The first reason I was excited about using KAG was I loved the look of the salon (from the many pics online and in reviews) and it also would accommodate my large wedding party. After much research, I quickly realized a lot of Austin salons did not accommodate large wedding parties so this factor played a large role in deciding to use KAG. During the booking process KAG has the bride complete a contract with each of the services being rendered as well as detailed information/instructions for each person in your appointment. A 50% contract deposit is also charged to hold the appointment. All fine as I appreciated the thoroughness of the contract and felt confident there would be no confusion going into the actual appointment. Boy was I wrong.
First off, it is important to note the salon is extremely difficult to find (especially if you are not familiar with the area to begin with. As I was an out of state bride) Even utilizing a GPS as we did, the address leads you into what appears to be an apartment complex and KAG has virtually no signage, period. Driving in circles for close to 20 minutes (on hold with KAG for the entire time) we finally were able to get someone on the phone to tell us EXACTLY where they were located. What a great way to start off the morning, right?! When we all arrived (13 of us all following each other in cars) we were not greeted WHATSOEVER, we were actually told we were 15 minutes late for the appointments and asked to go sit into a room until our names were called. When I addressed the front desk staff and told her I was the bride and I was actually the one on the phone with her and I was the one who was on hold for over 20 minutes, she quickly snapped back, "...well if you go to our website you will see that we are having issues with our phones and that's why you were on hold." My response, "Go to a website?! It's my wedding day and I was driving to come here for my hair and makeup appointment! We were driving around in circles looking for a salon in the BACK of a complex that doesn't have a SINGLE sign directing you to where it's located?!"
Moving on, I took a deep breath and went to sit in the back room until my name was called. They took 3 of us to the makeup area to begin our makeup...I wish I could remember the woman who did my makeup, but it was sub par work. I told her I wanted a look that would last all day (as I was getting married outside in this August TX heat) and to go heavier than not as I did not want a "natural look". Let's just say I had to direct her more than not the entire appointment, even pulling my makeup bag out a few times so she could use the product/colors I preferred. I honestly should've saved the $65 and did it myself.
Moving on to the hair appointments, one of my girls got hers re-done 3 times, for one of my girls they kept trying to sell her on getting a hair accessory after we all agreed it looked unnecessary, and I could go on about each of the other 10 appointments, but you get the idea...
MY ONLY REASONING FOR GIVING THIS SALON 2 STARS IS BECAUSE OF CHANCY. She was honestly my most favorite part of my hair/makeup experience. She went over and beyond exactly what I asked her to do and I LOVED my wedding day hair. She was so nice and could tell I was stressed with the whole KAG experience and assured me she would take care of me.
While I was getting my hair styled the receptionist had the nerve to charge my mother-in-law for the remaining balance of her hair!! I WAS MORTIFIED!!! I clearly marked on the contract they INSISTED I complete, prior to booking the appointment, that I was going to pay for my entire wedding parties hair and makeup appointments. I actually wrote on each and every appointment line, "BRIDE WILL PAY". After demanding my mother-in-law be reimbursed I was approached by the owner of the salon, Brizy. I had seen her around the salon all day and knew from the site she was the owner and it wasn't until we were already there for HOURS and there was this issue, that she actually approached me at all. As a business owner, you'd think it would be common sense to thank or approach the person who is bringing close to two thousand dollars to your small business. Guess not?! She wanted to just argue with me about it and said, "How are we supposed to know you were paying for all of the girls appointments? We have a lot of brides who just pay for 1/2 of the cost of the services..." ARE YOU KIDDING?! First of all, I asked to see the contract they insisted I complete when booking the appointment, but of course it was no where to be found. If they actually referenced it, they would see it was noted NUMEROUS times.
All in all, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THEM FOR YOUR BRIDAL PARTY SALON, unless you went solely to see CHANCY!! Also, yep you guessed it; we were not thanked or told bye or ANYTHING when exiting the salon. Happy Wedding Day to me!