I'm torn about how to review this place. Ultimately, though,
unless things change, I can't recommend based on my experience, which was quite
an experience!
Though I love Blue Hair Studio in Huntingdon Valley, I'm
always looking to find something closer to home so I take advantage of Groupon
or Living Social Deals when they come along.
I recently tried a Groupon (29.00 for haircut and
conditioning treatment) for Dolcissima AFTER reading the Yelp reviews (most of
which are hidden). Because many hidden reviews are often either friends or
family of business or competitors leaving a bad review - I thought, eh, I'll
try it despite many bad reviews. I've since come to the conclusion that many
bad "filtered" reviews probably come from customers who were so upset
or dissatisfied that though the rarely write reviews, they had such a horrible
experience they wanted to alert other people.
Okay. Here is what happened when I took a chance on
Dolcissima.
When I came in for my appointment no one was at the
reception desk. I looked in to the hair studio and two stylists were working,
both looked up at me, but no one even said hello. No one came out to ask who I
was or who I was there for. I started to get nervous when my appointment time
came and went and 20 minutes later a stylist came out and introduced herself as
Karen.
She sat me in her chair and I explained I was trying to grow
out my pixie and had pictures of how I wanted my haircut. Karen seemed unsure
about the cut I wanted (I had pictures of Victoria Beckham) and asked the other
stylist if the cut I wanted would "look right."
The other stylist assured Karen the cut would look great.
When Karen was washing my hair, she didn't talk to me at
all. Then she put conditioner on my hair which had to soak in for about five
minutes and left me with my neck on the uncomfortable sink bowl .
After I was back in her chair, with me trying to make small talk (I asked
all the questions...was she from the area, did she ever eat at the Tex Mex, etc
- I felt like I was the one putting her at ease) she began cutting very nervously.
She kept looking at the other stylist who was chatting away with her own
customer and asked her if when she got to the nape of my neck, would she (the
other stylist) mind cutting it for her because she (Karen) had fat fingers.
Oh. My. God.
That was when I realized this stylist was either totally new
or totally incompetent (I'm hoping new). Karen was not a heavy person, and as
far as I could tell, her fingers looked normal. In all of my many many years of
haircuts, I've never ever had a stylist ask another if they could cut part of
my hair because their fingers were too fat.
The other stylist said she would help after she was done
with her customer. So Karen made little snips in my hair and I could tell she
was trying to go very slow, waiting for the other stylist. I actually wondered
if I was on a hidden camera show.
Karen looked at me in the mirror and asked me if the cut
that she had done so far seemed "even."
Finally, a different stylist walked in and I believe it was
the owner, Nicole. Karen asked Nicole if she could cut the hair around my nape
and then Nicole took over and was demonstrating to Karen how to cut my hair the
way I had requested. She totally took over (thank god) and started REALLY
cutting my hair and explaining that she'd done my cut a million times because
people growing out pixies often ask for the same style. Nicole chatted all
about how Groupon works and her families place at the shore. I totally relaxed
and was so very very very thankful that she arrived when she did. This is why
I'm a bit torn about my review.
I feel just because I
used a Groupon was no excuse to throw me to a new stylist and then used my hair
as a lesson in how to cut. I believe
that’s wrong on so many levels and I think, even if you went to a hair styling
school, it would be cheaper and overseen by a teacher.
I’d give Nicole five stars for the cut she gave me, but
one star (if she was the owner, I’m not even sure) for allowing a brand new
stylist (who was very nervous and unsure of herself) to cut a customer’s hair
without asking the customer if they were okay with it. So, I'd say, if you're
going to use a Groupon, make sure you ask for Nicole - but I just can't trust a
business who doesn't value a customer's first impression enough to make sure
they are getting the best impression and best service.
