AIBU? My hair is awful! What do I do?! Pics included….

[forgoodnesssakee]

I went to a hair appointment this afternoon, which I was scheduled in for since 2 weeks ago. It was a free of charge ‘model’ appointment for the hairstylist, who was completing a trial session in the hair salon. (But many many years of experience in other salons)!

I was booked for today at 4.30pm - and messages at 4.05 and again at 4.15 to say I’m running behind as two taxis cancelled on me back to back, so I had to walk from home to the closest shopping complex (8’ min walk) to find a taxi that was available to get me to the salon, which was 22 minutes away.

On the way there, as expected, we hit every single red light imaginable and I ended up arriving at the salon at 4.36pm - so six minutes after my allotted appointment time.

On the journey there, the stylist was kept informed on my estimated arrival time etc. when I text to say I was 2 minutes away, the stylist text me to tell me their next client had arrived, and that they will no longer be able to do my colour appointment and will just be able to do a wash and dry.

Baring in mind that at this stage, I’d just arrived to the location and had paid £52 for the taxi as I was stuck in heavy stop start traffic almost the entire journey.

When I get into the salon, the stylist is rude and extremely unwelcoming and tells me - again, that he is not willing to do the color service. I explained that I was sorry for being late, and another member of staff came over to ask what the problem was.

The stylist then proceeded to tell the other member of staff that I was 36 (!!!!) minutes late for my appointment, and that I was actually booked for 4pm. This is categorically untrue and I showed them both my appointment confirmation for 4.30. Again, I explained that I was sorry for being late and at this point I was getting extremely upset and red and embarassed. It turns out he had a 2nd client booked at 5 and the salon closes at 7. He’s not left enough time.

The stylist then reluctantly tells me he will do some minimal ‘scatter’ highlights if that makes me ‘happy’ and that will be it.

Before I can answer he’s sectioning out my hair - no prior consultation to ask me what I’m looking for - and proceeded to start putting the bleach on. This literally happened in the blink of an eye. I had no time to react and didn’t even have a gown on at this stage.

Fast forward and he’s added some random highlights to diferent sections of my hair, and it’s left on for 35 minutes, before being washed out.

When washed out by the assistant, the stylist was asked if he wanted to check the highlights. The stylist then proceeded to come over and say they’re fine without even really looking, and when the assistant asked which toner they wanted to use, the stylist said none - my hair doesn’t ‘need’ it.

I’ve been blonde all my life and NEVER have I ever had highlights without a toner.

When I was back in the chair and my hair was being dried, the stylist didn’t speak to me.

Once dry he told me I’m done. The other member of staff then came and looked, signed off his work and I was told I’m finished and can leave. I’ve never felt so rushed and unwelcome in my entire life. I know this was a free appointment but I’ve left feeling even worse about my hair than I did going in.

Girls - what do I do? My highlights are uneven, chunky in parts and thin in others, some start up higher on my root than others, and they’re so brassy they look yellow.

Please give me some advice? I feel like I don’t have grounds to complain but I also feel humiliated and disrespected and like I was an inconvenience for helping the stylist out on their assignment.

I wouldn’t want anybody else going through this. I’m so upset I’m in tears.

I’ve tried to take a photo as clear as I can, and to be honest the photo doesn’t even do it justice, it’s so yellow and awful. The blonde is so yellow and it’s making my hair even look oily?

I don’t want to cause an issue as I don’t want to cost this stylist their potential job - but at the same time I’m really disappointed with the outcome. It’s only since I got home that I’ve noticed how bad it is! In the salon the lighting was very low and moody and it didn’t show so much.

Like someone else leave a review. If his job was counting on it then he shouldn't have been so rude esp as he'd make a mistake with the appt time. It doesn't look that bad but then you know what you usually have done so it's hard to compare.

😨😨😨

Even as a brunette with undyed hair, I can see those are terrible highlights.

Yes, it was free but it sounds like they were slapdash and awful.

Yes, ideally you would have walked out as soon as he said he had another client at 5pm because it was going to be hurried job in 20 minutes.

However, I have also had that deer caught in headlights frozenness in a hairdresser’s chair and I can see why you went along with it.

I would go back and speak to the manager, not this hairstylist. Even if it was free, they should have done a good job.

Wella Professionals Perfecton by Color Fresh Temporary Hair Colour - 0/8 Pearl
This would help and you can buy and do at home.
Mix 250ml water with 15ml perfecton to take the brassness out

They look good to me - broken up nicely and with some deeper tones. Bright, almost full head blonde is quite dated now - think Holly Willoughby - always has dreadfully yellow block coloured hair which really dates her) (platinum tones excepted) it’s difficult to tell what you were after without a pic. I’m a self taught / on the job highlighting ‘expert’ and in the industry; colouring with bleach and toners has been my go to for years. We all used to bleach our hair to blithery with 60% Peroxide (now banned) to get a Paula Yates bleached blonde. 60% is now banned, but 40% is the next strongest and does the trick. I now use about 20% with powder bleach and just add a couple of highlights where I want them using foils. Going grey now but they lift my hair to a natural blonde. Maybe you just have too many highlights? Again without a picture it’s hard to tell what you were thinking you wanted the final look to be?

@forgoodnesssakee You pay your money and take your choice as folk would say. And a fool and their money are easily parted too.
Don't know where in the world you are or what service you're used to.
There's no such thing as a free lunch where I live in UK.

When people are so rude to me I like to calmly respond but make them feel guilty, highlighting how they don't know what else was going on in my life. Anything could’ve been going on for you that day. If it was me, I’d complain (send a card) and let them know it’s not the outcome of your hair so much but the fact you were going to a funeral that afternoon (invent someone to make them feel guilty) and you already felt overwhelmed & upset.They need to be more considerate & approach customers with more compassion. Sounds like a shitty experience for you love.x

sorry Op if it’s not what you wanted that’s terrible. It’s a pity they didn’t ask you to fill out a questionnaire or something afterwards. I’d never go back again

I would offer feedback, surely that’s the whole point of him having to do free cuts.

I think it’s fixable but would go elsewhere obviously.

Not the best photos OP, but your hair does not look that bad from what I can see. If you’re not happy about your experience/ end result then speak up and ask them to redo it. Otherwise just chalk it up to experience and don’t go back.

I think it was a free appointment and therefore you can’t complain…??? What did you expect with a trainee.. I think you’re very brave having highlights by a trainee! You do realise that the risk is it’s not as good as it would be with someone with more experience..?! You seem to treat it like a paid appointment but it isnt! I also think it looks fine! They were shitty but you were late..

It wasn’t a trainee, it’s a stylist with over 12 years of experience in top salons in the UK and a large portfolio. He was completing trade days at a potential new venue (hence needing models).

I love how people drop things like this without anything further to seem cleverer than everyone without qualifying it.

Purple shampoo mutes the yellow in blonde hair. OP didn't like the yellow tone of her highlights. Hence people recommending purple shampoo.

Speak the salon owner and say exactly what you've said here?
But you seriously need to stand up for yourself. Why would you let someone bleach your hair without explaining what you want? Especially when they're being rude to you and in a mood.

Op .. free or otherwise. If your not happy . Leave them feedback. Its no point moaning about it.
You either put up with it , depending on the colour . As if it as bad as you say , purple shampoo won't do anything , and if its not light enough putting a toner on it won't help unless you want to go darker.
Or you write a constructive email to the salon owner stating the facts.

“Girls what do I do”

You make an appointment with a reputable stylist you have used before and pay for a colour correction, and turn up on time.

I can personally recommend Lee Stafford Hot Shots toners in the interim. FWIW, I have my roots done, highlights and low lights every eight weeks, I have never had a toner put on my hair by a professional, but I did use the Lee Stafford ones after a box colour during Covid and they were great.

You missed your appointment that was on you tbh your attitude probably pissed them off
they should of just turned you away they had another client
it looks fine
I quit simply can’t for one minute believe they section mix bleach and foiled you hair without you being able to ask what they were doing

It was free. You got what you pay for. In your case you paid nothing and got a free hairdo which looks OK to me.

I have adhd so at risk of always running late. From decades of experience - It’s best to wait until your allotted time and then say you are going to be late. That way you know exactly what time you will be there - multiply messages confuse people and they waste time reading them. For example if you have an appt at 4.30pm - text at 4.30pm saying sorry can stuck in traffic but sat nav says I’ll be there in 6 mins

Just go somewhere else and get it fixed. Never go back to the free salon.

It really doesn't.. it's old fashioned, stripey highlights that aren't blended and that I could do.

I had a free colour at a salon who offered this with their trainee stylists. I had auburn hair at the time and left with orange hair. Went back next day, they played it down for some reason - "What seems to be the problem?" which just really annoyed me as it was obvious. Even my roots were 2 shades lighter. They re coloured it, with one of their experienced stylists, free of charge. Even then, she told me how bad and embarassed the trainee felt. As far as I was concerned, how.i felt should be more important and the trainee has to learn to accept responsibility.

Anyway op, I don't agree with many on here - I don't think it looks fine. Any reputable salon would want you to approach them if you're not happy. Free or not, their reputation is priceless. Ask for another stylist to re colour your hair, not the same ignoramus.

And 6 mins late is not late ffs. Salons can't run to precise time when every client has individual needs. What if she got there on time but had to go to the loo for 6 mins?

I’d leave a stinging review. Six minutes late and he was rude and hostile? Absolutely no need for that.