06/23/09

Not nearly as bad as the reviews below!

by offandaway

I had Erin, a senior stylist, for a full highlight and lowlight. I was really happy with the color! However, what I was not happy with was that they put a gloss on me for another $25 that I did not know about in advance. I did not have a cut here, so I can't testify for that, but I would go back for color again.

• Pros: quick and professional
• Cons: Extra service provided without asking

06/19/09

My favorite!

by Bean1130

I have been a loyal patron of Tabu since I moved into Old City. In fact, I started going there because I googled for the best bikini wax in Old city and the reviews about Tabu were fabulous. I made an appt right away and have never been disappointed since then. I regularly see Brenda who is always on time, extremely friendly, knowledgeable and honest. In fact, it was on Brenda's recommendation that I used a new customer discount to have my hair done by Marc and I have been getting my hair done there ever since. Some of the reviews I have read about this salon are what prompted me to write in, I honestly don't think that some people writing here are talking about the same salon. In addition to the amazing staff and service, the prices are absolutely the most reasonable in the city for what you receive. All in all, if you want a great experience and you're looking for a new salon to be addicted to, I definitely recommend Tabu.

• Pros: Great Service and the staff are pros
• Cons: None

06/01/09

Mark Barnhart the rockin stylist

by venisew

If you want a great color & cut that is easy to manage plus is a rockin style check out Mark B. at Tabu Salon in Old City. I have been a client of Mark Bs for five years and he has never disappointed me with his creative views. If you want a cut that rocks & manageable check him out. V

• Pros: Amazing colorist & stylist
• Cons: NA

05/29/09

Recommend this salon

by fashionmaker

I was walking by TABU one day and decided to stop in to check out the salon. I was new to the area and needed a place to get my hair done. The receptionist was very freindly, answared my questions, and as I was about to leave gave me 25% off cards to try their various services. I have been going back ever since.

• Pros: Location, prices, service

05/19/09

You won't get our business

by HotandSpicy

My friends and I love to try out different salons in the Philadelphia area. We have been on a hunt to find a salon that offers the finest in hair styling, massages and facials.

Prior to reading the reviews about “Tabu” we were anxious to try it as our next Salon encounter. However, after reading the reviews about the disrespectful way customers are treated and false advertisement suggesting discounted services they do not provide, we decided to pass it up.

We put a lot of emphasis on how we are treated by the Salon’s staff.

Tabu good luck to you! Remember to always keep the customer happy! It is costly in the long run.

05/16/09

TABU for LIFE

by wali22

I can't say enough great things about Tabu Salon and Spa! I've been a client there for almost 5 years now and have no complaints.

First off Brenda is THE best esthetician ever! I started going to her because I've always had finicky, acne prone skin and it started getting worse because of a new job that i started. Now i can't tell you how many compliments i get about my skin and the majority of the time i don't even want to wear foundation because my skin is so great without it. So for the last 5 years i've been getting facials approx.every 4-6 weeks (depending on the time of year).

Brenda has greatly educated me about my skin and now i know what to do in between facials. She doesn't product push or product bash, and at the same time she's introduced me to the many great products that they sell. I don't know where i'd be without my guinot moisturizers.

I usually get the series of target facials which is very economical and i throw in a couple of full facials throughout the year. She takes care of waxing my eyebrows too. The prices is comparable to many questionably clean nail salons. If i ever plan on getting any other body parts waxed i'll only go to Brenda.

In addition to facials I've experienced many of their body massages, wraps and scrubs and their fantabulous 7 head shower (that reminds me of that kohler commercial with the plumber in the shower). I've also gotten many manicures and pedicures there too.

Now on to their specials....they're great! i mean where can u get an HOUR massage, a body scrub AND a body wrap from a spa for $100??? that's just an example of the various specials they'll run throughout the year. For the past three years i've used one of the specials on or around my birthday.

I always recommend them to friends and haven't had any complaints...and believe me my friends would have told me if there was anything wrong. I guess the only down fall is that i haven't gotten my hair styled there. I have however, gotten plenty of advise from the stylists about products i should use. One time I purchased a product that didn't do exactly what i thought it would, mentioned it to them and they told me to bring it back. I was so surprised! and it was great to get the amount of the return taken off of my services.

I"m not sure why people have said they had to wait 30 or 40 min for their services. I"ve never had that problem. They operated punctually like any good spa & salon would by servicing you beginning at your scheduled time for the amount of time your scheduled services normally take. So that means, If you come early, you may have to wait until your actual appointment time to get started. Whenever I come early, even if it's just 10 minutes, i've always been offered a beverage and been checked on periodically. If you come late, which i must admit i have done, you'll still have your allotted time, but some services may be shortened so as not to screw up the schedule. Once i came completely late and they were completely booked and there was no time to do anything in the facial so i had to come back another time. Usually if they have space in the schedule they'll fit you in somewhere.

Long story short, go to Tabu, you won't be disappointed.

• Pros: Great Facials, Great Specials
• Cons: I haven't used their hair services yet

05/15/09

Not impressed

by hollyjean16

I went to Tabu for a partial highlight and was given an appointment with a so-called senior designer. While she was friendly, she seemed to have very little knowledge about color. I wanted to tone down some brassiness in my hair and add some highlights to give the color some dimension and brighten it around my face. She didn't seem to get what I was talking about, at which point I should have left and saved my time and money. BUT, I decided to give her a chance and let her do the highlights. She did that and then put a glaze on my hair. 2 hours and a blowdry later my hair looks....exactly the same. Exactly the same. She even looked at my hair and said something along the lines of "you can kind of see them." Then she took me into the bathroom, which supposedly had better lighting and I still couldn't see them. She did offer to do them again, but I cant' get an appointment for a week and frankly it is annoying to have to waste another 2 hours on the re-do. The kicker was when I went to pay and the total was $108. For a partial highlight - not even a half-head. With tip (I tip 20% always because I have worked in the service industry and I just can't bring myself to tip any lower), I spent $128 to lose 2 hours of my night and look exactly the same as I did going into the place. I would not recommend going here. If the senior designer can't pull off highlights, it doesn't say much for the rest of the staff. Also, I found the front desk girl to be not completely rude, but not very friendly and professional. Skip it.

• Pros: Easy to get a last-minute appointment
• Cons: Not very good, expensive for level of knowledge/service

04/12/09

The last 3 reviews were written by Tabu Staff

by Diva62

The last 3 reviews were written by the staff at Tabu. Do not believe anything good about this salon. They treat their customers horribly and you can tell they are only in it for the money. They do not give their customers the time of day...they just want to get you in and out and get as much money out of you as possible. Do not go to this salon!!!

• Pros: Nothing!
• Cons: Everything!

03/30/09

Wax to the max!

by FlowerLady

I, like many other women in the city, used to go to the Sansom St. spot, out of desperation. No one was as thorough, but the lack of respect and poor treatment made me seek a kinder, gentler and more professional experience. Thankfully, a friend recommended Brenda, at Tabu Salon. Brenda is not only an amazing aesthetician, but she makes me feel completely comfortable. A brazilian bikini wax is not the easiest thing to endure, but Brenda goes out of her way to ease any discomfort. She is thorough, gentle and completely professional. Brenda also has a great reputation for facials.

Everyone in the salon has treated me courteously, whether it's a confirmation phone call or a friendly greeting when I walk through the door. Bravo!

• Pros: Best bikini wax in philadelphia!
• Cons: None

03/30/09

Loyal Client for 8+ years

by mommykittie

I have been a loyal TABU client for 8 years. I actually followed the owner & manager from another salon that they worked at previously. I could go to a salon that is closer to my home, but I choose to travel 30 minutes for their super facials, waxing and haircuts. You can not beat TABU prices, but their specials are fantastic. (F.Y.I. The specials clearly state that they can not be combined with any other offer or with gift certifacates.) A great city salon with super prices, on going specials and a comfortable atmosphere.

To Diva 62...How do you know who is a client or not? My suspicion is that you and lm2cute are one in the same. (Not to mention phillygirl123 and phillygoer52.) Get over it and get a life!

• Pros: GREAT PRICES & SPECIALS
• Cons: Wish they would be closer to my home