Back in Seattle, I went to the beauty school for Gene Juarez — a relatively upscale salon. I know it was upscale because the salon’s prices made me blanch.
At the beauty school, however, I always got a great cut for under $10. Sure, the appointments lasted an extra 15-30 minutes; but that usually was spent waiting for the teacher to approve the plan and, later, the final product.
Apparently, that’s not the norm. At the beauty school here, my last cut took an hour and a half. It took awhile to get an instructor, though, so I thought it was a fluke.
Then, last week, I got my hair dyed red. In a normal salon, that would take about two and a half hours. Three at most. My appointment lasted five hours. And I didn’t get anything close to what I wanted.
Part of that is my fault, I always, always, always take a picture when I try something new. Except this time. And if you’ve ever tried to describe a bright red, but with subtle highlights… Well, you’d understand what I was up against.
Instead, they gave me a red over my ridiculously dark brown hair and did some foiling up top. Which, by the way, resulted in it looking like my natural color was a strawberry blonde and my roots were growing out.
Add to that an instructor who laughed at my near-hysteria toward the end — I was exhausted, frustrated, and literally anxiety-ridden to get home — and I was beyond pissed. Talk about bad customer service!
Did I mention the instructor didn’t apologize for laughing? When I explained that a) I have chronic fatigue and b) I never would have come if I’d known it would take this long, she just said it was a teaching school and they give their students “more time.”
When Tim found out the lady had laughed, he demanded to speak with the head instructor. She apologized and offered us a free color fix and haircut. (The girl hadn’t gotten that right either.)
I went back — this time, armed with some Adderall — and it turned out well. A very bright red, to be sure, but I like it. Though I keep startling myself when I look in the mirror.
That said, the process took nine and a half hours, total, and I still have to go back for my cut.
So, was it worth it?
Well, $50 is about half what a normal salon would charge — maybe even less. But there is the time consideration. Whether you have a crazily busy schedule or, like me, you’re easily exhausted, doubling the normal process is a big deal.
I love paying $8 for a haircut, but now I’m a little worried about whether some of the students know how to listen to the customer. I was really clear about the haircut — add in more layers throughout so the length doesn’t drag out the curl — but she just put in a few layers around the front.
What do you guys think? Even when you’re out of debt, is it worth two and a half hours to save $50? Especially on something that will need routine touch-ups?
Would you ever even go to a beauty school? Or have you, with bad results?
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Well, it definitely doesn't sound worth it when you get service like THAT! Of course, we never know what we're getting till we get it, but I wouldn't go back. Such a shame!
Until recently, I got my hair cut for less than $8 (plus a few bucks for a tip) at the same place my husband gets his hair cut. The guy does good work, but it's just simple stuff and no styling. And much of the time I trimmed my hair myself or had my husband do it. It was long without layers so it was pretty hard to mess up.
Recently, though, I did decide that I wanted a change and went to a salon for a pixie cut. Maybe the guy I normally saw could have done it, but I did want it styled, too, since I wanted to know what to do with the new hair do. Plus, I wanted a feminine and young look, so I wanted someone with a bit more expertise in that area. And, with a few events coming up, I couldn't afford a bad hair cut. It was $50 and well worth it.
Of course, now I have to get my hair trimmed more often and I want to continue seeing the same person since I know that she knows what I want. If our budget was tighter, I might shop around a bit more — and maybe I will at some point when I can stand to have a bad hair cut. I'm also figuring out what I can do to extend the hair cut by trimming my bangs or getting my husband to touch up the base of my neck. In the meantime, though, it seems worth the expense of getting a regular trim by a professional.
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My understanding is that beauty schools are really hit or miss, so it depends how much risk you want to take. The risk is why they're so much cheaper. Sometimes you can pay a higher amount (but lower than a professional salon) for a more advanced student, since it's *less* of a risk. Maybe you could try that?
I wouldn't go, but I know people who take their kids, especially boys, since they boys don't care what their haircuts look like so the moms think the savings balance the risk.
I did get an updo at a Hair Cuttery (when I was a bridesmaid and was required to have an updo) since it only cost $45 + tip vs. the $115 + tip for the hair stylist the bride had coming to her home. I figured there was no real risk to me since she wasn't do anything lasting like a cut or color.
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I used to go to Vidal Sassoon Beauty School for cut and color. Yes, it took a lot longer but I found the students to be very careful in giving me what I asked for. The instructors, however, were something else entirely. Do NOT let an instructor use you as a demo model for hair cutting techniques if you want to have any hair left! Yikes!
I had an even worse experience with a dental hygienist in training who needed my complete medical history (despite this being taken just weeks earlier) before cleaning my teeth. This despite telling her I was short on time and despite her being completely uneducated as to the area she was inquiring about. So glad I have dental insurance now….
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I wouldn't particularly blame the instructor for laughing. when you go to a beauty school, their main focus is on the students not you. If you have chronic fatigue, you are better off going to a salon, especially since you knew beforehand that delays are to be expected. Or if you can't spend the money, stay with your original hair color. If I were an instructor and I had a client's husband come and yell at me, I sure wouldn't have given a free color fix and haircut.
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Abigail Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Emma,
I think you have a point about the instructor being there for the student. But actually my point was that I had NO idea it would take as long as it did. They don't quote you a time when you make the appointment. As I said, I thought the last time was a fluke.
And I don't think it's EVER appropriate to laugh at someone who is near-hysterical and close to tears. Whether a random person on the street or a customer. Besides which, you'd think they would have some desire to keep customers happy so that their students have a steady base of appointments.
Finally, my husband didn't yell, and he definitely didn't yell at the instructor.
He went to the head instructor, the supervisor essentially. He spoke (no shouting) and explained how very, very inappropriate the whole situation was, not to mention disappointing in re: getting what I had wanted.
The head instructor agreed with him, apologized and offered us the free color fix and haircut. Most salons will do that, too, if you're dissatisfied with what you get. So, really, it was the professional thing to do. Though he did thank her for them.
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Meg Reply:
June 18th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
I agree with Abigail. It definitely was NOT appropriate to laugh at her. There is more to being a good stylist than just giving a good looking hair cut. One should also treat customers with respect. Apparently, that's something the teacher still hasn't learned. Such a shame! Hopefully the students will learn better.
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Abigail Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Emma,
I think you have a point about the instructor being there for the student. But actually my point was that I had NO idea it would take as long as it did. They don't quote you a time when you make the appointment. As I said, I thought the last time was a fluke.
And I don't think it's EVER appropriate to laugh at someone who is near-hysterical and close to tears. Whether a random person on the street or a customer. Besides which, you'd think they would have some desire to keep customers happy so that their students have a steady base of appointments.
Finally, my husband didn't yell, and he definitely didn't yell at the instructor.
He went to the head instructor, the supervisor essentially. He spoke (no shouting) and explained how very, very inappropriate the whole situation was, not to mention disappointing in re: getting what I had wanted.
The head instructor agreed with him, apologized and offered us the free color fix and haircut. Most salons will do that, too, if you're dissatisfied with what you get. So, really, it was the professional thing to do. Though he did thank her for them.
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Meg Reply:
June 18th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
I agree with Abigail. It definitely was NOT appropriate to laugh at her. There is more to being a good stylist than just giving a good looking hair cut. One should also treat customers with respect. Apparently, that's something the teacher still hasn't learned. Such a shame! Hopefully the students will learn better.
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Well sometimes getting a hair cut is the only piece of mind you may get all day so it's nice to have a relaxing experience and if paying a little more is part of that, than it's worth the whole she-bang. However, I know of friends who have had great experiences at beauty schools. My sister, however, went and came back with hair the colour of Ronald MacDonald. Not kidding. Emma @ Tightwad
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I am sorry, I somehow thought that your husband had yelled at the instructor. I must have read the post wrong.
I have a cousin who is a student at one the schools and she was always having customers yell for not having cut or styled their hair the way they wanted it. The reason you pay so much less is because you take the risk of having your hair cut the wrong way. There is no point in crying afterward at your hair, because you knew that coming in.
And yes, most salons do offer a free fixup if you don't like the end product, however that's for only full price paying customers. It's like walking into a yard sale and buying something that you know might not work and then complaining later that the thing you bought doesn't work.
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I don't think we have any of those schools close by. I would probably use it for trims in between haircuts (which I don't do right now because of the price), but would be nervous about anything big like color or a change in style. I just don't do anything fancy with my hair so I can get away with less frequent visits to the salon. No coloring. Basic bob that can still look good as it grows out for about half a year or so. I would have no problem using a beauty school for my needs. It would be really hard to mess my hair up too much, other than maybe going too short (which wouldn't be too horrible because it would grow back-just means I can wait longer before returning).
BTW – Emma, the reason you thought it said that Tim had yelled at the instructor is because of the way Abigail worded it – - – he "demanded" to speak to the head instructor. The word "demanded" kind of leads you to an assumption that yelling was involved. That got me too. I went back and reread it after Abigail replied to you to see why I thought the same thing! But anyway, good for Tim for speaking up about the problem and getting a good resolution.
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I am so blessed to have a friend to have gone thru beauty school and become a licensed hairstylist. I can't remember the last time I paid a salon to do my hair. I went a couple of times while she was in hair school, I was actually the first person who's hair she cut and it took like two hours!
Now she can do what I want in 10 minutes max.
But I didn't have her, it'd be the uncle who is a barber or an occasional visit to a low cost salon with at home box color. I am that cheap.
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Abigail Reply:
June 18th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Wow, you are lucky! I'm sure I'll eventually find a stylist I like. And also eventually be able to pony up the moolah for a color job without wincing.
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Abigail Reply:
June 18th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Wow, you are lucky! I'm sure I'll eventually find a stylist I like. And also eventually be able to pony up the moolah for a color job without wincing.
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I would never go to a student to get my hair cut even knowing that it will grow back if they mess it up. But I also don't go to high dollar salons either. My cut is very simple and anyone can cut it. I've never paid more than $12 (including tip) for a haircut. I color my own hair at home and I'm happy to say that I've never come out with a color that was a surprise. A simple style and home coloring keeps the cost way down. I'd rather spend my extra money having fun!
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Abigail Reply:
June 18th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Kimberley,
It sounds like you definitely have it figured out.
Unfortunately, my hair is so dark that I've actually had to argue with people that no, it's not black, it's just a deep brown. So if I want any kind of color that shows in more than the sunlight, I need to bleach it — and I'm definitely not doing THAT at home.
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Abigail Reply:
June 18th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Kimberley,
It sounds like you definitely have it figured out.
Unfortunately, my hair is so dark that I've actually had to argue with people that no, it's not black, it's just a deep brown. So if I want any kind of color that shows in more than the sunlight, I need to bleach it — and I'm definitely not doing THAT at home.
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Never again for me. They rushed my hair, i asked for highlights (should have known better) and 2 students worled on my hair. I have brown hair and wanted blonde highlights. when they were done, half my hair was blonde and half had blonde highlights. they had to match my natural color to a color and put it back in. I had to leave for 30 minutes for the students lunch and come back. i sat at the Burger King next door crying eating a burger. It was fixed but never again for me. You get what you pay for.
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