Letter to the Editor about hair extension services received
Question: I recently had hair extensions attached and I look just awful. I got professional opinions from other experts and they said I should at the very least get some of my money back and I was overcharged for half a head of hair (I look like I have a mullet). The stylist has refused to do anything about my dissatisfaction.
Two things that a lot of hair stylists have said is that the hair extensions that my stylist attached are very damaging to African American and ethnic hair and that the chemical used to remove the bonds is equally damaging. Many said they never would have used this process on my thin and damaged hair and that it will just damage it further...have you heard anything to that extent?
Answer: Unfortunately all methods of hair extensions have the potential to cause damage. The expertise of the stylist can make or break your hair during the attachment or removal process. Another major factor is if you are starting with thin or damaged hair. There are methods that are actually designed for damaged hair and they are much gentler on the hair. Synthetic hair may be a better option since it weights about 1/3 the weight of human hair and puts less stress on the roots.
As to whether you should get your money back or not, that is a very gray area. Many stylists require you to sign a waiver that if anything goes wrong they are not responsible. You would need to prove that the salon/stylist was negligent in attaching/removing the extensions. In the end, the hair extension stylist has the right to charge whatever they want for their services and hair and you have the option to not pay for it.
The time to investigate whether the salon was charging you fairly was before you got hair extensions. In our Ebook, Hair Extensions Exposed, we recommend that clients schedule 2-4 hair extensions consultations at different salons offering different methods so that you can compare costs, methods, etc. For more information, see http://www.hairextensionsexposed.com
