Pros 
Cons A Mixed Bag of Experiences: Decoding the Buzz Around Beauty & the Barber
Beauty & the Barber, located in Werribee, currently boasts a solid 4.6-star rating, which initially paints a picture of a reputable salon. However, a deeper dive into customer reviews reveals a surprisingly inconsistent experience. While some patrons rave about the friendly staff and excellent results, others recount frustrating encounters with poor service, botched colour jobs, and disregarded appointments. The salon appears to cater to a diverse clientele, offering wheelchair accessibility (with accessible parking and entrance) and even welcoming children, accepting various payment methods including credit/debit cards and mobile NFC payments. Booking is strongly recommended, but, as many reviews suggest, doesn’t always guarantee a timely or satisfactory service. Here's a detailed breakdown of what customers are saying:
- The Good: Several customers highlight positive experiences, especially surrounding specific stylists. One reviewer specifically thanked "Mrunali" for consistently delivering satisfaction with hair colour, treatments and cuts, even going the extra mile to accommodate appointments on her days off. Another customer enjoyed an "exceptional experience," praising the welcoming staff, professional barbers, and attention to detail. They described leaving feeling “refreshed and confident."
- The Concerning: A significant number of negative reviews focus on appointment mismanagement and stylist availability. A recurring theme is customers booking appointments with a preferred stylist (often Suraj, seemingly the owner) only to be told upon arrival that the stylist is unavailable – either at another location or simply "not working." This has led to wasted travel time, particularly for customers travelling from further afield (like Sunshine, a 30-minute drive), and significant frustration.
- Accessibility and Convenience: Beauty & the Barber scores points for inclusivity, offering wheelchair accessibility features. Their expansive opening hours (10:30 am - 8 pm, seven days a week) are also a drawcard for those with busy schedules.
- Payment Options: The wide range of payment methods accepted provides convenience to its customers.
Colour Chaos: Where Balayage Dreams Turn into Nightmares
The most alarming – and frequently reported – issue at Beauty & the Barber revolves around hair colouring services. One particularly scathing review details a disastrous balayage attempt. The customer explicitly requested no blonde tones, repeatedly communicating their preference for a dark base with chocolate brown highlights. Despite these clear instructions, the stylist proceeded to bleach the hair, resulting in significant damage to the natural curl pattern, a patchy, unblended colour, and a final result described as resembling a "cheap henna" application.
The salon’s attempted fix – simply recolouring the hair to its original shade – ultimately left the customer with damaged hair and a feeling of being charged $280 for nothing. This raises serious questions about the stylists’ technical expertise and understanding of colour formulation.
Here’s a summary of colour related issues:
| Issue | Frequency | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Incorrect Colour Application | High | Repeated instances of stylists ignoring specific colour requests. |
| Hair Damage | High | Bleaching when specifically requested not to, resulting in damage to natural hair and curl patterns. |
| Poor Blending | Medium | Patchy, unblended results, making the colour look unprofessional. |
| Unsatisfactory Fixes | Medium | Attempts to correct errors often involve simply recolouring the hair, addressing the symptom, not the underlying problem. |
Time is Money: The Appointment Paradox
Beauty & the Barber’s appointment system seems to be a major source of contention. While appointments are highly recommended (and seemingly required), numerous reviews describe significant wait times, even with a pre-booked appointment. Customers consistently report waiting 30 minutes or more, often with little to no communication from staff.
More concerningly, several customers feel their appointments are disregarded altogether, particularly when they’re scheduled with a specific stylist who is then unavailable. A reviewer recounts an experience where they and their wife arrived for an afternoon appointment with a flight to catch, only to be told their stylist had a last-minute emergency.
The underlying issue appears to be overbooking and poor scheduling. The comment, "What’s the point of making an appointment, only one person is available with multiple bookings at the same time,” encapsulates the feeling of many customers. The salon needs to seriously re-evaluate its appointment management system to ensure appointments are honoured and wait times are minimized.
Price vs. Value: Is Beauty & the Barber Worth the Cost?
The cost of services at Beauty & the Barber appears to be a point of contention for some customers. One review highlights a $30 charge for a 10-minute haircut with "not even clean lines," questioning the value for money. The customer contrasted this with their experience at Thai's Salon in Deerpark, where they receive a more thorough haircut with clean lines for a considerably lower price.
While pricing can vary based on stylist experience and service complexity, consistency and quality are crucial. If the salon is charging premium prices, customers expect a corresponding level of skill, attention to detail, and customer service. The reported inconsistencies in service quality suggest that Beauty & the Barber may need to reassess its pricing structure to ensure it reflects the actual value provided.
“$30 for a 10 Min hair cut and not even clean lines. Not sure what's all the hype is about. I always go to Thai's Salon at Deerpark…” – A frustrated customer.