Hair Salon vent

[Jennasis]

I am attending an out of town family wedding this weekend, so I made an appointment to have my my highlights touched up and my hair trimmed this morning. I've been going to this stylist for almost a year. She's been pretty good...VERY picky about how she cuts...always tweaking and adjusting until she (and I) are happy with it. I have one of those graduated short hair cuts. Super short in the back, and longer (chin length) in the front. My only request with her is that she make the angle from front to back steep so I don't look like the Dutch Boy.

Anyhoo...she she tells me today "Let's not go so short this time. You've got a wedding to go to and don't want anything drastic".

I agree...just trim what I've got and clean up the back (I get "werewolfie" if it's longer than 4 weeks between visits). She starts snipping, and chit-chatting about her son and the issues he has with his ex.

And it happened. I actually saw the moment she messed up. SNIP. She made a VERY big mistake with my hair. I am generally of the "it's just hair...it'll grow back" variety. But this was BIG. Essentailly the longest piece on my left side, that came down to chin length, got whacked to nostril length.

I gasped..."um...I think you took too much off." (ya think??)

She stops...gets a horrified look on her face. Starts turning me from all angles trying to get a read on the situation, and then starts chanting the "poop" word over and over. Never a good sign when the stylist starts cursing.

Long story short, she "fixed" it as best as could be. Which means my hair is now a good 3 inches shorter than I wanted it. I don't love it, but it IS just hair and will grow out. Just not what I thought I would have for the wedding. She apologized profusely (and didn't charge me for blowing out/styling).

My husband doesn't know how good he has it. He cuts his hair with a Flow-Bee. Yes...I said a Flow-bee.

Sigh...stupid hair. I feel like I should be angrier. Maybe even look for a new stylist (I am always the youngest person in the place. Never anyone but little silver haired ladies getting their weekly perms). I want to go someplace hip and shiek that will make me feel nice and girlie for the hour every other month I go. But this stylist is a friend of a friend. Grrr...never mix business with pleasure.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

You're right -- it is just hair and it will grow back -- but I can't believe she had the nerve to charge you for the cut?! She knows she messed up. I think everything should have been free.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

Yikes! So sorry that happened! I'm glad she didn't charge you as much.

 

[Tracy Savage]

I am a stylist and there is no way she should have charged you for a thing. Miscommunication happens in a salon, but this wasn't the case. It depends on how you feel about your stylist. Will you go back? Was it a slip of the shears? Or was she not paying attention? 3 inches is more than a "OOPS". Talk to her if your'e comfortable, if not speak to the manager/owner.

 

[Jennasis]

I am a stylist and there is no way she should have charged you for a thing. Miscommunication happens in a salon, but this wasn't the case. It depends on how you feel about your stylist. Will you go back? Was it a slip of the shears? Or was she not paying attention? 3 inches is more than a "OOPS". Talk to her if your'e comfortable, if not speak to the manager/owner.

She IS the manager/owner. I feel pretty certain this was a case of her not paying attention. She was just butt-deep in her story about her son (which she was telling me to relate to a similar issue my sister has been having).

I guess I feel like she should have eaten the cost of the cut and I could have still paid for the color/highlights. I don't know if I will go back. We all make mistakes (at least she fixed it as best she could), but I really am less thrilled about the whole "old lady" vibe in that place.

 

[Tracy Savage]

Yes it might be time to move on. I would feel like crap if I messed up and then charged a good client. If she owns the place she should know better. At least offer a free cut next time. Have fun at the wedding anyway!

 

[Handbag Lady]

Can we see the new style?



I'd be mad, too. Other than the old-lady vibe, do you like the salon? I'd be on the fence, leaning toward not going back again, myself.

Sure, it is just hair, but this is a family function and there will be pictures!

 

[RunningGirl]

I'd be looking elsewhere. I hate finding a new stylist (which I'm trying to do now) but that's pretty bad. Combined with the fact you don't like the salon? You've now got a reason to leave.

 

[Robmom]

That's too bad. She shouldn't have charged you at all.

And my mom uses a Flowbee! I was laughing and was saying, who still uses a Flowbee? Well, I guess my mom and your DH!

 

[KimR]

OK, I'll bite. What the heck is a Flow-bee?

 

[Jennasis]

The sad thing about the Flow bee is that his hair actually looks pretty good after he uses it. I still have to buzz the hair on the back of his neck, but otherwise he's good to go.

I'll try to post some pictures if I take a few tonight. It really isn't BAD, just not what I wanted.

 

[Jennasis]

OK, I'll bite. What the heck is a Flow-bee?

It's an attachment for your vacuum cleaner hose that sucks up hair into a "cutter" and cuts it to whatever length you set it at, then the vacuum sucks in the hair trimmings.

 

[Buckalew11]

I'm just not sure how you make a mistake that big.

You handled yourself gracefully and she should not have charged you. I think she owes you a CHI. (lol)

I wear my hair very similar and 2 months ago she used a razor for my whole cut. That's fine, if you can completely control the razor, lol. I wasn't very happy with the sides of my hair at the front either. BUT, I'm 44 and she's been doing my hair since I was in 8th grade. Approximently every 4 weeks for over 30 years!! (yikes) One screw up in that amount is allowed for me. Those are good odds.

I think throwing the "poop" word out there is very unprofessional.

 

[Jennasis]

THIS is what I wanted (my hair wasn't quite that long, but I was trying to let it get to this point):

THIS is what I've got:

 

[Buckalew11]

That's how I wear my hair. So it looks good! It'll grow out nicely at least. 2 months ago mine was cut somewhat *around* my face. (eek!) Hard to get the look of the cu when it is cut around your face so much. And being blonde, it shows every mark (scissor or razor!)

 

[disneyhand]

So sorry! I can relate to a bad haircut.

My DH has used the flowbee for maybe 20 years now. He has many cowlicks so, no matter who cuts it, the results are the same. We figure he's saved a small fortune over the years. After one bad haircut I even let him flowbee me while I let it grow out!