Hairdressers - AIBU to be unhappy with my £170 balayage?

[Bumble88]

I’ve recently had a baby boy and have a three year old girl. So you can imagine my excitement at finally being able to get to the hairdressers (for the first time in over a year) to have a fresh new balayage done.

I went to a small chain which has a branch locally. I showed the hairdresser a photo of what I was looking for in terms of colours and depth of the colour. My appointment was 1pm and I came out at 5:30pm, £170 lighter and with a huge feeling of disappointment.

Whilst I’m not naive enough to expect to look like the model, I just don’t feel the colour looks anything like what I asked for😓To me it looks very flat and single tonal. Some of the hair also has a metallic/brassy look that kind of glistens (like my old highlights had become over time!)

I didn’t say anything at the time as I was a) running so late as I hadn’t expected to be in there nearly 5 hours and b) I felt too embarrassed to say it was way off what I wanted, when what could be done to fix it?

AIBU to think my £170 has not been well spent…? (Image on left is my hair, image on right is what I showed the hairdresser for the colours I wanted…)

Are you able to show the before?

Time and price seem standard especially for very thick hair, but agree results are very disappointing.

Your hair doesn’t look how I would expect it to be finished either, in terms of lack of shine and lack of styling as well, assuming this is just after the appointment?

I would go back if possible so you can show them.

Odd how someone posted these exact same pictures last year.

I would go back and either ask for a refund, or for it to be done as per photo.

If they couldn't do it, they should have told you that before commencing, so don't fall for that if that's what they try to use as an excuse.

If this was my work, I would be mortified as it's nothing like what you asked for.

Thanks everyone for your contributions! Too many questions to answer, but in short, my hair is naturally very thick and very curly underneath and wavy on top. It hadn’t been dyed at home previously…

Since I have washed my hair and let it dry naturally curly it looks a lot more light/different colours - I’m not sure why!

On reflection, I agree it’s not the right thing to go above the salon. If I was to say anything it would be direct to the salon branch I went to.

@NotQuiteNorma I’m not sure what you mean by this!? Impossible for these exact photos to have been posted previously given the one in the left was taken last week!!?

Ohh interesting. So seeing as you’re so sure it’s the same picture, you’ll be able to direct us to the thread?

You still have lovely hair, but I'm sorry it wasn't exactly how you wanted it.

But, the stylist has used a ring light on the model's hair (the one you showed your hairdresser) to make the their hair look a lot brighter, picking up all of the multi tonal shades and also making it look much shiner (probably has some glossing products on it too!)
It's a trick a lot of hairdressers use now (my daughter's hairdresser does it) for social media, to show off their 'before' and 'after' pictures.
My daughter's hair looked at least two shades brighter in the ring light picture online, than it did in the daylight!
Also going very blonde is a process, it takes several visit to achieve, which is essential to minimise damage.

But do go back if you're not happy, I'm sure a good hairdresser would want to put things right for you.

Experience is always a steep and expensive learning curve.

You now know a lot more than you did before this hair treatment.

You know next time, speaking from experience, that you want contrasting colour with highlights and lowlights.

I had to look up what balayage was. Definition said "graduated natural-looking effect", which seems to be what they gave you.

But you showed them a picture. I don't think the picture fits the description of balayage, because the desired picture is neither "graduated" nor "natural looking".

But I know nothing about hair.

Regardless, you know next time, to stress contrast of colour.
You also have two excellent pictures to show the next hairdresser - to point out what you asked for and what you got.
You can ask the next hairdresser how they're going to create the look you want? And if they can?

If you're up to it, I would go back to the hairdressers to express your disappointment, showing them the 2 photos posted. And ask them why they think it didn't turn out as you wanted it.

At the very least you've given them an opportunity to put it right.

I wouldn't be happy.
Your hair is lovely but it's not what you asked for.
Hope you can go back and get some money back.
Possibly missing the point here, but is it not worth taking a break from hairdressers, maybe try to learn to trim and colour your hair yourself or ask a friend?
You could probably do a better job for a tenth of the price you paid. I'm aghast at how long it took aswell.
In my 20s I decided I refused to pay hairdressers extortionate prices, I only go about once every 6 years or if I'm forced to for someone else's wedding. I learnt to cut and dye my own and am happy with it. I have shorter darker hair though!

Jeez, £170 for that.

I can't believe they didn't style and gloss it to put the oomph in like the photo, especially for that price and amount of time. They do expect you to get in touch if you're not happy and will accommodate this so nothing wrong asking. Xx

What is your natural colour? The biggest thing i notice is it looks like your hair is mostly the same colour from root to tip so either they haven't lightened the highlighted bits enough to create the contract / sunkissed look or they have literally just highlighted your hair from the roots. There are areas at the bottom that look brighter but more at the sides.
I get balyage and sometimes I can be a little disappointed in terms of too much blonde towards the root whereas i prefer the grown out look so basically at the moment I'm getting darker colours put in to bring more of my brown back so that it looks more natural and sunkissed and then I have scattered bleach amounts. The stylist has on occasion done the blonde too close to the roots to cover grey (not much grey on top) but I've asked her not to.
I pay about £60 for this so i'm really happy with her (she has converted part of her house to a salon hence she can charge lower) but i think for £170 if you haven't got the look you asked for then you're right to be disappointed - and if the look wasn't achievable eg your hair isn't as dark as the model then the stylist should really have pointed it out and explained what she could do for you.

Your style doesn't look like it has been lightened enough to match the colour in the pic. Also it looks like an all over coverage rather than partial balayage. Def go back & speak with the hairdresser explaining it's not what you were after at all & how can they put it right for you. I think after 5 hours & down £170 I'd be very disappointed too.

This was a different hair salon - fixed today, I am much happier! 💇

That is very nice.

Looks lovely, so glad you got it sorted and you're happy now.

Did you complain to the first one ?

It’s very different to your original inspiration pic but it is lovely and I am glad that you are happy.

It's beautiful op , enjoy , thanks for a update not many come back .

That looks lovely. I imagine it’s different because the first salon made op’s hair lighter all over @WitchWithoutChips.

If you still want the colour of the inspo picture op, I suppose it’s a case of waiting til it grows then you can have a lighter on the ends, darker at the top version.

Very nice indeed! Truly much better than the original.