my first impression was great. The atmosphere was wonderful, receptionist was pleasant, and they had these cute tubs turned into couches. A few people came in after me and their stylist was ready before mine was. No biggie! I over heard each one of these clients offered a drink by their stylist. I thought...how nice!! It wasn’t long after my appointment time I was semi greeted by my stylist. He was just finishing his previous client and his client actually came and apologized to me that her appointment ran longer than normal while the stylist just kind of half smiled at me. They continued to laugh and make jokes together for an additional 5 minutes while she finished her beverage standing over top of me while I uncomfortably sat in the “waiting area” chair.
When I was finally called to the chair where my hair would be done I was never offered a drink. I thought...well maybe that’s reserved for spending more money or something. I shrugged it off.
Prior to making this appointment I had spent the better part of two days searching salons in the area, reading reviews, and checking pricing. I don’t mind paying higher prices but they better have great reviews! This salon on their website states that cuts are $45/$55/$65 and include: a wash, head massage, dry, cut, and style. Presumably, as many other salons I’ve visited, the lower price is for cuts that don’t take much time such as a trim and increase in price based on the length of hair and how time consuming the cut and style is. I think GREAT! I have semi short hair to medium length hair, it’s thinner, and I’m looking for a basic cut. I am expecting to pay between $45-$55 then a tip..but hey if it’s a great experience I don’t even mind paying the $65.
Things didn’t start out great and ended on that same note. After waiting an additional 20 minutes for my stylist to gossip with his previous client. He took down my hair from its pony tail to see that it was wet. I had wet my hair and brushed it prior to my 5pm appointment because it knots easily and wanted to brush it out before going. He asked if I had washed my hair. I said I had wet it and brushed it out or else it’s a nest of tangles. He asked why I would do such a thing when I knew I was coming for a hair appointment? I’ve always done that because it was a later appointment. My hair had been up all day and was a hot mess. I didn’t realize that apparently at this salon that means you don’t get your hair washed. So he brings me to the sink and lightly wets my hair.
If you’re keeping track that is so far: 20 minutes late, never offered a drink when all other clients were, and now no shampoo or head massage.
We get to the chair and I explain that I wanted layers and showed him where, just below my shoulders, I wanted my hair. What I ended with was above my shoulders and a straight line across. Not one single layer. He said “I gave you kind of a bob”. It was NOTHING like a bob and not what I asked for.
So now add to the previous list that my cut was nothing like I described and pointed out using my hands. He proceeded to blow dry my thin less than shoulder length hair for almost 30minutes. Then fiddled with it for another 15 before deciding to use a straightener and just straighten it. We are now at 1.5 hours total. 20 minutes of waiting for him to gossip, 25 minutes of getting my hair wet and cutting it, and 45 minutes of “styling” it.
Finally it’s over!!!! I go to the desk thinking there is NO WAY this was more than $45. I didn’t get half the services and all he did was blow dry and straighten my hair....even if it did take him 40 minutes longer than it should have. To my shock I’m rung up for $65. How? Why? I just didn’t understand?? At this point the overall experience was a 2 on the scale of 1-10. The cut itself wasn’t bad and the stylist was nice enough. But when a woman goes to get her hair done and is paying almost $100 for a hair cut the least you could do is wash her hair. I don’t know any other woman that wouldn’t agree that is literally the BEST part of getting your hair done.