On Tuesday, May 13th at 10 a.m., I had an appointment at Feverview Eagle Rock with Kylie. I've been a client of Kylie's for about a year and a half, but in hindsight, I deeply regret continuing to see her after our first appointment, which was upsetting and mishandled from the beginning. I want to share my experience, not out of malice, but because no one deserves to be treated the way I was.
When I first started going to Feverview in 2021, I saw Amber. Amber was not only incredibly talented but also made me feel safe and heard especially important after I had a bleaching accident over a decade ago. Amber created the bright copper-red that I'm known for and even asked me to be a model to demonstrate the technique to other stylists, including Kylie. Amber later moved away, and because Kylie had been present during that educational session, I assumed I would be in good hands moving forward. Unfortunately, during my very first appointment with Kylie ignored everything shown in the demonstration. Kylie didn't refer to the formula Amber had logged and gave me a dark auburn instead of my signature vibrant copper. She ended up having to strip all my color and have me return the next day to fix it. Still, I gave her another chance, and for about a year, my color was acceptable. Three months ago, I trusted Kylie with a haircut for the first time. I had sent detailed videos, a reference chart, and pictures of a vintage "middy" (also known as a 1950s U-shaped bob). She executed it well, and I was pleased. So, I returned on May 13th, requesting the same cut only slightly shorter. This is where things fell apart... When I mentioned wanting to do the vintage middy again, Kylie didn't know what that was. That was deeply concerning since we had just done this same cut three months earlier, and I had provided the same detailed references again. I handed her the visuals once more, and she said she understood. I tend to be a very kind and gentle communicator, but I'm also particular with my hair. I politely asked where the back and front lengths would fall. Kylie brushed it off, saying, "I'm just going to go for it." I repeated my question gently, just wanting clarity before scissors touched my hair, but again, "I'm just going to go for it." Then, she turned me away from the mirror and began cutting. When she turned me around, I saw my hair and my heart sank. I quietly said, "Oh no. I don't like it... this is not what I asked for. I think I hate it, I'm so sorry." Kylie looked me in the eyes with visible anger and said, "I'm sorry you feel that way," and then walked away. What followed next was truly traumatizing. From behind the wall where the color is mixed, I could clearly hear Kylie loudly talking badly about me to another stylist for five to seven minutes while I sat in the chair, shaking. Someone I had trusted and had a friendly rapport with was now ridiculing me behind my back, just feet away. Kylie returned, applied my root color in silence, and then left again resuming the rant, again audible from the chair. I could barely breathe. I was visibly trembling. Eventually, Kylie returned and told me flatly, "You can either have me finish your haircut or choose someone else. I spoke to the owners." I told her I felt uncomfortable, and her reply was, "Well, I feel uncomfortable too." I gently but firmly explained, "You didn't do what I asked for at all. And then you treated me cruelly after I said I didn't like it. I heard what you said about me." Kylie's response? "Okay, well, you heard me... so then ?" I was stunned. I reminded her that I, too, work in the beauty industry and would never treat a client like this. Kylie's answer: "We're just different people." There was no apology. No ownership. Just coldness. Eventually, Kylie said the owners would reach out to me, and that was the end of our interaction. I left devastated not only because my hair was butchered, but because of how I was treated. The haircut looked like it had been done by someone who had no training. I truly left feeling emotionally traumatized. Lauren, one of the owners, did reach out. She was understanding, kind, and immediately issued a full refund. I appreciate that gesture and the communication I've received from her. But what happened should never happen to anyone. Even at my most upset, I remained calm, soft-spoken, and even apologized as I explained how I felt. I even told Kylie how hard it was for me not to tip that it's not who I am. That's how much I care about people. And yet, I was treated with cruelty, disrespect, and what felt like outright contempt.
No one should leave a salon in tears, trembling, or feeling humiliated. No one should be spoken about with such hostility within earshot. And no one should be made to feel like their presence is a burden after placing their trust in a professional. I hope sharing this helps protect others from going through what I did. I would never wish this experience on anyone.