Alice Rocks

I have curly hair and have been thinking for a long time now that I wanted a fringe. I’d made my mind up, I was very happy with my decision and a friend who also has curly hair and a fringe recommended I go to Alice Rocks as she was very happy with hers.
I sat down on the chair and explained what I wanted to the guy and he gave me a dirty look and said he thought I was crazy, he then proceeded to give me a half hour lecture, said he liked my hair he way it was and seemed pretty angry, he also mocked me to the other hairdressers and customers in the shop. Finally I said if he didn’t want to do it I would go somewhere else. He did it, took five minutes, didn’t really try with it. I’m happy with it but I’m definitely going to need to make some adjustments myself.
I found him very patronising and the whole experience made me uncomfortable.

This place is a joke! I passed this place the other day and thought it looked great from the outside, I walked in to find out more and was greeted with blank stares, not a warm smile you’d usually expect! I asked for a price list, and the girl (who was slouched on a chair and who didn’t even bother to get up and greet me) said that they didn’t have one to give out, I asked if they had a website I could look at and she said no. She offered to read me their prices, are they kidding? Does she expect me to take notes! The girl wasn’t very friendly or helpful. Clearly they don’t want new clients!

This place has been on mind for a while after I spotted it when I went along to the Artisan Roast Unilocal night, then Mr Chris D. made a visit and has been raving ever since.
Called up last week and booked myself in for a cheeky wee appt on the Sat. I was quite excited as the place looks funky and this was a chance to see for myself if Alice really does rock.
I decided to drive in but regretted the decision when I found out that most of the parking round about was residential permits only so I thought best to grab a space on Gibson Street. Managed to finally get one, über busy and if I’ve been before it’s normally in the evening so no probs at all. I also didn’t realise it was a 3 hour restriction with no return. Eep! I just hoped I could get all I wanted within the 3 hours, I know it normally takes along time for me.
Went in about 10 – 15 minutes early and I didn’t need to wait long when I was suitably gowned up and sitting waiting in front of the mirror for my colour technician Joanne.
The place was absolutely heaving, my wee wait gave me time to take it all in. It’s got 3 floors, ground, a mezzaine level and and a lower ground which I presume to be the staff area. There was quite a few stations some on the mezzaine. The place had a funky design not your typical hairdresser type and definitely not a snobby ‘West End’ joint either so felt quite chilled.
Joanne came over and I explained I like my colours whacky so knew I would need bleached. I explained I normally have black with really a really bright colour all underneath and one big panel at the front. I had been a really bright red all over for a while which had faded a lot so I wanted brightened and spruced up. I was quite keen to move away from the red and have a really vibrant pink/​purple colour, I had been thinking berries for quite sometime now. Joanne brought over a colour chart and I spotted a pink/​purple straight away that I liked.
Joanne got straight in and started bleaching but she put in more panels than my usual one at the front, so I thought ach why not. She bleached the underneath, not as much as I usually have but I thought it might work as I have many layers already in my hair, so you’ll be able to see it.
Went through the stingy process. Ouch! No pain no gain! Then Joanne suggestion of having the full colour through my hair appealed so I had Carly wash my hair and add the pink/​purple through my hair. It looked like it was going to really über bright.
I sat chilling while I developed, I had been looked after with cups of tea and magazines, I also enjoyed listening in to the banter. Just couldn’t believe how busy they were, shuffling people around to make sure everybody was attended to.
After a while Carly came back over and rinsed me off and gave me a quick head massage which was appreciated as my head was a wee bit nippy from the product. Joanne popped over, while I was getting my hair washed, to see how the coloured look and seemed pleased. I explained I didn’t want a cut as I only had it cut last month and I’m trying to grow it.
I was really looking forward to seeing the results. My face was quite pink from the dye which I wasn’t too bothered about as I know it will eventually come off, Carly did her best to remove it for me. Carly did the drying and straightning for me and just in time for me to get my car. I set my alarm just over 5 mins before I needed to get it.
Once dried I did think it looked a lot darker than I thought and when Carly was showing me the back there was a bit of black in it too. I couldn’t really see my bright panels as I’d hoped. I hadn’t realised that Joanne had been putting black in it and one of the bleached panels is hidden underneath my side shed. I quite like to see it especially when I put my hair in my usual style. I think she maybe misunderstood me when I explained how I normally have it, hence putting black in it.
I went to pay and I had went out the way to get a Sumo card, that was quite an ordeal to get. It had said online that I could get 40% off colour. I knew it would be quite expensive to get my hair done and saw online that AR took the Sumo card. When I produced it though they said they didn’t. I wouldn’t have went to all the hassle of getting it if I knew they didn’t except it. They did apologise but they did make up it up to me which I’m very grateful.
When I got home and went out that night people were commenting on it but saying how very dark I’d went but that’s not what I had wanted. It is a lot lot darker than I’d normally have it. People hadn’t even realised I had it bleached underneath or that I had panels through the top.
I’m a bit disappointed but I can’t fault them on the good job they did do but maybe with it being really busy my idea got a bit lost. I think if I did go back I would go back on a quieter day.