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• bubbles1

  
   

  August 9, 2008 11:34:53 PM CEST

  Dear All,
  
  As a Canadian used to high standards with hair care, I recently experienced the worst hair experience ever @ Thermen Romana in Amstelveen.
  
  http://www.thermenromana.nl/
  
  They are a spa, beauty salon and kapper. I went in with long hair well past my shoulders that was all one length. I made a very careful decision to add layers and spent more than 30 mintues discussing my needs, minimum length requirements etc. I clearly told her that I did not want any lengths to be shorter the below my chin!!!
  
  Imagine my shock when this hairdresser began cutting 6 inches and taking huge chunks out rather than building the shape, layer by layer. While styling it, she (her name Jama) was struggling to get it shape and had to cut more chunks off after it was dry!!!
  
  When I washed it the next day, I noticed that there were chunks in the back that were 3 inches long and freaked out. It has been a week and I still cannot style and have been crying since. I went back on Monday and showed the butchered hair cut to Monique (who is supposed to be the most experienced hair dresser in the place) and she took one look at and confirmed that it was a bad haircut and that it was VERY dry instead of shiny. I told her I wanted a refund as this is NOT what I requested.
  
  She said she could not authorise this but would discuss it with her manager and have her call me back. I was called back on Tue by Marianne who is the manager of the kapper (has 25 years of cutting hair) and she asked to see my hair. So I drove along for her to see and she was also shocked by the state of my hair.
  
  While discussing the bad cut (and burned hair from the bad highlights and colouring done by JAMA) with Mariana, Jama walking in and then claimed that this is what I requested and proceeded to say that I have issues with all hairdressers. Well.... I said i did NOT request chunks in my hair and there was no denying that this was a bad haircut as everyone could clearly see.
  
  I went on Friday to Tony & Guy in Amsterdam (undoubtedly the best hair salon in ALL of Holland) and the girls there were all shocked by the state of the layers and the dryness of my hair structure which was completely burned. My assigned hairdresser at T&G tried her best to add the proper layers for shape but had to cut another 2 inches off and now I HAVE VIRTUALLY NOTHING LESS and am in tears.
  
  Sat my Dutch boyfriend called Romana back and spoke with the manager on duty at the time, Erik Jager, who proceeded to tell me that Jama told him that my hair was messed up before I went there and it was not her fault which is a blantant lie because I have been going to Jama for 3 or 4 times and my hair was all one length and healthy when I started going. The layers were put in by her and nobody else so she is lying to cover her ass. Erik was rude, with an argumentative tone and he denied that any of the stylists acknowledged the bad cut. Therefore this is the reason I am warning everyone not to go there.
  
  I know it will grow but meantime, I have to look at it myself and style it everyday. No doubt, it will take me 1 year to grow it so it can be cut into a style that is somwhat feminine. At the moment, it looks like a bad 60s hair style that is so short I look like a boy.
  
  I want to warn everyone in the expat community to stay away from Romana's in Amstelveen as they are unprofessional, untrained and utterly clueless about modern hairstyles. I am angry & devastated by the state of my hair (both the colour, style and condition) and want to do everything possible to ensure this does not ever happen to anyone else in the region.
  
  Good luck all with your search for the ideal perfect hair experience!!
  
  
• zelle

  
   

  August 18, 2008 2:52:18 PM CEST

  thanks for the warning, I live in Amstelveen and have been tempted to go there a few times.
  Guess I won't.
  If you need suggestions for other hair places in amstelveen, let me know. I am pretty pleased with mine.
• illuminatus

  

  • 1298 posts
   

  August 19, 2008 1:51:47 PM CEST

  
  

  bubbles1 (Aug 9 2008, 08:34 PM) said: > original post
  Dear All,
  
  As a Canadian used to high standards with hair care, I recently experienced the worst hair experience ever @ Thermen Romana in Amstelveen.
  
  http://www.thermenromana.nl/
  
  They are a spa, beauty salon and kapper. I went in with long hair well past my shoulders that was all one length. I made a very careful decision to add layers and spent more than 30 mintues discussing my needs, minimum length requirements etc. I clearly told her that I did not want any lengths to be shorter the below my chin!!!
  
  Imagine my shock when this hairdresser began cutting 6 inches and taking huge chunks out rather than building the shape, layer by layer. While styling it, she (her name Jama) was struggling to get it shape and had to cut more chunks off after it was dry!!!
  
  When I washed it the next day, I noticed that there were chunks in the back that were 3 inches long and freaked out. It has been a week and I still cannot style and have been crying since. I went back on Monday and showed the butchered hair cut to Monique (who is supposed to be the most experienced hair dresser in the place) and she took one look at and confirmed that it was a bad haircut and that it was VERY dry instead of shiny. I told her I wanted a refund as this is NOT what I requested.
  
  She said she could not authorise this but would discuss it with her manager and have her call me back. I was called back on Tue by Marianne who is the manager of the kapper (has 25 years of cutting hair) and she asked to see my hair. So I drove along for her to see and she was also shocked by the state of my hair.
  
  While discussing the bad cut (and burned hair from the bad highlights and colouring done by JAMA) with Mariana, Jama walking in and then claimed that this is what I requested and proceeded to say that I have issues with all hairdressers. Well.... I said i did NOT request chunks in my hair and there was no denying that this was a bad haircut as everyone could clearly see.
  
  I went on Friday to Tony & Guy in Amsterdam (undoubtedly the best hair salon in ALL of Holland) and the girls there were all shocked by the state of the layers and the dryness of my hair structure which was completely burned. My assigned hairdresser at T&G tried her best to add the proper layers for shape but had to cut another 2 inches off and now I HAVE VIRTUALLY NOTHING LESS and am in tears.
  
  Sat my Dutch boyfriend called Romana back and spoke with the manager on duty at the time, Erik Jager, who proceeded to tell me that Jama told him that my hair was messed up before I went there and it was not her fault which is a blantant lie because I have been going to Jama for 3 or 4 times and my hair was all one length and healthy when I started going. The layers were put in by her and nobody else so she is lying to cover her ass. Erik was rude, with an argumentative tone and he denied that any of the stylists acknowledged the bad cut. Therefore this is the reason I am warning everyone not to go there.
  
  I know it will grow but meantime, I have to look at it myself and style it everyday. No doubt, it will take me 1 year to grow it so it can be cut into a style that is somwhat feminine. At the moment, it looks like a bad 60s hair style that is so short I look like a boy.
  
  I want to warn everyone in the expat community to stay away from Romana's in Amstelveen as they are unprofessional, untrained and utterly clueless about modern hairstyles. I am angry & devastated by the state of my hair (both the colour, style and condition) and want to do everything possible to ensure this does not ever happen to anyone else in the region.
  
  Good luck all with your search for the ideal perfect hair experience!!

  
  
  
  
  Why don't you take legal action?
  
  
• platypus

  

  • 1 posts
   

  August 19, 2008 7:04:54 PM CEST

  OMG! That's a terrible thing to happen. I'm so sorry you had this experience. Thank you for warning us.
  
  I've been to Thermen Romana with friends for a girls' spa day and it was very nice. We only had massages and used the spa/sauna facilities but I was happy with the service. I'd been thinking of returning but I think I'll boycott the place after hearing your story.
  
  
  

  illuminatus (Aug 19 2008, 10:51 AM) said: > original post
  Why don't you take legal action?

  
  Possibly a big fat waste of time here. Unfortunately the service mentality here is very different to what many of us are accustomed to and you're likely to just be faced with the same denial and butt covering. I don't think that legal action will achieve much. Normally I believe in complaining because its the only way for them to know what their service is not up to scratch but their reaction shows that couldn't care less about looking after their customers.
• bubbles1

  
   

  August 21, 2008 11:18:57 PM CEST

  Hello Girls,
  
  I just wanted to thank all of you for your kindness and support with understanding my frustrations and disappointment. I would never wish this bad haircut on my worst enemy and am still struggling to look at myself in the mirror without crying after 3 weeks. I read over your comments or supportive words and you all brought a watery smile to my face - THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH !!!
  
  Also, a GIANT thank you for joining me in my quest to boycott Romana's in Amstelveen. I am hoping to spread the word via every source and forum possible until Jama is fired or the kapper is closed down. I have also copied this story to a few Dutch forums and have more to do, where Romana appears in a google search. Please tell EVERYONE AT YOUR WORK AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS so that nobody you care about will become a victim to this hair butcher.
  
  About suing them, I have considered this option as we have the best legal insurance available in NL (DAS) and have informed Romanas of this fact but they do not seem too concerned or bothered and even challenged us to go ahead and do so. I am talking to various contacts and collecting statements from people who are witnesses to the eventual destruction of my hair over the recent months since going to Romana's.
  
  Funny thing, after I posted this warning, I copied it into an email and expressed my utter disgust with Jama's skills, arrogant Erik Jager for his rudeness on the phone & towards Romana in general and sent it off to their email address listed on their website (which I was told in my conversation with Marianne was a valid email address). BUT what a surprise, they are too cowardly to reply and take responsibility for their mistakes and poor service. I must add that they did give me a voucher for the spa but I have not intention of EVER returning to this place.
  
  I see that my posting has been read almost 200 times and this will surely do some damage to their reputation - especially in a small little town like Amstelveen. I will not stop until Jama is fired and I get compensation for the amount that I will be spending to buy new hair and extensions (hopefully getting extensions in the next 2 weeks).
  
  THANK YOU ALL, ONCE AGAIN for your solidarity!! Together the expat community can take a stand and make sure there are consequences for this kind of INEXCUSIBLE service.
  
  Wishing you all a lovely evening!!
  
  Lots of hugs to you all.
• bubbles1

  
   

  August 21, 2008 11:51:47 PM CEST

  
  

  zelle (Aug 18 2008, 11:52 AM) said: > original post
  thanks for the warning, I live in Amstelveen and have been tempted to go there a few times.
  Guess I won't.
  If you need suggestions for other hair places in amstelveen, let me know. I am pretty pleased with mine.

  
  
  
  Hi Zelle - many thanks for your reply and offer for suggestions on hair places in Amstelveen. To be honest, I am giving up on Dutch hairdressers and will go to a Scottish guy that is in Amsterdam, located just a 6 minute walk from Dam Square. He come highly recommended and will try him first.
  
  If that does not work out, I will give you a shout. Of course, if he does not work out, then it means that it has gone terribly wrong and I will likely be bald (LOL ) - still have a sense of humour.
  
  How cool to have a fellow expat in Amstelveen How long have you been in living in Amstelveen?
• bubbles1

  
   

  August 21, 2008 11:56:30 PM CEST

  
  

  platypus (Aug 19 2008, 04:04 PM) said: > original post
  OMG! That's a terrible thing to happen. I'm so sorry you had this experience. Thank you for warning us.
  
  I've been to Thermen Romana with friends for a girls' spa day and it was very nice. We only had massages and used the spa/sauna facilities but I was happy with the service. I'd been thinking of returning but I think I'll boycott the place after hearing your story.
  
  Possibly a big fat waste of time here. Unfortunately the service mentality here is very different to what many of us are accustomed to and you're likely to just be faced with the same denial and butt covering. I don't think that legal action will achieve much. Normally I believe in complaining because its the only way for them to know what their service is not up to scratch but their reaction shows that couldn't care less about looking after their customers.

  
  
  
  Hey Platypus - what brings you to Amstelveen? We should have a "girls" forum night out and have a girlie giggle.
  
  I agree that legal action is a bit time consuming but having legal insurance is VERY useful and I agree with your strategy of complaining to get the message out there. I do that VERY well and have just forwarded Romana a second email informing them the close to 200 people have read my warning online which will have consequences for their business. So I am getting the last laugh.
  
  If we stick together ...
• clickit

  
   

  August 22, 2008 1:33:27 PM CEST

  good on you for doing something about it, I just got a nightmare of a haircut too but havent the time or the energy to follow it with a complaint In fact in the years I have been here I have never once had the haircut I wanted, not once. I was so sick of that so this last time I even took a picture with me of the cut I wanted, and asked to have it a bit longer than in the photo , guess what, its about 3 inches shorter and the layers are a mess, the shape is utterly unlike what was in the example, in fact I doubt she even looked at it. Trouble is you dont know what they are doing till its too late and your hairs on the floor.
  
  I think they just put us in the 'box' they think we belong in and do the only cut the know how to do for that 'category'. Thats why every woman here over 30 has short birds nest gel cuts and/or mens cuts, and every teen has straight layers with a fringe. The rest are still getting the same cut theyve had for the last 20 years.
  
  I so hate my hair, I cant stand looking in a mirror and I cant afford extentions. It has to grow fast and I wont get it cut again till I'm in another country, last decent cut I had was in Italy.
• elizabethmary

  
   

  August 22, 2008 2:33:56 PM CEST

  I think it is a proven fact - and I know I am generalising - that the Dutch just cannot cut hair. They have absolutely no idea on style or how to adapt a style to suit your face/lifestyle. Wont even go into their notion of colouring and highlights let alone blow drying. No care or pride is put into their work and the consequent dreadful haircut robs you of all self esteem and pride in your appearance. Bad enough if you have short hair and get a bad cut, but when you have taken special care in growing your hair only to have some Dutch person totally stuff it up, well, it is the absolute pits. Sympathies to both of you!
  
• maymaud

  
   

  August 22, 2008 5:02:34 PM CEST

  
  

  elizabethmary (Aug 22 2008, 11:33 AM) said: > original post
  I think it is a proven fact - and I know I am generalising - that the Dutch just cannot cut hair. They have absolutely no idea on style or how to adapt a style to suit your face/lifestyle. Wont even go into their notion of colouring and highlights let alone blow drying. No care or pride is put into their work and the consequent dreadful haircut robs you of all self esteem and pride in your appearance. Bad enough if you have short hair and get a bad cut, but when you have taken special care in growing your hair only to have some Dutch person totally stuff it up, well, it is the absolute pits. Sympathies to both of you!

  
  
  
  I was sorry to read your post. I have had quite a few bad haircuts in my time in Holland and as you said - your hair grows again but it's bloody awful during the time you are waiting for it to grow out! I too go to Toni & Guy and in general I find them to be the best hairdressers - at least in Holland. My mum always tells me ''there is only three weeks in a bad haircut'' - meaning that after about three weeks the hair normally starts to look okay again and has grown a little...although that doesn't help the way you feel now of course. I do feel for you as I have come home and howled a number of times in the early days of being here after going to the hairdressers and, like you, giving instructions and even providing photos sometimes of the style I wanted, and coming out with something so different that it was clear the girl hadn't listened/looked at what I had hoped for!!
  
• britty9

  
   

  August 25, 2008 6:16:21 PM CEST

  Wow, no matter how many horror stories I hear, or experience...I still just cannot believe how this stuff happens here. How people argue with their customers like that...it's freaking awful.
  
  I'm actually scared to get my hair done here...I've been here for almost 3 months, I'm going back to Ohio on the 23rd of September and I'll get my hair done in the states. I just feel like..sometimes words get lost in translation and one thing might mean something completely different here, so yeah..I'd rather not take any chances.
• car46

  
   

  August 26, 2008 12:27:34 PM CEST

  Hi
  I feel bad for you and your hair ordeal, I too have had a few bad haircuts here I now have Dutch Hairdressers Phobia I only get my hair done when I travel home.I have curly hair and the hairdressers here cant handle it at all like blowdrying without a brush(why would they do that) also leakin haircolours patches in my parting not coloured after paying a fortune
  Shame on them...
  Respect for standing your ground I will also spread the word on this to my girlfriends in the area
  
• fortuner

  

  • 10421 posts
   

  August 26, 2008 1:15:39 PM CEST

  Oh my goodness, what a horror story. I haven't been to the hairdressers since I moved here as I thought it best/cheaper to cut my own hair as it's so short anyway, well, what's left of it! Guess I should be grateful...
  Actually, I never did like my hair anyway, always seemed to me to be just an irritatingly dry itchy, scaly, dandruffy, greasy horrible mess anyway...
• illuminatus

  

  • 1298 posts
   

  August 27, 2008 4:04:19 PM CEST

  
  

  wesleynl (Aug 26 2008, 10:15 AM) said: > original post
  
  Actually, I never did like my hair anyway, always seemed to me to be just an irritatingly dry itchy, scaly, dandruffy, greasy horrible mess anyway...

  
  
  
  Try this wesley:
  
  
• fortuner

  

  • 10421 posts
   

  August 27, 2008 4:22:27 PM CEST

  
  

  illuminatus (Aug 27 2008, 02:04 PM) said: > original post
  Try this wesley:
  
  

  
  
  Because I haven't got grey hair, yet... what's left of it anyway.
• Deleted Member

  

  • 5427 posts
   

  August 27, 2008 4:24:33 PM CEST

  Don't be so worried !
  I'll do your hair for FREE!
  I do an excellent short back and sides!
• bubbles1

  
   

  September 13, 2008 12:40:16 AM CEST

  Hello to all my fellow forum friends,
  
  Again, I want to thank all of you for your understanding and support. I am amazed that a group of total strangers can be more supportive and understanding than some of my closest friends. Thank you for your comforting words - I really feel the community warmth in your writing and I cannot thank you all enough. :-)
  
  At the end of the day, I know my hair will grow again but that is not issue. Plain & simply put, it is the utter disregard of my wishes and how my instructions could be so totally confused that alludes me ... and the complete denial of the disaster.
  
  I am pleased to say that I now have long hair, thanks to modern day techniques like extensions. I just wanted to share with everyone, in case any of you find yourself in a similar situation (a hair cut from hell from a horrible butcher such as Jama at Romana) or simply if you want to have long hair. First, I went to a store on kinkerstraat to buy hair hair - great service and nice people - be patient as it is very busy which is a sign that it is a good business.
  
  Here is their link in Amsterdam - also located in Eindhoven andRotterdam: http://www.realhairexclusive.com/EN/
  
  Once I purchased my "real" hair (between 35 & 80 EURO depending on your desired length, quality, quantity and colour), I was referred by a colleague to a really sweet lady who works out of her home and is starting to building her own business. She has 15 years of working full time in a hair salon, including cut, colour & extensions. For 100 EUR, she will add a full head of extensions (this is like 5 or 8 layers of hair - about 1-2 hrs of work), colour all of it, cut and blow dry into a style which I think is amazing considering the extensions that are a big part of the work.
  
  She knows the microrings technique which is much healthier for the hair - unlike the usual extensions which are done with a kind of hot glue which destroy your hair when it grows, needing a touch up as early as 6 weeks - whereas with the micorings method, it will stay in for 2-3 months without needing a touch up. Also, the hair that you initially purchase can last you for many months provided that you take good care of it - which simply means, moisturising, avoid over processing with styling tools (like hot hair dryers & straightening irons) - basic common sense is to treat it as you would your own hair.
  
  Overall, I am really happy with my new look which is longer than my original hair - it is beautifully layered and blended into my previously butchered hair and is a big improvement on the disaster created by Jama.
  
  If anyone is looking for a new AND trustworthy hairdresser, who is available in the evenings and weekends (if you work full time like I do, it is often difficult to make appointments) pls send me a message and I would be glad to give you her contact details.
  
  I have seen that this topic has been read almost 600 times and I hope that this will cause a serious loss of busines for Romana in Amstelveen. I have forwarded 2 emails to them now, with an update on the number of views (I think close to 300 views at the time which has since doubled) and they do not seem too bothered and are still too cowardly to respond. So I hope that with everything that I possess that in the next 6 to 12 months, their business will collaps and they learn the power of the internet, forums and the word-of-mouth. It will give me great satisfaction if they close their doors due to lack of customers :-)
  
  Again, I would like to reach out to everyone to join in my mission to make Therma Romana in Amstelveen an outcast by spreading the word to EVERYONE possible so that the consequences of such shocking AND UTTERLY disgraceful service are treated appropriately by the community ... BY FIGHTING BACK!!
  
  Have an excellent weekend all!!!
  
  Bubbly bubbles :-) :-) :-)