First, this review is only about the salon, because I intended to go to the spa after I got a haircut. I never got there. I was excited to get a stylish cut because my hair had long ago outgrown my last cut. I was led into the salon, told to don a plastic robe, and followed a woman to a chair. I was invited to sit down, and then another woman started talking to me. Slightly confusing, but whatever. I was asked "what we are doing today" and I explained that I wanted something shorter (especially in the back) and fun. The stylist pressed me for an example of what I had in mind. I didn't really have a specific cut in mind, as I expected my stylist to help guide me like a good waiter would do. Soon it became clear that no suggestions would be forthcoming until I produced a picture, so I suggested that something like P!nk's haircut, only slightly longer would be a starting place for something that I might want. The stylist told me that P!nk wore her hair in a mohawk and that hair cut took a lot of time to keep up and was I willing to do that kind of styling? And she had a complete "look" so that cut was really a lifestyle element and was I going to do the whole lifestyle? She then went on a little lecture binge about how we were very limited by my kind of hair (on the fine side) and color (lots of golds and white because it used to be red). She handed me a book and told me to go through it. She did the same, then quizzed me -- almost aggressively -- about what was it I liked about a picture I picked. This was not a fun exercise of discovery, as it might have been in different hands. This was an inquisition. I was told repeatedly that lots of the photos in the magazines were the same style. But I couldn't have any of them, I asked if we could look at pictures of men's styles, as sometimes a long version of those cuts works for me. I was told they did not exist. Her tone was quite rude, and she interrupted me every single time time I tried to talk. She's ask me a question, then talk right over me in a judgmental way. I tried to be calm, but it soon became very clear that she was not listening at all to me. So much about working with creative people -- or anyone for that matter -- is about trust. I felt as though I'd given her ample opportunity to build trust, and she took every opportunity to assail me. I finally told her that this was not going to work for me, that I didn't think we were a good match, and I got up and left. I've never left before in a situation like that, even when I had doubts. I'm very glad I listened to my gut and bailed.
How would this review be described in terms of sentiment?
negative