Travis Jay Hair

Travis Jay Hair works out of Salon 2423 on California Street at Fillmore, in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. The salon is up a flight of stairs, and clients change into a robe in a dedicated robe room before their appointment. Parking is available in a paid city lot across the street from Mollie Stone's, along with metered street parking, and the salon asks clients to allow extra travel time during peak hours.

Color is the core of the work. Dimensional color is offered in a partial version, covering highlights, balayage or base with dimensional highs and lows, plus gloss and styling, which starts at $325 and takes two to three hours. A full dimensional service covers all-over color, highlights, balayage and shadowing; those prices are starting estimates, and new clients are asked to book a consultation first. Bleach and tone for virgin hair starts at $600 and can reach $1,200, while a retouch for four to eight weeks of regrowth starts at $450. Most color services take at least two hours.

Consultations run about 30 minutes, either in the salon or over video, and are recommended for large color changes, for clients who have not had their hair done in six months or more, and for corrections. Solid color retouching, priced from $265, covers grey coverage or a base color change without highlights, and includes gloss and styling. Gloss and toning, at $185, adds tone to highlights, richens overall color or reduces unwanted tones, though it does not lighten or cover grey.

Smoothing and styling services round out the menu. Lasso Keratin Smoothing averages $400 and takes 1.5 to 2 hours depending on density and length; the treatment smooths, nourishes and shields hair from heat styling, UV exposure and further processing. Keratin Tropic and Keratin One Day Mocha are the two formulas offered, and the salon adds a L'Oreal keratin conditioning cream for about 15 minutes if clients want extra shine and easier blow-drying. Other options include a blow dry with wash, scalp massage and iron work from $155, extension removal from $100, and cleanup of bangs or neckline for $45.

Cancellations made within 24 hours of an appointment, and no-shows, are charged 50 percent of the total service.

Consultations come first for large color changes, returning clients who have been away for six months or more, and corrections, so the color plan fits the hair before any service begins.

A flight of stairs leads up to the salon, where a separate robe room lets clients change before their service.