Have you ever walked out of a salon?

[Barbara]

I arrived on time, and I was waiting for 30 minutes.

I noticed that others were coming in after me, and my former stylist started working on their hair first. Maybe they were late; but I felt that since I was on time, she should have washed and deeped conditioned my hair first, and then assist her other customers.

Instead, she started working on them without saying anything to me. I continued to wait another 15 minutes. When she went to the back, I decided to leave without saying anything. That was the last time I was in that salon.

 

[Barbara]

I walked out of a salon this past January. I went to a Dominican salon downtown Bklyn and asked for a touch-up. The receptionist asked me when was my last touch-up and I told her 8 months. Well, she sent me to this young looking hair dresser who sat me in her chair, put a cape on me and based mostly the edges of my hair. She started putting the relaxer on me and something told me to look in the mirror. She had half of the relaxer covering most of my hair!! I told her what was she doing and she's like 'well, you said you had a relaxer 8 months ago!' I yelled '9 WEEKS!! DOES THIS LOOK LIKE 9 MONTHS??!!' I ran to the sink and had her wash that relaxer out and dry my hair. She really thought I was going to let her proceed with the relaxer. Once my hair dried I wrapped it up in my hat and left.

I think I'm missing something here since I'm not familiar with relaxers and touch ups. Eight months since a touch up (the roots right?) and relaxer (the whole head of hair?)

 

[Mahalialee4]

I APPLAUD YOU!!!!

 

[MissFallon]

I had a horror story happen to me in the salon earlier today. I went to get a blowout at a dominican salon that I used to go to but stopped going to last year because of an incident that I had wrote about here last year. My usual salon was crazy crowded and I don't really mess with the other salons around here plus I didn't want to walk around to find someone else. I went in and told the lady I wanted a wash and set (dominican blowout) I had conditioner in my hair so she just rinsed it out and say me in the chair. As I am sitting there she is looking at my hair and tells the lady that my hair is too thick and nappy for her to work with and she doesn't know why I stopped relaxing. She is saying all of this in spanish and doesn't know I speak spanish. So I let her go on for a while after she tells every1 to look at my hair and that she can't do anything with it. Well I turned around and in spanish was like "is there a problem? If u don't want to do my hair u dont have to...there are about 10 salons on this block and the only reason I came here is because I didn't want to walk around and go to a new place" she started apologizing and told me that she would do it but she had made me so mad that I just told her nevermind and that water was free so I wasn't paying for her washing the conditioner out of my hair and walked out with my hair soaking wet with nothing in it. Plus on top of all this the salon that I left charges more for a wash and set than anyone else around me; she charges $22 w/ no dc or anything and charges extra for flat ironing after blowing it out. I walked down the street to another salon that did my hair better than she would have.

 

[MochaSilk]

I had a horror story happen to me in the salon earlier today. I went to get a blowout at a dominican salon that I used to go to but stopped going to last year because of an incident that I had wrote about here last year. My usual salon was crazy crowded and I don't really mess with the other salons around here plus I didn't want to walk around to find someone else. I went in and told the lady I wanted a wash and set (dominican blowout) I had conditioner in my hair so she just rinsed it out and say me in the chair. As I am sitting there she is looking at my hair and tells the lady that my hair is too thick and nappy for her to work with and she doesn't know why I stopped relaxing. She is saying all of this in spanish and doesn't know I speak spanish. So I let her go on for a while after she tells every1 to look at my hair and that she can't do anything with it. Well I turned around and in spanish was like "is there a problem? If u don't want to do my hair u dont have to...there are about 10 salons on this block and the only reason I came here is because I didn't want to walk around and go to a new place" she started apologizing and told me that she would do it but she had made me so mad that I just told her nevermind and that water was free so I wasn't paying for her washing the conditioner out of my hair and walked out with my hair soaking wet with nothing in it. Plus on top of all this the salon that I left charges more for a wash and set than anyone else around me; she charges $22 w/ no dc or anything and charges extra for flat ironing after blowing it out. I walked down the street to another salon that did my hair better than she would have.

I would've loved to have witness that!! You go girl! Glad you found another salon to hook you up!

 

[MzOptimistic]

Yes, I did. The ***** wanted to use a fine tone comb on my hair and I politely asked her if she could use a wide tooth comb. So, I guess, she said fugged it and tried to just throw me under the dryer...I was like heelz naw....and went off...and left! Oh! I was getting braids at the time...I just went to the next braid shop down the street

 

[IrisDaVirus]

Hell, you trusted your instincts and did what you had to do. I tip my hat to you for that . With all of that pretty hair of yours, they probably would've destroyed it anyway if you let them touch it.

 

[anatomicallycorrect]

I did 2 years ago.
I was going to get braids done, on the recommendation of a coworker. My appt was 10:00 on my day off. The ish shows up at 10:30, lying about she was "stuck in traffic". We lived in the same part of the city and funny I was able to get there in 5 minutes and ran into no traffic . She smelled musty--that was the first sign, and I was dreading having to sit under her arm funk for 8 hours anyway. Then she starts telling me how I picked the wrong hair (it was curly) and my hair was too long to use the curly braids. I was poised to get out anyway, but asked her how much her services would cost. When she said $200, I was like "see ya!". She didn't charge my coworker that much but I think she was trying to take advantage b/c I made more for a living. I walked out and never looked back. I still have that hair that I was going to use, too

 

[Supergirl]

Good for you Machie I have come close to walking out, but never actually have.

 

[macherieamour]

I cant believe so many of us have had these types of experiences. I mean, Ive heard of plenty of bad salon visits but not SO many where women spoke with their feet and walked OUT.

I should have known LHCF girls were about their ish

 

[Maynard]

I cant believe so many of us have had these types of experiences. I mean, Ive heard of plenty of bad salon visits but not SO many where women spoke with their feet and walked OUT.

I should have known LHCF girls were about their ish

Are you writing a book? You should call it "Walk out of the Salon"

or something catchy like that....

 

[la flaca]

I did on Wednesday. I posted the whole story on my blog but I was just curious if anyone else ever just got mad and left. What was the reason?

Here is what happened at Vivid Salon on Wed:

I showed up to my appointment on time and sat in the waiting chair. The salon is nicely decorated. The “salon coordinator” walked right past me and carried on with his business. He spent a few minutes wiping down the window and chatting with some of the stylists in the back. Meanwhile, I start talking to another patron in the waiting room. She finally mentions to the coordinator, Bill, that I was there to see Sherree (sp?). He nods and asks me for my contact info.

So, the girl I was chatting with gets escorted to the back so she can be shampooed. After she leaves, I realize that its 12pm. I’ve been waiting for a half an hour. Mind you, my stylist has not come out and introduced herself. She hasn’t explained to me that she is running late. I understand salons run late, but I would at least like to have my presence acknowledged.

Another half an hour passes. I have officially been waiting for an hour. The owner of the salon saunters in and walks right past me. I would have liked a “Hi, I am ---- the owner of this salon. Who are you here to see? Oh, you have been waiting for an hour?? Well, let me get you started with so and so”. But no, she walks right past me.

At this point, I am fuming. I start talking to another patron sitting next to me. I tell her that I’ve been waiting an hour. She’s like, “Girl, you need to shout or say something”. I’m like, “THIS IS A BUSINESS”. I shouldn’t have to announce I’ve been waiting for a half and hour. She’s like, “well, my appt was at 1030 and I got in the chair at 12pm”!!!! Ok, NOW, I’m freaking out.
Finally, Sheree, my stylist, comes over and asks me whom I’m here to see. I’m like, YOU!!! She tries to tell me, “oh well, you came in late. I looked at me watch and it was 1150 when you showed up”. I was like, “NO…NO. I’m ALWAYS on time.” I couldn’t believe she had the nerve to tell me I was in the wrong.

So, she says, “I’m going to have the shampoo girl finish another client and then she will take you back”. So, I calm down and say ok. But then, I start noticing the way the stylists are working on the client hair. I see blow dryers and paddle brushes ripping through hair. I see hot tools on stoves. I see hair sizzling. I thought to myself, this is an UP SCALE salon??? That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. After 15 minutes, I walk out.

Bill, the salon coordinator then calls me 10 minutes later. He asks, “What can I do for you”? I explain what happened and he’s like well can I book another appointment?? LOL, I tell him “no, thanks” and hang up the phone.

Full Story is on my blog but that was the gist of itWhat would you have done? Have you been in a situation like this?

Don't be mad, everything happens for a reason. After all the things you've described, you never know what was going to happen to your beautiful hair. So, just be thankful!!

 

[simplycee]

I have walked out several times. When a stylist applied a no lye relaxer to my hair when I specifically asked for a lye one. I walked out when a stylist tried to curl my still damp hair with a marcel curling iron. And yes, I have left when I have been kept waiting while stylists have eaten their lunch, made personal phone calls or left to go to the dry cleaners. And I happily spread the word to others I know to avoid the salons that do these things.

 

[simone103]

I'm glad you walked out before she got her hands in your hair!

I threatened to walk out of a african braiding salon once because she was trying to hurry up and finish my hair by slapping some gigantic twist on top. I told her that I was not payin for that mess unless she fixed it she said no and then locked the door.The other customers were shocked! So I procceded to walk around the salon and ask the other customers if they thought the four giant twist she had slapped on the top of my head were worth paying for. They all replied no! At this time which was about 5min later another one of the customers hair was finished and she had some were important to go. She aked that the door be unlocked so that she could leave. The braider said "No not until I get my money ,nobody leaving till I get my money." This started a huge argument before I knew it everyone was just a cussing and screaming. But it was not just about my hair anymore but the shops over all lack of customer service. After about 20 minutes of being locked in the salon I called the police and told the I was being held hostage. When I got off the phone everybody was like 5mins later he police called back to confirm the address and I told them the issue had been resolved. The braider had pratically begged me to fix my hair for free!

Only in NYC!

 

[CurleeDST]

Yes I walked out of a barbershop. I used to wear a boy cut when I first moved to DC. It was an easy way to care for my natural hair and it looked very nice on me. Well my boy Keno always cut me up and cut me up NICE! When he was done - when I would go to the club the men would flock around and ask if they could touch it, etc. Keno used to call me mink b/c my hair was so black it would look like mink when he was done.

Anywho - he opened up his own shop and eventhough it was further away from my home I would follow him. Well this one day I came in on time for my appointment. Keno was NO WHERE to be found. I asked his staff - they all acted as if they did not know where he was. I waited ONE HOUR and then I walked out and never returned! I went natural and went to barbershops b/c I did not have to wait around. I was so disappointed in him and could not believe he would treat me that way - a loyal customer who always tipped well. That was the day I decided to grow out my natural hair!

Now Keno is a mortgage broker and it seems his lackadaisical attitude is spilling over into that b/c I have heard complaints about his showing up for appointments late!

 

[CurleeDST]

My people my people! Stick with what you know and go where you and your money are welcomed! Glad you did not pay her that full amount. She was tripping with that $60 price tag! I never understand why they just do not post their prices up front to avoid confusion.

Oh yeah I forgot to answer the question...lol. I almost did. When I moved from Long Island to Manhattan and after a year of going to the Dominicans salons. I decided to support my brothers and sisters and go to a black salon for once and give them one last try. So I found this salon mentioned on a forum. I called them up and set my appointment for a relaxer. The lady told me it would cost $60 which was a little higher than normal but I said what the heck I'll try them anyway. So I get there Saturday and there was only one stylist and one customer and all the other hair booths were deserted. First red flag!!! I was there for almost a hour and a half waiting on this *****!! She wasn't even doing anything to the lady's hair, most of the time she was gossiping and messing with the CD player. Meanwhile I was in the waiting area on my blackberry searching for info on Maribelle's(sp?) Dominican Salon which I heard was a good salon too. I actually called them and tried to get directions but the lady couldn't speak english well.

Finally this slow arse ***** finished. She permed my hair and later gave me an aphogee protein treatment because she said my hair was damaged. My hair came out nice and I was just about to give her a good tip UNTIL she said........your total will be $120. I'm like $60 + $15 equals $75.

Then the ***** said I was misinformed and that the perms were $85 and the treatments are $35. In my head i'm like Aphogee only cost $15 from Wal-mart why the hell she acting like this some exclusive treatment. I told her I only had 80 bucks in my purse(even though I had more) and that it wasn't my fault that her receptionist gave me the wrong info. She then proceeded to curse out the receptionist and later agreed to take my cash. I walked outta there and said NEVER AGAIN!! Now i'm back to Dominicans and i'm loving it.

 

[shoegirl]

I walked out on a lady about a 2 months ago. I had an appointment at 12:00, and her 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 walked in and she hadn't even looked my way. I don't know why I took so long to walk out of there, but you better be belive I never looked back. She lost my business that day!

 

[krissyprissy]

I have walked out of a salon with soaking wet hair because I wanted them to use my beloved Silky Milk to set my hair and they insisted on putting that blue setting lotion in my hair. After, explaining to them that that the blue stuff makes my hair hard they told me that they dont use products that they are not familiar with. They offer to dilute it but I declined and paid only a portion of the price.The owner and stylist gave me funny looks because they could not believe that I got out of the chair and left. I went home and finished my hair.

 

[DarkVictory]

Never have, but I'm glad all you other ladies did!

I love how these places offer "what can we do for you" service AFTER the customer has walked out, cussed out, issued threats, called police, etc.

 

[A_Christian]

I have not...yet, lol, but I sure would if I had a good reason to. I don't blame you, if they were that rude who knows what they would have done to your hair in addition to the poor customer service.

 

[Jaegermany]

I would have felt as though they were content with their current client roster and didnt need my business and left just the same.

EVEN if you were late...she could have came over and said I see you are running a bit late I will get you in it will just take a few moments. PERIOD. Not after an hour and not with that tone. This is just not how you start off a new relationship...

 

[loved]

No, But I Wish I Had

I wish I had the courage to speak up and tell stylists that I don't need to sit w/ a conditioner in my hair for 2 hours because you've overbooked, or I just had a corrective relaxer 8 weeks ago, or I really did not like that your idea of a trim was to completely shave the right side of my head & cut all my hair off and though I've learned to live w/ this short haircut, you don't need to cut it again 6 weeks later.

In the grand scheme of things that can happen in one's life, it's not THAT important, but one of my biggest traumas has been when a stylist so overprocessed my hair that it just completely fell out and I had to start from new growth.

U can't get me w/n 10 feet of a salon now.

 

[1Specialk]

I would have walked out, also, which I have done before. I made an appointment for me and my mom for 8am, hoping that we will get in and get out, no. We sat there for an hour, then I started talking to the other patrons (5) to see who they were waiting on, same stylist. I told my mom lets go, I'm not waiting any longer. On our way out, I told the stylist that we were leaving and that I did not expect to wait this long with an appointment. She said, ok, in other words she could care less, she has 5 other patrons that doesn't mind being in a salon morning and evening long.

 

[jtsupanova]

No, you DIDN'T!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it though - see! This is how you get better service - by DEMANDING it.

I had to do something things were getting really rowdy in there. Like a fight was getting ready to break out. Worst thing about it was the braider that was doing my hair was pregnant. It was hard standing up to her but what she was doing was just wrong.

 

[CurleeDST]

WOW you go girl! That is what I am talking about! I know she understimated you!

I'm glad you walked out before she got her hands in your hair!

I threatened to walk out of a african braiding salon once because she was trying to hurry up and finish my hair by slapping some gigantic twist on top. I told her that I was not payin for that mess unless she fixed it she said no and then locked the door.The other customers were shocked! So I procceded to walk around the salon and ask the other customers if they thought the four giant twist she had slapped on the top of my head were worth paying for. They all replied no! At this time which was about 5min later another one of the customers hair was finished and she had some were important to go. She aked that the door be unlocked so that she could leave. The braider said "No not until I get my money ,nobody leaving till I get my money." This started a huge argument before I knew it everyone was just a cussing and screaming. But it was not just about my hair anymore but the shops over all lack of customer service. After about 20 minutes of being locked in the salon I called the police and told the I was being held hostage. When I got off the phone everybody was like 5mins later he police called back to confirm the address and I told them the issue had been resolved. The braider had pratically begged me to fix my hair for free!

 

[sareca]

I'm glad you walked out. I've walked out twice. Once because she was running late (about an hour)... I don't think so! Another time I was just there to set up an appointment and stood at the receptionist desk for 10 minutes. No one came but stylists to get clients and they ignored me. I finally asked one how do I make an appointment she said "I don't know where she's at!" I guess she didn't need any new clients.

 

[ShiShiPooPoo]

I had a horror story happen to me in the salon earlier today. I went to get a blowout at a dominican salon that I used to go to but stopped going to last year because of an incident that I had wrote about here last year. My usual salon was crazy crowded and I don't really mess with the other salons around here plus I didn't want to walk around to find someone else. I went in and told the lady I wanted a wash and set (dominican blowout) I had conditioner in my hair so she just rinsed it out and say me in the chair. As I am sitting there she is looking at my hair and tells the lady that my hair is too thick and nappy for her to work with and she doesn't know why I stopped relaxing. She is saying all of this in spanish and doesn't know I speak spanish. So I let her go on for a while after she tells every1 to look at my hair and that she can't do anything with it. Well I turned around and in spanish was like "is there a problem? If u don't want to do my hair u dont have to...there are about 10 salons on this block and the only reason I came here is because I didn't want to walk around and go to a new place" she started apologizing and told me that she would do it but she had made me so mad that I just told her nevermind and that water was free so I wasn't paying for her washing the conditioner out of my hair and walked out with my hair soaking wet with nothing in it. Plus on top of all this the salon that I left charges more for a wash and set than anyone else around me; she charges $22 w/ no dc or anything and charges extra for flat ironing after blowing it out. I walked down the street to another salon that did my hair better than she would have.

hee hee hee.

 

[ShiShiPooPoo]

This brings up a baaaaaad memory!

About 2 1/2 years ago I decided to try tree braids. I got a referral for a "woman" Tree Braids by Tega here in ATL (Jonesboro). She does them out of her house. Anyway, the first time she did them they looked good so I made my second appt. When I arrived she had a new girl assigned to do my hair. I try to stay open until I get a reason to doubt so I was like "ok". To make a long story short the girl had only been doing them for a month and was starting the braids way far back on my head. She had to start over and redo several times (red flag!) and even gave me a mirror so that I could inspect each one to tell her if she was doing it right! I get it done and am not satisfied but go on to work the next day. My coworkers were like. They are used to my hair being a certain way and were shocked when I showed up with these tree braids that were RAGGEDY! After MANY comments, I decided to politely call back and ask if Tega could redo them. On the phone she was very pleasant and told me I could come in that day. I was like, BET!
When I showed up she asked me what the problem was. I told her that they weren't tight enough and each was a different size, too far back on my head, etc. etc. She says that she doesn't see the problem. I was like? Then, she goes on to say that she will admit that they are a little loose. She then begins to rip the braids out. She says, "I'm not doing your whole head. I'm only going to do this one side." Sucking her teeth and rolling her neck. I said, "My whole head needs to be redone!" She then starts yelling at me, "Your the one who tried to intimidate my girl by asking for that mirror. You made her nervous." I said, "She GAVE me the mirror because she didn't know what she was doing. If she is THAT easily intimidated then she is in the wrong profession." So she says, "Do you just want your money back?" I said, "No, I want you to do my hair correctly." She then starts ripping again. I said, "Stop. Give me my money back" She says,"I'll give you half back but not all of it." I said, "That's fine you apparently need it more than I do" (which was NOT true, I just said it). At this point we are upstairs I say, "You know if you had done right by me I probably would have returned but...you know much of hair business is word of mouth right? I work with A LOT of black women who are always looking to get their hair done. Good luck finding clients after I'm done. Oh and God bless you." She then opened the door and slammed it behind me.

 

[CurleeDST]

Oh my goodness - I see you ladies have had some drama!

 

[mzcris]

Yes I have walked out of two different salons for the exact same reason...not acknowledging me & over booking themselves. One time I waited 50-minutes; the other was 30-minutes. Neither stylist came to me to let me know they apologize for running behind...so disrespectful! I don't miss going to the salon...I enjoy doing my own hair...