The Marin Salon — San Rafael
This is the original DAVID JAMES. We opened at 1018 B Street in downtown San Rafael in 2012 — two years before San Francisco — and Marin is still home in every way that matters. B Street on a Saturday morning: clients with coffee, a dog tied up outside, and the Ryan Jones painting on the wall. It’s a working salon, not a showroom — a team that’s been cutting and coloring Marin’s hair long enough to have watched clients’ kids grow up and start booking their own appointments.
If you are coming from San Anselmo, Fairfax, Larkspur, Novato or anywhere in between, you are probably coming because someone you trust told you to. That’s how this place was built.
The proof
6,600+ five-star reviews on Fresha (5.0), the most-reviewed salon in Marin. 4.9 stars on Google and 4.8 on Yelp. Marin Magazine Best of the County 2025 and 2026. Fresha Best in Class 2023. Featured in Allure (April 2015) and San Francisco Magazine Best of the Bay (2024).
Services and prices — Marin
Straightforward pricing, no surprises at the desk:
Women’s Haircut $125+ | Men’s Haircut $85+ | Balayage $350+ | Full Highlights $385+ | Partial Highlights $300+ | Color/Tint $150+ | Toner/Glaze $95+ | Blowdry $85+.
Explore: Balayage in San Rafael · Hair Color in San Rafael · Haircuts in San Rafael
Color is a strength of this room — Hillary carries the color books here, and Kim Kingsbury, a phenomenal colorist, works out of this room too (she books independently — her link is below) — and if your hair is curly, ask for Angie, Ro or Dan. Everyone else on the floor is on Fresha, so you can see real availability and book the exact chair you want.
Meet the Marin team
Kelly — cuts, one of the most-requested chairs. Hillary — color specialist, meticulous with blondes and dimension. Kim Kingsbury — phenomenal colorist; books independently at kimberly-kingsbury.square.site. Angie — cuts and curly hair; knows texture. Ro — expert at all haircuts, and curly hair. Gaelan — expert at all haircuts; from Santa Cruz once a month. Natasha — colorist, first Sunday of each month. Daniel — David’s brother and best friend, a master hairdresser; expert at all haircuts. Mostly in San Francisco — in Marin every Thursday. David — existing clients only, booked about a month out.
Neighborhoods and good to know
Clients come from San Anselmo, Fairfax, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, Kentfield, Greenbrae and Tiburon. Also Gerstle Park, Terra Linda and the Civic Center area. Sol Food is nearby on Lincoln Ave. Open 7 days: Mon and Sun 8:00-5:30, Tue 9:30-6:30, Wed-Sat 8:00-6:30. Parking: metered street parking out front, plus garages on A, B and C Streets between 4th and 5th. Walk-ins welcome when a chair is open. Phone 415-655-3973. DAVID JAMES. — 1018 B Street, San Rafael, CA 94901.
