Curio Hair & Body - Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 4Z1 (Upper Canada Mall)

STAY AWAY FROM THIS SALON | by Lynn on Oct 12, 2021

The worst experience I’ve ever had with my hair. Soneela completely ruined my hair. From my beautiful blonde to brown with dark black patches, HOW? Turned the ends grey when I just asked for ombré. Told me “my patches should wash out” … left the salon in tears and the “stylist” and assistant manager did NOT care!!!!

Very decitful business practices | by Ruth F. on Feb 10, 2018

My daughter had an unfortunate experience at the Curio Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket. This was the first time she was getting her hair coloured and wanted the balayage treatment. So I called to enquire about the cost and procedure and was told they are having a promotion for balayage which includes the cut and blowdry for $190.00. I also mentioned that she wants the colour blue or purple and we want to come in a few days before for the hair consultation. We came in on a Wednesday to consult with MJ who had been cutting her hair for a few months and went over the details and discussed purple ombre. So I dropped my daughter off on Saturday morning for her appointment with her pictures as we had already consulted about it and 5 minutes later she called me to say it’s going to cost $95 more. Apparently there is a $60 additional charge for the purple which they call a fashion colour and $35.00 for the Opalex conditioner. I was surprised and didn’t want to pay the extra money for the purple colour and told her to choose another colour within the $190. Her hair is short above the shoulders so the cost was already a lot for her hair in my opinion. My daughter sat in that chair for several hours feeling uncomfortable about the procedure. MJ dyed her hair RED all over instead of doing the balayage treatmet as was discussed. By the time I picked her up I was surprised at the colour but didn’t say much as I just assumed that she had changed her mind and asked for something else. My daughter is extremely shy and quiet and by the time we got to the car she was almost in tears saying this isn’t what she asked for and the colour was too bright. MJ did come running after us with a coupon for 25% off for the next time and told us she would do her purple colour next time. Shocked! If I wouldn’t pay the extra this time whatever made her think I would in the future. I was already furious that they so deviously lured us in on the premise of a promotion only to try and up the cost once you’re in the chair. I immediately called another salon that was able to fit her in immediately to fix the colour. The new colourist told us this isn’t ombre but full highlights with colour on top. So I paid $114 to get it fixed and tone down the colour. When I got home I called Curio and told them I am so upset with their service. I was told it is the stylist who should have told me about the extra cost but I thought that’s what the consultation was for. My daughter also asked questions about the cost of up keep for the colour. We asked a lot of questions but they were selective in their answers and between the receptionist who took my original call and MJ neither bothered to mention it. They took advantage of a young girl who doesn’t have a lot of experience other than getting a hair cut. I did say that I don’t normally write reviews online but would tell my friends not to go there. Things changed on Sunday for me as I started to read other reviews online and came to realize that they do this to a lot of people. They lure you in with promotional costs and up the price or say somehow it’s the customers fault in any situation. So I went back to the salon Sunday afternoon to ask for my money back. Marco the manager told us that he’s not going to give us our money back and he did see the picture of my daughter’s hair and it’s the balayge treatment. My understanding is that the balayage treatment doesn’t go to the root. So I wasn’t sure what picture he was referring to. I told him I also have the picture with your stylist included and took this to another salon along with my daughter and they disagree. So I told him that I am going to call the Better Business Bureau and file a complaint and he said go ahead. My husband was with me and asked for the phone number for their head office and they say they don’t give that number out. That’s pretty shady when a custom can’t contact the head office. So I went to the BBB website only to discover that there are 11 complaints filed against this company of salons with no reply or resolution and they have an F rating. Not surprised. While reading the complaints a common thread seem to emerge. They lure you in and then are unable to either complete the process or don’t know what their doing and charge extra even after consulting about it. Further they seem to have to involve security on a regular basis to deal with their customers. I have been getting my hair cut and highlighted for 30 years and I can attest that not once have I ever been up charged in this manner or been in a salon where anyone was complaining to the point of getting mall security involved. Curio is part of Your Space Salon and Spas. I looked at their other salons and their reviews are very similar. There is a level of deceitfulness about this company. I called the head office phone number I found on the BBB website and spoke to Emma who told me she is in payroll and to send an email. How is it possible to work in the same building and have no idea how to contact customer service or who works in that department? I called another Curio Salon asking about getting the balayage treatment with a purple colour and was told there shouldn’t be an extra charge for the colour especially since she’s never had her hair coloured. Lastly I called a manager who works at Curio who in my opinion said it best. She said since the stylists are independent operators it appears that she upped the price to make more money. So unfortunate that some are so driven by money they would stoop so low to deceive a young girl for what should have been a great experience. MJ you should be ashamed of your self.

Unsatisfied | by J on Jun 13, 2016

The Curio in Upper Canada Mall is very poorly run and they know very little about customer service. The receptionist at the desk advised me very rudely that I was 15 minutes early for my appointment. The hairdresser hardly spoke two words to me and never introduced herself. I had booked a hair, mani and pedi package and then after my manicure they told me that I had not booked the package that included the pedicure (which I specifically did) and that they did not have time to give me one. No apologies at all. I will never go back there and would not recommend this place to anyone.