I've never written a Yelp review before, but Robert James Color converted me.
I made a 15-minute consultation appointment with RJC because I wanted to do something new with my hair. I decided to splurge and use Yelp to find one of the best colorists in the city, so they would know what to do with my hair that's been dyed before and might need some correction or special treatment.
I found RJC on Yelp, and it looked as if he was good, although there were a few reviews about rudeness. I figured they were just flukes and made the consultation appointment anyway. It seemed like he was good with highlights, and he did balayage, which is what I was interested in getting done.
I arrived a couple of minutes before my appointment, and although I was one of three people in a quiet room, I was completely ignored for the entire 15 minutes of my 15-minute consultation. I sat next to Robert without even knowing it was him for the entire 15 minutes before I finally mentioned that I had a class to get to, at which point I was made to feel rude for mentioning that the entire appointment had gone by and no one had addressed me. The guy I had the appointment with was standing right next to me, and he didn't even acknowledge I was there. So weird!
Then, when he finally came over, I was patronized, talked over and made to feel stupid for asking legitimate questions about hair I've been having dyed for 20 years. I was barked at, challenged, told I was wrong and showed photos of nightmare dye jobs gone wrong. I was told I couldn't get anywhere close to the inspiration photos I'd brought in. I was told I would have to grow my hair out completely before anything could be done to take it lighter, which, because my hair is below my shoulders, would probably take at least a year.
Okay, I allowed, he knew more than I did about color. If there really was nothing Robert James could do to lighten my hair, I asked, could he just let me know what he'd recommend? I wanted it to be a little more like my natural color. Was there anything he could do to get the red out, for example? What about a toner? If we couldn't go lighter, what did he suggest? He was the expert, after all.
More barking, more telling me I didn't know what I was talking about. He even at one point said "This is not an appointment for me to educate you about color." I was really, really shocked. Then, what is it, I thought; then what is a consultation? I sat quietly, completely dumbfounded.
I was at my wit's end. I finally just said, "Well, is there anything you can do for me? I figured I'd give him some opportunity to provide a service, to get my business.
More barking. This time louder and with more force. It was so close to my left ear as I sat there, that I had to lean away.
Robert told me I couldn't get what I wanted, and he gave me no options to get something else that might make me excited about something new and fun for my hair. He gave me no opportunity to give him my business, but it was such a weird and aggressive experience, I wouldn't have wanted to anyway.
Definitely ruined my day. If I wasn't so angry when I left, I would've burst into tears.
I hope if you go to RJC, you will have a different experience, that this was just an off day for him, but it sounds like it's happened before. Whew, what a nightmare. read more
