I am SO disappointed by this place! First, though, a compliment: the owner (or, at least I think she is) is a nice lady. Otherwise, there are so many things wrong here, it's tragic. To begin, as prices go, it seemed great, because you could always find better prices - and service - at Dominican salons (over black salons). (Still superior, btw.) Although, with all the price fluctuations that have been happening in the last few years, many salons have resorted to either NOT posting a price chart or posting a chart with price RANGES. That price range is as tricky (and dare I say "larcenous") as internet companies offering speeds of "up to" some fantastic number. I'll give them a little credit on that note, though: they were clever enough to cover their posteriors with a sign that informs customers to confirm the price of services before they start. I know that my short hair doesn't merit much work, but since they had the sign, I asked anyway. Lucky I did, because as short as my hair is, it's "just long enough" to tack on an extra $5 to the low advertised price.
On to the next annoyance. As the woman washed my hair, the rinky-dink towel she put around my neck was soon soaked. She didn't help her case as she carelessly rubbed my head and splashed shampoo and conditioner on both my shirt *and* my purse! (Yes, that's right; I was sitting there bare - with no cape to shield me. Tsk tsk...) To top it off, she didn't rinse my hair enough - as "long" as it is... Next, onto the dressing chair.
At the chair, she did ask me if I wanted to blow dry or the chair. Suspecting that this might affect the price (as it does in many places) I told her to do whichever won't cost me more. She said it's my choice. I chose the chair. With that, her following question should have been if I have a preference of which way the rollers go. (I've been to a couple of GOOD salons, so I'm somewhat familiar with good service and treatment.) She didn't ask and so when I felt that she had reached the middle of my hair, I told her which directions I wanted the remaining rollers rolled. When she was done, she placed a sheet of Kleenex over each ear (not an ear cup - as you'd typically be provided) and net- tied my head and I was off to the dryer. To add insult to injury, I was blessed with the most worn/torn chair available. Why not, right?
Once drying was done and she eventually called me back to her chair, she in rolled and asked me how I wanted it. ("Well!" I should have said.) I told her. And she did not do as I requested. She just did the basic everyday hairstyle. I just said "thank you" and paid and left. I don't make scenes; I simply don't return and don't recommend.
As for tipping, I usually tip (at least) that last $5 - even if I'm dissatisfied - since that tends to be the only income for some. But since they didn't charge the pitched price, I had nothing to offer.
*The last time I went to a hairdresser and was clearly dissatisfied (I have no poker face) her clients didn't like my seething-rage look. They expressed that if I was dissatisfied, that I should just let them know and they'd fix it. (Now that's the type of loyalty you could take to the bank!) One of them ran to her and they took appropriate action to resolve the problem. I kept photographic evidence of the "before" and "after".
If they were expecting the "typical black woman attitude" filled with ranting and raving and cursing and violence, they'd be sorely disappointed . You'll see none of that with me. I'm a restrained person; well-aware of the best ways to handle conflict. read more