High end hair salon frazzled my hair :(

[stiltonontoast]

So in the city I work in theres this high end, highly recommended hair salon. Its V posh and fancy and I've aways wanted to go there. Reviews are excellent and they always post amazing before/after photos on instagram.

Usually I use box dyes and cut my own hair (the horror!) so when I got a bonus at work I thought y know what I'm gonna treat myself! I had a baby 8 months ago so my hair is in need of a bit of tlc. Its basically grown out very light blonde that I did myself, a bit dry - but I have very strong, thick hair.

Appointment went fine, the girl who cut my hair was fairly new to the salon and she was pretty quiet - which I was ok with as I find the salon 'chat' a bit annoying sometimes. She asked me lots about what I wanted and seemed to know her stuff. We decided on 'babylights' to blend my natural roots with very light ends, she suggested we add Olaplex to ensure damage was minimal - fine. All went fine with the dye. Then came the cut, I have an undercut and she decided to trim this back using scissors and comb (I usually get my husband to shave it!) she was working quickly and at one point she cut the very edge of my ear with the scissors - I jumped and so did she - she stared at my ear for a second and I stared at her and then she carried on. I deliberated saying something but the pain went away instantly and there was no blood - plus I was happy with the way my hair was going so I thought I'd leave it.

To finish the style she asked if she could use a wand on my hair to create loose waves. I said go for it - usually I just let my hair air dry. I noticed lots of steam coming off the hair while she was doing this but thought nothing of it. My hair was complete - and it looked amazing! I walked out of the salon feeling great. My hair felt soft and lovely too.

Once I got home I just kept smelling this weird smell, like chemicals and burning, DH even noticed it. Suddenly it occurred to me - it was my hair! It smelled burnt. Weird.

Today I washed my hair for the first time since the salon and let it air dry - I am mortified, my hair is frazzled! Like the strands that were dyed look crispy and damaged all the way up - Its dry and breaking off and it STILL smells burnt. Its in much worse condition than before I went despite having 2" cut off the ends. I don't think its even chemical damage - I think its heat damage! Is this a thing? Should she have made sure my hair was dryer before using the wand? I assumed it was some kind of steam wand.

I paid £185 for my cut + colour and I was expecting great things. AIBU here? should I complain? I am not usually the complaining type but I can't help but feel so disappointed with the results.

Get straight back in and complain! That’s really poor of them.

Of course you need to go back and complain. Just because a place is upmarket doesnt mean they are not liable or immune from things going wrong. Heated wands should not go on damp hair. Be prepared you might need more cut off with a different hairdresser.

I would definitely give them a call but tbh i cant see the wand having caused damage to that extent. Even if used on damp hair your hair can't have been overly damp as the style wouldn't have held which it sounds like it did. You probably had lots of products on prior to styling too which should protect it slightly.

If you have had baby lights it's likely she used bleach. Did you watch her when applying them? Did she paste some parts right down to the tip of your hair? If so it is likely that that has caused the damage. It should have been explained to you really but apart from box dyes whenever you go lighter with bleach you will always get a fair bit of damage and breakage. Even with olaplex and a good cut.

Definitely call though. This should have been explained to you and the least they can do is offer a free treatment which would probably help.

Go back in. I have had to go back on a couple of occasions to ‘posh’ salons as I have been unhappy and they have sorted it out without a fuss at all... plus they need to know if the new stylist is actually terrible...
plus my hairdresser apologises if he drops the comb whilst doing my hair so she certainly should have said something if she cut your ear

Bloody hell! £185 to leave your hair in such bad condition......You must go back and complain, tell them if they don't at least put the damage right, free of charge, you are going to make sure every body knows what a shower of shit they are, and would seriously consider standing outside the shop and warn everybody, that 'you too could have hair like mine', if you let them loose on your tresses.

@Rarfy Thank you.

From what I could see she only pasted the bleach down half way, not on the ends.

My hair is so thick it did take her about 40 mins to apply the whole lot, then she made me wait 40 mins for processing. Possibly over processing?

Water and hair straighteners do not mix. Go straight back and complain. Get your money back and get them to make the most senior stylist fix the problem which will most likely involve a deeeeeeep condition and a few inches being cut off.

Sometimes the swanky places are no better and sometimes worse than the local cheap place. It really depends on the individual hairdresser doing your hair. I love my hairdresser but whilst one stylist is great, I actively avoid the other one as she’s no good, doesn’t listen to want you want and has damaged my hair. I book on days she’s not there.

Sorry this has happened to you, you must be so upset.

She probably left the bleach on way too long too.

I would definitely go in and see them and complain. That’s an expensive cut/colour for you to have ruined hair

It's probably the bleach that's done it. I am in the process of bleaching black hair to a lighter colour and it really frazzled my hair. I've also had a baby 8 months ago. Don't forget having a baby affects your hair too so you might be more sensitive to bleach at the moment.
I've been using tons of hair serum, I also use coconut oil leave in conditioner. I deep condition it every few days as well. Shine spray is good too!
I think the salon will say its one of those things with bleach, they can't tell in advance how well your hair will take it.
I'd suggest maybe emailing them what you've written here and ask for a free conditioning treatment and trim

I’ve just read your update. She left bleach to sit on some of your hair for almost an hour and a half? That’s crazy! You’re lucky you have hair left.

Agree you need to complain. I would also try a keratin leave in deep conditioner

Did you give her a hair history before deciding on colours? Previously box dyed hair needs extra care when being coloured (speaking from experience here!)

Don’t just complain - kick up a fuss.

They burnt your hair off and it looks damaged. They owe you big time.

Go back. Don’t be fobbed off with some conditioner and platitudes. Get your money back and give the salon owner/chief hairdresser the opportunity to try to repair the damage.

Eek

The length of time the colour was on sounds totally normal to me? My hairdresser uses a lower concentration on the bits she applied first as that bit is on for longer.

I agree you should go back and have it seen to. Sounds like it could be a combination of post-pregnancy hair, the colour and heat.

My hair always steams from the curlers/straighteners, it's the products they put on. It will be the bleach that has done the damage. Phone first thing when they are open again and say you want to see the salon manager as you are really upset about damage to your hair.

And be very insistent that you want it sorted.

It’s sounds like bleach damage. I had my black hair dye bleached out with high lights ) 6 months ago and it made it so frizzy and fragile. it’s still snapping off in places even now and I haven’t been using heat on it because it’s so fragile.

For a full head of highlights it can take upto an hour to do the foils and tbh 40mins isnt excessive development time depending on what strength peroxide was used.

Its more than likely the bleach in general. It is really damaging but she should have checked your hair prior to putting this on and given you options to avoid the damage such as a darker blonde. It seems like the consultation process is where the damage was done really. It should have all been explained to you so you could make an informed decision.

Mind you i do feel like hairdressers think olaplex is some sort of miracle worker. I had it on mine and it was crap but they fob you off with well it's hard to tell what damage you would have had without it. It probably would have been worse.

Mind you i do feel like hairdressers think olaplex is some sort of miracle worker. I had it on mine and it was crap but they fob you off with well it's hard to tell what damage you would have had without it. It probably would have been worse

^^omg yes! I think this everytime I hear the bloody word!

Ring the salon, ask for the manger. Explain all of this it's completely unexeptable !

Of corse your hair should of been completely dry before she used chemicals this is outrageous, honestly ask for a full refund

As a hairstylist I would want you to call and let me know, and give the salon a chance to put it right. It could be a number of different things, the chemicals, the heat or the processing. There are treatments that can help get your hair back into condition. Also if you don't call they won't know that there has been a problem that they can stop happening again xx good luck x

You call up and ask to speak to the manager and give a factual account of the issue and ask them how they can put things right.

I’ve had a few dodgy cuts over the years and all have responded with an invitation to return and have someone senior sort it out.