09/10/09

Mercedes is a ROCKSTAR!

by kfetty

I have lived in Austin my whole life and bounced around with different salons over time - until last year (2008), when Mercedes cut my hair. My first appointment was great. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted, but gave her some pointers on what I thought I was looking for - ever since then NO ONE will cut my hair but her. In fact, I recently moved to Dallas for a job and I still drive back to Austin to get my haircut by Mercedes - which is great because she works weekends too! Yes, sounds a little ridiculous to drive 3.5 hours for a haircut, but she is THAT GOOD. I understand some of the other complaints up here about the other staff, or perhaps the rushed experience - that may be true and I just don't notice it - but even if I did, I promise I would still go there, because Mercedes is a miracle worker and I have loved every haircut she has done for me.

• Pros: Mercedes, the products

08/01/09

Terrible Attitudes From Staff. Rushed!

by KPalmer

I was completely shocked by the cold, rude, & hasty way I was treated. When spending $250 for a cut & color, I expect some nice service. I was treated like a number, not a person; I observed as other clients were treated the same way. I was shuffled between 3 different stylists. The girl who I paid to have my appointment with put my highlights in & that was the last I saw of her. She didn't even see the end result. It was evident that the staff just wanted to rush through to the next client & fit in as many as they could. Worst service I have ever had.

• Pros: Owner is nice.
• Cons: I was shuffled between 3 different stylists in a rush.

06/17/09

go see Mercedes at Jackson Ruiz

by ansley73

I was referred to MERCEDES at Jackson Ruiz by a friend who always has the cutest haircut. I brought in a photograph of the cut I wanted- she took one look and the photo, one look at me and knew exactly what to do. I am so happy with my cut and will be a lifetime client. Mercedes is a lovely, charming young woman, extremely gifted at her craft and has excellent bedside manners. I highly recommend her and commend the entire staff for their genuine dedication to providing excellent service.

• Pros: best hair stylist ever!

05/30/09

Bad Attitudes and Poor Service

by Law123

I have visited this salon several times before and everyone has always been friendly for the most part. About a week ago I went to have someone do my hair for graduation and it was hands down one of the worst experiences I have had in Austin. My stylist basically rushed me out of the shampoo bowl and the end product looked terrible. She told her manager and he was rude himself. He basically told me I was confused about why I didn't like my hair and told me that she had done what I requested to have done when I called in. AND? Anyone could say that for any job. Just because you do what is asked does not mean it's quality work. I was shocked at the level of disrespect and am incredibly disappointed. I have told my friends in the law school to no longer frequent this place even to buy products. I certainly will not be doing business with them again.

• Pros: n/a

05/29/09

BAD Choice for Wedding!!

by LizMBrooklyn

I live in Brooklyn and got married in Austin in late May 2009. I had heard great things about Jackson Ruiz and wanted them to do my hair for my wedding, which was at noon on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. During a trip to Austin in January, I went to the salon and scheduled an appoinment at 8 a.m. the day I was getting married. Initially, the staff was great--they were opening the salon early for me, given my noon wedding.

About a week and a half before my wedding, I was calling all of my appointments to confirm the time, and the stylist who was scheduled to do my hair no longer worked there. No one had called me at all about this until I reached out to them first!!

Over the next few days, I spoke with three different people at Jackson Ruiz, and each said that they would get back to me the next day if anyone would be interested in taking my appointment. I didn't hear back from anyone at all until 3 days before my wedding. Yes, that's right, three days before my wedding! The person who finally called me back left a message saying that they had found someone to do my hair. It was pretty clear in the message that he was irritated by the situation, and felt put out by it. I called back and left a message with someone else at the salon to say that I had found someone else do my hair. But at 8:15 a.m. during the day at my wedding, I got another call from Jackson Ruiz asking where I was, because they were there, waiting for me to arrive. Again, the attitude was pretty rude, and I had already called to say that their services were no longer needed!

That said, I found a great person on short notice to do my hair, and she came to my house and everything! Her name is Jessica, and she works at Bella Salon, down the street from Jackson Ruiz. I HIGHLY recommend her and the friendly staff at Bella. They really saved the day after all of this happened. Thanks, Jessica!!!

• Pros: ?
• Cons: Customer service, attitude, communication

05/13/09

Great Place!!!

by darren123

Got a great color and cut with Melissa and Bianca. The experience was great, love the wine and the atmosphere. I got the best hand massage and mini facial in the shampoo room. The experience was well worth the price.

LOVE LOVE JACKSON RUIZ SALON

• Pros: Down town location
• Cons: none

04/28/09

Bad experience

by fc1027

Ok so I've had my hair colored here and then my hair cut here. The first experience with the coloring deserved a 3 BUT I had to give it a 1 because whoever cut my hair was a total B. She told me the reason my hair was so dry was because I use grocery store coloring and to her surprise/ embarrassment I quipped back "Well that's funny because the last night I dyed my hair it was here." I guess that goes to show you how "Great" their products are. She thinned my hair even though I asked her not to... it was horrible. Like I said expensive and I'm glad they don't let you tip because I didn't want to give her a dime more.

• Pros: the colorist, no tipping
• Cons: Rude, don't listen

04/04/09

I LOVE YOU MERCEDES!!

by pinkclareghetto2000

mercedes is the best , get her please!! i have been cutting my hair now for many years with different hairstylists and i have not found one i wanted to stick with yet. i found mercedes and now she will always be my hairstylist!! she is just awesome!! i had the biggest smile when i left the place, i haven't had that smile in a while now!! thank you mercedes!

• Pros: awesome service, and you get wine with ur haircut
• Cons: nothing

01/04/09

Thank you, Mercedes! Best haircut ever!

by Lisa4131

Just got the best haircut I've ever had! Mercedes at Jackson-Ruiz really listened to my concerns and then gave me a haircut that is perfect for my face shape. I highly recommend her and the salon!

12/29/08

DO NOT GO HERE!

by kgdub

I'm going to start off with saying I used to go see Anna at Salon JR, and that was the only reason I ever went to JR. She has moved on to bigger and better things, so now that she’s gone, I feel comfortable posting this review.

I have visited JR several times, and I have to say that I am NOT impressed. I will never return to this salon, for the following reasons:

1) There is always a rushed, frantic atmosphere (not exactly a relaxing spa experience).

2) Incredibly inappropriate conversations being had by the employees (all teenagers need to get an abortion if they're pregnant, because none of them can take care of their children?!?!). I am in no way a prude or easily offended, but when I’m going to get my hair done, it’s a treat for me…the LAST thing I want is to have to listen to the personal opinions of an incredibly young hair colorist, voiced at the top of her lungs. Especially when it is apparent to all of the unfortunate people listening that she has no clue what the hell she is talking about.

3) I have observed snippy exchanges between employees, which were blatantly ignored by the management…no client should EVER have to watch employees of a business they are visiting gripe at one another for approximately 30 minutes, flouncing back & forth and being nasty to one another. It just feeds in to the uncomfortable, tense atmosphere which dominates at this salon. The last time I was there I couldn’t wait to just get the hell out!

4) All the "extra" people milling around doing nothing! The interns, who are supposed to be helping people check out, giving hand massages, etc. just stand around gossiping and looking hugely bored. If I'm spending my hard-earned money at a business, the LEAST they can do is act like they are happy I'm there.

5) My final reason, and the one I think is the most important, is the fact that the caliber of stylist that this salon hires & puts out on the floor is seriously slipping. Used to be, you could get an appointment with any one of several colorists or stylists and be guaranteed a wonderful experience. Now, not so much…I have personally witnessed several people getting color which turned out horrible! I have also heard horror stories about trying to book appointments to get the mistakes corrected. Thankfully this never happened to me, because I only went to ANNA STRAUSS (who has moved to BREEZE SALON & SPA). The only reason I ever frequented this place was because Anna was there, and now that she’s gone, I’ll never set foot in here again!

• Pros: aveda (and it's NOT exclusive to this place)
• Cons: rude people, inexperienced colorists & non-caring managers