Alkali — Local services in Winston-Salem

FURTHER UPDATE: Due to the constantly increasing prices at this salon, I opted to try a different stylist and LOVED her! HEATHER was great! She was friendly, great energy, no drama, and listened really well to my preferences for my hair cut. It's not a very difficult cut, but I am very particular, after so many years of messed up cuts (and my mom being a former stylist). She was amazing and my hair cut is so much better than it has been the last few cuts! It's nice to feel like me again! I have already booked my next appt with Heather and feel confident it will be a great one! Highly recommend Heather for your next service!

ADDITIONAL UPDATE: I saw Ani for two visits several years ago. She was wonderful then and is just as wonderful now. Truly a Gem in the Triad. She is so knowledgeable, friendly, and has such a calm energy. LOVE HER!! and excited to be back!

UPDATE: Went in today for my second appointment with Ani, just for a touch up on my color and I was SO PLEASED! Pleased isn't even a good word for it. ANI IS AMAZING!!! She actually touched up my hair and it looks exactly like it did the first time, which is Stellar!!! Because I LOVED my hair color, for the first time ever, after my initial appointment. I have never had a stylist who could achieve the same color a 2nd time. My hair looks spectacular, Ani is a hair genius! No a hair Magician!! She really is excellent at her craft, and so sweet and fun to spend time with while in the chair as an added bonus!!

ORIGINAL: Went in today for a new client consultation. Ani was great, listened, seems to have an awesome plan to fix my hair so that I love it. The front desk staff were super nice and helpful too. Had lots of tips about local places, as I just moved to the area. Ani comes highly recommended and I believe this is going to be a really awesome place to have my hair done. Amazing vibe, and really feel like I can relax and just be me!! Was able to get in for my first appointment in a week, so that...

BEWARE If I could give 0 stars I would. My 23 year old daughter went to the salon with pictures of what she wanted. They didn’t even come close. They charged over $400 and wanted her to come back a third time. Why? They clearly are incapable of achieving the cut and color she requested. I know she’s not a minor, but she’s still young and in grad school. She doesn’t like confrontation and didn’t know what to do after the first session. She thought maybe they could fix it at the 2nd session. That’s what they claimed. Clearly they could not.

We go to an upscale salon here in Connecticut. They don’t charge over $600 for color and a cut. These charges are more than even NYC prices. This place also charges by the hour. I’ve always paid for the process or cut regardless of the amount of time I’m there. This is another money grab.The client is at their mercy. They can take as long as they want on the customer’s dime.

The attached pictures are of the cut my daughter wanted- the dark haired model. They only trimmed the edges. Then the color photo is featuring a white blonde. They didn’t even come close. My hair is naturally dark and I’ve never pulled that yellow. I’ve been white blonde before too.

Another visit wouldn’t have helped. They aren’t even in the ballpark. The salon is claiming my daughter had previously colored her own hair -this is false. Grasping at straws I guess.The third picture is what my daughter received. I’m speechless. Only the tips were supposed to be black. The stylist dyed my daughter’s whole head black except for that yellow patch. Black is very hard to correct. If not impossible. I don’t know where we go from here. I’ll have to see if our hairstylist can fix it.

This was clearly out of the hairstylist’s realm of what she is capable of. I believe her name is Heather. She should have referred my daughter to someone who is way more experienced. The salon is taking zero accountability and blaming my daughter....

Switched price of perm from $150 to $250 after the perm was finished. I paid it after I was told that the price increased 2 times after the appointment was made (months prior) from $150 to $210 and then to $250. What????? So dishonest.

Update: Owner of Alkali,

You were mistakenly told that I opted out of a consultation for my perm. Melanie has been my stylist for more than a year and we talked, "consulted" about it over time.

Since the May 30th date of my perm, I have spoken with Melanie about the perm itself. The perm didnt really didn't take and will be in your shop next week for she and I to discuss next steps. I believe that you and I need to have a conversation about what happened to me, so you are able to get the full picture.

I do not appreciate you blaming the price raising on me when you replied to my review. I was told in the salon when presented with the $250 bill that the person who made my appointment and gave me the $150 price, after my consultation, was no longer employed there and that the price was actually increased twice during the months that I waited for an appointment, first to $210 and then to $250.

I would like to speak with you directly about my experience instead of letting the last word on my review be that it was my fault, because it was not.

This is not Melanie's fault. Money is NEVER discussed with the stylist at your salon, only with your desk staff.

Maybe your employees told you wrong or maybe you are just attempting to deflect responsibility. I am not sure, but customers do not deserve to be treated in this way.

I look forward to our discussion in person next week when I come in to see Melanie. If you'd like to call me ahead of time to discuss, feel free.

I appreciate your time and attention to this...