Any Hair Stylists to help with a Question?

HerRoyaLioness · ‎03-13-2010

Made an appt for highlights and cut with a new stylist. He manages an Aveda Salon in my area.

He started painting on my highlights and I questioned no foils? He only does balayage. I also had a pic along to show him, longer on top shorter and blended up in the back and sides. I have medium blond hair.

My hair has gold highlights, I hate it and my hair is very short on top. I called him and ask what I could do because my highlights were gold and I wanted them blond and he went into a song and dance how it matters how dark one's hair is to begin with, then it goes to the next level lighter and I would need to come in and have the "balayage" done again to get to the next lighter level. Is that how it really works???

He said this method of highlighting is totally different than foil. I did not know he was going to do it that way when I made the appt and assumed it would turn out like normal highlights. We had a discussion and I kept it nice.

Bottom line is I have an appt with a different brand new stylist (same salon) next week for foil highlights as he doesn't do them. He studied and worked over in France for years and is, in my opinion, stuck in his ways and does what he thinks is best and not necessarily what the client wants. He acted like foils were so yesterday.

Now I will have a dilemma to pay or not to pay the new girl. It's up in the air if I am going to be charged again, he says it depends on a couple things, how long ago (2 weeks) and the color of my hair. I have had my hair highlighted for many years and NEVER had it turn out like this.

Opinions from stylists please??? Do I pay this new girl or how does the salon handle these situations? I don't want her to have do my hair and not get anything for it.

Thanks!

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@HerRoyaLioness It doesn't matter if the process is totally different from foils, you shouldn't have been walking out with gold/brassy hair. He should have let it lift longer. It sounds like he was rushing you through because painting is faster than foiling too. He could have/should have put a toner on it. However, when he was about to start and you questioned the process, he should have taken more time to explain the process to you and allow you to decide to continue or not. At that point there was still time to wash out the first couple of painted strands. And if the cut is wrong, now you just have to live with it. What a jerk to treat you this way. I know you said this guy was the manager. Is there anyone above him that's available for you to talk to? I'm not a stylist, but IMO, the new stylist would be doing a corrective service on you. To me, that means your charge for the bad job should be refunded and then you can pay her. Or maybe the salon has system in place to deduct charges and apply payments accordingly. If you tipped Mr. Know-it-All, you can likely bet he's not going to cough that up so plan on tipping the new stylist.

Wondering aloud here...did you pay with a credit card? If the salon doesn't want to work with you, I would tell them that you're going to dispute the charge with your credit card company. Then you can go to another salon that will be willing to listen and give you the service you want.

Perkup · ‎03-09-2010

I gave up on finding new stylists years ago. It doesn't matter to me how "qualified" they may sound (or think they are) I would never subject myself to a new stylist for a change in my cut/color unless I'd seen a great deal of their work and could be completely confident in what to expect. I have to ask, if you were content with what you were doing why would you make a change to someone who doesn't know you or your hair?

Just MHO. I hope you can get somethng that makes you hair happy.

HerRoyaLioness · ‎03-13-2010

@Perkup - you are making it sound like all this is my fault. That is why I only wanted stylists to respond.

Obviously I was not satisfied with my other stylist who I had for a few years, otherwise why would I make an appt with someone new??!!! And even if I was, a change now and then can be good sometimes.

I have been in other Aveda salons over the years (moved a few times) with someone new to me and never had an experience like this. Every single sytlist gave me blond highlights, even the ones not in an Aveda salon.

When I made the appt, I gave the option of 2 different sylists and got in with him. I had done as much research as I could with reviews and qualifications and such. How would I have been able to "see a lot of his work"? I am glad you would never "subject yourself" to this kind of thing, I guess I am a glutton for punishment........

But why I should have to explain myself further is just exactly what I didn't want and shouldn't have to do.

HerRoyaLioness · ‎03-13-2010

@JeanLouiseFinch - that's what I thought too, either way the result should have been blond highlights. He left it in a very long time and then even put me under a dryer when he was doing another cut.

He told and asked me NOTHING. If I hadn't spoken to him the whole visit would have been silent. I would have thought he would have stopped the painting when he realized this wasn't going to give me the results that foils would. But then again who wants gold brassy highlights??? He did not even show me the back of my hair when he was finished.

The cut I can live with hair grows and I have been bald from chemo, so ANY hair is a good thing to me!

I don't know of anyone higher to go to, although I could find out. I will give him a chance to make matters right ie, see how big his ego is and go from there.

Good thoughts on the tipping and payment method, I will keep that in mind.

Thanks for being helpful with my tale of woe!

Perkup · ‎03-09-2010

@HerRoyaLioness wrote:
@Perkup - you are making it sound like all this is my fault. That is why I only wanted stylists to respond.

Obviously I was not satisfied with my other stylist who I had for a few years, otherwise why would I make an appt with someone new??!!! And even if I was, a change now and then can be good sometimes.

I have been in other Aveda salons over the years (moved a few times) with someone new to me and never had an experience like this. Every single sytlist gave me blond highlights, even the ones not in an Aveda salon.

When I made the appt, I gave the option of 2 different sylists and got in with him. I had done as much research as I could with reviews and qualifications and such. How would I have been able to "see a lot of his work"? I am glad you would never "subject yourself" to this kind of thing, I guess I am a glutton for punishment........

But why I should have to explain myself is just exactly what I didn't want and shouldn't have to do.

Spoken from experience. I did this once - about 40 years ago. Went to someone at a salon that came highly recommended, as was the stylist. I wanted a perm - just enough to give some body. I came out of there frizzed and cooked. Awful. Thankfully hair grows. After that, when we moved around a lot and I often had to find other stylists, I went to the salon and watched what and how they did their thing. I've only had to make one change in the almost 40 years I've lived here - my stylist retired. The new one I found about two years ago and I am thrilled with him. Not one complaint - but I did visit the salon twice to watch his work, with his approval. My new guy is wonderful. I am truly sorry you've had this exerience.

suzyQ3 · ‎03-09-2010

@HerRoyaLioness, what an annoying experience.

I would talk to the owner of the salon before you go in for you appt. You should not have to pay for the highlights. I agree that this new stylist should not have to go unpaid. The salon should pick that up for you.

~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

Just because someone is the manager or owner does not mean that know what they are doing or the best at doing hair. Hairstylists are artists, some are good, some are bad and some are exceptionally wonderful.

The number of years one does hair does not make them better than a newbie. Some people are naturally very talented.

Color is very involved. You could use the same color on ten different women and it could come out different on each one. There are many things to consider.

The stylist who is going to fix the manager's mess deserves to be paid. In reality, the manager/shop should pony up the money and pay her. I would discuss this with him before you have a seat.

If he refuses, you can either leave and get it done somewhere else, or pay her. Either way it will cost you. If the manager ponies up the money, tip the new colorist.

When you use foil, heat is locked in and the color will lift further and faster. Without the foil, it takes longer. Either method is okay if done right.

Shop talk calls the brassy blond shade you have as Prostit*te yellow. It is definitely a no-no. This guy did you wrong, probably because he is not a good colorist. He either used the wrong product, or didn't leave it on long enough.

I am sorry that this happened to you. in my shop, we would fix it for free and deduct the payment from the stylist who didn't do the job correctly. It is the right thing to do and happens on occasion. This shop should have a policy in place for when a mistake is made. This is not a matter of not liking the color, but a matter of getting an unnatural color that is not exceptable anywhere.

HerRoyaLioness · ‎03-13-2010

@Carmie - thank you. I know you take a chance when going to someone new, that's just how it is and I was willing to take it. I think even he was a little surprised when my hair came out like it did, as I was left sitting a long time (at least 45 min) and then he looked at it and put me under the hair dryer for about 15 min. I thought I was going to turn out white!

I also kept thinking it's going to be ok and went and got that blue/purple shampoo to see if it would brighten them up. There are a few and I mean a few blond strands in there. At one point I even saw red in my hair, that's when I got the blue shampoo!

It's such a roll of the dice to get a talented stylist sometimes. He suggested this new stylist for my foils and said he would be there also.

I did ask him if I would have to pay to have this done over again. He said he would have to look at my hair to determine that. That's ok by me. I'm sure he wants to make sure I'm not just being overly fussy, but NO ONE has liked my hair, they just look at it and don't say anything and I used to get lots of compliments with freshly highlighted hair. I have never had this happen.

I know coloring is involved, but I am paying him for having that knowledge and

experience. And I really did pay a lot more for him as manager and senior stylist or whatever the correct term is at an Aveda salon.

I will ask how the stylist will get paid after I talk to him next week. I will not let her go unpaid even if I have to dish out the money again for the whole thing. I will also tip her, but you don't know how angry this would make me. I am going to end up being out money no matter what.

I know these things can and do happen once in a while, but own up to it and make it right. It was not my fault - I even questioned the painting.

Is this going to be hard on my hair to have it done twice in a short period of time? It's pretty healthy, but has not quite been the same since chemo 4 yrs ago.

Appreciate your input!

ETA - so that's why I'm getting offers from men when I walk down the street, lol!! I have the hair color for it...........the things you learn later in life........

Wannabeincali · ‎04-04-2017

@HerRoyaLioness

I am not a licensed salon professional, however I have colored and bleached and highlighted hair for friends and myself for over 20 years. Here are my thoughts...

1. Why don't you go back to the person who used to do your foils before? The foils you loved.

2. Why did you go to a syylist, vs a colorist? Stylists usually specialize in conditioning, cutting and styling hair. Colorists specialize in color, bleach, lowlights, highlights, etc. Go to a certified colorist, for best results.

3. What do you hate about the balayage? I love my balayage. It is more natural in the way the highligjts are placed, yet can also yield dramatic results.

A.

Did you hate the pattern of the balayage, vs the linear spacing precision and uniformity of the foils?

B.

Or, are you just upset about the golden TONE of your highlights?

B is easy to correct! Use a violet shampoo and conditioner, or go back and have them tone your higjlights to either an ash blonde, a neutral blonde, or a beige blonde. Ask to see swatches of the final shade BEFORE you agree to the tone. They will use either a demi color, or a color gloss. For sheer tone results, go wothma colorgloss.

Whatever you do, I would not let the same stylist try to fix your color. Go to a colorist. Speak with the salon manager. They should offer to pay for you to have the color correction done at the salon of your choosing IF you are that upset over their stylist's work, and if they do not have a resident certified colorist on staff. Worth a try to ask.

Personally, I would just use a violet shampoo and conditioner if it is only the tone of blonde you are upset about.

Good luck!