Review of Danny Jaleca Salon - A Complete Disaster
I did extensive research before choosing Danny Jaleca Salon. Time and time again, it came up as a top-rated salon, so I decided to finally spend the money in hopes of getting quality service. I've been to multiple salons in Miami and have yet to find one that delivers, but based on everything I read, I was hopeful this would be different.
I had been texting with Heather before my appointment, explaining that I had bad experiences in the past. I even sent her pictures of my own hair--both before and after other salons had messed it up--so she could see exactly what I wanted and what I didn't want. Every single photo I sent was of me, not some random inspiration picture from the internet. Heather assured me that she was a master balayage specialist and could easily give me the look I wanted. She quoted me a price, and I scheduled my appointment with confidence.
From the start, things were off. My appointment was at 1:30 PM, yet at 1:35 PM, Heather was standing right in front of me, taking endless pictures of her previous client's bleach-blonde hair instead of acknowledging me. She didn't greet me, didn't apologize for running late--nothing. It was so bad that the owner had to remind her that I was her client and that I was ready. That should have been my first red flag.
Once we finally got started, Heather told me my hair was so dark on top that there was "nothing she could do." She didn't suggest lightening it, blending it, or adjusting the technique--just that we would "keep coloring it." What I ended up with was a completely black top with no blend whatsoever. She dragged the color down too far, making everything even darker than before. I asked for a balayage/ombre look, where the top would be slightly darker and the bottom would have lighter, fun pieces. Instead, I now have a harsh, unnatural black top with zero highlights--it's the exact opposite of what I asked for.
Even worse, Heather never checked on me while the color was processing. At one point, I overheard people in the back talking about baklava, and sure enough, she was back there eating instead of making sure my color was turning out right. I actually had to ask the receptionist to go remind her that the timer had gone off! Not only did she fail to check the single-process color, but she also never once checked the bleach for the highlights.
After washing my hair and attempting to blow-dry it, I noticed right away that my hair was all-over black. I told her I was uncomfortable with the result, and she casually said she could wash it again and use a different toner. At this point, I had zero trust in her skills and didn't want her touching my hair again. When I pointed out that there were no highlights and that my hair was even darker than before, she insisted that it looked like what I wanted. I showed her the pictures again and said, "I don't know what you see, but there are no highlights. My hair is darker. This is not what I asked for."
To make matters worse, Heather later messaged me saying I seemed unsure of what I wanted. That is absolutely false. I was extremely clear, provided multiple pictures, and was explicit about what I did and did not want. She claimed she could deliver exactly what I asked for, but she did the opposite.
When it came time to pay, I told her I was not happy and didn't think I should have to pay for something so poorly done. However, I didn't want to cause a scene, so I paid--but I did not tip. On top of this horrible experience, I had to pay nearly $40 in parking fees because of how long I was there, only to walk out with a disaster on my head.
The Aftermath - Silence, Avoidance, and Zero Accountability
I immediately tried to contact the owner, Danny, for a refund. I called multiple times and was told that he was on vacation in Las Vegas but would get back to me afterward. He never did. Heather also assured me she would make sure he reached out to me, yet she has now completely stopped responding as well.
To make things even worse, the salon is blatantly avoiding my calls. I have called four different times during business hours, and every time, the call goes straight to voicemail. They clearly have caller ID and are deliberately ignoring me instead of addressing the issue.
Final Thoughts - Demand for a Refund
At this point, I demand a refund. I now have to spend even more money on a color correction to fix this disaster, which is completely unfair. As a teacher, I can't afford to waste money on something that didn't just miss the mark--it ruined my hair.
If Heather or Danny actually care about their customers, they need to do the right thing and refund me for this botched job. If I don't receive a refund, I will continue to share my experience everywhere I can--with everyone I know and across every platform--because people deserve to know what kind of service they're actually getting at this salon.
Avoid this place at all costs. read more