Pros 
Cons A Mixed Bag of Clips and Complaints: Understanding the Modern Cut Experience
Modern Cut, located in Craigieburn Central, presents a decidedly mixed picture based on recent customer feedback. With an overall rating of 3.60, it’s clear that experiences vary significantly, swinging from glowing praise for specific stylists to strong dissatisfaction with haircut quality and pricing practices. The salon boasts convenient accessibility features – wheelchair-accessible car parking and entrance – and accepts debit and NFC mobile payments, alongside catering to families with a ‘good for kids’ designation. However, the recurring themes in reviews point to inconsistencies that prospective clients should be aware of.
Here's a breakdown of what customers are saying:
- The Kafeya Factor: A significant number of positive reviews single out Kafeya as a standout stylist. Clients consistently praise her skill in highlights, foils, and colour treatments, describing her work as "lovely and talented." One satisfied customer notes they "will surely continue to see Kafeya," and another specifically thanked her for an “amazing haircut” and artistic skill.
- Pricing Concerns: A recurring complaint revolves around inconsistent and potentially inflated pricing. Multiple reviewers allege being overcharged, with one reporting a $110 bill for a basic wash, cut, and blowave – a price they deemed “outrageous.” Another customer recounted being initially charged $75 for a cut and blow wave, despite advertising a $70 price point. The frequency of these complaints raises questions around transparency and potentially opportunistic billing practices. Reports of EFT machines “not working” also fuel suspicion of cash-based discrepancies.
- Haircut Disasters: Several customers report significantly negative experiences with haircuts, particularly from female barbers. One reviewer detailed a disastrous experience with uneven layers and unwanted bangs after specifically requesting a trim, resulting in a style they now tie up to hide. Another described their nephew also experiencing a ruined haircut at the same salon. These instances highlight a concern regarding technical skill and adherence to client requests.
Style & Services: What Does Modern Cut Offer?
Modern Cut offers a range of standard hair salon services, including cuts, colours, styling, washes, blow-dries and foiling. They are open seven days a week, with extended hours on Thursdays and Fridays (until 9 pm). This broad availability is a definite plus for customers with busy schedules.
Here's a snapshot of service availability and potential issues extrapolated from reviews:
| Service | Generally Reported Quality | Potential Issues |
|---|---|---|
| Highlights/Foils | Excellent (with Kafeya) | - |
| Colour | Good (with Kafeya) | - |
| Cuts (Female Barbers) | Poor | Uneven layers, mismatched styles, not listening to requests |
| Cuts (General) | Average/Good | Potential overcharging |
| Wash & Blowdry | Average | Scalp burns reported, differing charges based on hair texture |
| Styling | Good | - |
It’s important to note the apparent discrepancy in service quality depending on the stylist. The salon’s ability to consistently deliver quality cuts across all staff appears to be a point of concern.
Customer Service & Communication: A Troubling Trend?
Beyond technical skills, customer service frequently emerges as a problematic area. Multiple reviews point to communication breakdowns, with stylists allegedly not listening to instructions or proceeding despite being asked to stop. One customer was particularly upset that a stylist continued to cut their hair shorter even after a direct request to refrain from doing so.
Furthermore, there are concerning allegations of staff speaking negatively about customers in another language, creating an uncomfortable and unwelcoming environment. One reviewer expressed feeling unacceptable for not understanding the conversation and questioned the salon's cultural sensitivity.
Here's a summary of issues, ranked by frequency:
- Lack of Listening: Stylists not following instructions or disregarding client preferences.
- Poor Communication: General difficulties in articulating service details and expectations.
- Negative Talk: Staff speaking critically about customers in a language the customer doesn't understand.
- Dismissive Attitude: A perceived lack of accountability for mistakes or willingness to rectify issues.
Facilities & Accessibility: A Welcoming Space… with Caveats
Modern Cut's facilities appear reasonably well-equipped to cater to a diverse clientele. The wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance are commendable, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity. The 'good for kids' designation indicates a family-friendly atmosphere. However, the positive aspects of accessibility are overshadowed by the complaints regarding potentially discriminatory practices relating to hair texture and associated pricing.
The incident involving a customer with differently-textured hair being quoted a significantly higher price ($80 for a wash and blowdry) and the assertion that the owner hasn’t trained staff on how to handle diverse hair types indicates a possible bias and a lack of professional development. The addition of a reported scalp burn adds serious weight to the concerns surrounding technical competency when dealing with hair that isn’t traditionally ‘straight’ or ‘easy’ to manage.
The salon accepts debit cards and NFC mobile payments, but several customers have noted difficulties using EFT/card payments, leading to suspicion of an attempt to encourage cash transactions.
In essence, while the physical space offers accessibility, the overall experience may not feel welcoming or equitable for all customers.