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| - This was my second time at Aura Salon, both times for a highlight. I've been getting my haircut by Toni&Guy almost since I moved to Phoenix 10 years ago and I still think they're the sharpest, most contemporary cuts in the Valley. But I was referred to Aura so I thought I'd try a Color. My Stylist: Nice. My Outcome: Mini-Disaster. But we discussed how to improve the next time so I thought, "Well, the pricing is fair, so okay." Today I had better results. And by "better" I mean nice, but I still have to spend ANOTHER day to go back and get it fixed! (sigh) But here's the rub: I almost had an aneurism checking out when they gave me a total of $93.00! #1 Because this was (surprise?) FIFTY dollars more than I paid the 1st time. #2 Done by a Level ONE Stylist. (Really? Level 1 is $100 bucks?) and #3 Because in asking "huh?" I found out that not only was I 'discounted' the first time I was in, but the new, steep "base" price of $73 apparently doesn't even include mixing TWO colors into the highlight! Oh no, that's "extra!" I've never even had a highlight without two colors sitting on the tray. That's what gives a good color depth and layers. In summary, it was a huge shock on the price structure, not to mention just rid-i-CULOUSLY high for a Level One Stylist, short-hair (PARTIAL!) highlight!!! And I know my pricing. If you're going to pay essentially $110.00 (with standard gratuity), you're going to pay for high-level knowledge and skill, high-level speed and efficiency, and a high-level, beautiful outcome. I got: a nice person still trying to figure it out and not getting it right, inordinate amount of time for single-process, short hair, and an outcome that both times - wasn't as planned or hoped for. Again, that's (sometimes) fine for Level One, but you CANNOT charge the BIG BUCKS. It's just wrong. Even if I was willing to be patient in getting 'the look' right, I certainly wouldn't do it paying those prices. No way, not again.
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