This is why I don't go to the "hair salon"

[niknakmac]

Another crappy "hair salon" experience. So I wanted to get my DD hair braided. Just some cornrows with some added hair so it would last awhile. My nail tech has locs that always look great. She recommended her hairstylist for me. She assured me that she was very gentle (dd is super tender headed) so I thought i would give her a try. She actually came into to get her nails done one day while I was there and we discussed DD hair needs.

Ok so last week I called her for an appointment. She said that I had to go online and book the appointment. I was like really? ok, I went online and booked the appointment for this morning.

The appointment was at 10 am. I get there at 9:55 look at the shop and think in my head this is going to be an experience. They place is in da hood and it's a barber shop/salon. The way it is set up we have to walk past all these dudes in the front of the shop to get to the back salon. whatever. I get to the back she is not there another stylist tells me she just left and will be right back. I like really my appoinment is supposed to start in 3 minutes.

I am looking around and thinking do i really want my dd to get her hair done here. There is hair everywhere and it just really doesn't look clean. I'm thinking it's only 10 am this place should not be looking like this. so I call the girl to see where she is. She said i will be right there. I'm wondering why didn't she call me to tell me she wouldn't be there? I was really getting annoyed.

At ten after 10 I decide we are leaving. We leave and the stylist calls me at 20 after 10 talking about i'm here where u at. I was like I left. she tried to explain that she had to go home to use the bathroom b/c she does not use the shop bathroom; and was expecting me to come back. Would you believe this chick tried to get extra on the phone with me. I just laughed. I calmly told her my appointment was at 10 she wasn't there her shop is disgusting and dirty and i was not coming back so have a great day.

Now if you have to leave your place of employment and go home to use the bathroom do you really think you should be servicing people there?

I really hope my nail tech doesn't ask me about this b/c she will not like what I have to say. I should have left as soon as I walked in. This really reminded me of why i started doing my hair myself.

 

[MzSwift]

Wow. At least you went with your gut and left. DD's hair is too precious to be trusted to just anyone.

GL w/finding a new braider!

 

[Mellowqueen]

Now if you have to leave your place of employment and go home to use the bathroom do you really think you should be servicing people there?

.

ITA, that is ridiculus. So if your DD had to go to the bathroom while getting her hair done was she going to bring her to her house? If you can't even use the bathroom at your place of employment then I don't think you can expect other too, let alone servicing them in that type of environment.

 

[virtuenow]

Good choice. I was afraid you had taken the bait, glad I read on . I also tried to make an appointment at a salon and was forced to do it online. I was like, we're right here. It must be a new thing, but its kind of silly that they don't have an additional option to do it on phone or in person. I have yet to enter a salon and feel completely comfortable enough to trust them w/my hair.

 

[shenitab]

That's some tom-foolery. The hairstylist needs to come in early everyday and clean the bathroom (or hire someone to do it). Or she needs to find a new place to work out of. I once worked with all men in a small business. I didn't like the way the bathroom was kept (there was only 1). So I just started cleaning it. No, it was not in my job description but there was no way I could use it otherwise. One of the dudes at least offered to reimburse me for cleaning supplies after the first time I cleaned it but I told him I just bought in some stuff I had at home.

 

[MsLauren]

I'm sorry you had to go through this OP. I would have left too.
I hope you find a more professional braider soon!

 

[Kn0ttyByNatur3]

Wooow! I totally had an American Pie moment in my head when I read this.

she tried to explain that she had to go home to use the bathroom b/c she does not use the shop bathroom;

When Finch refuses to take a poo in the school's restrooms, so he goes home every time he has to relieve himself and come back to school.


But anywho, you did the right thing by following ya gut. Seems that every time someone on here goes against theirs in a salon experience things go sour.

 

[naturalmanenyc]

Wow, the bathroom at work is too gross to use so she has to go home to relieve herself? That is just nasty! And what are customers to do - go home in between having their hair braided?

Then the braider had the nerve to be late and catch an attitude with you for leaving. Hmph! I think you need to tell your nail tech to stop recommending her braider because it will reflect poorly on her.

 

[MizzBrown]

Someone recommended a stylist where I got my LAST relaxer at.

I think that experience pushed me even more to go natural. I was so pissed with the experience. We just can't get right.

It's good you left. We need to do that more often. Otherwise the treatment will continue.

 

[niknakmac]

Well ladies I received a text message from the "stylist" this morning and I am really not sure if I should answer it. I just have a feeling she wants to start some mess and I am really not into it. This is the text message verbatim...

"Hello this erycah and it bothered me how ur appt went with u leaving under the pretense that u left. I would love to knw what made u come to ur decision. I'm researching how to retent clients and and your feedback soul be great!"

Now really should I even respond to this madness? I told her one of the reasons why I left when I initially spoke with her. SHE WASN'T IN THE BUILDING AT MY APPOINTMENT TIME.

There are other reasons such as:

· The place was dirty at 10 am, actually I don't even expect the place to look like that at 6 pm. Most salons that I go to clean as they go.

· The salon is uber hood, not my style I had a feeling when I saw the address but thought maybe it was urban chic. LOL WRONG

· Anyplace that you work in that you cannot/refuse to use the bathroom is not a place where either myself or my daughter will be getting our hair done.

· I refuse to wait on a stylist. If I have an appointment time you have about 10 minutes to get started on me or I am bouncing. One of my good friends is a stylist, I stopped going to her after leaving work early to get my hair done and then sitting and waiting...I said never again and I meant it.


I feel like this woman was apparently really pressed for my $50 and really just wants to argue. I posted this because i wanted to know if i should respond put after typing I know it's not even worth it. If she can't see the problems I can't help her.

 

[Krullete]

Save yourself some text, and just send her a link to this thread. She won't even need a paid subscription to read it (I think). She'll get free and comprehensive feedback... in bucketloads!

Well ladies I received a text message from the "stylist" this morning and I am really not sure if I should answer it. I just have a feeling she wants to start some mess and I am really not into it. This is the text message verbatim...

"Hello this erycah and it bothered me how ur appt went with u leaving under the pretense that u left. I would love to knw what made u come to ur decision. I'm researching how to retent clients and and your feedback soul be great!"

Now really should I even respond to this madness? I told her one of the reasons why I left when I initially spoke with her. SHE WASN'T IN THE BUILDING AT MY APPOINTMENT TIME.

There are other reasons such as:

· The place was dirty at 10 am, actually I don't even expect the place to look like that at 6 pm. Most salons that I go to clean as they go.

· The salon is uber hood, not my style I had a feeling when I saw the address but thought maybe it was urban chic. LOL WRONG

· Anyplace that you work in that you cannot/refuse to use the bathroom is not a place where either myself or my daughter will be getting our hair done.

· I refuse to wait on a stylist. If I have an appointment time you have about 10 minutes to get started on me or I am bouncing. One of my good friends is a stylist, I stopped going to her after leaving work early to get my hair done and then sitting and waiting...I said never again and I meant it.


I feel like this woman was apparently really pressed for my $50 and really just wants to argue. I posted this because i wanted to know if i should respond put after typing I know it's not even worth it. If she can't see the problems I can't help her.

 

[Your Cheeziness]

OP, good for you for leaving. That's very refreshing to hear on this board. You followed your gut the first time and I think you should it this time. I think it's bait for some foolisness. Delete, Delete, DELETE!!

 

[niknakmac]

Save yourself some text, and just send her a link to this thread. She won't even need a paid subscription to read it (I think). She'll get free and comprehensive feedback... in bucketloads!

LMBO so true! She probably needs to join LHCF to get a better understanding of client needs!

 

[kandiekj100]

Aren't we always saying those that know better do better. Maybe she was too heated to truly listen to you when you explained it before. If you decide to respond, I feel it would be better in an email, that way you can intelligently detail what issues you had, with as little tone as possible. Heck ask her if she has an email address to whic you can reply, create an alternate email address just for this sole purpose and delete once done. Heck she may learn something.

 

[LongLeggedLife]

Id respond.
At least she made the effort to ask, despite her having no mastery of the written english language.
Maybe not as detailed, but explain that tardiness and filthiness is unacceptable.
She'll never get ahold of your hair, so what mess can she really start?

 

[niknakmac]

Id respond.
At least she made the effort to ask, despite her having no mastery of the written english language.
Maybe not as detailed, but explain that tardiness and filthiness is unacceptable.
She'll never get ahold of your hair, so what mess can she really start?

I think the problem here is that the actual event took place on Saturday. It is now Wednesday and she is still trying to contact me about the situation after having a funky attitude with me on the phone on Saturday. After I spoke with her on Saturday and she all but hung up on me she called me right back. I didn’t answer the phone b/c I’m not going to argue with you about your piss poor customer service. Then she texted me and asked me who referred me to her. Again I did not respond as far as she is concerned it shouldn’t matter. What is she going to say to the person who referred me? Whackness.

Saturday I was bothered enough that I thought about writing a detailed review on her website the one that she insisted I make an appointment on but then thought hey if other people have no problem going there to get their hair done I shouldn’t knock her hustle.


So bottom line I think to be contacting me on Wednesday is some kind of crazy and I don’t want to be on the news like some of those Facebook stories girl gets shot because of hair text.

I do think the email with the new email address is a good idea though, I’m just not down with the drama that may come after she gets a true understanding of the issues in her “salon”.

 

[Foxglove]

despite her having no mastery of the written english language.

That's exactly what I was thinking but I didn't go there

 

[mscocoface]

Wow. And just.....Wow!! A text would not cover the amount of issues going on there. If she is really serious about her business she would need a conference call with you...a long one.

 

[jessicarabbit]

lol i like the idea of just texting her the link to this thread.
otherwise, dont even waste your breath/though on. you are not going back to her so there's no point in even discussing anything. unless she wants to learn what to do for next time.

 

[My Friend]

I think the problem here is that the actual event took place on Saturday. It is now Wednesday and she is still trying to contact me about the situation after having a funky attitude with me on the phone on Saturday. After I spoke with her on Saturday and she all but hung up on me she called me right back. I didn’t answer the phone b/c I’m not going to argue with you about your piss poor customer service. Then she texted me and asked me who referred me to her. Again I did not respond as far as she is concerned it shouldn’t matter. What is she going to say to the person who referred me? Whackness.

Saturday I was bothered enough that I thought about writing a detailed review on her website the one that she insisted I make an appointment on but then thought hey if other people have no problem going there to get their hair done I shouldn’t knock her hustle.


So bottom line I think to be contacting me on Wednesday is some kind of crazy and I don’t want to be on the news like some of those Facebook stories girl gets shot because of hair text.

I do think the email with the new email address is a good idea though, I’m just not down with the drama that may come after she gets a true understanding of the issues in her “salon”.

I would not respond at all. If the stylist decides to join based on the OP's referral once she reads this thread, she may try to start more drama with the OP.

If the stylist has not realized since Sat. the error of her ways than the OP is not going to be the one that makes her see the light. Another stylist in the shop wasnt able to explain it to her? Her BFF? Shop owner?

The stylist's issue is not about growing/retaining hair It's about being a professional in your profession. Being on time is taught in a remedial business class/course.

 

[amwcah]

I would just leave it alone.

You already told her in the initial conversation on Saturday what the issue was. Its not your fault that her listening skills(as well as written communication) need improvement. Why contact you several days later? She knows she is wrong. I believe she is looking for drama. Like you said, you don't want to end up in some unfortunate situation over some foolishness.

Also, if your nail tech ask you anything about her; I would just say it didn't work out and leave at that.

 

[StarScream35]

Girl let me just congratulate you on leaving because the minute we as black women start demanding better customer service then will things change. For too long we have excused the behavior of these stylists. We allow them to work on our heads an hour sometimes longer after our appt. We allow them to take long phone calls while they do our hair, we allow them to take their lunch break in the middle of our appt. We can change the tides but we must be diligent and get rid of that codependancy behavior. Again, thank you!!!!

 

[fiyahwerks]

Girl let me just congratulate you on leaving because the minute we as black women start demanding better customer service then will things change. For too long we have excused the behavior of these stylists. We allow them to work on our heads an hour sometimes longer after our appt. We allow them to take long phone calls while they do our hair, we allow them to take their lunch break in the middle of our appt. We can change the tides but we must be diligent and get rid of that codependancy behavior. Again, thank you!!!!

When I was high school, I seriously thought this was the norm. I even had stylist take smoke breaks on me when I was just getting a wash and curl. Now that I'm older and wiser, I don't take that foolishness anymore either. Big Kudos to you OP. I wouldn't entertain her either. I don't understand what's so hard to understand about understanding the basics of customer retention is good professional service and treating others as you would want to be treated. She didn't even listen to you when you told her the reason why, so why would she listen to you now. Just imagine if you wanted something special done to your DD's head, would she have listened then?

I believe you did the right thing!

 

[NYAmicas]

Goodness gracilous! Her grammar!

That aside kudos to you OP for having the good sense and resolve to get the heck out of dodge when you saw that shop was in disarray.

 

[CurlsBazillion]

Your nail tech has some low standards. Better keep a close eye on the tools she uses.

 

[napbella]

Nuh-uh, skip that drama girl.

 

[StarScream35]

When I was high school, I seriously thought this was the norm. I even had stylist take smoke breaks on me when I was just getting a wash and curl. Now that I'm older and wiser, I don't take that foolishness anymore either. Big Kudos to you OP. I wouldn't entertain her either. I don't understand what's so hard to understand about understanding the basics of customer retention is good professional service and treating others as you would want to be treated. She didn't even listen to you when you told her the reason why, so why would she listen to you now. Just imagine if you wanted something special done to your DD's head, would she have listened then?

I believe you did the right thing!

I'm guilty of thinking this was the norm too and many black women continue to think so. I sometimes get angry when I look back on all those times I sat my grass there waiting on my stylist to show up or waited for an hour or two while they finished up someone else's hair. All those wasted Saturdays, all those times waking up early, rushing out of the door and only to get there and my stylist wasn't there but no ma'am, no more! I am so glad the movement of natural haired black women and black women doing their own hair begun. I'm also glad to see white stylists learning how to do black hair and lord thank you for the Dominicans! Yes we have options and loathe to the black stylists who continue to treat us like crap. Karma really is a ******!