I booked a blowout because I had my engagement photos that evening, and I was really looking forward to feeling beautiful and confident. I want to emphasize that I had realistic expectations. I know my hair can have a hard time holding curls, and I understand an inspiration photo is a reference, not a guarantee. I wasn't expecting an exact recreation. I just wanted the same soft, romantic, voluminous vibe.
Unfortunately, I was really disappointed with the initial style. To me, it felt very boxy around my face, and there were still straight pieces throughout the back that made the style feel unfinished. I just didn't feel good looking at myself.
Speaking up was extremely difficult because I don't like complaining, especially about my hair. I finally worked up the courage to say I wasn't happy with it. The manager came over, and I felt like she seemed somewhat irritated. She also explained that the look I wanted couldn't really be recreated because of the way my hair was cut. That was confusing because my hair is specifically cut with blowouts in mind, and I've had blowouts before where I've achieved the soft, voluminous look I wanted.
Again, I wasn't expecting perfection. I just wanted the overall vibe.
Thankfully, they brought over another stylist to help fix it, and I genuinely want to give her credit. She was patient, kind, and tried very hard to make me comfortable. While she was fixing my hair, I was literally shaking in the chair and trying not to cry. She is a huge reason I'm still willing to keep trying professional styling services after this experience.
Unfortunately, the checkout experience is what really left a sour taste.
There was a male stylist who had not worked on my hair and wasn't involved when my appointment initially started. While my second stylist was fixing my hair, I noticed him talking with her about hair coming in wet and apparently being subject to an additional fee.
Then, while I was checking out, the front desk brought up that my hair had supposedly been wet when I arrived and told me there was normally an additional fee, but that they were "waiving" it this time.
This really confused me. I had washed and blow-dried my hair myself around 8 to 9 AM that morning. During the appointment, my stylist also sprayed or misted my hair before styling it. If washing my hair at the salon was recommended or necessary to achieve the style, I absolutely would have done it and paid for it if someone had told me beforehand. I just wasn't told beforehand.
What made this worse was that the same male stylist who hadn't worked on my hair then joined the conversation and started giving me advice about what I should have done differently and what I should do next time.
At the very least, if someone was going to explain how I could have achieved the look differently, I would have much rather heard that from the stylist actually working on my hair or someone involved in my service. This stylist wasn't there when my appointment started and didn't work on my hair, yet he inserted himself into the conversation and explained what I should have done differently.
And honestly, my engagement photos were that night. I wasn't asking for an explanation of why the look was difficult. I was already upset and trying to feel good about myself for an important evening. I understand that full volume can be challenging, and I was willing to accept that it might not turn out exactly like my inspiration. But having someone who hadn't worked on my hair explain how I should have asked for it or prepared my hair made me feel blamed.
That was not helpful in that moment. It was hurtful and unnecessary.
I wasn't trying to argue or avoid paying. I just wanted to check out and leave. Instead, I paid, tipped for my services, and walked out to my car crying while trying to regain my composure.
The second stylist had helped me feel comfortable again, but the checkout conversation made me feel blamed rather than supported.
If there is an additional fee for arriving with wet hair, or if washing your hair at the salon is strongly recommended, that should be communicated before the service, not at checkout after an already emotional appointment.
If there was something I could have done differently to help achieve the look, I would have appreciated being told by the stylist working on me, preferably before or during the service, not by someone who wasn't involved in my appointment while I was already upset.
I am genuinely grateful to the stylist who helped fix my hair. She was compassionate and made a difficult experience much better, and I don't want my review to take away from the effort she made.
But overall, I left feeling much worse than I expected to.
I wasn't expecting perfection. I just wanted to feel good walking out the door for my engagement photos that evening. Honestly, I should've just picked up my fiancé's Zara shirt and never walked in here. Could've spent that money literally anywhere else. read more