Not getting the hair you want in a hairdressers?

[Delizhop]

Hi, not really sure where to post but 4am can’t sleep as I’m quite upset over my hair.

So I’ve been growing my hair out mostly since October. It was patchy colour and in need of a cut. I had my daughter three months ago so don’t exactly have loads of money (maternity pay is stupid) but I saved up to go to a hair salon as I wanted a change. I want a balayage. Brown to like an ash blonde. This woman used to teach hairdressing so assumed she knew what she was doing.

I’ve come out with just a head of highlights. She used Foils but I assumed she knew what she was doing and didn’t question it. The hair between has been dyed darker and I’ve got white streaks in my hair.

I said I’ll try and get used to it and well it’s four am and I hate my hair. I feel like a 40 year old in the 90s. I’m 23 and feel like it’s aged me.

I don’t have another £150 to go somewhere to get it fixed. I literally spent all my money on my hair and can’t stand it. It’s not even long enough to wear up everyday until I can afford it.

I just want to throw a box dye over it but my hair doesn’t hold box dyes so will need to dye it every three weeks or so which will just ruin it.

Have you ever complained? What do I do?

Yes my hair means a lot to me

There have been a lot of similar threads recently! What is going on with hair salons? I even posted one myself

I think the stylist gave you highlights instead of balayage as your hair might have been too dark to achieve the ash blonde you wanted via balayage technique. So they went with foils for a higher lift. Also you said your colour was patchy, so the highlights could have been a better way to even out your whole head. But obviously highlights will give a completely different end result so she should have explained this clearly to you before going ahead.

It probably would have taken multiple appointments of balayage to achieve an ash blonde from your starting colour. Again she should have explained this.

How did you pay?

For me, my salon ignored my complaint! But I’m not fussed as I paid with card so can open a chargeback and get my money back that way. I didn’t want my salon to correct it anyway.

Either email/message on socials or call them and say that you are unhappy

I have complained and had colour correction free of charge, but it was very obvious that they'd made a mistake as I ended up with a very warm colour after specifically requesting an ash tone. Could you attach a picture with your face blurred out? If you want to go back it might be helpful to have several posters on here telling you it doesn't look right. Equally, if most posters think it looks great you'll be unlikely to get a correction.

Next time spend £6 in the supermarket and do it yourself.

Alternatively, go all Tank Girl and liberate yourself.

@Hairthrowaway it’s so frustrating! I paid card. Problem is it’s just her own personal home salon so not a big one or I would of outed them.

She didn’t mention at all that my hair wouldn’t take and within the short time frame of bleaching my hair turned near enough white and had to be toned down a bit. She supposedly did a strand test so would of known this.

Honestly so upset about this. My usual salon I was messaging for a month (post lockdown) to get booked in and they were slow replying then doubled the price so went to someone who has taught hair for fifteen years and got highlight? For balayage? and balayage is on my receipt to??

I’ve never complained about anything so don’t know where to start

I think that looks gorgeous!

It's beautiful!! Better than balayage in my opinion. Very natural.

Some people might like it but 23 year old wanting balayage it’s not really on trend right now and feels as though it’s aged me a lot

I think it looks nice, and my stylist always uses foils when she does balayage. But if you don't like it, go back and ask them to redo it.

I agree. It's lovely, but if I'd asked for balayage and got it, I'd be livid.

What did you say to her at the time? I wouldn't necessarily start by complaining, but I would contact her and say this isn't what I asked for, can you tell me what went wrong. Usually I'd go back and do it in person, at the moment that might not work so email either some pictures attached and a follow up phone call might be a better approach.

But no way would I be spending more money getting it fixed, i would be clear that she needs to put it right (or give money back)

I think it looks great, but then I have no idea what balayage is. It looks like effortless‘whip into a pony/bun’ ski-holiday style.

Hey OP, I would complain if I were you and hopefully they can put it right.
I think the highlights she did are very thick and harsh and to me it doesn’t look good at all - very 90s, as you said, and at 23 I bet they do age you.
Sorry, I don’t mean to be mean but I just wanted you to know that you’re right I’m feeling upset about it and wanting them to fix it.

It’s not even vaguely balayage so go back and complain, show her a picture of balayage, surely she can’t disagree that this is nothing like it

Honestly I think your hair looks beautiful. I have no idea what balayage is but whatever she did you have lovely hair

I don’t like it. It’s not a balayage. It’s very amateurish, I wouldn’t say it is indicative of a £150 service. You didn’t get what you asked for.

Balayage is supposed to be much more blended but you have stripy highlights and random large dark sections. All of your ends should be light, with a seamless blend into your natural colour.

I am the same age as you and would not want my hair to look like that. It’s something my mum would have.

Contact her to say you’re unhappy. Send photos of what you wanted vs the above pic and ask her if she can rectify it (free of charge).

If you don’t feel like she is skilled enough, you don’t have to get the service repeated by her. Either ask for a refund or call your bank to dispute the transaction (service not carried out with reasonable skill/care)

This is what it should look like

What is wrong with hairdressers? I seen lots of threads on here about horror hairdressers. In my real life, my sister had a bad hair dressing experience and I am not happy with my hair colour.

I feel due to covid they are rusty and making mistakes. Eurgh. If I was you I complain, what have you got to lose? Get a refund.

Balayage is done by hand , I had it for years and no back to blonde highlights . There are no foils and it should blend down like dip dye but way more subtle . If you are in West Sussex my hairdresser is amazing! Always does what I ask for ! I luffs her!!

Just messaged her 😬 just asked for more to be put in and sent pictures.

I have seen more mistakes lately! Maybe it is the break? @ukgift2016

That’s the look I was going for! Not this @Hairthrowaway

Oooh I love by West Sussex! Who do you go to I can look for next time?? @huuunderickssss

I’ll pm you

That looks beautiful OP.

I understand it's not what you wanted but it looks great.

I thought mine didn't look as good as usual from my usual hairdresser. I think they're a little rusty tbh. I'm not really someone that cares though. I think your hair looks lovely but clearly not what you asked for