To think colours should come with a blow dry?

[PumpkinSpiceSzn]

NC but been around for donkeys years.

AIBU or is my hair salon? I booked online last night for a "full head hair colour" (£60), it states on the booking slot online this particular service is 1 hour 30 minutes.

I arrive this morning, and was asked if I want to go dark all over, as that's all there's time for. I was a little confused, that the only colour I can choose, is dark brown all over. What if someone blonde went in, or auburn, etc. Does everyone who books in for a full head of colour have one colour choice to choose?

I have medium brown roots and a light balayage on the ends, that I paid for at the same salon in feb. I will attach a picture of what colour I wanted to go, but I hadn't even mentioned this or shown a picture, so the stylist didn't know this to predict their wouldn't be enough time to do the colour of my choice, as soon as I walked in and she said dark brown or nothing.

I said I didn't want to go dark brown all over, so she suggested a toner to brighten up the balayage. I told her I thought it was quite brassy last time so didn't like it. I agreed to the toner as I had just traveled there for nothing otherwise. Whilst I had the toner on, I was informed I didn't add on a cut or blow dry to the booking system, so I wouldn't be able to have my hair dried. I said I didn't realise, also we were less than an hour in to my apt, and the booking system said it would be 1hr 30, so how couldn't there be time to trim and dry it?

After they washed off the toner, they asked the appreciate/ Juniour to blast it dry, no blow drying style was used, she literally just blasted it how I would at home, it was all frizzy and static/ bushy looking. The colour also looked exactly the same, and the toner had made no difference.

I spoke to the manager, who said she used the same toner as last time (not sure why, when I said last time I found it brassy, which is why I wanted to change the colour today) and the manager seemed pissed off/ unhelpful. Told me if I wanted anything further/ a cut I would have to sit and wait half an hour or so.

i left feeling quite disappointed and was charged £70, for the hair to be left all frizzy and blasted dry by the Juniour, not blow dried properly by one of the stylists, I feel like I've been ripped off charging full price for that blow dry. And the toner that made 0 difference. My mum and partner have asked me what I had done as my hair looks exactly the same as before I went in. AIBU to feel like they've taken the piss? My usual stylist who did the toner, was also colouring another ladies hair at the same time too. Pic of the colour i originally booked in to go attached below.

Oh god all these replies are making me so pleased I found my hairdresser.

she does whatever I tell her. I get bleach, toner sometimes two, a cut and blow dry, and she styles it, everytime, and I’m in London. Always for around the same price. Yours is one of those book online type salons I’m guessing? I just ask WhatsApp her to ask what day she has free and tell her what I want, she tells me what day she has.

Forty quid for someone to point a hairdryer at your head! This is why I cut my own hair

It's pretty normal to charge extra for the blow dry after colour in my experience and it's also normal for the hairdresser to see another client after the colour is on and before it is washed off. However, the salon sounds horrible. You don't like the colour even though you complained about the toner and the blow dry was rubbish. I'd change hairdressers.

I wouldn't bother with a review, that's not going to help you in any way. I would suggest writing to the salon in a very factual way.

1. The hairdresser did not carry out a consultation prior to the colour service.
2. The hairdresser said she didn't have time to do the service before you even mentioned what you were after which is inconsiderate and left you with no choice but to agree to a treatment plan.
3. You mentioned to the hairdresser that you didn't like the last toner yet, the manager later confirmed the exact same colour formula was used.
4. You were charged for a blow dry but only received rough dry.
5. You would like to be offered a colour correction free of charge/refund of the service/partial refund for the blowrdy

Remain polite but firm. Avoid "beefing up" your complaint by making personal comments about staff - this is often not helpful and distracts from the real issue. Good luck x

Always get a blow dry with a colour….and that’s been in different salons. I’m in Ireland though. My current hairdressers will even do a curly blow dry if you want.

It sounds like you've been ripped off. A toner shouldn't cost £70!!

I would usually book a toner as an add on when getting my hair cut and it costs around £30 max.

If booking something different to usual then you are best off calling the salon to make an appointment, and explaining what you want over the phone so that they can book the appropriate amount of time.

Personally, I would always go for a consultation with the hairdresser before booking an appointment for a colour that I hadn't had before at that salon. Not all colours as possible for all people, particularly if you already have colour in your hair.

Does it fuck take 45 minutes to apply colour, if it does then they are just faffing!

I love my hairdresser, but I did find the online booking system confusing at first. You book a colour service (highlights or full head colour or balayage) and then an add-on service (cut and blowdry for the relevant colour service). It's so they know how much time to schedule for you. It sounds like you booked last minute, didn't fully understand what you were booking, and were unfortunately a bit of a nightmare customer. BUT the salon should have dealt with it better, it sounds like it's time to find a new one.

You won't be the only one, my hairdresser has multiple statements on the website about booking the add-on service, and often has instagram stories saying the same. If you're not sure what to book online it's easier to phone.

When I book in for my hair colour it's listed as a cut, colour and blow dry. Never had a problem. Sometimes I just get my roots done or I may get some highlights done at the same time. That is decided on the day. Never had an issue

That's terrible. I think they're greedy and ripped you off. Take a photo of what your hair looks like, and email the manager. I'd leave bad reviews too. Don't bother going back again.

I pay £120 for everything, nothing is too much trouble, and I'm there for ages, so I guess you're going to a budget place where they're using juniors. I specifically went in to ask the first time though, as I didn't know what I needed and so they could see my hair and make suggestions in person and I could see how good they were and much they cared before I booked.

I can't imagine paying as little as £60 for colour, I'd pay my boyfriend that to do it for me at home!

5/6 years ago you never paid more for a blow dry after a full colour!

Its a post covid thing and so cheeky imo, you can’t even see the work properly if it hasn’t been dried and smoothed.

Some PP are prob using salons (mostly in London in my experience) where they have long since charged blowdries separately. It’s because blowdries have become such a Thing (my friend pays £75 at least a week JUST on a blowdry!), but it’s also a bit of a scam and a pain and I’m so glad I don’t live there anymore! Some salons do it well (Hershesons used to be quite chilled out and provide hairdryers to do your own, my hairdresser once complimented my own drying skills!)

It is totally normal everywhere else to get your blowdry included as customers would vote with their feet otherwise.

Some salons can be arseholes, refuse to let you leave with wet hair then charge you for the frizzy crap blast. I have also refused to pay for this in Toni and guy Angel.

@JudgeBurrito why was I a nightmare customer? She said she didn't have time to colour my hair anything but dark brown from the get go, so I agreed to a £35 toner I didn't want. & had my hair blasted dry for £40 charge without complaining (would of rather left with it wet, had I knew she was going to rough dry it) I can't see how I've been a nightmare here.

They sound awful in all honesty. Their take it or leave it attitude would have had me leaving the salon but to blast your hair is ridiculous. I don’t know how they get a repeat customer behaving like that.

My hairdresser never rushes her clients hair and a blow dry and cut is always included. I’ve noticed a lot of salons (that are always begging for customers on social media…) charge an extra £35 for the blow dry.

My salon’s online booking lists various colouring options and on every page it says that a blow dry must be booked with every colour. (And therefore paid for additionally.)

I would expect to have it dried so that we can see the real final colour but yeah, it’s not clear if your place didn’t list it as ‘extra but compulsory’.

I’d be going elsewhere after your experience, though.

Same! mind you the girls who blow dry it are pretty useless, without exception, so now do it myself in the salon.

The senior guy who does my hair will often say come in half an hour early so I can blow dry it.

Oh thank god! I'm also in Dublin and was horrified at the idea that getting your hair coloured didn't include blow drying it 😳
I'd look like I'd been electrocuted if I was blast dried.

I’d not expect a free blow dry when I’ve only booked for a basic service.

I’ve been given them before, usually if my stylist has time and wants to try something different.

Having said that, your salon seems to be really rude with only offering brown - there are a few more dark colours to choose.

Just from the point of view of the staff, I don't mean you meant to do anything wrong. If you've ever worked with the general public you'll know how frustrating it is when you have a system in place and someone messes it up by accident. You booked a full head colour, and PP has explained why it had to be dark. You then didn't want a full head colour, so they compromised by doing a toner. You then wanted a blow dry, but you hadn't booked one. Chalk it up to experience and find a new salon.

But, tbh, my hairdresser is booked up until November, so being able to get a colour appointment the night before is a red flag. And we're very much not in London.

If you were charged separately for a blow dry then you should have received a proper blow dry. If you didn’t get that you shouldn’t have paid the £40, or you need to go back and complain. Either way, it sounds like you need a new salon.

Blow drys shouldn’t automatically be included in a colour though. I have my hair coloured but don’t want it dried and styled, so I wouldn’t want the cost of that to be included in a colour.

The only time my hair colour didn’t include a cut and blow dry was when I had it cut a fortnight before and it did include a wash and blow dry. I’m not sure where you live but you wouldn’t get a hair colour here for £70.

If you've ever worked with the general public you'll know how frustrating it is when you have a system in place and someone messes it up by accident.

Yes, but that’s usually because they haven’t explained things properly. Most customers aren’t going to know whether what they want is possible, or what it’s called, or how long it will take. Why should they?

I think your hair does look lovely. I don’t pay for a blow dry when I get mine coloured, I do if I add a cut. I found it a bit shocking the first time when it wasn’t included but I’m used to it now. Sometimes the junior has a good try and sometimes it looks rubbish.
I pay a lot and wish I could go back to the old home box dye, but my greys need the professionals now.

Some of the time sure, but honestly a large % of the time people will mess things up regardless of how clear you make it. And they shouldn't, but that's why you ask in advance/book a consultation.

I explained earlier that I found my hairdresser's system confusing at first, so I emailed to confirm before booking, then went in for a patch test and consultation before the appointment. You only make this mistake once, the system is totally clear to me now.