Holly Herrington Hair Salon in Encinitas, CA

Last updated August 09, 2026

On North Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas, California, Holly Herrington runs a one-stylist hair salon with a clear specialty: lived-in color that looks natural, holds up between appointments, and actually fits the way her clients live. She works out of Raven Collective, a coastal salon space that suits the low-key, sun-drenched character of the North County San Diego coast. Her focus on custom color and hair health has earned her a 4.9-star rating across 56 reviews, a number that reflects years of consistent, repeat-client work rather than a single viral moment.

Holly's approach isn't built around dramatic before-and-after transformations for their own sake. She specializes in color that grows out gracefully, requires minimal upkeep, and is tailored to each person's texture, lifestyle, and goals. That philosophy has made her a go-to stylist for clients who want results that last well beyond their next appointment.

The salon is located at 560 N Coast Hwy 101, Suite 5, Unit 7, Encinitas, CA 92024, and serves clients throughout the greater San Diego area.

Holly Herrington's Background and Career in Hair

Holly didn't grow up dreaming about a career behind the chair. By her own account, she enrolled in cosmetology school fresh out of high school at her parents' encouragement, not because she had a clear plan. What happened next surprised her: she fell in love with the craft. That accidental start has turned into more than 17 years in the industry, and she's said publicly that she loves it more now than she ever did at the beginning.

For over 15 of those years, she built her clientele at Ballyhoo Salon, establishing the kind of loyal, long-term relationships that are hard to replicate. Eventually, she made the decision to move to Raven Collective, a salon on the coast of San Diego that she describes as gorgeous and that gave her a new environment to continue growing her work. The transition wasn't a reset; it was a deliberate step forward by a stylist who had already put in the foundational years.

Services and Specialties at Holly Herrington Salon

Holly's core specialty is lived-in hair color, a category that covers a range of techniques but shares a common goal: color that looks intentional even as it grows out. She describes it as highly customizable, which is exactly why she gravitates toward it. No two clients get the same formula or the same result, because no two clients have the same hair, the same schedule, or the same idea of what low-maintenance means to them.

Her services center on color work, with a particular emphasis on:

• Custom lived-in color blends tailored to individual hair texture and lifestyle
• Natural-looking color that minimizes visible regrowth between appointments
• Color transformations that prioritize hair health throughout the process
• Consultations focused on understanding the client's goals before any color is applied

The health-of-the-hair piece is something clients mention repeatedly. Holly takes time during consultations to understand not just what someone wants to look like, but what their hair can realistically handle. That conversation shapes every decision she makes during the appointment. Clients with concerns about damage or previous color history have noted that she addresses those worries directly and adjusts her approach accordingly.

Long appointments are part of the territory with detailed color work, and Holly has built a reputation for making that time feel worthwhile. The combination of technical skill and genuine conversation means clients don't watch the clock.

About Holly Herrington

Holly is the sole stylist at her salon, which means every client who books with her works directly with her, every time. There's no handoff to an assistant, no variation in who applies the color or does the consultation. That consistency is part of what makes the client experience predictable in the best sense: people know what they're getting when they sit in her chair.

Clients describe her as someone who makes them feel at ease immediately, the kind of stylist who asks the right questions and listens to the answers before picking up a brush. Her artistic sensibility comes through in the work itself; one client called her a brilliant artist and described her own hair as the canvas. That's a specific kind of trust, and it's earned through results that hold up over time.

Milestones and Track Record

• More than 17 years of professional experience in the hairstyling industry
• Over 15 years building a loyal clientele at Ballyhoo Salon before relocating to Raven Collective
• Featured in a profile interview discussing her career journey and the challenges of working through the pandemic
• 4.9-star rating across 56 client reviews

What Customers Say About Holly Herrington

Across 56 reviews, a few themes show up consistently. Clients talk about feeling genuinely heard during their consultations, about leaving with color that looks natural rather than processed, and about the overall experience of spending a few hours in her chair. The technical results and the personal interaction get equal attention in the feedback.

Holly put all my worries at ease and really took her time to make sure she knew exactly the look I was going for, while maintaining the health of my hair.

- Hannah Garcia

That attention to the consultation process is something multiple clients highlight. Holly doesn't rush past the conversation to get to the color. She uses that time to understand what someone actually wants, which tends to produce results that match expectations rather than requiring corrections.

Holly is truly the best! She has an incredible talent for creating the most beautiful, natural-looking lived-in color.

- Baylee Reynolds

The lived-in color specialty earns specific praise from clients who have tried other stylists and found the results too uniform or too high-maintenance. Holly's ability to make color look like it belongs is something clients return for repeatedly.

Every visit is an absolute treat, and I always leave the salon feeling like the best version of myself.

- Jenny Deveraux

Beyond the technical work, clients describe the atmosphere Holly creates during appointments as genuinely enjoyable. Long color appointments that might feel tedious elsewhere become something clients look forward to. One reviewer noted that long hair appointments with Holly are her favorite because they never run out of things to talk about. Another described her attention to detail and ability to personalize each service as unmatched.

Location and Community in Encinitas, CA

Holly Herrington's salon sits at 560 N Coast Hwy 101, Suite 5, Unit 7, Encinitas, CA 92024, along one of the most recognizable stretches of road in North County San Diego. Coast Highway 101 through Encinitas has a distinct character: independent businesses, a coastal pace, and a community that tends to support local over chain. That environment suits Holly's approach well. She's a single-stylist operation built on personal relationships, and the neighborhood reflects similar values.

Raven Collective, where Holly now works, is described as a gorgeous salon on the coast of San Diego, a setting that complements the kind of unhurried, detail-oriented appointments she offers. Encinitas itself has become one of the more sought-after addresses in San Diego County, with home values reflecting sustained demand along the coast. Broader market data shows the area has seen approximately 8.5% annual home price appreciation historically, with projections settling closer to 4.2% going forward, a sign that the community continues to attract people who want to put down roots here. For a stylist whose business runs on long-term client relationships, being based in a stable, community-minded city like Encinitas is a natural fit.

Holly has also spoken publicly about the importance of community support for independent stylists, noting that the biggest compliment a client can give is to share the work and spread the word. That perspective reflects how she thinks about her practice: not as a transaction, but as an ongoing relationship between an artist and the people who trust her with their hair.

Why Choose Holly Herrington in Encinitas

What sets Holly apart is the combination of a clear specialty and a genuine investment in each client's individual outcome. She's not trying to be everything to everyone. She does lived-in color, she does it well, and she takes the time to make sure the result fits the person sitting in her chair. After 17 years, that focus hasn't narrowed her appeal; it's deepened it.

Clients who book with Holly know they'll work directly with her, that she'll ask real questions before touching their hair, and that the result will be designed to look good well beyond the day of the appointment. For anyone in or around Encinitas looking for a stylist who treats color as a craft rather than a service, Holly Herrington is worth the appointment.

Customer quotes shown above are from public Google reviews.