Bad Haircuts – No Recourse?

Had a bad haircut?

Ever had a really  bad haircut and wonder what you can do about it?  Well it happened to my youngest daughter today and many years ago it happened to me. 

I had made an appointment for my two daughters to get their hair cut today since school is back in two days.  Knowing it would be busy we booked a few days in advance, drove an hour into town and waited in line.  Each of my daughters had a pictures of what they wanted.   My oldest wanted a completely new look, going from long to short and had a photo with her to explain exactly what she wanted.  My youngest daughter simply wanted her ends trimmed.  She had her hair cut short over a year ago and had spent the last year growing it in.  She had a picture of the hairstyle she was hoping to have in about 6 months when her hair grew some more……in the meantime she only wanted a trim.

I checked in at the counter, told my daughters to wait their turn and said I was going across the mall hallway to browse the bookstore.  I would be back very soon.  They had about 10 minutes before the appointment started.  I arrived back within 15 minutes and my youngest daughter who only wanted the ends trimmed was already in the chair with a mound of hair on the floor around her.  The hairdresser had proceeded to short layer the entire back area of my daughters hair after I and my daughter specifically told her “Only the ends trimmed.”

I immediately told her to stop and asked her why she was cutting away layers in the back.  She said she had split ends and was trimming them.  I was horrified.  My daughter had spent months growing her hair all one length and could not see what the hairdresser was doing to the back of her hair.  I told her to stop immediately.  I then approached the counter and asked to speak to the manager.  “She’s not here today.”   I informed the girl behind the counter what had taken place , she glanced over and gave a look on her face that she agreed this was indeed not a trim.  I then said my other daughter was not to have her hair cut by this lady.  She informed me that there was no one else to do it as they were booked solid.  I then cancelled my oldest daughters appointment and informed them that there was no way I was paying for the half finished cut they had just done on my 11 year old.

I received no response when I asked the lady why she had done this and what she was thinking.   I received a business card with the managers name on it and was told to call tomorrow when she would be in.  After asking for their head office phone number twice, I was ignored.

I plan on calling the manager tomorrow and their head office, Chatters (used to be Headhunters).  What do I want from them?  I want this person let go.  Yes we all make mistakes on a daily basis, and I do understand we all don’t get the haircut we hope for sometimes.  This was different.  This was to be the ends of the hair trimmed, and very short layers were put throughout the back of the head, with the front left long.  It’s absolutely inexcusible that she went ahead and did this.

The problem lies with this type of business.  What can be done?  Usually not a lot.  They are allowed to get their hairdressing license and continue to cut hair even if they are not qualified to do so.  Maybe they’ve lost interest over the years, in a bad mood.  Who knows , but it’s amazing they can basically decide to cut it however they like and get away with it.

So tomorrow morning I will call and see what this manager has to say.  Depending on her response, I will call head office.  I will put in a complaint about this particular hairdresser, not the salon itself, as we have been there before and had good experiences.  I will file a complaint with the better business bureau if it comes to it.

Has this ever happened to you and if so what did you do about it?