OK....so I came here on a recommendation fr a friend whom I admire. With that said, I'm slightly disappointed in this particular Basement Salon. I've been to the EDSA Shangri La location twice &they had better service than this place....which is surprising.
Is it because I'm new ¬ a "regular" that you gave me the cold shoulder? Or is it because I wasn't flashing a gaudy labeled purse with the matching flashy outfit? Either way, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt &say that it was a bad Tuesday for them &they were "off their game"
First impression, the salon can easily be missed. It's on the 4th floor at the end of the Mall; sandwiched between retail stores. If you move too quickly, you will miss the salon all together. You go down a hallway to an unimpressive "loft type" salon. There, you're greeted by 2 girls with very flat (fake) "hello ma'am!" with the rhetorical "how are you?" straight into "do you have an appt?"
I tell them my name & 1)they couldn't find me on their books & 2)they didn't offer any drinks or explanations/apologies for the 5min just standing around waiting for them to get their act together. Good thing I arrived 10minutes early for my appt or else I would've been considered late. ***sigh***
I'm then escorted by some guy who just mumbles &gestures to follow him to a chair. I asked for some water(since they didn't offer) &finally my stylist arrives. Joseph, a guy of few words, does not introduce himself. He just asks what I would like.
I introduce myself &show him a pic of what hairstyle I'm looking for....he then walks away. Apparently, he's still working on someone else &quickly gestures to another guy to wash my hair. After another 10minutes, Joseph appears behind me &starts cutting my hair. No questions, no starter conversation, no foreplay at all... just straight to cutting. I had to stop him &explain what I was looking for. He nods &confirms that he understands.
10min of silence pass with him snipping away &then he swishes my hair left to right &walks away. Then another guy tells me it's time to rinse. He blow dries my hair, with no product, &gives the mirror with a "voila" expression on his face.
Really? Am I really supposed to be impressed? I tell him the back of my hair still needs to be trimmed. Joseph comes back surprised &asks me "you want it shorter?"
I tell him, "no, not shorter....but I told you that I don't want a mullet. I want a clean cut in the back."
With no comment, he starts snipping again.
To be friendly, I smile &try to start conversation.
I tell him that he came highly recommended &that I'm excited about the hairstyle. He just smiles back. I talk about my flat, lifeless hair &how it needs plenty of (love)& layers to give it volume. He just nods.
I compliment him on his cutting style. He nods again.
I give up. :(
OK, don't get me wrong, I'm sure Joseph is super talented &I'm going to LOVE my hair &how it grows out(that's how I judge the true talent of a stylist). But good God Almighty in Heaven, is it too much to ask for a bit of customer service &courtesy? For the price point of this location, I expected much more than the expedited, hurried cut that was done. I felt like he was late for a date &was rushing thru the haircut to get me out the door. It was kinda disappointing.
I still gave the 20% tip for him &another 200pesos for the hair-washer asst.....just so there are no hard feelings.
I really hope this hairstyle grows out nicely so I can give this salon another try. Hopefully they'll be in a better mood to give BETTER customer service. read more