The Paul Mitchell School

Dana McClain is awesome! She does whatever you ask. Amd the staff is amazing!!! So I would recommend anybody coming here! I will definitely be back!

I have been to many salon academy’s and have always had a reasonable experience. I am writing to say DO NOT chance it on this place!!!
My appointment was set for 5:30 PM. The student worked on me until 9:15 PM. I was there to have my hair lightened from a dark brown to light brown. After four hours nearly and two rounds of lighter the student revealed my final hair color– and the manager had to be there as she did.
The manager had watched the student though the entire process, and chosen all colors and chemicals to go in my hair. The end result– TANGERINE ORANGE hair.
It was 9:15 PM, and they close at 10. I was adamant that I could not leave the salon with neon orange hair– and the manager twice said ‘Im sorry we’ve run out of time’- I was appalled by the way the situation was handled. They made me pay for the entire thing, too. I left in tears and had orange hair for work.
I would not recommend this place to my worst enemy–
Don’t be fools by the fancy building. The management is not skilled enough to supervise students and the customer service is god awful.

I wanted to give a 3.5 stars. It’s hit and miss I’ve been maybe 8 times and have only had one bad student. You have to remember that these are students learning. And if you’re in a hurry don’t be cause it will take 2 – 3 times longer than your usual hair stylist. The staff have always been friendly and never rude same with the students. If you’re up for giving someone a chance then go for it.

The infamous line, «If I could give zero stars, I would».
That being said, I understand it is a school. I have been to schools before (none NEARLY as horrible and unprofessional as this school) and in fact, I have been to other PM schools before (LA locations). To address the obvious school statement, IT TOOK FOUR AND A HALF HOURS to highlight my hair that is above my shoulders.
Anyways, that is (sort of) to be expected (3 hours is more reasonable, as a «real salon» can do it in 1.5−2).
During my 4.5 hours there, I was asked «highlight or lowlight» and then nothing else really. I was subjected to listening to a 45 minute color lesson (for a student who is graduating in a week, eeeek). In which I would chime in with the EXACT color and highlight pattern I have used in the past (my real salon uses a PM color line). I was ignored. I was told that they didn’t feel they had the time for all that (highlight and tone…) and that my hair did not need it. I have had the same hair for years!!!
I had to BEG them to tone it!
BUT — here is the awful part, the unprofessionalism. My college-​aged stylist went on and on about her sex life. A conversation I did not re-​inforce at all. I felt very uncomfortable.
The icing on the cake though, is when the «instructor» came over to inspect with POPCORN in her hand and got crumbs (from her MOUTH) in my hair. Hi, OSCA (or whatever it is) and better business bureau, I am calling you tomorrow.
EWWWW.
Side note: my hair looks just fine, but it was really 4.5 hours of TORTURE.

Expensive being cheap.
In my experience, there are ways to be frugal. In this case, you spend a lot of time and it isn’t that much cheaper going to an experienced stylist.
I spent four hours in a styling chair, an hour while the student discussed the color with a teacher. I’d asked for my hair to be darkened for the fall. I had some roots from summer, but I highlight, lowlight & trim regularly– every 6 – 8 weeks. My hair is healthy. I was clear in that I wasn’t interested in autumn red tones because they don’t work with my natural coloring.
My chair was facing into the sun so I spent the time with my eyes closed as the stylist & I discussed my daughter’s birthday party & the photographer there (hence my desire to not have roots or an odd hair color).
My hair came out metallic orange– no brown & my roots still showed! The stylist said, «That’s not what I expected.» When I mentioned it to the teacher he blew me off & said we’d «Go darker next time.» I called immediately & they said because of their breast cancer event they couldn’t fix it before my daughter’s birthday party so I had to get the orange covered by a (reputable) salon stylist. I was in tears & was lucky enough to find another salon (it cost another $ 100 to fix my hair).
I wanted a gift card to cover the cost of what I’d had done at Paul Mitchell. Over the next 2 weeks I spoke to 3 people who each blew me off before I was passed to Sheridan the salon owner. She was so rude. She told me these were students & I should expect mistakes. Really? She said they would have fixed it for free when they were available (which was after my party). I told her my hair was healthy & there was no reason it wouldn’t take color & she said it didn’t sound like I needed them anyway. I certainly don’t– finally we agree!
Also, I watched a stylist continue to process a girl’s hair from pink to hot pink as she tried to bleach it repeatedly. Yikes!
There are great, less expensive salons in the Indianapolis areas. Next time I’ll plan ahead & save time & money!

Nice building inside and staff is friendly. You get the salon experience here with much lower prices. Are you ready for the best part? When they wash your hair, they give you a spectacular head massage, too! It was so relaxing!
However, if you are really picky about your hair (like I am) or if you are in a hurry, you’d be better off going somewhere else. Chelsea was my student stylist and she did a great job! I was impressed with how conscientious she was, making sure she knew what I wanted and explaining everything she was doing. It was a pleasure talking to her, too. :)
Unfortunately, one of the trainers came over to «help» at the end. They did not take the time to familiarize themselves with what I wanted; they just started cutting. I left very dissatisfied.
I may come back for a deep conditioning treatment ($ 14) or a manicure ($ 5) sometime, but not a haircut.