I started with a single process and a blowout after seeing Oksana had good reviews online. The only reason I'm giving two stars rather than one is because I liked my colorist, and she did a great job... also they have footstools.
Oksana did my blow dry after the single process. She did not even both to introduce herself, ask my name, or chat about the weather... she just came up to my chair and started yanking at my hair. Halfway through the blow dry, she started curling my hair??? Not *once* did she stop to ask what I wanted (straight or curly?), where I part my hair, whether I want any product, etc. Nothing. Just treated me like one of those practice heads and basically said "you're welcome, that'll be $80." OK, whatever, maybe it's just a personality I need to get used to. The hair looked nice despite some level of fly-aways.
So I make a second appointment for a keratin express. This is where things really took an awful turn. About a week or two after I originally booked my appointment, I get some frantic voicemail from the front desk 24 hours before my appointment about coming in for a consult before I can come in for my treatment. I'm very confused by the last-minute request and simply explain that it's Wednesday morning, I'm at work, and I cannot drop everything to come in for a consult that day. I also calmly explain that I've been getting keratin express blowouts every five weeks for five years, so I struggle to understand the need to come in for a consult... The receptionist tells me that my stylist (Joanna???) advised that if I do NOT come in for this last minute, drop-everything consult, that I literally cannot come in for my keratin treatment. Trying to avoid any drama, I move some things around and *poof*, I'm present in person for a consult. The stylist is cold from the onset and immediately starts gaslighting me into thinking I ordered the wrong treatment. She tells me that keratin express treatments do nothing, that my hair will still be frizzy, and that it's not a smoothing treatment. I'm really confused about what she *thinks* I want. I explain again that I've been getting this same treatment every five weeks for five years so I know what I ordered, but thank you for the concern.... I am still truly so confused about the pushback and have never had to fight for a treatment I want at a hair salon? Anyway, she looks at my hair and indignantly asks, "*this* is your hair *with* the keratin?" I am shocked by the rudeness and simply explain, no, I've not had the treatment for several months because we just moved to Longmeadow and I'm in between salons. She was so ready to tell me how frizzy and awful my hair looks despite it having the keratin treatment (so she thought). At this point, I have no idea what she wants from me or what her concern is. Usually, a client calls a salon, asks to schedule a treatment, and they give her the treatment IDK. So I reiterate that I know exactly how my hair reacts to it, I know that it's not a smoothing treatment, etc, etc, and try to figure out what the problem is and why I'm here and not at work.
After about ten minutes in the chair going back and forth about how ineffective keratin is (then WHY DO YOU OFFER THE SERVICE?!?!?!?!), she suddenly shifts to ask me "are you pregnant?" Let's ignore the blunt rudeness of the question for a second and pretend she was concerned for my wellbeing. I confirm I'm pregnant waiting for the next batch of excuses for why she can't complete my treatment. Apparently their keratin express contains FORMALDEHYDE. OK, red flag on its own. My last salon used Aveda products, which do not have the ingredient. I don't think any salon should be using formaldehyde on their clients. Apparently only the express has the ingredient so I say I'll settle for the full keratin, which is a much more expensive and intensive process (thinking she'd see dollar signs?!). She literally says, "well that's not recommended for pregnant women either." I ask "what's the ingredient in THAT one that is not recommended???"
She says, and I quote, "it's just a big no-no."
At this point, I am completely done fighting. I'm not going to force this lady to defrizz my hair... She CLEARLY does not want me there, and I feel super weird and silly and discriminated against. I express my disappointment and say that I wish we had taken care of all of these talking points when I booked weeks ago. She immediately starts victim blaming me for not disclosing on the phone that I'm pregnant when I booked?? Regardless, I was talking about the consult I was forced to attend just to be denied service anyway. The worst part of it all, besides feeling discriminated against and literally just being shown the door, is that she could not have been less interested in helping me. IDK what I did, but she never once offered a safe alternative, or tried to work with me, or asked what I'm looking for, or made any sort of suggestion under the sun. I don't even think she said "sorry". read more