AIBU to ask for a refund for my hair?

[HairRaisin]

I went to a local independent salon this week to get a balayage and cut, first time since before DC was born end of 2021 so I was very excited! I’d never been there before but the salon owner/stylist had good reviews.

At end of cut and colour the stylist insisted on curling my hair, and with the mixture of the curls and the soft salon lighting I didn’t notice how choppy and uneven it was. As soon as I got home and had a proper look I realised that she had done a really bad job and it’s not the natural looking balayage I’d asked for.

I’ve since been messaging the salon owner to let her know how unhappy I am, and have also been back to show her what I’m not happy with.

Not only did she play down how bad it was, but the only option she is currently offering is for her to ‘fix’ my hair by trying again, however I don’t trust her to try again and have instead asked for a refund so I can get it fixed somewhere else. She has no employees, it’s just her, so there’s nobody else there that could try to fix it.

Looking at what she did the first time (which took 4 hours, and cost me £160) I haven’t got the confidence in her to fix it, so I asked for a refund, but she is currently refusing - although asked for the weekend to seek advice on what her next steps might be. So she might decide next week to refund me, or might decide that she legally doesn’t have to since she has offered to fix it - and that’s that.

Not sure if photos will do it justice? But it’s choppy, patchy all over including underneath, yellow and grey in parts, and all a little too Friar Tuck. Plus the cut is uneven too! I’ve been left feeling quite sad after being so excited for this first little treat since DC was born!

AIBU to want a refund so that I can get this fixed somewhere else?

Jesus Christ. The balayage is horrendous, the cut even worse. I'm so sorry OP.

Awful. Normally I think people should give hairdressers the chance to fix. In this case, you need a refund!

I cut my kids hair myself, complete with layers and I can do better than that cut with no qualifications. Seriously bad!

@blugray aww thank you! I should have left it really and just got a trim! Would have been much cheaper and less stressful!

Wow that is really really bad. A few years ago I put my hair in a ponytail and hacked the ends off and it looked better than that.

I'm not at all surprised you're upset, I would be too.

Both the colour and cut are dreadful. The worst I've ever seen on here. Definitely push for a refund and never allow her to touch your hair again. So sorry op, hope you find a competent hairdresser who can fix it.

I should also say that I sent the photos to two different stylists who’ve both agreed she did a bad job and said it’s going to take another long and costly appointment to fix, but when I went back to her salon she told me that they’ve only said that because they want my money 😑

Don't let her try and fix it,whatever you do!

That is truly shocking😱

I hope you manage to get it sorted and are happy with it soon, it's rotten when your hair isn't right.

It’s entirely possible the ‘hairdresser’ could be a fraud/cowboy (there’s no legal requirement for them to be trained, unlike, say, an electrician). It’s also not unheard of for their businesses to be a front for money laundering or drugs.

Get someone reputable to correct your hair and put this one down to experience. Worst case, at least hair grows back eventually, unlike, say, your water pipes or wiring.

Did you pay cash or card? If card, contact your bank and see if they'll do a chargeback.

Oh, and I’d be tempted to ‘advertise’ her business with those pictures online. No additional comments required. 😈

No offence, but that hair cut is horrific! The baylege is bad enough, but the cut! That woman would not be touching my hair again. Insist on a refund, or you will be posting pictures on social media and naming. I'd be surprised if she's a qualified hairdresser tbh. I'm sorry.

@Clarissa111 yes I’m glad I stood firm and told her that I don’t want her to try and fix it! I didn’t want to have to post photos online but think I might have to!

Bloody hell, my hair cut is better than that and I did it myself with the kitchen scissors.

christ, that’s bad! Everything about it is wrong.

It might be worth seeking legal advice.

I’d honestly be insisting on a refund and once of got it posting the photos too. She hasn’t even got the decency to apologise and is being difficult about the refund. The least she could do is say sorry and give you your money back. She probably owes you more than that.

Bloody hell, that's really shocking. Don't let her try to fix it. She's obv clueless. Push again for a refund and say you'll put the pics on fb. If she's proud of her work she should have nothing to fear.

Bloody hell, you could have come to my house and I'd have not done a worse job blindfolded with a bottle of domestos and some hedge trimmers. Usually, I come on these sort of threads and can't see what the problem is as I have naturally shit hair and therefore low standards but even if I can see that that is a right old bodge job. I'd show her this thread and demand a refund.

Oh my gosh your beautiful hair before!!!😰

She’s done a horrendous job and needs to give you a refund unless she wants photos and review published. Unbelievably bad!!!

Yikes, I am low maintenance and like a PP usually can't see anything wrong on these type of threads, but that cut is beyond belief bad and the colour is shocking too, your pictures capture the full horror well so keep at it and get your money back if you can.

OP I gasped in shock.
That is indeed a terrible job.
OMG.

What options have you got if she refuses to refund you?

I would tell her you'll post the photos on reviews unless she refunds you, she'll never work again looking at that cut (which is worse than the colour).

I would cry if that was my hair, but I did laugh at your friar tuck reference. I mean what a roasting comment (I know it’s your hair, but it their work).

Friar tuck indeed - so sorry OP.

With that thin hair and all
the damage from the bleach I would 1000% be demanding a refund.

I am pretty certain if your hair was that thin at the scalp she should if refused to bleach it.

you need a really good hair colourist to correct that, expect to be pay double what you have just paid, you could go light brown with a darker root shadow to simulate thicker roots, please don’t bleach your hair again it’s not healthy enough xx

I have no training and I cut my DD hair recently, after seeing these photos I think I am going to start charging. My haircut was so much better than that!