Got my hair highlighted and hate it

[Anonymous]

I have sandy, “bronde” blonde hair which has not been highlighted or anything since 2019 (I have gotten trims only). I tried to get back in to see my usual stylist (who is also the salon owner), but she is very in demand and I couldn’t get an appointment with her. I booked with her #2 who is also popular but slightly less in demand. My whole appointment was $400 which is almost twice what I paid pre-pandemic AT THE SAME SALON (although she moved into a bigger spot two years ago), which included color, cut and blowout/style.

I took some pictures I liked, and told her I really like my natural color but that it’s too flat, I wanted either a money piece and some light babylights or a balayage where I can still see a lot of my natural color. What I got is a very heavy light light light root-y bleach job and I barely recognize myself. My hair in the front is super light with barely visible darker strands. She toned before I left which helped some but I can barely catch a glimpse of my natural color. She also did some sort of tap easing/back combing when applying the foils which ended up being very painful to get out and probably damaging. I really liked her as a person, she spent nearly 5 hours on me (with the help of a mediocre assistant) and I feel terrible but I really do not like my finished look. I am a government senior leader and just wanted something that would look more interesting and grow out well without touchups every 8 weeks (which is what I said). I got an appointment for something at the beginning of December with my usual stylist (the owner) but is there anything I can do? I haven’t even done the tip yet because I am just so unhappy with it (I will tip I just haven’t decided how much…on...$400?!? Good grief.)

I know to a certain extent this is just a lot lighter than I am used to but every time I look in the mirror I see Claire Danes from Homeland.

How do I fix this? Was it my mistake? What do I tell them I want? Should they fix it/comp it, or is it on me? I feel like hair is so subjective, but I don’t look anything like the subtle highlight pictures I showed her.

Gonna be wearing a ponytail back to work in the meantime.

[Anonymous]

Sorry “tap easing” is teasing. She combed my hair back or up towards the root before applying foils which I guess was to make the roots blend better but was seriously painful to get out.

[Anonymous]

Call the owner and ask for a correction. It happens sometimes that the client doesn't like the color and they fix it for you.

[Anonymous]

They will fix it. You spent $400. They will fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call the owner and ask for a correction. It happens sometimes that the client doesn't like the color and they fix it for you.

Agree with this. However, call the owner immediately (to express that it wasn't what you wanted) but give it a couple days to a week before you actually get it fixed. I have light brown hair and I recently got highlights for the first time in a decade. On day 1 they were shockingly bright - I looked blonde - and by day 5 they had mellowed quite a bit to just dimension in brown hair. I don't think I just got used to them, I think they faded significantly.

If you still hate them AND the owner won't correct it, then at home you can use a shampoo that isn't color-protective, or a colored gloss or color-depositing conditioner to cover them.

[Anonymous]

Oftentimes the lighter color will fade in a couple of weeks.

[Anonymous]

How is your appointment over but you still haven't tipped? And the tip should be 20% of $400, so $80. Sorry, them's the breaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is your appointment over but you still haven't tipped? And the tip should be 20% of $400, so $80. Sorry, them's the breaks.

They do Venmo tips and I just didn’t do it yet. I also had three people (two assistants, one left) so having trouble figuring out how to break it up.

[Anonymous]

You seriously didn’t tip??? The time to do it was before you left at checkout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You seriously didn’t tip??? The time to do it was before you left at checkout.

I planned to do it, but I was being rushed out of the way with others waiting to pay so I snapped the Venmo. It hasn’t been several days or anything.

[Anonymous]

Tip her 80 bucks, then call back and talk to receptionist and tell her you’re unhappy with results. Ask stylist to put in some low lights and a darker toner. I would not make a big deal by getting owner involved unless original stylist balks at fixing. The teasing thing while coloring is common, but odd that after shampoo and conditioner it was painful to get combed out. Obviously new stylist for next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is your appointment over but you still haven't tipped? And the tip should be 20% of $400, so $80. Sorry, them's the breaks.

They do Venmo tips and I just didn’t do it yet. I also had three people (two assistants, one left) so having trouble figuring out how to break it up.

Tip the main person the $80, she should break it up with her assistants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Tip her 80 bucks, then call back and talk to receptionist and tell her you’re unhappy with results. Ask stylist to put in some low lights and a darker toner. I would not make a big deal by getting owner involved unless original stylist balks at fixing. The teasing thing while coloring is common, but odd that after shampoo and conditioner it was painful to get combed out. Obviously new stylist for next time.

Disagree. I would not go back to the same stylist who didn't listen the first time and with whose work you're unhappy. Since you usually see the owner, call and explain. They should fix it.

[Anonymous]

Just get a darker toner, and tone your own hair. Going darker is a no brainer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You seriously didn’t tip??? The time to do it was before you left at checkout.

I planned to do it, but I was being rushed out of the way with others waiting to pay so I snapped the Venmo. It hasn’t been several days or anything.

So
You’re saying the salon was open on Labor Day?