Salon A.K.S — Local services in New York

I am leaving a bad review because the salon management is absolutely appalling. I volunteered for a color model class in the beginning of May and while I understand that because these are students in training, and there will be some discrepancies, I didn’t except my hair to be in two completely different shades of BLONDE and DARK BROWN.

I’ve volunteered for other hair services not at Salon AKS and there was always an educator standing by to make sure the student needed help/checking their work. While there was a teacher present, I’m not completely sure what happened (bleach was left in for too long?) but this was pretty irresponsible. I discussed that I didn’t mind what they did as long as it was natural and low maintenance. When the student was finished with my hair, I expressed that it was lighter than what we discussed but that I didn’t mind it ( I have very dark brown Asian hair and having yellow highlights isn’t really “natural)” because I only only shown the front of my hair. However, they didn’t show me the back of my hair and I suspect that because I was the last hair model there and everyone was trying to leave/get home, they couldn’t be bothered to tell me what happened. I went home to see that my hair was in TWO completely different colors…

I messaged the salon about my experience (ignored) and then the student who did my hair that evening and I won’t reveal her name because I don’t think it’s entirely fair since she did take a long time and I appreciate the technique. It was only through a lot of back and forth that I able to get another appointment to come in again to “fix” what happened. On the day I went in, the manager, Karla, had the audacity to 1) charge me the fee again for product 2) Argue that I was in the wrong because I shouldn’t expect salon results (I didn’t but I also didn’t expect my hair to be two completely contrasting colors) 3) She also mentioned that with highlights, it’s not entirely realistic to expect my hair to be the same color throughout—(Seriously? Not realistic? perhaps I would be in the wrong if it was different shades of brown but this is two different colors! To whoever is reading this, I’ll attach some photos and I’m sure that you can agree the color discrepancy is just too stark).

I appreciate the two students who did my hair and the senior colorist who finally decided to give the go ahead to not charge me the 2nd time. However, I would hesitant both as a client and even more so, as a future color model because there is something seriously wrong with management and especially with the way that Karla is doing things. Did I mention that she even try to gaslight me and say that I signed the wavier and that this is just a part of the “class”? (waiver mentioned that students can’t copy technique and give what color models specifically want but no mention of anything else)....

They have unapologetically and indefinitely changed my hair and lifestyle.

I had a consultation with Mimi who understood I have curly hair, I work out a lot and like to wear my hair curly. We agreed to cut two to three inches from the length. When I told Mimi I wanted lots of layers, she even said we shouldn't cut my hair more than 2 inches below my chin, since it wouldn't fit in a pony tail. I told Mimi I didn't like how my hair was cut straight across last time, because it makes me look like a hippy.

My hair is now so short, some of it does not fit in a ponytail, so it's a hazard when I work out. My hair is cut straight across and about seven inches was cut off from the length and over a foot from the layers! When I told Mimi that my hair was a lot shorter than we discussed and it was not at all what I wanted – she tried to gaslight me and convince me my hair was short when I came in by pointing out the tiny bit of hair left, after the floor had already been swept. She even brushed out my hair after styling it "curly" for it to look longer - the after picture is when I got home from the salon.

My hair is so short, that I have to keep pulling it in the front, so it does not curl up too much, so I don’t look like little orphan Annie. That night, I emailed the salon and I was patronized by Michele who said my cut compliments me and "apologies I didn't get exactly what I asked for." She also offered me to go come back to get the shape I asked for - that would require an extra two to three inches to be cut from the front. It was quite insulting.

To add insult to injury, I came in for a single process, for my hair to be dark brown. I was convinced by Violeta that I should do balayage. I said I was worried about my hair looking red/orange. Violeta said it would look “sun kissed.” I now have red/orange stripes in my hair, and three random leopard looking spots stray bleach caught. Violeta asked me to text her if there were any issues with the color – color is fixable, so I did not mention this to Michele. Violeta agreed to fix the spots 5 days later, then when I was walking to the salon, she canceled and said she could not blend the spots or red and orange she left in my hair.

This whole experience is jarring and so unsettling. They are either extremely inexperienced or decided to experiment with me and do the exact opposite of what we discussed, either way they should be...

There are many, many reasons why I've been going to Salon AKS, and only to Salon AKS, since 1998. I am a therapist and love my work, and AKS is my self-care haven where I can so totally relax, refresh, renew, and put my complete trust in Susanna, Ryan, Alain, and Aida to pamper, comfort, and restore me so that I'm the best that I can be at work or at play. Susanna and Alain work miracles on this aging hair with styles that fit my face well and are simply beautiful! I never say what to do..I simply say, do what you think and honestly, I have always been delighted with the result. That's over 25 years of happy & beautiful hair styles for every occasion! Best of all, they give great tutoring on how to take care of my hair at home and recommend products that enhance and extend the health of my hair; so grateful! (Susanna also has the most amazing tips for travel, btw) And I absolutely love, love, love Ryan, who I can talk to for hours as he works to bring the natural (original?) color and shine back into my hair which completely boosts my mood time after time! Yes, Ryan, I will wear my hat while hiking next month, no worries! And then there's Aida, who has an inner sanctum where I just lay back and relax while the brows are highlighted and facial pampering happens with the absolute best music playing and it all allows me to really escape the city for a bit. Yes, AKS is self-care therapy because from the moment you call and Joyce schedules your visit, YOU are the focus of this team's attention and their goal is for you to walk away refreshed, gorgeous, and confident. It works for me every time. Thank you, AKS! I can't wait for my...