Dallas Woman Says Business Tried Charging Her More After Seeing Her ‘Expensive’ Car. It Backfires On Them

A Dallas woman is going viral on TikTok after claiming salon workers tried to upcharge her based on one detail they thought said everything about her finances: the car she drove.

Sahilee Tyrah (@s.tyrahh) shared the story in an October “storytime” video, writing in the text overlay that she was “upcharged bc I drove an ‘expensive car’” to a Dallas-area hair salon. What makes the situation even more striking, Tyrah says, is how she found out about it.

According to Tyrah, the workers discussing the price hike behind her back assumed they were speaking freely because they were using French. They didn’t realize she could understand every word.

“They did not know I spoke French and understood what they were saying,” she says in the clip.

The video had racked up more than 209,200 views, with viewers weighing in on everything from salon pricing practices to class-based assumptions.

What Happened?

Tyrah says she booked a braid-takedown service at an unnamed Dallas salon and made a point of confirming the price ahead of time. Before she even walked in, she says, she was told the service would cost $60 for “shoulder-length natural hair.”

When she arrived, though, things immediately felt off. Tyrah says she found two women asleep on a couch inside the salon and had to wake them up herself before the appointment could begin. One of the workers eventually started the service, but Tyrah says the price conversation quickly changed.

“Quickly after we start, she goes, ‘Your hair is too long,’” Tyrah recounts. The worker then told her the cost would be closer to $80 or $85.

“I obviously pause,” Tyrah says.

She says she pushed back, explaining that she’d already been quoted a lower price. That’s when the worker called her boss—and, according to Tyrah, switched to French while doing so. Tyrah says the worker described her as “boujee” and mentioned that she “drove in in a Tesla,” implying she could afford to pay more.

“Little does she know that I understand what she’s saying because I have a lot of friends who speak French,” Tyrah says. “I’m just letting her be.”

In the end, Tyrah says she stood her ground and wasn’t charged more than expected. She also says she tipped the worker an extra $5 or $10.

“You cannot scam someone who is book smart and street smart,” Tyrah says. Still, she adds, the experience left a bad taste.

“You cannot pray for abundance but hide from honesty,” she says. “And that should be a moral life lesson.”

What If This Happens To Me?

If this happens to you, it’s reasonable to ask what’s being said if a price changes or a decision suddenly feels different. And if, unlike Tyrah, you don’t know what the worker is saying (i.e., if there’s a language barrier), you’re totally within your rights to ask whether someone can explain things in English or another language you’re comfortable with.

You can also use a translation app on your phone to help cut through confusion and make sure everyone is on the same page.

If you still feel uncomfortable, it’s also okay to either talk to someone who speaks a language you’re fluent in or ask to speak with a manager.

In other words, advocate for yourself—especially when you’re paying for a service. If a service suddenly costs more than what you were initially quoted, you’re well within your rights to ask why. And if the explanation you’re given doesn’t make sense, it’s fine to pause things—or, in more serious cases, walk away entirely.

It’s also smart to document what happened. Hang on to texts, emails, or booking confirmations, and note when and how the price changed. If you decide to follow up later, that kind of paper trail makes a difference. That’s not being difficult—it’s knowing your boundaries.

Viewers Question Whether Teslas Are ‘Luxury’

Plenty of viewers were stunned by Tyrah’s claim that salon workers tried to charge her more based on the car she drove—but many of them got hung up on one detail in particular. They couldn’t wrap their heads around the idea that a Tesla, of all things, was being treated like a luxury vehicle.

“Teslas b $200 a month these days, that’s crazy,” one commenter remarked.

“Why do people act like a Tesla means luxury?” another chimed in.

“A Tesla? Is considered bougie?” someone else asked.

In response to that line of questioning, Tyrah later clarified that she drives a “Tesla Model S,” though it didn’t appear to sway skeptics who still weren’t buying the luxury label.

Others shifted the focus away from the car entirely and zeroed in on the fact that Tyrah tipped after what she described as a frustrating and uncomfortable experience.

“You still tipped??? The need to want to appease people is INSANE. The need for people to know you have money is INSANE,” one viewer wrote.

“The moral life lesson would have been, you telling her in French what she did was unprofessional and paying the price they created and nothing more.”

“This is still a weird take,” another person commented. “You tipped a business/person who is scamming you. That is not the purpose of a tip.”

“I personally would not have tipped, simply because what she did lacked integrity,” a third added. “Changing the price based on her assumption of what money you possess. Paying for the service, I think, was efficient.”

Still, not everyone was critical. Some praised Tyrah for staying calm and composed throughout the situation.

“This is how you handle yourself with class,” one woman said.

“Money flows where there is integrity!! Heavy on that!!” another added.

@s.tyrahh

Patch has reached out to Tyrah via a direct message on TikTok.