1 /5 Santiago Kato Ballesteros Lora: Racist/homophobic establishment. I’ve been here about 5 times to browse since I’ve moved here years and years ago. I frequently dye my hair and buy from Sally’s but figured I’d give this a go. Now listen, it was not brought to my attention this store is ONLY for licensed professionals until my very recent visit. I did further research to confirm. What I did not appreciate is I have been in this store several times to browse without anyone bothering me or notifying me about this rule. Last visit I did find the lady (assuming the manager) a bit odd, she was not in the store and my fiancé and I went towards the evening. She freaked out and said she was closed but why did she not lock the door while she was in the back room? That’s a lack of safety and security on her part but she reassured us that we can stop by next time when they’re open. Cool. I’ve finally had some cash and been needing to buy hair dye so I come in (as a brown queer man). She immediately said “hello” to us and we continued our browsing while another (white) individual was there. We were browsing for about 10-15 minutes until she threatened to kick us out with no reasoning so of course I decided to question the rationale.
She said we have to be card members (again not specifying what that means so we assumed it was to sign up for some rewards plan) so I inquired to sign up. She said she refuses to sign me up and I asked why. She would not give a reason but after pressing several times for an answer she said we had to be licensed professionals. Again, was never made aware of this policy and I completely respect it but why was this brought to my attention the 5th visit mid browsing? From the outside without this prior knowledge is comes across as targeted aggression, she did not question the other white browser individual who decided to leave after she was done browsing.
I accused her of racial harassment and she laughed at my face and decided to immediately call the cops to a BROWN person putting my life in danger because she didn’t specify the rules.
I’m not complaining about not being able to buy, what I did not appreciate is why is this not posted clearly on the doors, why has she in the past not tell us about this rule, why did she threaten to kick me out and accuse me of not being a licensed professional when she had no clue if I was or not. Why did she invite us back the last visit prior to my recent? Why did she not mention this policy right as customers enter? (Mind you it was just my fiancé and the other browser at this store she had time to explain this policy at the beginning) why did she wait 15 minutes and accused me and kicked me out without asking for verification?
It’s clear this manager has some racist behaviors as I called her out for it she didn’t even “threaten” she immediately started calling the cops. Again, I UNDERSTAND (now) this is for licensed professionals but she did not kick any browsers out of any of my visits, only targeted me and not my fiancé who happens to be white. There are professional ways to state policies and a time and a place as well as a proper (and safe) way to kick someone out without warning or calling potentially dangerous policemen who put my life at risk (as they have done to me in the past in other racially motivated incidents)
I’m not offended that it’s only licensed professionals I’m upset of how this manager has went about it and the timing and attitude coming from her.
Well the one good thing about Humboldt’s high rents is hopefully it affects this business and shuts it down! It’s a bummer because there are more localized products than typical corporations such as Sally’s, I understand it’s for licensed professionals AFTER I did my research but to immediately get accused and not told of this policy til my 5th visit is horrendous behavior. So girl, your time is coming up soon cant wait for the doors to close down and you’re unemployed!
