I recently paid $650 for a balayage, clearly asking for a cool, ash blonde tone, but I ended up with a warm, gold result instead. I think this came down to a communication error during the consultation. If I had known that not lifting the brown areas would lead to a warmer overall color I would have made a different choice. The stylist told me that the toner she would use on my blonde would also tone the red out of the brown so I figured there was no need to lift the brown area. Beyond the color mismatch, my hair was back-combed aggressively, which caused significant damage and made the brushing-out process excruciatingly painful. For a premium service, I expected more care and a more thorough discussion about the possible outcomes. While the owner did reach out afterward to offer a free re-toning (85$), I'm still left with damaged hair and a color I didn't want. Also, keep in mind that they have a strict no refund policy outlined in their forms, which is worth knowing before booking. I hope this feedback helps the salon improve their communication and approach, especially for clients with specific color requests. read more

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Ruined my hair and don't do refunds. Terrible service. Asked for cool blonde and got orange yellow, not to mention the damage she caused to my hair by back combing it while bleached. She then brushed it out which was excruciating. God add some water and conditioner at least! Never again will I go here, and it was just excuses from the manager who said there's no refunds... aweful read more

Firstly, don't see Petra. Overall, she was rude and made judgmental comments on my hair. For example, she asked me if I had "bleached my hair myself because it looked so dry.". I replied, "No, I got it done here...". That alone tells you that the quality they provide is less than adequate as even their own hairstylists don't like their work. Not to mention I take pretty good care of my hair and almost all the dye has grown out. read more

Really disappointed in this salon. Been there a few times but their treatment of my girlfriend on her last appointment ensures I'll never be back. read more

Both my teen daughter and I have gotten highlights and cut here, and both looked fantastic! We were treated royally and the conditioning treatment made our hair feel great. After having bad experiences with slipped foils at one place and a bad color at another downtown, I am so happy I finally found a reliable stylist/colorist. read more

The best hair salon in Vic. Hands down. These hairstylists are balayage queens, and colour queens, and cutting queens, and styling queens. They're all just hair queeeens. When I lived in Vic I used to see Tressa. I saw her a few times and she took my uneven cut and poorly coloured mane and changed it for the better. Not only is she a stellar hairstylist, Tressa is super fun to chat with and passionate about what she does. Both of that makes your time in the salon a fun experience. When I first decided I wanted to go blonde, Tressa was the first one to really get my hair back to being healthy before I began the process. Which if you have dark hair and have ever tried to go lighter, you know is a long ass process... Tressa also recommended me to my current salon and hairstylist in Vancouver and for that I am forever grateful. Yes, Tressa is amazing, but so are all the other hairstylists at Kharma. I have had friends get their hair done by Kristen, Amanda, and Tess, and they've all been more than happy with their finished hair. Whatever you decide to get done at Kharma and whoever you decide you want to see, I can guarantee you're going to end up loving it. Prices are fairly decent for what you're getting. But I've always been one to pay more for good hairstylists, because hey, it's worth it. Come to Kharma. You won't regret it. read more

I've also written a lengthy review on Google reviews about my unfortunate experience with the Kharma Oak Bay Salon, but I will be sure to add it here as well. I booked my full head highlight appointment a full month in advance with the Kharma Oak Bay location. Having never been there before I came a few minutes early. When I arrived I announced myself. The woman at the front desk, Santana, proceeded to tell me that a booking error had been made and they had only booked enough time for a partial highlight service. I was asked to sit in the waiting room, I waited an hour before the stylist, Sophie, came over. Not only had she "Sophie" mismanaged her time with her previous client and cut an hour into my appointment time but she said she wouldn't have time to do the full highlight service and asked me to have partial highlights done and then come back at another time for the rest. I explained that my mother traveled all the way from Vancouver, to babysit my son, so that I could have one day to myself, to get my hair done. I wasn't able to come back and explained that to them. The fact that they mismanaged my booking was not acknowledged and I didn't even get an apology for it. As a licensed hairstylist myself, I was stunned and disappointed that I was treated this way, to say the way I was treated was very unprofessional would be a gross understatement. After all was said and done, I spent 2 hours of my time today in the salon with no services done. This was The WORST experience I've ever had and hope that no one else is ever treated this way. If you would like to be treated kindly and with an ounce of dignity don't go here. read more

A big thank you to Aliah @ the Oak Bay salon! I love the cut and adore the new highlights! As a curly girl, it's been very hard to find a stylist who knows how to work with curls. Aliah really transformed the shape and left my curls very defined. After deliberating about going silver for years, Aliah has the right approach to get me there. The experience made my day. read more

Recently, I visited a stylist at Kharma Salon in Victoria, for highlights and a haircut. We had good communication, I brought along pictures. The stylist assured me that she could achieve my desired golden-blonde hair colour and hair style. Unfortunately, the end result was brassy brown. After several attempts to fix my hair colour, I asked salon owner, Kirstin Lebrun for a full refund of my payment of $136.32 (for highlights). After an ensuing argument, she angrily shouted, "take $75 or get out!" If anyone knows of a reputable salon in Victoria, who understands hair colour, cuts and customer service, please post. Thank you. read more

This hair studio doesn't even deserve a one star. Had been there before a couple of times and had a good experience. Called to get the same person and she wasn't there but I was apprehensive to try someone else. They insured me the person was experienced and a "senior specialist" and would be able to match the hair colour i had previously as they keep a record. Well the hairdresser i got told me she had started a few months ago at the salon. She was late to start and seemed "frazzled". I told her i was there for a colour, highlights and a cut. She said i wasnt' put in for highlights but that she would have time. She asked if i wanted my hair darker (roots) i said no to match them, keep everything the same. I told her there should be a card on file and to do that same color. She was reading it. She went on about having dark hair as we get older makes one look older. She even went on to say her hair was normally a darker color and it was now blonde. She took out samples for the highlights and said toffee would be a good colour. I said i thought it was usually a caramel colour that was used but she showed me the hair swatches and toffee was a bit lighter so we went with that. She said something about throwing in "low light". I had never heard the term and thought this mean a lower number of high lights since i thought she might be short on time. Long story short....my hair came out jet black. no toffee highlights. I didn't even look like the same person. I was in shock. She muttered ohh next time we'll go lighter and dropped me off at the payment desk and left. I didnt' want to pay as I looked horrible. The receptionist coudl see i was visibly upset. She asked and i said my hair is so dark this isn't what i wanted. She took no heed..i paid $178.00 went to the washroom hoping the lighting was different. Came back out crying and wanted to talk to the manager. I got the owner who assured me she could fix it. I was already there 3 hours and i had kids that needed dinner and supper. I couldn't stay. She sent me home with a deactivating kit. My 14 year old daughter saw me come home and said Wow mom what happened to you. You look Goth!!! I tried the deactivator, which made my hair feel like straw and even washed it 3 more times. CAlled the salon the next day...owner wasn't there but spoke to someone that said they were trying to figure out what to do with the situation....REALLY. They never called me ever... Washed again and again and called again and again. I called again and was told they would give me $35 off highlights to come back. I said no i wasnt' paying a penny and wanted my hair fixed to the way it was. The owner Kirsten emailed me saying that the stylist said that this was what i wanted...ie darker hair. (which was a lie and she knew it especially after our indepth conversation). If i wanted darker why the hell would i be upset and wanting to fix it!!??? No customer satisfaction at this place... The owner in the email said there was one day that i could come in and she gave me a window of a couple of hours. I said fine but i had already paid and this stylist was lying and never heard from her again. I had to go to another stylist to fix my hair and she had to bleach it to get the black out. I had 4 stylists in total look at it and said it was jet back with no toffee highlights and all of them couldnt' believe the salon wouldn't fix the mistake. So Karma hair design cost me my over $400 in total for my hair. I had to go to an event with terrible hair...not to mention the 6 hours that week to fix my hair and did damage to my hair. Will never recomend again!!! Karma....is a %^&%^( would never go back again. read more

Love this place! Amanda is my girl and she is killer with colour. The staff is warm and friendly and the new location is a dream.

42 weeks ago (I was told exact weeks by the owner Kirstin) I had booked an appointment at the Langford location. I was quoted $450+ and 6 hours to remove the magenta I had in my haIr. Shortly after a previous customer posted on Victoria Rant and rave how Kharma had destroyed her hair, her hair was turned pink and completely fried and the salon would not do anything to fix it! I had a private conversation with the unhappy customer and found out it was the same stylist who I had booked with. I commented on the post that I would be calling to cancel my appointment. Which, yes my bad, I did not do because the salon seeing my comment started calling repeatedly me! I knew they saw my comment about not coming in as the owner Kirstin comment on it! So now 42 weeks later my husband decided to buy me a gif certificate for Christmas. When he gave it to me I was a little apprehensive but decided to give it a chance. My husband called to book my appointment and when the receptionist asked my name, she told my husband I have been band and will need to have a conversation with the owner before being allowed in. My husband asked what it was about and she informed him it was because of a Facebook post. I spoke to the owner Kirstin over Facebook, she made a joke that the situation must have been pretty awkward for my husband, then told me how fabulous that stylist is and it was the customers fault and continued to berate me for not phoning and canceling even tho she saw and comment on my comment. She told me she would think on the situation and get back to me in the evening with her decision. She messaged me the next evening. She told me I would need to come in for a consult so their was no surprise cost, which my husband had been told I wouldn't not need a consult because I did not have boxed dye in my hair. I explained to my husband that after how she had spoken to me I didn't feel comfortable or welcomed so I would like him to go in and get a refund and I would choose elsewhere to go! He went in this morning to get a refund and was told they would have to speak to the owner first. Made him wait 15 mins and also treat him rudely. I then received a message from Kirstin that i had again wasted a stylist time (the appointment that was book is a week away) and she knew she shouldn't have given me a second chance. And I was not welcome there again. I have never been treated so bad by a company. If the stylist does not want to loose out on money then perhaps they should not mess up people's hair and let them leave unhappy. I felt absolutely awful for that woman and was not about to take a chance the same would happen to me. Shame on the owner for treating customers and potential customers the way she does. read more

Westshore location. I thought the highlights were ok but I really felt uncomfortable here. It was a bad experience for me. If I am going to pay almost 300 dollars I would have - at the very least - liked to be treated with respect and friendliness. Salon visits are supposed to be fun. I had a great experience the first time with a junior stylist, James. He was awesome. I decided to try a master stylist, Jazz- this time for highlights. She was very impatient with me from the get go. The moment I sat down with her I honestly strongly felt like leaving, but I stayed thinking her work would be good. I should have listened to my gut feeling. I was told "that colour doesn't exist" when I tried explaining what I wanted, and when I was unhappy with the colour they seemed frustrated with me when I was very polite about it. A stylist should try to work together with the client, instead I was shut down rather than the stylist being patient and talking with me until we were both on the same page. Whenever I said how I felt about my own colour it was disputed. Everything was disputed. I didn't feel like what I had to say was listened, understood or respected. In my opinion the stylist treated their client unprofessionally. This was one of the more negative experiences I've had at a salon solely because of the interaction I had with the stylist. To me it was NOT worth the time and money spent here. Because of this experience I don't think I will ever be returning. Definitely wasn't worth it. I will try to stick with a salon that makes me feel valued and listened to from now on. read more

Management/owners have a horrible, defensive attitude with no wish in listening and compromising with clients when they are not happy with results- seems to be a common issue based on other reviews! Waste of nearly $400. read more

Sad, I had the worst hair experience ever at Kharma Hair Salon, Oak Bay. It was supposed to be a birthday treat but ended a birthday disaster! I found the whole salon reeking with pretension. Sorry. I live in the area and am aware that prices are jacked up to heaven for the thrill of living here. The service I wanted was not delivered. I ended up being charged double I normally pay for such service. On checking my bill, I noticed I was charged for a hair cut I never received! And God knows what else they charged me for! As I was driving home, I noticed dark liquid pouring from my ear, down my face which just missed my expensive new coat! Phew! I had to get my hair properly done two days later in a different Salon. I guess I was just 'Unlucky?' Or else got Kharma on a bad hair day. read more

I have been wanting to pamper myself so I recently booked a hair appointment at kharma for a balayage. When I sat in the stylists chair at the beginning of our appointment, I told her the specific details of what I wanted for the balayage and tone. The stylist quoted me $220 before tax and I agreed to the price. The stylist was not personable and took much longer than usual to do my hair. When I got back to the chair after being washed at the sink, the stylist was yanking really hard on my hair while she was trying to dry it with a round brush. She finally finished drying it and didnt even style it straight or with curls - she just left it as is. When the stylist asked me how I liked the result, I was honest and polite and told her that the tone was really yellow in some spots and brassy in others, and that the color was also really patchy and uneven. She made an excuse as to why it turned out that way. At this point, after all the extra time it took for her to finish it due to being slow and inexperienced, it was nearly 10 pm and I just wanted to go home. I went to the reception desk to pay and they overcharged me by almost $30, without letting me know during the consultation. I was exhausted so I paid and left. The next day, I called the salon to express the concerns I had with my hair. The receptionist told me that if I wanted it fixed, it would cost me more money, out of my own pocket. Later that day, the owner of kharma, kristen, messaged me on Facebook. She denied all fault and would not fix it or refund my money. She offered me a measly $15 in store credit - quite insulting, considering I just paid $280 for hair that I am not happy with. I continued to message with the owner and she started ignoring my messages. She will not reply and ignores every message I send. Beware of this shady business. It is incredibly overrated and they do not honor their work or their clients. If I could rate this as zero I definitely would. read more

I trust everyone here whole heartedly! They just seem to know exactly what I want every time. They are great at recreating a picture you bring in, so come in with those inspirations.BONUS: Their prices are amazing for the services and quality you are getting! read more

So happy I found Kharma. All of the staff are friendly and their prices are about 20% less than other hair salons. Ean is a treasure. They fixed a major hair disaster for me, and didn't even judge. read more