Studio 285 — Local services in North Augusta

Update/Correction

I originally wrote this as a reply to another disappointed client who was treated unfairly, as I was. But it didn’t give me that option. In order to submit this update, I had to delete my original review. So upon further research, I am revisiting my unfortunate experience with this salon (owner). I’m just now realizing that the owner was not honest regarding the quote they gave me. It’s become a matter of principle. Unfortunately greed overrides salon mistakes, oversights and customer satisfaction. As the owner clearly noted on her reply to my feedback which I originally submitted the requested photos FOUR months prior to the time which I scheduled my appointment. This gave them ample time to identify and correct any price, inventory changes, misunderstandings or mistakes. They kept the same quote on my second submission. (Note the owner was not truthful when she said the original quote was terminated. It never changed and was never terminated!) I had copied and pasted the original quote and Studio 285 scheduled my appointment and even documented the same amount on the text dated March 1, 2024… following: “Hey there! Yes ma'am! It looks like you were quoted about $1,001.00! Would you like to book the appointment? (Stylist) has Tuesday, March 5th at 1 pm! 🥰” I intentionally omitted the stylists name to protect her reputation. The team chose to wait until my appointment, which I was so looking forward to…getting extensions for the first time in my life (a birthday gift from my mother) to realize their mistake. I clearly stated that I wanted heavy blonde highlights along with extensions in my original correspondence. But the owner instead chose to tack on another $200.00 at the time of my appointment for her team’s oversight on the highlights. To worsen the blow, she was going to charge me $100’s more for the extensions alone. The owner of the salon clearly stated that they no longer carried the extensions for which they originally quoted. I’m still astounded that neither the owner or anyone on her team recognized this oversight in over four months time. THE QUOTE NEVER CHANGED. I have the text correspondences. Extremely irresponsible, inconsiderate…not to mention unscrupulous. Never another thought of another disappointed client. The owner showed no remorse, compassion or compensation for her (teams) errors. Further, I was running a bit late due to a detour, but still within the grace period. I was texted a reminder of the salons stipulations for late/missed appointments. They were all set to charge several hundred $$$ for them doing nothing, in the event that I was late. Yet no remorse for the four hours sitting in the chair only for highlights, the salons mistakes, deception…disappointment…nothing. What ever happened to ethics, accountability and customer satisfaction? Speaks volumes as to where this salon owners...

I have been going to Studio 285 for at least 8 years now. Not only was Brittany my hairstylist, she was someone I considered my friend. I am a huge Boho Britt fan. She is kind, family is her top priority, and she is very talented. Things have slowly started to change over the past year or two as she has been flying to New York, LA, and Miami, and has now opened a salon in Atlanta doing hair for high profile clients and celebrities. It is harder to get an appointment and she has become less and less hands on, with many assistants doing most of the work. I still continue to make appointments because I like Brittany as a person and a hairstylist. However, my heart was completely broken a couple of weekends ago when I walked into her salon in Atlanta and was told that she had gone to New York and she sent someone else to Atlanta to do my hair. This was not just a routine cut and color mind you. Brittany had told me months prior SHE would plan on being in Atlanta to do my hair for my 30th year class reunion. When I walked into the Atlanta location on the day of my reunion, everyone acted like they had no idea that I didn’t know and that someone should have told me that she wasn’t going to be there. I had even texted Brittany the Tuesday before just checking in to make sure we were still on for Atlanta with no response (which Dalton confirmed was still her “work” cellphone). I received a text from the salon the day after I sent the text, confirming my appt and to bring cash as the card machine was down so I just assumed she got busy and couldn’t respond. How could someone I have trusted for so long do something like this to me on such a special day (4 hours before my reunion). Also, her prices in Atlanta are A LOT more when I could have just had my hair done in Augusta if I knew she was going cancel me and go to New York to do one of her high profile clients instead (the reason I know this is because I saw it posted on Facebook). I was told by Dalton that Amber, her sister/salon manager, or “someone” would be contacting me. As of yet, almost three weeks later, I have heard nothing. Obviously, my continued business is not important. I have learned that many stylists, including her own sister-in-law and close friends, have recently left the salon. That speaks volumes. I usually don’t write things up like this because I am not someone to publicly try to talk bad about people but it has completely crushed me that Brittany would ever do anything like this. There is a quote that was on her work station before she moved into her new building. “Money is numbers and numbers never end. If it takes money to be happy, your search for happiness will never end.” Don’t forget your hometown people that helped get you to where...

I made an appointment at Studio 285 in Augusta for a shampoo, cut, and balayage on a Friday morning before my wedding rehearsal and wedding the next day, Saturday. I had originally booked with the ‘new talent’ because the cost was less and the stylist had amazing reviews. However, a week before the appointment I was notified that the stylist I booked with was not available but they did have a stylist available at the same time that was a level above new talent. I gladly accepted, while at the same time confirming that I had an appointment time of 9-12 for shampoo, cut, and balayage. The lady on the phone said I would be finished at 11:45 likely. This was perfect because I had to be in Savannah for wedding activities that afternoon. When I arrived for my appointment, the stylist was a little late and only had be back in the chair by 9:15. She was very nice and the studio was beautiful. However, she had me written down for color foils and by the time she started I just let her finish rather than correcting her. Around 11 AM she had still not shampooed my hair yet and I reminded her of my timeline and that I had to leave at 12. She quickly shampooed and toned my hair (which really burned and come to find out damaged my hair). It came to be 12 and she was still blow drying the hair and had not yet cut it. I started to panic and told her I had to absolutely leave no later than 12:30 PM to make it to Savannah on time. Her assistant came to run my card for payment while she finished. She was not able to cut or style my hair and the ends were so damaged and brittle and would break like wet spaghetti. The cost of this was $185 with 20% tip going up to $222. I was so upset. I have never been so upset in so many years. I was hysterically crying in the car about how bad my hair looked and I had to go home and style it myself for my own wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner!!! The hair was and still is so so damaged and she cut so much of the length off that I was worried about the bridal updo the next day as well! I ended up being about 15 minutes late to the wedding rehearsal and had to speed the whole way to Savannah. I was pulled over by a trooper in one of the small towns where the speed limit drops, but was still crying and so upset and even told him what happened; the police officer felt so bad, he let me go with a warning!!! The stylist did offer to let me come back and have my hair cut and styled at no extra charge since she couldn’t finish but I would rather never go there again! I am always cautious about booking services in Augusta because it is a town that lacks in basic knowledge and talent, but I thought this Studio would be better since they have a location in Atlanta as well, but I was very...