Let me clarify and say that I came in for an advertised FREE service. As it was explained to me, it was a class of some sort to let the apprentice do my highlights under supervision. I've been a highlight model once before and it was a great experience. The apprentice was grateful that I let her work on my hair, and she asked me what I wanted and tried to accommodate me in every possible way. Not so in this place. When I came in, I tried to show the owner Vincent and the apprentice what I wanted. I even showed them a picture of my desired shade, MY OWN picture, not Jennifer Aniston's or some unattainable starlet's hair, telling them that I liked contrast and dimensions. He barely glanced at the picture I was showing, mixed the color and started showing the girl the craft of highlights. To my horror I realized that she didn't even know how to hold a piece of foil. It's as if I was her first customer. He was showing her how to separate the hair, how to fold, how to hold the foil, etc. I even asked her if she ever tried beauty school. She told me that she graduated from beauty school. Really? Without even knowing how to hold a piece of foil for highlight? But I was already in, so I stayed in my seat and prepared myself for a long and tedious afternoon.
Soon after they started I noticed that Vincent was telling her that since I wanted contrast she should leave more space in between my highlights. I told them that I didn't want them spaced out and showing dark roots, all I wanted was contrast achieved by blending different shades. He totally ignored me. Five minutes later I said it again, this time he addressed my concern by saying to the girl : "She doesn't know what she wants. Let's make less space in between" Uhm, thanks.... I guess. I then asked him how come they didn't start from the back of my head, that's where every colorist usually starts with the highlights, and he told me that they are not doing the back. Why? We are just doing the front, he said, with no further explanation. He then asked her if she felt more comfortable doing it by herself for 5 minutes. and she said :"I'm not sure, she is moving her head" - "So tell her not to move,- he said. It's not about her, it's about you!"
Now, I understand it was a FREE service, however I was still the customer, no? Not a paying customer, but a customer nevertheless. I was sitting in a chair by appointment and invitation from the salon, that constitutes a customer. In any case, she was so slow that after doing only half of my hair (which was half a head anyway) he took over and finished the job, all without saying a word to me. After the job was completed he didn't ask me if I liked it, didn't compliment me on my hair, NOTHING! The highlights actually weren't bad, not exactly the shade that I wanted , but I wouldn't say they were horrible, but the attitude, the rudeness and the service made me feel horrible. I got up and left without saying a single word, since not a single word was said to me. By the way, in all the time that I was in the salon, there was not a single customer there, not a soul! Granted, it was Tuesday, but still surprising. Needless to say, I'm never coming back, even for free read more