Very unhappy w/ extensions

I would contact the salon rigth away and tell them of the problem and that you are not happy.  15 bonds in 8 days is alot imo, you should take them back and get them to put them back in for you and tell them of the hair's condition.

x

OMG, you spent close to $2000 for 12" hair?!?!?! That truly is
outrageous... I'm so sorry this happened to you! I don't know about the
Great Lengths hair system, I'm a do-it-yourselfer and haven't used GL,
but the stylist certainly is inferior and took advantage of you. No
extension system lasts 6 months, at least not without looking ridiculous,
and for $2k, it's downright dishonest for her to make such claims. (Is it
possible that she switched out the GL hair and used cheaper hair on you?
I think it could be very possible.) And for $2k, you definitely aren't
dealing with an honest businessperson if they ask for more $$$ to fix the
mistakes that THEY made.

Go in to the salon and demand a refund! Does anyone else know of
actions skibumps could take? Like complaining to the Better Business
Bureau? Or challenging the charge on her credit card if she used one?

P.S. What kind of climate do you live in, skibumps? I live in Alaska, where
it's super dry, and I use Zero Frizz Daily Conditioner, and Pantene Blonde
Expressions Color Satin Polish Finishing Creme (doesn't really matter if
you're blonde or not), Pantene Smooth & Shine Styling Milk, AND Pantene
Classic Care Texture & Shine Defining Pomade on my extension hair when
it was super dry, coarse and tangly (I use 22" hair, so tangles was a big
issue). These are all drugstore products you can get for $5 or less, and
they really helped my hair, and they might help make your extension hair
managable until you can get to a reputable hair stylist who knows what
she/he is doing and won't take you to the bank!

I too am puzzled about the hair's condition. Did you see the Great lengths tags on the hair before it was installed? I would recommend contacting the company to make sure the hair was really from Great Lengths. If it's not I would sue for false advertising.

As for your losing bonds I seem to hear from some people who lose lots of bonds with the GL system and some that lose only 2-3 in their entire wear. It's weird how different they can be. It may have something to do with the skill of the stylist. Did you make sure she was Great Lengths certified? It is to my understanding that to install GL hair you are supposed to go through their classes. If she didn't, chances are she has a friend who did go through the class buying the hair for her (if in fact it is real GL hair).

Call and ask questions and demand that something be done. For $2,000 your hair should be *perfect*

Edited by CaliforniaKristin

I cant believe she used another type of hair and then charged you that much.I know they have to charge alot with great lengths to make a profit,but this was definitely a case where she made alot of extra cash. True great lengths hair would have not crapped out so soon.Its sad,cause its people like that who make people afraid to get extensions done by pros.Especially when they charge so much.

I think that the Great Lengths site might even have a listing of all their certified salons.

 Before you contact the company directly, gather all your information about the salon, name of the hairdresser, saved receipts, telephone conversations, pictures, basically everything including dates of the phone conversations, appointments, etc.

 I'm so sorry that happened to you and your friend. Please keep us posted with further updates!

tbctbc, how long are your wefts lasting with the protac? i have some on order and this will be my first time installing wefts....just wondering how well they hold up.

First of all, I want to say how happy I am that I found this board.  I feel like I am so much more educated than I was even a wk ago.  I want to update you all on my dilemma.  I went back to the stylist that placed my extensions and told her what was going on, showed her some bonds I'd lost, and she saw firsthand the condition of my hair.  She agreed that my hair was very dry and coarse, and it was j st "flat."  She agreed there was just no volume to it and the overall quality of my hair was poor.  She also said that the amt of bonds I'm losing is not normal, but didn't seem as concerned about that as she said she can fix that.  She better since I spent so much money!  She called the GL rep and described my hair to her.  The rep told her to overnight my lost bonds to GL as they wanted to analyze my hair.  In the meantime, the stylist said she'd replace the bundles she'd placed (5) and would add an add'l 2 more since my hair has no volume at all and wouldn't charge me for it.  I was okay with that, esp when she told me that she would come in on her day off to do my hair since I can't take any more time off work to do this again (will take about 8 hrs).  However, I got a call from her later that day and she told me that she would be unable to put new extensions in until she heard back from GL and how they were going to compensate both of us.  She offered next Sat (2/4) to me, but then I got upset again because now I have to wait another wk and a half w/ this crappy hair.  I've had it 2 wks now and I've not enjoyed my hair and now I have to wait some more to get it corrected.  But what choice do I have? She will do the prep as well this time, as I had to do my own prep the first time.  However, I washed 4x with Pureology Clarifying Shampoo (ok per her) and didn't put any product in my hair.  After I blow dried my hair, I flat ironed it (also per her).  She didn't say that my hair wasn't prepped correctly, and I feel that as the professional, if there was any doubt in her mind, she should not have gone forward with placing the extensions.  At any rate, I met w/ her again today, as I'd lost more bonds in 8 hrs and realized I wasn't going to be able to do next Sat due to a prior commitment.  Then she tells me that she won't be able to put in the other 2 add'l bundles since I didn't pay for those to begin with, but would only charge me for the hair, not the labor.  That just didn't sit right w/ me.  First of all, I found out that the bundles of hair only cost $40-48.  She charges $125 but that does include labor.  But do the math....I got 5 bundles placed.  Lets say (for easy math) that the bundles cost $50.  With only 5 bundles, that's only $250!!  Add labor to that-maybe $500?  That's still only $750!!!  I paid $1500, plus a $300 tip!  I confronted her today about the cost---someone made approx $700 off me!  Then she tells me that she gets nothing off doing extensions!!!  I told her she makes a nice tip off everyone getting extensions, and someone is still making a huge profit!!  She told me that when she took the GL class, they were told that if they charge less than $1500, they could lose their certification.  Does anyone know if this is true?  I know other GL certified salons charge slightly less ($1200) so don't know how they could do that and not lose their certification!  She said that GL told the class that they must charge a large amt to separate GL from the other types of extensions out there.  In fact, she said that someone said they should charge not less than $3000!!!  I strongly feel that since I paid so much money for a product that was supposed to be nice, soft, silky, "tangle free," and last 6+ months if I take care of them, GL should refund my money 100%!  But instead, now I have to pay add'l money for 2 more bundles.  At the very least, GL should cover the cost of those 2 extra bundles.  I don't know that my stylist will provide me with the GL rep or an address for GL, as there is NO info on the official GL website.  You simply cannot contact them.  So, if anyone out there has a # or contact for me, I'd really appreciate it.  I want to report them to the BBB, or at the very least dispute the charges on my credit card.  I have a feeling that GL won't make any attempt to make this right.  My bonds continue to fall out at a rate of 5-6/day, and my hair is just stringy and see through and doesn't tangle---it knots.  It's horrible. I dread brushing it because it's just one big giant knot.  Please, I'm begging anyone who can help me or may have any ideas to please let me know.  I don't want GL to get away w/ this. 

Also, for the person who asked, I live in Denver.  We have a very dry climate out here.  I condition my hair, but have to be careful because my own hair is very fine and of course my GL hair doesn't respond to any conditioner.  Also, what are socaps?  Oh, and for the person who asked how my stylist placed the GL extensions--she used the warm fusion with the GL machine.  The bonds are very different.  Some are flat, some are thick and round, some are hard, some are soft, most are peeling and showing white stuff so it looks like I have dandruff.  And I can literally slide the bonds out myself.  They just slide down my hair. 

At this point, I think your best option is to take her to court.  You should be able to file a claim in small claims court there.  For small claims court, you don't need an attorney, the filing fee is small (usually less than $50), and you can ask for all your money back.  If you have to go to another salon to have the problems with your hair corrected, you can claim that as damages as well.

It's a breach of contract case.  Bring any copies of care instructions, advertisements, etc with you.  You can even print out the GL website.

It sounds like your extensionist is either completely stupid, or completely crooked, but you shouldn't let her get away with charging you more to fix your extensions.

That is just sickening!  I wouldn't pay that woman another cent.  By the time she is able to work you in you will need an entire new install.  You may be happier with the hair out than having to deal with the tangling and knotting!

Yep, if I were you, I would get all my "evidence", including any eye witnesses and forget getting them fixed...at least by her.  Chalk it up to experience, then prepare to fight.  I wouldn't let that woman near my hair again.  The bonds should be very uniform, the fact that they are not is showing at least a lack of experiene and knowledge or sloppy work by the stylist.  Fine charge for the hair...but she should not charge for the labor...SHE can take up her issues with GL directly not charge you! 

Maybe I am just jaded, but what's to say that she charges you for all of this then gets some kind of refund from GL and doesn't pass it on to you?  At least if she is out the $$ herself she is more likely to persue the issue.  She should take care of your issues as a matter of customer service.  It sounds like as busy as she is, she may not think that it matters whether you are unhappy or not...people are still walking through the door, she may have morphed into having $$ for eyes and that is all she can see.  You just never know...