Cried like a baby at hairdresser

[unicirn]

I went to get my hair highlighted at the hairdresser.

Usually it's not a problem when I go to a new stylist, I'm not set on a certain style, just need the roots doing etc

I ended up walking out today because I just felt the stylist was being uncooperative.

I booked and paid online a few weeks ago.

I asked for highlights but not be as bright - she said it wasn't possible. She wS trying to say what I asked for wS balayage and so was inspiration picture (despite it saying highlights).

I ended up walking out and forgoing the money. Stylist isn't the owner whos been kind about everything (I just explained I would like some money back minus as material costs and staf costs).

I know I'm being emotional. I've had a terrible weekend and have no time of now for months :(

This.

Unless a lot of what was said and happened has been skipped, it sounds like really you were very stressed and this was just one step too far.

Have you been back in to speak to the manager about your experience and shown them the inspiration photo? They might agree with you and give you another discounted appointment with a different stylist.

I’m assuming the photos that OP has posted have been deleted…. But…

Highlights - are bright! Thats what they are OP. They’re supposed to be bright and from the root.

A Balayage - is a technique to lighten the hair in a more blended way, and the foils are not as high-up as highlights, so the colour can look more natural and grow out without leaving harsh roots.

Highlights need a maintenance of every 6 weeks. Whereas a Balayage service can last up to 6 months before needing a re-fresh.

If your inspo pic was a clear Balyage and you kept telling the stylist you wanted highlights and toner then she was probably frustrated. Although she should have explained the difference to you in a more clear and polite way.

I don't understand why you've had the photos deleted. How do you expect people to respond?

it sounds like the hairdresser was correct and you were mistaken.

It's better to be told straight away than being given something that is not what you wanted?

Were the photos under a different user? I’m muddled

Well that's 3 minutes I'm never getting back.

Yep...

i think you're just frazzled with life op.
they were probably not helping.
i’d get acupuncture to balance your emotions and calm yourself. thats what i do when i’m not coping with stuff. really helps.

Why can’t you share it here?

Can’t judge without seeing the inspo pic

I can sympathise I had a hairdresser comment that she had clients booked straight after me and was booked solid which made me feel rushed. I felt I had paid for a colour that I didn’t really get and I left a bit meh which was not the end goal of a goid hairdresser

sorry this tipped you over the edge , I am unclear your post suggests you had nothing done ? In which case I’d ask for a rebook to try again rather than refund

I've only read your first two posts, but you sound upset about a number of things. It may have altered your perception of what was said and the tone used. I always book a toner with highlights. It does take longer. You were clearly booked into a tight time-slot. I think that was your first problem.
In future I'd visit a new stylist for a consultation before booking. That way you're both on the same page. It may not even have been possible to do what you were asking and would have avoided all of this.

I haven't seen the inspo pictures or OPs hair but I don't think the stylist was being uncooperative. She can't just magic up a style for you, she has to work with your hair

I would expect every highlight/balayage appointment to come with time to do toner tbh, did you specifically book without?

In future when going somewhere new for colour it's always best to have a consultation

Ahh, your experience reminded me of the time I went to a fashionable salon and ran out in tears with wet hair. There were all these cool people staring at me like a zoo animal. I am normal looking with normal hair and it was awful!

I have to say i learnt the hard and expensive way that i didnt realise that highlights had changed from when i had last experienced them in the 90s. I was hoping for sun kissed streaks and ended up with chunks of platinum blonde. Balayage is now the done thing. Or it might have been my hairdresser that was a bit clueless.

This reminds me of the late 90s. I had the most wonderful hairdresser, who was ace at colouring. He would give me caramel highlights on my very dark hair, and was a master at it.

I recommended him to my cousin, who had pitch black hair and wanted to go blonde. I assumed she knew this wasn't an easy or quick job. It takes steps. She made an appointment and I came along. When he said he couldn't turn her from black to blonde in 30 minutes, she threw an absolute tantrum and stormed out. She then got her friend to pretend she was a lawyer (I know) and send him a threatening letter.

To say I was mortified is the understatement of the century. I visited him in person and couldn't apologise enough. He was fuming but it didn't spoil our professional relationship.

Sometimes you just have to be realistic about your expectations, and NOT take our your temper on innocent people. If something else is at play in your private life, please don't let others think it's their fault.

You might have been upset and stressed before you went in OP, but your hairdresser was out of line. Clients are not the experts and you should not be expected to know how to get what you want - this is what they train for. I have seen both ends of the spectrum - some really go out of their way to explain the steps to get you what you want and the drawbacks from that. But in this case she was not helpful. There are hairdressers like this, but it is really poor customer service.

I have read, re-read and read again this thread and I am completely and utterly confused.

I also think the letter 'a' on your keyboard is faulty

I’m confused by all of this but also that people get highlights without a toner? Is that a thing? I always thought the bleach took the colour out of your hair and the toner put it back in - whichever tone of blonde you chose?

Depends on the colour you pick? I have highlights regularly, my hairdresser rarely use a toner. Most colours I pick obviously don't need it - or she would use it everytime.

It is your hairdresser.

Balayage is not so great when you start having grey hair - unless you do full colour on the roots at least first. I have highlights because it blends the colour beautifully, I do not have chunks, I prefer a natural look at the moment. It's very subtle. (it might be miles away from my actual natural colour, but it looks natural 😂)

So the first bit they do that I assumed just lightened the hair actually has colour in it as well? I obviously talk too much at the hairdresser and have no idea what’s actually going on! 🤭🤣

Yes, the bleach is the colour. It is a colour and bleach mixed together.
The toner is applied to adjust the hue and so will depend on a number of factors like your original hair colour, if yiu already have previous highlights etc.

For example, I often get a toner but just on the ends of my hair where my old highlights are and they have gone a bit brassy overtime. But I don't usually need a toner on fresh highlights being applied.

Thanks for that. I’ll take more notice next time I’m at the hairdresser 🤭