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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to ask hairdresser for a refund?

39 replies

INeedThatForkOff · 12/01/2013 22:39

First world problem.

My usual hairdresser has been made redundant, and as I can now never get an appointment at the salon Angry, and needed my highlights doing for a.family wedding next month, I thought I'd go back to a salon I used to use before moving house. It had changed hands, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway.

With very little guidance from the hairdresser I agreed on the colours, and specifically said I wanted to avoid anything too bright or brassy. Guess what I've ended up with?

To give him his due, the stylist did say, while my hair was still wet, that it looked like he'd put too much orange 'caramel' in, and if I didn't like it I could come.back to have more blonde put in. My heart sank at this point - I'm 10 weeks postnatal and feel a mess. I really wanted a lift. However I said I'd see what it looked like and try to get used to it as it does sometimes look a bit bright when wet after it's first been coloured. I didn't feel I could look too closely when it was finished, but under the salon lights (it was dark outside) it looked just about ok.

Having loved with it for the day it's horrible. The highlights are so chunky it's almost a block of brassy ginger. I used a hairband just now while I had a wash and saw a big chunk of yellow. The contrast with the regrowth will be horrendous as it's so unnatural.

I could go back to have it corrected but I really don't want to. The salon is pretty much a one-man-band and the stylist who did my hair is the owner. I didn't particularly take to him anyway, and through our conversation it transpired he's not very experienced. I just don't trust him to put it right.

There isn't much spare money around at the moment and although I'd rather go elsewhere to get it corrected I don't want to have to pay again. There's a time issue as I'm about to start a work contract with a tight deadline, so he's caused a problem there too - this was supposed to be the last opportunity between now and the wedding that I could get my hair done due to my and DH's work commitments, and obviously childcare.

WIBU to phone on Tuesday and ask for the money back for the inconvenience and so I can at least go elsewhere?

OP posts:
redandwhitesprinkles · 12/01/2013 22:43

Yanbu at all but I think it is unlikely you will get your money back as they have offered to 'correct'.

Worth a try though. As my mam would say "shy bairns get nowt".

quoteunquote · 12/01/2013 22:43

You can only ask.

Original poster
INeedThatForkOff · 12/01/2013 22:45

I'd go back for a correction if someone else more skilled experienced could do it. Frankly I'm frightened of him wrecking my hair.

OP posts:
GoingtobeRuth · 12/01/2013 22:46

Didn't want to read and not post, you have ALL of my sympathy!

There is a problem because you didn't comment at the time, but given it wasn't natural light and dark outside you were hardly going to see the colours accurately.
Yes go and see him on Tuesday, let him see the large blocks of colour and ask for your refund. I hope that someone legally minded sees this end can help you more than me
You could also try some of the purple tinted shampoo for grey/blonde hair which will help calm down some of the brassiness
Hugs

Original poster
INeedThatForkOff · 12/01/2013 22:54

Thank you Smile

OP posts:
DreamingOfTheMaldives · 12/01/2013 22:55

I would definitely politely insist on a refund as you don't have any confidence in them to put it right.

I once had my hair highlighted and the girl didn't do them close enough so I looked like I had some regrowth already! I let her 'correct' it and it was awful, I ended up with a big block of blonde in one area - it looked dreadful. I got my money back and when somewhere else; they were able to make it look a bit better by putting some lowlights in but they warned me it would only look OK and probably wouldn't last as there was so much bleach in my hair having had it highlighted twice within a couple of days.

The lowlights did look OK but didn't last and I had to just grin and bear it for three week.

Good luck

Original poster
INeedThatForkOff · 12/01/2013 23:02

Any idea what the purple shampoo is called and where to get it from? I think if I see him face to face I'm going to blub (and I'll have the DCs with me).

This is all I bloody needed after finding that I couldn't fit into anything while shopping for a dress to wear to said wedding last week Sad

OP posts:
ThePinkOcelot · 12/01/2013 23:03

Give it a go. I have actually had a refund twice - not the same hairdresser, and I wasn't trying it on! The first one was a big department store hairdressers who messed up a perm and the second was a mobile hairdresser who made a mess of my hair with highlights and was going to "correct" it by using clingfilm! I said, I don;t think so, I'll have my money back please! Good luck x

CloudsAndTrees · 12/01/2013 23:05

I had a similar problem with a hair colour once, I was refused a refund when I asked, and even tried to insist. They just insisted I couldn't have it.

I'd ask gently for a refund, but if they aren't forthcoming then I'd let them re do it as long as you are promised their top colourist. You will be able to tell who is the most trained and experienced as they will be the most expensive person listed on their price list.

Original poster
INeedThatForkOff · 12/01/2013 23:23

CloudsandTrees - unfortunately the person who did it is the only stylist / colourist apart from a trainee.

OP posts:
huntersmum · 13/01/2013 00:09

The violet shampoo is by Fudge - google Fudge violet shampoo and several buying options will come up. Its about £8.50 a tube but it does take the yellow tones out

Original poster
INeedThatForkOff · 13/01/2013 09:42

Right I'll give it a go. Won't do anything about the chunkiness but at least the colour couldn't be worse anyway.

OP posts:
CyrilSneers · 13/01/2013 09:49

There's a l'oreal one called silver shampoo too. Wash it off really quickly though as it can tint your hair purple...

Climbingpenguin · 13/01/2013 09:51

I have a similar situation. Agreed to go back if I still didn't like the cut, but once at home I've realised the issue is the length being too short.

Trying to muster up the courage to ask for a reduced cut next time as I have to wait it out.

Climbingpenguin · 13/01/2013 09:51

It's quite demoralising isn't it OP?

Original poster
INeedThatForkOff · 13/01/2013 09:54

Great, I've got a big sty on my eye as well. Look like shit.

OP posts:
IWishIWasSheRa · 13/01/2013 09:57

I feel your pain- I just had my hair cut and look like Dudley Moore ...

Original poster
INeedThatForkOff · 13/01/2013 10:08

I look like Keith out of Eastenders Grin

OP posts:
boxoftricks · 13/01/2013 10:12

I know you don't feel like going down there (although him seeing you in tears might guilt trip him into doing something) but if he thinks you were happy with the result, then he will carry on doing what he's doing. If someone brings it to his attention, that actually, the results weren't what you wanted, it needs to be brought to light that he needs to consult more,cand pay attention to his technique.

bestegg · 13/01/2013 10:21

The best silver shampoo is pro:voke touch of silver. they do an intense twice a week one and a daily one, along with conditioners. i use both as i have peroxide blonde hair and they do work on brassyness. You can get it in bodycare, savers and large boots, its about £2.50 a bottle. i think it works better than the fudge stuff, which i found was better for colouring the hair silver rather than removing brassiness.

acceptableinthe80s · 13/01/2013 10:22

I would ask for a refund and go elsewhere. If money's tight do you have a college nearby that does hair styling training? Volunteers are highly sought after and the trainees are supervised closely by an experienced stylist/colourist.

ohforfoxsake · 13/01/2013 10:27

Yes, ask for a refund - but pop in before you do anything yourself.

I got a refund from Toni and Guy after a dreadful cut. They did offer to give me a few regular blow dries, but I never wanted to I back there.

They will have had to deal with complaints before, and how they deal with it will depend in how important keeping their customers are to them. He should give you your money back if he values your custom. And if he doesn't, you won't be going back there anyway.

Wishfulmakeupping · 13/01/2013 10:33

Ask for a refund OP, if you can't get one would you feel comfortable letting the same stylist do an all over colour? Not ideal but at least it would keep you going for a while?
Same thing happened to me - didn't realize how mine looked until I saw it in the natural light- they tried to correct it with toner and adding lowlights- that still didn't look right so got them to put an all over colour on to cover it all up- this was a pricey salon I'd been using a long while never went back- use a mobile colorist recommended by a friend who charges nearly 30 quid less and is fab

KingPhilsWench · 13/01/2013 15:32

I agree with bestegg, i found provoke to be the best out of the silver shampoos, I have a full head bleach and that's what I use to get rid of the yellow orange tinge. It's also the cheapest :)

Original poster
INeedThatForkOff · 17/01/2013 13:55

Well I went back to have it corrected. He has now put a shitload of bleach in it and it actually looks worse. Really cheap two-tone. Given that it was only half a head in the first place he had enough clues to go on, and in any case I told him I didn't want it to look bright or brassy. Today he said the only thing he could do would be to add more blonde, couldn't break up the chunkiness. I should've run for the hills.

I've told him I'm still not happy with the colour. He said 'well maybe you don't normally have bleach' (I do) and 'after you've had a baby the hormones can affect how the colour looks' (pah, whatever, but sausage fingers create big blotchy chunks of colour). 'Next time,' he said, 'we'll know to stick to ash tones.' Fuck off, there won't be a next time.

I've asked my usual salon to make time to see me for advice and am going to email the bodger to tell him I want a refund. I'm also thinking of a review on Google/Yell.

Fuming.

OP posts: