L’oreal Professionnel Soho Academy

Beware of the L’Oreal Technical Center in Midtown — it is NOT what it used to be and I am NEVER going there again. First of all, expect to be there anywhere between 2.5−3hrs, and they are only open during the week, so this is not the most convenient for people who work. They are always overloaded/​overbooked and so they make you wait 30min to 1hr before even applying hair color. Every time you get color done (or roots for people with grey), they take the opportunity to «test» other products on you. It used to be a shampoo or conditioner, or coloring product that matches your hair color, but now it frequently involves dying a large patch of hair on your scalp (where they think no one will notice) in a wholly different color from your natural hair color. I recently discovered to my horror that I had a huge purple/​magenta patch at the back of my hair which another salon later spent a lot of time trying to undo. The worst thing is that — other than NOT telling you about it — the people at L’Oreal got extremely defensive and borderline aggressive when I brought it up, and were wholly unapologetic about it. Their line is «this is not a regular salon, this is what you signed up for» (and if you don’t like it, no need to come back). When I was there the last time, other customers who were getting their color done were also starting to clue into the fact that horrible colors were unwittingly being tested on them (like purple, pink, bright orange!).. The L’Oreal people were very upset that customers were discussing it. Sadly, after many years going there, I will no longer return. Their secretiveness about what is being put on your hair and their bedside manner are both equally appalling. Agree with all of the below negative comments — especially the one about being treated like an animal.

If you value your hair do not step foot in this «testing facility». As someone who has been a hair model many times for professional salons, I have never had a problem. Loreal offers free services, but in exchange you are a guinea pig for whatever they want to test on your head that day. There is no «service» here, as the saying goes you get what you pay for, but in this case worse. I had to spend a ton of money to get a color correction done after they ruined my blonde hair.
During my last visit the color was applied so sloppily to my hair that blobs of it nearly landed in my eyes several times. After applied, I had to wipe color off of my forehead myself, because it was 4 inches past my hairline. My scalp was sore and burning because it was scraped so badly from the rat tail comb during sectioning. The roots were done only on the top half of my head, and the back was left untouched during a 45 minute process time. A different woman then added three test strips to the back of my hair after about 25 minutes, and added minutes to the timer because they applied the test later than needed.
My hair was washed (with freezing cold water) and I was tossed a blowdryer and rushed to finish drying my hair. When I noticed that I had three huge strips of very dark hair coming out of the back I started to get upset. I had been here many times and the test strips were always shades of blonde and easily hidden in my hair. In the past, my hair had been screwed up three times so badly that I was there over 7 hours getting it fixed, it sucked-​but I had never felt the need to complain.
Instead of looking at my hair-​the colorists working got angry when I said «You didn’t tell me you were putting a darker strips into my hair, it usually matches» and took over blow-​drying to rush me into the light room to be reviewed. The roots they actually covered did not match my hair– they were a horrible copper brassy blonde that looked like home color gone wrong. This type of mismatched band had happened before but never this noticeable.
I was nearly in tears upon leaving and told to use a white violet shampoo to help the roots… and as for the tests? I was told «WELL YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A TEST FACILITY.»
The worst discovery was when I got home (check out the photos). The entire bottom part of my head was left uncolored with roots all around in addition to the dark test strips. When I pulled my hair into a pony tail there were two bright blonde lines and copper orange blobs all over my head from the botched job.
When having this corrected by a professional, she actually said «I don’t even know how its possible to fuck up hair this bad unless you are blind!»
I emailed this salon regarding my terrible experience and they were defensive but offered me to come back and get the roots colored”-nothing more.
I wouldn’t dare to ever step foot in such an unprofessional color facility ever again. These people should not even have a license to do hair. Hair models are not plastic heads but prepare to be treated like one if you go here. NYC offers many color opportunities at real salons for a small fee which are supervised by professional stylists. Please go to one of them and don’t be a guinea pig for these people who have no regard.

stay away if you want to know my full experiment inbox me. they took down my review because I was to blunt. this company test on animal and then test on you. don’t support fake personalities and animal cruelty

I went there twice. Today was the last time because I won’t go anymore. The first time was good, my color was done normally and I had a blow dry at the end. However today was horrible. The hairdresser started to put the product on my hair without asking me precisely what I expected. Then it started to burn me, and I thought my scalp was literally bleeding. She explained me it was because I certainly will have my periods soon. She finally ended this torture and rinsed it while putting me water all over my back.
The color was way too light for me but she seemed to don’t care because she didn’t ask me if I was happy with it. Then she gave me the hair dryer and told me: «you dry your hair». I did it and I wasn’t able to find her anymore. After asking to another hairdresser where could I find her, she answered me very rudely and she told me my hair weren’t dry enough.
I know it is a free saloon, but still. They can not treat me like that just because I don’t pay.
Next time I will go to bumble and bumble next time.

I walked into this beauty school today to get evaluated and possibly partake in the free hairstyling and blow outs that they had advertised outside their building.
The woman at the desk named Ashlyn was not helpful. In fact, another lady had me sit and wait and said she would be right with me. After a long stretch of nothingness, I felt ignored and walked right out.
I know this is a free service but for me it set the stage for bad all around quality and I will not be returning.
Bumble and Bumble treats their hair models so much better!

I took a class at this location and had a great experience!
It was Essential Balayage with DJ McGinley and her co-​balayage team. They broke the mystique of balayage down for the class of 33 who were all as eager to learn this new technique as I was with hands-​on demonstrations and tons of notes. Not only did I learn new tricks but also gained a network of hairdresser friends and learned some great business tools as well.
An added bonus: they supplied breakfast and lunch.
I would tell any hairstylist who is interested in furthering their career to attend a class here. You would not be disappointed!

Terrible. I wanted to go from brown to red and instead I left with violet roots and muddy brown ends. I was embarrassed to walk out with my hair in that condition.

I love going to the L’oreal Academy for hair conditioning and styling. I get to try out all sorts of products and sometimes get a goody bag to take home! And best of all, I get a gorgeous blowout every time from one of the stylists there!
Although I think the stylists may have different levels of experience, I will say that everyone with whom I have worked has been responsive and done excellent work on my hair.
I’ve also had my haircolor done there in the past, resulting in beautiful rich color. But, now I have highlights, and except for special promotions that is not regularly available at the academy. If I were to go in for single process, however, I would go there in a minute.
People who complain about L’oreal, I would like to say, we are *models* when we are at the academy. The primary purpose of their work is to test different products on a range of hair types. It’s free, and more often than not I come away with a gorgeous style and a bag free products to keep using at home.
If I can think of any drawback, it’s just the fact that they are not open ²⁴⁄₇. Services are offered weekdays, during the day, but if you have that time available, I highly recommend checking them out.

i was just a hair model for a class held this weekend. i got an amazing haircut and a little goodie bag completely free. this was only a cut. no color was applied to anyone’s hair for this model opportunity. everyone was so great.

My son moved to NYC to attend college. On one of my earlier visits to see him I discovered this gem. I LOVE the L’Oreal Soho Academy. After the «patch» test was completed, I was so excited to become one of the test clients. I have been to the center at least 6 times over the last year and a half. I have tried several different products, several different shades of color and some styling products. I have loved all of the colors that were recommended from light browns to chocolate with red undertones. All of the staff members are friendly and professional. The emails keep me up to date with what «tests» are available every week. My last visit, I had wanted to try a dark wine/​plum color. However, the colorist discouraged me and thought it would be much too dark for my face/​age/​etc. She suggested a warm brown with some red tone… I am so GLAD that she did! Thank you! I think I would have hated the dark wine because I love the color that she suggested. You do not get what you pay for …(which is nothing).You get SO MUCH MORE! I even tried a «take home» test for a new color shampoo/​conditioner which is not available yet in stores and I can’t wait until it is! Cannot say enough good things about the L’Oreal Professional Soho Academy! Thank you! 5 Stars all the way!

AVOID!!! I had the experience of being a hair model in LA and had a wonderful experience and was excited to participate here in NY. Boy was I surprised at the absolute unprofessionalism of this place. The first one I went to they switched my info with someone elses and assumed that I wanted to color my hair darker (even though this was a highlighting event). I came out with much darker uneven highlights with like 3 colors added to my hair. I jumped at the opportunity for a balayage day to break up the old color and really brighten it back up for summer. Again a disappointment! My hair only look minimally improved and when I asked if I could come in for someone to fix it… especially since during the whole day they were all remarking on the bad color job I had previously (WHICH WAS DONE THERE!!! by Jennifer McDonald – ALSO AVOID). Not surprisingly, NO RESPONSE. So in my book thats 3 strikes you’re out! Going today to PAY to have my hair fixed. Like previous poster said «you get what you pay for». Here at L’oreal you pay nothing and get CRAP.

LOVED MY TIME THERE!
My first visit was in the beginning of October. When I arrived, aside from the fact that the rain killed my hair, my blonde had been messed up by some in home hair products. Nancy Braun and David Evangelista were there with the Loreal team to fix my tarnished roots, cool down my over the top blonde, and leave me walking out of there with a head turning hairdo! (Not to mention lunch there was delicious!)
Nancy wanted me back for the Balayage class. Today I came in, had a delicious breakfast and chatted with some of the hairdressers of the class. During the class, they evened out my hair color, gave me some amazing highlights, fed me, touched up my hair cut, AND lightened my eyebrows so it all blended well. The transformation was STUNNING. The stylists and colorists were amazing/​informed/​and such FUN people to work with. I would HIGHLY recommend these individuals. NO where else will you get all this fantastic service for just trading in some of your time, not your wallet. I can’t wait to see my new colorist in 2 months to touch up my base!
Again, BEST decision I ever made for my hair! =D

Balayage, is the future of hair color. Thank you L’Oreal, and thank you Nancy Braun.

The old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ holds true here.
Mistake #1: I replied to a craigslist ad for a color model. I went in for a patch test and inquired who would be doing my hair. I was assured it was one of their top platform artists and that she would respect what I wanted. I was informed that since it was a top artist I would need to be available all day to demonstrate what she has done at a seminar that evening. Black dress & heels deemed necessary by patch tester.
Mistake #2: I believed the details provided (see mistake #1) and blocked off my whole day. I met the woman, she had great hair, a great personality and she discussed what she planned to do with me. I told her I did not want dark hair. That was my only request. She dry cut my curls and had her helpers set to work on removing my highlights… the only redeeming part of this whole experience was the hair cut.
Mistake #3: Letting the elvira look-​a-​like makeup artist touch me. She didn’t even take off my makeup, she just started working over it. Imagine me as: David Bowie Ziggy Stardust-​esque
Mistake #4: Not running in fear when they finished removing my highlights only to leave me with a dark, mousy brown base…
Fast forward 7 or so hours and at least 6 color models having their hair done and shown… I however fell victim to being used as a «technique model» In front of the group she demonstrates a highlighting technique that she explains will «add more subtle highlight… the little girl in the sandbox look». Translation: I am going to do paper thin highlights on only the top of your head because I am demonstrating a technique and I am in a hurry.
Mistake #5: Staying there for the styling after feeling like my hair was f*cked. The «stylist» proceeded to blow out the top of my curly hair straight and leave the bottom wet before I got called up to show the group the «results».
They left me like that. I walked out into SoHo the closest to tears I’ve been over a haircut since the «bob» that turned out to be a «bowl cut» when I was 7. I had half a head of highlight, half a head blown out, and makeup worse than a first-​time crossdresser with no mirror. The money I had to spend to fix this disaster taught me nothing is ever free…