I had been seeing Panduh for vivid/fantasy hair color and was willing to overlook early red flags…read more-- until my third visit went so poorly, I was left with severely banded color, no resolution, and ultimately dropped as a client after voicing my concerns.
A quick rewind: My first appointment resulted in chunky, uneven highlights around my face instead of a well-blended money piece. The second time, it blended better -- but the color wasn't applied close enough to my scalp, leaving a visible blond halo. I chalked it up to a learning curve and gave her a third shot.
Her salon setup doesn't help: it's dimly lit, with black walls and a single window behind the chair -- great for her to see your hair, but you're completely backlit in the mirror, meaning you can't clearly see the results until you're in normal lighting. (In hindsight, that feels intentional.)
At this last appointment, I came in with faded pink and brown roots, expecting a simple root bleach and color refresh. Instead, I left with a huge band of lighter pink across the middle of my head and a harsh transition to darker pink below. I didn't see it until I got home and looked in a properly lit mirror.
When I texted photos and asked if she could fix it, she admitted she saw the banding -- but refused to fix it. Her excuse? That the appointment was too short and I "needed seven hours instead of five." Worth noting: I never book my own time. I always call and have her team schedule me, since they know my hair length and needs.
She then pivoted, saying I don't come in "regularly enough" for my "color goals" (something she'd never mentioned before). I told her I would've adjusted my visits if that expectation had been communicated. Again, she refused to make it right -- and then fired me as a client.
For reference: I was a $700-per-visit client. If this is how she treats someone investing that much, I can't imagine the experience for anyone spending less.
If you still choose to go: pay with a solid credit card. Thankfully, mine sided with me and issued a full refund after seeing the photos and text thread.
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Edited to add, in response to the salon's reply (8.12.25):
To clarify a few things mentioned, for additional transparency:
Again, I booked by phone every time so your team could allot enough time for my long, vivid-treated hair. I never used the online system. I never asked for any clients to be moved around. I never chose the length of my service.
The first appointment was not fully corrected -- just a darker overlay added to blend the harsh bleach, which faded. I didn't push the issue and was never offered or given a refund, ever. Nor did I reach out about the issues with my second appointment; I fixed it myself.
The lighting in the salon makes it very difficult to assess the results before leaving -- whether one black wall or not, the fact of the matter is Panduh's space is dim and backlit.
I communicated calmly and respectfully, shared photos, and simply asked for the banding to be fixed. You acknowledged it and declined. Then dropped me as a client.
If you're going to respond, please include the full context. I am.
