Isabella Hair Spa

Bertha Solorio gave me an excellent cut and blow dry as I had an interview today. She’s so nice and fun to chat with, especially as I’m a Holy Names High School alum and her daughter is currently a Holy Names student. Only downside is that the cut is pricey but I got a discount because my mom recommended her. I would go back if I had a special occasion where I wanted to splurge on getting my hair done.

This was my first time here only because I have to follow ALEX to whatever salon he is at. That’s how much I love what he does to my hair. The place is really cute!!! And as always I was not disappointed with my hair. He is the best when it comes to styling, dyeing hair, and extensions. My extensions came out looking so natural and awesome!!! I am in love with my hair.
If you plan on doing anything with styling, dyes, or extensions ask for Alex. He is awesome!

I moved further away from my hairstylist of 12 years, so I was looking for a new stylist. I tried Isabella’s since I love their Nail Bar down the street. They were able to schedule on short notice, which is a plus for me since my and my 3 kids’ schedules keep me very busy. I was not disappointed! I have curly thick Asian hair and was always afraid to try someone new. Raeden was just the stylist for me. He listened to what I wanted and was mindful of the health of my hair. Now in my 40s, I’m always worried about my hair ever thinning or breaking. He did just enough highlighting without damaging my hair and I loved it! He’s also very sweet and a great person to talk to. I will look no further, I found the new place for me :)

This review is for Bertha. I came here with a Groupon to get a hair cut and color. Bertha did the most unprofessional job on my hair. For starters, she started by cutting my hair first on DRY hair (never have I had a professional cut my hair dry.) The haircut ended up being horrible. The worst I’ve ever had. I told her to cut off 1.5 to 2 inches off — she ended up cutting 4 inches. She didn’t even tell me how much she was cutting before she went into the hack job to let me feel comfortable with what she was taking off. She just did whatever she wanted.
Then, it was time for the color. Another sign of her unprofessionalism — she used a bottle instead of a brush and bowl. I’m guessing just because she is lazy and doesn’t want to spend the extra time to do a good job. I dye my own hair platinum blonde (I do it myself because of cases like this — I hate going to have someone else do my hair, pay lots of money, and then have them fuck it up). I told her it was a bit too cool/​ashy for my liking and I want her to warm it up a shade. I even brought my hair extensions to tell her which shade to match it to to make it easy. This shouldn’t be that hard. She ended up picking a TONER TO WARM MY HAIRCOLOR!!! WTF? Who does that? After watching out the color, the toner didn’t do anything. I wish I never came here. Bertha, it’s hard to believe you have 20 years of experience fucking up people’s hair.

I had an awesome blowout by Iris! She thoroughly washed my hair and transformed my curls into beautiful straight hair. She has mastered the blow out! I love that she didn’t use a lot of heat to straighten my hair and she’s super quick! She was also fun to talk to while getting my hair done.
I came home and got an immediate compliment from husband who rarely notices when I do something different to my hair.
If you’re from the east coast (NY/​NJ) and looking for an great blow out Dominican style go see Iris, you won’t be disappointed!

I had my hair done, cut and color, by Bertha Solorio yesterday. She was fantastic. I just moved to the East Bay from Phoenix where I had had the same hair dresser for many years. I am very particular. Bertha was very personable and went right to work making suggestions and working well with my curly hair. I would recommend her to anyone who wants a great job by an obviously knowledgeable artist.
Lesley

Iris is back at Isabella!!! Dominican Blowouts, Roller sets, Updos, Blowdry Styling!!! Glad to have her back!

A hair style that looks great and lasts all week. I love IDB!

Jessica and Iris are friendly and fast and really really good. I went in for the first time last year and now I go every week! Jessica does the blowout for me which lasts me all week (as long as I am careful with the shower cap) and she also colors and cuts my hair. I get lots of compliments and she is much more reasonable than my San Francisco colorist. Twice, when I had special occasions, Jessica made an appointment for me outside normal hours. I really appreciate that kind of individual service. I highly recommend Isabella.

Two young women run this establishment. They are efficient, friendly, and are able to accommodate styling requests. I want a light shampoo and no product a somewhat unusual request. Even so, my hair looks shiny and soft. I I have been going since the summer and they do such a good job I try to go every other week.
It’s best if make an appointment the day before. Weekends are busy.

Great place! Love the cute location of Montclair and am SO happy my iMap app brought this salon up.
I arrived for my appt was immediately greeted with a big smile by Jessica and seen right away. She brought me to the back for a wash and condition… felt GREAT!!! Jessica did a fabulous consultation, listened to what I wanted and she even gave me some tips that I am actually really happy I took. She def knows her stuff and I left feeling and looking beautiful. The blow dry and style was fast and precise, hard to find since my hair is so coarse and thick. The products that she used held just the right amount of moisture and the scents left me smelling clean all day.
The aesthetics and decorations are not my style at all but the service and products are totally worth the booking. No waiting, attitude or messiness in this shop. I will definitely be booking my hair cuts and styles with Jessica here from now on.

Because of all of the erratic reviews, I was very hesitant to try this Dry Bar. But, then I met IRIS! She can straighten my hair and style it, like no other! IRIS knows hair, she listens to what you want, and you will have a blast while you’re on her chair! She should own this place! IRIS is the BOSS!!!

Downgrading to 4 stars because it’s gone south somewhat. I will only let Iris touch my hair — she actually knows what she’s doing. The other stylists all seem to be in training and just watching them makes me cringe at their lack of experience. Iris is top notch and the only reason I keep coming back.
The owner would be best served by hiring more talented stylists and having a receptionist or manager run the shop. If Iris wasn’t there, I’d drive to the city to the Dry Bar for my hair.

This place is so bad. I have gone twice and wanted to give them a second chance but they blew it (Ha). I currently drive to Walnut Creek once a week to have my hair washed and blown out at Blow Dry Dry which is fabulous. I was BEYOND excited when this place opened in Montclair in my neighborhood but sadly it truly sucks! The first time I went when the woman didn’t even know how to wash hair. I couldn’t believe it. I was there for close to 2 hours– FOR A BLOW OUT! The blow out was so mediocre and didn’t look that great. I don’t think the women there have cosmetology degrees which you probably don’t need for blow drying but anyway their lack of experience shows. I swore I wouldn’t go back but went back recently hoping for a better experience and to gve them a second chance (going rhough the tunnel to Walnut Creek is a drag and it would be so nice to drive 2 min to Montclair) but low and behold it was just as bad. This time I came with washed hair and just got a blow out. I wanted to skip the shampoo which was so bad last time and their products stink. This time the blow out was bad too. This place is never busy– which is a sign. If this place knew what they were doing there would be lines out the door. Anyway, I was there for over an hour just for a blow dry no wash and it looked better than when I do it but not by much. There is a really annoying woman there– she looks mulatto with amazing green eyes and she is just rude and very unprofessional. She acts like she owns the joint but I don’t think she does. Anyway– I would be going there 1 – 2 times a week if they were decent but they aren’t and they charge the same amount as the fantastic blow dry bar in walnut creek so I continue to make the pilgrimage. Don;t waste your money at this place.

Came here to get my hair done for my sons graduation because I’m completely hopeless when it comes to my hair.
I was less than impressed. We get started and she asks if I want product in my hair. Is that really a question? I would like the style she gives me to actually stay in place through the evening so yes please add product. She adds a minuscule amount and within two hours my hour is completely lifeless and looks like I did it myself. I will probably not be back and will be searching for someplace else in the future.

This place is my favorite guilty pleasusre! I love to come here and get a blow out. Jessica does a great job. I always leave feeling beautiful and pampered. I usually just go for the blow out to save $$ ($ 20– for the blow out, $ 35 for a wash and blow out). There is also a M-​W 20% off special.
For me, I can go for about 4 to 5 days without having to wash. The place is very clean and centrally located. There is garage and street parking.
The wash is very relaxing, there is a full chaise lounge chair, try not to fall asleep. The owner also owns the Isabella Nail salon nearby.
Love it!

Not sure how I feel about this place yet. Here are the pros:
1. Very nice and friendly
2. The manager helped me pay for parking when I was there longer than expected
3. My hair looked really nice after my stylist was done. She did a great job.
My criticisms:
1. I came in for a Wash, Blow & Style which is priced at $ 35.00. Somehow I was charged $ 45.00 and I have no idea why. Yep, I could have asked why, but I was in such a hurry, I left. Maybe because I had her flat iron my hair? She massaged my scalp. I did not ask for the massage, but I do see that they charge per minute.
2. It took a long time! I was there over an hour. When I get a cut, color, and style, it takes close to the same amount of time. I like feeling pampered but it seemed odd, and I was in a hurry. I thought 45 minutes tops.
3. I have curly hair and I usually blow out the hair and do a quick once over with the flat iron. She blew dry my hair without a brush. It was really frizzy so it took twice as long to flat iron. Honestly, it took forever and if she used the round brush to blow it dry, the job would have been cut in half.
4. My stylist (who was really sweet) nicely mentioned that I needed a root touch-​up and a cut. Um. Thanks? I kinda already knew that. I have an appointment in a week. Sheesh. I came to get prettied up, not to get told I look like crap.
But in the end, my hair looked really nice. So, again. Not sure how I feel about this place.

Came here for an early morning appointment. It was earlier than their usual opening time so there was no music playing, no drinks offered, no fancy service. I forgive them for that since it was early, but I do confess I was expecting the NY Drybar experience where they offer cookies, tea, and chick flicks.
$ 35 for shampoo, conditioner, and styling. The same price as the Drybar chain.
The shampoo was ok. If you’re expecting a deep, thorough head massage where they scrub every inch of your scalp, this isn’t it.
The Kevin Murphy shampoo smelled fine, but the subsequent Kevin Murphy styling products smelled terribly chemically and pungent. I’m not sure which of the styling agents it was, given how the stylist used a combination of three, but the smell lingered in my hair even after multiple subsequent shampoos.
Did I like my end style? Yes. I had a little extra volume, and my hair did look more glamorous than usual. But the smell alone was so offputting (the SO said my hair smelled like carpet cleaner) that I had to wash my hair that night.
I hope this is just growing pains because the location is great and there does seem to be so much potential if they could just offer a bit more pampering and milder scented products.

Love it! A little slice of heaven in Montclain Village — what a treat to spend a few hours there on a Saturday getting my hair washed, styled, eyelashes put on all while feeling pampered. Would have given it a 5 if offered a libation. Will definitely be back and will recommend it to others!

What a great idea for Montclair and the East Bay! This new Dry Bar is elegant with great, eco friendly products and talented staff. I have naturally curly hair and they did a fabulous job with my blowout. I can’t wait to go back again for another styling seshion prior to a special Holiday party I have coming up. It usually takes me 20−−30 minutes to dry my hair, longer for an event and I’m usually sweaty and tired afterwards, this way I can relax and be pampered at a completely reasonable price.