My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

Style & Beauty

Hair people advice - what did I do wrong?

32 replies

HandsomeMaid · 30/07/2020 18:39

I usually get a full head of highlights every couple of months. I generally wear my hair up and was moaning to my friend about how it takes such a long time to get a full head and it’s expensive and I only need to get it done so regularly as my roots show more when my hair is tied up. Friend used to work in a hairdressers and said I should just ask for a half head but with a few at the sides and back. Then I could get away with leaving it longer between appointments and it would take less time and be cheaper.

I booked to have this done as soon as hairdressers reopened, mentioned what I wanted on the phone and had appointment today. I reiterated that I’d like a few at the sides and back when I got there and hairdresser got really stroppy with me and told me she could only do that if I was having a full head. I wasn’t booked for a full head and there wasn’t time to amend my booking. I said that I’d mentioned it when I booked, she said ‘that sounds very unlikely’ and went off to check with her manager. I said I’d obviously be happy for them to do fewer highlights on the top of my head and just do them at the sides/ back instead and that I didn’t want any extra foils at all, just in slightly different places.

Anyway, she did it in the end but was absolutely furious. It was excruciating sitting there for hours with someone clearly really cross with me. I’ve been going to the same hairdressers for years and now I can’t bear to go back.

Did I commit some huge hairdresser faux pas? I can’t understand why it was an issue. If she’s said it takes longer or makes it more difficult or something I’d have understood but from my pov I wasn’t asking for anything extra. She just kept saying that I should have booked for a full head of that’s what I wanted - but I didn’t want a full head!

What did I do wrong?!

OP posts:
Report
Legallybleachblonde · 30/07/2020 18:46

This sounds bizarre! I always have a half head and you're right, it includes the side bits in case you want to tie your hair up. No idea what her problem was and can't believe how rude she was either! I would call the manager and say you're not happy. They'll probably give you free highlights next time but you might not fancy going in again after that; I know I wouldn't!

Report
HandsomeMaid · 30/07/2020 21:45

Whenever I’ve had a half head in the past it’s just been on the top half of my hair. That’s fine when it’s down but when I tie it up it looks a bit rubbish. Do hairdressers generally scatter a few round the sides for a half head? I only ever go to one hairdressers so I don’t know how it’s done in other places! They were acting as though I was trying to scam them for a free hair do or something - I only wanted the same thing just in slightly different places.

OP posts:
Report
giantangryrooster · 30/07/2020 21:56

When I have highlights just on the top of the head, my hairdresser usually asks if I want some on the inner layers at the sides, so when I pull my hair back it's the same colour as the 'outer' hair.

I wouldn't want to go back to a hairdresser who couldn't contain her anger, and doesn't consider this a normal service. I wouldn't complain necessarily, but just stay away.

Report
TheOnlyAletheia · 30/07/2020 21:57

I call it a t section but totally normal 🤷‍♀️

Report
dementedpixie · 30/07/2020 22:00

when I get a tbar the hairdresser does a few round the hairline at the sides and back as I wear my hair up for the gym I alternate a full head with tbar

Report
hoolahoolahoop · 30/07/2020 22:05

I'm the same, half head includes ones around the side as 95% of the time my hair is up. I never asked for it though, it's always been offered. Like others I alternate between full and half head, have for over 15 years and have moved hairdressers when moved about.
anyway the hairdresser sounds really rude, especially as you were a regular, id complain if you feel comfortable to do so but def not go there again. Did you leave a tip?!

Report
Ulysses · 30/07/2020 22:09

When you mean the back do mean underneath? If I wear my hair up you can see that it’s darker underneath but looks blonde all over and I get a half head. I’m confusing myself with what a half head is now!

Report
dementedpixie · 30/07/2020 22:14

Half head doesn't include the underneath of the hair at the back. Highlights are done down to your ear level. T bar is the section on the top of your head around the parting and fringe. Full head is all over highlights. When i get tbar or half head she does the hairline at the nape of my neck and down the side of the face so it doesn't look as bad when the hair is up in a ponytail

Report
Ulysses · 30/07/2020 22:30

In that case done I get the sides done but not the nape of my neck. I’m growing out short hair but it’s now just long enough to put in a tiny pony tail if I’m going out running. It’s not a great look TBF but I get that sweaty it’s a necessity. I guess if I had it longer I’d probably would get the full head but it seems a good idea to alternate it. Sorry OP that’s not much help to you.

Report
HandsomeMaid · 30/07/2020 23:36

Maybe I should have booked for a T bar then, I didn’t realise that was a thing. I just wanted a few scattered around the hairline so that there’s not such an obvious colour difference between what is on the top of my hair and underneath when it’s tied up.

OP posts:
Report
Silverstreaks · 31/07/2020 07:51

No matter what you asked for you didn't deserve the kind of hostility she was throwing out.
Find another hairdresser. Complain about it too.

Report
Flyinggeese · 31/07/2020 08:53

That sounds awful! I’ve had a few threads about frustration with experience at the hairdresser’s; why is it such a performance? Imagine taking your car for a service and getting that attitude.

It’s particularly bad as your kind of stuck there until they’re done, not like you can leave early.

Can you call the manager to discuss along the lines of ‘help me understand this appointment, I’m reluctant to book again as it was not a great experience and the stylist was clearly offended by my request.’

Report
HandsomeMaid · 31/07/2020 09:56

It was the manager that she went and checked with. She seemed pissed off about it too but agreed the hairdresser should do it anyway. I didn’t hear exactly what the hairdresser said to the manager though so she could have said that I was asking for extra foils or something.

I’m not going to complain as it seems pointless. It would be way too uncomfortable to ever go back again so I’ll just find somewhere else instead.

OP posts:
Report
Thecazelets · 31/07/2020 10:01

My hairdresser offers to do this when I get a half-head. I don't think you were being unreasonable at all. So probably time to find a new hairdresser!

Report
Flyinggeese · 31/07/2020 10:35

In that case I can see why you wouldn’t complain. Their loss, what a daft way to lose business.

Sorry you now have the hassle of finding somewhere else.

I have a theory that in a lot of places tho Fd go swimmingly when you’re about to part with a lot of cash. Once it’s anything out of the ordinary (though I don’t think your request was) the attitude changes.

Report
Verite1 · 31/07/2020 11:09

I get half head which includes front and sides (top layer and underneath). It’s not supposed to include back but my hairdresser always pops a few in as I have been going to her for so long.

Report
Disabrie22 · 31/07/2020 18:30

I expect it will be down to you paying less for that - my hair dresser was pretty upfront about her business loss and up sold A product to me without me asking and handed me a card machine before my colour was even on. I wasn’t happy with the result.

Report
passthemustard · 31/07/2020 18:50

I alternate between full head and half head. When I have half head I have half the amount of foils but still spread throughout the whole head. I'd get a new hairdresser if I were you.

Report
CourtneyLurve · 31/07/2020 18:57

A hairdresser I'd been to a few times previously did something similar to me and I never went back.

Even if you had been mistaken, it's unprofessional to make you feel like that. The trust is gone now. Go elsewhere.

Report
CrystalMaisie · 31/07/2020 19:01

Do you mean your hairline underneath at the back, rather than the sides? Struggling to understand exactly what you mean.

Report
Leah00 · 31/07/2020 19:02

You poor thing that sounds horrible. I've often gone for half head and have had the sides done anyway, never been an issue. Either way you didn't deserve that stroppiness, I can't imagine how awkward it must have been to sit through that appointment. The stylist must have had a very bad day!

Report
fascinated · 31/07/2020 19:07

A lot of hairdressers seem to be very full of themselves. They know how to charge, too!

I’d find a new place.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

HandsomeMaid · 31/07/2020 19:08

crystalmaisie just some around the hairline at the sides so that when it’s tied back it’s not so obvious that the highlights are just on the top half, of that makes sense.

OP posts:
Report
Lazypuppy · 31/07/2020 19:12

My hairdresser does that, i have a half head worth of highlights but spread through my hair

Report
stayathomer · 31/07/2020 19:19

No matter what you asked for you didn't deserve the kind of hostility she was throwing out.Find another hairdresser. Complain about it too

This by a million. They were in the wrong

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.