Paul Mitchell The School East Bay 100 Crescent Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

"I want to convey the emotional sour taste that I experienced at the Paul Mitchell beauty school on Thursday, December 28th, all because of the instructor named Artemis. My daughter had raved about the Paul Mitchell beauty school back in 2021. When she graduated from UC Berkeley, she got her hair done for her graduation –colored, trimmed, and styled beautifully. She recommended the school to everyone needing hair services, explaining that it's a beauty school where students work on your hair under instructors' guidance. Despite the students asking questions and taking their time, the results were worth it. Excited about the prospect, I came from Illinois to spend the holidays with my daughter. We planned to get our hair done, having made the appointment two weeks in advance for December 28th at 8:30 am. On the appointment day, we arrived on time, signed some papers, and waited to be called. My daughter has 3C type hair and I have 2C type hair. An African American student came to get me, and I assumed it was for my daughter. However, my daughter insisted I go with her, mentioning they would send another student for her. As I sat down, they assessed my hair needs. An hour passed, and I called my daughter to check on her progress. To my surprise, the person assigned to her had not shown up at all and she was still waiting for another student to do her hair. After waiting for almost 30 minutes, my daughter asked to speak to a supervisor or manager. The girl at the front desk mentioned a problem with students, which we clarified wasn't the issue – it was the handling of the situation by Artemis (because the student that supposed to do my daughters hair told my daughter that she has never done my daughter’s type of hair 3c and when she ask Artemis what to do Artemis rudely told her student that she wasn’t there to hold her hand and to figure it out on her own. My daughter told Artemis that she was not feeling comfortable having that student do her hair, been that the student assign to her said she didn’t know how to do it nor have the confidence to even try. The student started crying and Artemis blamed it on my daughter and my daughter clarified to Artemis that the student looked like she has been crying prior to meeting with my daughter but the rude way in which Artemis spoke to the student made her more upset. I was on the phone with my daughter when that was taking place). I observed Artemis seemed idle in the middle of the floor. When she realized I was watching, she suddenly appeared busy, repeating this behavior three times. She walked to the front desk, my daughter approached her, and Artemis dismissed her with a hand gesture and a smirk. Artemis walked to where we were and when my daughter asked for Artemis's name, Artemis told my daughter to get out and she would call the police on her, then proceeded to text something. Two girls from the front desk escorted my daughter to the door like she was some kind of street thug, and my daughter called Artemis racist due to her behavior. It was a humiliating and terrible experience for my daughter, and as her mother, it was heartbreaking to witness. Artemis turned around and told her students she was tired of people like my daughter. I couldn't leave with my daughter as I was in the middle of a hair color process. I wanted to make a complaint but couldn't find anyone available. Artemis also has reviews of humiliating other American American woman. Why is Artemis still teaching there if she is a racist? This whole experience has emotionally affected my daughter, and I can't help but feel pain. The student doing my hair (Daiannie) did a really good job, and I receive compliments on my hair, but the irony is that it feels like it came at a terrible price for my daughter. When people compliment my hair, I make sure to tell them about my experience at Paul Mitchell beauty school and what happened to my daughter and the way terrible way she was treated there."

"This institution demonstrates a concerning pattern of racial insensitivity and discrimination, particularly towards Black women. A notable instance involved the educator Artemis, who not only spoke in a demeaning and dismissive manner but also showed a blatant disregard for the unique care needs of textured hair, claiming that "all hair is the same." This statement fails to acknowledge the diverse techniques required for different curl patterns, such as 3a to 4c. I also believe students are afraid of Artemis, because of her rough/toxic communication style. The student they tried to pair me with came up to me and said she would take care of me, but she looked distraught, and had red eyes, which seemed to me like something bad happened before she came up to me. My initial visit in December 2021 was positive, the recent encounter on December 28, 2023, was disappointing. The receptionist's refusal to provide the educator's name, coupled with a 55-minute delay due to a sudden cancellation without giving me a notification, contributed to a horrible experience. The climax occurred when Artemis, instead of addressing concerns, unprofessionally demanded me to leave for expressing concerns about racism and she threatened to call the police on me. This incident raises serious questions about the institution's commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for Black women. While the students exhibited excellence, the overall atmosphere, largely influenced by the front desk staff and Artemis, created a toxic and uncomfortable environment. This experience left me feeling blamed for circumstances beyond my control. It is essential for the school to address and rectify these issues to ensure a more inclusive and respectful environment for everyone."

"Worse experience by Artemis! She insulted me, talked to me like trash in front of the whole school, was combative, defensive demeaning. And was doubling down on how she spoke to me from the first interaction- “ I’m not going to apologize for how I am.” Was her response. I wish I could give less stars for the experience. It was mind blowing. Please bear in mind, that I am a black woman and she is isn’t …do with that info what you will! It was horrific."

"Eileen was a doll! She will be graduating soon and already has the confidence of a professional. She was quicker than most and gave me the perfect haircut. Best wishes to Eileen wherever she goes and whatever she does!!"