I WAS regularly going to Salon Ave for about 9 years. I had always gone to the female owner of the salon for all of my hair needs about every 8-12 weeks. While she usually did a really good job with my hair, there were times when the cut/style did not turn out at all how I wanted, (even when a picture was shown to her). Each time that I did not like my cut/style, I would tell her. Unfortunately, each and every time, the owner got defensive, did not offer to waive the cutting fee, nor did she offer to redo my hair at no charge. She didn't even offer a simple apology. At the end of the appointments, the owner suddenly became a used car saleswoman, pushing her products! \r
\r
On several occasions, for various reasons, I called the salon to speak with the owner, it would be at least 3 days minimum until she decided that she would grace me with a phone call after many more attempts on my part to get her to call me. I would always ask if she was in, and I was always told that she was. \r
\r
During these 9 years, I have referred several people to her. Never once did she thank me or offer to give me a discount on my next appointment with her, (customer referral discount cards were not around that I new of when I made the referrals). Furthermore, she would occasionally raise her rates. This would have been totally fine with me had she sent me out a notice about this in advance, (especially being a regular customer for so long). I never found out that she raised her rates until it was time to pay. I still kept going to her because these things were slowly happening over time, I had been going to her for so long, and she usually did a good job with my hair.\r
\r
The last time I spoke with the Salon Ave owner was when I came in for an appointment and she told me that she was going to start charging $60 just for a haircut soon, (this info. only came up because of a conversation that I started. Otherwise I wouldn't have know until it was too late once again). I thought this price was outrageous for 2 reasons: First, while she was good, as I stated above, there were times when she couldn't give me the look I wanted, so she wasn't great and certainly not worth $60 for a haircut. Second, I have a family to help support and there are so many people in this world whose family can only afford to have one small bag of rice for their family to eat for the whole day. I couldn't morally justify spending $60 for a haircut. When I explained the latter reason to her, she seemed irritated and introduced me to a newer hairstylist. Each time I went in after that, never once did she speak to or even look at me although I was still continuing to support her business by going to her salon. Additionally, when she was working on my hair, that never stopped her from having lengthly conversations with almost everyone in the salon - not a wonderful business practice. \r
\r
After that final treatment, I had it. I saw no reason to continue driving out of my way and spending money at her salon. I honestly don't even think that she remembered how long I had been a client of hers based on other conversations that we have had in the past.\r
\r
Therefore, if you don't mind a hairstylist who is welcoming and friendly to you just so long as you continue to directly give her money and buy her products, but the minute you stop, you become the scum off the bottom of her shoe, then by all means, Salon Ave is the perfect salon for you. Otherwise, hair salons are a dime a dozen. There are plenty of hairstylists who genuinely care about their clients.\r
more