I had a very disappointing experience at this salon, both with the results of my hair and, more…read moreimportantly, the unprofessional conduct of the owner, Dee.
I originally booked a consultation for a warm honey balayage with another stylist, but Dee ended up doing my hair. I wasn't told why, but I didn't mind at first. However, from the start of the appointment, things felt off. I explained that I wanted a balayage for its soft, blended look and easier grow-out with my dark hair. Dee responded, "I think I'll do babylights." I trusted her judgment, assuming babylights could achieve a similar effect.
Unfortunately, the result was not at all what I asked for. The highlights were streaky and yellow-toned, with two very bold, chunky money pieces at the front. I was charged $300 (+ a $50 tip) and rushed out without being shown the back of my hair.
I later emailed Dee with my concerns. She acknowledged them and scheduled a correction. During this process, I also received chaotic and unclear texts from her, which made me nervous, but I wanted to give her a chance to fix it. For example, I was sent ideas that did not look like the balayage photos I showed her, so I tried to politely explain what I wanted. The follow-up helped slightly, she toned the money pieces, but the overall colour was still streaky and unblended. I wasn't even given a rough blow dry; I was sent home with soaking wet hair, making it hard to assess the results until later.
I followed up again, requesting a partial refund since I would now have to pay for a root blend elsewhere to correct the work. Dee declined. What really shocked me was when she later responded to an Instagram story of mine to say the hair didn't look nice and she was "shook" when she saw the photos. This felt incredibly unprofessional and rude, as I posted what I thought was a nice photo. She insisted that I come in for another fix, but I declined as I had already made three separate trips (including the consultation) from Toronto to Waterdown.
At the end of the day, I know it's just hair and I'll get it fixed elsewhere. But the whole experience, from the poor communication and rushed service to the unsolicited personal messages and unprofessional comments, was deeply frustrating. I also asked her to stop texting me and she didn't respect this request, as I just wanted to move on and have it fixed elsewhere. As a final note, I was also uncomfortable listening to Dee speak negatively about former employees and "Waterdown moms" during my appointment. It did not create a welcoming or professional environment.
