Skeleton worker studio, double bookings and failed root hair dye
A straight forward root tint that turned into a distressing experience. When I arrived last Tuesday Mehsa was still finishing a pedicure. She saw me entering and acted blasé from her seat inside the shop. No proper greetings, just inquiring when was my Treatwell appointment. There was no apology as she was not ready for my treatment, nor "I will be shortly with you" as professional people do. None of that. First thing that hits you is the SKELETON worker salon atmosphere and the frantic energy she radiates towards you. This place is severely understaffed compared to Cut and dye hair studio a few steps from her (four member of staff) same day and same time. 15 minutes later, after a rushed discussion about colour she disappeared to prepare the mixture. While I could hear her banging stuff at the back of the premises, a friend of hers turned up needing root dye too! I was concerned about the quality of service I am about to receive as she has now a double booking for the same service. She started applying the mixture on my head, rushing and without gusto. Feeling ill at ease, something told me to close my eyes, soon after I was surprised by a splodge of dye on my eyelid luckily my eye was shut. Again, no apology whatsoever. I was not offered a complimentary drink as I become aware of it later. However, she frantically rushed to do the other lady. Once finished, I was than offered a drink but there was no time to enjoy it! A few more minutes later and with lack of propriety I was summoned to the basin. She checked my scalp and suddenly suggested to use a toner to which I declined as I did not want to spend my money on unprofessional place like this. She has been unwelcoming, careless, allowing double bookings as she is the owner and in a rush to apply my dye; suddenly she has time to do an extra service! I was perplexed. The next minute, she went ahead applying some undisclosed product on my scalp while still at the basin. I was surprised and concerned because we are supposed to wash my hair at this point. The dye has been there for more than one hour. It is more than enough for the roots, not particularly thick hair. It is only natural to ask what was she applying. I actually had to ask her three times but chose to ignore me. In fact, she tried to save the failed colour using a product only known to herself. Upto this point, I was not made aware that there was a problem with her dye not working. My scalp started to burn and told her so. She lost it and got angry and very defensive, accusing me of not trusting her, of stressing her while starting to wash my hair. At this point I was very scared because I just could not make sense of her reaction or why all this is actually happening. I could not careless about my hair at this point as I was in a very compromised position. I was worried about my neck and head pressed against the rigid basin especially without being able to assess her next reaction.
She started to rough dry and I mean rough dry my hair. Followed by " I am not happy with colour, I am really not happy with the colour!" I was gobsmacked and in a total chock because not only her service was appalling but she impersonates and hijacks the psychology and the language of an unhappy customer. Hence, trying to kill it there and then. This dreadful, rehearsed attitude and behaviour is her to go solution to cover up and minimise her mega unprofessionalism as a hair stylist and her low emotional intelligence as a human being. What a performance!
She still has one more trick in her tool box. This appointment was booked with Treatwell website for the afternoon. The same afternoon, she promptly cancelled the my "already happened" appointment on their website to make it look as it has never happened and, importantly I, as a hard done by customer, has zero chance of sharing my horrendous experience once she cancels it from her end. Treatwell company sadly facilitates this practise for their business owners who are members. Treatwell company is an accomplice by never questioning, or challenging time unrealistic cancellations as logically an appointment that took place in the past cannot be cancelled in the future. Treatwell simply turns the blind eye and allow it to happen as it benefits both of them. Well, Shame on both of you