I'm leaving this review after my second time going to Salon Bellissima, I felt both times that I was not a priority and I was not listened to in terms of what I wanted done with my hair.
The first time, I waited for 20 minutes before being seated (I had an appointment), then had a treatment done in my hair to fix the discoloration from chlorine. I waited with the treatment in my hair for at least 45 minutes (I was not told if it was supposed to take this long) while the stylist did a full cut/blow dry on another client. This whole time the treatment was dripping down my face and that was not acknowledged. Then, my hair cut and color were lack-luster, I feel like I was not listened to in terms of my color choice and the stylist even said "okay so can I do whatever I want?" I left that appointment (after 4 hours) in tears because it didn't feel like my choices had been honored, the haircut was fine so I decided to give them a second chance.
I went back again 2 months later with hideously grown out roots. I went in, I was the only one in the salon, I told the stylist that I wanted a short haircut (long bob) and to return to my natural darker blonde hair color. She told me not to cut it *that* short and explained why, that was fine. Then she mixed my color before I could even show her photos of myself when I was younger to confirm exactly what I wanted. I flagged her down to show her one picture and she said "oh that's how you want it." Then proceeded to color my hair, I asked her what color she thought I was naturally and she said "a dark ashy blonde" so I assumed this was the color she was putting in my hair because I explicitly told her I wanted to go back to my natural color. While she was foiling my hair, the contractors came in and they took up her attention for quite a long time. Which generally would be okay (she runs her own business, I think it's perfectly appropriate to multitask), I'm not particularly fussy, but after how I felt leaving last time I was determined to get what I was asking for this time. After rinsing my hair, she said she was going to go mix my gloss. Once she came back and started putting it in my hair I asked her what it was for, she explained that it would help with my tone, okay fine. The haircut again is fine, she did end up cutting a few inches off which made me feel like it was enough of a change but still not what I had hoped for - TBD on how I really feel about it, I'll have to play with it, I think its fine. I have naturally curly hair and she did not cut it to help my curls bounce, it was a very basic haircut. After looking in the mirror at home, it's pretty clear that the color she added was NOT darker. I was given HIGHLIGHTS when I specifically asked to go darker - I've had highlights for a long time so I'm not uncomfortable with it, except for now I will continue to have to have my roots updated - which I was hoping to avoid by going darker.
I don't typically review anything, I'm pretty go-with-the-flow, but I've always been insecure about my hair and would have really loved to be listened to. I spent $300 yesterday on LIGHTER foils (which was supposed to be balyage, not sure if thats what I got, but its what I paid for), toner, and a haircut. I think if you spend that much money you should be honored in your requests and feel like it was worth it. After two times of really trying to enjoy and support this small business, I'm sad to say I could not recommend it to a friend and left both times feeling pretty disappointed and upset about how my $300 (each time) to a meh haircut and color that is not what I asked for.
p.s. the stylist even commented this time that whoever did my color last time did not place the color to give me good definition - she clearly did not remember that that was her. awkward. read more
