The Hair & Color Design Salon — Local services in New York

They absolutely wrecked my hair. It is breaking off in pieces. To say that I am devastated would be an understatement.

The short story: I asked them to bleach/lighten just my roots, so I could go in and add some pink color (something I have been doing for decades). I told them it didn't need to be super white/completely bleached or even match my other hair, I just needed it lightened so I could do my hair for a wedding that was coming up. I warned them my hair was thin and that I didn't want to burn it out. But they proceeded to do not one, but two processes on my hair. Leaving the bleach on for far too long and even burning my scalp. The whole time telling me how strong my hair is and that the scalp burn was there before. Now my hair is completely burnt and brittle and keeps breaking off. Even after using hair masks and bond treatments, I can't even style the hair at all bc it is so fried and just constantly looks frizzy. It is going to take me years to grow back some of the pieces that are breaking off. I honestly just want to cry every time I look at my hair in the mirror. It is truly heartbreaking!

The long story: I have been dying my hair fun colors on and off for over 20 years. I usually get a professional to bleach or lighten my dark roots, and then I add and play with the color myself afterwards. (which just makes it more fun and allows me to do touch ups, if need be.) A few months back my regular hair stylist moved away, so I was looking for a new hairstylist to do my roots. I researched a few places near me and found The Hair & Color Design Studio and saw they had good reviews.

Bc I hadn't seen anyone in awhile my roots had grown out quite a bit, but the hair was overall healthy. I explained to the hair stylist that I was only re-dying the roots now, instead of just continuing to grow it all out, bc I had a wedding to go to in a few weeks. So, I said it didn't need to be super white or even match the rest of my hair, just light enough for me to throw some pink in it. I told her my hair is thin and that I didn't want to burn it out or damage it. And we agreed to doing one process on the hair.

Even though the bleach was stinging a bit, I stupidly kept my mouth shut, as I was a new client and it had been awhile since I bleached, so I didn't want to make waves or be annoying. Plus, she was busy working on another client at the same time. After she rinsed out the bleach, she suggested doing another process, but I said I didn't want to damage the hair. She assured me my hair was super strong and she was using olaplex etc., etc and she kept pulling my hair to prove it wasn't breaking off.

The second process hurt like hell and she left it on for ages. I could tell after she washed it out that it was burnt and the texture was completely different. The scalp near the front of my hairline stung like crazy, so I went to touch it. When I did, she told me that there was something there but it wasn't from the chemicals or the bleach it must have been there before. (I had nothing there before.)

After blowing my hair out, ALL of the color that was in my hair was completely gone, not just the roots. I went home to dye it pink again, in the hopes that it would look better with some color back in it, but sadly it didn't. The hair looks frizzy and damaged and all of my bangs and several sections of hair on top keep breaking off in pieces. I can't even style the bangs anymore. Partially, bc they are so fragile I don't want to damage them further, but also bc the hair is so fried that it won't even style normally anymore. (Btw the pink I use is Manic Panic, it doesn't strip the hair further or damage it. And I have never had any issues with it in two decades.)

I am so angry. Partially at myself for not saying more during the appointment and for letting her do a second process amongst other things. But also for allowing someone to not only ruin my hair that I have worked hard to keep from breaking, but also allowing her to gaslight me and tell me she didn't burn my scalp when she did. All in all I'm...

Very pushy hairstylist! I called for a consultation for a root color touch up. On the phone this lady from Albania named Sherry told me to stop by. When I got there she was busy with someone else. Her assistance also from Albania evacuated my hair for a root color touched up. During the process that I had to wait for the color results, they kept pushing me for me to do a hair straightened treatment in my hair when I was there for something else. I asked how much that would cost me? They didn’t tell me while the other client was seated in the chair. After the client had left . I was the last one for the day to be assisted . Then when she went to wash my hair to remove the color from my roots I asked again how much was this treatment ? Sherry and her assistance told me that normally the treatment cost $450 BUT because it was my first time in that salon that they was going to charge me $120. This conversation was happening while she was shampooing my hair. I felt so uncomfortable! Both made me feel like if I was not appreciating her coloring services because I did not wanna do nothing else. I explained that I was tired and starving. That my main concern was to colored my root base for my bday in the next day . She changed her behavior completely after I said that I didn’t wanna do it. I got the feeling that she was mad at me because I didn’t want to do it. Then they both starting nonstop speaking with each other in their own language. My hair was getting more shampoo one wash after another. I told her that was late. I was starving and tired. She tells me that It was 6:30pm that she had time. Then insisted again that I needed that straightened treatment in my hair that if I returned another day the cost was going to be $450. I left the wash-seat with my hair dry after she shampooing my hair many times. I was satisfied with my brown roots base color results. But I didn’t like how she was drying my hair with her fingers pulling my hair up making my hair looks crispy and puffy. I felt so uncomfortable at that point with that hairstylist drying my hair without properly blowdrying that I decided to try to see if perhaps I’ll get a better treatment. She takes pictures of my hair after she shampoo a lot, after she hand dry my hair in a form that looked worse than when I came. During the straightening session she sees that I had hair lost and that I need volume more than anything else. I personally don’t think that this treatment was the right treatment for me. But after all the pressure I gave a try, I think that would have been better if she tried to sells me a deep conditioning treatment instead.

When I asked my total. She told me $160. I asked if she would take Apple-pay. Her assistance gets Irritated telling me if I could pay in cash! I never her a business that only wants to take cash payments . I reminded them that initially I was there for one service only. Wasn’t prepare for staying longer neither to spend more than the double planned. After I paid and tipped. Sherry gives me her phone number. I txt her cellphone. She received my text. But she didn’t texted me back . Instead she tells me. Ok bye bye. Honestly I left there feeling drained and exhausted. I’m pleased with the hair color . BUT I Didn’t like a bit theirs sells business skills. Neither theirs behavior. They’re very pushy and rude when you don’t do...

Every visit here follows the same pattern: self-congratulation about how great they are followed by subtle insults disguised as “friendly banter.” It’s the classic narcissist playbook - knock you down, then smooth it over with a compliment so you question your own perception.

Example: “You look different, did you change your teeth?” What even is that? It’s a textbook micro-jab - confusing, patronizing, and completely unnecessary.

During my last Cezanne, I walked out sticky, with the back of my hair textured completely differently. When I pointed it out, I was told it was a “cowlick” (it’s not - I’ve never had one). She even gestured to my scalp, claiming the redness was “just something some people have.” I have an oily scalp, never dry - it was clearly product left on too long.

From there, everything became my fault. I used too much heat. I didn’t do this. I didn’t do that. Which is absurd, considering I left the salon sticky and the treatment didn't even work. She even admitted at one point I was right.

They’re also constantly juggling way too many clients and make you wait forever. I only tolerated it because the prices were reasonable - but this experience proved the old saying true: you get what you pay for. I would much rather pay triple the price than have to deal with this circus again.

Instead of acknowledging the mistake, they doubled down. I even referenced the manufacturer’s own instructions - that more passes were required - and was ignored. When I returned for correction, their first offer was a refund (translation: damage control). I didn’t want to waste yet another afternoon finding a new salon, so I gave them a chance to fix it. They still didn’t process it properly, and when I tried to explain, the stylist got defensive and abruptly took the tools out of my hands.

The stylist also treats me like a child, which is almost laughable given I have over 20 years of experience in marketing and sales. I can spot every persuasion and deflection tactic in the book - and watching her try them is genuinely insulting.

Bottom line: if you enjoy being talked down to by people who mistake charm for competence, this is your place. If you prefer professionalism, accountability, and consistency, look elsewhere. I won’t be back....