I do not recommend Beauty Bar 26.
I've seen Vicky several times over the years with good results, which makes this even more disappointing.
Going into the appointment, she knew my hair was already a little dry and that I was concerned about maintaining its health. My appointment started around 3:00 PM, and I did not leave until after midnight. I didn't get home until 12:45 AM, and it takes me about 35 minutes to get home.
During that time, bleach was left on sections of my hair for several hours, and in multiple areas it dried out completely. I was told during the appointment that once it dries, it's "deactivated," but the condition of my hair afterward suggests otherwise.
I asked during the appointment what was being used and was told 20 and 30 volume developer. I also asked about bond protection beforehand and was told K18 would be used instead of Olaplex. During the service, I was told it was not needed, but afterward in text messages I was told Olaplex was used throughout, which does not match what I was told in the chair.
There was also a disconnect in the plan. The goal was a silver highlight with a natural grey blend and lowlights, where I wouldn't have to use hair color ever again on my hair. Instead, a large portion of my hair was heavily highlighted, including areas that I understood were supposed to be lowlighted. I couldn't see the process and relied on the stylist's direction.
Since the appointment, I've experienced significant breakage, dryness, and uneven tone. The demi color washed out within three washes, and my scalp has been irritated. No patch test was performed.
When I raised concerns and asked about a refund, I made it clear I understood if refunds weren't offered. However, insteaed of a refund, she mentioned she would "try to fix it" and the explanations I received afterward were inconsistent with what I experienced during the appointment, including being told later that only 10 volume developer was used. No way was I going to let her touch my already extremely fragile hair due to her treatment and misguidance at this point.
Even with 10 volume, bleach is typically processed within about 30-45 minutes and rarely exceeds 50-60 minutes. Leaving it on for several hours, especially until it dries out, is not consistent with standard practice and can cause damage.
"Leaving 10-volume bleach on for hours is generally not recommended, even though lower volumes are gentler. While 10-volume acts slower, it stops working after 45-60 minutes when it dries out. Leaving it on for hours risks severe dryness, breakage, and potential scalp damage, as the chemicals continue to break down hair proteins without providing significant extra lift." I wish I had known that instead of listen to her. I should have listened to my gut, I asked her about this multiple times!!!!
I'm frequently on camera for work, so this has been both frustrating and costly to correct. I'm now going elsewhere to fix it. The photos taken after speak for themselves. I asked her not to do too close to my root because she was supposed to and told me that the goal was to make the rest of my hair blend with the root so I would not ever have to come back for coloring. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend this salon. read more