To think a £300 cut/colour and straightening treatment should make a noticeable difference to my hair?

[Parsnipcake]

About 3 weeks ago I decided to do something with my hair. It's long, thick and curly and I just wanted it to be less wild. I had money saved up and decided to get a brazilian blow dry, and some highlights. I don't get my hair cut a lot - once a year or so as I'm a foster carer of small complex babies and I just don't get the opportunity. This was a big deal.

I explained to the hairdresser - a posh salon that seemed somewhat more rundown than my last visit 5 years ago., that I would be letting my hair dry naturally rather than styling. He told me Brazilian blow drys were banned because of formaldehyde, that the only legal ones didn't work any more. He suggested a different option that would not totally straighten but would define my hair. He showed me some hair samples and the treatment he offered looked exactly like a BBD. I booked and trusted him - it's a well known city centre salon and I assumed, stupidly he was the expert.

My appointment was the next day and I came out with poker straight hair which I was told was part of the treatment ( not what I would have wanted). The highlights were invisible and underneath. I was told when I washed it they would show up, but I wouldn't get roots. The cut, highlights and treatment cost £270, but I was told it would last 9 months.

2 days later I washed it. I looks exactly as it always does, bushy. The highlights are lost in the frizz. I washed it again using the treatment he gave me to take away. No difference. I called him today, expecting him to be keen to resolve and fix it and he was defensive and not overly helpful. I am supposed to go in and speak to him on Saturday. What would be reasonable of me to expect? Is it my fault for putting my trust in him? Should I just learn to love my frizz? I am really gutted as I was looking forward to having hair I could brush.

Complain and don't stop till you get a result.

You're not happy, what is he willing to do to rectify the situation...

I think your long thick curly hair sounds lovely at the beginning.

I love wild hair and hate ironed straightened coiffed hair...but £270 Yikes thats more than I have spent on my hair in the last 2 years.

I think you should learn to love your frizz and put it down to experience

Tell him you want your money back as any more treatments may damage your already processed hair. If you can get your hands on any of the samples he showed you for what your hair would look like - take a photo on your mobile phone so that you have evidence. The treatment was not 'fit for purpose' and you should be entitled to a refund if that is what you want.

I can't comment on the BBD, but I had highlights at a 'good' salon last year which cost £70 and were bloody awful. I ended up going to a different salon to have them repaired which cost me another £100. I'm not sure what sort of highlights are invisible when first done but show up later (??) although I'm not an expert so could be wrong.

You are not happy and deservedly so. If your hair is no more defined than it used to be, you have not received the benefit he said you would get from the treatment. I would ask to speak to the manager on the phone before you go in.

Ah OP - I could have written your post 6 weeks ago. I had the "legal" Brazilian on my thick frizzy hair. I followed the after care advice to the letter, bought the expensive shampoo and conditioner etc etc, waited 3 days to wash it .. Then voila! No bloody different. Was so gutted. Took a pic and texted the hairdresser who said "it was never meant to STRAIGHTEN your hair, just TAME it" . Six weeks on its still in better condition than it was I guess, but is in no way like the shampoo advert look I'd hoped for. Will watch this thread with interest - sorry I can't help - you have my sympathy

His comment about the BBD is rubbish. There are lots in use with PERMITTED levels of formaldehyde- including the one I have done and it works very well!

Sorry to hear how this has turned out for you- go back or get on te one and complain, complain- that's a lot of money.

I meant "get on the phone".

merlin what's the name of the one you get done? What would I ask my hairdresser for?

How dare he be dismissive of you! Bloody cheek. I had invisible highlights a few years ago. A day or two went by and I called into the salon, asked for a private word with the stylist and she re-did it, happily.

The guy needs to know that the success of a salon is largely word of mouth. You're more likely to tell people of a bad experience, especially if you've been treated badly after disappointment.

If he's not the manager, arrange to speak to the manager. Or go to head office, if there is one. Good luck, that's a rediculous amount of money to pay if youre not happy.

Sadly he is the owner :(. I do like my hair generally and have never spent anything like this on my hair - its just so impractical when you have baby sick and sneezy weetabix in it on a daily basis. I thought if it was tamed I could wash and brush it more quickly. Gin, it wasn't in Manchester was it? I am wondering if I am not the only one!
I will go in on Saturday but I don't really want to have to give hours over to this as I get very few hours to myself and it seems a waste.

Ugh hairdressers like this boil my piss! I've been a hairdresser for more than a decade and I would NEVER be dismissive if someone came back unsatisfied. (I would never do BBDs either...never seen them work properly or not poison an entire salon with their fumes. Alas, I digress)

Good hairdressers will always consult with you at great lengths as to the lightness/placement/tone/obviousness of your highlights, and advise you if something won't work exactly so, and suggest options. Even if there had been a slight miscommunication in regards to the highlights not showing up enough I would have happily brightened them up for you at no charge.

I would demand at least a partial refund. Failing that, you could have a consultation with another stylist at the same salon. It's totally acceptable to do this and the money you've already paid will be transferred to the stylist that fixed your hair to your satisfaction, thereby saving you from going somewhere else and forking it all over again iyswim?

I had a smoothing treatment and the hairdresser made it clear it's not a straightening treatment however as my hair is wavy rather than curly it did straighten it.

Hairdressers generally won't give refunds as you can't give back what they used but they should rectify it free of charge.

I definitely didn't expect or want it to be straight, I wanted the frizz more defined into curls. I was very clear about this, and what aftercare I could give, so he shouldn't have recommended it if it wasn't the right treatment. I am not a fussy person and a slight improvement would have done but no-one can see any difference at all in my hair, which I think is unreasonable after £300.

Parsnip no it was London. Crap hairdressers everywhere!

I have had many rubbish hair cuts over the years and now I simply will not put up with them especially when you are paying a lot of money at well known salons and have a proper consultation. Reactions are very hit and miss. I Had 1 stylist ring in sick on the day he was due to 'correct' my hair so luckily enough a manager sorted it which was preferable to be honest.
Another famous salon couldn't do enough to help, the bad publicity is too damaging.

Stick to your guns and either demand a restyle or a refund. They are much more likely to go for the restyle I would imagine.