I wanted to share my experience with Elegant on Arrival in hopes that it helps future bridal…read moreparties make informed decisions.
When I sat down for my appointment, I explained the hairstyle I wanted. During the first pass with the straightener, there was a significant amount of smoke coming from my hair. I immediately stopped the stylist, Christina, and explained that my hair is extremely sensitive to heat and asked if she could lower the temperature to avoid damaging it.
Her response felt defensive rather than reassuring. She stated that she had been doing hair for 15 years, had never burned anyone's hair, and knew what she was doing. While she did lower the straightener temperature, I felt my concerns were dismissed. Throughout that interaction, she laughed and seemed to brush off what I was saying instead of taking my concern seriously.
Later, while curling my hair, I became distracted because my best friend, the bride, was opening a sentimental gift. Afterward, I realized the curling iron temperature had not been lowered as requested. I washed my hair today, and it now feels extremely dry, brittle, and straw-like. I understand that heat styling is part of the process, but I specifically communicated my concerns beforehand because I know how sensitive my hair is. Instead of feeling heard, I felt like my concerns were ignored because the stylist believed she knew better than I did about my own hair.
Beyond the issue with my hair, I was disappointed by the overall professionalism and customer service. Throughout the morning, the stylist came across as condescending and difficult to approach. She was not warm, encouraging, or enthusiastic, which is especially important in a bridal suite environment.
One example occurred when she finished styling the bride's mother's hair and asked for payment. The bride's mother mistakenly mentioned getting a check, and the stylist repeatedly responded in a condescending tone that checks were not accepted while chuckling and that it was "clearly" stated on our policy. It was an honest mistake, as cash had already been withdrawn for payment the day before. The interaction felt unnecessarily rude and embarrassing. I understand that there could have been some past experiences that brought her some stress with the mothers response to getting a check, but that was not a professional interaction.
My biggest concern is that I felt completely dismissed when I expressed concerns about my hair, and I am now dealing with what appears to be heat damage as a result. She mentioned that in 15 years she had never burned anyone's hair. Perhaps that's true, or perhaps no one has spoken up about it before. Either way, you can count me as the first.
Equally disappointing was the atmosphere that was created throughout the morning. What should have been a fun, relaxing experience getting ready with my best friend on her wedding day instead felt like walking on eggshells. No one should feel uncomfortable speaking up about concerns while receiving a service, especially during such an important event.
I understand that working bridal parties can be stressful and demanding, but if you choose a career in customer service, knowing how to style hair is only part of the job. Knowing how to communicate professionally, listen to clients, and make people feel comfortable is equally important. Unfortunately, I left feeling dismissed, uncomfortable, and disappointed. There were also issues that the family had with her professionalism and communication leading up to the wedding, but those experiences are not mine to share.
I am sharing my experience because if someone tells you that their hair is sensitive to heat, that concern should be taken seriously. I hope this feedback encourages better communication, more respect for client concerns, and a more positive experience for future bridal parties.
