HRS of Portland Inc

I’m a thorough and wordy reviewer and these are limited. If you want the unabridged version I have started a G+ and posted it there so you know it's safe. Check it out there for all the details. I’m in my early 30s, long time thinning/hair loss. Find this place online. Seems like a reputable enough place, just one review, but most have none. Contact via email and setup consultation for May 18th. Arrive and meet Elizabeth for consult. Mostly positive, lots of discussion of ‘virtual reality’ system and its benefits, not many reservations at this point. Sold on it being super thin, light weight, no risk to natural hair. She brings in stylist, Trisha, for more consulting. Talk hair color, style, dye (I have lateral bleached stripes in my ponytail). Step out to think, call family, and decide to go for it. Go back and put down hefty deposit and sign paperwork, appointment on 31st; feel optimistic. I have a trip June 1st, Elizabeth prefers not before a trip, Trisha says go for it. We go for it. Come back on 31st for lengthy process but it is expected; comfortably waiting. Hair dye on the hair system is wrong. Color seems off but it’s wet, hope it’s okay. Trisha informs me minutes before application that hair needs to be shaved, but assures me its just the ‘sparse, less healthy’ hair. Shaves off quite a bit of healthy hair, I’m feeling upset but on the spot, as application is minutes away. Hair system is applied. Their website claims virtual reality is “... uniquely thin, flexible, second skin-like membrane with natural hair growth patterns. The base being so thin and natural, it adheres with no ridges or bumps. It is literally undetectable to the human touch.” Base is clearly visible from several feet, 1mm thick or so, clearly raised from scalp. It also says that it is “.. the BEST and, most importantly, the most NATURAL looking hair replacement solution for male hair loss available anywhere.” Take few pictures for close friends/family for better opinions, they tell me it looks “unnatural”, is “obviously a wig”, and I look “like a mannequin”. My husband agrees. Frustrated and upset I remove the system and fight to remove adhesive from scalp/hair, then go on a planned trip, June 1st. Return June 7th and drive over to discuss. Elizabeth and Trisha are very apologetic and immediately own up to miscommunication, which I appreciate. At this point I find out now that I did NOT receive a virtual reality system, as it cannot do more than 6” hair length. They forgot to mention that. Elizabeth offers an actual virtual reality system, but I decline; the fun/excitement is ruined and I want to cut losses on both sides. She lets me out of monthly payment contract but I express I’d like refund of deposit considering the circumstances – mistake or not they bait and switched me on virtual reality and shaved off hair when I was sold on it not being any risk to natural hair. I say I’d like to leave a good review despite all this if they could just make it right, but they have a significant amount of my money, gave me something different than I was sold on, and shaved off some of my natural hair. She asks for time to talk to main office, a week or so, I agree. June 26th, heard nothing back, I e-mail. Elizabeth asks me to come in yet again to talk to owner. I begrudgingly agree. Spend several hours of my time on Saturday going over it all again with owner, Gary, and Elizabeth. Gary and Elizabeth are both mostly professional and friendly, though suddenly turn very accusing in expecting me to take a refund and leave bad reviews anyways or disparage them online anonymously. Gary offers half refund but only if I sign non-disparaging agreement - red flag. I decline anything that limits my ability to post my experience honestly, but offer three-fourths with no agreement just to be done with it. He declines, I walk out. I take full hit on the deposit to write this. Two photos attached – one showing hairline/weird color, other showing what was shaved.