Refuge

Over 7 yrs ago I started with Laurel who did a great job highlighting and coloring my hair! For some reason I began seeing Birgit who does an even better job! Birgit is professional, listens to my wants, makes suggestions for my benefit, and a pleasure to be around! One of many major benefits to moving to Meredith is having Refuge, a Newbury St Aveda type Salon, at reasonable prices, located here! I see the outcome of the other stylists and everyone walks out looking fabulous and happy! If Birgit is not available, Nancy would be my go to! A bit apprehensive about leaving this outstanding review as I know appointments will be more difficult to book, however, I think important to show my gratitude and appreciation to a wonderful Salon with amazing women!

So here’s what happened:
Went back to Refuge this summer, as usual. Found out Sonya was no longer employed there, so saw the owner, Laurel, instead. She put highlights in my hair, which was kind of odd, as I asked her to follow Sonya’s formula, and I’ve never had highlights before, ever. But after my initial shock, and subsequent lengthy discussion with Laurel (who took responsibility for adding the foil strips willy-​nilly before I looked up from my magazine and realized what was happening) I decided to let them stay in and see how things looked when they grew out a bit. I ended up liking them more than I expected, and we worked together when I returned in 4 weeks, to get them to a place I was happier with. Okay, so far so okay, if not perfect.
But as I’m leaving, while making my next appt, Laurel informs me that she is going to be spending 10 out of every 30 days in Florida this fall. That meant I was going to be completely off schedule with getting my hair trimmed and colored. But it was what it was, so we made my appt. for 5 weeks hence, the earliest she could see me. She told me if I found things got too bad, to make an appt. with one of her other stylists, and that she would leave explicit instructions about my situation.
I found I did need to get in sooner than 5 weeks (4 is pushing it for me) and called and arranged to see Nancy. I explained in great detail what the situation was with the highlights-​they were a work in progress. I told her the main thing I really, really didn’t want was for them to be pencil-​thin, stripey stands of blonde on top of my naturally dark hair.
So…she makes a bunch of pencil-​thin blonde stripes on top of my head and does nothing to the rest. (I had asked her to skip trimming it, I would wait for Laurel to return for that.) It looked okay when she blew it out, though, so I left without knowing how bad things were going to be when I did my hair myself in a couple of days. It was ridiculous looking. I couldn’t believe it. Stripes, blonde stripes, all over the top of my head! And a wide dark band around the center of my hair, with lighter (but not as light as the top!) ends. Just awful. (And here’s another weird thing, she charged me exactly the same amount Laurel had, for literally less than a third of the work and time. Very strange.)
So I waited until Laurel’s return and called to try to schedule an appt. with her for a color correction and to see what could be done. I didn’t mention to the person on the phone that Nancy had done a horrible job, or anything else – just asked that Laurel fit in seeing me during her short time in NH. I waited two days, then called again. This time Laurel picked up, and asked if she could call me back-​she was really busy. I said sure, and left my number. Again, I didn’t go into any detail about my issue.
I don’t hear from her. I call again and leave another message. Laurel returns this call later in the day, leaving a message saying she’s sick and is going home early. She left her cell number and asked me to call or text her later, saying she understood I’d had a problem with what Nancy had done to my hair (how? I never said a word about Nancy or a problem or anything else – only that I wanted to get in to see her. I was actually trying to avoid complaining about Nancy to Laurel, b/​c it’s never a goal of mine to get anyone in trouble).
I sent Laurel a text, as she’d asked me to, and told her not to worry, feel better, my issue could wait until she was back at work and we’d talk then.
I don’t hear from her again for two days. I call the shop. I am told that Laurel can see me on Wed. at 2:45. I explain that’s not going to work, as I’d told Laurel already in my text that I was going to be away from late Tues. on, and if we were going to work me in, it would have to be Mon. or Tues.
I explain that since Monday’s almost over, I can only now come one day, Tues. The receptionist says, okay, let me check one more possibility, and I «will call you right back.» I waited for her call the rest of the day. She never called back, and no one else has either, weeks later.
So I cut my losses and went to a new salon, where a stylist worked on my hair for 4 hours (!!!) repairing the damage (it looks great now, btw). I will not be back to Refuge in the summers, or any other time.
It’s a shame that Laurel let this happen. She’s a talented, nice person, but honestly, if you own a business in NH, you really can’t expect to spend 10 days a month there and think things won’t go wrong for you and your clients. At the very least, she needs to improve communication and training of her employees.
I paid for a service (again, a lot more than I should have been charged) that was not acceptable, and when I made several attempts at giving Laurel an opportunity to make things right, well… I was basically blown off, in the end.
I don’t like to leave negative reviews, but this was seriously bad service that easily could have, and should have been, addressed.

I got my hair cut by Sonia last week. She did a fantastic job. Being originally from Boston and trying many salons in the area (including many pricey Newbury street venues), I would say that Sonia did an even better job at a fraction of the price. She listened to what I wanted, offered suggestions and made me feel very comfortable and not rushed at all. Wonderful, wonderful. The cut is growing out nicely. I have curly hair and she showed me what it would look like both curly and straight. I will definitely be going back. Thanks so much Sonia!

I had a very pleasurable experience at Refuge this morning. I was greeted by the owner, Laurel, who took the time to show me out to the waiting room (an open porch over looking Main Street) and served me ice water. She spent some time getting to know me as I had just moved to the area and made sure I was comfortable. Sonia did my color and my hair turned out beautiful. Changing colorists can be stressful and these two ladies were careful to match my color and product exactly. I was further impressed my little touches of comfort like and hand/​arm massage while my color set and a neck massage during my hair wash. Unlike other salons, at no time did I feel rushed or shuttled out to a waiting area while someone else got their color put on in my colorist’s chair. I would recommend this salon to anyone.

This is a great salon, edgy, pure products (Aveeda can’t be beat) and the owner, Laurel is as good a hair dresser as the best of the best of Newbury Street. She’s hard to see (the word is out) but it’s worth waiting for an appointment. One of those rare artist stylists who is as good as cutting as she is at color. And to think it’s all right here in the tiny hamlet of Meredith. Rock on Refuge.

Laurel, the owner of the salon, is the shyt. She is amazing with color and style. Her prices are awesome too. I am so sick of dealing with the fuckery of the Manchester salons that it is worth it to drive almost an hour to Meredith to get my hair done by Laurel! Definitely recommend!