Acapello Aveda Salons — Local services in Saco

To preface, I went to Acapello during COVID times, which may not represent a usual experience. This absolutely could have been a one off. I scheduled my appointment online with Mandi which was convenient. I got a call around an hour before my appointment was scheduled asking if I could come in a half an hour later since the appointment before me was late. No issue with me, so I showed up a half an hour late. I was the only one in the salon with Mandi when I got there, but she was obviously distracted and feeling very rushed. I get that, you've had a difficult day of clients and I'm someone that you don't know. I sit down, and her mask is below her nose. I ask for her to pull it up and she does, but it keep happening and slipping down through the appointment. I'm trying not to feel uncomfortable, but these are weird times. She then goes over that I need to book an hour long appointment because I have thick hair, which costs extra. We have the time, but never have I been told that I need to book longer appointments for my hair. I have pretty average thickness hair down to my shoulder blades, which I think is pretty common, but ok, I can afford the extra $30 for a half an hour. I then have the most rushed appointment I have ever had in my life. She didn't say a word to me the entire time, and whipped me around the chair as she worked. I don't mind efficiency, but my entire appointment felt rushed. The work looked fine, not the best but fine, but it was pretty weird the way she treated me like I was a mannequin not a person. It was by the time she stared blow drying that I realize she wasn't using Aveda products, but at that point what was I to say, she has my hair in her hands. Near the end of my appointment, she says that my hair was not as difficult as she thought and she would only charge me for the time overage from 30 minutes. Great, no worries. She rushes through my final trim, and we get to the checkout and she charges me $70, so $10 less than an hour long appointment. I pay, and get out to my car before I realize I have only been in the salon for 35 minutes. I have gotten Aveda haircuts in New York that were more reasonably priced that this place. I don't know if this is usually how Acapello is run, but if you're looking for a COVID safe Aveda haircut experience that is priced according to normal salon costs in our current world, I would stay away. Not worth the price...

After three calls into a manager in efforts to resolve my issue without any response back - I am now leaving this review.

I came to Acapella as a new client for full balayage and cut. My hairdresser was newer, and extremely nice. After over 4 hours of a service (and having to run out before it was dried) I was not happy with the final product. Multiple times I had mentioned needing a lighter color, to which the stylist said don’t worry if it’s not light enough we’ll fix it.

Long behold, the color was still far darker than wanted, but without wanting to make a huge deal, and being promised that it would be fixed if the color wasn’t light enough/ I said I’d make a follow up appointment. To my dismay (and after asking for a robe and being told they didn’t have one) my shirt was also completely bleached and ruined by the hair bleach when I got home.

When I followed for my next appointment saying I needed it lightened as mentioned, I was scheduled for a glaze service. I went for my service, was told by the stylist that she didn’t think this would get to the color I wanted but we could schedule yet a third service for another balayage if needed. At the end, I was charged completely for the service (which I should have been told up front, or at least told by the stylist that it wouldn’t be worth doing for what I wanted and used that money toward a partial baliage) and make another appointment.

At this point, I am not going back for a third service with the same person. I’ve now paid more for a junior stylist than if I were just matched with a more senior stylist, and I’m out a shirt.

I’ve called and left messages for a manager three times so I could follow up about the robe issue - and see if there is a senior stylist they could suggest to get me to the color I want - with again no call back.

If this is how they’re treating their clients, I will not be going back. At this point, I could have paid the same amount for a top spa...

I was excited to have my first appointment at Acapello Salon in Saco on Friday afternoon but unfortunately left very disappointed. With all that's going on in the world and working 7 days a week, it's been tough to get an appointment anywhere.

I arrived 5 minutes early and received a text that Amber was " Running a little late with her current guest." 10 minutes after my appointment was going to start I received "She has to blowdry her guest real quick and then we will be ready to go. I assume around 15-20!" Ok, no worries I'll wait, been looking forward to this appointment all day because I have not had my hair done since June. After waiting in the parking lot for a half hour I receive "Amber is asking if you'd be willing to reschedule. She let me know that her current client is going to take her until just about the time we close tonight." Called and spoke with Emmalee stating I'm not able to reschedule can I wait a few more minutes. She said the guest didn't like how her hair turned out and Amber needed till after close to fix it. Asked if I could go to Yarmouth on Saturday for an appointment, which would not work for me.

I left work early, drove 45 minutes to this appointment, waited for over a half an hour only to drive home another 45 minutes, a complete waste of my time and money.

I understand things happen but feel honoring appointments is crucial, especially when they are so hard to come...