Should I accept this from the salon after they botched my color?

Question

I went to a hair salon to have my highlights touched up and darked a little. The hair stylist was very nice and I made small talk with her, etc. I was shocked when she finished blow drying my hair and I had black hair with awful red highlights! I should have said something then but I didn't want to seem like a b*tch. When I got home I realized how extremely bad it was and I called the salon to complain. They said that they would fix it for free but that I had to go back to the same girl. I think it will be very awkward for me to have to go back to the same person. Do I have a right to either request another person or get my money back? Am I overreacting? What would you do?

Answer 1

You certainly do have the right to ask for someone else to fix it, but I believe that the salon has the right to refuse that request. I would definitely ask, and let them know your concerns. But, in the end, they can make the girl who did it fix it.

Answer 2

Hey. Sorry about the bad do.
By the way, spell check doesn't touch long answers like this...so I pre-appologize! NOT a great speller!
Here are some reasons why they might be wanting you to have the same girl re-do your hair.
1. If it is a chair rental, the hairdresser is renting a space to run her own business. Each hairdressers "rent" goes to running the business and paying for the receptionist. In such a case, the person who did the hair has to fix it or give the customers money back (did you ask for it back?)..as this money went directly to them in the first place.

2. They are "handling" you. In otherwords the hairdresser either got word you called or suspected you were going to call and got to the manager first to make you sound like a psycho. By telling you that you have to go back to the same hairdresser they are hoping that you will call and just ask for your money back or not show and drop the subject altogether.

3. There may be a pay scale. In the event that the salon is not a rental there will be several hairdressers with several levels of expertise. If you called and asked for a lower level hairdresser they can't put you with a more experienced hairdresser to fix it without either charging you the difference in price or losing money because of having to pay the other hairdresser themselves. And, if there isn't another hairdresser in the salon at her level it is a good bet that could be the reason.

4.The other possible reason is that they will assign a mentor to her to tell her exactly what to do to fix your hair so that she doesn't do the same to someone else.

Unfortunately, none (except #1) is in the better interest of the customer. Even excuse #1 they could have offered you the option of having the same person do it over or getting your money back.
I would call and tell them you are not comfortable with having the same person do your hair as she obviously has difficulty communicating and understanding what you want. If they don't offer another solution tell them you would like your money back and that you will go to another salon and get it fixed and send them any additional bill for any difference in cost you might aquire.
See where that gets you.
If they tell you "no". Calmly tell them that you have no other choice than to report them to the better business bureau and to write a guest editorial for the press (say this like you do it all the time).
You will get your money back. Have them send it to you.

By the way, when they are trying to use the excuse that you were booked with a lower level stylist...ask them if that should mean poor quality worksmanship, because you don't think it should. Then add that you believe that if a person isn't properly trained in an area they shouldn't be allowed to perform that service until they prove they can.

Most high-end salons would love the challenge of fixing your hair...so don't be spooked. They can get you close to what you want.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Salon's have you go back to the same person, because if they had you go to some else, that person would not be getting paid & would lose a potential paying client while working on someone elses mess-up, so it wouldn't be fair to her. Maybe you & the stylist just had a communication problem - you both had a different picture in your head. I say go back to the same girl & give her one more try, & it should be free. Maybe they will throw in a free hair treatment or shampoo & condition (ask them) since your hair will be getting bleached &/or colored again which can dry it out.

Answer 4

I would tell them that you very much like their salon and want to remain a client, but have lost trust in this particular stylist and would feel very uncomfortable going back to her.

If they insist that they won't give you another stylist, ask to get your money back. If they refuse, ask to speak to the stylist who botched your colour personally. Tell her how badly you feel about complaining, but that you really are truly upset with the job she did, and see what she says. Maybe she'll offer to reimburse you herself.

Or, you could tell the salon that you'd be willing to have the same girl do your hair again, but you insist that someone senior be supervising her. At that point they'll probably just back down and give you someone else.

Remember you catch more bees with honey, though :)

Answer 5

Go there and ask to speak to the manager/owner. You do not have to have the same person, tell them you want your money back because you were completly unsatisfied. DO NOT LET THE SAME INEXPERIENCED GIRL DO IT AGAIN! Get your money and go to a salon that maybe one of your friends can recommend, and get a stylist recommended so that this does not happen again. ((Just so you know, you do not have to tip if you are not satisfied))

Answer 6

No you're not overreacting! It's your hair!!! I feel like if you went back to the same girl and explained to her exactly how you want it and you'll have no probs! I f you really don't want to go back to her tell the salon you'd prefer another stylist...it's your perogative.
Good Luck!!

Answer 7

I think you definetely have every right to ask for your money back. Call again, talk to the manager and explain how you feel about the situation. I'm sure she would rather make you happy than have you bad mouth the salon all over town.

Answer 8

I don't think your over-reacting at all - I would go back & speak to the manager. It's silly they would have the same person do your hair. If that is the only option - I would go to a new salon and beg for a discount!

Answer 9

as a hairdresser i would prefer a client to come back to me if they werent happy with their hair so i can apologise and fix it. kudos for ringing and letting them know so many ppl dont, they just never come back. how can a hairdresser improve if they don't know they are doing something wrong? most of all you need to feel comfortable in the salon if you dont think you can let her do your hair then ask for someone else or a refund but it could have been an honest mistake or miscommunication on behalf of the hairdresser.

Answer 10

Yes you do have that right. She screwed your hair once, why give her a second shot. You are the customer. If you paid with credit card or check, stop payment at once. Make it clear to the salon that you'll be more expensive if they don't fix it than if they do. There's all sorts of things you can do if you don't get satisfaction, small claims court, post a pic on the internet with their address and info as to what they did and why you're not satisfied; if you know someone with graphic software, make flyers and stick them on people's cars all around that salon. You can get a lot of fun out if it...if they don't make good. The trick is, don't get mad when you ask for your different stylist or refund. Just repeat what you want, and what you'll be satisfied with. And keep repeating it till you get it, or they outright refuse. Refusal, of course, triggers the rest of what I mentioned.