An Extraordinary Hair Care Experience

La Jolla’s Top
Hair Artists

Your hair is a reflection of your personality. We bring your personality to life with cuts, styles, and colors that outwardly express who you are and make others take notice.

Whether you’re looking for a color refresh, a trim, or to try something totally outrageous, Joel C Ma Hair Studio brings your vision to life. Our full-service salon is home to La Jolla’s and San Diego’s expert hair artists who use cutting-edge techniques, creativity, and their decades of industry experience to help you express your individuality by creating a look that you’ll love.

Our Services

We’re more than a hair salon–we’re hair therapy professionals that love your hair and create looks you’ll love because they perfectly capture your unique personality. Our wide range of services includes women’s haircuts, men’s haircuts, balayage, updos, and more. We also offer you a wide range of hair products designed to protect, nourish, cleanse, and style.

About Joel C Ma

Joel C Ma Hair Studio is the culmination of an artist’s dream. Joel C Ma, the heart and brains behind the studio, is one of the best haircut artists and color specialists in San Diego. A former Tony & Guy hair cutting master, he believes that hairstyling is more than a transaction—it’s an immerse experience that helps bring his clients’ beauty and confidence to the forefront. He has delivered exceptional hairstyling services to clients for more than 25 years. Joel is especially valued for his razor cut and laser-like approach to long and short layered cuts.

It all began when Joel immigrated to the US from Vietnam in 1983. Though he was only 16 and without his family, his aspirations were huge. Focused on his passion, he was trained and mentored by a master on the straight razor cutting technique. By 2000, his signature razor cut and layering technique were beloved among clients, and by 2010, he was acknowledged as a master color creator and blending artist.

What Our Clients Are Saying

Discover what makes Joel C Ma Hair Studio one of the best hair salons in La Jolla from the people who know best—our clients.

“Joel gave me the best haircut I've had in years! He spent a great deal of time explaining color mistakes and planning how he can fix and improve my look over time. After all over color, my hair looks healthy and shiny again and I look forward to returning for the color adjustments in order to get back to my natural color with a few highlights. He is an artist and teaches his craft lifting his team's skills. His salon is using COVID prevention protocols, checking temperatures, uses plexi-glass, limits customers & ensures all are wearing masks and distancing as much as possible. Thank you!! ”

"I had a great experience! Vanessa was super nice and she did a wonderful job on my hair! I have middle eastern coarse dark hair and she gave me wonderfu highlights, exactly how I wanted! She was also very patient."

"I went in for a cut with layers + balayage with Juan. He was amazing! He gave me the exact caramel / honey brown color I wanted and was super detailed with the whole process. He really took his time for the haircut as well and made sure I was comfortable with the length every step of the way, which I appreciate! I love my new hair and would definitely come back again. The environment is chic and the staff was friendly."

I just recently moved to the area and was looking for a new salon with a stylist who knew how to work on my baby fine blonde hair and was confident in her technique. Ask for Vanesa; you won't be disappointed. She has so much talent with doing my balayage but also specializes in highlights , haircuts, and all color.I also want to mention LeAnn who greets you as you walk into the salon and oversees the flow of the clients throughout the day. If it weren't for her, I would stillhave split ends and drab hair. But she worked tirelessly to find a spot to add me to the schedule a week earlier than my originally-scheduled appointment. So grateful for her and for her caring so much!Check this place out! It's right down stairs on the first floor next to the stairs by the Pita House and Starbucks!

"Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa. Did I already say Vanessa? If you're looking for a triple threat - makeup, hair cuts, and coloring, then she's your girl! Finding a new stylist is often times overwhelming and nerve wracking, from the minute I sat down with V, she slayed my nerves and put me right at ease. As she says, "I know when I pay for a service I want someone to nail it!" And let me tell you, she doesnt just talk the talk , she walks the walk."

"VVanesa did an outstanding job with my hair. I had a dye disaster with 3 different colors and shades of green and she completely transformed it so effortlessly. I am so in love with my hair now, I feel so confident and I am beyond happy with her work. I couldn't ask for a better stylist! She did AMAZING! Would definitely recommend for anyone!! "

"I'm here for work and needed a black stylist ! The owner/operator is fabulous ! Too bad I've moved out of the area !!!"

"incredible experience here. i've never left a salon completely satisfied - until today! juan was the first stylist that's actually listened and worked with me to get my hair exactly the way I envisioned it. I'm truly grateful!"