I have been a regular customer of the Hair Cuttery locations in Clinton and Waldorf Maryland for over ten years.
This past Sunday I decided to take my five year old daughter to have her hair washed, trimmed, and blowdry. A service she has received on several occasions from the Smallwood Village location in Waldorf. The pricing for such a service is $16 for children under eight.
The stylist and I discussed my requests in detail, I even asked for a deep conditioner treatment which is an additional $7. The stylist then washed and conditioned my daughters hair. As I sat in the waiting area I watched a Caucasian teenager of about twelve or thirteen years of age receive blowdry service on hair that reached the middle of her back and pay $19 at the register.
When the stylist proceeded to bring the catalog of prices to point out the service would cost me $38 my reply was that she's a child and the fee should be the $16 that was at the top of the catalog.
The stylist was flustered but went to talk to her associates. I walked over to inquire of any problem. Another stylist repeated the $38 fee and referred me to the Assistant manager.
The assistant manager stated that because my daughter has natural hair it is difficult to blow dry and the cost is set at $38. The assistant manager stated they have a pricing catalog to follow and they have to charge what is in the book. I stated that a child's service costs less than an adult's. Her reply was that they must charge what is in the book.
This made no sense to me, the book clearly stated the service for a child is $16.
As I became increasingly embaressed, I requested a trim while wet; I was told the cut would be uneven and blowdry service was necessary to even comb through my daughter's hair and the cost for my child's service is $38.
I was insulted and my daughter was extremely upset. We left the shop with my daughter's hair wet and uncombed because I knew the Hair Cuttery was attempting to overcharge me.
The child's wash, cut, and blowdry service for $16 is not applicable to my daughter because she has natural hair.
The Hair Cuttery should practice one set fee for all types of hair. These practices are discriminatory and illegal.
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