Inside 'Sorry I Broke Your Heart', A Neighborhood Salon

Inside 'Sorry I Broke Your Heart', A Neighborhood SalonPhotos: Stephen Jackson/Hoodline
Stephen Jackson
Published on March 19, 2016

On the far western reaches of Chestnut Street,  colorist Kelly Gayle has a message to the public: "Sorry I Broke Your Heart".

However, don't let the semi-apologetic namesake of Gayle's business throw you off. Along with creating top-notch looks, her main goal is to provide clients with a warm and inviting atmosphere that counters the oftentimes overwhelmingly 'fabulous' scene at some of the city's larger high-end salons.

"I wanted to create a place where people felt comfortable to relax and talk. I didn't want it to be so rigid," said Gayle.


Born and raised in Oakland, Gayle started coloring hair 15 years ago, training at diPietro Todd, a renowned salon and stylist academy. She worked there for five years, at Pacific Heights' Posh Salon for another five, and eventually opened Sorry I Broke Your Heart in April 2010.

Gayle told us the unique name came out of necessity; when she started, there was a salon on the corner, and a beauty supply shop next door. She felt the need to stand out.

"Starting the business was fun," said Gayle. "It was nice at the time because the economy was so low and there wasn't a lot of competition. Chestnut Street needed a neighborhood salon."


Perhaps what sets Gayle's operation apart from other places is her small and specialized staff. With just one other colorist, and two other stylists, Gayle feels her team is able to give a unique and personalized experience to clients, many of whom Gayle has seen for over 10 years. "We really do care about our clients, and we don't want people to feel nervous about what's going on with their hair," Gayle told us. "It's really social," she continued. "You get to a point where you are just hanging out with your homies all day because you've been working with them for so long. You get to talk and be creative at the same time."


Gayle remarked that she's seen the neighborhood change quite a bit in the past six years. "In some ways it's turned into a street full of small corporations. We're lucky to have been able to keep our space and not be turned into a Chili's or something," she said.

In fact, the salon just scored another five year lease, something Gayle is extremely happy about since, despite the changes, she loves working in the area.

Photo Courtesy of Sorry I Broke Your Heart

"It's rewarding to be able to see our clients with their babies and dogs walking by. It's nice to be able to see people in the street and say hi, and it's great that people feel like they can drop in and hang out," Gayle told us.

If you are interested in breaking some hearts, you can call the salon at (415) 655-9450, or visit them at their website, on Facebook, and on Instagram.