Rob Rivers The Salon & Spa in Mystic, CT

Let me start this review by saying that I have been a long time customer (~10 years) of Rob Rivers at their Mystic, CT location.  in general, I have found them to be mostly professional, skilled and contemporary.

But my opinion recently changed.

Let me also say that I am a career scientist in the pharmaceutical industry, with a PhD and 20+ years of experience; and, as most people with my background in this small geography, I was once (but not currently) employed by Pfizer.

In my recent visit to this salon, I had the distinct pleasure of having my stylist explain to me - multiple times - how and why the COVID vaccine doesn't work.  Now, of course, I most certainly know better - and would pit my scientific education and expertise in drug development against hers every day (and twice on Sundays) - but in a geography in which the developer of the pre-eminent COVID vaccine is literally right in your backyard, I find this to be (at best) bad business and (at worst) downright insulting.  After giving my stylist my best "death stare" (as my husband calls it), she continued to rant on political topics until I literally could barely leave without causing a scene.

Having great, brilliant friends who have worked on COVID programs at Pfizer (and who have also historically been clients of this salon AND who have also heard the same political BS mumbo-jumbo that I heard while also spending their hard-earned money for these "premium services"), I take great personal offense to a local business who is quite literally tone deaf to our current climate.  

Personally, I no longer choose to patronize businesses who so blatantly allow their employees to use their chair to spread their ignorant, politically-motivated viewpoints.  Thanks to the supreme court - and a bakery that didn't want to bake a wedding cake for a homosexual couple - businesses have the right to do business with whomever they choose, and this business has clearly decided where to put their stake in the sand.  As a consumer, I have the option of voting with my pocketbook, but want to make sure that other consumers are empowered by the same information so they can likewise make their own decision.  People are dying every day because of the spread of ignorant dis-information and I am, quite frankly, done.

Had my wedding party there for hair and make up - Samantha did my hair and Maeghan did my make up. Both came out great they also did hair for my bridesmaids and 3 other family members and make up for the bridesmaids and my mom. They were on time and were very accommodating with everything (including my photographer running around taking pics of everyone). Everyone was very friendly and the wedding coordinator (Bethany) was also very helpful getting everything set up.

I've been going to Rob Rivers for a few years now and until recently have never been disappointed. When I made my appointment I was very specific about the highlights I wanted and that they should consult Lisa, my hairdresser, as she did it before and would know it would be time consuming. Also, to allow time for a haircut after as well. When I got there I showed her a picture of what I wanted and she said she still had notes from last time. I assumed it would go well from there and I would be as happy as I was last time. I was wrong. Halfway through the highlighting she said there may not be time to do my haircut. I expressed my disappointment and asked if anything could be done. I was moved out of the chair to watch her do another customer still not knowing. Back in the chair another hairdresser came by and commented, "Only a few highlights, huh?" I thought that was very rude and told Lisa how specific I was when I made the appointment. She checked the computer and it was put in as standard highlights. After spending the whole time telling desk personnel, staff, and Lisa I wanted wide, bold highlights like last time, showing everyone the picture, I ended up with a faint set of thin regular highlights that could only be seen on the underside of my hair. She ended up doing the haircut and styling nothing at all like I asked for. No layers when she said she would put in layers etc. The color of the highlights and lowlights was not close either. I left stressed, upset, and confused. After looking at it at home realizing I couldn't even tell I had it done and having other people and hairdressers tell me for $250 I should get exactly what I wanted I returned and expressed my disappointment the next morning. They scheduled me in to "fix" it. What I left with was a few more thin highlights added to the top. This being the short story of it all, needless to say I will never return there again!

I cannot say enough about my experience at Rob Rivers. The staff is very welcoming, the location is absolutely beautiful and my stylist Ellen Mackin is the best of the best. Ellen always takes the time to discuss what you are looking for the minute you sit down in her chair and explains every detail of what she is doing and WHY. I have well water at my home and Ellen offered suggestions of product and shower filters to use to improve the health of my hair and make my color last as it should. Ellen is in the know and up on the latest trends in cut and color and I always like to let her do her thing with my hair. I am one of those who tends to wait too long to return so it's more work than it needs to be for her, but she always makes me feel like a million bucks when walking out the door. I would rather pay a few extra bucks to get my service at Rob Rivers than at other salons who sometimes have stylists who try to service more than one person at at time. At Rob Rivers your time is your time and dedicated to YOU! Thanks Rob Rivers and Ellen! Kudos to YOU!

I am very rarely motivated to post over over disappointing results, especially if the staff is even moderately well-meaning and makes an obvious effort, but I do feel more compelled to comment when I think poor service rises to the level of unprofessionalism. In this case, I basically came in for a trim and also hoping to clean up the remnants of a poor previous cut. When I sat down to consult with the hairstylist casually, I found her to be fairly defensive and officious, making it difficult to articulate any changes I was hoping for. I quickly saw that there was no point in pursuing the conversation, which was almost becoming combative. The haircut was fine--just not quite what I had had in mind--and left me thinking that I'd have to wait until the next round to get my hair really cleaned up. I have only been to this salon twice and would not choose to return, at least not to this particular hairstylist--mostly to avoid repeating the communication problems that I mentioned.