Santa Barbara’s Hair Experts
Meet the best hair experts in Sanata Barbabra, CA. From cuts, color, curly hair, extensions, and scalp micropigmentation.
Expert Stylists. Really Good Hair.
Matson & Co. is a six-chair studio on State Street in the heart of Santa Barbara. Jeff and Nada Matson opened it in 2017 after spending over a decade working side by side at another salon. The idea was simple: build a place where the stylists are genuinely great at what they do and nobody rushes you out the door.
We’ve served somewhere around 20,000 clients, so we’ve seen every hair type, every texture, every “I just want to feel like myself again” moment. Our stylists specialize in cuts that grow out beautifully, color that looks natural, curly hair that finally gets the care it deserves, extensions for fine hair, smoothing treatments, and SMP.
About Your Stylist
Meet Jeff & Nada
Jeff picked up shears in 1997 and Nada joined the same salon in 2003. They started dating, worked side by side for years, and opened Matson & Co. in 2017. Between them, they’ve styled around 20,000 clients. The team they’ve built Nancy, Ariel, Victoria, and Erin are people they’ve worked with for years and handpicked to join them. Everyone here is a specialist, everyone is friendly, and everyone actually cares about your hair.
I've lived in LA and NYC where you'll find some of the best hairdressers and colorists on earth. Jeff is not only their rival in haircutting talent and quality, his color is out of this world too. I literally have people ask me every other day where I get my cut & color. Matson & Co is my secret.
Sadie Nardini
Why People Keep Coming Back 9 Years Later
Your Cut Actually Grows Out Well:
We don’t just make your hair look good the day you leave. We cut it so it still looks great in two months. That’s the real test, and it’s one our clients talk about constantly.
Specialists Who Actually Listen:
Each stylist has a focus blonding, extensions, curly hair, organic color. But more importantly, they listen. They want to understand what you want before they pick up the shears.
Transparency From Start to Finish
You'll know exactly what to expect before your appointment begins. No guessing, no surprises. Just a clear plan, a great experience, and hair you'll want to show off the moment you leave.
Relaxed, Not Rushed:
Six chairs. No assembly line. Your stylist is focused on you, not trying to squeeze in three other people at the same time.
Your Neighborhood Hair Salon on the Central Coast
Looking for the best hair salon in Santa Barbara? Matson & Co. is a boutique studio on State Street with over 20 years of combined experience. We specialize in precision haircuts that grow out beautifully, custom color and highlighting, balayage, curly hair care, hair extensions for fine and thin hair, smoothing treatments, and scalp micropigmentation.
Our clients describe us as “professional and sweet”—and that’s exactly what we’re going for. We keep our prices reasonable, our chairs unhurried, and our stylists trained with the best companies in the country. Whether you’re in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria, Goleta, Santa Ynez, or San Luis Obispo, you’re welcome here.
Not sure what you need? Book a consultation—it’s free for extensions and SMP. For everything else, just book and we’ll talk it through when you arrive. We are an appointment-only salon
Don’t Take Our Word for It
-
I absolutely love the way Nada cuts and colors my hair! She consistently is on point with the color and and she never gets “scissor happy” when it comes to the haircuts. I often receive compliments on my hair and it’s all thanks to Nada! The salon is also brand new and gorgeous!!
Sara Chaidez
-
Jeff and Nada have a great thing going on over at Matson & Co. Love the vibe of the salon, great conversations with Jeff and the haircut is always top notch. My hair stays looking good even grown out and now have my son going with me to get his haircut too. Thanks guys for the great job and see you soon!
ToddShea
-
Ariel always gives me the best cuts. I have a ton of hair and my main goal it to have it thinned. I had to get a lot of bad cuts in this town before I found Ariel. She not only can thin my hair out, but it looks cut too.
Amie Pierson
Why Our Neighbors Come In to See Us
Santa Barbara:
Everything. Cuts, color, highlights, extensions, curly hair, SMP—we’re right on State Street, so you can grab a coffee and walk over. Street parking is easy.
Montecito:
Our Montecito regulars love the blonding work and extensions. Natural, sun-kissed, effortless—that’s kind of our thing.
Summerland & Carpinteria:
A quick 101 drive for haircuts and color that actually grow out well. Some of our longest clients come from down the coast.
Santa Ynez & Solvang:
Worth the trip through the pass. Wine country clients who’ve been with Jeff and Nada for over a decade and wouldn’t go anywhere else.
Have Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.
-
We’re biased, but we think it’s us. Matson & Co. has been on State Street since 2017, our stylists have over 20 years of experience each, and we’ve served around 20,000 clients. But don’t take our word for it—check out our Google reviews.
-
Erin Olson is our curly hair specialist. She’s trained to cut, style, and care for curls, coils, and waves without straightening them first. If you’ve had bad salon experiences with your curly hair, Erin is the one to book.
-
This is actually one of the nicest compliments we get. We cut with grow-out in mind—so your hair looks great the day of your appointment and still looks great two or three months later. No awkward in-between phase.
-
Yes—it’s one of our specialties. Nada Matson and Ariel Tamar both specialize in extensions and styling for fine and thin hair. If someone told you extensions won’t work for your hair, come get a second opinion.
-
Scalp micropigmentation is a non-surgical treatment for thinning hair and receding hairlines. Jeff Matson is our trained SMP specialist. It creates the appearance of fuller hair using tiny pigment dots. Book a free consultation to see if it’s right for you.
-
Each of our six stylists has a specialty: Jeff does blonding and SMP. Nada does extensions and fine hair. Nancy does color. Ariel does extensions and smoothing treatments. Victoria does organic color. Erin does curly hair. Pick based on what you need, or just tell us and we’ll match you up.
-
We’re small on purpose. Six chairs, no assembly line. Every stylist is a specialist—not a generalist. Our prices are reasonable. And our clients describe us as “professional and sweet,” which honestly is the best compliment we could ask for.
-
Absolutely. Check out our Portfolio page or follow us on Instagram @matsonandco. We post before-and-afters, color transformations, extension installs, and curly hair work regularly.