Frequently Asked Questions
Booking an appointment at Prickly Pear Salon is super simple. Just use our online booking system (powered by Mangomint) – you can head over to our Booking Page anytime to view availability and request your appointment with just a few clicks. New around here? If you’re new to our salon, welcome! We recommend starting on our New Guest Page to get the lowdown on what to expect, explore our services, and meet our team. (We pride ourselves on being an inclusive salon, so you’ll feel right at home with us from the start.)
Our hours are as follows:
Tuesday: 10am - 6pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 10am - 7pm
Friday & Saturday: 10am - 6pm
We work on a rotating schedule, either Tuesday-Friday or Wednesday-Saturday to allow our team ample time to rest and recharge. We update our hours on Google weekly and recommend checking Google for our most up-to-date hours!
We’re a busy bunch and our chairs fill up fast – especially for popular services like lived-in color and low-maintenance blonding. We generally recommend booking your appointment 2–4 weeks in advance, particularly if you need an evening or weekend slot. That said, we do sometimes get last-minute openings. Feel free to join our waitlist or reach out to our team directly if you’re hoping for a sooner appointment. We’ll do our best to accommodate you if a spot opens up!
Due to high demand and the way we schedule our sessions, we typically cannot accommodate walk-in appointments and rarely have same-day availability. Our stylists devote dedicated time to each client (those dimensional color and balayage sessions need time to work their magic!), so we operate by appointment only.
If you’re looking for a last-minute opening, your best bet is to join our waitlist or follow us on Instagram – we regularly post any day-of openings or cancellations there so you can snag an open spot if one comes up.
We get it – finding your hair soulmate is a big deal! Each of our stylists has their own specialties and vibe. You can read all about their expertise (whether it’s dimensional blondes, vibrant color blocking, precision cuts, or anything in between) on our Meet Our Team page.
Still not sure who to choose? No worries. We’re working on a fun “Stylist Matchmaker” quiz to help pair you with your perfect stylist based on your hair goals, personality, and lifestyle – stay tuned! In the meantime, you can always contact us for a personal recommendation. We’re an inclusive salon, and every stylist on our team will make you feel comfortable and taken care of.
To cancel or reschedule your appointment, you can easily reach us in any of these ways:
Online: Log into our online booking portal (Mangomint) using your email to manage or modify your appointment.
Text/Call: Send us a text or call 919-884-5740. (If we aren’t able to answer immediately, please leave a message – we will get back to you!)
Email: Shoot us an email at info@pricklypearsalon.com with your appointment details.
By giving advance notice, you help us accommodate other clients and avoid any cancellation fees. Thank you for understanding our scheduling policies!
Our pricing varies by stylist and service and is based on time, product usage, and expertise. You’ll see starting prices listed on our service menu, and your stylist will walk you through your customized plan during your consultation so there are no surprises.
We believe in transparent pricing, gender-neutral service structures, and charging for the time and technique it takes to create your look – not your gender or hair type. If you ever have questions about your service total, don’t hesitate to ask! We want you to feel confident and informed every step of the way.
We’re proud to be an eco-conscious, sustainable salon in Cary, NC committed to doing better for people and the planet. Here's how we walk the walk:
♻️ We recycle up to 90% of our salon waste through our partnership with SalonCycle – including hair clippings, excess color, foil, gloves, and even snack wrappers.
🌿 We choose ammonia-free, cruelty-free color and haircare brands (like Evo) that align with our environmental values.
💧 We’re mindful about water and energy usage, opting for efficient processes and low-waste systems behind the scenes.
To help support these efforts, a small $1.50 Environmental Fee is added to each service. That fee goes directly toward recycling and disposal costs, so you can feel good knowing your appointment supports a greener future.
Sustainability isn’t a trend for us – it’s one of our core values. We’re always looking for new ways to reduce waste and leave the beauty industry better than we found it.
Prickly Pear Salon is a specialized salon focused on what we do best – modern color and cuts. We specialize in lived-in color and beautifully wearable, low-maintenance styles, so we do not currently offer certain services outside our niche. For example, we do not provide:
Children’s or kids’ haircuts
Wedding, prom, or formal event hairstyling/updos
Perms or chemical texture services
It’s not that we don’t love kids or special events (we do!), but we choose to concentrate on our signature services like dimensional blondes, balayage, and precision cuts to give you top-notch results. The good news is we have a great network of other local salons and stylists we trust – if you need a service we don’t offer, we’re more than happy to refer you to someone who can take excellent care of you.
Lived-in color is a low-maintenance hair coloring technique designed to grow out softly and naturally, often lasting 3–6 months between appointments. At Prickly Pear Salon, we specialize in lived-in blondes, dimensional brunettes, and soft root melts using techniques like balayage, root smudge, and foilyage.
It’s perfect for clients who want natural-looking dimension with less upkeep. Not sure if it’s right for you? Book a consultation with one of our Cary, NC stylists and we’ll walk you through your options.
Balayage is a hand-painted highlighting technique that creates a natural, sun-kissed look with soft transitions and no harsh lines. Unlike traditional foil highlights, balayage is customized to your hair’s natural movement and often requires less maintenance.
We use balayage techniques to create lived-in blondes and dimensional color that fits your lifestyle. Not sure which is right for you? Let’s talk during your consultation!
Absolutely! We want you to be comfortable during your visit, especially if you’ll be with us for a longer color appointment (some of our lived-in color transformations can take a few hours). Feel free to bring a snack, your coffee, a book, or your laptop – whatever will make your experience more enjoyable. We also provide complimentary refreshments at the salon, including water, coffee, tea, and sparkling water, plus the occasional sweet treat or snack (think chocolates, Milano cookies, pretzels, etc.).
You’re even welcome to order food delivery to the salon if you’ll be here awhile. And if you need to get some work done, no problem: we offer free Wi-Fi and have a cozy little co-working area where you can plug in and work quietly while your color processes.
Policies
LATE POLICY: We totally get that traffic in the Triangle can be unpredictable. If you’re running behind, just give us a heads up!
If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, we may need to adjust your service or reschedule your appointment to ensure we have enough time to complete your service properly. In some cases, it may be considered a no-show if we’re unable to accommodate the delay without compromising the quality of your experience or impacting other guests.
CANCELLATION POLICY: We understand that life happens and plans can change. If you ever need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, we kindly ask for at least 48 hours’ notice. This allows us to offer that time to another guest and ensures our stylists can manage their schedules effectively.
STYLIST CANCELLATION: In the same spirit, if we ever need to cancel your appointment last-minute due to a stylist emergency or illness, we’ll do our best to accommodate you. We’ll make every effort to rebook you with your original stylist once they're back behind the chair or find an opening with another team member within 5 days of your original appointment.
NO-SHOW POLICY: While we strive to be as flexible and understanding as possible, no-call/no-shows or cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice may result in a non-refundable rebooking fee, up to $100, or limited access to future appointments. Our goal is always to maintain a respectful and supportive environment for both our guests and our team.
Every head of hair is unique, and while we strive to deliver the best results, it's impossible to guarantee how your hair will react to any service. It's essential that you're upfront about any previous hair treatments, as this will impact our approach. Even with full disclosure, hair can be unpredictable, so patience is key.
We understand your hair is an important investment, and achieving your desired look may require a significant amount of time and resources. In many cases, we must first address and correct previous services before proceeding with the new look you want. Please be aware that this can result in a longer and more costly process.
Our Priority: Hair Integrity The health of your hair comes first. While we want to help you achieve your dream hair, we won’t do so at the expense of its integrity. This may mean breaking your transformation into 1-3 sessions, treatments, or adjusting expectations. In some cases, the desired look may not be achievable. We reserve the right to decline any service if, in our professional opinion, it compromises the health of your hair.
It’s important to know that any chemical or lightening service can cause some level of damage, and the texture of your hair may change afterward. While we take great care in our services, any lightening process carries the risk of mild damage. Following your stylist’s aftercare instructions and using the recommended professional products is crucial to maintain the health and longevity of your color. Please note, we cannot guarantee long-lasting results or the condition of your hair if you’re not using these professional products.
Our Commitment to You While we can’t guarantee a specific outcome, we will always put forth our best efforts to achieve the color and style you’re aiming for.
Your satisfaction is our top priority. If you have any concerns about your cut or color, please let us know within 7 days of your appointment. We will gladly schedule a complimentary adjustment, at the discretion of your stylist, to ensure you’re happy with the final result.
Thank you for trusting us with your hair journey!
We believe that all of our guests deserve have a relaxing salon experience so we kindly ask that you leave the kids at home or arrange for childcare during your appointment. We understand this may be an inconvenience and we are more than happy to reschedule your appointment or plan your appointment for a time that works best for you. Due to the dangerous nature of sharp shears, hot tools, and chemicals within the salon environment we do not service any child under the age of 13 and we ask that only those receiving services in-salon be present during appointment times.
I agree to have my payment information saved and stored securely.
I also understand that my Prickly Pear Salon stylist and I will have an in depth conversation speaking about all aspects of today's appointment, in which I agree to and acknowledge, including price, and the expected physical and aesthetic results.
I hereby release and agree to hold Prickly Pear Salon harmless from, and waive on behalf of myself, my heirs, and any personal representatives any and all causes of action, claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses, and compensation for damage or loss to myself and/or property that may be caused by any act, or failure to act of the salon, or that may otherwise arise in any way in connection with any services received from Prickly Pear Salon.
I understand that this release discharges Prickly Pear Salon from any liability or claim that I, my heirs, or any personal representatives may have against the salon with respect to any bodily injury, illness, death, medical treatment, or property damage that may arise from, or in connection to, any services received from Prickly Pear Salon. This liability waiver and release extends to the salon together with all owners, partners, and employees.
We strive to offer our guests the highest level of satisfaction. If you are having challenges with your cut or color please let us know within 7 days after your visit and we will be happy to have you come In for a complimentary service adjustment, at the discretion of the stylist.
