Posting here for traffic…
DD had an appointment earlier at a salon for full head of highlights and cut. DD has never been to the salon before but they currently have half price sale on for all colour. They are a reputable chain. DD made the appointment over the phone a few weeks ago where the girl asked her if she was a new customer but did not mention the need for a patch test. The sale finishes next week and DD returns to uni on Thursday.
Upon arriving earlier DD was told that they couldn’t do her hair today as she hasn’t had a patch/strand test. DD said that the girl on the phone didn’t mention it. Hairdresser said that was a mistake but it’s their policy and she cannot do DD’s hair without it. They then say they are fully booked for the rest of the week so can’t even rearrange before DD goes back to uni and the offer runs out. There was absolutely nobody else in the salon having their hair done today, completely empty. Hairdresser says there is nothing she can do today other than do the strand/patch test. She offered to call another branch to see if they could offer an appointment and we managed to get an appointment for Monday. Hairdresser does the strand test and comes back after 5 mins saying unfortunately DD’s hair has reacted badly and is breaking and splitting. She showed us and it did indeed not look good. She said they cannot do her hair on Monday now and she recommends DD not having any colour done for a while until her hair is in better condition.
DD is totally in shock as she had no idea her hair was in such bad condition. It is very thick and glossy. She doesn’t over colour it; having highlights twice a year; the last time being in June. She doesn’t use heat products on it that much and generally hairdressers comment on how good condition her hair is.
Utterly confused, we went to the salon she had her colour done last time and the place I have been going to for the last 5 years for their opinion. They had a look at her hair and said they thought it looked fine. They have offered to do a strand test and say it will take 45 mins and they will call back. They questioned the fact that the last salon only took 5 mins to do the test and asked us what they used to do it. We don’t know; she didn’t say.
Just don’t know what to think. DD now panicking that her hair won’t withstand colour anymore. But part of me is wondering if the first salon just didn’t want to do DD’s hair for some reason?
Can any hairdressers enlighten me on the strand test and what is involved? I have never been asked to have one in the 35 years I have been having my hair highlighted!!