I wanted to choose no stars for this business but it wasn't an option. I want to first say that I typically dont write reviews online about businesses good or bad or bash people on social media but my experience this past Thursday at Straight A Head salon in Ramsey,NJ and mostly the treatment by their owner Gary and my long term stylist left such a bad taste in my mouth that I don't want anyone to go through what I did or go near this place because they are probably doing this to other customers there without their knowledge.
I have been having my hair done by Priscilla since when she started at Lush awhile ago and had followed her to Straight A Head. I have been satisfied by how she does my hair and think she is an excellent stylist especially because it has been very hard for me to find a good stylist after going through bad hair experiences. My appointment this past Thursday for a haircut which I usually pay $75 and a single process $60 was my last with her due to what I have been noticing a habit of charging me for treatments that Im not aware of or booked for. This has happened once before where I was charged for a glaze and didnt ask for one or was explained why needed one. This time when I went to the register to ask why I was being billed $165 which is much more than what I usually pay which is $135, she told me my hair needed extra shaping. Extra shaping? Isn't that what Im paying for in a haircut?My hair is simple shoulder length and is rather healthy. I also felt for the price she was charging me she shouldnt have been working on her own hair at the same time and leaving me in the chair with a wet head. Yes it is an extra $30 that was tacked onto my bill and I have felt even from past experiences here that I had to be cautious. Still not feeling that her answer justified why I was paying an extra $30, I called the next morning and asked to speak to the owner/manager,Gary after Priscilla told me this time a different answer and said she had to put a glaze on my hair which was never once told to me,communicated, nor did I consent to a glaze during the appointment. This really made me not trust what she was saying and my intuition was right. I told her I felt like she was ripping me off and that she gave me two totally different answers as to why the extra $30. She also told me I should of known the prices before coming in. That's not the issue Priscilla! You are just putting things on the clients bill without telling them and hitting them up for the upcharge at the end of the service. No communication makes clients feel you are taking advantage of them. No client wants to feel that way in any business. Once Gary got on the phone, he said "we have been down this road before ,which I dont know what that was supposed to mean, and he said he was very busy had other things to attend to after I said to him how I felt that I was overcharged for something I wasnt booked for and due to lack of communication and conflicting answers as to why the $30 up charge. I asked for $30 to be refunded and he flat out said no. I told him I was going to tell people how horrible this salon treats people and his reaction- "good"
So that leaves me writing this review. As a business manager myself, I find his behavior appalling that he would treat any customer dropping $165 in his salon that way or any money for that matter. I would not recommend the public to even give a penny to this place. You cannot trust what the stylist is putting on your bill and no support or customer service ability of the manager to take care of overbilling. $30 may not seem like a lot to them but for me who works for every dollar I make if it were communicated ahead it would not have been a problem. It comes across as shady and they shouldn't assume people can afford what they are billing automatically. Unfortunately I lost my trust in Priscilla and after speaking to Gary - who definitely needs to go to business school ,get an education, and some manners, I have disputed my credit card transaction as well as reported them to the better business bureau. This place has a very bad attitude. Now Im going to find a more honest and professional salon to work with.
My lesson in business is always make time to listen to what your customers are telling you. That helps your business and you never know who that person knows who you are mistreating!
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