I'm genuinely disappointed writing this because I came to this salon through family referrals and…read morewas very excited -- but also very nervous -- for my first professional color appointment.
This is actually the exact reason it took me so long to even decide to color my hair in the first place. I was worried about ending up with something too highlighted, too chunky, or not natural-looking. I trusted this salon because my family members go there, and because the stylist reassured me multiple times that she fully understood the soft "expensive brunette" look I was trying to achieve and could absolutely do it.
I spent a long time explaining and showing inspiration photos for a very specific look: soft, blended "expensive brunette" dimension with subtle low-contrast color and soft layered shaping. The photos I showed were rich dimensional brunettes -- not chunky, stripy, or heavily highlighted.
Unfortunately, the final result looked much brighter, chunkier, and less blended than what I had requested, and the haircut also did not reflect the layered V/U-shaped look I asked for.
Because this was my first professional color service, I relied heavily on the stylist's guidance regarding timing and expectations. Before the service even began, I specifically expressed concern about whether there was enough time to fully achieve the look I wanted, and I even offered to come back another day entirely so the stylist would have more time to work with me and not feel rushed.
I was repeatedly reassured that there was "plenty of time" and told not to worry. Since I had never had a dimensional color service before, I trusted that assessment.
Unfortunately, the appointment ended up running extremely late anyway, the salon was closing by the end, and I never really had a proper opportunity to sit down and fully evaluate the final result before leaving. However, once I did get home and properly see my hair, I knew immediately that it was not what I had asked for.
I actually contacted the salon shortly after the appointment because I knew almost immediately it wasn't what I wanted, but shortly afterward I experienced serious health-related circumstances and was unable to return within the normal correction timeframe.
Months later, once I was finally able to address my hair again, I called hoping to work something out. What disappointed me most was how dismissive and defensive the response immediately felt. Before I could even fully explain the situation, it became clear there was no willingness to work collaboratively or even discuss possible solutions -- despite the fact that I fully acknowledged the time that had passed, explained the serious health-related circumstances that delayed my return, and specifically offered to pay again if needed.
If you are specifically a brunette looking for very soft, blended, low-contrast dimensional color, I would strongly recommend making sure the stylist you book with truly specializes in that aesthetic.
At the very least, I believe clients spending this amount of money should feel there is some willingness to work with them respectfully when the final result clearly does not align with the inspiration photos provided.
