Flashback--two weeks before my visit: I call Miss Jessie's to schedule an appointment for my birthday. There is a $75 deposit which will be applied to the service I receive during my appointment. Cool, I expected as much. The receptionist tells me to make sure that I wash my hair three days prior to coming in to the salon and remove all products, braids, etc. so that my hair is in its most natural state. Warning: I can't speak for the rest of you ladies, but my hair is not cute when it is uncombed, frizzy, dry (borderline ashy) and un-stretched. Fast forward to the day of the appointment. I wake up early and tie my hair up...I wanted to beat the crowd on the subway (minimize the number of people that get to see me with my hair in fritz). So, I hop on the 6 train and head to Grand street.
I get off the train in the middle of Chinatown, and head towards Broadway to get to the salon. I am crunched for time (as usual) but luckily, my intuition kicks in and I make it to the building with 2 minutes to spare. Once inside, I hop on the elevator and head to suite #2. As I walk out of the elevator, angels start singing in my head as I behold the uber trendy lower-Manhattan salon (technically I don't think this counts as Soho...but hey, whatever sells).
I complete the first-time client form and wait to be called for my "consultation." The wait is not too long. I don't know why I thought the styling consultation would be longer than 5 minutes, but it was not. The consultant suggests that I get a dry twist out and angle balance cutting. Sounds cool, I can work with it but...I really wanted a new look. Something that set me apart from my 26 year old self. *sigh* I tell the consultant that I usually wear twist outs and the style normally only lasts two days. He immediately replies that the salon-styled twists would last much longer...at least 4 days (shut the front door). Okay, cool. I don't want to argue, I just want my hair to look better than it looks while I'm sitting in the salon chair...because it looks bad.
The consultant advises me that the salon policy is to settle all bills prior to styling the customer's hair (I guess this prevents people from not paying for services received). Cool. I ask for my total. He replies, "we will apply your $75 deposit, so with the shampoo, angle-balance cutting, and dry twist-out, that will leave a balance of $400."
As I regain consciousness, I realize that this was not a horrible dream wherein I was repeatedly punched in the face by someone wearing brass knuckles. Okay, back to the consultant/ man that is trying to overcharge me for a 4-day hairstyle. I ask if there is a less expensive option. He says, "sure, we can take off the angle-balance cutting and that will leave a balance of $275."
If anger could encompass exactly what I felt at that moment, I might describe myself as angry. However, because anger does not adequately describe the venom that pumped through my enraged veins, I won't use it. *cues rant* Really Miss Jessie's?!?! Really?! You think you can charge several hundred dollars for a wash, trim, and twist out? You have gotta be out of your mind. This is outrageous. Are you kidding me? A four-day hairstyle...that I have to freshen up each morning. *ends rant* I realized at that moment that Miss Jessie's salon is not for me, nor will it ever be. Not because I cannot afford it, but because it is ridiculously overpriced. Would I spend several hundred dollars on clothing, jewelry, handbags? Yes. Why? Because those items last more than 4 days.
So, I ended up getting my hair washed and styled (for less than the above amounts) and leaving as fast as I could. Some places are more fantasy than reality. I'm not knocking any lady who goes to Miss Jessie's regularly. I just think that the salon is overpriced. Beyonce better be doing my hair while Solange deejays in the background for those prices. *cues Party (featuring Andrè 3000)*
Until next time,
Nappollonia
2 comments:
When I first transitioned, I went straight to Miss Jessie's products. However, I was ultimately disappoint. My hair just "ate" the products. Then, when I finally saw progress, I was out of the product. I started using Shea Moisture. I don't even think I would have stayed after he said $275. Would you get your deposit back if you changed your mind?
No return of deposit. It was one of those "use it or lose it" deals. As my mother usually says, "bought sense is better than borrowed" and I bought this lesson.
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