1 star. A shocking lack of skill, oversight and accountability…read more
I booked an appointment because of its positive reviews and my previous good experience at the salon's Falls Church location. I left with my hair 6-8 inches shorter than I requested after a stylist gave me a fundamentally botched haircut. Please view the photos attached to this review because they are absolutely ridiculous.
I arrived with long hair that was almost entirely one length and showed the stylist a reference photo of the exact look I wanted: long layers and face-framing layers while preserving my overall length. I explained multiple times that I loved my long hair, wanted a low-maintenance style and did not want to lose more than 1.5-2 inches. He agreed that he liked the reference and said it would be no problem. He even took a before photo for his social media portfolio.
Instead, he cut one extremely short, chin-length layer all the way around my entire head. This was not a matter of slightly misinterpreting the reference photo. The cut was nowhere near what I requested, and the way he executed it made me seriously question whether he knew how to cut hair at all.
When I noticed the damage, I told him repeatedly that the layer was far too short and explicitly instructed him to stop cutting anything shorter. He continued cutting until I finally made him stop. His subsequent attempt to blow-dry and style my hair only made matters worse.
What is equally disturbing is the salon's complete lack of intervention. Other stylists were working immediately beside us as the haircut progressed, yet no one stepped in to correct what was happening. The owner did not approach me until I was physically getting out of the chair, visibly distraught and nearly in tears. By then, the damage had already been done.
The owner looked at my reference photo, apologized and offered to try to fix the haircut if I returned. She told me this was the stylist's first day at the salon. When I returned, multiple stylists came over to inspect the cut and ask what I had requested. They each expressed shock and one even apologized for not intervening, stating that she had noticed how bad it looked when it was happening. The owner later told me the stylist had done a great hairstyle on someone the day before, contradicting her earlier explanation that it was his first day. I was never given a clear explanation of his experience or the circumstances surrounding the appointment. I'm still completely confused as to how the stylist landed a job there.
The owner attempted to salvage my hair, but because the original cut was so badly botched, she had to remove even more length. I am now left with hair 6-8 inches shorter than I wanted and can barely put it in a ponytail. It's completely different lengths, choppy, and not blended at all.
The owner waived the cost of the service, which was the bare minimum under the circumstances. Beyond that, the response consisted of a few half-hearted apologies. This was completely unacceptable-- I will be living with this hairstyle for MONTHS until it grows back any reasonable amount to try to fix it.
I understand that a salon may have talented stylists alongside an inexperienced employee. However, this experience raises serious questions about the standards for hiring, training and supervision at this location. A client should not have to recognize that their stylist is making a fundamental mistake, repeatedly ask them to stop and ultimately leave the chair in tears before management steps in.
I am including before-and-after photos so prospective customers can judge the result for themselves. I previously trusted this salon based on its reputation, but I would urge anyone considering the Tysons Galleria location to proceed with extreme caution. I have never experienced such a disastrous haircut, and I would not return based on this experience. The only thing the salon offered me was a free haircut when there is no way I would have paid for the haircut in the first place. By the way, the stylist's rate was $80 for a haircut...
