Bliss, A Salon Experience in Pinehurst, NC

Reported for credit card fraud. I had one horrible haircut by Baxter McDaniel about 7 weeks ago...he charged $200 to ruin my hair. I emailed him twice about 2 weeks later, with photos, and let him know I was never coming back. Then a few days ago, he charged credit card I initially used for $450...for a missed appointment.  I already cancelled. Has not replied to multiple emails, phone goes to full mailbox. I went there to speak to him in person..Bliss was shut down by Moore County Sheriff, per sign on locked door. My credit card company dealing with the fraud. I have photos/copies proof

My appointment was on 27 Feb 23. I have a pixie cut. I went to get my hair lightened, toned, and cut. My appointment was at 1200pm. I arrived on time and Baxter and his husband arrived at the same time as I did. I was their only client of the day. I had to wait for 45 min before he started on my hair. He did the services I asked for, and I purchased products. I advised him I was going on a military deployment and could he recommend products I could use to help keep my color.
He offered to buy me products from a salon supply store. At the end of the appointment, I went to pay and I was charged roughly $1100. Part of this was for the products he offered to purchase for me, I paid in advance. I was all alone in the shop with 2 men, I felt cornered and had already heard they had a client previously who felt overcharged and didn't want to pay so they called the police. Baxter actually confirmed this was true.
I was so stunned that I just paid and left. I wasn't even given an itemized receipt of what I paid for. I left the shop with products that, according to their website link for the same products, should have totaled roughly $250. So this leaves approx $800-900 dollars I can't account for. Their price list also does not reflect what I should have been charged. When I left and saw my hair in the daylight, it was blue. My haircut was patchy and uneven. The owner offered to "fix" my hair but at this point, I didn't trust them. I ended up going to KARMA SPA and SALON in Southern Pines to get my color correct. I ended asked for a refund on the products they purchased for me because I no longer needed them. They never answered me about getting a refund on the products I never picked up, so I recently asked for the products and have gotten no answer or response.
I tried to dispute the charge with AMEX for at least $600 I can't account for it. I also contacted the salon multiple times and they are ignoring me. AMEX denied my dispute because the owner managed to produce an itemized receipt. I asked for the same receipt 7 days ago and they are still not answering me. I want to see the itemized receipt they managed to produce for AMEX and I want the products they purchased for me with my money, which I don't have. I can produce text messages to back up all of this.
In addition, while I was in the salon, they were on speaker phone with NORDSTROM trying to get their card unblocked because their payment was late. They wanted to go shopping later that day and weren't able to use their NORDSTROM card, so at this point, I am feeling completely taken advantage of and was grossly overcharged for their financial benefit. Let's not talk about how unprofessional it was to have this conversation at a "high-end salon" as they said this multiple times, in front of a client.
I also won't mention the piles of dirty bowls and hair tools I saw in the sink by the bathroom. I am hoping to god they didn't use those to mix my products for my hair.
They have not heard the last of me I can tell you this. I have read more than 5-6 reviews so far with the same exact story. And to me, it seems they have a tendency to only have one client at a time so they can basically run their scam and overcharge and the person now feels uncomfortable and is forced to pay.

Price gauging! Their website says $55+ for a haircut and $130+ for full highlights.  My bill was $620!!!!  I have very fine short hair so there is no reason they should charge me this amount. This charge is more than double that what any high end salon would charge.   I thought he was joking at first!  When I refused to pay that amount, he said "you'll pay it or I'll call the police". So I told him I'd wait while he called the police.  While we were waiting for the police to arrive, Baxter called me several obscenities and behaved in the most unprofessional manner I've ever seen.  Ultimately, I paid a partial payment as the police stood by and they said they'd bill me for the rest.  I will be taking them to small claims court just on principle alone.  

In addition to the price gauging and lack of professionalism, I waited 40 minutes beyond my appointment time for them to even get started and the process took more than 4 hours because they had two other customers in the salon with no other stylists.  So they overbook appointments then make the client wait.  Their no-show policy is horrendous as well.  If you no-show they charge your credit card 300% of the already ridiculous fees.   Worst salon in town, steer clear!!!

Unfortunately, this service went very, very wrong. I signed up on the website for a partial highlight and haircut. My appointment was at 7:30 PM. They were able to take me at 8:30 PM. The facility is nice and I was offered two glasses of wine, which was great (and I had a book, so the waiting wasn't bad).

My hair was chest length, dirty blonde, and my last highlights were grown out (but were done at a reputable salon in town). I showed Baxter a picture of what I was looking for and explained that I wanted warm/natural highlights, easier for upkeep, and less of the brassy/light blonde I had over the summer. He said he knew exactly what I was asking for and he went to mix up color.

Him and his partner foiled the front of my hair (I'd say probably 10 foils, estimating) and then "painted" the back/under the head. I was told I would process for 15 minutes and then he washed me out.

The wash/head massage was great and the chair vibrates, a total plus. I'll also note that the comradery was great as well and I really enjoyed chatting with them/laughing.

They blow dried/curled my hair and I went to check out. It was around 11:30-11:45 PM at this point. I bought a $43 serum. When they rang me up, they told me it would be $770 dollars. I obviously said what? and they explained it would be higher this initial time, but future appointments would not be. I felt overwhelmed, it was late, I was alone in the salon, so I tipped and paid. The total for my highlight and haircut, with the product and tip was $920 dollars.

After I left, I contacted Baxter about providing an itemized receipt because I think there was an error. He was very busy and kept saying he would check the computer and get back to me, which was fine, but never did he say the total was wrong, even when I mentioned it multiple times. Baxter eventually provided the receipts (after threatening legal action), and he charged me $575 (before tip, any other services, products) for a highlight and cut. He says the website states "Corrective Color-$75+100+ per hour, consultation required" and this is what he was billing under, even though there was no discussion of an hourly rate or a consultation.

While I plan to dispute the charge further (and Baxter told me not to contact him again or I'd be trespassing), I think I'll leave this open to the court of public opinion...what would you have done if you were me? Is $575 or $770 or $920 a reasonable cost for a haircut/highlight in Moore County NC? Is this a scam?

Not to mention, end result picture next (which also needs a corrective treatment, ironically).