Should I go back to hairdressers?

[Marie2704]

Just wanted some advice as I really hate complaining and I feel so awful. I got these highlights done the other day and was really greatful as they managed to fit me in last minute with the 18 year old newly qualified girl.
Now I am home and upon inspection looks like she has missed bits as its lovely and blonde in at the top but not the middle and ends and I did notice that she didn't put the bleach on all of the foiled hair all the way to the ends but didn't want to say anything as this might be the correct way. Really unsure what to do, any advice?? Thanks

Please speak to the salon owner. It is noticeably different and not what you paid for

Did you have a colour on your hair previously? I'm just wondering if that's why the foils haven't taken as well in the middle
My hair is like this because I used box colours for years. I think it looks lovely but if you're not happy you could certainly go back and tell them.

It certainly looks a bit lighter at the roots and ends assuming that's not a trick of the light, but it's not disaster. It looks like she lifted it too much - if the hair is already coloured you don't go all the way to the end. The colour itself is nice, just doesn't blend with the mid section.

I would go back to see if they could fix it, maybe put a toner on it.

Thanks for the replies. I did put a brown box dye on last December and have been having highlights at my regular hairdressers every 10 weeks since the beginning of March but my usual hairdresser rang in sick and I managed to get an appointment the same day so was extremely grateful and she said the girl is really good at highlights so I don't know what to do as I hate complaining but it was £90 for the highlights which isn't cheap. I just don't know if it's bad enough to go back.

Did you tell them that there was old box colour on the hair? It affects how the salon colour develops.

No I didn't tell them as its been 10 months since I did the box dye and would have thought it would have only been on the ends now. Maybe I should have mentioned but I'm so used to going to my regular hairdressers where they know my hair history. Don't know if I should just forget about it and just not go back and cancel my next appointment. Just find the hairdressers so awkward.

Hair grows about a centimetre a month, so there could have been residual box dye on all but the top 10cm of your hair.

I definitely think a simple toner would fix this so you should go and ask if they can do something about it

When I get my highlights done on my roots they only put the bleach on the regrowth not the full length of the hair or the ends would get over bleached and could snap.

Speak to your hairdresser and see what she says

Appreciate the replies. Now I'm thinking I should have mentioned the semi permanent brown box dye I applied 10 months ago but I feel it was more blended at my last appointment and my hairdresser said she would go over the previously box dyed hair with the bleach. I just thought it was strange her not applying the bleach to all of the hair and it's a shame because I do actually like the blonde colour and the hairdressers was really nice. So now im unsure if its the box dye or her application, skill and experience.

If it was me, I would call up, calmly explain I was unhappy and ask for a time to come in and have a chat with the manager.

At the chat with the manager id simply explain that I was unhappy and ask what they could do to fix this.

I would check that this was complimentary, and if they tried to suggest I paid I'd point out that this wasn't what I reasonably expected.(If they still insisted I'd go elsewhere, but this has never been my experience)

I wouldn't specifically mention the box dye, if that was important they should have raised that at the time .
My experience is if there is a genuine problem (I agree there is) and I'm calm and reasonable, it almost gets resolved.

Good 🤞

Thanks for your reply. Yes I feel that honesty is the best policy and I'm sure they would rather me speak up than just cancelling my next appointment and making up an excuse. They were really nice but I still feel it's awkward and like me saying the girl can't do her job properly but I paid £146 in total and just doesn't look like a full head. I think after 10 months it's grown more than where it looks nice and blonde.

I wouldn't specifically mention the box dye, if that was important they should have raised that at the time .

I would. It's pertinent to the issue.

The problem you've got could be cuticle staining, OP, which will affect how she fixes it. Semi permanents are notorious for it. She can't be expected to go through an exhaustive list of everything that might have affected it.

"Do you smoke indoors?" "Do you wash your hair in cheap argan oil products that stained your hair orange?" "Did you use Superdrug colour effects shampoo?" "Did you use a semi-permanent box dye?" "Did you use a permanent box dye and if so, did you ever subsequently bleach it out at any point?"

And those are just things that off the top of my head could cause highlights to not quite come out the way you expected them to! Do you see the problem with waiting for them to ask an exhaustive list of questions? If you've an idea of what the problem might be, it's best to tell them IMO.

I wouldn't usually think of complaining but noticed her highlighting skills were very different to my usual hairdresser. She only seemed to foil a third of the hair and also I seemed to be in the same position throughout the appointment when usually I get asked to sit forward with my head down when doing the ones at the top. The girl had only just finished her training. I would have preferred someone with more experience but was a last minute appointment.

Another photo in a different light. Trying to convince myself it's not too bad but just doesn look even.

Your best option is to discuss it with them and say you feel a bit disappointed in them. They should discuss with you and suggest what could be done to rectify. Tbh with you I would never have accepted an 18 year old doing it and also charging for it. That is senior colourist price. Please go back.

Thanks for replying. My usual hairdresser rang in sick so I just went in the nearby hairdressers and she said they could fit me there and then and so I was just so grateful as my roots were awful. I just feel so embarrassed and have extreme anxiety over anything like this. Just need opinions on whether I'm being over dramatic or or if it really is a bad job.

Don't worry about complaining. Just ask the salon owner if she is happy with the outcome. Chances are she'll do what she can to put it right.

My hairdresser (very experienced), only highlights the re growth. It’s much better for your hair as it’s less damaging. I think £90 is an amazing price for a full head highlights! The highlights look well done, a toner would blend it all to your liking and would also help your regrowth (maybe a root shadow), as there is quite a contrast between your root colour and the blonde.

Thank you. I'm plucking up the courage to send an email but I'm just not very good at these things and feel a bit stupid because I said I was happy and gave a tip but I always feel like you can't see the results properly until you get home. I've just took a pic in the natural light to get a better look.

I just feel like such a twat as the salon owner was there during and after and said that it looked nice and I said I was happy with it. They said I didn't need a toner as my hair is dark blonde naturally so lifts nice without one.

so I just went in the nearby hairdressers and she said they could fit me there and then

They didn’t patch test you?

Salon lights can make colours look different, as can the finish, so I wouldn’t worry about saying you liked it whilst there.

I use box dyes on my roots in between highlights and never mention it to my hairdresser. She’s never asked. It always turns out how I want it/she expects.

I’d send the email and see what they say. As awkward as you feel now, you’ll feel far better once it’s fixed.

No they said I would only need a patch test for a toner as highlights don't touch the scalp. I keep telling myself that I will feel worse if I leave it but I will feel really embarrassed having it done there again after saying her work wasn't good enough. I'm such an overthinker.

Ah, so it was a completely different salon rather than someone different within the usual business? It is hard to tell whether it is even or not from your photos, OP, but I'm afraid the fact that they had immediate same-day availability for a long appointment like a cut and colour and the fact that they did not insist on a 48-hr patch test for you as a new client both suggest that this might not be the most professional of outfits.

Can you ask an honest friend to have a look in person, in daylight?

Yes it was a different salon in S E London. It had really good reviews but I've never been able to get an appointment for a full head of highlights and a cut walk in so that should have been a red flag. My usual salon didn't have any appointments with my usual hairdresser until January and I didn't want to wait that long.