This is not the complaint of one bad appointment. This is years worth of disappointing things…read moreunsaid. Unfortunately, my last appointment was much more frustrating than all my previous experiences -- and the final straw.
The service options and pricing are incredibly unclear. Her website listed a natural-hair blow-dry/flat iron service, which she has done for me multiple times year after year. When I went to book, I was told that was no longer an option and natural hair could only book a silk press. I was also told to bring cash for the remaining balance. When I asked for the total price to bring the correct amount, despite sending the EXACT same hair photo as the previous year, the price was significantly higher. The pricing is truly a mystery bag.
I ultimately asked to do just a blow-dry and trim. The actual service was extremely minimal for what I paid: my hair was shampooed once, not conditioned, and lightly blow-dried rather than thoroughly stretched and smoothed. Then she trimmed with a wide-toothed comb. I've never had someone trim my hair so scantily. I've been coming to her since I was a teenager and can confidently say her quality has declined. It used to involve at least two shampoos and light conditioning. I've also previously had conditioning added to my bill without her disclosing the addition or cost, which is why I was being especially careful this time with planning.
The blow-dry was very minimal--pinned as it was dried, with no additional pass before the trim. When I asked if she could blow-dry it a bit more thoroughly, I was told it was already done and that the alternative would be a flat iron...THAT'S LITERALLY THE SERVICE I ORIGINALLY REQUESTED.
I had specifically asked about flat-ironing beforehand and was told I would need to book a silk press. So being offered a flat iron at the END of the appointment was nonsensical. I would have happily paid the additional cost if that had simply been communicated upfront. Instead, I was told the service I wanted wasn't available, downgraded, and then she upsells the original service anyway once I was in the chair. Make it make sense.
This is my issue: the constant Jekyll-and-Hyde approach to services, pricing, and communication. Online, everything is rigid -- natural hair must book a silk press, bring cash, etc. But once you're in the chair, suddenly it's "What are we doing today?". As a returning client, I shouldn't have to guess which version of the rules or personality applies that day.
I tolerated the wishy-washiness for years because the results were always amazing. This time, they weren't. I left paying a high price for a basic, lackluster blow-dry and trim when I would have happily paid more for the service I actually wanted. Between the mystery pricing, changing rules, and declining service, she is simply no longer worth the stress. What's the point of being a loyal customer if the stylist treats you like a naive new client to nickel and dime every time, only to contradict herself and lose out on money anyway?
She's the only service provider I've ever dealt with whose prices go up while the quality and effort consistently go down. Lastly, she's late 99% of the time, by at LEAST 30 min. To my surprise, she did me the honor of starting my last appointment on time. The irony is, I won't be back, so what does it matter now.
To Saleem's comment: For someone who has been coming to your salon for 10+ years, I'm pretty sure I'm one of the people best positioned to characterize my experience with your salon. And if you think my review is about money, it only proves your reading comprehension has ALSO declined along with the quality of your work.
