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My co worker, who's dread locs ARE BEAUTIFUL referred this shop to me & told me to ask for Michelle. My locs are in beginning stages. My regular stylist who has done my son's hair for years (& HIS ARE PHENOMENAL), who also started my process for the past few months, charges me 25 for a touch up & 75 for wash & touch up. I called Michelle yesterday & asked her if she had availability & told her the person who recommended her. Michelle off bat had a cocky attitude & she was soo busy. I asked her if she had availability on Saturday or Sunday (many stylists have shops open on the weekend & that's a valid question to ask).. Michelle responds with sarcasm in tone like it was absurd to be open on Weekends & she doesn't work weekends. At the end of conversation, she told me to come in later this evening as she will squeeze me in. I said ok & I already have your address & see you then. Her response was in sarcasm like "what, you coming to beat me up? talking about you have my address?". I guess that was her way of making a joke but her professionalism & tone was just sarcastic, arrogant & just not cool for a first impression.
I asked Michelle about the range that she charges for a touch up. My locs are in beginning/ forming phase & wash. She asked me how much my stylist charges. I told her & she said "That don't even sound right. Quit playing".. She thought I was pulling her leg & I've met other stylists that charge about & in the same range as my stylist does. Michelle then tells me she has to see my hair in person & evaluate. That didn't even sound professional as stylist will give you at least a range in what they charge. Red Flag
As I got off of work late & running behind, I was on my way to her & I called her out of courtesy to let her know I am in route & will be a few minutes late (10 minutes before my appointment time). Michelle tells me "To tell the truth, I forgot all about you". For a first time customer or ANY customer, THAT IS THE WRONG THING TO SAY. Someone is coming to you to pay you money for a service, you talk to them like they are an inconvenience to YOU?? I went against my better judgement.. When Michelle told me she had 2 other people coming in ahead of me and she wasn't even ready for me, I asked her if she wanted me to come at a later time, she said yeah and she was going to be there late. I told her I'd stop for gas and take my time, she said she was fine with that and please do, but not too much time. So I stopped for gas, grabbed a bite to eat and got there about an hour later.
When I arrived to the shop, she still had a few people there, doing hair. Her assistant opened the door for me and I introduced myself. Her assistant wasn't friendly. Michelle said no "hi, nice to finally meet you", no professional greeting of any sort. Her response was in disapproval that I took so long.. Yet our conversation an hour earlier was she wasn't ready for me yet and had 2 people ahead of me and was okay with me taking my time.. I asked, if not tonight, can you at least look at my hair and give me a price to set another time to come back if "it is" too late? I'm still being nice.. Michelle asked her assistant "Do you feel like doing her hair?". Her assistant turned & looked at me like I'm inconveniencing HER, paused & said "Yeah, Sure" with an attitude.. So my response between all of this, as I had enough of the attitude, "You know what, I'm not even feeling the energy here, disregard & you ladies have a good night" . I walked out.
IF Michelle & Her Assistant had been professional & a little more friendly, like most stylists are , what ever she was going to charge me for my hair, I was going to give up to 100% of tip on top of that as that's what I do, just to show appreciation. And what's even worse about this situation is that as someone took time to refer these people to this shop, and this was my first time interacting and looking to have their services, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE.. I'm sure they do great hair.. IT'S THEIR ATTITUDE AND LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM THAT SUCKS.