Nurture Salon

I had my hair done (cut, colored) at one salon in Colorado for well over 10 years before I moved back to Oregon. As any woman (men, too!) knows, leaving a great stylist and salon can be the most heartbreaking event when one must move! After I got settled in OR and it was time to have my hair done, I spent more time studying salons & stylists than I did in any college class! There’s a LOT of salons in PDX but I finallly found the one that I thought would be perfect and made the appointment (I am a salon/​stylist SNOB). All of that studying was worth it as I would not think of going anywhere else and have not since I moved here. For 5 years I have had PERFECT results every single time I have my hair done at Nurture. Alan is warm and caring, attentive and very personable and I SO enjoy visiting with him while I am there. The staff has always been friendly to me even though I have never had anyone but Alan ‘do’ my hair. Just sitting in the salon, listening to all of the laughing & chatter says a LOT about the happiness of the clientele; it also says a lot about the stylists — EVERYBODY is happy there!

Can I give 6 stars? Seriously why isn’t everyone doing organic hair color? Alan gave me gorgeous highlights and fixed my horrible suburban mom hair a stylist at another salon inflicted on me. Wish I would’ve just come here first!

Alan is awesome. THoughtful, fun, funny, picks up on the small things… Nailed my hair color. i mean nailed it! I am super sensitive to all products and this is the place to go. Alan stays on the cutting edge of the best of the best organic hair care/​color products. THe whole salon is just warm and welcoming and cozy. The staff outside of Alan were so super nice and wonderful… loved them too.
Ok I am hooked… first time in a long time I haven’t had a reaction and I am feeling wonderful. Thank you Alan…

Eco-​friendly salon with excellent cutters and quality hair color products. A friendly, chill experience. After a horrifying allergic reaction to Aveda salon color in May 2014, I completed allergy testing and set out to find a new salon. Considerable research led me to salon owner Alan Mandarano, whose commitment to leading a green lifestyle and deep knowledge of working with clients sensitive to chemicals put him at the top of the list for a tryout. I’ve seen him 3 times since my allergic reaction: first for just a cut and consultation, with excellent results, second for patch testing with a Goldwell color product, and just this morning for the full color and cut. I absolutely love the results of both services and have already rebooked for the fall. This guy devotes quality time to his clients and seems like he loves his work. If you’re the type who wants a high-​end interior design salon, this place has a more neighborhood homey feel, but you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover. He is a great cutter, and that is hard to find in this town. Book him!

Alan is A-​MAZING! He is the hair whisperer in my book. It was my first visit to Nurture Salon and I came with a previously butchered hair style. Alan took the time, discovered what my hair needed, nurtured my hair with care and brought it back to life. I am thoroughly impressed with the level of professionalism, quality of service, and genuine level of care for every client they see. I recommend this place to anyone and everyone who wants to walk out after getting a haircut feeling sexy, confident and beautiful. Thank you Alan for taking the extra time and making my experience stellar.

Let me first say that there is no one is more critical of hairstylists than me. I am a perfectionist and I will notice even one hair that is out of place.
I have an insane schedule and I was very grateful that Allen could fit me in at 8 am. I arrived and Allen greeted me with a cup of coffee and a listening ear. He took the time to listen to my needs and view photos of the look I was going for. He is very detail oriented, made sure I had an eye pillow and heated blanket while washing my hair and even removed the eye pillow slowly so my eyes had time to adjust to the light. I loved that he created such a relaxing environment.
My hair turned out even better than what I expected, with attention spent on every detail of the cut. Allen creates the whole spa experience, relaxation, fun and rejuvenation. He is a killer hairstylist and I will be returning.

After review, analysis and looking back… I was right $ 50 really is a bit much.
So my mom and I found an amazing stylist through salon en vogue (cheaper dosha), but she moved. Ever since then we have seriously struggled for a quality stylist, open on Sunday’s that’s not too expensive. We went all over Portland and flexible on price but still frustrated. We tried Nurture because of the high ratings, open on Sunday’s and in SE. It was a quality haircut and a nice enough location. My hair was done by one of the owners, a man. I can’t complain about the quality of the haircut or his skill, although he doesn’t compare to our former stylist based on quality/​skill. Before I former stylist moved, she moved away from dosha and we followed her all around southeast. When she went out on her own, she raised her prices to $ 40, which is near the high end. The way my mom and I justified the slightly more was because the way she cut hair. She is the *only* stylist that delivers an amazing overall cut. I love that my hair would look good for the first 2.5−3 weeks, look AMAZING as it grew in, just *flowed* together for about 4 – 5 weeks and looked really good the last 2 – 3 weeks. So it was easy, SO easy to go 2 – 2.5 months between cuts, made it such a JOY to get a new cut. The reason I mention this was the owner charges $ 50 for his same service, so in terms of value, it’s a low value in my opinion. I would say $ 40 would be pushing it. Now, his location was closer in Se so no doubt more expensive than her new location near mall 205. The Nurture Salon has a pleasant décor, I would say there is a lot going on in a relatively small space though. I feel like there trying to make the location fit their needs… Now for extra special treatment he cuts hair in a very small room/​closet. It’s suppose to feel exclusive. There is a small window… He plays pleasant music… My complaint would be as someone who is distracted by clutter and too much visual overload, I prefer less going on when I’m trying to relax. It’s one thing to have massive amounts of stuff in the lobby area, but a big closet with everything he tries to fit in there doesn’t work. Pick one or two sentimental objects and display/​store somewhere more appropriate. For $ 50 you need to wow the pants off me in other ways if the quality of the haircut itself is not worth $ 50. I enjoy atmosphere and sellwood area, so it’s not impossible to convince me. My advice less is more. Storage. Better lighting. Less mess/​chaos. I think maybe all those artistic personalities are trying to all express themselves. Maybe make some creative bios/​dioramas of your cast. I like personal touches but it’s your business not your personal studio/​home. They also offer tea/​coffee, a nice touch. For $ 50 maybe a mimosa? Lol. I’m just saying, if the quality of the cut is closer to $ 35, max $ 40 gotta make it up somewhere. I know the owners are both stylist and they have a young child, I’m guessing they are relying on repeat loyal customers. I waited awhile to write this because I wanted to compare to some other locations in the Se, SW and né. I feel very confident now, of the relatively low score. Location, atmosphere, customer service, product line, open on Sunday’s and quality of the cut are what I look for. I don’t expect everything to be perfect but when your prices are significantly higher than other locations of similar characteristics, it’s gotta make you wonder.
His cut was better than what Katie did at odango but she was $ 15 cheaper and the location was probably nicer…
His cut was better than the multiple cuts I have had at bliss over the years, location about the same. There cuts are closer to $ 40.
So the owner is not a bad stylist and it’s not a bad place, just not all that Unilocal portrayed/​implied it is/​was.
So if you have had a lot of trouble finding a quality cut, this is not a bad place. Im still looking for the *one* (stylist)

When I moved here from Brazil I was afraid to trust my hair to somebody I didn’t know (in Brazil we pretty much have the same style of hair… Straight and highlighted…) but a friend recommended Natalie and I was very well impressed! I’ve been going to Nurture for almost three years now and I really enjoy it. Natalie and Allan have always done an amazing job and I also love the nice vibe of their salon!

I have fine thin stick straight hair and being born a toe head — light blond is my preference over being a dishwashed blond — it even sound gross. It’s hard to find a hair professional that can do a great job with my cut and color. I’ve always felt it’s my responsibility to clearly communicate my expectations with pictures and asking clarifying questions. Natalie welcomes this and has gone deeper to insure we were on the same page. I love a stylist that doesn’t let her «I’m the expert» pride get in the way.
Natalie has nailed my color without frying it (not easy) and listens to me about my concerns with orange/​gold tones. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had «orange» blond highlights because it was the trend or salon’s preference. And unfortunately it’s like seeing neon highlights every time I look in the mirror.
As I mentioned my hair is fine and thin so any mis-​cut shows as if there is an arrow pointing to it. Natalie is the first stylist EVER to not give me uneven sides or an obvious chop clearly unintended. I don’t know how she does it but I am ever so thankful. My husband even thought it was impossible for me to be happy with my hair from anyone.
Lastly, have you ever had a stylist that just can’t wait to tell you all about them and their lives? Nothing like spending two hours or more in a chair learning all you didn’t want to know about them. This will NOT happen in Natalie’s chair. She is a great conversationalist and has a great sense of her clients needs.
Seriously, if you’re looking for a professional experience with expert results served with kindness and care… Nurture Salon is your hair’s resting place. No need to look any further.

YES! I’ve been looking for someone who knows how to deal with my curly mop of hair! Sarah is awesome! She actually makes my curls look GOOD. AMAZING feat! :) Thanks for helping me love my hair without a straightening iron!

I went to Sarah the other week and was pleasantly surprised by her work. Not knowing what I really wanted when I walked in, Sarah said: «Trust me. I know what looks good on dudes.»
So I did. And it was awesome.
The other stylists are warm and friendly, and the spot (despite being tiny) is the perfect size. I didn’t buy any product there, but I’m sure it’s faaaabulous.

Alan Mandarano is my new hair stylist and I give him five stars. I love that he is organic and love the subtler and more elegant tone I get lightening my hair (which is dark blonde or light brown) to a beautiful tasteful blonde after having my hair so damaged making it almost white blond that my bangs did not grow for about a year (just broke off slowly).
My hair is now healthy, I love the special cutting technique Alan uses and the attitude and prices.
Further, there is Alan himself. Alan is a very special person who is thoughtful, discreet, and seems to operate from a true higher consciousness which I find very healing and … well… nurturing. My impression is he is trying to live in integrity with his own belief system and is an artist using his intuition in his mastery of cut, color, and style.
I love Nurture Hair Salon, look forward to going and find it really fun,(they also play great music).

I thought I’d had some good haircuts and colors in the past, but the one I just got at Nurture has blown all others out of the water!
I’ve been putting my poor hair through a lot in the past couple of years (Brazilian straightening, color lifting, overall coloring, dying it at home, trying to go «no ‘poo», etc) and I was desperate for someone who could honestly help me get back in touch with healthy hair while keeping me in the vibrant red color that I love so much.
Enter Natalie! She worked with my face shape, the natural wave that my hair has, and listened so carefully to what I told her about what I wanted. She was so sweet, generous, and considerate, not to mention talented, that I can’t imagine ever entrusting my hair to anyone else.
Thanks so much Natalie and Nurture!

Sarah is a fantastic lady and stylist. I have super fine hair and she works magic with it. You can not go wrong with her.
I have absolutely loved every product that they sell there. They are environmentally responsible, work great, and smell divine.
The atmosphere is great too. The space is small but I find it cozy-​small, not cramped-​small. It is nicely decorated and makes you feel totally comfortable.

I am a mom, nanny, and grad student, so my hair is often neglected. I just started my own business, however, and knew I needed to do SOMETHING. Alan was marvelous, didn’t scold me for my lack of knowledge, and took my «I only have 5 minutes to make this look good, what do I do?» questions seriously.
And, it is easily the best haircut I’ve ever had.

I have to admit I would’ve continued on as a customer here, but I decided to do a cash-​only diet and really examine where to cut my expenses; because of its distance and cost, I couldn’t justify it.
I always feel bad about leaving a hairdresser, but still will recommend this place to anyone looking for a great salon.

I both love and hate getting my haircut. I love feeling pampered and doing something nice for myself, but I hate the risk involved. What if I don’t like my cut? What if the stylist and I can’t agree? What if I’m stuck in the chair being small talked to death? What if the stylist is overly fixated on detail and works on me for 6 hours?
Nurture was so awesome, I can’t wait to get my hair cut again!
Further, I am a doctor, not an expert on hair. I really like to be able to go in to the professionals, tell them what problems I’m having and have them fix it. I never have a picture of the haircut I want because I really think they should be able to offer good suggestions as to what I should do. Julie did exactly that!
I’ve been unhappy with my hair for a while now, and I tried to dye it at home and that only marginally improved the situation. I had decided just to suck it up and grow the color out, but I desperately needed a cut too. Even though I didn’t make an appointment for color, Julie was like, «we could improve this if you want to». I appreciated that she was direct in pointing out the problem, but didn’t scold me for screwing it up at home. It made me trust her that something really did need to be done even though I was hoping I was getting away with growing out my roots. The process was so much gentler than I’ve ever had, none of the that scalp burning sensation I’ve had before, and the result is absolutely knockout.
I also appreciated her suggestions about how to deal with the texture of my hair in the Portland weather, and the cut is perfect for my face shape, style, and hair type.
As if all that wasn’t enough, they had french press coffee, these neck warmer things, and they totally pampered my husband while he waited for me (since we I hadn’t planned to do color, he came to pick me up too early). The owner husband and wife team were both there, very friendly. The décor was very comfortable with basins at every station, so I didn’t have to walk around with dripping hair. The set up also made it so that I didn’t have to look at myself in the mirrors unless I wanted to and I couldn’t really see the other customers so it was very private.
Really folks, they do everything well here, and I would’ve paid more for this service in most cities, even in the midwest where prices are dirt cheap. Five stars really isn’t enough!

Eh, people seem to really like this place as you can tell by all the five star reviews but I was not impressed. My color was uneven, it faded quickly, and Alan didn’t even color my entire head of hair. It was strange, I didn’t notice right away but he only colored the ends and my roots, I have never had an experience like that before. He also didn’t spend any time going over the colors with me or giving me suggestions. I was just not a fan of the color, the fact that it was uneven, how quickly it faded, or that he didn’t color all of my hair.
When I tried explaining to Alan how I wanted my hair cut he told me that he cuts hair to match a clients face. OK, that is good but he did exactly what I asked him not to do. I asked him to cut it short enough and to make the layers short enough so that I did not need to put it in pony tails during the summer. I told him that my hair is quite curly and quite thick so I needed it shorter and very layered for the summer. Now, part of this is my own fault because after he cut it and after he styled it I told him that the length was OK. What I didn’t realize is that he scrunched it and made it so curly that I couldn’t tell how long it actually was.
I hated and I mean HATED the way he styled my hair, I was so embarrassed walking out of there. I looked like a poodle. After I got home and fixed it I realized that the layers were not cut short at all and that it was actually still pretty long. I was able to style it myself to look cute and I got a few compliments on it but the funny part was, one of my friends said «well, he didn’t do at all what you asked, but it is cute!»
So, yeah… I probably won’t go back. I was really unhappy with the color (seriously, it faded right away) and although the cut ended up being cute (after I styled it myself) he totally didn’t do what I asked. Oh, and again… really shocked about the way my hair was styled. It was dreadful. I can’t decide between two or three stars, I keep changing it…

Alan is the best!
I went in and told him. «i’m bringing the Jennifer Aniston back baby!» and he really captured her hair in the first seasons of Friends.
Now, where’s my Brad?

Wanting a cute haircut a la Portland, I didn’t expect to get it at Nurtures in Sellwood. This small hair salon looked run-​of-​the mill, so I was surprised when I kept noticing cute hair cuts walk out of there. Eventually, I gave it a try myself, and the stylist gave me an interesting and flattering assymetrical haircut.
When in Sellwood and looking for a good interesting haircut, go to Nurtures.