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Darling Electric Salon
Darling Electric Salon

Darling Electric Salon

Hair salon in Berkeley, CA

Rated 4.9 out of 5 (40 on Google Maps) (opens in a new tab)

Darling Electric Salon is co-owned by Lindsay Melnyk and Karianne Jones, who each spent 14 years as a stylist and educator at Peter Thomas salons in Berkeley before opening their own salon. The business serves people of all genders, ethnicities, ages and abilities.

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About

Darling Electric Salon is co-owned by Lindsay Melnyk and Karianne Jones, who each spent 14 years as a stylist and educator at Peter Thomas salons in Berkeley before opening their own salon. The business serves people of all genders, ethnicities, ages and abilities.

The salon's own description holds that a good salon should feel welcoming rather than exclusive, and that getting your hair done should be something to enjoy. It presents itself as low-tox, sustainable and inclusive, with a focus on the environment, its neighbourhood and giving each client a safe hair experience. Affiliations include the Dress Code Project, the California Green Business Network and Green Circle Salons. The salon sends 5% of retail sales to Berkeley Youth Alternatives, pays the Shuumi Land Tax, and acknowledges that it is located on Ohlone land.

Bookings are made online through Vagaro. Stylists work independently, so individual policies may vary between them. New clients booking a haircut can add a First Time Client option that allots extra time with their stylist, and a Transformative Cut option adds time for major style changes. First-time color clients are asked to have a consultation before their appointment. Radical color or style changes also require either a consultation or a direct conversation with the stylist. Clients should arrive with their hair down and styled the way they usually wear it, and, for color, without heavy products. New clients, and clients with a history of missed appointments, must pay a 50% deposit for any service over $300. Cancellations are requested at least 48 hours in advance. Later cancellations are charged 50% of the appointment price, and no-call, no-show appointments are charged the full price. Clients running late should text or call their stylist. If the schedule cannot accommodate them, they may be rescheduled and charged 50%. Street parking in front of the salon is metered, while all-day non-metered spaces are available across the street and on side streets. The lot behind the salon is open after 6pm on weekdays and all day on weekends, and is reached from the driveway beside Lunaria. Bike racks are located out front, and in the back lot after 6pm and on weekends. The 72 bus stops at San Pablo Ave. and Dwight.

The salon describes itself as low-tox and sustainable, and aims for an inclusive space where clients feel welcome and hair is meant to be enjoyable.

Services

Final prices may vary.

A bleach consultation to plan lightening before any service.

  • Bleach Consultation Price at booking

Toner, single process color, partial and full highlights or lowlights, and combined color with highlights. Pricing for returning clients starts at the listed amounts, and a color consultation is available.

  • Toner A La Carte (Returning Client) $150+
  • Single Process Color (Returning Client) $200+
  • Partial Highlight or Lowlight (Returning Client) $260+
  • Full Highlight or Lowlight (Returning Client) $300+
  • Color and Partial Highlight (Returning Client) $315+
  • Color and Full Highlight (Returning Client) $375+
  • Color Consultation Price at booking
  • Creative Color Consultation Price at booking

A general consultation to talk through goals and options before a service.

  • Consultation Price at booking

Haircuts with prices starting at $100, with an option for first-time clients to add extra time.

  • Haircut $100+

Photos

  • Salon styling station with green chair and plants
  • Wide view of salon interior with storefront and chairs
  • Salon interior with stylists working at stations near entrance

Meet the team

Team members listed on their website. Individual roles, credentials, and current employment have not been independently verified.darlingelectricsa… (opens in a new tab)

Highlights
  • Owned by two co-owners who each spent 14 years at Peter Thomas salons in Berkeley
  • Donates 5% of retail sales to Berkeley Youth Alternatives
  • Members of the California Green Business Network, Green Circle Salons and the Dress Code Project
  • First Time Client and Transformative Cut options for extra appointment time
  • Consultations required before first-time color and radical color changes
  • Stylists include specialists in pixie and razor cuts, curly hair and extensions
Good for
  • First-time clients
  • Radical style or color changes
  • Curly hair
  • Short cuts and pixies
  • Clients who want eco-minded products
  • Clients of all genders, ages and abilities
  • Bleach and creative color
Treats
  • Grey coverage
  • Highlights and lowlights
  • Bleach
  • Creative color
  • Curly hair
  • Short cuts
  • Extensions
  • Radical style changes
Techniques
  • Scissor cutting
  • Razor cutting
  • Precision cutting
  • Bleach
  • Toner
  • Single process color
  • Highlighting and lowlighting
  • Hair painting
  • Extensions
  • Creative color

Products & treatments

  • Low-tox and sustainable product lines, without named brands

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