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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Hairdressing complaint dilemma!

53 replies

Evanted76 · 20/01/2024 12:34

More of a WWYD really... sorry its a bit long...

So yesterday I was booked in for a full head of highlights and cut with a hairdresser I have been to once before which was my last visit in November.

The last time, I noticed that she didn't really do what I asked for in the consultation, but as I was delighted with the result, I let it go.

This time, I took a photo of exactly what I was looking for colour wise and as I sat down in the chair, I said I wanted my blonde to be brighter and that i felt it had gone very dull. Last time, she did blonde highlights with quite a few lowlights mixed in. This time, I said I just wanted the foils to be all blonde.

I also said during the consultation, that if she could find a way for it to be lower maintenance as I'm taking biotin tablets and my hair is growing really fast at the moment. I suggested a root tap but she dismissed it and said to me "leave it with me"

Partway through her putting the foils in, I commented that she seemed to be foiling a lot of lowlights and I said that I was a bit worried. I reminded her that I wanted to be blonder but she laughed and told me to "trust the process"

When she was drying it off, my heart started to sink. My hair suddenly had a very warm tinge of brown to the crown area, so where my original roots were. There was also a very strange step in the way she had foiled it around my parting...and so very noticeable. It was obvious I was disappointed as I had gone from being very chatty to suddenly being very quiet. She didnt notice this, or the look on my face, so I decided to speak up. I started by asking if the warm tinge would fade. Looking surprised, she said "don't you like it?" I shook my head and quietly said that it wasn't what I had asked for and reminded her that I had asked for it to be blonder and brighter and I also pointed out the strange step pattern at the front. She then started to get very defensive and said she had done what I wanted and I had asked for a balayage as I wanted low maintenance! I politely stood my ground, but so did she and in the end the manager came over to find out what was going on.

The original stylist looked like she was fuming and scuttled away. The manager told me it looked gorgeous, but agreed with me that a few foils at the front needed redoing and basically offered to book me back in, for free, to sort my hair out to make me happy. She told the original stylist to come back over with her diary to sort my appointment out and then the manager disappeared. During the conversation about when I can be booked in, the stylist didn't make eye contact with me, was very cold and the whole thing was very uncomfortable. To make it worse, there was a salon full of other clients, who had obviously been lapping up the exchange and whispering between stylists going on in the back.

I suffer with a lot of anxiety and although I'm no pushover, I am absolutely dreading my appointment next week with the stylist and feel the "relationship" between me and the stylist is now irreparable due to the way she reacted to the whole thing. I think i am going to have to find another hairdresser anyway the next time my highlights need doing as she doesn't seem to listen properly during the consultation.

Would you cancel the appointment to fix my hair and find someone else, or put my big girl pants on and go back?

OP posts:
Abbimae · 20/01/2024 12:39

You asked for low maintenance so she avoided a root line and you are not happy? I am confused. You can’t have low maintenance full head blonde highlights

Mothew · 20/01/2024 12:40

I'm fuming on your behalf, how dare she do that! I'd go back and have it fixed for free, but that would be the end of my relationship with the stylist.

Miloandfreddy · 20/01/2024 12:40

To be honest I wouldn't go back! Find a new hairdresser who will actually listen to you. Tell them how you were treated before so they know they need to do what you ask. I'd find it far too awkward to go back and the original stylist would likely be standoffish at best!

gardenfoundry · 20/01/2024 12:43

Cancel and don't bother going back.

TheLogicalSong · 20/01/2024 12:44

Can you not request a different stylist?

Sofabum · 20/01/2024 12:46

I wouldn't go back..the saving in money is not worth the stress and embarrassment. You also risk her doing something in revenge and claiming it was a mistake.

Greenqueen40 · 20/01/2024 12:48

There is no way I would go back to the same stylist, the whole thing will be absolutely cringe worthy. I think I would ring and speak to the manager requesting a partial refund to put towards it getting corrected elsewhere.

MatterofTime24 · 20/01/2024 12:51

I wouldn’t go back.

I had a wonky haircut on two occasions (different hairdressers) and the stylist offered to put it right both times. I said no and asked for the manager to do it which is what happened. Can you ask for a senior stylist to rectify it?

greengreengrass25 · 20/01/2024 12:52

Or could the manager do it for you?

Sounds absolutely awful

NaughtybutNice77 · 20/01/2024 12:56

I'd ask for the manager to sort it. I'd be flexible with appointment times though. I wouldn't expect to pay.

AnneValentine · 20/01/2024 13:01

You asked for two things that contradict eachother.

blonder.

low maintenance.

Hiddenvoice · 20/01/2024 13:02

That sounds awful. I would want it fixed for free but I wouldn’t be happy for her to do it.

WinterBerry7 · 20/01/2024 13:03

I wouldn’t go back as I’d find it too awkward but I also agree with everyone who says you asked for something that doesn’t really exist. You showed a picture of something that sounds like it wouldn’t be low maintenance. But the stylist should have explained to you more clearly that what you were asking for isn’t achievable.

ConstitutionHill · 20/01/2024 13:04

AnneValentine · 20/01/2024 13:01

You asked for two things that contradict eachother.

blonder.

low maintenance.

So that was the point the stylist could have explained very clearly, leaving the OP to decide. And what about the weird 'step' in colour at the front?

Gobolina · 20/01/2024 13:04

Don't go back, but don't cancel. Let her lose the money/appointment slot. She might listen to her customers in future then.

pikkumyy77 · 20/01/2024 13:05

F

MarIeyG · 20/01/2024 13:09

I'd let them fix it. But you did ask for 2 things that are the opposite of one another. More blonde and low maintenance are the opposite of one another. Sounds like she has tried to make sure it was low maintenance?

Bringbackspring · 20/01/2024 13:19

I would not go back to have this corrected. I'd pay to have it sorted elsewhere.

I'd be fuming with this. As a long time full head of highlights person, I get really annoyed if the hairdresser uses too many low lights or if the end result is you can still clearly see the roots. I never go back to anyone who does not achieve proper root coverage. I have learned the hard way never to say "do what you think best". I am incredibly specific about how I want it done.

I remember leaving one salon and almost crying back at home when my hair looked almost the same as before I'd had it done. In the salon it was hard to tell but in natural light it was glaringly obvious. I even asked a friend if it looked like I'd had my hair done, and she said no.

You did ask for something that is basically impossible. A full head of very blonde highlights can never be low maintenance. However, the hairdresser should have fully explained that to you and put forward a couple of workable suggestions for you to choose from. She didn't do that, and on that basis I'd be really annoyed.

Blahblahblahblahblahurgh · 20/01/2024 13:19

I'm interested in the picture that you took in as well. Because it sounds like you've taken in a picture of a balayage and she's assumed that's what you wanted? Agree that low maintenance and blonder do not go together.

Frances0911 · 20/01/2024 13:21

She sounds very arrogant to me. Saying leave it with me was the red flag. I think you should go back to have it sorted out, but ask for another stylist. If they won't agree then I'd go somewhere else.

jackstini · 20/01/2024 13:26

Can you post the photo you took in and a pic of your hair now?

Agree full head blonde highlights & low maintenance are incompatible - but she should have explained that and let you decide

I would not let the original stylist touch your hair. Either manager does it or just go somewhere else

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 20/01/2024 13:31

I would go back to have it fixed free of charge but not with the same stylist

penjil · 20/01/2024 13:34

gardenfoundry · 20/01/2024 12:43

Cancel and don't bother going back.

I wouldn't even cancel.

Bollocks to them.

Their customer service sounds awful.

MumblesParty · 20/01/2024 13:37

I would go back for the free appointment, but ask for a different stylist.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 20/01/2024 13:38

penjil · 20/01/2024 13:34

I wouldn't even cancel.

Bollocks to them.

Their customer service sounds awful.

The styliat was awful but how was the managera customer servixe bad?

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