I work in the film industry as a film editor and used to work next door to them ( Jigami Hairdressers) at a post production place, Art For Noise. A friend recommended I pop in to speak to a colourist at their new shop (now Natural Colour Works), as recently I have tried something a little different with me hair... I started the process of dying my hair grey.
Im 60 this year and I was so tired of dying my roots dark brown every 8 days.. I wanted to go dark grey all over and let my silver grow into that. But as anyone knows who has tried this.. its not an easy process. You have to go thru many stages to get where you want to be.. And the recent toner I had put on was a little too lavender for my taste and I wanted to replace that toner with another darker grey toner. But I wanted to use some more natural products if possible that would be gentler to my hair.
So yesterday I went into NCW for a consultation. I spoke to a young woman in her 30's who looked at my hair reluctantly and asked me what it was that I hoped to achieve.. and then she said,
" Well, we do have a wonderful natural product that would remove the toner you have.. But I certainly WONT DO IT.. as I think what you have done to your hair was a very bad idea.. we would NEVER do that here!.. Let me ask if anyone else here would be willing to do it."
She went off and asked a senior stylist.. he tilted his head in my direction, made a face.. then shook his head. She returned.
" He REFUSES to do it as well. But there is a place around the corner I can send you to called Bleach London, they will bleach your hair as much as you want them to... but that will certainly ruin your hair even more than you already have. I would never do what you have done to my hair.. as I love my long hair."
to which I replied,
" Let me get this straight. You say you have a natural product that will remove this toner without damaging my hair, but you are refusing to offer me that.... but are instead sending me somewhere where they will surely damage my hair? Sorry but i'm confused. I do not want to bleach my hair again.. I just want a different toner on it."
She then went to 2 other stylists who also turned around and looked at me, made face of disgust and shook their heads NO. Their clients also turned around and stared at me.. (this is a very small salon, where you could hear everything that was being said) This public shaming made me feel just terrible. I left.
I can honestly say, this was the most unpleasant, unhelpful and embarrassing hair experiences of my life. I have never encountered such rudeness or snobbery in a hair salon!
To say to someone.. yes we "could " use our wonderful natural products on you but we refuse to do so.." What is the point of that? Other than to try to make me feel really terrible.
I left the salon and walked to my car and burst into tears.
I desperately do NOT want to be a woman in my 60's with died brown hair. I think it looks ridiculous.
But really, who needs an experience like that? Trying to grow old gracefully is tough enough already!
Thankfully I didnt give up and I found a colourist with some compassion as well as talent... not in Soho.
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