I contemplated on writing this review, but thought I'd warn others.
I recently booked an appointment for a cut and color, and I must admit I'm a bit disappointed with both the pricing and the end result. When I initially inquired about pricing, I was informed that it would vary depending on the stylist chosen. The salon mentioned that a cut with a junior stylist would be around $65, and full color would cost $200 or more depending on the color. After learning that the junior stylist had 10 years of experience, I decided to proceed with the booking.
They requested photos of my current hair color and inspiration images for the desired look. After I sent my photos via text, they assured me that bleaching wouldn't be necessary.
Upon entering, I was greeted by my hairstylist, Kloe. After assessing my hair, she explained that achieving the desired brown shade with permanent dye wouldn't be feasible without bleaching. Following a consultation and discussion of alternatives, she proposed minimizing bleach usage and lifting the color as much as possible without it, followed by toning. I had requested a dark, cool brown color, not a drastic change. Pricing wasn't addressed at this point, and I mistakenly assumed it wouldn't deviate significantly from the initial quote.
The customer service was great overall, and all the staff members were friendly. They provided complimentary beverages like coffee and tea, along with snacks such as cookies, which I appreciated. However, my hair appointment took longer than expected. Part of the delay was due to my hairstylist attending to another client who came in for a haircut. During this time, I was offered what was described as a "complimentary CO2 head spa," but it primarily consisted of washing my hair with Olaplex products and leaving warm water running on my head for approximately 30 minutes to kill time while my stylist finished up with the other client.
After my hair was dried, I noticed that the color wasn't quite what I had hoped for. Despite requesting a cool brown shade and emphasizing my desire to avoid any orange or red tones, I still observed them after the styling was complete. My stylist showcased the color to me under various lighting conditions. Although it didn't match the brown I had envisioned, it wasn't displeasing, so I decided to accept it. When offered to tone it darker, I declined, as I had already spent a considerable amount of time at the salon and just wanted to leave at that point.
The most frustrating aspect was the final total cost presented to me. It amounted to a staggering $535 for a haircut, color, and toner. I was truly taken aback by this amount. The breakdown included $65 for the haircut, $250 for the hair color, and I was shocked to see an additional $220 for the toner. Never before had I encountered such a steep charge for toner, especially one nearly equivalent to the cost of the hair color itself. Moreover, the outcome was not even a significant transformation; I merely transitioned from dark brown to a slightly lighter brown shade, which still did not match the cool brown I desired. While I understand that achieving the perfect color may require multiple sessions, charging such an exorbitant amount for a subtle change feels unjust.
I shared my concerns with the hairstylist, who apologized and explained that she does not have control over the owner's pricing. I reiterated that it would have been preferable to be informed upfront if the pricing would differ significantly from the initial quote. I had anticipated the total cost to be no more than $400 for the desired outcome. Despite being dissatisfied with the hair color, I appreciated the personable nature of my stylist and still tipped her $100 for her efforts, despite the owner's ridiculous pricing. My overall expenses tallied up to $640, a sum I considered unwarranted considering the minimal change accomplished. It felt like an unfair and excessive charge for my overall results.
I also conveyed my concerns again via text when I got home, but their response felt generic. They made sure to mention that they offered me a complimentary CO2 service, claiming it aided in the adoption of color. However, in reality, it only involved washing my hair with olaplaex products and allowing warm water to run over my head under a fancy sink. It was far from the CO2 treatment others received. Considering this experience, I highly doubt I would return and pay such a ridiculously amount again..
The photos below depict my before and afters of my hair. As evident, the transformation was not substantial enough to justify the $535 price tag. read more