Square One Salon & Spa

This review is for the host staff for square one. I was with the Cindy Lopez party preparing with a wedding group and we were using the back room to celebrate and get ready for the event on 8/19. The staff up front were not great with communication, when we first arrived informing us that stylists were ready but then were not, but knowing we were a bigger party, I understood the need to be flexible and understanding to the staff assisting us that day. As the day went on and we were set to take photos with the photographer, it was overheard that the videographer was not allowed to work on location, which I thought was odd, that a photographer could be there but not a videographer. While we were gathering together for photos, the group was using the furniture in the space to take photos. We were staging ourselves on a couch and due to old age, the couch did break, but we calmly removed ourselves from the faulty furniture to finish our photos and dress before the wedding. Before we had left I was informed that the coordinator of the location had contacted the bride and stated that our group was acting like a “Zoo” which again I thought was odd since we never met the coordinator that day nor were we being disrespectful to the space. As we were preparing to leave the establishment the front hostesses said some not-so-nice things to the bride as she was making her way to her wedding. Super unprofessional host staff and do not recommend this location for services.

On Saturday, August 19, I had the honor of being a bridesmaid in one of my closest friend’s wedding. We were overjoyed to celebrate with Cindy (the bride), and we were all excited about getting ready at the Square One salon on 4th St, which Cindy had shown us pictures of the place months before. My hairdresser, Piper, was absolutely AMAZING. She did a fantastic job and even redid my hair because I didn’t like the first hairdo I had picked out. She was a professional, asked me about the wedding and how I knew the bride, and I felt that she was actually thrilled for us. Unfortunately, the front desk staff did not have the same respect and excitement as the hairdressers did. I was shocked at the snarky comments that were made by the two ladies up front toward the end of our time there, as we were about to head out to the wedding. They made comments to other people, which I did not hear (see other reviews), but I could see the look on their faces. And the look on Cindy’s face was the most upsetting for me out of all of them. August 19th was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, and here she was getting upset because the ladies at the front were being rude to her and her wedding party. When Cindy went up to the front to rightfully express her concerns about the way we were being spoken to (IN HER WEDDING DRESS), I personally heard one of the ladies start to say how ridiculous we were being. She wasn’t able to finish her snarky comment because we walked away. Additionally, after everyone else had left, two other bridesmaids and I walked back to the private room we had to check and make sure nobody forgot anything. One of the ladies was in the room cleaning up. My friend (the matron of honor), VERY politely told the hostess that we had set up a bag for trash because we didn’t know where the trash can was. The lady VERY snarkily replied that she had told Cindy where the trash can was at the beginning of the day. One, as if that needed to be said. Two, I personally did not see the actual bin for trash the entire day, and I was moving around quite frequently. When I got to the wedding, I was FLOORED to hear how the coordinator had called Cindy minutes before she was meant to walk down the aisle and called us “a zoo”. How disrespectful to bombard someone’s wedding day like that. I’m also confused about how we were being a “zoo”. That is extremely disrespectful and felt like a racial slur as most of the people in the group were women of color. Additionally, as a twenty-nine year old woman who has been to her fair share of parties, and who is also a teacher for ten year olds, I know when a group of people is being too loud. We were not. The only incident that happened, on ACCIDENT, was when we were taking professional pictures and the couch gave way. When one of the hostesses rushed in, she was obviously more concerned about the couch than the people on it. She didn’t ask if everyone was okay until someone else from our group told her, “Everyone’s okay.” Then she proceeded to ask if people were okay quite intensely. But it was clear to me that she didn’t really care about the people, but she was only asking that question to save face and then discuss the couch. This complaint is very unfortunate because I was so thrilled about how my hair turned out. Again, this complaint has nothing to do with the hair stylists, but everything to do with the hostesses and program coordinator. I would NOT recommend this salon to people of color or people who are interested in booking the private room for weddings or other events unless there is a change of hostesses / program coordinators. If you do not want the bride of the wedding to be upset after being belittled and harassed, go to a different salon.

I am saddened to be writing this review after witnessing the horrible treatment the management of Salon Square One (South Fourth St location) gave to Cindy Lopez Olaya on her wedding day (08/19/23, between 11 AM and 3:45 PM, to be specific). I will preface by saying that it was only management we had an issue with, who seemed to be uncomfortable around our party from the start. All the stylists were absolutely fantastic and kind and I would hate to see them affected by this. As one of her bridesmaids, I showed up to this salon and went to the suite we had reserved for the bridesmaids, maids of honor, mothers, and the bride. We had a fantastic time, shared some drinks and snacks but were mindful as to not make a mess, be loud, etc. We were polite to the staff at all times, and I was a little weirded out by the ladies at the reception desk who would come in and out of the room, sometimes to let us know our stylist was ready for us, but other times, for no apparent reason. I thought maybe they would ask if we needed anything, but that didn’t happen, or at the very least, I did not hear them ask. So it very much felt that they were just checking on what we were doing or were not trusting of our party. Two bridesmaids asked them for water and apparently they seemed annoyed they did. After our hair appointments (again- all stylists were WONDERFUL, professional, polite and kind, please know this does not go towards them), the photographers showed up. As we were all trying to get a picture together, we decided to sit down at one of their sofas, which unfortunately, and to OUR SURPRISE, broke down. We were shocked and worried, but luckily, no one was hurt. When management showed up, none of us was asked personally if we were ok. As someone who has been working in the service industry for several years, I completely understand how aggravating it can be that a guest has broken down a piece of furniture, but this was an unfortunate ACCIDENT. We weren’t jumping on it, we weren’t being disrespectful or not being careful. We SAT DOWN, and the sofa gave away. When the lady who seemed to be the assistant manager entered the room, she didn’t really seem worried about anyone’s status but just focused on the sofa. I saw her exchange a few words with the photographer, but didn’t really hear the conversation. Later on, she came back to the room as we were ready to leave, and the bride was trying to gather her belongings. She tried to talk to her, to which the bride replied that because she was on the way to her own ceremony, she couldn’t have a conversation at the moment with her about the sofa, but that she would gladly have a phone conversation with her another time. Since the salon had her contact information, card number on file, etc (something she also reminded the manager of) that was a conversation that could happen at a different time. The manager replied “I guess”, to which the bride replied “Is there a problem?”, and then the manager said “No, there’s not a problem”. At that moment I stepped away (I was standing close to them), because the tone of this woman just made me uncomfortable as she was visibly more upset about a sofa than everyone in that room and now was giving my friend a hard time. After that exchange I finished gathering my things and exited the salon. Upon arriving to the wedding venue, I was shocked to hear the managers of the salon had called the bride to immediately yell at her and not even ask what happened, and proceeded to say we had been “zoo animals from the beginning”, which is not only false and outrageous, but a pretty well known racist remark, especially considering the multicultural nature of our group. What a horrible comment and way to mistreat someone on her wedding day, and way to disrespect the entire bridal party. Lastly, I would like to say that beyond the shock and anger this incident caused, I must say I’m confused. How exactly were we “zoo animals”? Every single one of these women was polite and respectful to the room and the staff. And even if we hadn’t been (and again, we WERE), there is literally no behavior that justifies making such a remark. Do you think it’s a reasonable and professional move to call the bride as she is making her way to the venue and open your statement by yelling a racial slur? Shame on you. Also, what were your expectations? What was it that made it unbearable for the two ladies at the front desk to interact with our party? Were you expecting us to sit down and stare at the ceiling for 4 hours? I understand you’re upset about a sofa, but you were lucky no one was hurt because that would have been on you. A sofa doesn’t break down like that unless it’s in poor condition. So besides that, what was so wrong that we did? In which way or form were we “zoo animals from the start”? Explain yourselves. I’m just perplexed at the behavior of management, feeling outraged by their comments, and sad for those who have to work with them.

I want to start by saying Piper did my hair and was patient, kind, and super helpful with my many questions for the styles I wanted to use for the Cindy Lopez wedding and the group I was with at the Salon Square One (South Fourth St location) in Columbus Ohio, on August 19th, 2023. Piper was nothing short of phenomenal with me! Unfortunately, the good time I had, and excellent work by Piper was tainted by the front desk who we were working with as a party. Oftentimes they would come back to alert us that someone’s stylist was ready, to find when we walked up that they were not. People would be followed into the back to make sure we were paying them immediately (which I think could have come from a good place to help us not rush them afterwards, but the hospitality was not there in how they were demanding this and pulling folks to the front.) I observed a few moments of short and curt behavior that was not welcoming or hospitable to our party getting ready that day for the big event. I was aghast to hear they had complaints about our behavior. While I was in the front getting my hair done, or at the desk to pay, I was unable to hear anything from the private room, so to hear we were perceived “as a zoo” was not only insulting but also confusing to me. We had our own cleaning supplies and trash bags and were careful to keep things organized and as clean as we could. I only heard the members of our party being respectful with the ladies and stylists. As much as I would love to recommend Piper for other curly haired, ethnic folks looking to have their hair styled, I cannot recommend anyone to go to this salon and be looked down on by the front desk workers.

My (at-the-time) fiancé and I paid for a series of services at Square One Salon and Spa on S. Fourth St. We had requested use of a bridal suite that the salon has on property for my fiancé, her mother, my mother, and the entire bridal party to use on the wedding day to prepare for the wedding and receive hair services. As part of this process there was a deposit required by the Salon to reserve the space, which could be used towards several required services in the weeks leading up to the big day. I used the deposit towards my own wedding haircut, and of course we used it on my wife’s hair prep and hair the day of the wedding. The day of the wedding, the women all used the suite to get their hair done, have some wine and snacks, and get photos and videos taken of their process. This was all detailed explicitly with Whit, the store manager, in the months leading up to the event. All of this was approved by Whit, as I sat on two phone calls with him, and my wife has an extensive email chain between Whit and herself. For reasons we don’t fully understand, the front door staff at the salon were completely unaware or apprehensive about our event. They would rush the girls to the front desk to pay immediately after receiving services as if they would walk out on their bills; they would enter the room and stare at them like they were going to steal anything not tied down; a sofa broke when the girls simply sat down on it (caught on video), and the staff only cared about the sofa and not my mother-in-law who is in a cast and was on the faulty furniture; a videographer and photographer arrived (again, pre-arranged), and the staff acted like it was illegal for them to be present. Every detail which was discussed in writing beforehand was treated like it was completely forbidden. I do not understand why Whit the manager did not communicate any of it with the staff that day. But, to make it all worse, Whit decided to call my fiancé near the end of the event to yell at her and call her multicultural bridal party (again, including my wife, mother, and mother-in-law, all women of color) “a zoo”, to yell at her because apparently the Assistant Store Manager and front door clerk both kept contacting Whit to complain about the bridal party event and invent stories about what was happening. This bigoted and racist behavior is inexcusable. It is important to make clear that the entire event is caught on camera and documented via store cameras and personal phones and the professional documentation. To add to this absolute dumpster fire of a response from the Salon, I and my wedding coordinator arrived to discuss this situation with the store manager Whit two days later. He was incredibly defensive and aggressive, and only after discussing the situation calmly with him did he calm down and admit that there was a mistake from the salon. He agreed that a full refund and apology from the salon should occur, but that he had to clear it with the company owner Doug Henderson. So, the coordinator and myself waited for a reply, only (after reaching out a second time) to be told quite the opposite from Doug: that he would refuse to speak with us about the matter as we were a “third party”! I PAID for these faulty services, I am not a third party. Unacceptable. Horrible business, and cowards.