Dirty Little Secret

02/01/09

Dear clientele...

by melyse at Citysearch

It breaks my heart to let you know that Dirty Little Secret has closed its doors. You can still find contact information about your stylist on the DLS Salon website. You can also check out Bliss salon on SE Division where Rebecca, Chai, and Elyse have relocated, WACK salon on Burnside Where Amie and LBT have gone, Visit Shannon at the Parlor in St. Johns, Tina at Primp, or Jamison at Spank on Alberta. You, as clientele and friends have made this salon an awesome place to work and we will all cherish the memories! I hope this has been helpful, and we all look forward to seeing you again!

XOXO,

Elyse

• Cons: no longer there!

01/30/09

Portland's Best Salon Closes

by MJett at Citysearch

Yep, it's a bummer. Saturday is their last day of business and I will miss DLS. However, I was happy to find out when I was in today that Aime--who is the best curly hair stylist in town--and Lucinda are moving over to Whack Salon at the Jupiter hotel on Burnside. 503.232.9225. Go give 'em some love!

12/15/08

Finally I found my hairdresser!!

by oregonerin at Citysearch

I've looked high and low in this town for a hairdresser that gets it and I finally found her, Miss Kristie is the best hairdresser in Portland. I've been going to DLS for almost 2 years now and everyone there gives great hair!!

Highly recommended!

• Pros: Casual Atmosphere
• Cons: None

11/24/08

too much effort to even make an appointment

by whocares16 at Citysearch

I've gone to Amie for cuts over a period of 3 years. In the beginning she was pretty nice. Then it all went downhill as she became a co-owner. This last time I called for an appointment and since no one ever answers a phone left a message. No one called me back, so I went to make an appointment in person. So I show up for it on time, Amie sees me and knows I'm there and is still working on her current client. I sit and wait and she doesn't bother to acknowledge it's my time and at least say she's running late. I ask her how much longer I'll be waiting. She says 10 min like she doesn't even care if i stay or leave and my time is of no importance. I left and will never go back. Please Amie, learn to be considerate of your clients' time. It happened before too. If you're running late at least be aware of it.

• Pros: easy to find parking
• Cons: hard to make an appointment, long wait, and then it doesn't star on time

11/22/08

Rebecca is my hair's night in shining armor!

by justarandomgirl at Citysearch

This is such a great salon! Everyone provides a very friendly and pleasant environment. Rebecca does my hair and she is the best stylist I've ever had. I have gone to many places over the years and it seems that no one can understand my unique texture. Once I discovered Rebecca a couple years ago, I stopped looking because I had finally found my perfect hair match. She listens to what I want and she also has a lot of advice when I need it since I constantly want to change my hair but I have a hard time deciding what I want to do with it. I always end up leaving DLS happy because Rebecca gives me a great cut every time, and I am not easy to please when it comes to my hair. I think that someone's hair is such an important part of their appearance and I really appreciate Rebecca's hard work. I highly recommend this salon, and especially recommend Rebecca!

11/04/08

Rude Scheduler

by vickibee at Citysearch

I started going to DLS a few years ago and haven't been in about a year. I called to schedule an appointment with Shannon (who is GREAT, by the way) and when I asked the guy who answers the phone if she still worked there and about her availability, he kind of snorted and asked if I'd even been in to see Shannon before. I said I had, he asked my name and when I gave it to him, he told me in an accusatory tone that my name wasn't coming up in the computer. As if this somehow changed Shannon's availability or the extent to which I am welcome to see Shannon. He gave me two available times to see her on a day when I could make it, 11:00 or 1:00. I opted for the 11:00 and wondered when he was going to ask me what I needed done at the appointment. He rudely stated "ok, we have you down for a haircut only at 11:00" and I told him I needed a cut and color. He again snorted with exasperation and sounded angry when he said that we would then have to go with the 1:00 appointment.

I was hurt and angered after the call and it's been bugging me to the point that I canceled my appointment. Shannon does a great job and I've not only enjoyed her skill, but her company. However, I refuse to be treated poorly by someone who seems to think he's a member of a "cool guy" club that nobody else can join. When your business depends on people coming through the door, the person on the other side of that door should not make those customers want to walk away because they've been disparaged.

Shannon-I'm so sorry and I'll miss the great cut and color thing that we had going on, but I know I'll find another who doesn't have such a unsavory character manning the phones and the front desk.

• Pros: Great haircut and color!
• Cons: Receptionist/Scheduler is rude

10/29/08

the Best Haircut of my Short Life

by aaaaron at Citysearch

Dirty Little Secret is a perfect name for this salon... it's the best kept secret on MLK!

Located in a cool old building on MLK and Broadway, the inside of this place is a huge labyrinth of stylist chairs and spa treatments. The charming girl who cut my hair (ask for Elyse) gave me a beer and made me comfortable. She was VERY knowledgeable, and had great ideas about current trends that I am totally clueless on. Plus, everybody is cool and friendly. We laughed and joked the whole time, about everything from TV shows to George Foreman grills.

I don't typically go to a salon for a haircut (I'm a guy), but I am beyond satisfied with my new cut. I am never going to a barber again... now I just need to work up the courage to get my eyebrows waxed... maybe a MANicure... who knows?

In short: Go to Dirty Little Secret.

• Pros: This is the best Salon in Portland.
• Cons: Not enough people know about this place.

09/18/08

Where's my little pedi queen?! Anyone know where Charity went?!

by buzybee86 at Citysearch

First I would like to say I love this salon! They are always polite and fun! I am very dissapointed though, I called to make a pedicure appt. with Charity, only to find out she's GONE! :( They don't know if shes at a new salon or not but I really would LOVE to find her! She gives an amazing pedicure and is just a doll!

• Pros: Great Staff!!
• Cons: parking

07/04/08

Amie works magic on hair!

by pinkshopper at Citysearch

When I moved to Portland from San Diego, I had a haircut I loved, and went to a stylist for a trim, telling her I wanted the same cut, just a trim. She cut my shoulder-length, layered cut short, and I was miserable. After it started growing out, I read about DLS and decided to give Amie a try after reading that she was a curly hair specialist. I showed her a picture of the style I liked, and she trimmed my hair and suggested that I wait 3 months for my next trim in order for the length to grow back. I left the salon feeling pretty again, and knew I had found the perfect stylist. I loved my cut, and it continued to look great for the entire 12 weeks until my next appointment, which I think is absolutely amazing! Now, 10 months later, I have my length back, AND a beautiful haircut., which I receive lots of compliments on. Amie cuts my hair dry, which I think has a lot to do with the wonderful way the cut turns out, because I have hair that looks completely different when it's wet. It's fine, thin, and frizzy, and I will never let anyone but Amie cut my hair, as I think she performs magic on hair! And she's really nice besides. If she ever leaves the Portland area, I'll travel to wherever she is, that's how much I love the way she cuts my hair. (My only complaint about DLS is the male receptionist. He's rather unfriendly and indifferent, and I am always relieved when I can book my next appointment with Amie instead of him. I feel as though I'm imposing on his time when I need to talk to him. This person doesn't fit in with the rest staff, who are all very warm and friendly.)

• Pros: Beautiful haircuts, reasonable prices, on-time appointments
• Cons: Unfriendly, indifferent receptionist

06/16/08

Nice place

by dirtyptown at Citysearch

I felt welcome. And the stylist was nice. Not a bad cut. The price was right. I even went home with a few things.