To the salon owner of studio, 787 in Newburgh New York…read more
I am sure by now you've seen this review coming. I wonder though, if you knew or even cared about why it has taken me almost a week to write it. Let me explain.
When I came into your salon last Wednesday, I was so excited. You see I have been in a really dark place for months now. I haven't been able to leave my home or go places in public by myself. Coming into your salon by myself was a huge step for me. I had been binge watching the Fab Five on Queer Eye doing makeovers and inspiring people. It was just the inspiration I needed, to make a change for myself. One that would allow me to feel beautiful on the outside.
When I walked into your salon and sat down in your chair, you immediately started a conversation where you were judging another person. That should have been my first red flag to get out of there, but instead I stayed. I redirected the conversation, hoping that maybe you would see something from a kinder point of view and before I knew it, you and I got on a conversation of autism and I disclosed to you that I was autistic. As an autistic person, it is very hard for me to speak up for myself. However, at least twice I spoke up showing you the picture of what I had asked for and what didn't look right on my head. Never once did you explain to me why you did not think the cut would work, nor did you offer ideas on how we could get it as close to what I wanted as possible. Once the cut was done, I paid for your service, unhappy, but terrified to start a confrontation with you. I convinced myself instead, that some product and some hair dye would at least help me style my hair, and make it look somewhat presentable.
Unfortunately, nothing I did made the cut you gave me look anything close to what I had asked for. I was devastated.
After speaking to my daughter, she convinced me to allow her to call you. See, I had no intentions of taking this any further. If you knew anything about me, you would know that I am the most polite and kindest person you will ever meet. I don't like to start confrontation and I always worry about making other people feel bad. So I had all intentions of letting this go, but it was my daughter who stood up for me and said mom let me do this for you, because you did not deserve what you got. I agreed and allowed her to call you in attempt to simply get the money back that I had spent on this horrible cut. To my shock, when she called you, she tried to politely speak to you. However you started yelling at her and you stated that you were not going to give me the cut I asked for because you thought it would look silly and like a Karen cut.
I don't know why you thought it was OK to cut someone's hair in a way that they had not asked for, simply based on your opinion of what they wanted. I do not understand why you thought it was your place to make a decision for me, especially without consulting me first. I have spent the better part of the last week in tears. Unable to go out in public, and unable to look in the mirror without breaking down all over again. If the cut I wanted was silly, then the cut that you provided for me is clearly beyond unacceptable. I would have liked to explain to you all that you have put me through, and all that you took away from me. My pride, my dignity, my ability to feel good about myself.
However, when I arrived in your salon to pick up my refund, you would not even provide me one moment to ask questions, and to speak with you in a calm, kind and polite manner. Instead you chose to yell at me, speak over top of me, and leave me with so much anxiety and fear as I walked out of your store. This is not how a business owner should behave.
I want everyone to know that this is a salon owner, who does not value their clients. This is a salon, owner, who thinks it is appropriate to take a pair of scissors, and violate the people in their chairs. This is a salon owner, who thinks too highly of their ability, to ever hold themselves accountable when they make mistakes. Above all, this salon is not a safe place for vulnerable people to feel heard and seen. Take it from me, go to another salon and let the pictures I've provided speak for themselves. This is a salon owner, who should not have a license to do hair, because it is clear that she believes she also has a license to do harm.
For those of you reading this on Google or Yelp, please note that if I could, I would share the full audio recording of the way this salon owner yelled at me when I went to pick up my refund, because I made sure to cover all my bases. This salon is not a safe space, and coincidentally, this is not the only review that this salon has like this. Do your research and go somewhere else.
