I came here for a perm and had an extremely disappointing experience. The stylist, Jonathan, barely…read moreasked any questions before booking -- we simply agreed on a date and time. When I asked if I needed to wash my hair before, he said no. There were no forms or consultations like you'd expect before a beauty service, which already felt unprofessional.
When I arrived, he assumed my hair was virgin because it was black. I told him it had been previously dyed. He touched it briefly and proceeded without performing any strand or chemical tests. During the appointment, he and another stylist spoke in Mandarin about my hair, and I later realized they were discussing its condition -- including that my hair was dry and that he hadn't checked its health before starting. None of this was communicated to me in English until after the service was done. If he had told me my hair wasn't a good candidate for a perm, I absolutely would not have gone through with it.
After the service, he took multiple photos of my hair, just like the ones featured on his Instagram, but never posted them -- which says a lot. If the result had turned out well, I'm sure he would have proudly shared it. Initially, the result looked like soft "blowout" waves, which I accepted. But once I washed my hair following his exact instructions -- leave-in conditioner, oil, twisting, and air drying -- my hair turned completely straight, dry, and fried in multiple sections.
I was so concerned that I sought a second opinion from a licensed cosmetologist the next day, who told me my hair was overprocessed, needed deep hydration, and strongly advised not to return to the same salon. When I reached out to Jonathan with my concerns, he first offered a redo and a free haircut, but I explained I was worried about further damage. Eventually, he said he might speak to the manager about a refund. However, when I asked for an update, he refused accountability and shifted blame onto me, saying he had "relied on the information provided by the client." But I'm not the professional -- he is. It was his responsibility to assess whether my hair could safely handle a chemical service.
Additionally, the pricing was misleading. He quoted me $350 via Instagram, but when it was time to pay, the total suddenly became $380 plus an unexpected $90 haircut fee. I also tipped via Zelle, bringing the total cost to almost $550 for a service that damaged my hair. Despite multiple attempts to resolve this respectfully for a refund between us, he refused to issue a refund or take responsibility.
Even if my hair had been previously dyed, a professional stylist should evaluate and communicate potential risks before performing a chemical treatment. Instead of feeling excited about my new style, I was left with damaged hair, frustration, and regret. I hope this salon -- and this stylist in particular -- improves their transparency, consultation process, and professional standards before causing this kind of harm to another client.
I want to make clear if he had told me hey, you are not a good candidate right now for a perm- I would've taken myself back on the train and enjoyed 5 hours in NY doing anything else.