Ruby Salon in Annapolis, MD

I wanted to share my experience I had with Steven at his "temp" location. I'm a new client and found Ruby Salon searching the internet (bad idea). I was prepared for my appointment I had a picture of a cut and color saved to my phone. When showing Steven the picture he seemed like he understood what I wanted; chin length cool blonde almost platinum hair with some low lights added so it wouldn't be such high maintenance on keeping the color up. My hair was already previously bleached and toned to the lightest blonde but needed the warmth taken out (I mentioned I do not like the gold tone in my hair) and the length was just above shoulders. Steven repeated what I wanted and went to mix the color. During the foiling process Steven showed no interest in trying to engage, which was fine since I'm not big on making small talk. Once my hair was processed rinsed and shampooed I went back to his station and looked in the mirror and noticed my hair still had very warm (gold) tones and the foiling sections looked very thick and stripy, I gasped at the sight of my hair but thought it's still wet and not parted the way I normally part it so I didn't say anything. He turns me away from the mirror and starts sectioning my hair to cut it. He starts in the back and at first it felt like he was getting the length right but then he started using the thinning shears A LOT. I hate thinning shears and as a stylist myself (that's right you heard correctly) don't use thinning shears especially on bleached hair! He continued to cut my sides and that's when I really stared to notice how short he was going and he continued to use thinning shears! Mind you this whole time I did not see my hair because I was turned away from the mirror. He then started to blow dry and round brush my now very short hair, he then adds product and turns me to face the mirror.... I couldn't believe what I saw. He completely messed up my hair cut color and OMG style. I don't even know or have a reference to what decade that style was from, maybe 90's. I was in shock! I told him "wow this is really short and the color is not right". He said "oh I guess I should've looked at the picture again before cutting" , you think, or maybe talk to your client! Then he asked well what about the color do you like that I said NO but I'll make it work. Thankfully he did not charge me for the cut but it didn't make up for the humility I felt leaving the salon! My husband was very sweet and said it looks nice. We get to the car and he said "why would he have styled your hair like that? " I'm wondering this as well! Later that evening I washed it and checked over everything, I'm a hairstylist. I noticed some of the low lights didn't go to the ends of my hair and that the low lights did not match my natural at all (ashy level 6) it was a warm level maybe 7, the blonde still looked the same (very warm) except where he foiled in bleach his foils bled and the sections are very blotchy. I usually don't tell stylist I'm also a hair stylist because it makes them nervous but I'm thinking maybe I should've said something.

I've been hesitant to write a review only because I have never wrote a review before but the more I think about it and discuss it with other hair stylist friends of mine, the more I've decided how important this is for customers AND this business. My best friend has been a client of Kelly for years now and has always had a great experience. After some time of her telling me to go see her, I called to make an appointment but she was busy so I agreed to schedule with JP. The appointment was on my actual birthday so I was super excited to have my hair done for my big day and to feel pretty for my plans. My experience was the COMPLETE opposite from the second JP arrived (late , too btw). When he arrived, he opened the door, glared at me through his sunglasses without any form of greeting and rudely asked the receptionist "Is THAT all my hair?!" At first I convinced myself there is no way I heard that right and just kept my attitude positive. Next, he had me follow him upstairs without asking me how I was doing or anything, instead I asked him and his response was "crazy." Not sure what that meant but I chuckled and ignored it. When we got upstairs he didn't say "have a seat" but instead walked to his chair, *threw* whatever was on it to another chair and pointed me to have a seat. When I sat down he asked "what are we doing today?" in the most uninterested and monotone way. when I told him he said nothing. I paused waiting for a response but when I didn't get one I offered to show him a picture. WORST PART: with an attitude he now says that what I am asking for would require a full head of highlights. (I would have settled for partial had I known there was a problem) but I agreed that it all sounded fine. He then rolled his eyes and made me sound silly for asking for a price for a full (I've only ever done partial so i didn't even know a ball park price). From then there was another 10 minute awkward silence and he decided to make It even worse by telling me that *grabs my hair and waves it around* "IS NOT NORMAL" and that I SHOULD HAVE told the receptionist when I scheduled an appointment??? I said well, if it makes it any better i did fill out a questionnaire online for an appointment before i decided to call. He told me that "THIS IS A HINT TO YOU, FOR THE NEXT TIME YOU EVER SCHEDULE ANY WHERE that because my hair is "down to my ass" (which it isn't btw) that it was my responsibility to tell them. he then explains that now he has to MOVE HIS next client down because he only has 30 minutes???? All of this after not even introducing himself, asking how my day was, or any sort of warm up was VERY discouraging. I understand he may have been busy that day but this is something the client should not know about, I believe it is between him and the receptionist. I am in the service industry myself and how he spoke down to me about something I had NO CLUE about was absolutely unnecessary and extremely unprofessional. Plus, 30 minutes isn't enough time for a partial at the least?? How he worded everything was so unsettling and at this point I felt extremely uncomfortable. I have never, ever had to explain my hair type when scheduling an appointment and I'd assume if you are doing color you would make enough time for the client regardless My hair is fine and I know i have a lot of it and it is long- but I have only ever gotten compliments on it and I've NEVER made someone annoyed with having to do it??? From this point on JP made zero attempt with conversation other than the very dull question "so... are you in school." THIRTY minutes after the awkward encounter and at that point I didn't even want to engage. I forced myself to smile and be polite for the sake of my hair but my god was it the worst hour and a half I've ever experience sitting in a stylists chair. When I paid i asked the receptionist if i was in the wrong and she said absolutely not, and was SO embarrassed and upset for me that she offered me three free hair products. She made me feel better for that but i still felt sad and my birthday was sort of ruined. My hair is a lot blonder from having a full, but by no means does it look good. It has a yellow tint and the highlights in the most focal part of my head are stripy and rushed. all in all I am entirely displeased with my birthday experience here with this stylist at Ruby and I am so disappointed to the point of 1. Never returning and 2. Encourage everyone I ever talk to to never book this place. (Since there was absolutely no attempt to help the situation by Kelly or anyone else)

Ruby was a good place for a few years but has gotten too big and greedy and forgotten how to take care of their customers. Now the staff is overworked, the place is crowded and appointment times are ignored. Do yourself a favor and take your business to a place that appreciates your business and respects your time.

If a male is doing your spray tan, it's super neglect on the receptionist part not to disclose this up front. I've read a number of Yelp reviews as it relates to this situation with Ruby Salon. Women coming in with intent to be tanned with little or nothing on only to find out that JP is the one doing their service. And it's only YOU and HIM in the room. The entire experience is awkward to say the least and I ain't no prude! But really don't care to have a young man looking at my middle aged backside in a thong! Additionally, the spray tan itself was quick in comparison to others that I've had, most recently this morning with tech, Brittney, at "Face It Spa and Wellness" in Severna Park. The latter being very thorough taking place in a nice room vs something less than aesthetically pleasing. Not to mention, NO window coverings for Pete's sake!! And an office building directly across for all to see :( Last but not least, the tan didn't last but only a few days - can do better in a self-tanning booth for 1/2 the price. Skip this one. Better offerings by females in the area!!

update: the owner and receptionist saw my review and were honestly really quick to rectify the situation. They were sympathetic and very apologetic for what had happened and took necessary steps to remedy what had happened which was impressive to see. Clearly a reputable salon from how much they cared and wanted to fix what had happened.