[salon]718 Prospect Heights — Attraction in New York

So disappointing & not welcoming of textured hair as advertised.

I was looking for a salon in my neighborhood to become a regular at. I saw that salon 718 touted itself as being inclusive of all hair types, carried Mizani products and even had Mizani certified stylists. I decided to give it a try. For context, I am half Black and my hair is a good representation of that. I came here a total of 4 times and took appointments with 3 different hairstylists. The first 2 appointments were with Stephanie and Kateryna. Stephanie did a good job blowing out my hair and I was also happy with Kateryna (at first), who seemed to take the necessary time to take care of my hair.

My 3rd appointment was a last minute one and I got scheduled with Alyssa. She made multiple comments about my hair texture, which included: complaints that my hair was impossible to detangle, told me to stop using my current products like Olaplex and Ouidad (which I am very knowledgeable of -- I am a beauty journalist), did not use any detangling spray as I recommended, told me I need to put a special note when making an appointment because I have "too much hair". It was abundantly clear that Alyssa had no training and experience taking care of textured hair.

This appointment left me feeling very uncomfortable and I decided to go back to Kateryna. Unfortunately, the tone was completely different this time around. I booked my usual blowout and a Mizani treatment which had been very kindly recommended by one of the assistants prior.

When I arrived, I was told that the Mizani treatment wasn't available. I was disappointed but decided to trust the stylist's judgment to go with another option. I also noted that I usually get a treatment once a month and usually sit 15 minutes under the dryer (instead of way longer like most people with textured hair). I stayed under for 5 minutes tops. Again, I decided to trust her judgment as I am not familiar with the product. She proceeded to blowout my hair and I am very unhappy with the result. The ends aren't curled like last time and it overall looks frizzy. I immediately put it up in a bun as I walked out. If only it stopped there. Kateryna ended the appointment saying that I needed to be charged more for detangling on top of the extra fee for long hair that I am used to. I shared that this is something I've never been charged extra for (I usually go to a Black or Dominican salon) and that detangling is a part of the process for anyone with textured hair. She insisted and said I would be charged more next time I book. She did not say goodbye and left me with my wet towel, robe and frizzy hair in the chair. I was shocked by her attitude and bias towards me.

It is important for me to share these experiences to inform other people of color, in particular Black or mixed people, what to expect as they may be considering this salon. I was shown on multiple occasions that my hair type was not welcomed here and that the stylists I've booked with do not know how to take care of all hair types as the salon advertises itself. I am extremely disappointed and hurt by these experiences. I highly suggest the salon stops touting itself as being inclusive when it clearly isn't. This experience makes me happy that NY state recently passed a law requiring all hair schools to teach students about textured hair. Hopefully the next generation won't have to deal with these types of interactions and micro aggressions in a setting that is supposed to...

UPDATE 6/7: The salon kindly offered an adjustment cut appointment with Faith, who was so lovely and patient with my needs and questions. I've revised my star rating from 3 to 5. Thank you!

OLD REVIEW:

This was my first time at any [salon]718 location, and I have to admit I left feeling a tad disappointed. I understand this might be an outlier and I’d definitely like to give [salon]718 another try some time. But this was my honest experience. Apologies for the long review ahead.

Some pros to start off:

Great shampooing experience. Relaxing, attentive, & products smell nice. Friendly front desk and general staff. I was definitely happy that I got a non-chatty haircut experience, as I tend to get anxious in the salon chair.

Main review ahead…

When I came in for my appt, I found out that the stylist I’d booked specifically had called out and that I was appointed a sub… and I only found this out because someone who definitely isn’t Faith approached me at the salon chair and introduced themself as my stylist. I totally understand last minute call-outs happen. But as I’d booked Faith specifically after reading great reviews of her for curly/wavy hair and hair loss, I would have much preferred to learn of this as soon as it had happened, before my appointment. Instead of being put in a slightly awkward situation, where I was asked if I was fine with this or if I wanted to reschedule with Faith… as I already sat in the salon chair.

I won’t be naming my stylist, as I don’t want to call them out. But I was looking forward to this and scheduled around it, so I decided to keep my appt - and unfortunately, the haircut experience didn’t quite make up for the initial scheduling hiccup. I started the appt explaining I’d like a style that accentuates my natural hair texture. All they kept telling me was to use curling cream, which I’d told them I do. Fast forward to the end, my hair had had all its texture blown out, with absolutely no texture except loose blowout curls at the ends. I have nothing against silky blowout hair generally, but as I’d asked specifically for natural texture, I was a bit confused.

As for the process of the cut – they asked if I wanted to keep some length, and I said yes, as I’d rather be safe than sorry and see how I feel a bit later once I saw the length before potentially cutting a bit more. I did expect to be asked if I was happy w the length before the drying process… but I wasn’t, and as I mentioned, I get anxious in the chair and couldn’t find the right moment to say I wanted a bit more cut off. That’s definitely partially my bad; but in the past, I’ve always been asked. TLDR, I was expecting more of a longer lob, but the cut ended up closer to my starting length.

Then for the drying process – the most uncomfortable blow-dry experience I’ve had. Way too hot! I was uncomfortable throughout, but viscerally reacted twice with an involuntary wince, which the stylist noticed and apologized for both times. But the heat level wasn’t actually addressed until my second wince. Has never happened to me in previous blow-dry experiences… but maybe I’ve just been lucky?

Again, I have no doubt this is an outlier review. Looking forward to getting Faith’s...

In 2022 this salon ruined my hair and refused to return my $389.79. I came in for a cut, color, and styling.

I explicitly stated what I wanted, showed pictures, and asked the stylist if she was sure she didn’t want to split the appointment up across 2 days since I walked in late in the afternoon. She said no, confidently. She dyed only one side of my hair purple! I was trying to cover some older blonde on BOTH SIDES. Plus she missed spots on the purple side. Whole spots of hair just blonde!! She didn’t finish my haircut, so I left with not even half a cut, and no style. She then asked if I could schedule to come back so she could finish!!! I went home and cried! I’d never left a salon in such a state. EVER!

I tried to get a refund and they asked me to come back in to finish the cut and fix any mistakes. They knew she messed up! I came in and the stylist confronted me about “calling in and saying I didn’t like my hair”. I explained to her my disappointment with how she chose to color my hair and that she intentionally only highlighted half of my head saying “she thought it would look better” when I asked her to do both sides to refresh/cover up older color! After this convo she starts doing my hair! I’m a little nervous because they told me this wouldn’t be confrontational and was totally normal, but she’s obviously upset. She offers me a “free deep condition” and I accept. I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t know what she put in my hair but it smelled too strong simply for deep conditioning. She then left me under the dryer too long while she worked on another client, and when we finally got to my cut and style she FRIED MY HAIR! Not mention, I paid for this appointment too. They didn’t tell me I’d have to pay again until the end. I’m very non-confrontational and just paid it. I didn’t realize my hair was fried until I went to wash it that weekend. Couldn’t get the chemically burnt smell out for MONTHS! I HAVE NATURAL AFRO TEXTURED CURLY HAIR. I saw my family for the holidays and my hair was so damaged my mother asked if I’d gotten a TEXTURIZER! My curls were almost straight in some parts. I called back on 2 occasions trying to get a refund to no avail. But I’ve sat on this for two years because it took almost two years to grow out whatever it was she did to my hair! I’ve never felt so sad to do my hair and gone through so much grief trying to live with it until it all grew out. Absolutely hate this place.

I’ve left a salon with not quite what I wanted plenty of times— I’m not too picky and as long as it’s interesting I’m happy. I’ll chop my hair into a bob in a second, the only thing I haven’t done is shave it completely. I’ve fried and dyed my hair and never shed a tear. BUT this salon had me crying about my hair every time I went to comb it for a year! It was irredeemable. And it doesn’t matter how bad they mess up...