I'm new to the Vancouver/Portland area and had to find someone to do my hair. Ideally, someone who…read morecan maintain a highlight balayage and keep up my almost-shoulder length cut. It's hard for me to trust someone with my hair for two reasons. My mother worked in and owned a salon for over 25 years, and I once had someone accidentally turn my hair a weird blue/green (before it was a trend).
My hair is short, fine, and straight...nothing overly complicated. I called in and made an appt. for just a haircut because my hair was at least an inch too long for my liking.
I showed up early for the appt. and was greeted by a friendly gentleman at the counter. When my hair stylist arrived, she was welcoming and friendly and invited me over to her station. I did notice that everyone working in the salon had really beautifully colored, styled, and well taken care of her....except for my stylist. She had very long, frizzy hair with extremely faded color. I'm not judging, however, I do consider it when choosing a stylist. Your own hair in this particular profession is a showcase of your work. If you can't take care of your own hair, then why would I trust you with mine?
I felt like I was clear in asking for what I wanted...basically and inch or so off the bottom. My hair does angle forward - longer in the front than in the back, but the cut should be easy enough, or so I thought.
My haircut took approximately 2 hours (that's without the shampoo and conditioning which I declined). TWO HOURS. I didn't schedule for that much time. And, she started with the back, so I couldn't see what she was doing, but it felt like she was cutting one or two hairs at a time, and based on how long it took her, maybe she was. When she got around to the front, her cut didn't seem right for the sharper angle I originally had, but I assumed she knew what she was doing. She also never asked where I part my hair, and assumed I parted it in the middle (which I don't), and cut it in that way.
My stylist was pleasant and chatty, but she was told that another client was coming in and I could tell that she felt a little under the gun, since it was taking so long. She struggled to get the sides even, and had a hard time with the angle cut...I definitely lost a lot of the sharpness. She rushed through the blow dry and style, which made me look like I had a BOB cut, but I was hoping it would look better when I got home.
After washing it out, it's doable, but it's a little too short, barely angled anymore (which I miss, because it made the look more modern for me), the cut looked weird if I parted it a little to the left (like I normally do), and it took way too long!
They have lots of great reviews, but I doubt I will return.
