Great Clips — Local services in West Columbia

My 17 year old son liked to get his hair cut here, and normally they did an ok job. He never really did anything crazy with his hair, just a trim...he likes his hair to be long and messy. I waited to post this review so wouldn't post it in anger....A few weeks ago, we stopped by to get him a haircut because his Great Grandmother passed away and we had to attend the funeral the next day. He went in and the stylist acted took him back right away. She asked him if he wanted his usual, and he said yes please. The stylist had looked his profile up on the computer, but she made a mistake and was looking at the wrong profile. She grabbed the clippers and proceeded to shave his head bald...like all the way bald. My wife ran in and screamed for the stylist to stop, she had already cut a few swipes up the back of his head, but he still had all his hair on top. My wife was livid, and told her not to cut all of his hair off. Visibly shocked and shaken my wife came back out to our car, where we were waiting on him. The stylist didn't miss a beat, as soon as my wife turned around she shaved the rest of his hair off. I jumped out the car and ran inside, but it was to late. All his hair was gone. I was irate. I asked my son, did you ask for this...he said no. Did she tell you she was going to do this? He said no. The stylist got defensive and acted like she was justified for doing this, the computer said that this is how he gets his hair cut, so it wasn't her fault. Even after we asked her not to do it and she continued to do it anyway, instead of trying to salvage the hair he had left....The stylist argued with me, she wouldn't even own up to her own mistake. My son had to attend his Great Grandmothers funeral bald. Super, bald...not even high and tight, but BALD. He will have to spend the rest of his senior year of high school bald. His senior prom bald. I must admit he is taking it like a champ, better than I am. This "hair stylist" deserves to lose her job, but i'm not going to name her here. I told her to her face that she should quit because she sucks at her job. She didn't ask him what he wanted, she didn't check to see if the kid with the shaggy blonde hair really wanted it all shaved off. Just a glance at the computer screen and goodbye to your hair. I don't even know what to say about the fact that she didn't stop when asked to stop. We will never go back, and I beg anyone who cares about their hair or their children's hair to NEVER set foot in ANY Great Clips ever again....

Over several years, I've wanted to like this place. I really did. As a 50+ year old man, I've had my hair cut ...., ahem, once or twice in my lifetime. Additionally, I've had the opportunity to live in Europe and Toronto, Canada - and all over the US. So, --with all that combined, I've learned to tell a good hair cut, and I've collected the correct and common terms and descriptions for haircuts from all over the world. In other words, I know what's a good hair cut and how to explain what I want using standard industry descriptions.

If I'm honest, there have been times here when I've gotten what looks like a hundred dollar hair cut. Only just so often, there are good hairstylists who are genuine artists at this place. They know their craft, well.

But, all in all; mostly, it's really pretty bad.

Besides, I figure you never complain about the dollar menu --- what can you expect for a lost cost? You only complain when it's really, really over-the-top bad.

You don't complain because a dollar hamburger is cold. You complain because you found a used band aid on it....

Anyhow, back to today's visit. I bring in the same photo, each time, as an example. I explain it's a variation of a Caesar cut. --they had no idea what I was talking about. Finally, they settled on a "fade" as to that must be what I mean...by Caesar cut.

But, ....what I got was what can only best be described as a 1950s flat top.

When I asked one hairstylist there where she studied hairstyling -she muttered off "Lexington." --just that. –did she mean a gas station wash room, jail rehab?

I tip at or near 100% for an ok job. Double if it’s great. I do that to ensure good care and loyalty. But these stylists are not moved by that.

Recently, I've had to go back twice to have them make corrections.

We all want a bargain, but no one wants to look as if s/he's obviously gotten a bad five dollar hair cut.

Perhaps they just need ongoing training, but that is entirely fault of the owner.

Tabatha definitely would never take over this salon.

I will not go back. And,...

I went In to get my 2 sons hair cut and was immediately greated with an attitude from the lady checking me in. She didn't want to check us In immediately so she DEMANDED that I take a seat, well I was at the window, (in nobody's way) staring out the window watching the birds and she told me to take a seat again and I politely told her, "I don't want to sit!" Well she must be a total control freak because she told me since I don't want to sit inside I can sit in my car and wait. Lol ok sure,, I didn't want to be inside with bad vibe lady anyways but my kids desperately needed their hair cut for a function the next morning so I went to the car and waited. While I waited I saw the same stylist finish up on a little boy, well the mother of the little boy was very unhappy and had the other stylist correct the hair cut. So after I saw that and took into account how I was treated upon walking in I just left. This establishment doesn't seem to have it together and need some retraining. No where does it state in Great Clips policies that a customer isn't allowed to stand up and wait, especially because there was no one else in the waiting room waiting area. Bad Vibes lady was having a bad day and wanted to take it out on someone and she quickly found out I wasn't the one. The only thing she managed to do was lose a...