Graham Webb Academy Salon

Beware… if I could give 0 stars I would… bottom line bad customer service. .I made a appointment with graham Web expecting quality service from a professional beauty school… I was told that students are exam ready and teachers are observing and giving instructions. …well I’m very disappointed in my overall experience at graham webb. …I was there literally from 1pm till
…I understand students are learning. .but this is quite unacceptable. …I also was totally displeased with my hair. .highlights…I brought in a picture of exactly what I wanted to achieve and got nothing close to it… I left with over processed hair that was a shades of gray and brassy highlights. …I was still charged. after clearly stating I was not comfortable with my hair. .I was told to come back in several weeks for a redo… well today I came back and was told… I would only be receiving a condition treatment. .please avoid at all costs… extremely unprofessional. …and unethical..

Years ago Graham Webb was located in Clarendon and I was introduced to the salon side of the business by some fashionable friends. It was great. Stylish cuts, attentive and smart staff learning and polishing their craft.
Life changes moved me on to other locations and professional pursuits. Recently my stylist moved back to LA and I had no place to go or so I thought.
I am happy to say Graham Webb has changed locations but the service and smart staff didn’t change. I got a appointment promptly and left looking good with a stylish cut at a very decent price
Thanks Precious!

I came here to get their signature facial. I’m not sure if they take walk-​ins, but they do take appointments. They are open Saturdays until 5 with a free parking garage.
Graham Webb Academy can offer affordable prices on their facials because it’s students doing the work, supervised by a licensed esthetician. They have an open classroom setting, with about 6 – 8 tables. I know you have to call ahead for Saturday group appointments since not all students are willing to work on weekends.
They ask you to fill out a form about your skin type/​medical history. At this point you can go over any concerns you may have or special requests. I always ask them to clear my blackheads. The products they use smell good and are fine for my skin type. They give a killer massage at the end, and totally relaxes my body. They do try to get you to buy products at the end, but are not pushy at all. I think this is a good place to go for affordable facials if you don’t mind not having different people each time.

I have thick, long, curly hair, which I rarely straighten. This means that unless you cut my hair unevenly, or take too much off, you can’t really (noticeably) mess it up. And while I prefer a Deva cut to make the most of my curls, these days I’m more concerned with cost than anything else.
Enter the Graham Webb Academy. I found it while I searching for the Graham Webb Super Stick Straight styling gel (ironically, for straightening your hair). Graham Webb no longer makes hair products, which is unfortunate. But, they have an academy. An academy that offers fantastic pricing if you are willing to let a student cut your hair (or give you a facial… or wax… etc.) Oh, and you can ask for a Deva cut. Even if the stylist is not Deva trained, Kendra, the instructor, is and she can guide your stylist through it (which happened with me).
Obviously, this review is based on one stylist, whose program has ended, and is now working at a non-​training salon. But I loved my interaction with most of the staff (except reception… salon reception is just never that friendly). And my hair cut was great. Definitely plan for 2 – 2.5 hours. I’ll be back for a hair cut and facials and waxing.
Also, the salon also offers some retail, including Deva, which is appreciated. Davines, the brand I used before Deva, which I still love, is also sold. You can pick up OPI here as well. And, I nearly died when I saw the Kryolan. Although, word to the wise… you must be careful with even the lightest of shades, as you wouldn’t want to look like a Pantone chip exploded onto your cheeks. Not that I know of that happening to anyone, but just in case.

If I could give this place no stars I would. I saw a review from a girl with curly hair similar to my own and thought I’d give this place a try since I hadn’t gotten a cut since I relocated from Miami. Granted it is a school but when you specifically request a service and they verify their students are trained in that specialty it’s fair to expect that service. I called a week prior to my appointment and requested an instructor and/​or student who was skilled in the DevaCut technique. I was assured they would assign me the appropriate person. As soon as I sat in the chair I realized I’d made a mistake. First the instructor starts to give me his opinion on my hair the cut (which I always get and love in south Florida), second: the student (some girl name Bri? Or something close to it) decided to wash/​blow out my hair which is incorrect for this style of cutting, third: when she «washed» my hair she barely touched my head. Long story short she put the wrong products on my hair, made it a tangled/​matted mess, was instructed by someone who actually did know a little about what she was doing to re-​wash appropriately and apply product, and ended up making the same mess as before. I believe she snipped three strands of hair and was completely uneducated about what she was doing. I felt like I was her mannequin head or experiment rather than a paying customer. She insisted she was natural but wore her hair straightened so it means nothing to someone who wears curly hair. I’d suggest that little girl pick a different trade because it was clear she’s not cut out for hair. I came in with voluminous girls in need of shaping and left with wet, limp, matted, sticky, shrunken hair. I’ve never been so dissatisfied with anything in my life. When she was done torturing my hair she had the audacity to look surprised when I told her I was unhappy with my hair. I WOULD NOT recommend anyone with curly hair go to this place. I literally called Fiddleheads on my way out on the verge of tears requesting their help in fixing my hair. Guess what, they did what I asked them to do and gave me a list of the things done wrong at graham Webb. NEVER AGAIN. Save yourself the time and go to real stylists unless you have type 1 hair and looking for a cut or curl.

Just had my second visit to the hair salon and was fortunate to have Erin M. again as my stylist. I was so pleased from the first experience I had my fingers crossed I would have her again. It was my lucky day! On my first vist, I requested a full foil and trim. Erin was amazing! I was blown away with the finished product and I received compliments for weeks on my color. In fact, my lifelong hairdresser that moved away and I crossed paths, and she immediately commented on how awesome my highlights were. When I told her it was a student at Graham Webb she was super impressed by her technique and skills. During this visit, I requested a partial foil and trim. I left, yet again, thrilled with the final product. Unfortunately (for me) Erin graduates next week and I’ll need to find some other rockstar at Graham Webb to fill the void (if that’s even possible). Seriously, Erin is THAT good.

Went to see Sam at the school. She did a fabulous job and fixed my layers from a previous salon. She has awesome talent and very personable! I highly recommend her.

I have been going to Graham Webb approximately every 5 weeks for a trim since 2007. At least 95% of my hair cuts have been more than satisfactory. If you go in the evenings you will likely get a stylist that is about to graduate versus one who is just starting their practice on real people. The instructors are fantastic, especially Chris and Kendra. They review the proposed haircut with you and the student before you even get your hair washed and they check in during the haircut and again at the end. The instructors will make any needed adjustments at the end or walk the student through them (e.g. thinning, channel cutting). Yes, a downside is that what may be a 20 minute cut at Hair Cuttery, can be 60 – 90 minutes at Graham Webb. You have to decide if you want to trade your time for money. Since I get my hair trimmed so often it is quite a savings. If I only got my hair cut every 3 – 4 months I probably wouldn’t bother. The woman that cut my hair for about 7 years prior to 2007 was a Graham Webb graduate and the man who currently does my color/​highlighting (at Sugarhouse Day Spa) is also a Graham Webb graduate. Graham Webb has free parking for evening appointments in a garage which is another bonus of going in the evening. They also run promotions a few times during the year where you can buy a $ 100 gift card for $ 75. This gives you even more of a discount. I have really short hair and only pay $ 10 for my cut. I typically give the stylist $ 10 for a tip because I remember how it is to be a student and work in a service industry. Although I have never had any coloring done there, I have observed that people seem generally happy with their color jobs. You should go check it out!!!

Poor customer service!
A month ago I came for my first microdermabrasion treatment out of their 4 package deal. I was sure I arranged with the student seeing me that I would like to come today ¹²⁄₁₄ for an appointment. She wrote down and made sure it fit her schedule as well. After going and inquiring at the front desk about my appointment for today, the receptionist (Latin woman who is there most Saturdays as she was today) told me I had no appointment today or the next weekend and was far from helpful. In fact bordering rude. Her reaction to the fact I had no appointments in the system was ’ I have no appointments left’ case closed. The response I was expecting from any business in the hospitality/​spa industry was more along the lines of ‘sorry we can’t accommodate you today, but let’s see what’s available next’. After pushing her to look through the calendar for the next available slot, I asked her for a business card with the new appointment time (now for next month) she hands me a blank card. Nothing on it. After I look at her, she hands me a pen and reads me the time for me to write, because she can’t or does not want to as she is too worried about her chic-​fil-​a order with a coworker standing by.
I would definitely not come back here based on her costumer service. It makes the whole place less than pleasant. While this is a school it is is also a spa and people don’t come to get treated poorly. Disappointed customer.

I’ve been going to Graham Webb since 2009 and have received numerous haircuts and even several visits for highlights. It of course takes longer here — they are students! But 99% of my experiences have been great. While sometimes it might be hard not to fall asleep in the chair… and the internet connection is not good on my cell… I actually like the fact that they take their time on my hair. It beats going to a nicer place where the stylist wants to pack in as many clients as possible. One thing I’ve noticed is that many of the students are very unlikely to go overboard, at all! If you say an inch, it might not even seem like an inch. If you ask for layers, they might do just a few. So if you actually are looking for a dramatic difference, definitely let them know that up front and encourage the student to try something new. Otherwise, keep it simple and you can be sure they will too. This is the best haircut for the money that you will get in the area — hands down.

I have spent hundreds of dollars on cut and color throughout the years and this was up there as the best ever! Christina, my stylist was super sweet and the cut and color turned out fantastic! And it was all for under $ 60! The color did take a little while to process, but the time was worth the value!

I am giving this school a five star rating because it is exactly that — a school. You are receiving extremely low prices for services that cost mostly double at any other salon in exchange for a student to use your hair for practice. I have been going to Graham Webb now for almost 4 years. I have had my absolute best hair color done here, and I’ve also had a few that have been lacking, but never anything less than that. All the other reviewers are also correct. I usually go for a full foil, and a treatment, and I block out almost 5 hours. At the end, I save no less than $ 75 for it. So before you go to Graham Webb, you have to decided what balance you want and keep your expectations realistic. Also, don’t be afraid to communicate with your stylist and their instructor. But, I’d say the same goes for all salons. If were you to ask me, if you are okay with the extra time in the chair, try it out. You could discover a hidden gem for your pocket book.

Awesome place to get your haircut. Yes, they are students, but I find since they are learning, they take the time to do it right, and I often end up with a better haircut then other places. Not to mention the price is right.
A couple of caveats — over the ten years I’ve been getting my haircut there, I have had a few duds. Usually the instructor will fix it, but sometimes they just don’t get what I’m saying. Second, budget some time. While they are usually just as good as any other stylist, they are certainly not as fast. I don’t mind, because I enjoy chatting with them, but if you have only 30 minutes to get in and out… probably not the place for you.

This place is just not worth your time. Even if you’re unemployed, retired, or a miserly trust fund kid, this place is still not worth your time. You’ve got better things to do.
I spent over two hours at this place. All I got was a few centimeters trimmed off very slowly and nervously by a student stylist. No layers, no bangs, no anything. I have stick straight hair that should be easy to cut. It took two hours for this kid to just chop off my split ends.
I would have walked out had I known it would be 2+ hours. Close to an hour goes by and I think to myself surely this guy will be done any minute now. Then more time goes by and I think the same thing. Then more time. Eventually I just stop looking at the clock. When the guy finally finishes, it’s dark outside and I’m starving because I missed my dinner time.
Don’t bother. Save some money somewhere else and go to a pro. What I got could’ve been done at Hair Cuttery or any cheap salon and it would have taken 10 minutes.

The one star goes to: The receptionist, Nora.
She is unwilling to do her job and give information; she acts like she is doing you a huge favor. That’s really bad for Graham Webb image! She hates being there and she does not disguise. There are hundreds of people out there who need a job and would act at least normally — Graham Webb manager should consider that.

I went to Graham Webb Academy to get a highlight and trim because I didn’t want to drive all the way to my parents house (2 hours) away to get it done by my stylist. The cost, time, and driving is a day effort in itself and I didn’t have time to spare. My co-​worker told me she used to go to the Academy and it was cheap and good but took a little bit longer.
Well… My roommate and I made appointments to go. Once we got there my stylist was very nice but there was definitely a language barrier so I wasn’t sure if she really understood what I was looking for. The instructor, Kendra, came up and looked at my hair and told Kim what to do. Kendra told me that she does her foils very thin which is what I usually like because it’s more natural. but WOW, thin is an understatement. After the 4 hours it took to do my hair, she finally washed it. Afterwards, I looked in the mirror and said to the instructor «did my hair not take to the color?» She said «Well we have to see it when it’s dry.» No shit but I know what my hair is supposed to look like. Furthermore, the instructor came up and said she would trim my hair because Kim would take too long, right in from of me and her. How unprofessional. She trimmed maybe 4 snips and charged me for a haircut. When my hair was finally blow-​dryed (with no technique) I was so pissed because my hair looked EXACTLY THE SAME as when I came in. I had the same roots and no color to my hair. I was charged $ 98.00 even after I complained and told the instructor that I would now have to drive home 2 hours and pay $ 200.00 more.
Never again will I go there and I highly recommend against it.

Well, it IS a hair school.
For $ 55 I got partial highlights. I’m a dirty blonde. My student stylist, Ashley, although quick and efficient, used bleach on my hair. I inquired about her methods a bit too late into the process, and also told her how every salon I went to before had used «high lift» color on my hair. She firmly told me that no, they didn’t, they must have always used bleach.
This freaked me out because I always heard bleach was terrible for your hair. I know dyeing in general isn’t the best, but bleach is supposed to wreak havoc and my locks are very delicate. On top of that, she didn’t get the foils as close as I would like and, in places, left an half inch of root before the highlight started – particularly annoying when you can see it if I pull my hair back into a ponytail.
When I went to Glynn Jones to get cut by Glynn a week later, he told me that nobody in his/​her right mind would use bleach on my hair for highlights – that it would be, in fact, high lift color. He did say Ashley had done a good job, though.
I was kept waiting for 20 minutes before Ashley showed up, even though I wasn’t early to my appointment. In the meantime, I got to watch the black-​and-​white clad students (many in hideous Uggs) chit chat along with their instructors. Gave off a very unprofessional and lazy vibe.
I suppose it’s my fault, since I was constantly comparing Graham Webb to a salon in my head during my visit and expected a professional experience and result. Probably not worth saving $ 50.
Ashley – see you at Hair Cuttery.
As if.

Calling all curly girls!!! Graham Webb is THE PLACE TO GO!
I’ve had some pretty awful haircuts by «professionals» who had no idea what to do with my curly hair (tight ringlets). On top of that, I’m mixed race so my hair has black and white traits. I needed to debulk my hair and figured I might as well go to a cheap hair school if they’re gonna mess my hair up anyway.
Graham Webb skyrocketed past my expectations!!! From beginning to end they were true pros. Ask for Kendra– she truly understands curly hair and works the Deva Curl process from start to finish. Not only does she instruct the student hair dresser, she also is instructing YOU what to do at home! Erika was super sweet and did a great job with my hair, cutting and styling each individual curl. Amazing.
The place was unusually busy but I was still in and out in 1.5 hours. AND it only cost $ 18 plus tip. Unreal! I had a great experience and will definitely be back. Thanks so much ladies!

I used to go there on a regular basis and recently wondered why I left — until tonight. I expected to be there about twice the time that it takes in a salon but it took 4.5 hours for a highlight — skipped the trim as I was falling asleep — it was 10pm.
I know that students are slower but this was molasses slow. There’s a time when you have to do the cost analysis of saving a lot of money — is it worth the extra time you spend getting it done?

Budget LOTS OF TIME! I have stereotypical, straight Asian hair that’s super easy to cut and style. I also didn’t want anything too adventurous (the job, le sigh), so I wanted basic layers starting at my chin, and a little trim off the bottom.
Simple, right? At a normal Supercuts, it would have take 20 minutes for a wash/​cut/​dry… Here, it took nearly 3 HOURS, and that was after I started getting antsy and asking if she could hurry it up because I had planned lunch with people (my legs were falling asleep, I had been sitting still for so long! and my lunch was at 2pm, my apt at 11am).
The girl I had was nice and courteous and obviously a student. She wasn’t always aware of what to do (student, so this is expected and fine), but the multiple instructors kept giving her different advice, so it made the haircut take super long. Needless to say, I missed my 2pm lunch.
For DC, amazing price ($ 18+tip for a wash/​cut/​style) and a wonderful haircut. I do have to complain though, because my hair is really easy to cut, and it took 3 friggin hours. I would give it 5 stars for the haircut, some more stars for the price, but damn, I don’t have 3 hours to waste on a Saturday.