Let me start by saying I RARELY write bad reviews, but I feel as though this is necessary, as I…read morefeel I was cheated, and want to give other clients something to be cautious of.
I've been a platinum blonde for years. Normally, I get my hair done in LA, but since I've recently moved to the OC, I thought I would try my luck with someone new. I found Brittany and instantly fell in love with her IG account! Basically EVERYTHING I wanted!! I contact Britt, and as another reviewer stated, she was very difficult to communicate with because of timing (She's an extremely busy gal...So you're going to expect delayed booking with her); however, I got an appointment, which I was sooo EXCITED for!
On the day of the service, Brittany was almost an hour late (Not that big of a deal, I had time :) but wanted to mention just in case others do not.) It was a slow start of service, there was a lot of set up and prep work needing to happen, which took quite some time before she began the service itself.
During service, I was completely excited still! I went in to receive a FULL highlight with babylights and larger slices (this service costs $380). Additionally, I had asked if she could add a slight pink tone to my hair, which she was more than happy to accommodate with a pink hued shampoo she uses.
When Service was complete, it wasn't quite what I expected. There was no pink hue at all, and I noticed a lot of yellow highlights. I assumed maybe the lighting was bad, so I didn't mention the highlights then (Still not the part I'm super upset about).
A week later, I went to get a blowout at a different salon (I normally do this for my first wash after services...just because in my head it keeps toner on longer) While at the salon, I was chit chatting with the girl who normally provides my blowout. I was casually blabbing and letting my stylist know that I just got my hair done a week ago, and I had went in for a full highlight. The stylist got really quiet and stated that I should contact Brittany, because I definitely did NOT receive a FULL highlight, but a partial. She then showed me in the mirror the back of my head, and how DARK the bottom of my hair was from the long root growth (I rarely look back there...Didn't think of it).
I contact Brittany asking her if she only performed a partial highlight, and that my roots were extremely long and dark in the back. It took her about a week to respond, and she stated that, "It takes a couple of times to get the lightness I desire." ...I'm already super blonde...and I get full highlights and partial highlights literally in rotation every 2 months. So I'm definitely no stranger to what the difference between a partial and a full highlight is.
I put my hair up, took a pic and showed Brittany the obviously not highlighted back of my neck, and she didn't respond. I followed up several times...No response. It's been 2 months now...No response.
So...The TLDR version is:
1) Brittany may be extremely overwhelmed with her business right now, and may take a very long time to schedule you in...If at all.
2) WATCH OUT for getting conned into paying prices not fitting to your services. KNOW the differences between a Full, Partial, Bayalage...Just any service you're going in for, KNOW.WHAT.TO.EXPECT.
3) Note that Phenix Hair Studios (Where Brittany is located out of) is for stylists who independently own their businesses...This means that there's no manager you can speak to...No salon owner other than Brittany...And if she doesn't respond, she doesn't respond, and you're stuck trying to figure out what to do.
4) In total, I paid almost $500. I wouldn't be so disgusted if she would have just admitted she did a partial, offered me to come in and do the rest of the highlights...or even let me come in next time and did the full and charged me for a partial...But she did absolutely nothing but ignore me and keep my money.
