting my hair colored. We booked an appointment a few days later, and today was the big day!
Michelle made me feel very comfortable, and confident. I was greeted with a handshake, she asked me to tell her about myself, she put all of my fears to rest. I’m a very loyal customer, whether it’s as a patient at a medical or dental office or for my hair. My friend who has cut my hair for twenty years doesn’t do color, and she referred me to someone who never called me back; Michelle was very professional, and by the time we were done, we were hugging.
My hair looks and feels fantastic!
I’ll be going back in three months, already have my appointment scheduled.
Update: I love, love, love my hair! It looks so natural! After two weeks, I had to come back and do an update.
Thank you Michelle, here’s your fifth star. :)

I’ve just completed my permanent makeup; eyeliner top and bottom plus eyebrows. I’ve had this done several times, and Michelle Whiteside is the best by far. Despite the discomfort of the procedure, Michelle’s demeanor keeps one willing to endure with a smile. Her work ethic and abilities are superior. She is a true and caring artist, one I’d go back to from anywhere. Yes, her prices may seem expensive, but as she says, «This is your face and this is permanent.» this is one of those situations where you get what you pay for. I’ve had a bad job done and it’s a nightmare when you can’t erase the damage! Michelle sticks with it until everything is balanced and perfect. I am most appreciative and would recommend her to anyone without a doubt!

After a terrible experience with a woman doing Permanent Makeup in Sausalito & another very unprofessional woman in Napa/​Novato, who canceled our appointment after seeing my photos, commenting on how bad the job was & confirming our appt, I was SO happy to land in Michelle’s capable hands. The recommendation came from a great doctor in Marin who thinks Michelle is the best Permanent Makeup person in Marin. She fixed the mess that the first person created and did it with amazing skill, accuracy and a big huge smile. She also charged me $ 400 less than I paid for the bad job in Sausalito. In one sitting she did everything that it would have taken numerous appointments with the first person (& I wouldn’t have been happy anyway because she used the wrong color ink to begin with, which is a big deal when we are talking about PERMANENT MAKEUP!!!) and asked if I’d mind coming back in a month so she can look at her job and make sure it’s perfect. She told me that she «just wants to make sure her customers are happy». I have a job that requires me to be photographed often and, after walking around with double winged eyebrows, can now breathe a sigh of relief. I highly recommend Michelle and will see her annually for touch-​ups and will recommend her to all my friends. Her office is in San Rafael and is very convenient. Michelle is warm and very engaging unlike the other women I dealt with. Check her out… for a better job, better price & a warm smile. Thank you Michelle for a great job. It was a pleasure in every way.

I just had Michelle do my wedding hair and my bridal party hair, she did an absolutely fabulous job! She really cares about her work and her clients and she is amazing to work with.
I would highly recommend her for special occasions!!!

I found Michelle last August when I was looking for a new hairdresser on Unilocal.I have very fine straight hair and not a lot of it so I wanted someone who was up to those challenges. I lucked out and was able to make an appointment for haircut and highlights the next day. Michelle spent a lot of time before she started, talking to me about what I wanted and what I liked/didn’t like about my hair. She was painstaking in getting the cut (a bob) and the color just right. My hair was transformed! Later that day, I saw my best friend of 25 years and she couldn’t get over it. She commented that my hair had never looked better. I’ve been going to Michelle every six weeks since then. One time there was an issue with the way the color came out. I called Michelle and she graciously squeezed me in right away to fix it. I’m so happy to have found Michelle. She’s a sweetheart, a pro at what she does, the salon is quite nice and it’s very conveniently located in downtown Novato. I’m sure I’ll be going back for a long time to come.

Very nice lady, but horrible haircut and color. The hair cut was a shorter cut and it was completely crooked and had to be redone by another hair stylist. The color had grey coming through after 2 days, she missed a spot in the back completely with color and I had to have the color re-​done as well. I would recommend continuing to look for a stylist.

Michelle did my hair last Saturday and ever since I have been getting more compliments on the color and cut! People say that the color is so beautiful and natural looking! I couldn’t be happier with Michelle
Since Michelle has been doing my hair for several years now and professionalism is amazing and appreciated!

Wow!!! I just got my hair colored and cut by Michelle and I can’t believe how many compliments I’ve received. They are not the kind of remarks I got in the past, «Oh I see you’ve changed your color.» but when Michele does my hair I get comments like «Wow, you look great, what did you do?» I love that subtle change.
Michelle is the only hairdresser who I trust enough to say «Do whatever you want, something different and stylish» and it always looks great afterwards.
Michelle also suggested I try Keratin about two years ago. It has transformed my naturally messy hair into soft, frizz-​less, easy to manage tresses. Last night I ran to my son’s concert without even blow drying my hair. It dried cute and stylish and again another set of rave review comments. Thanks Michelle.

Michelle has been my second — and only successful attempt at permanent makeup. Her work is great.
For my first attempt, I saved and scraped together money for a high end/​high rated salon in the city. After all, this is my face. Unfortunately I was left with gaps in my eyeliner and nothing close to what I wanted.
2 years later, I tagged along with a friend who was going to get her eyes done with Michelle. I was apprehensive considering how the «best salon» left me. But I pulled the trigger and went for it… how much worse could I end up?
It pleases me to say, I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER!!! Now I have done upper and lower eyeliner, and moved on to my lips. So glad I took a chance because Michelle had her work cut out for her with corrections and really knocked it out of the park.
I am addicted and will follow her wherever she goes!

I have never been so happy with my hair. Several months ago I went to Michelle hoping she could help me fix my hair color. I went in there skeptical as I had been to so many salons and colorists in hopes someone to listen to my needs and concerns about my hair.
She immediately put me at ease and gave me a fabulous color that not only looks natural but makes me feel confident again. She really knows her color.
I cant tell you how many compliments I get. but more importantly I love it. and I am not an easy one to please… Love You Michelle! Thank You!

If you have fine hair (as in not thick, although it may also be «fine!»), stop what you’re doing and go immediately to Michelle Whiteside. I did just that and ever since have had the time of my life with my hair. We have created a style that is carefree, easy to maintain and fun. We have played with lots of color (hot pink streaks!) and more demure browns. Michelle’s love of her work and her personal care of each client makes going to her a treat. Not to mention my hair has never looked better, after years, and I do mean years, of trying to find someone who understood me & my hair. Couldn’t give her a more rave review — did I say how happy I am with Michelle?
Akasha Halsey

Michele did a beautiful job on my lids! I asked her to do a lighter job on the lower lids and she followed my wishes. It’s really great to to work with someone who listens and does what you want them to do. I highly recommend Michelle to everyone who wants permanent makeup. It’s one of the best things that I have ever done for myself and I am so happy I went to Michelle for the job.