Hair Rules Studio — Local services in New York

This was my second time visiting the salon, the first was last year around the same time as this. My apportionment time was at 3pm so I arrived early - maybe around 2:45/2:50 pm because I don't like being late for appointments. When I walked in the assistant had me sit on the couch - at this point, he is doing one woman's hair and there is another waiting (First red flag). Around 3pm (when my appointment was supposed to begin) the assistant told me to go and wash my hands and when I returned to the couch there was another woman who was also waiting - she immediately went and washed her hands and was seated in a chair (second red flag). The woman who arrived after me, but was seated before, was then taken to have her hair washed. I was not put into a booth chair until about 3:15pm and around 3:25pm I was then taken to have my hair washed by the assistant (third red flag). When I returned to my seat the assistant then was the one who blow-dried my hair (I know this can be normal at some salons but I have never had this happen at my normal salon - I am originally from DC but in NY for school - and the first time I came to Hair Rules last year). Additionally, when blow drying my hair the assistant commented on my heat damage - I always wear my hair straight because for ME it is the easiest to maintain due to my busy schedule and the frequency in which I workout - when I explained to her the reason why she understood and dropped the conversation.

At 3:48pm I was FINALLY seated in Dickey's chair, by this point I am very annoyed because I have been waiting so long and I would assume for such a "professional hair stylist" he wouldn't triple book himself. When he starts flat ironing my hair he made two comments about my heat damage and when I explained to him the reason why he then made another comment - which was unnecessary and rude at that point. He then asked when is the last time I got my hair cut. I told him the last time I got a haircut was over the summer and a trim in December he made the most disgusted face in the mirror as if my ends are just horrible - and if that was the case then perhaps as a hair stylist he would tell me that he is going to trim it and just charge me ESPECIALLY since his whole brand is focused on his notion of healthy hair. When he was finally done with my hair it looked nice - but like I could have done it myself. When I booked my appointment the price stated online was $125 - and since it is cash only (for whatever reason since he accepts cards for his hair products) I had $145, because I initially planned on tipping before. When I went to pay with the assistant she told me it was $150 and when I told her it was only listed as $125 online she went online and saw that it is listed as $125 she could not explain where the additional cost was coming from. I had to use the ATM in the salon to take out $20, because I was overgoing back in forth with the woman - paid the $150 and left. I will never be returning again, which is unfortunate because I was truly happy with how my hair looked last year when I went but in hindsight, I was only happy because it had the highlights and the haircut that my real stylist gave me a few months before...

Edit: I've just washed my hair again after visiting this salon 5 days ago, and I'm seeing that about 4" of my hair was cut off!! I did not ask for a stylized cut, and I was not asked if I wanted a certain shape. I told the assistant, as she was with me before Dickey arrived, that I just wanted to remove dead ends, I wanted a trim. Dickey did not tell me that he was cutting my hair off for style!

It is very difficult to post a negative review, especially for a Black owned business, but my experience was so bad that I think it is important to let others know. I was a first-time client today, I booked an appointment specifically with Dickey as I'd seen him speak online about curly haircare practices. I specifically booked with him in an effort to get a consultation on some issues I've been having with my hair. Michelle, his assistant, greeted me upon arrival. She was just the sweetest :) Very friendly and inviting. My hair was in four plaits as I had detangled it the night before and did not want to loosen it so that it wouldn't become tangled again. Dickey came in late, and when he came over, he asked me to help him take the plaits out, I felt that this was unnecessary but did so without any resistance. He asked why I came in, and as I was telling him, he kept cutting me off, and from that point on, things went downhill. I tried to explain what might be happening with my hair but he would never allow me to finish speaking, he would talk 'at' me instead of to me and he invalidated anything I was trying to explain to him. It was an extremely condescending interaction. He was very disrespectful and rude, sadly. Mind you, I wasn't telling him anything regarding his expertise, but rather trying to explain the issue I'd been experiencing with my hair. I was very confused initially because after Dickey finished insulting me, he walked away, telling Michelle to wash my hair. She did a very good job washing me, but then he also told her to blow dry my hair as well. She also was doing a very nice job blowing my hair out and giving me tips for doing it myself, however, I was confused because I'd booked Dickey specifically for an assessment to try and figure out what might be happening to my hair. He hears me questioning her and tells me to come into the washroom again. He starts aggressively asking me questions, but again, he doesn't allow me to answer. He then very roughly rewashed my hair, which I wasn't asking him to do. It was horrible. In the end I essentially wasted over $300, I left none the wiser to my issue which he said wasn't an issue and then later said it was just too dry, which I do not agree with. He gave me my first wash and go, and it looked terrible! I didn't realize how frizzy and undefined it was until I got home and looked in the mirror, I had to put in a protective style myself after leaving the salon. Michelle was the only palatable aspect of this otherwise terrible experience. So...

I came to hair rules for a cut and color. I have natural curly hair, and I was due for a trim, and wanted to go lighter.

my colorist was new, she was super sweet, I think her name was Leanna. I really liked her. We spoke I showed her pictures of what I was looking for, she seemed to understand. When I was done with the long coloring process, my hair was essentially bleached.

I could not stop crying, probably because I was shocked to see how it turned out. My stylist Ronquet, was not friendly. I really didn't enjoy her vibe at all. And she didn't do much for my hair. To her credit, i was so overwhelmed with my color that I really couldn't focus on it....but from our introduction, I just wasn't a fan of her tude.

Leeanna offered and did try to fix my hair, she felt super bad that I was upset. So she darkened it a little bit and it did look better. After 6 hours I was done with the second round of color and asked for a pony tail so I could leave. I didn't have any time to wait to style it again, nor did I want to.

Everyone in the salon could see that I was upset..even Dickey who made eye contact with me FREQUENTLY and no one said anything, no one offered me any comfort. They just asked me to pay and tip and leave..

Actually, the receptionist said to me " You're dripping" while I was paying, because my hair was wet, and my response was okay, do you have a towel then?

Because seriously, I'm already the girl who went to the bathroom crying with the bleached hair. EVERYONE knew that I was upset, can you not be annoying while I'm paying for this hack job?

I assume, Dickey is of a managerial status, and would want to come over and say something, offer me anything? Nope, he would just keep walking back and forth doing his job, seemingly ignoring the girl crying in the chair.

All and all, Leeanna is a very nice girl, she said if I came back within 2 weeks, she would redo my color. I really did appreciate that. I know its just hair, and its not the end of the world. But the service of everyone else was disappointing, you would think a salon like this would know how to handle an upset client who is walking out of your salon with...