So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG--update at bottom!

Okay, so last night I went for a cut and highlights. I wanted my regular bob (a little shorter) and just a touch up and a FEW low lights since I was getting a little too blond and was losing my chunks of natural color.

Let me preface this by saying I ADORE my cut. It's the best I've had for a long time. But my color is another story. My hair guy and I have creative differences. I like edgy and funky color and he likes more natural. The past 2 times I've went he has out of the blue expressed that he didn't like my color choice. The first time I ignored him (and got a TON of compliments from people and loved it myself). This time I said fine, lets do a FEW low lights to get my chunks back and tone down the blond a SHADE. I told him, "You know what I want, so I'm trusting you". I made it explicit that I just wanted a few lowlights to counteract the blond.

Well, he put in way too many low lights and even ADMITTED that he put more than he knew what I wanted but just "had to get rid of that blond". I mean come on! It's my hair, right? Why would so many people say they LOVE my hair if it looked horrible? This is family and close friends that would tell me the truth or just wouldn't comment on it at all. I'm so mad. I feel betrayed. Now my hair is basically brown with a few blond pieces.

He offered if I hate it I can come back and have toner put in to boost the overall lightness and I may do this. Now here's the thing. The color is not bad at all. It looks nice, but it is NOT what I wanted. And I paid enough for it! So two questions:

1. should I go back and get the toner, just to make a point that I really hated what he did? I don't like my hair this dark, it's almost like my natural color with just a few highlights.

2. Should I drop him? I'm so mad but I love how he cuts my hair. It's just the color issue. But at the same time, I shouldn't have to fight with my hair guy to do what I want, right? And yet it's so hard to find a hair person. I'm so mad that I went to this guy for a year and this is happening now.

So what would you do in my position?

Message edited 10/17/2009 4:07:12 PM.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

Is he the owner or just a stylist?

IF he is just a stylist, I woould go right to the owner and tell him/her it's not what you wanted or paid for and you want it fixed.

I know my hair girl long enough to know that she is not going to do something that she thinks would look bad on me.

Maybe he thought it would look bad the way you described it?

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

Posted by saraH

Is he the owner or just a stylist?

IF he is just a stylist, I woould go right to the owner and tell him/her it's not what you wanted or paid for and you want it fixed.

I know my hair girl long enough to know that she is not going to do something that she thinks would look bad on me.

Maybe he thought it would look bad the way you described it?

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

If you really love how he cuts your hair, I would keep using him for that but find someone else to do color. Although I wouldn't want to go back to him at all. I know it's possible to get a little carried away with color but you specifically told him exactly what you wanted and he deliberately did something else.

I would have a discussion with the owner. They should know they have a rogue stylist - they will lose clients over things like this and it will also give them a chance to make it right for you.

Message edited 10/16/2009 9:19:30 AM.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

See the thing is, if I want it and I'm paying for it, he should give it to me. I don't think I can go back there because I'm so furious with him. I'm getting angrier and angrier every time I see my hair. I'm going tonight to get the toner and I wonder if they will do more highlights to make it lighter. I'm so unhappy with my color.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

They open at 10am. I'm calling then.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

i would go back, and be honest. tell him that his skills as a stylist are amazing, and you'd hate to leave him, but you need him to do what you want in terms of color or you're going to have to find someone else to do the highlighting.

if he has a problem with that, he's unprofessional, and it's time to get a new stylist for everything.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

Message edited 10/16/2009 9:54:26 AM.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

Posted by headoverheels

i would go back, and be honest. tell him that his skills as a stylist are amazing, and you'd hate to leave him, but you need him to do what you want in terms of color or you're going to have to find someone else to do the highlighting.

if he has a problem with that, he's unprofessional, and it's time to get a new stylist for everything.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

That was balsy of him and also VERY unprofessional. I would be furious too.

I would have it fixed and explain to him/owner that this is what you want. If he has an issue with that, you need to be told and you will find another stylist.

There is nothing wrong with him not loving your color but he has to make clear to you that he cannot do your hair because he does not like to work with something he does not believe in. Not doing it on his own when you SPECIFICALLY told him what to do and decided to it in a different way anyway. You DID NOT give him carte blanche for him to do what he thought would look best on you. So if he has an issue with it, he needs to tell you ahead of time or tell you that he cannot work with you. At least that would be honest.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

I would do this:

Speak to him and tell him this is not what you wanted. You will give him another chance but the next time you go he has to do the color for free and the way you want it.

Let him tell the salon that he is working for free..

If you love him and have been going to him for a while I would not "report" him. Let him make it right in his own way.

A similar thing happened to me and this is how I handled it.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

1. should I go back and get the toner, just to make a point that I really hated what he did? I don't like my hair this dark, it's almost like my natural color with just a few highlights.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

I wouldn't go back there.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

Tough call, but this is what I would do since you seem to have a relationship with him....

Tell him....... Look I love the way you cut my hair and trust you to do it right, but I think we're not seeing eye to eye on my color choices. I understand you went to school for this and I know your intentions are good, but I also know what I want. I need you to fix this for me, and if this happens again then I will go somewhere else. I don't want to, but you deliberatly did something I didn't want and that bothers me. I trust you and you let me down.

Then go from there.

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

If you love him and he's a good colorist (which is extremely hard to find) I'd go in there and just flat out tell him he does a gorgeous job on your hair, but it's not about what HE wants, it's YOUR head, YOU are paying him for a service, and he needs to do what YOU want him to do - If for some reason he just can't bring himself to do what you're asking b/c he thinks it's awful - He needs to TELL you that so YOU can make the call, not decide for himself that he's just going to do what he thinks is best ......

No stylist wants to lose a good, loyal client

My sister has clients that she when they insist on something SHE personally thinks is awful, she'll tell them "I don't think that's the best thing for you" She'll explain why, whatever the reason, but when it comes down to it - She does whatever they want -

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG

UPDATE:

I went back Friday night and he put in more highlights, a golden blond. So now my hair is lighter, with an overall look of dark blond/light brown. Before I was a golden blond with a few pieces of my natural brown in chunks. This is a more natural look, and darker than my previous look, but I still like it a LOT better than what he did originally.

Since I'm moving to NY after I graduate (hopefully in a few months), I really should only go to him one more time or so before moving. And since I really do like him, I will go to him to ensure I get a good cut for all my interviews that I'll be going on eventually. So it all worked out and I think he knows now to just do what I want so there aren't any problems.

Thanks for the advice!

Re: So pizzed at my hair guy. What would you do? LONG--update at bottom!

I am glad he fixed it and that you like it better!