Drybar - Back Bay — Local services in Boston

I had my first Dry bar experience yesterday and I have to say it was a disappointment, in a big way. I should preface this story by stating that leading up to this Special event, my colleague and friend advised that we should get blow-outs (she loves them) for our Thursday night (last evening) concert and it would last for my then Friday evening graduation ceremony (tonight). So I thought, great idea- and she made the appointment for us a few weeks ago.... making sure to tell them for the appointment that I had tape in hair extensions..and. told them again two days ago when we confirmed our appointment.....so now let’s just back to yesterday afternoon’s appointment (Thursday, 12/20/18 @ 3pm to be exact) at the back bay location. As my friend and I checked in for our appointments, I watched her say to the front desk associate that I had tape in extensions (this is now for the third time). I waited, was offered champagne (awesome) and then was escorted down to the wash room and as I was sitting down into the chair and taking my hair down from my ponytail, I mentioned.... yet again.... I have tape in extensions and the hair attendant say yes yes, that’s fine with confidence.

So I lay back in the chair, my champagne arrives whilst the hair washing phase starts (awesome) and we are up and running..... the shampoo goes in... she definitely scrubbed reallllly hard and intense for someone that has tape in extensions, but I figured.... hey, this person is an expert.... that’s why I’m here. So I continue to enjoy the scalp massage and then BOOM..... it happens before I can even realize what’s going on .... after the shampoo was rinsed out.... conditioner..... is .applied.to.my.scalp..... extension wefts and all and heavy heavy heavy scrubbing commences.... and it’s at this point that I was scared..... I’m scared because TWO months ago when I had my tape in extensions placed for the first time, and everything I read about tape ins instructed me to first, carefully shampoo in a horizontal fashion inbetween the wefts and then NEVER EVER under ANY circumstances- EVER put conditioner on your actual head or wefts. Instead, you are supposed to only apply conditioner to the mid shaft and down because conditioner can loosen the bonds and this, causes slippage.

Well, here were are now.... fast forwarded to the blow drying phase.... and I’m not going to lie, I was nervous. I even texted my friend that was also getting a blow dry at the same time that they put conditioner on my head (I mentioned to her earlier in the week that was a no no... which is why she told Drybar about my extensions, numerous time) and that I was really nervous because it can break the bond of the glue but then made myself feel better by saying, Drybar (in Backbay of Boston, no less) are experts on this subject matter and they must know better than I... perhaps they had a full shampoo/conditioner line for extensions for all I know. 🤷‍♀️ Well, then it happened folks, two of my extensions popped out during the appointment.... and my girl popped them back in... but they kept falling out all night tonight and now the whole bottom right side of my hair is snarled in glue. In addition, ALL of my extension bonds are coming undone and I will have to remove all extensions tomorrow because I can feel the sticky glue and the wefts moving around.

I’m not looking for anything out of this other than for Drybar to hopefully better educate your employees. I spoke with my hairdresser who doesn’t my extensions and she advised that no hair professional would ever ever everrrr put conditioner on tape in extensions.... and not for nothing, but my extensions are REALLy expensive and have lasted for two months just fine until today. In addition, I now have to take them out myself tomorrow and clean the glue out of my hair before my graduation ceremony for my masters... what started off as a fun idea turned into a very expensive (for me) mistake and I HOPE PLEASE educate your staff on extensions, or don’t allow your services to those...

Hands down the worst drybar in the entire country (and yes I’ve been to most!) As someone who was a barfly member 4 years, I hate that I have to leave a negative review for a place I once loved. The customer service/management here is the worst I’ve ever dealt with. Spare yourself the headache and book a blowout at Mario Russo or Salon Capri which are nearby with far better service. Main takeaways of DB Backbay: you will be seen for your appointment an hour late, with the stylist you did not request.

The following stylists are great and very talented: IDeja, Carmen, Lashana, and Tati who are all exceptional stylists and deserve MUCH better management. While I think the concept of DB is great, and DB Back Bay has so much potential, they get in their own way by refusing to address the following:

When you enter this salon, there is a small, cramped, very tired wooden bench to sit while you wait. Nothing luxurious or comfortable about it especially when there’s 5 women smushed together. I understand it’s a small space in the back bay but the seating/waiting area is uncomfortable/painful. Is this a way to treat guests? Do better DB.

As the warmer weather has arrived, there is no functioning air conditioning throughout (just cheap fans throughout) or open doors making it feel as though you’re sitting in a sauna for the duration of your blowout. For $65+ per visit — I find this is unacceptable. This has also been an issue for as long as I’ve been a member (2+ years) so clearly something corporate/managment refuses to address. I’ve also seen various women complain as they check out and they continue to do nothing.

If you request a specific stylist do your hair, good luck to you. Being that they send people home early constantly now, it’s a gamble and while I can understand sending someone home early, DB should have the common courtesy to let the client know beforehand that they won’t be with who they anticipated. I had this happen to me just yesterday and was forced to see a stylist I did not prefer. I had no idea until I entered the salon as they didn’t notify me prior. I find this to be the most unprofessional behavior. No one apologized or comped anything, and it often times feel like management/the receptionist on call could care less. And while they claim everyone is trained the same, I just don’t find this to be true. As a regular, I have preferences and I should be able to see who I’d like to see. If that stylist is unavailable I should be notified, beforehand, not once I’m in the salon. It’s disrespectful to my time and puts me in a very uncomfortable position.

I left unhappy with very frizzy, unruly hair and my evening was ruined. While mistakes happen and Drybar Back Bay has been a big part of my life for the last 2 years, I continue to be let down and am reconsidering my membership. This service is a “luxury” and should be treated as such. From the discomfort of the seating/air conditioning to the non-professional behavior from management/receptionist to leaving unhappy with frizzy, ugly hair, a pleasant experience is no longer what comes to mind when I think of...

I have posted this review for Drybar Harvard Square, but I also wanted to post this for the BackBay location. I think the problem is not with a single location but the company in general and people need to know what they are getting into...

Also I wish I had read reviews of this place before booking any appointments, that would have saved me a lot of time and harassment.

Here is my review:

This is the WORST BUSINESS I have ever dealt with. I booked an appointment for my sister and myself on her wedding day at 10.00 AM. We reached there only to find that the Drybar Harvard square is closed. The appointment was scheduled a month in advance, and I called and confirmed the appointment twice - one week before the D-day and two days before the D-day. Both times they confirmed the appointment to the very minute details. And adding to this I received text confirmation and check-in confirmations for my appointment till the last minute. When I was waiting in my car and didn't get texted 5 minutes after check-in that's when I went to check the shop and found out it was closed.

When I found that Drybar Harvard Square location was closed, I immediately called customer care and the person on the other side didn't even know that the Harvard Square location was closed. . I asked him to find me an appointment in any other Drybar location asap. He found one spot in BackBay location and then proceeded to tell me that if I didn’t make it to that appointment on time then according to the no-show policy, I will be charged. Such an audacity!!! Eventually, I got only one spot which I gave it to my sister as she was the bride. I couldn’t find any other salon at such short notice otherwise I would not give these guys any of my money!!!

I just received an email from Kristine Robertson, Client Relations Supervisor that they canceled all the appointments and were trying to reach out to me to tell me that they are canceling this. Also that they offered $10 off and a free add-on service. What a LIAR!!!! I called a week in advance as well as 2 days in advance and they had confirmed my appointment both times. And I was receiving text messages till the last minute! I confirmed with my sister and she confirmed that yes a $10 discount was offered (there was some promotional going on at Backbay and that's why the discount, not because the salon was a no-show). No free services were offered, and the stylists in Back bay explicitly said that they cannot offer any service because they are a different location.

This caused so much mental trauma to me and my sister on her wedding day. Thanks to them I couldn’t get my hair done on my sister’s wedding. Stay away from these people! I have learned my lesson...