Anyway, this post isn't about Grace, it's about me.
Harumph.
(And yes I do realize that this is a highly unflattering picture of myself. I like to think that I don't look that bad).
Here is my tale. Last week I went to get my hair done. This is like my one completely self-indulgent luxury. And for me, the hardest thing about moving to a new place is finding a new person to do my hair. Especially a new person who does a good job doing my hair. After doing all kinds of research I finally settled on the salon I wanted to go to which had rave reviews of being the "best" salon in town.
My first red flag should have been when I called to set up an appointment. I asked if there was any possibility to squeeze something in that week and the receptionist answered that Cara (name has been changed) had an opening that afternoon. This was A LOT sooner than I was expecting to get an appointment, and as a result I was NOT prepared. I usually go armed with a hair magazine or two where I have found potential hairstyles to discuss with the stylist. I hadn't done this yet, and knew I wouldn't have much time, but I still managed to find something I liked.
The next warning sign was when I got to the salon. Call me stereotypical, or judgmental, or WHATEVER, but I knew as soon as I saw Cara's hair that things were not boding well for me. I have found in my experience that if the hairstylist's hair has no style, then I'm kind of out of luck. However, at this point I couldn't exactly say "nevermind" and leave the salon. So, I tried to stay positive and maintain hope that things would still be okay. I showed her the picture of hair color I wanted (a much darker blonde for the upcoming fall and winter seasons) and the cut (a sort of compilation from a couple different pictures of a layered, slightly longer than chin-length bob). I was assured that she could do both these things and that it would look "really pretty."
THEN, she brought out a hair color sample card. Do you know what I'm talking about? The thing with all the loops of hair in various shades of color? And she asked me which color I wanted. Huh? Isn't that your job to choose what's going to look good on me? Didn't I show you the picture of the haircolor I wanted? Aren't I paying you a huge chunk of change to cut and color my hair? Let's just say, that when a hairstylist brings out the hair loops, I start to hyperventilate just a little -- because it almost always is a harbinger of horror.
Anyway, we moved on to the cut and as she started blowdrying away, carefully curling under with her round brush, I realized that this was NOT the style I showed her. And the sides were uneven. That is one of my pet peeves about getting my hair cut. If I with my untrained eye can tell that one side is longer than the other, shouldn't a trained professional be able to? I actually managed to speak up on that issue, which is a huge deal for me, because I am NOT good at that kind of thing. And then when she was finished round brushing my hair out and I saw that what she had given me was basically a blunt bob, I managed to speak up once again and ask if she could add some layers like in the picture.
Oh, sure she said and proceeded to texturize only one side of my hair. Could you add a few layers to the other side as well, I asked? Oh, we'll just get some pomade and piece it out so you can see them, she said. After the "piecing" was done I asked again if she could cut some layers in the other side to make it match a little more, and she finally got that done all the while saying she just really wanted to make sure that I loved my hair.
At this point I could see that the cut was fine -- not great, but not horrible -- and the color, with my hair now dried, was a lighter blonde than I wanted -- but still fine enough. However, I was just ready to go home. I was done with the experience and annoyed that I was going to spend so much money on something I was not completely loving and aggravated with myself for not being the kind of person who can speak up more. And as I was paying and leaving Cara said to be sure and come back in if there was anything I didn't like about it in the next few days, because she just really wanted to make sure I loved my hair.
So, there you have it. My hair. Harumph. Like I said. Its not horrible, I just don't LOVE it. I'm mostly just aggravated. BUT, as I like to say, the difference between a bad haircut and a better one, is about a week.
But now I have a new problem. A couple days later, the salon emailed me a survey to fill out to tell about my "experience" there, and unfortunately that experience was still a festering thorn in my side. And apparently I feel a lot more uninhibited in my reviews when done under the cloak of anonymity. And so I just found out today (via a phone call from the manager who wanted to talk things over and "pick my brain" as she put it) that NOT filling out my name on the survey didn't exactly make me anonymous. And I'm kind of feeling really bad because I'm pretty sure that in the heat of the moment I might have said in my survey that "a salon is only as good as the worst hairstylist there." Ouch. That's kind of harsh. I probably shouldn't give reviews of things while I'm still worked up. So, basically I'm just left dreading her call back tomorrow. And wishing I had not rushed into getting my hair done. Another life lesson learned.
And there you have it. The hair -- one week later. Not horrible, but not great. (And please understand that I am in NO WAY trying to fish for compliments here.)
Epilogue:
Alright, So after reading this over one final time before posting, I feel really bad. Like I'm a super horrible person. Or at least a very cowardly one. If I have enough issues with something to complain about it to a 3rd party, I should be able to just suck it up and discuss it with the actual person. Right? Cara was REALLY nice and I feel REALLY bad if she read my review and took it personally. I am a horrible person.
The End.
My first red flag should have been when I called to set up an appointment. I asked if there was any possibility to squeeze something in that week and the receptionist answered that Cara (name has been changed) had an opening that afternoon. This was A LOT sooner than I was expecting to get an appointment, and as a result I was NOT prepared. I usually go armed with a hair magazine or two where I have found potential hairstyles to discuss with the stylist. I hadn't done this yet, and knew I wouldn't have much time, but I still managed to find something I liked.
The next warning sign was when I got to the salon. Call me stereotypical, or judgmental, or WHATEVER, but I knew as soon as I saw Cara's hair that things were not boding well for me. I have found in my experience that if the hairstylist's hair has no style, then I'm kind of out of luck. However, at this point I couldn't exactly say "nevermind" and leave the salon. So, I tried to stay positive and maintain hope that things would still be okay. I showed her the picture of hair color I wanted (a much darker blonde for the upcoming fall and winter seasons) and the cut (a sort of compilation from a couple different pictures of a layered, slightly longer than chin-length bob). I was assured that she could do both these things and that it would look "really pretty."
THEN, she brought out a hair color sample card. Do you know what I'm talking about? The thing with all the loops of hair in various shades of color? And she asked me which color I wanted. Huh? Isn't that your job to choose what's going to look good on me? Didn't I show you the picture of the haircolor I wanted? Aren't I paying you a huge chunk of change to cut and color my hair? Let's just say, that when a hairstylist brings out the hair loops, I start to hyperventilate just a little -- because it almost always is a harbinger of horror.
Anyway, we moved on to the cut and as she started blowdrying away, carefully curling under with her round brush, I realized that this was NOT the style I showed her. And the sides were uneven. That is one of my pet peeves about getting my hair cut. If I with my untrained eye can tell that one side is longer than the other, shouldn't a trained professional be able to? I actually managed to speak up on that issue, which is a huge deal for me, because I am NOT good at that kind of thing. And then when she was finished round brushing my hair out and I saw that what she had given me was basically a blunt bob, I managed to speak up once again and ask if she could add some layers like in the picture.
Oh, sure she said and proceeded to texturize only one side of my hair. Could you add a few layers to the other side as well, I asked? Oh, we'll just get some pomade and piece it out so you can see them, she said. After the "piecing" was done I asked again if she could cut some layers in the other side to make it match a little more, and she finally got that done all the while saying she just really wanted to make sure that I loved my hair.
At this point I could see that the cut was fine -- not great, but not horrible -- and the color, with my hair now dried, was a lighter blonde than I wanted -- but still fine enough. However, I was just ready to go home. I was done with the experience and annoyed that I was going to spend so much money on something I was not completely loving and aggravated with myself for not being the kind of person who can speak up more. And as I was paying and leaving Cara said to be sure and come back in if there was anything I didn't like about it in the next few days, because she just really wanted to make sure I loved my hair.
So, there you have it. My hair. Harumph. Like I said. Its not horrible, I just don't LOVE it. I'm mostly just aggravated. BUT, as I like to say, the difference between a bad haircut and a better one, is about a week.
But now I have a new problem. A couple days later, the salon emailed me a survey to fill out to tell about my "experience" there, and unfortunately that experience was still a festering thorn in my side. And apparently I feel a lot more uninhibited in my reviews when done under the cloak of anonymity. And so I just found out today (via a phone call from the manager who wanted to talk things over and "pick my brain" as she put it) that NOT filling out my name on the survey didn't exactly make me anonymous. And I'm kind of feeling really bad because I'm pretty sure that in the heat of the moment I might have said in my survey that "a salon is only as good as the worst hairstylist there." Ouch. That's kind of harsh. I probably shouldn't give reviews of things while I'm still worked up. So, basically I'm just left dreading her call back tomorrow. And wishing I had not rushed into getting my hair done. Another life lesson learned.
And there you have it. The hair -- one week later. Not horrible, but not great. (And please understand that I am in NO WAY trying to fish for compliments here.)Epilogue:
Alright, So after reading this over one final time before posting, I feel really bad. Like I'm a super horrible person. Or at least a very cowardly one. If I have enough issues with something to complain about it to a 3rd party, I should be able to just suck it up and discuss it with the actual person. Right? Cara was REALLY nice and I feel REALLY bad if she read my review and took it personally. I am a horrible person.
The End.
13 comments:
While I do like the cut on you . . .I totally understand about haircuts that you don't love. Haircuts are expensive! It's hard to trust your hair to someone you don't know. And I agree that it was a bad sign when you saw Cara's hair cut and she pulled out the color sheet! I think you call the person back and be honest. Let her know that Cara was really nice but she wasn't the stylist you were expecting! I think it's salon's jobs to provide their stylists with proper training, etc. Anyway - I think you need to do what you did last year and find someone with a style you like and find out where they got their hair cut! :)
The pain of finding a hairstylist, pediatrician, dentist, etc. in a new city. Good luck. Sophie is darling. Those of the first photos I have seen of her grown up,
Definitely not a horrible person, but I would be right there with you. It is past due time to get my hair done and I haven't located a stylist yet. I usually try to look around at other people's hair to see whose I like. I haven't quite found anyone that I like enough. I'm tempted on running back to Utah to my hairstylist there. But, that is not possible...what to do. I can either live with what I got, or bite the bullet and just find someone. You are a lot braver than me, I need to have a good referral. I think your hair looks fine, I just can so understand the whole thing.
cara? hmmmmmmm. . . . i wonder if her real name is sarah? hahahaha. thats a funny story, but you should have mom tell you her skunk bang story, and how mom actually went back to the stylist for him to "fix it" hahahaha. . .. you're right being anoymous doesnt live up to its purpose
Oh, Jessica I feel your pain! We just moved and I had to find a new salon. My experience was not horrible, but left much to be desired. I find comfort in knowing I have had much worse. It is very frightening when the stylist is asking you which piece of hair you think matches the best, HELLO! Do not feel bad about your review. I certainly wouldn't. I think your hair looks good.
Now honey, you're not a horrible person, just a person who wrote a horrible review.
AND...Freddie, I did NOT voluntarily go back.
After promising me she wouldn't let her recommended stylist how pathetic I looked, she called him by the end of day and set up the stupid appointment for me the following day. AGHHHHHHH. Then...it looked better, but still ridiculous so I forked out more money the following week to get it back to normal.
Do you remember Amy's first real haircut from a salon? It was when we moved to Fresno. She walked out after an hour with the biggest, widest, flipping wings flowing from each side of her head! It was soooo funny to me, but she was furious. We drove straight to Supercuts for another shampoo and cut. Big time waste of money AND time.
The other big price of a bad hair do is the cost of food binges from the stress and new shirt or make-up to distract from the obvious.
I would have done the EXACT same thing. Don't feel bad- you're not a mean person. Hopefully though you will maybe get something like a free haircut at that salon (with a different stylist) from your survey complaints. It sounds like Cara was probably lacking confidence in a big way but don't feel bad- when you pay for so much to get your hair done- they should get it right and not take it personally. Its just business, right?
You are not a horrible person at all. If you don't feel good about your hair, it totally affects the way you feel about yourself!! I hate finding someone new to do my hair - I feel your pain. But, from all my friends who are hairstylists, they tell me that if they don't do it the way you want, they are GLAD to re-do it for you, because after all, that's what you're paying for. Having had a lot of bad experiences myself (like getting my hair done 3 times in 6 weeks when my stylist was out on maternity leave), I am the most apprehensive person to go BACK to a person after they ruined it - why would I want to let them hack away again? Super annoying though because it is sooo expensive! I have never understood the mentality of so many stylists - if you are being paid to do something, wouldn't you want to do it the way that the person asked you to?! Seems like that would make more sense to me - bigger tip, and most importantly, returning clients! Anyway - sorry for the soapbox.
haha, yeah I know what this is like. you remember my post from January when I had my hair done in Washington. It's nothing against the stylist, it's just frustrating not to get what you want and what should be expected! And the color hair swatches...don't get me started, my lady had the same thing and it's like what the heck? SHouldn't you know what color...plus all those colors never even look right. ok well that's all. lylas.
I am actually in that boat right now. I have a good friend who cuts hair and is VERY cheap, BUT I know she is in no way up to date with the new haircuts. (That is terrible to say)
Sorry to hear you paid so much for your hair. I am beginning to think I may have to cough up that additional $60 on top of what I used to pay in order to "love" my hair as well.
FOr the record I totally would have been better (perhaps why I don't want to go to a close friend)
Thanks for the advice and your scripture I will be using it :)
I meant "Bitter" And you hair does look cute.
ll cool jess, WOW. you are tough as nails. it is so hard to talk to a stylist, but you did the right thing. you're not making friends here. you don't tip your friends. and a good stylist should play off their insecurities as them just wanting to make sure you are happy. don't have it, fake it, right?
once i turned around and walked out of a salon when i saw the stylist. she was scary looking. think roseanne barr. and then throw some sweat on her. and knock out a few teeth. and add a bad attitude. not worth it. i had just had a baby. i didn't need a bad haircut to compliment my post partum depression. the end.
Ha ha ah ah ha ha ha ha, you just make me laugh! I love that you won't say anything, but I always know it's lurking on the inside. Too funny! OH I just love you!
Post a Comment