I want to start by acknowledging Lindsey, who was very pleasant and helpful in finding a stylist…read morewho could accommodate my appointment. The salon itself is beautiful and upscale. Unfortunately, my experience with Cheli was extremely disappointing, which is the reason for my one-star review.
I was visiting San Diego for a wedding and booked an appointment for a trim and a simple, boho-inspired hairstyle with a couple of loose braids and soft, tousled waves. I sent Cheli reference photos beforehand and made sure to explain that my hair was thinner than the models' hair in the pictures. He assured me he could achieve the look.
Unfortunately, the finished hairstyle looked nothing like what I requested. Rather than soft, effortless waves and loose braids, I ended up with a dated, messy style that looked more like second-day hair. The braids were poorly executed, and the excessive hairspray left my hair feeling stiff and powdery.
As disappointing as the hairstyle was, the haircut was far worse. Cheli went directly from cutting to styling without showing me the finished cut. It wasn't until I washed my hair the following morning that I discovered just how grossly uneven it was. I also experienced what appeared to be heat damage, as my hair smelled burned for several days, even after washing it.
During the appointment, Cheli was friendly, and we had a pleasant conversation, especially after he learned I spoke Spanish. He shared stories about his professional experience, which made the disappointing results even more surprising.
I realized before leaving that the hairstyle wasn't what I had envisioned, but I was running out of time before the wedding. I didn't get a proper look at it until I was outside the salon, and I take responsibility for not examining it more closely before leaving. However, I had no opportunity to evaluate the haircut itself before it was styled.
The service was expensive, and I gave him a generous tip before realizing the extent of the problems. I later contacted Cheli directly to express my dissatisfaction and received absolutely no response. At the very least, I would have appreciated an acknowledgment or apology.
I understand that not every hairstyle turns out exactly as envisioned, but this went well beyond a difference in expectations. Between the poorly executed styling, uneven haircut, apparent heat damage, and complete lack of follow-up, this was an extremely disappointing experience.
I appreciated Lindsey's kindness and the salon's lovely atmosphere, but unfortunately, neither makes up for the quality of service I received.