Synergy Salon — Local services in Matthews

"The owner gave me a full refund, but the pricing was unintuitive, there was a lack of transparency, and limited staff resulted in strain on existing stylists."

My friend was nervous about posting this themselves and requested I post this review on their behalf:

"I picked Synergy Salon as I had checked their rates online, prices varied based on the person cutting your hair (Associate, Senior, Master, and Owner) in the order of seniority of the stylist. The chart is somewhat unintuitive in the fact that each price in the chart is followed by an ambiguous plus sign (ex. $45+ for Long Hair Associate Hair Cut). Based on the guide, I expected my haircut to be anywhere from $35 - $70.

I booked my appointment one week prior. The morning of, I got a phone call saying they needed to shift my appointment due to staffing issues. At the new appointment time, I was escorted to the shampoo chair. The hairdresser sat me down and told me that my haircut would be $120. . . well beyond my expectations of a $35-$70 hair cut.

I referenced the pricing chart on their website. They claimed I would not be back in for another year, so they were going to give me “the best, complete haircut”. I had previously gone to Paul Beaune NY Salon on Colony Road (great place by the way) where they did the whole package for $70.

After some negotiation, we landed on a price of $80.00, but no blow drying and styling. This worried me as hair can be different when it is wet, but I decided to go ahead with this since I trusted the stylist’s word that this would be “the best haircut”. They never commented on the lack of blow drying and styling to be a concern for achieving the haircut I was looking for.

After a brief chat, I showed the stylist (who I later discovered was the owner) the haircut I wanted based on images of myself with the haircut I was looking for. This was nothing wild, I was looking for a short bob cut.

Once I sat down, the stylist pulled out a pair of hair clippers. This tool was used for about 90% of the haircut. Unconventional, but I decided to trust and let them do their work. At one point, the stylist was (with the clippers) going around the back and I felt a sharp pinch. They apologized quickly and continued cutting. After finishing, they informed me that if there was anything wrong to inform them by calling back so they could fix it. I went home to shower and dry my hair so I could see the result. While showering, the same spot on the back of my neck stung and I noticed that I was bleeding. The hairdresser never commented on it. I dried my hair and looked in the mirror: the haircut I received was NOTHING like I had requested. Everything was off, and I had a cut on the back of my neck.

Returning to the hair salon the hairdresser denied having caused the knick on my neck, claiming they did not see me bleeding during the service. Then they briskly ushered us out to come back another day because they were busy. Each time I entered the salon, there were two employees working, at most. I returned the next day and they wound up giving me a full refund; apologetic about the whole situation after being pretty terse the previous day. This could have been handled differently.

While I was hoping for the best, my experience with Synergy Salon was pretty disappointing. Even with a refund, my experience still happened. I understand many businesses like this have been struggling with staffing during the pandemic. Still, they could have been more transparent about their pricing and the consultation for the cut could have been more conscientious of the client's needs. The lack of blow drying and styling may have affected my haircut result, but I the salon owner never brought this up as a concern to me.

Newcomers, be cautious. Be clear about what you want, or you’ll end up like me: overpaying, spending time to get a refund, maybe a knick on your neck, and generally dissatisfied experience after being stuck with a haircut you...

I came in to get a simple cut and all over color. The cut is okay. It's a simple bob with shaggy bangs. I am extremely dissatisfied with the color and the way the owner treated me when I voiced my dissatisfaction. I'll get into the full story below, but simply put my experience at Synergy Salon was a disaster and only served to add to my anxiety and nervousness when going in to have my hair done.

I read the reviews on Google and other than the comments about the owner trying to push product on customers, most everyone agreed the owner's skill at color was on par and were satisfied with their results. I thought to myself "Well, I'm going to buy some product anyway, so it can't be that bad".

I booked an appointment with the owner and upon arrival we discussed the cut and color I wanted. I told her I regularly dye my hair and showed her my roots and amount of regrowth I had. I wanted an auburn red, and also told her that my natural hair picks up red very well, and that every time I have had my hair dyed in the past, the end color has turned out darker than what I wanted. She assured me that none of this was an issue and that she was competent.

We began by lightening my whole head and this is where I first began to worry. They processed my virgin roots for almost the same amount of time they spent on my darker dyed hair. After rinsing out the bleach, my hair was uneven with bleached roots and coppery places all over the rest of my head. They told me after the color was applied there wouldn't be any issue, so we continued.

When applying the color, they processed my roots for the same amount of time as the rest of my head. After rinsing the color, and drying and styling, I ended up with a horribly blended mess of different shades and bright red roots! When I told the owner I was unhappy with how my hair was, she told me it was the current style to have blotchy hair. I optimistically added that maybe we could add some highlights and lowlights all around to fix it and she told me it would be extra! She completely fudged up my hair!

I paid $318 for my services plus the $20 tip she didn't deserve for a horrible dye job I could have accomplished on my own at home using box dye.

The owner made elementary mistakes when processing my hair and when the results were obviously screwed up, she made no attempt to own up to it. Meanwhile I'm stuck with blotchy, poorly blended hair that needs to be fixed.

I highly recommend anyone reading this look elsewhere when...

Update- Quy refuses to give me money back. I’m going to take her to court. If you experience a bad situation as well please complain to the Board of Cosmetology online. The more complaints the better. I also reviewed her at the Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, yelp, and wherever I thought it benefit people. I am taking her to court, which is my last resort to recoup my funds. Lawyer says I have a good case. Again she posted my picture without permission on her website without asking.

Horrible experience. Quy put my picture online without my permission which is illegal!! Worst cut and color I have ever had. Quy ruined my hair and I am out $460 dollars. She quoted me $250 on phone then changed the price when she got me in the chair. Instead of foiling my hair- she did a lazy job doing a layer of bleach then a layer of brown and repeated until done. She dry cut my hair prior to the color and gave me horribly uneven layers. It looks awful even in a ponytail. When finished she told me to wear it curly til I came back in 3 weeks where she was planning on charging me $90 to fix my color! My bangs are terribly uneven. Below is the color and cut I asked for which she indicated I had plenty of hair to do and assured me she could do it. I have also attached the after picture. It is nothing like I paid her for! Do not waste your time money or let her near your hair! Awful business woman awful hairdresser awful human to rip people off! She has the nerve to have my picture on her website after I sent her an email asking for my money back! She never responded. If she doesn’t remove my picture I’m going to sue her! It will take a year to grow out this cut and their is no way to flat iron my hair with all the uneven layers.

Update- I finally got response- I won’t be calling Quy as I read on reviews she hangs up on people- I got an email full of excuses- as many reviews also read that is what she provides- I want my money back. Also the $10 credit card fee she charges. Sad to see she posted the same response to me as she does every bad review she receives.The only thing I want is my money back! Including credit card fee. I know no company that charges $10 to use a...