Wow. This was a really disappointing first experience, and there will not be a second. I have to learn to listen to my gut on these things.
First, I called to make a first-time hair cut appointment. Well into business hours, I got an answering machine. If you don't always have someone to answer the phones, that's a bit of a red flag, but I thought, "things happen." I left a message. Two hours later, no return call. I called back and did get a human. I didn't bother to ask why they are so slow to return their messages. I was given a next-day appt. with Kathy.
Upon arrival, the receptionist was a bit - snooty. Not outgoing and smiling as I normally find receptionists at salons and spas. She asked me to fill out a form which asked about hair care products I use, etc. My appointment was at 2:30. At 2:45, I was asked if I wanted something to drink while I waited. No explanation as to WHY I was waiting.
I finally saw a stylist come up to the counter at 2:55, when I was about to walk out, with a gentleman she had just finished working on. Since it was my first visit, I had no idea who Kathy was. I watched her ask the receptionist to ring him out, then she went back to her station and started sweeping up hair and tidying up. I figured this must not be Kathy, so as I was about to get up and leave, she walks over and says, "okay, Rene', you're next." Not, "oh my gosh, I am so sorry you had to wait so long. My name is Kathy." She acted like I already knew her. So I said, "wow, I was just about to ask if I needed to reschedule." After she heard the tone of my voice, she finally said, "oh I'm sorry," but no explanation as to why I waited 25 min.
On the White Sands web site, they state in their policies that to maintain a "relaxing and meditative atmosphere" that you should speak softly and turn off cell phones. I have never been in a louder salon in my life. It was like a coop of cackling chickens. In fact, during my hair cut, Kathy's husband came by twice to talk about tickets to the Angel's game and who got which ones, which was absolutely unprofessional and rude. Then another man came up at one point and wanted to talk about whether Kathy went to the horse races (Los Alamitos is right by the salon.) The place was as noisy as it gets, completely contrary to their "policies."
I was seriously hoping for a relaxing shampoo, cut and blow dry, but Kathy was the master of 20 questions. I understand wanting to get to know someone, I guess, but my GOD, she wanted to know how many kids I had, what my husband did, what my business was, where I lived. I'm generally social, so I chatted along, but what I really wanted was to relax and get my hair cut - which she also cut shorter after I told her I didn't want any length off, but it looks all right, so I didn't say too much. To her credit, she did fix my bangs from the last stylist I had that basically massacred them. She also gave me a nice sample kit of hair products for free, but I will never go back, so if it was to try them out to sell them to be later, that isn't going to happen.
Lesson learned. When I didn't get a call back after hours on their answering machine, I should have moved on to the next salon. I will be now. read more