Feel really bad..was I wrong in asking hairdresser this ?

[scrapquitler]

I suppose it can't hurt to ask, but I don't really blame the hairdresser for not giving out her "secret formula" either.

I don't know that much about hair coloring, but I would think that if you put the same formula on two different types of hair, you'd likely get different results. Unless your friend's hair is naturally quite similar to yours, I doubt you'd get the same result anyway.

You might have been better off if you'd asked your hairstylist to get in touch with her hairstylist (stylist to stylist) rather than asking her to give you the formula to pass along to your friend. She may well think you're trying to get it for yourself, so you can either take it to another stylist, or try to replicate it at home.

But, at any rate. You asked, she said no... and I think that should be the end of it. I would guess she's equally worried that she's going to lose a client over this as you are worried that she's been offended.

I agree with all of this.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Nothing will change my view that it's just a freakin' hair color.....

This hairdresser must think an awful lot of herself....
Really, I almost find it funny!
Who does she think she is, Paul Mitchell or the CEO of L'oreal....
Seriously!

 

[Jennasis]

One formula wouldn't necessarily work on another's hair to produce the same color. Much of it depends on the original hair color, IIRC. I agree with the hairdresser, especially since she had no way of knowing if the reason you were asking for the formula was the truth and not a cover up because you were switching salons or something.

 

[Imzadi]

You might have been better off if you'd asked your hairstylist to get in touch with her hairstylist (stylist to stylist) rather than asking her to give you the formula to pass along to your friend. She may well think you're trying to get it for yourself, so you can either take it to another stylist, or try to replicate it at home.

I don't agree with this. Then there are two hairstylist within and 1.5 hours from each other with the same formulation and able to do many heads. Sooner or later, the areas overlap if they both are really that great with hair.

If the stylist is that great, then she is worth traveling to. My BFF once had a stylist ruin her hair. She tried to go from bleached blonde to brown. The stylist turned her hair to the tint of GREEN Jello! I took her to NYC, which was 1.5 hours away from her, to Vidal Sassoon, one of the best salons in the world. They were able to restore her hair to exactly match her real hair color. There was barely a millimeter growing in, but they knew the formulation to match it and as her hair grew out, you couldn't tell where the colored part was from her true color. They have a whole color department, separate from the hair cutters. The cutters never do the coloring or other types of processing. there is different expertise for that.

People pay for that kind of expertise and yes, travel for it. Some of the best hair stylists worldwide, specifically went to Vidal Sassoon to get trained there. Coloring alone is probably $150 now.

The OP's friend can't travel to see her and spend the day, part of it going to her stylist? And even is she did visit the same stylist, as others have said, because of her own hair type & color, she may not get the same results, OR she needs the expertise of that colorist to come up with a formula that will match it. If she was able to get the same color, she can then go to her regular hairdresser and say, "THIS is what I want you to match." Then her hairdresser has something to go on.

 

[shaylyn]

I don't think you were wrong.

I think your hairdresser could have responded in a nicer way though!

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

One formula wouldn't necessarily work on another's hair to produce the same color. Much of it depends on the original hair color, IIRC. I agree with the hairdresser, especially since she had no way of knowing if the reason you were asking for the formula was the truth and not a cover up because you were switching salons or something.

Totally understand that point of view, but, if I was switching and going to another salon..wouldn't the hairdresser at the new salon be able to look at my hair and get it pretty close without the old hairdressers formula?

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

I don't think you were wrong.

I think your hairdresser could have responded in a nicer way though!

I kinda thought that too, which is why I felt awful about offending her (which I took by the way she responded back). My husband, who thinks totally different than me..said to drop the girl and find another one without the attitude

I guess I could understand if this was a posh salon and they really went to great lengths creating a color, but, really don't feel this is the case here. In fact, the salon my friend is going to..who wanted my hairdressers formula is waaaaaay nicer! I think she can take the picture and this salon will get it very close if not better.

 

[ccgirl]

I don't think you were wrong to ask. But, I totally understand her point. My hair is a custom mixture as well. It's not like the friend lives 10 hours away. I used to travel an hour each way to get my hair done. It's a trade secret to her and one she doesn't want to give out. I think she is well within her right to do that.

 

[crashbb]

Unless you think that not sharing the formula is attitudey in itself (a fair view point), I don't see her response to be rude (or show an attitude).

I don't see anything wrong with your asking (nor do I see anything wrong with her declining to give it).

 

[vicki_c]

I don't get the vibe that she has a bad attitude. She said sorry, don't mean to sound *****y, obviously she was trying to be nice about it. Saying no doesn't = having an attitude.

My hairdresser/colorist is really serious about her profession and has been to some extra special school for coloring - it's a big deal, she's the only person at her salon with this certification (not from a manufacturer of products, but some other kind of professional designation), and has a diploma type thing that they hung on the wall in the salon and she got a raise from the salon owner when she got it.

Her expertise is what gets her clients over others in the salon and keeps them coming back. I assume she would not want to share that knowledge with others - that's why she paid to further her education.

In any case, it's the stylist's prerogative not to share information that she has developed for her clients, I don't think that means she thinks too highly of herself. She thinks appropriately of herself and her career if you ask me.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

My hairdresser came up with my hair color with lots of discussion and adjustments.

Would the OP be better off snipping off a bit of her hair for the friend to bring to her own hairdresser? Then the hairdresser could see the actual color, and adjust it for his/her own client.

I don't think you were wrong.

I think your hairdresser could have responded in a nicer way though!

I think the hairdresser responded extremely well. She was put in an awkward situation, certainly not the intent of the OP, but it was, and had to find a way to say "no." I thought she was fine.

Personally, if I were the OP, I would have said "A friend of mine wanted me to ask...and I certainly understand if you don't want to share the information."

Nothing will change my view

OK.

 

[Squirlz]

We have people asking for our formulations all the time. Particularly people in Australia where we can't ship. They swear it's just for their own use but we simply can't do it. Once it's out there it is out there.

 

[Imzadi]

I kinda thought that too, which is why I felt awful about offending her (which I took by the way she responded back). My husband, who thinks totally different than me..said to drop the girl and find another one without the attitude

I guess I could understand if this was a posh salon and they really went to great lengths creating a color, but, really don't feel this is the case here. In fact, the salon my friend is going to..who wanted my hairdressers formula is waaaaaay nicer! I think she can take the picture and this salon will get it very close if not better.

I also think your hairdresser could have been nicer in how she responded. But, you really do not know what she did in formulating the "one color" as you called it. She could have realized when she was experimenting that adding just a touch of something is what gives that particular color an extra zing, especially on hair of your type. it is not generic, straight out of the bottle. PLUS, she knows how to combine it with which low lights to achieve a natural look.

 

[Jennasis]

Totally understand that point of view, but, if I was switching and going to another salon..wouldn't the hairdresser at the new salon be able to look at my hair and get it pretty close without the old hairdressers formula?

Probably. BUt customers are creatures of habit. I can see someone wanting to switch to "that wonderful stylist Sue uses...lemme just get my formula from my old salon first just in case Sue's stylist needs it."

I can understand the desire to keep that info close to the vest for a variety of reasons. Probably the greatest of which is your stylist would, I'm sure, LOVE to pick up a new client. 1.5 hours away IS a hike, but my MIL FLYS from NC to NY a couple of times a year to use her old NY stylist. Women are willing to do all manner of whacky for their hair.

 

[tlbwriter]

I don't think the reply had attitude.

I read something once by a stylist who said one of his clients told him she was moving to Canada and asked for her color formula. He gave it to her, wished her well, and then months later found out she was still in town and had switched to a new stylist.

 

[Anna114]

MO... you run it up the flag pole and see if it gets saluted. It didn't but not knowing the insight into being a hairdresser you wouldn't know. I think she nicely explained why she wouldn't say and that is fair on her part. I go with no harm no foul.

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

Thanks again everyone! I love reading all the different viewpoints

I guess I just didn't realize how much goes into the formula. I do believe what it boils down to is the personality of your hairdresser. I've moved several times in my life and never had a hairdresser care to give me the formula...they just gladly wrote it out! Granted most formulas (what was written to me) were not great detail/inventions... mainly just the basics. The level used and the base (example 3 red/orange) and lvl of peroxide used when I would get hilights.

 

[Christine]

I can see both sides of this.

I understand the stylist coveting the formula; however, this other woman is 1.5 hours away AND she is also using an Aveda salon. Now, I realize that Aveda salons are not set up just like Subway franchises. Each one is individually owned but they do all fall under Aveda guidelines and rules. I think Aveda would want to perpetuate happiness at all of their salons. So if one client wanted to try something their friend gets in another town, I think Aveda would encourage it.

I don't see why the stylist who has the formula couldn't talk to the other stylist and explain what she does.

 

[simba20]

One can go to Sally Beauty Supply and buy the cemicals needed to color hair. Yes, they come in little tubes with their matching bases/numbers/etc/whatever goes into a formula. I know a lady who colors her own hair, buying all of the stuff to mix at Sally (not Clairol in a box). Money got tight for her to keep doing color, so her stylist gave her a formula to use. She's also learned how to do some mixing herself when she wants a change.

 

[Buckalew11]

Eh - I don't know. I went to an Aveda salon in Texas when I lived there and when I moved my girl wrote out my formula so I could take it with me. I didn't even ask her, she just did it.

I don't think you were wrong to ask. You asked. She said no. End of story. I don't think there was anything inherently wrong by asking. I'm going to guess that your hairdresser didn't buy that you actually had a friend 1.5 hours away you were asking for.

I have never, ever in 28 years, not given a client their formula when they moved away. I do know a hairdresser who was actually moving out of state who would not give her clients their formulas. I thought that was wrong.

I don't get this line of thinking but whatever . . .

It's not like she can walk into a beauty supplier and get this without being a beautician and showing her license.

Well, there is ( or was, I have not checked lately) eBay.

I didn't just hand out my formula's. The only time I would is if someone was moving out of the area or with my snowbird clients-and with those I would talk with the hairdresser at the FL/AZ salon.

Kae

I don't give out mine either. One of the first things you learn when you are learning about haircolor. Those formulas are what help you retain client loyalty.

really, How do you know what to get? Usually they are mixed If you could buy them at a beauty supply store they would be no need to mix items LOL LOL

not sure I understand what you are saying.

Thanks again everyone! I love reading all the different viewpoints

I guess I just didn't realize how much goes into the formula. I do believe what it boils down to is the personality of your hairdresser. I've moved several times in my life and never had a hairdresser care to give me the formula...they just gladly wrote it out! Granted most formulas (what was written to me) were not great detail/inventions... mainly just the basics. The level used and the base (example 3 red/orange) and lvl of peroxide used when I would get hilights.

It does not just boil down to the personality of your hairdresser. YOU MOVED---you're hairdresser was happy to give you your formula. If I ever move away from my clients I'll give them their formulas (and maybe the haircolor too, lol ). Some will and some won't. You're lucky they all have because some will not.

I once worked with a notsonice hairdresser who wrote out the wrong formulas--close but not the truth.


I think. OP, your hairdresser was fine with her reply. I think your DH is the one who had a bad reaction--of course, men do not generally understand hair, haircuts, color, bad hair days etc. Mine sure doesn't and he's been married to a hairdresser for 24 years.