On November 19, 2024, I visited Annie's Beauty Bar in Hamilton to get my hair done before my…read morecorporate Christmas party. Unfortunately, my experience was far from satisfactory.
First Impressions:
My stylist, Melissa, appeared unkempt and unprofessional. She looked like she had just rolled out of bed, with messy hair and inappropriate attire. Additionally, she seemed to be sick, with a red nose and constant sniffing, yet she wasn't wearing a mask. This was my first red flag, but I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
The Haircut:
I came prepared with pictures of the angular bob I wanted, a style I've had before and knew suited me. I explicitly told Melissa that I did not want bangs. However, she cut my hair shorter than I wanted and added layers, which resulted in unwanted bangs. My face dropped when I saw the result.
The Colour:
Melissa misunderstood the colour I wanted, mistaking a grey tone in the reference photo for the desired color. She applied highlights starting at the root, which is not ideal. Although she eventually corrected the toner, the final color was still not what I had asked for.
Styling:
Melissa finished by blow-drying my hair and using a straightening iron without giving it any shape or style. My hair ended up dry and crispy, leaving me feeling worse than when I walked in.
Payment Issues:
To add insult to injury, Melissa informed me that the debit machine wasn't working and asked me to send the payment directly to her email. Reluctantly, I complied and sent an e-transfer of $299.80.
Follow-Up:
Because I was so unhappy with the results, I decided to contact Annie directly. Upon contacting Annie, the owner, I discovered that Melissa had been taking payments to her personal account without reporting the payments to the salon. Annie offered me Melissa's contact information to request a refund, which I found completely inappropriate. After two weeks of no response, Annie informed me that Melissa had been let go and reiterated that I should contact her directly for the refund. This is unacceptable, as the responsibility for the refund should lie with the business owner.
Conclusion:
My experience at Annie's Beauty Bar was extremely disappointing. The lack of professionalism, poor service, and mishandling of payment issues reflect badly on the business and its owner. I would not recommend this salon to anyone.
