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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask for a refund for my hair?

236 replies

HairRaisin · 11/06/2022 21:06

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?

AIBU to ask for a refund for my hair?
AIBU to ask for a refund for my hair?
AIBU to ask for a refund for my hair?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
TheLadyofShalott1 · 12/06/2022 01:42

My husband (in his seventies, who used to be an engineer before he retired), cut my hair for me two weeks ago - I was very nervous - but it looks fine, and much better than the poor OP's haircut!

lemmein · 12/06/2022 02:54

ChipsRoastOrBoiled · 12/06/2022 00:22

If she refuses to refund you in full again, I'd get an estimate from another salon of the full cost to get your hair back to how it was/what you wanted, and add that to the £160. Then send her a letter before action, telling her this is the amount you'll be claiming from her via the Small Claims Court process if she continues to refuse. Then go through with it. There's a small fee but you get that back if you win.

This.

A refund isn't enough, especially if it's going to cost more to get it fixed - plus the extra damage to your hair and the four hours you've already wasted Sad

There's no way she's a qualified hairdresser...no chance.

ToppTotty · 12/06/2022 03:01

In the first instance, the consumer should complain to the hair salon. If the complaint cannot be resolved, the salon must provide the consumer with details of a certified Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider.

ADR involves the use of a mediation service to attempt to reach a compromise, and thus avoid legal action. It is important to note, however, that the hairdresser is not legally obliged to use such a mediation service.

There is a Commons Library briefing, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and consumer disputes which provides detailed information.

Harrystylestutu · 12/06/2022 04:03

Oh no, your hair looked so healthy before! She's completely fried the ends as well, but sorry OP, I too laughed at friar tuck! The crown especially looked so much better before Flowers

nettie434 · 12/06/2022 04:39

No wonder you are upset. Your hair was lovely before. I can quite see why you want your money back when it really does not look as if the salon owner would be able to improve the cut or the colour herself.

Everydaydayisaschoolday · 12/06/2022 05:52

YANBU. She is.

CompletelyConfusedMummy · 12/06/2022 05:54

Woah! I’d expect a refund for sure. I cut my daughters hair during the lockdown and although I thought I did a crap job, it was wayyyy better than your cut that’s been done by a supposed professional. If I didn’t get my money back, I’d be on every possible platform, sharing negative reviews of her pathetic service! Hope you get a refund.

Fraaahnces · 12/06/2022 08:02

Can’t blame you for being pissed… I would upload the photos asap and let her know they will come down after a refund.

Roselilly36 · 12/06/2022 08:05

I feel for you OP, awful when a hairdresser makes a mess of your hair, the colouring job is appalling and the cut even worse. I hope you get a refund and your hair is transformed by another hairdresser. Good luck.

CandidaAlbicans2 · 12/06/2022 08:11

Posters suggesting you threaten to write a review unless she refunds you, or to write a review and tell her you'd take it down when the issue is resolved, are forgetting what reviews are for. They are not for leverage, or for anythings that even hints at blackmail, they are for informing potential clients of what they could expect should they use the services of that provider. You would be doing nothing wrong if you wrote an honest review, even if she also resolves the issue to your satisfaction (knowing how providers rectify their mistakes is just as useful, if not more useful, to know than whether a client is simply happy or not)

So seperate the refund from the review. Write an honest review if you want, not to use as a bargaining chip, but to inform other people. At the same time persue the financial side of things.

Marvellousmadness · 12/06/2022 08:36

I wouldn't have paid for it in the first place!! Even with curls you would have been able to see the horrible dyejob :(

MinnieGirl · 12/06/2022 08:50

lemmein · 12/06/2022 02:54

This.

A refund isn't enough, especially if it's going to cost more to get it fixed - plus the extra damage to your hair and the four hours you've already wasted Sad

There's no way she's a qualified hairdresser...no chance.

Show quote history

Totally agree with this.
A refund yes, but you are going to have to pay a lot to correct her mistake.

Purplefoxes · 12/06/2022 08:55

I'm so sorry OP what she has done is worse than what you have had before. Hair takes a long time to grow and once damaged often the only solution is to cut it! Does your local radio station have a consumer show? I had an issue with a local company who had me going around in circles to get a refund. I put my complaint in to three counties radio and they were awesome, they know all the consumer laws and they use their researchers to liaise with the company so you don't have to. And they will name and shame on local radio companies who don't respond or who don't play ball. No one wants that kind of bad publicity I can assure you! It worked for me so worth a try before you leave a bad review?

TolkiensFallow · 12/06/2022 08:55

That is terrible! You poor thing.

I really hope she gives you a refund but if she doesn’t I would definitely post the pics in a local Facebook group…whilst I’m not normally the grabby type, if you post a bit of a sob story about it being the first haircut since a baby and how you’d looked forward to feeling better about your body afterwards, you just might get a salon offer to fix it free as it’ll improve their reputation with the Facebook publicity!

Purplefoxes · 12/06/2022 08:57

BBC three counties radio covers Beds, Herts and bucks if you happen to be in these areas, they were brilliant!

Winterlove · 12/06/2022 08:58

I had the same thing recently and pushed for days until they agreed to refund me. I put it to them as one of two things has happened here:

1 - you know this was bad and let me leave without admitting at the time it wasn’t your best work and needed fixed.

2 - you genuinely think this is good work and it’s not so what could be done differently that couldn’t be achieved the first time?

I suppose if she’s still refusing then you could post the photos on social media and tag the salon as she might be keen to refund you so that you take them down. Appreciate it might not be the way you want to go with it. I didn’t do this but would have done if I still didn’t get my money back. It did take me about 5 days of arguing with them to get them to agree. Think they were sick of me 😂

Aprilx · 12/06/2022 08:59

I opened the thread expecting to post that to be fair you need to pay for her time and cannot seriously expect to get a refund. I was also fresh from reading the other haircut thread and I think she got what she requested, but needs to allow from her hair being different to the models.

But my word, no I would be encouraging you to take this all the way to court. Those photographs including your before shots would CW in your case I am sure. The first few photos look like bad highlights that have grown out. The cut shots look like she has hacked your hair with a pair of garden shears.

I thought your colour looked nice enough in the haircut photos though. So if somebody corrects the top and then you go for a shorter style above all the hacking, your hair will be looking nice again easily enough.

But a resounding yes that you should get a full refund.

EmeraldShamrock1 · 12/06/2022 09:03

Yadnbu. The colour gaps and cut are awful.

It's very disappointing for you after the excitement and build up of the visit.

sunglassesonthetable · 12/06/2022 09:03

Watching with interest as you have really been done over here OP.

Well done going back to the Salon and confronting her. That is what we are always told to do. And not easy.

But do not let her try to fix it!

Good Luck

CuriousMama · 12/06/2022 09:08

I'm a qualified hairstylist and colourist. I don't work in that field now. But that is absolutely shocking. Don't let her near your hair again.
Get your money back then post the before and after pics on Facebook. She shouldn't be working.
I'd just get a trim and a semi permanent to sort the colour out somewhat. Give your hair a rest from harsher chemicals for a while.

Original poster
HairRaisin · 12/06/2022 09:52

Thanks so much all for the reassurance. I feel validated hearing that everyone agrees with how bad it looks! So much great advice on what to do next, it’s been really helpful. I will definitely give updates on what happens!

OP posts:
cdba88 · 12/06/2022 09:59

You poor thing!

LuckySantangelo35 · 12/06/2022 11:08

Usually on these kind of posts there is always a few poster who are like ‘oh it’s not that people’ ‘some people just love complaining’ etc so it’s nice to see people actually being honest here!

really for you sorry Op, you should have had a lovely relaxing afternoon and your hair should have looked fab. Absolutely persue refund AND compensation - you deserve it

roundpegsquareholes · 12/06/2022 11:13

I know nothing about hair dye, and can't really usually see a problem when people post about their dissatisfaction about highlights or balayage or whatever it's called... but OP even I can see (and gasped!) that this is an awful dye job.
I'm more knowledgeable about cuts after lockdown and the cut is very very bad too.
I think get 3 quotes from reputable salons and then inform her of them, in writing, and inform her you will be taking to small claims court for refund, compensation for the cost of rectifying her mistake.
I think I would post of SM anyway as a warning to others!!!!
Hair grows, so try not to freak out about it. Think if this experience was with a plumber or builder and go through the same process to rectify the poor work carried out.

olympicsrock · 12/06/2022 11:15

You poor thing! She has ruined your glorious hair.
She knows it’s bad ( cut is just awful) hence not wanting you to share pics.
She has not a toe to stand on! I wouldn’t let her touch my hair again. She needs to refund you plus pay whatever a good salon will charge to try and repair the damage. If not you will review her on social media with pictures. She won’t want this….