Thairapy South Pasadena

Hands down, Dusty is the raddest hair artist you will ever encounter! I found him through Unilocal because he specializes in dry cuts. When I got wet haircuts they were never easy to style when I got home, it lacked the character my thick hair needed. Dusty adds texture and a beachy flow that my hair craves as well as works the best with. I will never go back to a wet haircut after my hair being revived! What’s so great about his technique is that he customizes the haircut to you, so it’s no cookie cutter type hair and no accidents of your hair being cut too short which tends to happen when it’s cut wet. So glad I finally found my Hair-​Man!!!

Come in for a hair cut and it came out super nice!!! Nadia really hooked it up. Nice personality that one. I’ll come back

An early Christmas present was an appointment with Karmen and Audie. I had heard amazing things about this salon and was looking forward to my visit. My virgin hair was around ribcage length, with split ends that I had been avoiding for far too long. I consulted with Karmen for the general idea of what I wanted colorwise; I liked the idea of going lighter, but liked the low maintenance that a shadow root of my natural hair color could provide. I consulted with Audie of what style of cut I was going for, and since I wanted a shoulder length A-​line we ended up chopping almost half of my hair for easier coloring (which was awesome how matter of fact she did it).
The end result colorwise was a balayage sombre hybrid, with lighter hair framing my face and eventually darker hair dominating the back. The cut was an amazing A-​line that had slight texturing the the ends, and Audie blended my grown out bangs with the rest of my hair. I loved the welcoming energy that Karmen has established in this salon, as she interacted with everyone while also working on and talking with her clients. Audie is an adorable little fireball, and I loved talking with her about our past identities and interests. Everyone here is amazing, and I will definitely be recommending them to anyone looking for a salon!

Hello my Name is Albert I got my hair cut by Nadia. She did a awsome job I got a zero taper with a line up and I usually don’t let my babers touch my hair line but, she did amazing:) I recommend hair for all the guys out there i was very satisfied.

Recently went in to see Nadia for a blow dry and to have my makeup done and could not be any happier! First off, blow dry looked AMAZING! Second, for makeup she listens to exactly what you want done and perfects it to the T! Beautiful girl, super sweet and amazing work and I will definitely be seeing her again;.

I will admit, I am a little hard to please when it comes to my hair, but when it comes to color I have a specific look in which I’m going for. I was in between hair dressers (as my previous one moved to New York) and desperately needed to touch up my highlights. I originally called and asked if they specialize in blondes, as I am very picky and need someone who knows exactly what they’re doing. They assured me that their owner, Karmen, was an expert with blondes, and could give me the exact shade of blonde in which I was seeking. Based on their hype of Karmen, and the rave Unilocal reviews, I set up an appointment.
Upon arriving to my appointment, I was graciously greeted by Karmen and Dusty. They offered me something to drink and made me feel incredibly comfortable off that bat. Now, I should include that 99.9% of the time I go to salons, I feel incredibly uncomfortable and awkward. I don’t know what it is, as I’m generally an extrovert, but no matter how friendly the stylists are, they usually just come off as cheesy and insincere, making me a bit uncomfortable. That was not the case, I felt 100% comfortable the entire time.
Before beginning, Karmen, with a little input from Dusty, evaluated my hair and consulted me on what look I was going for. I brought pictures of the exact color of blonde, as well as the blending and weaving of highlights in which I was seeking. I mentioned that I am really hard to please and want exactly the color and technique from my pictures, and asked that if she had any doubt of her ability to achieve what I’m asking for that she just says so now and I can go elsewhere. She insisted that she would be able to give me the exact look I was going for and that I would be really happy with the outcome. She seemed to be incredibly confident with her work so I believed her and she got to work.
The entire process, took about 4 hours, and I had a blast talking with Karmen and periodically Dusty would chime in with his two cents. They’re both incredibly engaging and really lovely people. After having my hair blown out and seeing the color and techniques of the highlights, I almost burst into tears. Karmen proudly asked me how I liked it. Because I really liked her, and could tell how pleased she was with the outcome, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her I hated it. I just said I loved it, paid and got the heck out of there as fast as I could, before bursting into tears in my car.
I don’t know whether it was an off day, or perhaps I somehow didn’t convey exactly what I wanted (although I don’t understand how that could be possible), or what it was, but it was really, really bad. By far the WORST highlights I have ever gotten. It was not blended well at all. Incredibly streaky, orange-​ish at the roots and just a really fake-​looking yellow blonde throughout. It looked worse than if I had gone to CVS and purchased an at-​home boxed highlighting kit. I had to make an appointment at another salon a couple days later and have it corrected. The stylist I went to assumed I had highlighted my own hair until I told her what had happened. She was shocked that I paid to get my hair highlighted with the technique in which was used on my hair.
I really, really wanted to like the place due to how amazing the stylists were, but the outcome was literally a nightmare.
Two stars for the nice staff.
Zero stars for my hair.

I have found the perfect place not only to have my hair done but to relax, feel indulged, and enjoy great company. Marlene is not only an expert in hair color, but one of the friendliest people I’ve met. One thing I need from a beautician is honest advice and feedback. I don’t want someone to just do what I request; I want to know if I am thinking in the right direction, or should try something different, and Marlene always takes the time to talk to me about what look I’m going for and then she makes great suggestions. I always leave the salon feeling so good. Everyone who works at Thairapy is unbelievably nice. I am in love with this place.

I’m really ambivalent about going to a new salon, especially because its an expensive endeavor. I have been here twice, April and August. My first time, I got a cut and balyage. It was a good experience. I even had my daughter come in for her first cut. And that is why I went back.
Part II: Let me preface the second part of the review with this: I go to a stylist with the idea that I know «0» nothing, zilch, about hair and chemical processes — and I articulated this to the stylist. I expect to be informed and I was, somewhat… I wanted gray taupe hair — and I learned that the picture I had been sleeping under my pillow with to fill my dreams of flowy taupy hair was bleached — oh my. Not wanting to bleach my very thick and long hair, I got more bleach balyage strands. Here is where the «Meh» review comes in, I did not get any taupe or gray in my hair — I got some dirty blonde, silver, and green strands — huh? And here is the other reason why I gave a mediocre whatever review… my hair did not look good, how would you know what my color looks like if you do not dry it? I am not returning to an establishment that thinks it is okay to charge for a color treatment and not fully dry hair to get an idea of what the color looks like — I waited 20 minutes AFTER I left to figure out what color was actually on my hair. For the money I paid, I expected to be ECSTATIC, off the walls, shout your salon from the corners of social media happy. I was not and still am not. Final note, this place is cute, the staff is socially awesome — however, «thairapy» left me needed therapy for my hair.

I came in with horrible bleached hair I attempted to do myself. They recommended I cut it first then come back for the color which I did. I didn’t mind having to cut my long hair, it was my own fault for not coming here first. My hair felt so nasty and dead anyway I couldn’t run my fingers through it. I got a shoulder length cut with Marlene. The next time I came was yesterday and she performed a miracle. My roots were so long from letting it grow out all summer to give my hair a break and the rest of my hair was an ugly yellow blonde. My goal was to go platinum blonde. I never thought I would have cool hair but my dreams have come true. No more dark roots and patchy hair color! I now have platinum blonde hair which looks kind of silvery white blonde. I LOVE IT THANK YOU MARLENE.
check out their Instagram for before and after pictures
@ineedthairapy

Thairapy provided me with the best haircut I’ve ever received! I have impossibly thick, wavy hair that not a lot of stylists know how to treat. Most haircuts I get don’t provide me with much of a change and I end up feeling frustrated and bored with my hair within a couple months. When I read the Unilocal reviews claiming that Dusty was a thick hair wizard, I knew I had to try him out. I came in not really knowing what I wanted and instantly he had a vision for a style that would work on my hair. I chose to trust his judgement and let him take the wheel since i don’t know much about hair, and I’m SO glad I did! It’s the change I needed and my hair is loving its new length and lightness! If you have thick wavy/​curly hair like I do, you have to go see Dusty. I love this place!

I came in today to see Audie-​Marie for a haircut today. She was so friendly! She first offered me water since it was so hot outside. She then consulted with me to see how short I wanted to cut my hair and she also gave her advice on what was best for my hair too. She definitely listened and was NOT the type who would just cut off a lot of your hair without getting your input. Some of the previous salons that I’ve been to would cut more inches of my hair than I asked or didn’t layer my hair well, so I rarely cut my hair. Audie-​Marie did a great job cutting and layering my hair. I do like my hair cut and the layers do add more volume to my hair. While she was cutting my hair, we got to know each other; she’s so easy to talk to and she’s so sarcastic. Even though this salon is a bit on the pricier side, I would come back here to get another haircut from Audie-​Marie and possibly redye my hair. The vibe here is great/​friendly and I can tell that they take care of their customers.

I’ve never done a same day review but I HAD to for Thairapy. I walked in last week and scheduled an appointment which was so easy because Audie was willing to work with my crazy schedule. I came in today and I am IN LOVE with my hair again!!! Karmen is quick and great with color. I was covering my balyage that I had been rocking all year and was tired of. she picked a great natural color for me added some gloss and shine and voila! Instant healthier looking hair! I then got my haircut with Audie and she is the biggest sweetheart! We chatted the entire time and by the time we had gotten to know our family wedding history
:D She was done… I could not believe that for ONCE I had walked into a salon showed them a picture of what I wanted and she actually made it come alive!!! Seriously blew me away! She took the look I had shown her and re-​created it to fit my face shape and hair texture but didn’t compromise the look I was going for. She is the hair-​cutting whisperer!!! Definitely my go to hair sanctuary from now on. Thank you ladies for a wonderful time and for making me feel and look like a million + 1 smackers!!!

I have been here a total of three (3) times now and I cannot express how much I enjoy this place.
Dusty has been the first person to cut my curly/​wavy hair really well, and I mean really really well. It looks great when he’s done, and grows out beautifully. On top of that, Dusty clearly loves what he does. A painters medium is paint, Dustys’ is hair. Anyone that is an artist can tell that Dusty is creating art when he is cutting your hair. He gets that same level of focus and attention to detail that I do when I draw, and it’s fantastic to watch him go to work. He is a blast to talk to, and a really fun person.
I love this place, and I love my hair when I come out of it. Great experience all around.

This salon is a perfect spot to get whatever needs to be done to your hair done.
They are always in a happy mood and there is great energy whenever I am there.
I love the cat!

Like always an amazing experience, went in for a Brazilian blow out with the fabulous Brenda and left with an amazing hair. Thank you

For months I had been wanting to cut my long hair that I had kept waste length for years. While visiting the «Big Apple» I went to the Manhattan Frédéric Fekkai salon to make the «Big Cut». I had had 12 inches cut off! The haircut was cute, but not me. I was not feeling it.
A week went by and I was back in LA. I couldn’t take it anymore so I made an appointment with Dusty. I had only met Dusty a few times before but he knew right away the cut was not me. 4 more inches and 45mins later my hair was exactly how I had imagined. Fabulous! I will never go anywhere else again. Dusty is an amazing hair stylist!

Been seeing Dusty for years. Before he made the best decision of his life and opened his own business. I’m a very busy person and have high expectations. For me to continue to follow someone for years isn’t easy for me but well worth it in this case. If you are interested in someone who will do an amazing job and is a great person in general you have to give him and his shop a try. Oh, and make sure to say hi to Karman too. She’s a doll!
Thanks you two!

I hardly ever write reviews for Unilocal (and for often I rely on them I really should start contributing!) but I had to for Marlene at Thairapy.
I went in this morning with a nightmare head of hair in need of seemingly impossible color correction. With a botched highlight job from another salon (read: platinum roots, ashy regrowth, orange streaks midway through my hair, and brown in there as well. It was awful) my hair was truly bringing me down.
Marlene was so sweet and understanding, making sure she really was clear on what I wanted and being honest with me about what to expect. That’s everything I want in a hairstylist. She ended up giving me a beautiful ombré that looks so natural and complements my skin tone and eyes. This is the most satisfied I’ve ever been after leaving a hair appointment.
I won’t be going to anyone else anytime soon! Thank you Marlene and Thairapy!

This is my first Unilocal review and it’s years overdue! I couldn’t live without Karmen or Audie-​Marie!
I’ve been going to Karmen for color and extensions and to Audie-​Marie for haircuts for the past 6 years – I followed them from their prior location to Thairapy and would follow them to Rancho Cucamonga if I had to! I hear people say all the time they want to go to a hair salon in their hood. Why? Why not go to the BEST place, not the closest? I live in Los Feliz and it’s worth the little trip. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my hair. Karmen has taken my hair from pale wheat-​y blond to espresso to apricot strawberry blond! (I change my hair so often my co-​workers joke that I must be a secret agent).
I’m not though, I’m a style editor and fashion blogger and I’m often required to make appearances on television and host events around town. So for better or worse I’m often judged by how I look. And I happened to be cursed, as my mother would say, with «baby fine, mousey-​brown hair.» But in the hands of Karmen and Audie, I’ve had creamy blond locks that curled and bounced past my shoulders (my country music star hair), I’ve had long, thick, rich chocolate waves that grazed my elbows. And that’s all thanks to hair extensions from Karmen and Audie.
Hair extensions boost my self-​confidence in the same way women who’ve had a boob or nose job claim. I’m all for hair augmentation! But for some reason hair extensions had gotten a bad rap (I blame Britney Spears, remember that dolly-​head look she sported a few years ago?). No one in Hollywood likes to admit having them, but I’ve styled big name fashion shoots and work with film hair stylists and I know for a fact that Dita Von Tease, Jennifer Anniston, Jennifer Lawrence, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and so, so many more get hair extensions. Some get them for length but you can also get them just for volume, if you want more va-​va-​voom in your short do (in the case of Dita). I’ll get them put in for a few months or a year and when I want a change, I’ll take them out for a while and rock an Edie Sedgwick pixie or Debbie Harry bob. And when I get bored with short hair, I get extensions again. So chopping off my hair isn’t brave because I know I can have long locks whenever I want them. Celebs do this too. The current pixie cut craze in Hollywood? That’s because they’re all taking a break from extensions. But just you wait– JLaw will have shoulder length hair by fall. Ever wonder how actresses’ hair grows so fast? Now you know. Extensions.
For those of you who have always been curious about hair extensions but don’t know enough, here’s how it works:
Go in for a consultation with Karmen. Then she’ll buy the best hair quality extensions, and the right kind for your hair type (curly, straight etc), she’ll dye them to match or whatever you want… ombré them or lowlights and highlights to create a highlighted natural effect. She carefully places the extensions so they don’t show (no walking around like Britney!). Audie will sometimes weigh in during this part because she cuts the extensions afterwards and she knows how to layer the hair to hide the keratin protein bonds. Oh, that’s right. It’s a myth that extensions are «glued» on. The material used to hold the extensions to your real hair is made of keratin protein, same stuff that’s in your hair naturally. Let me also say that a cut after getting extensions is not optional – it’s necessary. You’ll want Audie to cut them. She is an expert at sculpting a do that blends in with your real hair seamlessly. If you don’t cut fresh extensions you’ll look like a second rate stripper at gentlemen’s club under a freeway. You must cut them. It takes about 2 to 3 hours to put them in, and they last for 5 to 6 MONTHS! You can wash your hair just like normal, you can brush them, blow dry them, curl them, straighten them, braid them, wear your hair in a pony tail or top bun and NO ONE CAN TELL! ! Eyelashes extensions are all the rage now, and I can spot those a mile away! I’ve had hair extensions off and on for years and NO ONE can ever tell I have them, they just tell me how lucky I am to have such pretty hair (I always cough up the truth and give credit to Karmen and Audie). Just writing this is making me want extensions again!
Seriously, if you need a self-​confidence boost, or just want to change your look up, book an appointment with Karmen and Audie and try hair extensions. You only live once! Why not live for a little while with a head full of envy-​inspiring locks?

This salon is BEYOND amazing.
I randomly found Thairapy online, and I am so happy that I did. As soon as you walk into Thairapy, you get such good vibes. The interior is lovely, and very relaxed. Everyone is very welcoming, and they are always jamming to some great tunes. This salon is just so great on multiple levels. First being the location. They are nestled on a very cute and quiet street, next to a busy intersection near multiple shops and small restaurants. Secondly they carry Bumble&Bumble. Enough said.
The staff at Thairapy are a bunch of hair rockstars. Seriously. These people know what they are doing, they do it well, and are extremely good at it.
I have had the absolute pleasure of having the gorgeous Marlene turn me into a fiery red head, and shift the specturm to a lovely ombré. She is incredible! She is not only so much fun to talk about television shows and Beyonce, but she is so helpful when it comes to deciding on color and cut. She makes great recommendations, and listens to what I want and we go from there. I honestly have never had such a fantastic relationship with my hair stylist.
Each staff member here is insanely talented, and I would trust my hair with anyone of them!
If you live around this area, or relatively close by. I highly recommend you checking this salon out. You won’t regret it!