Paul Mitchell The School Sherman Oaks — Attraction in Los Angeles

I spent $164, 7+ hours for Paul Mitchell School to destroy my daughter’s hair

My daughter and I had appointments scheduled at the Paul Mitchell School Sherman Oaks on July 5. We arrived shortly before 10:00 a.m. I was assigned a student shortly after 10:00 and my daughter was assigned a student before 10:30 a.m.

My daughter had a photo with a rough idea of how she wanted her hair done, which would require a lightening process. The instructor indicated this look would require foil highlights. My daughter’s student stylist (initial M.; I will not name her) began applying foil highlights around 11:00 a.m. M told the instructor she needed help applying the highlights; M briefly had another student assisting. M repeatedly asked for help and those requests went unanswered. There were 3-4 instructors on the floor that day. Shortly after 4:00 p.m., M was STILL applying foil highlights when a more experienced student walked by and told M to immediately stop and remove the highlights she had begun applying roughly FIVE hours earlier. Several other students gathered around–some began helping remove the foils (others looked on in horror). The instructor went to mix color. Once the foils were removed, three people (including the instructor) began quickly slapping color on her hair. I was told to go pay for my daughter’s unfinished services because the school was closing (it was 5:00 p.m.). I was charged $164 and they destroyed her hair.

Some of those early foils had completely stripped out color and fried her hair–my daughter looked like she had ramen noodles coming out of her head. After the color set for a short time, she was rushed to the shampoo bowl for a quick shampoo but her hair was not adequately conditioned. The instructor and the student were combing my daughter’s hair and ripping it out. I asked them to use a detangler, so the instructor went and got a spray detangler. They handed my daughter a brush so she could help comb out the knots. Her hair was a discolored (tiger stripes), tangled, wet mess when left at nearly 6:00 p.m. The instructor asked her to come back the next morning so they could fix her hair color and cut her hair. I did not want my daughter going back to the people who left her sit with processor in her hair for five hours.

We were there the entire day; we arrived right when the school opened. We watched more than a dozen people come and go, receiving services (including foils like my daughter) all day long. There were plenty of students who could have assisted when M asked for help–many were working on their doll heads or simply socializing.

To add insult to injury, I had to pay $27, the maximum parking rate, for the Galleria’s garage parking. The Paul Mitchell School only validates for four hours because it is reasonable to expect that no one will be there from opening until nearly an hour after closing.

My daughter is booking an appointment with a stylist who can give her an estimate in dollars and time that it will take to repair the damage caused by Paul Mitchell School’s negligence. Her hair grows slow; it will be at least 18 months for the damaged hair to grow out and she will need 3-4 inches cut off now. I suspect I will be paying between $300-$500 for multiple treatments to repair the damage the Paul Mitchell School caused because the instructors did not supervise the student, ignored her request for help and somehow did not realize they had a client sitting in a chair will foils in her head all day long. Many reviews here note that students are not adequately supervised. I have encouraged my daughter to file a complaint with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. This institution not only failed my daughter, it failed...

I came to the school last Tuesday to get a full head of highlights. I showed the instructor and the student a photo of what my hair has looked like previously. I typically go to schools as I enjoy the meticulous work ethic of students coupled with being guided by a professional. The student working on my hair was very sweet and I know she was doing a great job when it came to highlighting. I do have the care, so it did take a while, which I usually expect however, when it was time to put the toner in, the instructor left as her day was over and I believe this is when the mishap happened. I think the toner that was used was darker than what it was supposed to be which made my hair, even darker than what it was when I came in. I got there at one and paid around 7:45. I know the student was tired so I told her to just dry it enough so I could see and I didn’t mention anything right away I was going to go home and dry it more and style it. I called the next day explaining what happened, and they offered me to come in to get it re toned, which they said would be comped. I questioned this though, because I thought it would probably need more bleach, considering I wanted to go lighter. Also note I was on hold for 40 minutes. Today when I went in there must’ve been a lack of communication as to why I was there because nobody seemed to have known that I was getting a service comp and that I was getting retoned and a deep conditioning treatment but I was patient and no big deal. Just a sidenote. As kind of expected, my hair ended up, not getting any brighter. I was grateful to have received a comped service. However, I asked if I could speak with the manager to see if I could at least get a partial reimbursement for the prior service because my hair literally still looked the same as when I came before. The manager got defensive and said my hair just wasn’t lifting to the lightness that it needed to be and that it needs highlights. This was confusing to me because I initially asked if I should just wait and get highlights again but they told me to come in so I did and since I was in I wanted to get the toner removed or at least do some thing as I don’t live close. I feel my stern, but still respectful and the manager kept saying things like “ we can’t go back in time you’re not getting a refund” not once. Did he a. apologize for the inconvenience, b. Apologize that my hair didn’t turn out the way I expected it to or really had no regard for my time. He ended up giving me a partial refund, but also said I was not allowed to come back. my first thought was that his ego just couldn’t grasp that I was getting a partial refund so he just wanted to hold something over me. So rude so disappointing. See my before and after and...

It was my first time going and the najority of comments were good, but there was stuff left out.

So I made my appt and they said they ⁰were on Ventura and Sepulvada. What they. didnt say is that they are in the mall. They did say they had a parking lot and they validate up to 4 hrs. After parking can be as high as $27.

So. I get there, and the staff is friendly. I check in . I then am greated by a sweet girl approach me, shes going to do my hair.

We talk about what shell do, and cost. She didnt have an understanding of the cost. It was a little sneeky.

What was confusiing is that their pricing is unpredictible and the cost is based on how many biwls of product are required, and the customer cant control the cost

I have shoulder length hair, and I though the overall price for color was way too high. This is a school, not a high end shop with major experienced talent.

The experience with my stylist and her teacher was great. As an educator, II asked my stylist about her experience at the school. In all the years that I have endorsed the schools I never had such a reaction. She was plus, minus. What is the minus? The administration was her reply. Its all about the school.

OK! But I was enjoying my experience so far. We got through the color and this girl was enjoying the work. Then came the cut. I only needed a trim. Suddenly, I learned that faculty had been leaving the school because of the tensions with the administration. It was now apparrent that the qualiity of work students gave were tainted by this decention of the administration. My hair cut was over, and my hair was to be checked after the cut bur wasnt. It had now been over 4 hours and parking????

Ii finished up and was taken to the front . Now I saw and felt it. The front staff spoke fast. They were rude. Can I get extra time on parking.NO! was the. Answer,, use the pay statuon outside the door. The total was about $15 more than expected.. Id like to leave a tip and then there was abrupt mumble.

My color was good. The haircut OK ... it wasnt "A" lined, but it would grow.

Parking?? $12. for a fraction of an hour. My nails still needed to be done.

When I got home, I ealizzed that a. sectiion of my hair had not been cut straight, and straaight hair needs attention. I had to get a friend to take off the danhling 3/4 inch that should. have been seen.

I had a great time with they stylist and her teacher. I wish they had a ciffee vending. machine .... but the abruptness/rudeness of the front desk was a killer for me, not to mention that I felt. 1. Its overpriced, and 2. Parking cost.

I dont know if Ill go back. For the same money Ii can get someone closer without ...