ALCHEME HAIR SALON SAN FRANCISCO is a cutting edge hair styling and hair coloring salon that offers complete hair products and hair services right in the heart of downtown San Francisco, CA. As an integral member of the competitive and ever changing world of the hair and beauty industry, Alcheme Salon's goal is to stay on top by offering the newest salon technology and hair care products and services to our clients.

Our extremely talented artists [lead by world renown Owner and Lead Hair Designer Angela Chong-Montague] are trained in the latest hair cut techniques to stay on the leading edge of hair services, hair care and hair creativity.

Alcheme Salon specializes in creating new looks for our clients. When doing so, we pay close attention to your unique needs and whether or not your new look will help or hinder you in your everyday life including work and home. Why not let our trained and experienced stylists and colorists give you the look you want!

ALCHEME SALON 310 Sutter Street 4th floor (between Grant Ave & Stockton St) San Francisco, CA 94108 (415) 296-9212

At Alcheme Salon guest satisfaction is our number one priority! click here to read what our guests are sayin' on YELP!

Jackie M says

"I'm almost afraid to write this review for fear of not being able to book a future appointment, but ladies, ANGELA is absolutely THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!! I'd give it more than 5 stars if that were possible!"

Victoria C says

"Marty did his job fantastically. He is not the type of gentleman who will talk to you all the time - he is on the quiet side, which I actually prefer".

A brief and informative history about the evolution of the Hair Salon. a.k.a. Beauty Salon. reprinted from Article Dashboard

The ancient Egyptians would get their hair clipped very close to the head, especially in the upper classes, in order to don full, fancy wigs atop their heads for special occasions, public outings, and ceremonies. The womens wigs were adorned with gold and ivory trinkets, and were long and often braided. The beauty salons back then were where these wigs were ordered and made. Women in ancient Greece often had long hair, tightly pulled back. Even at this early time, women would dye their hair red and sprinkle gold powder on the hair, decorating their coiffures with tiaras and flowers. Men wore their hair short and often shaved, probably for comfort and convenience when putting on their gladiator helmets. Beauty salons during this time were inside palaces of the rich and noble, though there were also some on the streets for the commoners as well.

Ancient Rome for much of its time had been a society of copycats, where the norm was to follow the lead of the Greek fashions. Some Roman styles saw women dying their hair blond or wearing wigs made from the hair of slaves that had been captured. Beauty salons in Rome began to make hairstyles more ornate and elaborate, to the point that hair was often styled around wire frames that women wore on their heads. The upper classes were tended to by slave cosmetologists and there emerged many beauty salons and barber shops for different classes to frequent. In the Middle East, hair was traditionally hidden completely when out in public, although men would go to salon bathhouses and wash their long hair in a henna rinse, compliments of the local salon stylist.

Traditionally in China, young girls wore their hair in braids, which required the help of a friend or hair stylist, and womens hair was pulled back and wound around in a bun. Mens heads were traditionally shaved, except for part of the back of the head, which would grow long and stay braided. In Japan, the hairdresser of a Geisha certainly had her work cut out for her, styling the womens hair heavily with lacquer decorations in very large ornate styles.

During the 15th century, the time of the Renaissance saw one of the most painful hair trends ever to hit beauty salons. Women during this era would not only pluck their eyebrows, but would pluck the entire front hairline that ran across their head in order to make it look like they had higher foreheads! Obviously the old saying Beauty is Pain rang loud and clear to women back then, too. This crazy era was followed by women rushing to beauty salons for white face powder and red wigs, in order to keep up with the fashion trends that had been set by Queen Elizabeth with her super pale complexion and bright red hair.

Thus we have a very brief summary of some of the different hairstyles that beauty salons everywhere were called upon to create for customers. Whether it was a long braided wig in Ancient Egypt or a good old fashioned hairline plucking, hairstylists have always been sought after to give people what they want in hairstyles.

By: Kelly Renaul

Some interesting links and a brief history of the Hair Salon a.k.a. Beauty Salon. from wikipedia

Google search phrase "the history of the Hair Salon"

A beauty salon or beauty parlor (or sometimes beauty shop) is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women.[1] Other variations of this type of business include hair salons and spas.

There is a distinction between a beauty salon and a hair salon and although many small businesses do offer both sets of treatments; beauty salons provide more generalized services related to skin health, facial aesthetic, foot care, aromatherapy, — even meditation, oxygen therapy, mud baths, and innumerable other services.

\Massage for the body is a popular beauty treatment, with various techniques offering benefits to the skin (including the application of beauty products) and for increasing mental well-being and relaxation.

Facials stimulate the skin, relax the client, energize the face and restore the skin to top condition after daily exposure to the elements.

Manicure refers to a treatment for the hands, incorporating the fingernails and cuticles and often involving the application of nail polish.

Pedicure refers to a treatment for the feet, incorporating the toenails and the softening or removal of calluses.

Manicures and pedicures take place at nail salons.

Beauty salons offer treatments such as waxing and threading for hair removal.

A hair salon (also called 'Hairdresser' and 'Hair Parlour') is a place where one goes to get the hair cut, as well as styled, highlighted or coloured.

There are many different types of hair salons that one can choose to go to. There are the traditional walk-in salons where you do not have to make an appointment; rather, you simply walk in and wait for the next available hairdresser. Another option is to call a full-service hair salon and make an appointment with the stylist of your choice. Some hair salons specialize in certain areas of hair care, such as coloring, up-dos for formal occasions, cutting or styling. Which salon one chooses will determine the level of expertise being performed for the service.

Salons are in various business forms from sole traders, branches of salons or large franchise owned salon chains. Some larger chains offer their own brand of salon products.