be inspired salon

I have been debating on writing this review for a year because I never write reviews and didn't want to bash. Although I would give this salon no stars if I could. I came in about a year ago to match some highlights that I had done on my hair previously. I came in for a consultation and the stylist insisted she was confident on my style of hair and being able to highlight it without damage. I even offered to come in twice and highlight in steps to prevent curl damage. I would have loved to have my friend who is a hairdresser do it for me but she was honest about not having enough experience with my type of curly hair and I wish this hairdresser was honest about her lack of experience. I was new to highlights and really had to trust the stylist in this instance but during my appointment I could tell something was off. To start, there was just too much whispering between the stylist and her assistant. I felt like I was not truly part of the process and that they were keeping things from me. Then, my scalp also burned to the point that it was painful which I tried to tell her. Finally, I caught a glimpse of a piece and it looked much lighter than what I asked for. I told her I want to take the bleach off; it is way too light. She ignored my concerns and insisted I was being dramatic and told me it just looks lighter because the bleach was still in it. I trusted her when she said that, but then she also went whispering to her assistant. I did not trust the energy and then persisted she took it off now. THANK GOODNESS I PERSISTED. I was right when it was wayyy wayy too light. They tried to deep condition it multiple times and tone it down but it still did not work. I left the salon with curl damage and THREE different tones in my hair. My friend, the hairdresser, was shocked on how bad it looked and that the stylist at Be Inspired did not say anything to me about the different tones. The whole experience felt like my novene in hair was taken advantage of. I am still frustrated about how my hair looks and work on repairing my curls everyday. To this day my curls are still recovering. The curls underneath are very very loose and some are straight. I am so frustrated because I offered to come in multiple times to lighten it in steps to prevent that. If you have mixed hair, I suggest do not go here. I made a mistake and should have done the drive to Chicago for a trusted stylist. I wish the stylist was more upfront and honest about what experience she had. I should have asked for my money back and spoken up sooner.

DO NOT GO TO THIS SALON. Let me first say... I have worked in the retail and service industries for many years. I NEVER write negative reviews. I was VERY patient and reasonable in trying to work out a solution with this salon, after one of their stylists destroyed my hair. I didn't want to be writing this. I just wanted to be treated with respect and fairness by the business providing me a service. I contacted the management and let them know I was dissatisfied with my haircut. (Dissatisfied is putting it mildly. I cried about it. I'm devastated. It's been three days and I'm still extremely upset.) I understand that the stylist spent time on my hair and that the salon used product and resources to deliver this service, so I requested a 50% refund, which I feel is VERY reasonable given the fact that my hair is completely ruined. The stylist lopped off 4-6 inches from my ends, despite my clear instructions that I am growing it out and wanted to take off as little as possible. It was too late to say anything by the time I realized how much she was taking off. Then, she rushed through my bangs, because another client was waiting and she didn't bother to check to make sure they were even. They were horribly asymetrical, which I didn't realize until I had left. The manager, Niki, refused to refund me. All she would offer me was to come back in again to have the same stylist who lopped off my ends and rushed through trimming my bangs correct their mistake. Why in the world would I trust this salon to touch me ever again? They might be able to adjust my bangs, but it's impossible to restore the length of my hair. I asked if they were offering me high-quality extensions to replace the lost length. Of course they weren't. Now I have to go have someone else fix my bangs and it will be at least a year before my hair is back to where I actually wanted it when I requested that my ends be trimmed. I do NOT recommend this salon. Their customer service is terrible, despite the fact that they claim to have a "satisfaction guarantee". I am appalled by the way I've been treated and I am heartbroken about the way that my hair looks.