Super Performance

I’ve had my hair colored and cut here twice. Pretty happy with the results.
Things to note:
1. Difficult to find street parking, but there’s 2 parking garages on the next block.
2. Make an appointment — she’s usually completely booked. Asian ladies love her.
3. You’ll be here for a while, but when it’s your turn, you’ll get the full treatment. The appointment will guarantee you a spot, but she usually won’t start on time. She’s the only one running the show and she loves chatting with her customers.
4. She’s honest when she doesn’t agree with you.

I’ve been getting my hair cut here for over 10 years! That’s a long time and definitely clues you in on the type of relationship I have with my hair stylist. Patti the hairdresser and owner is arguably the best hair stylist you’ll find in this neck of the woods. You could easily stroll down a few blocks for an $ 8 hair cut but that’s exactly what you’ll be getting, an $ 8 hair cut, i.e. crap! For women that actually care about their hair you should invest a little more money into your cut. The salons near my house charge $ 50 – 80 for a haircut and it isn’t much different from what Patti can do, except you’re paying for the nicer ambiance and the higher rent that the stylists pay. For $ 38 + tip Patti will shampoo, condition, massage, cut, dry, and style your long tresses. I believe it’s cheaper if you have shorter hair too!
She serves a multitude of clients who are all repeat customers from various ethnic backgrounds. She speaks fluent English, which is rare in Chinatown, so that makes her salon more approachable for her clients who aren’t Chinese. Every other year or so she will make a visit to Hong Kong to update her collection of hair magazines. This provides her clients who are seeking Asian hairstyles an opportunity to keep up with the latest trends. She also has American hair magazines and professional books. Her daughter is also a hairstylist working at an up-​scale name brand salon in Downtown. This is definitely a job filled with passion for Patti and her family. This is a full-​service salon and she can provide any service that you seek from coloring to updo styling to permanents. She takes walk-​in clients but you may be pushing your luck if it’s a Saturday afternoon because that’s when Chinatown is bustling with the most business. I highly recommend making an appointment to ensure that you get to see her when it’s most convenient for yourself. There are 3 hair cutting stations, 2 hair drying stations, and 1 – 2 hair washing stations (I can’t remember which it is!) but the extra stations are mainly used for clients awaiting their cut or for their hair dye to set in. Since Patti is the only hair stylist at this salon she can only help so many customers at a time. She has an assistant who does the hair washing and blow drying for her though so that helps her keep a steady rhythm going. So definitely book an appointment if you are looking for something more time-​consuming than a basic trim or blowout.

I had been looking around for a place to get a digital perm and I could not find a place that was cheaper than $ 150.00 — and my hair is long an thick so it would cost around $ 200.00. I got referred to Patty from a friend of mine who has been going to her for like 15 years. She swore by her so I thought I’d give her a try. I was SO happy because:
1. It only cost $ 120.00 — including cut!
2. She gave me a perm about 5 months ago and it’s still going strong. She also taught me the «digital perm» is just a gimic and that the look is all in the chemicals and the cut to make it look good.
3. I absolutely LOVE the perm (natural and beautiful no styling necessary curls) and her cut is excellent. I’ve gotten so many compliments on it.
The only drawback (hence 4 instead of 5 stars) is her price for a cut is a not so cheap and I may have to return to my old stylist because I can’t afford to spend this much on my hair, especially since my hair grows really fast. Don’t get me wrong though — she really does know what she’s doing and I will go back to her again when I need another perm.

My return trip back to Patty, this time was for a good cause. I decided a couple of days ago to cut my hair and donate the cuttings to a good cause «Locks of Love»

This nonprofit helps by making hair pieces to children under 18 who have diseases that leads them to have no hair and they make hair pieces out of hair cuttings such as mine. Their site says that it takes a minimum of 10 inches to make a hair piece. Seeing as I have the 10 inches to spare, I decided this is the least I could do to help those less fortunate. In a society where beauty is everything, what about the unfortunate ones who because of a disease have no hair. I think of all my years, which the majority was spent with long beautiful hair vs. the little child who grows up bald & without any and who would remain without hair because the average wig is over $ 1,000.00 it saddens me and reminds me that I AM LUCKY. And this is a very small deed that I could do to make someone else feel very LUCKY & BEAUTIFUL.
Going to Patty made a huge difference cause she knew exactly what style of short hair would compliment me, I guess it comes from years of experience. I lost probably about 12 inches and now it currently falls below my ear. I walked in feeling good cause I knew Patty would do right by me and give me a great looking cut & style. AND THAT’S WHAT SHE DID. I have a beautiful flawless cut, I could get used to this short look. But then if I did I would not be able to make anymore donations to «Locks of Love», so I’ll have to rethink it again later.

Went to Patty today for the first time and loooved the haircut. Since I was a first time customer, she took extra time in the beginning to make sure she knew what I wanted. She totally understands that American-​Asian girls don’t like the same wispy, thinned-​out-​on-​the bottom layers that they like in asia, unlike most salons around here. She is more expensive than most places in Chinatown but she is worth it! She is also very friendly and cute.

I have been getting my hair cut by Patty for the last 10+ years. I actually drive from San Mateo and only get my hair cut here. Patty does excellent work and cuts my hair exactly as I wish. I’m always satisfied with my hair cut when I leave Super Performance.

I’ve only been here once and this review is based on the permanent hair straightening.
True the lady that works here is nice and friendly. She makes the time go by faster since she actually talks to you and just not to her coworker. Parking is hard to find around here though. This place is only a few blocks away from my house so parking isn’t an issue.
Why did I give this place 3 stars instead of a 5? Well it’s because she charged me $ 280 for permanent hair straightening when I can just go to the one on Washington street for $ 100. Results were the same and they use the same products. That was almost my whole work check.
I will probably come back but not for permanent hair straightening. Maybe for styling or a haircut. I saw how she styled a bride’s hair. It was very nice and elegant.
And sorry I forgot the lady’s name =(

I think Wendy is thinking of the place on the corner. Patty only has a radio on, there no TV in the salon. Patty is the only person I let touch my hair, although she charges a little more then Chinatown standards $ 30 for wash/​cut/​style extra for long hair, I go to her twice a year and like those Vietnamese lady at the nails shops she always remembers your face and how you cut your hair last time. She has 3 chairs and is the only stylist there in addition to the lady that washes hair and sweeps. She always does a great job and won’t cut your hair if the style you picked won’t look good with your face shapes. She’s super friendly and professional, feel free to stop her if you feel like she’s taking too much off or even out some spots and she never rushes, she takes her time with each client. She’s very popular in the area so you usually won’t be able to get in with out an appointment. I usually make one 2 weeks ahead. She gets extra kudos from me for staying late to hook me up (she closes @ 6:30ish, but we were there till 9). i heart Patty

I am always satisfied with the results at Super Performance. I started going there since I was 13. After going there for 11 years, I am still amazed with what Patty (the hairstylist) could do with my hair. I recently got my hair permed and streaked at Super Performance. I received a lot of compliments about my new hair. I love Patty. She is also very humorous. Recently, I took my friend to Patty to get his hair trimmed. He said he loved the cut and he will definitely go back to Patty for another trim when he returns from Hong Kong.

I used to hike all the way up here during my lunch hour to get a hair cut. They are really good when they want to be. However, their work is inconsistent. For one thing, karaōke videos are always running on the tv so sometimes the stylist would become distracted by the video and mess up your hair. One time she layered it so short that it took forever to grow it out.
They aren’t cheap either!