Polished Studio — Local services in Oak Harbor

Old email, but I wanted to get my point across for anyone else who may have had a similar experience with a stylist here. To be clear I wouldn't be writing this if the issue was resolved in some sort of way or was handled in a more professional manner.

I'd like to start off by saying I will not be mentioning any names as to respect privacy even though I was told if I share my experience the stylist would post about me to other stylist and platforms. My advice is to do research, read reviews, and make sure the stylist understands your vision before touching your hair. Ask about their experience with specific colors and make sure you know what you'll be charged for beforehand.

I wanted to go back to a more neutral color from a faded bright copper/ginger blonde. I showed reference photos for a champagne/beige dimensional blonde with blended roots. I made it clear that I prefer a lighter, cool tone to my hair bc it complements my skin tone unless the color is a bright shade that doesn't wash me out.

My appointment was from 10:45 and ended roughly around 2:30. I thought this was going to be a transformation which usually take around 4+ hours. I didn't ask why the stylist was only doing some of the top strands of my hair in foils, assuming she would do the other foils and my roots last. The stylist washed my hair, applied a treatment, put toner everywhere, washed again, and styled my hair.

When she turned me around to show me the finished result, she made an unnecessary comparison to Barbie, I don't think it was ment to be rude but it wasn't what I wanted. I wasn't trying to look like a knock-off of version of barbie(as my aunt calls it) from dollar general and I didn't appreciate the reference. I told her it wasn't what I was going for. Additionally, I wasn't happy with the way my roots looked and pointed that out too.

I do not remember what she said because I was concentrating on trying not to cry. when I got home, my friend pointed out that there was still some old color in my hair by the roots. When I looked at the back of my head I just started crying. THE ROOTS! They looked blotchy. It's not even super blonde it's just this yellow/warm with some bleach highlights and bad roots now.

I have done what I can professionally and politely to ask this stylist to fix my hair. (she mentioned she cant push my hair)and I told her i was understanding of that, but im talking about my roots why didn't you blend them? Thats all new growth. If you didn't feel comfortable doing them for reasons why take up the job.

However, she said I was trying to get a free service. I made it very clear that wasnt the case as I already paid for a service that was not done how I wanted and I am requesting at least my roots to be blended like I asked in the beginning. She was not willing to negotiate.

So, I politely asked her for a list of everything she specifically charged me for and next thing you know I'm blocked. I reached out to the "building owner" and later on got a response back from the stylist of what she charged me. It turns out she never did the blended roots, so she completely ignored that. But, from a previous comment after I expressed my concern via text she stated "So you wanted more of a bleach and tone not a blended root." So, I'm not sure what's true exactly.

Following the conversation where the stylist informed me of the charges, I respectfully communicated that I will no longer be a customer and while I was out in town, ran into a old client of hers who had a similar experience as me.

As a result I noted that I felt compelled to share my experience with others on different platforms and concluded by thanking the stylist for her time and wishing her well. However, thats when the stylist responded defensively and threatened to post about me on her platforms and to local stylist if I were to share my experience.

Long story short I do not recommend polished studio because of the lack of professionalism and empathy I received. Every stylist is different but I don't want someone to leave feeling...

• editing this to clarify some things. Yes one of my appointments I was past due. I was back east for the holidays. Had I been in the state of Washington I would’ve surely been there to have everything done. That thing said I did take proper care of my hair as I did have masks from Polished for my hair and was doing that regularly. It’s not my fault that you have poor judgment as far as telling me when the hair should or should not be taken out. I’ve heard from quite a few other clients/contacts that you overcharge and you have messed up their hair extensions. You’re not certified you shouldn’t be doing them. I have seen you when I have bags with me because often I am literally coming from Seattle getting off Amtrak and trying to make our appointments. According to you that was never a problem. If that had been a problem you should’ve voiced your concerns at that point. It was only after I went to Debbie when I couldn’t get a hold of you that you tried to make things right and you had a major attitude. I was a good client for 3 1/2 years I don’t deserve a major attitude when I go to the owner of the salon to ask about how to get a hold of you. I am sorry that my pet apparently triggered you. You talking about your future abortion while you’re doing my hair and spending most of the time in the bathroom triggered me.

Please don’t do/offer the services that you are not certified in. Please don’t share personal parts of your life especially ones that are horrendous with clients. It was not my first bad experience with you but really the one that was most noteworthy. Do better.

I have seen Samantha specifically for the past three or 3 1/2 years. I actually first started seeing her when she was at Allure before she went to polished. I think she does have some great color skills but she is not certified to do hair extensions. After talking to other people in the community after my terribly bad experience I’ve heard that she has told other ladies that she is certified to do it and she’s not. I had a terribly bad install in early January. I’ve decided to cut ties with her and the salon. I reached out just trying to get my hair extensions removed she was incredibly rude. My appointment in January to get new extensions put in she spent most of the appointment in the bathroom. She would text me from the bathroom that she was in there not feeling well proceeded to tell me that she found out she was pregnant and was going to terminate the pregnancy. That was my last appointment with her. Totally unprofessional, bad install and when I reached out to her and also Debbie as the owner it was not a...

I had an appointment with Whitney DeLano on March 17, 2022 and my experience was very bad; the worst I have ever had at any salon. I had a cut and color to cover my gray roots/ grow out to match my natural dark brown hair color ( roughly 5% gray, maybe less), and I had booked the appointment through their website, which gives you a price so you know what to expect to pay. Her price was $85 for root touch up and cut (total price for the two services, as shown in picture). She took 15 minutes to “mix the color” which actually makes me think she didn’t have the right color for my dark hair, since as you can see in the picture I attached, the color job she did made absolutely no affect on my grays, which I wasn’t aware of until I got home and was able to inspect my hair. After she finished the color and cut, she didn’t use any product while blow drying or styling. Then she gives me the bill, where she charged $110 for the color, plus $15 for extra bowl of hair dye since I had more root grow out (that charge is understandable as extra product costs money), then $30 for haircut (that was supposed to be part of the quoted amount). The prices she charges didn’t even relate to what I was told they would be, it was as if she just pulled these numbers out of no where. So that is $70 more dollars than I was told it would be upon booking, and all that was done was a basic color and cut, so the extra charge doesn’t make sense. I was taken aback, but thought maybe it was my mistake. I left then checked online to see, and called to talk to her about the difference in charges, and she was very sketchy cuz as I’m talking to her in the phone, she is looking at the prices online with me, and she’s changing them as we’re talking… and when asking why there was a difference in prices, all she could say was that’s what she charges. You get to set your own prices, but after you set them you don’t get to charge whatever you want after you provide the service when someone can’t decline service for the new price, then be unable to explain the excessive upcharge. It is basically a scam, in that you tell me it will be $85 then charge WAY more of $155, and then do such a poor job that it didn’t provide the service I paid for, and now I need to find someone who is able to do the basic service of doing a root touch up, and essentially just lit $165 (with tip) on fire. I don’t mind paying for a good service, but this was a scam. I will say the other stylists at the salon look like they were doing a great job and the salon atmosphere is good though, so maybe just pick one of them and...