La Prenda Hair, 1916 Encinal Ave, Alameda, CA 94501, US

With stylists who have experience working for Vidal Sassoon and at salons in New York and San Francisco, Orange delicately balances a chic, high-end fashion sense with small-town intimacy. Consisting of only two barber chairs, the small salon is comfortable, neighborly and charming. Lined with neon orange bulbs, pink fur on the back wall, and modern decor, Orange may seem a bit glamorous and cosmopolitan for Alameda, but the chatty stylists, with deeply ingrained relationships to the community, are as friendly and folksy as they come. Though the clientele is strongly appointment-based, the Orange stylists also accept walk-ins and rotate hours, with owner Susan working there full-time.