New York City Woman Tries to Go Blonde for $300. She Got Highlights Instead for So Much More: ‘I Wish I Would’ve Never Touched It’

Trying out a new hair salon will always be a big risk. Some people come out with fried hair or the worst bobs known to mankind. Catherine Ebs (@cadyebs), who’s from New York City, went on to try a reputable, local hair stylist’s services. She wanted to go blonde, and what was supposed to be a worthy $300 trip to the salon turned into a regrettable experience.

Ebs knew that going blonde would be a slow process, as she had done it before. Her previous stylist was in Texas, so she checked the airline tickets. It was $700 for the flight alone, which deterred her from going back. Ebs did what was reasonable—look for a local stylist in New York City that would turn her into a blonde bombshell.

Upon checking Instagram, she found a stylist with 100,000 followers. It’s indicated that he’s a global trainer, which further solidifies his standing in the hairstyling world. After careful research, Ebs decided to book with him instead.

Falling behind schedule

Ebs’ appointment was at 2 p.m., but she got there a few minutes late because of the city’s notorious traffic. Nevertheless, the stylist acknowledged Ebs’ message, saying that it’s okay if she is a little late. When she got to the establishment, she started ringing the intercom—it’s standard for businesses in New York to share a building. But then, nobody answered Ebs.

At this point, she had already been standing outside of the building for 30 minutes. It was 95°F, and the sun was blaring. But Ebs didn’t want to cancel the appointment because she would still be charged at the rate of the full service. It would be $300 down the drain all for nothing.

By 2:30 p.m., someone called her—it was apparently the stylist, and he had a different number. She was finally escorted to the establishment, but there was still another client on the chair. It was an odd sight—Ebs had booked her appointment at 2 p.m., and yet he was still working on another client’s hair. Ebs had to wait yet another 45 minutes before the stylist started working on her hair.

The stylist’s website stated that his services start at $200, so it could go higher. Prior to the appointment, the stylist asked Ebs to send photos of her hair so that he could quote her on a price. He didn’t reply after she sent the photos, which made the pricepoint a mystery. She assumed that if the bleach job cost significantly more, the stylist would inform her.

He never did.

Not worth all that

Nevertheless, Ebs continued with the service despite the delays. When the stylist put the foils in Ebs’ hair, he left much of the work to his assistant. The assistant wasn’t talkative either, which left the salon relatively silent. It’s not the usual salon experience, where assistants would at least chat their customers up to make them feel comfortable or to help them pass the time.

To make matters worse, the building was extremely hot. Bleaching is already uncomfortable, and those who’ve had it would know the treatment comes with a burning sensation. Regardless, the stylist refused to turn on the airconditioner, saying that a hotter environment would help the bleach process faster. Many salons leave their AC on even though their clients are getting bleached, so this all boils down to preference.

Needless to say, Ebs felt uncomfortable throughout the experience.

When it finally came to washing her hair, the Ebs noted that she felt like the assistant was “ripping” out her hair. It wasn’t deliberate, but the way the assistant took out the foils hurt her scalp.

She finally went to checkout after the service was complete. Her total was not $300 but a whopping $700. Ebs wasn’t even fully bleached blonde—instead, she looks as though she got highlights. It’s not a bad look, but social media users think it’s not worth $700. The icing on the cake is that the stylist charged Ebs an extra $50 for a blowout.

A frustration with New York City

“It’s not horrible work, but it’s not $700 worth,” Ebs said, also disappointed by the pricing and the way her hair turned out. It was simply too much to pay for with the customer service she got and the way her hair looked after. What frustrated her even further is that her roots were already showing, as if she already had to go on another salon visit for a retouch.

“I think this is the most frustrating thing about New York City… You really, truly, never know what you’re going to get,” she commented as she was showing her $700 salon hair.

“$700 and I’m looking at my hair like I wish I would’ve never touched it,” she added, wallowing in regret over the experience. Social media users agreed with Ebs and were just as surprised that she was charged that much money for a hair service that’s passable at best.

One commenter thinks she’s “underreacting” over what happened, while another said it’s “pretty for $300.” The consensus is clear—the job wasn’t worth all that.

(featured images: Catherine Ebs)

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