A young woman, skilled at coloring her own hair for years, decided to give her brother subtle lighter highlights using affordable box products, and he loved the sun-kissed result on his dark brown locks. When the tone started turning brassy after fading, the siblings headed to a nearby beauty supply store for a simple toner to refresh it without further lightening.
The moment soured instantly as the employee cut them off mid-question, launched into a harsh lecture against applying any toner, and warned dramatically that mentioning box dye would trigger a major meltdown. Treated like clueless kids and refused any real advice, the frustrated sister loudly chose to shop elsewhere instead, then posted an honest negative review about the condescending encounter.
A woman left a bad review after rude treatment from a beauty store employee over DIY hair toner.
Stepping into a beauty supply store for advice should feel like chatting with a helpful friend, not auditioning for a drama series. Yet that’s exactly what happened when a knowledgeable young Redditor sought toner recommendations, only to face interruption, condescension, and outright dismissal.
Professionals often caution against box dyes because they’re one-size-fits-all formulas with stronger developers that can lead to more damage over time compared to customized salon mixes. The employee’s concern about further processing already-treated hair isn’t entirely off-base. Repeated bleaching risks dryness and breakage. But delivery matters hugely. Scaring customers or refusing to listen turns helpful guidance into gatekeeping.
Flip the script, and the Redditor’s frustration makes total sense. She’d successfully used box toner before, proving it could work for her brother’s subtle refresh without more lightening. Being young shouldn’t mean being treated like amateurs, especially when the goal was simply cooling brassiness, not a total overhaul.
This ties into bigger customer service dynamics in retail. Rudeness or apathy drives away business fast. Data shows one in three customers will leave a brand after just one bad interaction. In beauty retail, where trust and approachability sell products, condescending attitudes can tank reviews and loyalty.
Psychologist Hans Steiner, emeritus professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, notes on incivility in service roles: “People feel almost entitled to be rude to people who are not in a position of power.” While this often describes rude customers, it highlights how power imbalances fuel poor interactions either way. Here, the employee wielded “expert” status harshly.
Neutral ground? Share knowledge kindly without judgment. Many can’t afford frequent salon visits due to costs, scheduling, or other life factors.
A better approach: explain risks calmly, suggest alternatives, and let customers decide. It’s their hair, after all! Open dialogue builds trust and might even turn DIY fans into occasional clients.
Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:
Some people believe the employee’s behavior was outright rude and unprofessional.
Some hairstylists emphasize non-judgmental support for customers who do their own hair.
Others argue the employee’s rudeness justified consequences like job risk or bad reviews.
This beauty store blunder reminds us that great service is about respect and helpfulness, not scare tactics, even when opinions on box dye differ. The Redditor stood up for herself without escalating in-person, but the review sparked job-risk worries.
Do you think her feedback was fair play against rude treatment, or did it cross into petty territory? Would better employee training prevent these clashes, and how would you handle seeking advice from a dismissive “expert”? Share your thoughts below, we’re all ears!
