Sky Parlor Salon — Local services in Raleigh

I am writing this review in September. It's regarding Jennifer, a stylist I chose after trying more than a few upscale salons in the Triangle area. I have searched for years for a stylist who could solve the riddle, which is my hair. I am mixed heritage with mid-back length fine, mostly curly hair containing various textures - and there's a lot of it! I don't normally try to do too much to it in the summer, except keep it conditioned and healthy until the weather cools. My hair does its own thing in the summer because the humidity won't let me have it any other way. So, in early August, I got the notion to try a Keratin treatment (big step) - I searched on line for a stylist who also specialized in curly hair styles and cuts. My idea was this: if I can tame the frizz but keep the body and a wave (I hate bone straight, flat hair) in humid August - then I'd know I've found the right stylist. I read bios of several stylists from several salons, some claiming to be a "master stylist." Most were good with color but not so good at knowing how to work with my type of hair. With that said, I read Jennifer's bio. This is why I chose her: 1) she likes a challenge 2) I vibed that she's an artist. I was right. As a new customer, Jennifer spoke with me on the phone and requested a picture of my hair (in it's current state, which was wild). We then discussed possibilities. She listened to me. She took the time to understand exactly what I wanted. On the day of the appointment, I could tell she had done some homework. So many stylists will nod and pretend to know what I I am describing and then do what they do with any type of hair, which does not work with mine. No spritzes, no sticky hair-spray, no flat ironing while it's still damp. I like body and movement. Walking out of a salon (after paying hundreds) with product encased "helmet head" hair with no flow -- is an insult and not what I'd expect from a "master stylist." Jennifer explained every step, she worked with me and my imagination, which is what an artist does. Many stylists are not artists. In humid August, I could tell that Jennifer did a great job with the cut and applying the treatments. The reason I am writing this review in September is because I flatironed my hair yesterday for the first time, just to see what it would look like. After my visit with Jennifer, I just washed it and let it air dry. The humidity still had it's way, and until yesterday, I thought, well, it's still too frizzy but a little better. I'm not good at doing my own hair, but I did my best. And man, is it georgeous in it's flat ironed state. So much body! The cut (long layers) is awesome! I will go back to Jennifer and I hope she will accept me as a regular client. It was an experiment for both of us! I feel so honored that she was willing to experiment (safely) because I knew it might be trial and error. But she nailed it! Also, Joey, the owner, wrote me a lovely email, welcoming me as a new customer. That just doesn't happen these days and I greatly appreciated the gesture. The Sky Parlor Salon is comfortable with great decor. My only complaint is that I felt a bit "watched" by other staff in the salon. If they were learning from Jennifer, then that's great. If they were stalking us, then, that's not so great. I looked for an artist and I found one in Jennifer! I am so pleased and can't wait to experiment some more when the weather is cooler. This is the truth. I don't go handing 5 star ratings just to get...

So disappointing, I really really wanted to like this place. They were super sweet and fitted me in as a new customer because I had a wedding to go to, and my regular place shut down due to the weather and wouldn't fit me in until too late... So when I got here, I was greeted with such kindness, I was introduced to my stylist who, again was incredibly sweet. She asked lots of important questions and I answered them and felt like we had a good understanding. I made it clear how happy I was with my previous haircut and I was looking forward to a shorter cleaner version of the same thing- specifically "lots of long layers" We talked about some products, and the wash, scalp treatment and process. She cut off most of the length up front, before the wash, even. After the products were put in my hair, she did a lot of trimming for a while and I just sat there and trusted the process - then she stopped and asked me if I wanted her to blow my hair out straight or just discover my own natural waves... I was confused by this and asked her to explain and she said "if I blow it out with a round brush, it will dry straight, but if I don't blow it out you'll have natural waves." I know my hair - it needs to be dried or it poofs out into frizz. So I asked for it to be dried. Halfway through, I could really see the shape it was taking and I was getting upset but still waiting to see the end product without being too judgemental... When she finished blow drying it was a flat, bowl. No layers, just bowl. I was clearly visibly upset- she asked me what was the matter and I told her exactly what i thought of the cut. She was really sweet about it, and wasn't insulted. Thankfully. She did a few things to try to fix it a bit and it turned into a sort of Bob haircut. When I asked for better layering (it was already too short by this point) she tried a tiny bit but after a while she said if she were to cut the layers in that I wanted it would start to look like a mullet. That's when I stopped her. I never wanted a Bob haircut, but I'd rather that, than a mullet. I got home, washed it and tried to do *anything * with it... but ended up crying because I can't. It's too short and can't take any kind of styling at all. I'm stuck until it grows out. The wedding pictures will forever memorialize this haircut. I'm so disappointed. Plus I had to pay full rate, which was 3x what i normally pay for a haircut. In fairness, I knew and accepted the rates when they squeezed me in. But it hurts to pay that much and not love...

I had heard wonderful things about Sky Parlour Salon, and if you look at the reviews it appears to be an excellent salon with professional stylists that know their stuff. Unfortunately, my experience has not been that way and I’ve thought long and hard about writing this review, but it needs to be shared.

Jesse was my stylist, and I came in a few times for a cut, and he seemed to care and listen to what I wanted. At the start of Jan 2023, I decided to let my grey hair grow out. I understood that it would be a trying, taxing time but I was committed. The first few months were challenging but I was proud of myself and pushed through. At the 9 month mark I came to really love it and could see the hard work paying off. I went in for a cut in Nov 2023 and Jesse and I discussed putting a semi-permanent color on my hair. We discussed it in great detail, and I trusted him. We went back and forth and, in the end, I decided to do it – even though I was nervous – because he promised it would eventually wash out.

It is now the end of February, and my color has not faded. My grey hairs that I had grown out for 11 months are completely gone, and the color left is a strange light brown highlight. My hair never went back to the color it was prior. I called him in January of 2024 expressing my concerns that I had wasted close to a year growing it out, and he promised me it would fade. It has not. Not only that, what’s troubling is he was irritated and impatient with me on the phone. I expressed concerns that it wasn’t fading completely out, I was polite throughout the call. He was clearly annoyed that I was questioning him and his process.

It's now February and I don’t feel comfortable, nor confident in returning to see him, and to get him to “fix it”. Do you know the dedication it took to grow it out, only to have lost pretty much a year and have to start again?

There was no compassion, and no professionalism from him. I can’t express enough how he should not be coloring anyone’s hair.

I’ve since seen someone who conveyed a semi-permanent color in the dark brown/black family never fully fades. Not once was that explained to me, and we talked about it in detail. Had I known that I never would have agreed to it.

I’ve accepted what has happened, and I’m dealing with it, but I felt I was treated so poorly, and by someone who had no business providing a coloring service...