Hair Port West Incorporated

I made a 10AM appointment for a brazilian this past Saturday and it was by far the worst experience I have ever encountered; and I have had several brazilians over the course of 2 yrs. I just moved to the area, so this was my first and last visit. When I entered the salon, I thought it was a bit dirty, specially since it was so early in the morning. I wasn't there long and the Asian lady escorted me to the back of the salon. When I walked in, I was disgusted by hair on the floor and even on the bed. The room was not prepared and the only thing the Asian lady did was change the paper on the bed. When she left, I took a cloth and cleaned the bed myself, just to find even more hairs on the counter and on the bowl of wax - that should have clued me in to leave. When she came back in the room, she got started right away. I noticed she uses a wax that I was unfamiliar with. It was thinner and purple. When I asked what type of wax she was using, the lady did not answer my question. Im not sure if she didn't understand what I was asking or if she didn't know(language barrier). The first 5 minutes into it was painful, but yet I was okay. She then started towards the center area and the wax clumped up. She yanked, pulled, scissored, tweezed and the clumped just stayed. Hair was all over the place. She tried to put more wax on it and the cloth started to tear. I believe at this point, she turned the heat up on the wax. I told her that it was too hot, but she kept going. My skin was getting blistered and that woman scalded me over and over again. Then to top it off she covered me in powder. I felt like a 30 year old getting a diaper. Once the majority of the hair was removed, my skin was so sensitive that even when she tweezed one hair, I thought I was going to hurt her. I could not stand to let her finish "cleaning up" so I told her to just quit. To top off the bad experience, I had to pay $60 for an unfinished job. It is now Monday and I'm still applying burn cream.

Pros: Nice sculpture

Cons: dirty, poor products, terrible skill

Posted 10/01/07

I came in promptly at 6pm for a haircut and eyebrow waxing. When I got to the receptionist desk, she greeted me and then I told her I had a 6pm with "Helen." She then told me to "go ahead on back." Since this was my first time in the salon, I wasn't sure where "on back" was or what I was supposed to be doing back there. Normally when I go to salons the receptionist asks me for my name and guides me to where I'm supposed to take a seat or walks me back to the stylist's chair. So, anyway, I'm standing there just waiting because the girl never guides me to where I'm supposed to be; because I told her I have no idea who Helen was or anything; but, it was weird because she didn't say anything after that. So, again, I'm just standing there. Then I decided by the looks of the place (dirty, run down, outdated types of hair products for sale) that I probably shouldn't get a haircut there (I have naturally curly hair and I don't mess around with my stylists. either you know how to cut curly hair, or, you don't.) So, I told the receptionist I was only going to get an eyebrow waxing. Finally I went back to the right sitting area where I just sat, and sat, an sat while other folks were just looking at me like I was crazy. So, then, after sitting for a while, not even being offered a beverage or magazine to read or anything, I just got up and walked the heck outta there. I'm glad I did; because everybody I saw walking into the salon had on Mom-Jeans and had helmet hair. Get out while you can!

Pros: Not as expensive as some salons who charge $75 for a cut.

Cons: Dirty, Poorly trained staff, Not very inviting or "salon-like", Stylists aren't on time

Posted 06/06/07

At first, I was offered a free haircut for returning to Richmond and to Hairport. I scheduled color as well. I received a great cut. The color had light, bright (red and orange) roots, with nearly black ends. The color had been foiled in 2 tones, like it was all virgin hair. I went for my corrective appointment and was told we could dye it back to dark, When I inquired about a few highlights to brighten it up, which was the entire purpose of my first appointment, I was told I would be charged $35. The parting shot, "If you want to come back and have me cut your hair, I'd love to...or color it, but you can't have everything for free." I paid $70 plus $20 tip to keep dark brown hair, which I had to start out. Lovely.

Pros: Offer of free incenti

Cons: skill, customer service

Posted 12/07/05