Hair cut

[Leafyhouse]

I recently had a big hair cut. I'm in a bit of a mid-life episode and needed a change. However the cut I received was nothing like the pictures I showed to the salon.
I am not deluded about my age or hair type, but really the cut was significantly different. I raised my concern in the salon and the cutter said it was the same as the picture. She called her manager who said the same thing. I paid the £47 and left with a little tear... I was embarrassed. I was out with some friends that evening, they all had a good laugh about it, and more importantly confirmed the cut did not look anything like the images I had shown.
I'm angry that the salon did not make any suggestions on how to improve the cut or at least make me feel better about it. I did not feel listened to at all. The same week I emailed the salon chain head office in an attempt to be refunded or at least get an offer of an improvement... but I've heard nothing back at all. This was three weeks ago.

AIBU to expect some support from the salon head office? This is a big local chain with multiple high street salons.

They want your money. They don't give a shit how you feel or look.

Vote with your feet and go somewhere else.

Call up head office and continuously bug them until they eat back to you - take pictures of your hair at the same angle as the picture you showed them to prove it isn't the same, get your money back!

Put pictures on their twitter and facebook etc.

Post pics of expected hair cut and actual.

This is a big local chain with multiple high street salons

Are you sure it's a chain and not a franchise? If it's a franchise there might not be much the head office can do except pass your complaint back to the original salon.

DeathStare They should still reply to the OP though and tell them this.

I'd be too embarrassed to make a fuss, if you ended up being invited back they might be really horrible! I'd go somewhere else with the picture and ask their advice.
You could post the pic and actual hair on social media tagging the hairdresser and asking god recommendations of who could help?

*not asking god... asking for...

As a hairdresser they have acted poorly in trying to fix the issue. And when paying £47 you would expect more professionalism than that. you should have had either the result you were wanting or if they felt wasn't suitable for your hair type this should have been discussed during consultation so that you left with a personalised version that YOU were happy with. I would hate for a client to be unhappy with their hair and be doing everything I could to fix the problem, not ignoring them.

Consultation is everything. What you mean and your stylist means might not match up. Something has clearly gone wrong with consultation if you have been left unhappy. It's down to the stylist to ensure that they fully understand what it is the client wants and to manage their expectations and make adjustments with client agreement.

Thank you for your supportive replies. I took pictures immediately after so I think I have enough evidence. I sent all the pictures along with my email of complaint to the head office, I'm really surprised not to hear anything back.

It could well be a franchise. I wouldn't want to go back to the same salon as I would be really embarrassed now and I'm not sure I could trust them to fix it. I am going to contact the head office by telephone to see where that gets me. Xxx

If you post both pics on here and get the mumsnet jury to adjudicate - and if you are right - you will have powerful evidence for a lot of negative salon publicity and pressure for a refund.

Good idea... I'll see how I get on with the phone calls and have a think about pics on here. I have no doubt you would all agree. I'll let you know how I get on. X

Definitely follow up on the complaint, if it is a chain the email might go across several people to get to the right place.

Urgh... I bet this was Toni&Guy

I had sort of the opposite...I went for a BIG haircut last week and showed pictures and the hairdresser wouldn't do it! It was not a difficult cut...she just said my hair was too thick.

Then she said she'd do a "lob" which she did but she razor cut it...she never said she was going to razor cut it and my hair looks SHIT razor cut.

It was too late to say anything by the time she did the first slash.

It looks crap.

Ajas
See your stylist should have explained to you why she felt it wasn't suitable and offered a personalised version to suit your hair type. Not just say your hairs too thick and tell you she's doing a lob. It should be a collaboration.

Had the same. Complained to the salon afterwards. Their response was that 'I'd left it too late' (a week!) to be fixed. I've been left with a triangle bob which is vile. Needless to say I won't be going back.

Complain on social media with your pics.

Hair yes I did wonder why I couldn't have the cut I wanted. It wasn't a particularly tricky one...I think she saw how thick and unruly my hair was and panicked.

When she'd cut it and straightened it, she expressed surprise at how it was far more manageble.

Well I knew that! I know what it does and the cut I want should be fine! It's not even curly....

Was it Toni & Guy? They only do a handful of cuts iirc and will only do those particular styles regardless of what you ask for. They just choose the closest one in their repertoire.