Wack Salon

***The Wack Salon has closed, but you can still snag an appointment with Jess at her new place circle/​square/​salon located in the same building. The number is (804)-355−9317.
I have been to see Jess Avalon three times since moving to Richmond and each time I had a wonderful experience. Even when I happened to be there during our minor Richmond earthquake! Jess is absolutely fantastic. She’s always given me clear and thorough consultations, so I know exactly what she’ll do before she even starts. She also gives great feedback. When I brought a picture that wouldn’t work with my hair type, she told me why it wouldn’t work and what we could do to create a similar style. My boyfriend has also been to see her, so I can recommend her for men’s haircuts too.

I’ve had nothing but great experiences at Wack. Lee is extremely knowledgeable and always makes my hair look awesome. He took my hair from super damaged from years of bad coloring to totally healthy. I moved across the country six months ago, and still haven’t found a place in Phoenix as cutting edge, creative, and all around awesome as Wack.
My hair misses Wack!

I have tried Nesbit, Envy, Box Salon, and a couple others as well as having lived in DC for about 4 years and Jess is my favorite hair stylist thus far. She is very honest and has her own opinions, which I LOVE. I got a completely great cut with really blunt bangs and she cut it to look exactly like what was in my mind (which NEVER happens). The owner is also so personable and lovely. Also, I know im gushing, but they have a really great vibe they aren’t pretentious at all just friendly. The only draw back is that it is expensive, no more expensive than any other salon but no matter how many times I get my hair done it still just is kind of sad to me that it is about $ 200. I would love it if they ran specials (like Nesbit even though everything else about Nesbit is awful). Anyhow, go and see Jess!

So I commented back in August about the fab, wonderful, great brazillian blowout! So I was able to get it again on NYE. I had a different stylist do it this time and it seemed like there was a step left out, like maybe the mask part, but it looked sleek that night. However the next morning, it was looking abit crazy, so not totally straight, but I thought well maybe it has something to do with the change in amount or something, but by Monday, I sent an email about my situation. After not hearing back, I called Wednesday and the email had been read (but no call back) and they arranged for me to come in that day to have it done again. so happy about able to come in so quick, but still think a step was left out. Don’t know if they are using the brazillian blowout zero now (which has no chemicals) or if it was the step of not using the masque. The first time I remembered being in shampoo bowl twice c/​t just once. End of January, I went to another salon where I have hair cut/​colored and she said «didn’t you have the blowout-​your hair is wavy.» A friend the next week who had also had the brazillian blowout also noticed that it was wavy. It’s not frizzy, but definitely not like it was before and I refuse to believe a couple of layers is making that big a difference.
So needless to say, I will not be getting this again. I felt like it was a good investment the first time and raved and told EVERYBODY about it, but I don’t know if it’s leaving the masque part out or using the zero products or not using enough, but definitely not worth the $ 200 it cost.

DO NOT have your color done by stylist Drew.
I went in wanting to go lighter. I have naturally ash blonde hair and had a semi permanent light auburn shade done at another salon some time ago. I went in asking to go back to blond. I stressed that i wanted to go all over lighter and have a natural look. I must have been speaking french.
The stylist, Drew, suggested I do all over highlights as a way to add dimension and to get that natural look i wanted. Stupidly i thought she knew what she was talking about. She completely screwed up my hair, I look like a freaking zebra! Most of the highlights don’t even go all the way to my scalp, and if they do they end in blotches of super light blond.
Ever the optimist, I believed this could be fixed. I called the salon after letting it sit for a few days to complain (let me add I have never complained about my hair before so it was really hard for me to do so, I’m lucky enough to have the complexion and shade face to carry off pretty much any cut or color so I’ve really only ever been happy with my salon experiences).
When I called the owner, who is very nice and very helpful, told me it was an easy fix and that I should come back in. He reiterated this when I arrived for my appointment in the front of the salon. Once taken to the back by Drew I was smugly told (by her) that it was not possible to go lighter, given my hair color, that they could tone down the streaks but not lighten my hair all over (WTF!). Believing that I heard her wrong or misunderstood I asked her to clarify. Again she tells me that because of the color of my semi permanent wash (light auburn) she could not lighten my hair all over, that it would have to be done through many visits to see her to get more highlights. Seriously, what kind of scam are you running??? For all most $ 200 each time, no thank you.
I fail to see how it is not possible go lighter in my hair color. Let me stress that my hair is not super dark. I have to use brow pencil just to see my almost white eye brow hair so I really don’t understand why this was impossible for her. I have no idea how the other stylists at Wack are but please save yourself a great deal of disappointment and do not use Drew. A box from CVS will do a better job.
As a final slap in the face i was only able to receive a partial refund, which amounted to less than half the cost of the over priced job.

I like to try out new places by getting my hair styled there first. That way I’m not paying too much for a haircut, and I can see how the business treats its clients.
I called on a Saturday for a style, and was scheduled for a 2:15 appointment with Drew. At 1:50, I received a call that Drew was running behind and would it be ok to move the appointment to 2:30. Sure. I was given less than ½ hour notice, but the place was close to where I lived so it was ok.
I got there at 2:30. Yes they have parking in the back, but there were only 2 spots, and both were taken. No problem. I parked on a side street.
Unfortunately, I was kept waiting until almost 3pm to get my hair styled. The customer for Drew’s 3pm appointment showed up before I was even taken back. I couldn’t help but think that a shotty job was going to be done on my hair, for time’s sake. I was one of the lucky ones, though: the lady sitting next to me waited for an hour before she got in to see her stylist!
No doubt Drew was professional, and sweet. She thanked me for waiting. My style was great – what I wanted, however, the total time that I waited to get my hair done almost exceeded the time it took to get my hair done. Not happy with that. I appreciated the heads up that my stylist was running late, but was not encouraged that I was the only one who was kept waiting.
By the way, you cannot leave tip on credit card.
Not a bad place to go if you don’t mind waiting for almost a ½ hour. I do, though.

Great salon! I went today and got my haircut by the owner Lee. He was super nice and very knowledgable about my hairtype etc. He just had a kind personality and aura too which I appreciate. He did a great job with my bangs and blowout and I will def be back to Wack. $ 55 for this quality of a haircut is very reasonable.

I had hair down to the middle of my back and had been wanting to cut it up to my shoulders for quite some time. I’m new to the Richmond Area and wasn’t sure where to go. After reading the great reviews of this salon I decided «Why not? It’s just hair right?!» all while hoping I get someone who is able to see my vision and make me look beautiful.
I called to schedule my appointment, and to my surprise I was able to go that same evening. I was expecting a 2 week wait, since that is how most salons are.
Now, anyone that has had long hair and has made the decision to chop it knows that it can be a bit scary. However Dru made me feel so good about it. I brought her pictures (probably too many) and explained what I was looking for. She went slow and walked me through each step and would ask questions before she’d cut any hair. Then she’d cut more, stop to give me options and explain how each option would look, then I’d decide and she’d cut more. It was great! I walked out feeling like I got EXACTLY what I wanted, and to be honest, that is a hard feat in my eyes.
I 100% recommend this salon. Even the owner introduced himself as I waited AND they have the cutest black pomeranian running around. It’s not a pretentious place at all, and that is something I love. Too many salons have such an ‘air’ about them that you almost feel out of place or inferior just walking through the door. Nobody wants to feel that way in ANY atmosphere, especially when receiving beautifying services.
Thanks WACK! I love my new ‘du!
p. s. I felt the prices were perfect… yet another reason to love this place. You get great service, great hair, with out having to break your bank. I appreciate this more than they know!

Love my new straight hair!
I also took advantage of the Groupon offer for the Brazilian Blowout. I thought it was a great deal to try out something I had never done before; I wanted to see what it was all about.
What a great experience! I love the way my hair turned out! I had really curly hair, and a lot of it, so the process was a bit time consuming, but well worth it! I know this will not be my last blowout.
The salon is trendy and cool, but the service is really what makes the place. Everyone is very friendly and they want to make sure you have a great experience. Jessie did my blowout and she couldn’t have been any nicer. She answered all my questions and had a very friendly demeanor.
I highly recommend Wack.

Walked out feeling great! =]
I, like many others, decided to visit Wack because of the recent Groupon deal for a Brazilian Blowout. I thought I was going to receive a sloppy job since I got such a great deal, but Philip was awesome!
As soon as I walked in, I was greeted right away and offered something to drink. Before I could even sit down, Philip came out and walked me over to his station and we talked about what I wanted to do with my hair. I’m very conservative about my hairstyle and pretty much keep one style… but I’m very particular about that style (yes I’m picky!) Philip listened to me and my hair came out perfectly! And the Brazilian Blowout… awesome. My hair feels so soft and light~
I used to go to another salon a few blocks away, but my stylist moved to California… so I was searching for a new place to go… looks like Wack has hooked me! See you guys soon!

I’ve been going to Wack for years now. I always leave the salon feeling good about the service I’ve received and price paid. Lee recently took 10+ inches off of my hair (a personal first), he cut my hair so well that the transition from very long to very short was seamless and smooth, I love my new haircut and am only wishing I had listened to Lee about shedding my long locks years ago!
Definitely a great find in Richmond, I recommend Wack to anyone looking for a highly skilled and professional stylist in the Richmond area.

I just got back from a marathon salon visit at Wack and I have one thing to say: Lee is a hair magician.
My hair was purple, and he not only removed the color without frying my hair, but dyed it an actual natural brown with highlights! It looks like it was never purple. And he did it quick – I had expected it to be much longer!
Prices: A full hundred dollars less than I expected to pay!
I would definitely recommend this salon to anyone who needs a haircut, or even a complete hair makeover!

WACK is The BEST salon I’ve ever been to. Living up and down the east coast (including Manhattan, NY), I have yet to find a salon that compares to this place. AT ANY PRICE.
My hair belongs to Lee and crew! (I’d love to give this place a bad rating just so it’d be easier to get an appointment, but that would be so wrong!!!)
These guys care about their clients. The atmosphere is incredible, music is great and the prices are quite reasonable for the services provided! Love it, Love it!

Maya always gives me a great cut that earns a ton of compliments, the staff is friendly without being fake, and the prices are reasonable. I’m never pressured into buying extra products, and I’m always offered coffee or wine depending on the time of my appointment.

I’ve yet to find a salon in Richmond as good as Lori Holloran in Norfolk… Lots of hype for wack and not a lot of delivery… the stylist kept telling me how great my haircut was progressing and when the voilà came at the end I wasn’t thoroughly impressed … For 40 dollars I was expecting something a lil more impressive not a wack job

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!
I live in Manhattan and go to Wack whenever I’m in town visiting friends. In fact, I’ll wait months without getting a haircut in NY if there’s even a slight chance I’ll be in Richmond. The staff is great, the place is very clean and the haircuts are beyond reasonable (I pay $ 50). My only wish is that it were in Manhattan.
I just got my haircut today and I love it! I’ve already gotten complements on it and it’s only been a few hours.

Very good hair-​cut at a reasonable price. The staff is a little on the snotty side, but no more so than the staff at any other salon.