I went in to pick up a beauty product and, in the process, met a stylist who seemed to have a good disposition. I later called to ask how long the stylist had been cutting hair and where the person was trained, as I was interested in setting up an appointment. I was put on hold for a while, then told I'd receive a call back.
I received a call back from a manager, who asked me why I was asking for "personal information" about one of her employees. I told her it's because I'm interested in setting up an appointment. She said she is "not used to people calling and asking all these questions." I repeated that I was only asking where the stylist was trained (or through whom the certificate was issued) and how long the person had been cutting hair. She assured me that the person was licensed, but would not give me the "personal information" of how long the person had been cutting hair or where the person was trained. She finally told me that the stylist had been at the salon for a year, but that was all she was going to tell me. She wanted me to set up an appointment but I did not, as I was really put off by the salon's refusal to release information which is super-standard in the salon world.
The haircut was to be $35 which, for the location, isn't that cheap, so I'm surprised the salon was so weird about such a normal question. I'm pretty bummed, because I would have liked to find a local stylist.
UPDATE*** Awful.
I was tormented by the mystery of this salon that had this person whose identity could not be revealed. It was like I was told not to think of an elephant. So I scheduled an appointment for 3pm on a Thursday.
As I'm parking at 2:55pm, I get a call saying that the stylist is behind because the person who booked to appointment didn't realize how long the (single) client ahead of me would take. They ask if I can come in at 3:30. Annoyed, because I'm already there and could have run errands if the stylist had checked the calendar when arriving at 2pm and let me know then but, whatever. I come in at 3:30. Stylist is clearly not ready. I wait 20 minutes, then the stylist beckons me over and asks for another half hour. Ok... I go walk around a little more, come back at 4:30. Still not ready. I am finally in the chair getting my hair cut at 4:50 pm -- I KID YOU NOT. TWO HOURS OF WAITING. I was as nice as I could be about it because, as a general rule I don't like to piss off someone who is about to cut my hair.
The hair cut was actually fine for the price. Not thrilled about the way the bangs were done, but it wasn't bad at all. However, they applied NO discount to the hair cut, even after everyone apologized for having me wait two hours and not telling me it'd be so long so that I could go do something else with my life. No coupon for future service, nothing.
UPDATE #2*** Still Awful.
I had left my large Nalgene on the stylist's table. I didn't realize I'd done it until a few days later, so called and talked to the stylist, who recalled that I'd left it. But rather than calling me or asking the staff to call and let me know, the stylist simply turned it in at the front desk. Now the front desk can't find it, so my Nalgene is gone. Turned a $41 haircut into a $56 haircut that took THREE HOURS. Awesome.
Conclusion: Persistently terrible management overshadows acceptable skills of stylist. read more
