The Grove Salon — Attraction in Vancouver

This is my third time at The Grove Salon Vancouver. Whilst I have been happy with the hair cut and hair highlights I have received so far, delighted that The Grove is a seller of Kevin Murphy hair products, and worth the drive from the Westside to seek these salon services - I've given a below-average rating because I cannot accept when a salon charges for a bang (fringe) trim between booked hair appointments, by regular customers.

When you are a loyal and and full-price paying customer (no coupons, deals, no first-timer/new client benefits) I cannot accept paying $26 such a service like a bang trim. It is utterly customer-gouging and advantage-taking, for what, being loyal? For the glass of water in a paper cup, I was offered when I arrived to the salon? For getting to breath the lovely, East Vancouver air? The business owners should really re-think an exorbitant charge like this for regular customers going forward because you are going to lose customers as a result of something that should be just part of a regular haircut. Until moving back to Canada, I never have had to pay for a bang trim before, so I am very interested to know where this charge started to come into regular salon services and at such a cost. I can understand and accept if someone off the street walks in and "just needs a bang trim" with no notice, no loyalty, etc, but for someone who had used the salon on several occasions this was a rather shocking moment when asked to pay for something that doesn't even take five minutes to address. Hopefully this can be made more transparent to future customers, as in posting a sign somewhere - or even as a notice when booking a haircut "when we cut your hair, you don't get a bang trim between appointments without paying 20% the cost of your haircut...even though we don't cut 20% of your hair when you book this service." It's like punishing someone who...

My first impression of this place was really nice, it was bright and clean and minimalist feel, which I enjoyed and the offering of a little snack and drink was lovely. My haircut was booked in with Yalda, and the haircut was simple but nice and the precision she had with it seemed Greta. She did take her time to ask questions beforehand and confirm length to make sure we're on the same page and she was very nice and accurate. However my 3 stars especially comes in - as I did mention my hair was thinning in the consult, and something that I wanted advice/help with. During my cut, out of nowhere she very abruptly asked me if, I'm having hair loss and she could tell and even showed...that definitely took me by surprise and I left feeling self conscious leaving the salon. I know her intention wasn't bad, but there wasn't much she said to uplift me afterwards except how my haircut now hides my forehead a bit too, which again I had no problem with my forehead at all. I also asked for recommendations for hair thinning and it seemed I was a bit rushed out and didn't properly get any advice how how to treat or style my hair with these issues...Overall for the cost I didn't feel it was worth it for the basic service given. My hair isn't amazingly better...

I was donating my hair and went to see Emily to cut to the right length for donation and give me a good style with much shorter hair. In general, everything was fine: hair was cut to the right length and the new style is great. However, when I came home, my partner saw that one side of the back of neck was not cut (see photo). So that means I was walking around with short hair and a number of very long hairs on my neck as well as a very obviously lopsided look from behind. Not great attention to detail! I called the salon the next day to get this resolved, and the person who answered the phone said she would pass on the message ASAP as Emily wasn’t due in for a few days. It’s been almost a week, and nobody has contacted me to take care of this situation, which is deeply disappointing. Can’t say that I would recommend this salon as this was not a very good experience.

EDIT: After I posted my review, I was contacted by Bridgette who apologized and arranged for Marcy to fix my hair the same day. I was in and out in a few minutes, and the haircut looks good. Bridgette asked me to edit this post so I have added...