I really wanted to like this salon. It is beautiful, they carry great products, and the appointment…read morestarted well.
I booked online for $270 to get my roots done. No cut, just roots. At checkout, the total was almost $400 because of add-ons I was never told would cost extra.
I had called ahead specifically to ask if they use Olaplex and was told yes. My stylist chose to use K18 instead. K18 and Olaplex can be used together, but she used K18 only, then I learned at checkout that I had also been charged extra for it.
I was also charged $72 for a root shadow/smudge without being told beforehand. A root smudge takes a few minutes to apply and uses only a few dollars worth of demi-permanent color. I have never been charged separately like this at another salon. If a service is going to add that much to an advertised price, clients should be told and given the choice before it is performed.
The communication was what really bothered me. When I asked why my temples were still dark after being highlighted, I was told I had waited too long between appointments, even though this was virgin regrowth and around when I normally get my hair done. Then when I questioned how a $270 appointment became almost $400, the receptionist told me that next time I should discuss pricing with my stylist beforehand.
That was especially frustrating because I had talked to the salon. I booked a service with a listed price and called ahead with questions. So it wasn't great being told I should have done... what I did. In order for them not to take advantage?
There was also a lot of upselling. My stylist kept recommending K18 products and an Oribe product, which I already use Oribe. When the Oribe product she recommended was out of stock, she suggested a completely different Oribe product instead, one I already knew does not work for my hair. That made the recommendations feel more sales-driven than like care.
And after almost $400, I still have visible roots, dark temples, and a demarcation line. I asked for a neutral to warm blonde and specifically said I did not want cool or gray tones, but the new growth was toned noticeably cooler than the rest of my hair.
After washing it, the few new highlights at the top also felt rough and I noticed some breakage. This is exactly why I had called ahead about Olaplex. Even with K18 and bleach with built in bond reconstructing you still need a bond reconstructor with bleach or hair gets rough in a few washes, I've been through this before and can literally tell lol. Felt fine out of the salon, one wash in, better than with raw bleach but definitely worse than with a bond reconstructor. K18 works differently, it's not enough on its own. Especially with one application.
Practical note for anyone booking: parking is street-only. The meter app was not working when I went, and my stylist was actually really nice and ran out with my card to try to pay the meter for me. Unfortunately, I had already gotten a ticket within about 20 minutes. There is some free street parking farther back, but it is limited, so I would arrive early and look for that first.
The photos are from the day of the appointment. My hair was styled nicely and they did not destroy it, so 2 stars, and everyone has an off day. But between the result, undisclosed charges, upselling, and the way concerns were turned back on me, I would not return.
