£175 for this... AIBU to complain?

[HairHell]

Went to SAKS. Never paid this much for a hair-do in my life, but really wanted a great ombre-balayage and saved up for it.

This is what I got. I'm so upset. Didn't realise it was this bad in the salon under the soft lighting in a corner of the salon with no natural light.

Spent 4 hrs (twice the amount of time she said it'd take, so she also had to tend to 2 other clients inbetween doing my hair). Came out feeling sick, dizzy and rushing off to pick DS up from MIL who needed to go out so didn't get chance to really look at it til I got home.

Can I complain now that I've left the salon?

You poor thing ,what a horrible experience .

But I agree it's a good colour and I'm sure can be easily fixed .Also agree about deciding on what you'll be happy with ,I would want it fixed and £75 odd refund ( not a voucher towards another treatment with them ...tho I bet they'd be super careful with you in future ) to compensate for the stress and inconvience .

I'm sorry OP but it looks like a shoddy job. The colour is bad and the cut is awful. Definitely call them to say you want a restyle and for it all to be fixed. Tell them it isn't an issue that you don't like it, it is actually done badly. Ask for a restyle appointment with someone else. They should do it free of charge. Unfortunately I've had a few bad experiences in the past and a good salon will be happy to fix it no quibbles. Good luck!

Go back and tell them that when you left you couldn't see in the light, and you were rushing to deal with childcare as it had taken twice as long as advised.

Say that the effect is not as you expected, the line is very stark and you would like their advice on the cut - pointing out the issues.

Ask what they think they can do to achieve the effect you had in mind.

No need to be confrontational, because after all you have to sit there while they deal with it.

But firm and assertive.

I hope you get it sorted without further fuss.

Yes you blinking well can. Oh my god.
Email/fb message those very photos.

That's awful. Definitely complain.

Send an email tonight using those photos, and say now you've seen it in natural light, you can't help but be massively disappointed and you want it corrected as soon as possible. Address it to the salon manager and be prepared to go up the chain if they don't respond.

I've complained a couple of times but always been satisfied with the response. Salons don't want complaints.

You need recommendations to find a good hairdresser

I did, a relative uses this salon/stylist. I got a half-price cut as a result. This should have actually cost even more

Woah. That colour is not good. Really. You need to go get your money back and get someone else to fix it. Do not let whoever did this try to fix it - they 100% do not have the skills and will make it worse.

The couple of tiny long bits as in the second 2 photos - although not ideal-has happened to me before, even with someone I’ve used for years and really rate. Its usually positional and I’ve just trimmed the offending bits myself BUT the ombre-balayage is F-ing awful and your cut at the back isn’t straight either! How on earth in 4 hours didn’t they manage to get it right?
YWNBU to complain.
I would say phone first thing when they are next open and speak to the manager and arrange to come in to show her ASAP given that you have an event to go to.

Local salon daughter's hair today. A fraction of the cost and half the time.

That wasn't a half-price cut. I get balayage+cut at Saks and it's actually a bit less than what you paid (I'm guessing you had additional treatments)

For four hours work that is so shocking!!! Definitely go back, and ask for the top stylist, otherwise you're putting the pictures onto social media. Thats really bad balayage. However it does look easily redeemable so don't panic.

Who did it the Saturday girl
Poor you OP. Definitely go back but I’d be worried about anyone from there touching my hair!

Oh god. I feel for you, I'd be complaining too.

I'd leave a voicemail on the salon answer phone (assuming that there is one) requesting a call first thing on Monday morning.

Show them the photos, explain exactly what you wanted, in terms of colour and style, and obviously what you've ended up with is not what you expected from Saks, or anywhere else for that matter, added to which it cost you £175, and took 4 hours.

Any decent salon will make sure you're either refunded in full, or re-do your hair free of charge. I agree with a PP the name over the door, doesn't always mean you're getting a shit-hot stylist. Hairdressing really is an art!

And as it’s a big brand they will fall over themselves to fix it to look fantastic,

Really? They weren’t much concerned about brand protection when they did it in the first place

What do you want OP? Salon director to fix it or your money back?

I want it fixed in an ideal situation as I don't hate the colour per se, it's just the technique used is obviously not right. The stylist did say to me, rather proudly, that she learnt her technique from a former colleague and she doesn't actually go by the 'Saks method'

I've no desire to cause a fuss or get her in trouble. She was a very nice girl on a personal level and I so wanted to love it. I don't want to go back and for it to be really awkward. I don't like hurting people's feelings and to essentially say "I hate my hair, you did a shit job" makes me feel terrible.

But, I'm really I'm happy with it at the price (yes, sorry, I did have a treatment too on their recommendation as my hair was quite dry. The treatment worked fab so I don't want refunding for that)

But, I'm really NOT* happy with it

TheRedBarrows thank you, sensible sound advice

Sorry memorial but that doesn't look great either. The contrast between the cool roots and the warm colour added on is stark and looks like it's growing out.

It's about time she started using the 'Saks method' it can't be any worse than hers!
She's working in Saks after all and her work reflects on their brand.
Such a let down for you OP. I do think the actual colour is nice. Cut and baisin line effect isn't on.
You can definitely complain. You need it sorting and I'd expect an apology.

YANBU to complain but YABU to spend £175 on it, it's a ridiculous price to pay. Why did you leave the salon without complaining?

Hi OP, I learnt the hard way that Saks is just a franchise and they pay for the name. It really doesn’t mean anything. I moved from one large city where the Saks salon was superb, and I should have twigged when they didn’t know there was one in the (bigger) city I was moving to. The original home branch were always winning awards and it was genuinely worth the money!

I had a terrible cut and colour on my 30th birthday and I’m afraid to say I chickened out of complaining job to the salon directly and went via head office. The response I got was terrible and I’m not sure it would have been any better if I’d gone direct to the branch but I would recommend you do that first. All my highlights bled, were wonky (noticeable on a short cut) and the guy who cut my hair belittled what I said and treated me like a child.

I’m so sorry you were recommended to go there. I wasn’t but wish I’d asked one of the girls in the office I moved to rather than just going out on a limb!

Good thing is, it looks like it can be fixed and also, hair grows ❤️

Let us know what the response is once you’ve been back in 😘

I'd email them now with photos and complain

Definitely complain.