Vicara Aveda Salon

This salon is a step above Super Cuts. If I were to describe this salon in 1 word, it would be "trashy".  I'm embaressed that I  use to frequent this place and honestly, embarrassed to have them in my neighborhood.  I'm asking local residences to frequent LOCAL salons in the neighborhood and not Vicara headquartered in Riverside.



I came in at 6:05PM and so apologized for being late.  The receptionist was pleasant, greeted me with a smile and offered me a tea or water.  I gladly accepted a tea, as Vicara's tea is absolutely yummy.



Within a couple minutes I was greeted by a curly haired red head. She was a bit cold and so I accepted it was late in her shift and she was most likely very tired and wanting to go home.  I was just happy someone took my appointment and so shrugged it off and I followed her to her station.  



I told her I was interested in a color and  that in past experiences colorists seem to often go severely dark as an easy  way to cover various shades of color.  I wanted to avoid that and would be happy with a medium brown.  She explained 5 times over and over and over again that what she was going to do would leave my hair a tad darker.  I asked her for a swatch of what she was expecting.  The question seemed to bother her.   At this point, its 6:30PM and it was getting late.  I turned  to her and said whatever you do is fine.  If I have to go home and put a box in my hair later, I'll do it.  I wasn't trying to be offensive but it obviously it upset her.   I was honestly just trying to get on with it.  I trusted she would do a fine job but I really didn't have time for her to keep re-explaining everything over and over for nearly 25 minutes.



She turns to me and tells me that she can't do my hair because we couldn't come to an understanding.  Okay, well it's Saturday night  and I leave for  Europe in a few days, can anyone else accommodate?  At this point, she leaves to talk to the front desk. I told her to make sure the front desk know that this situation had nothing to do with me. 5 minutes pass and I finally get up.  They're talking to corporate.  It turns out that this colorist couldn't do my hair and neither could anyone else.  There was no apology and not a shred of understanding.  At this point, I did get upset.  "Are you fu**infg kidding me?"  I didnt yell this but my voice was raised.  I  just couldn't believe how they were acting towards me.  What just happened here?  What did the colorist say?   When I cursed the manager with angel wing tattoos on her back freaked out on me.  I apologized for cursing and turned to her,  "what's happening here?"  The manager with the tats starts barking orders to the fresh faced receptionist " "Don't talk to her, I'm calling security!"  



The receptionist apologized, she didn't know what was happening either or how it had escalated.  Within a couple minutes the security guard stops by.  He was confused to why the salon asked that I be escorted out.  I was calm, just a bit teary eyed at that point.



I call Ashley at corporate to follow up on the situation.  I expected her to call me immediately after the incident.  I  left messages and finally was able to get her secretary to relay a message with her.  I finally received a message from another store telling me she'd call in a couple days.  



Honestly,  I'm embarrassed that I ever spent a dime at Vicara.  The salon is run by children with no life experience (with the receptionist being the only exception).  And, as for Ashley at corporate.  I cant believe how poorly you handled this situation.  There's a customer concern and instead of speaking to the customer, you request to have them removed?????   Good luck in life.