I came in very excited for my appointment and was expecting a full highlight/balayage…read moretransformation. Before booking, I sent photos of my current hair, a previous photo showing my balayage, and inspiration photos from Alysa's own page showing the dimensional, blended color I liked. I also spoke with someone at the salon beforehand and made sure my information was passed along to Alysa.
I explained that I wanted to keep my hair on the lighter side since my current balayage was already more blonde. I was looking for warm caramel/honey tones, brighter face-framing pieces, soft ribbon highlights, dimension, and a natural blended finish. During my appointment, Alysa asked what I wanted, and I specifically told her in person that I wanted the color brought closer to the root with a blended transition.
Unfortunately, the final result did not match the vision we discussed or the inspiration I provided. The back and crown area remained very dark, and the result felt more like a shadow root and refresh of my previous color rather than the full highlight transformation I was expecting. It appears that the new growth was mainly shadowed and the existing lighter pieces were re-lightened instead of creating the brighter, dimensional look I requested.
The color also turned out more brassy than I expected. I felt the toning process was rushed. It seemed like the toner was applied and rinsed out very quickly rather than being left on long enough to properly neutralize the brassiness and achieve the softer tone I was looking for.
I was also disappointed with the finishing of my hair. After a color service at this price point, I expected a polished salon finish, but my hair was left puffy, rough, and not styled the way I expected. It felt like there was still product left in my hair, and I had to go home and fix it myself. The blowout fee was an additional $80, which made this even more disappointing.
My previous stylist was very detail-oriented and always took her time. Even though she relocated far away, I always left her salon feeling confident, with my hair fully styled, soft, and beautiful. I have never left a salon feeling like the stylist was rushing through the service.
I also did not appreciate the way Alysa discussed my hair being "not prepped" while speaking with another stylist in front of me. I was never sent preparation instructions or an email explaining that my hair needed to be prepped in a specific way before my appointment. I have never heard of needing my hair "prepped" in that way, especially since many salons actually recommend coming in with hair that has not been freshly washed before a color service. If there were concerns, I would have appreciated being informed directly and professionally rather than hearing the conversation while it was being discussed with another stylist.
I also feel I was overcharged for the service I received. I paid for what I understood to be a full highlight, but the final result appears more like a partial highlight with a shadow root and a refresh of my existing color. The outcome did not reflect the level of service or transformation I expected for the price I paid.
The most disappointing part is that after spending this much money, my friends and coworkers did not even notice that I had my hair done because the overall appearance looked so similar to my previous color. I was expecting a noticeable, brighter transformation, and instead I left feeling like the change was minimal and not worth the time, cost, or effort.
The service was $560, and I still left a $125 tip because I appreciated the stylist's time and effort. However, I was disappointed because the final result did not match what I requested. I now have to find another salon to correct the color because my crown area is still mostly dark, which is not what I wanted.
Overall, this experience felt like a waste of time and money. I paid the same price at other salons and left with hair that was beautiful, soft, fully styled, and exactly what I asked for. Unfortunately, I would not return or recommend this salon. I would advise others to be cautious and think twice before booking, especially if you are looking for a detailed color transformation and a stylist who truly takes the time to understand your vision. A stylist who takes pride in their work should not let a client leave feeling like they received a partially completed service after paying for a premium color service and blowout.
