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To break with hair stylist over politics?

269 replies

momtoboys · 22/11/2024 17:21

Please try to be kind, because as silly as this sounds I am very upset about this situation.

I am currently in the US and I have been going to the same woman who does my hair for 25 years. Over the years we have become friends but do not really see each other socially (occasionally talk on the phone, text, cook a meal when someone sick). We seem to have made this unspoken agreement that we would not discuss politics both knowing we are on opposite ends of the spectrum in our beliefs. The US has recently had a presidential election and the person elected is a VERY polarizing character. This is the person my hairstylist supports.

I had my hair done last night and it appears that since the election results our silent pact not to discuss politics has expired. She really wanted to talk about how much better the country will be and how smart the president elect is. I asked her to stop and that I didn't think we should discuss it but she kept on and then I went at her both barrels. we played the "well, what about THIS" game for a while each trying to outwit the other to prove our point. We were able to pull ourselves out of a terrible spiral and the last 1/2 hour of the appointment was fine. I hugged her goodbye which I normally don't do and I realized that was because I think that may be the last time I see her. I don't think I can go back. I still enjoy her as a friend but her support for this megalomaniac makes me think less of her. If this is the end do I call her and tell her why or just cancel my next appointment and just move on?

OP posts:
MrsMorrisey · 23/11/2024 05:30

You would not see your hairdresser again because she supports Trump?!?!?!
And we live in a society where we are to accept all things that people do but you don't yourself because you don't like your new president.
How bizarre is that?!?!

Aberentian · 23/11/2024 05:24

"Break with" is a bit dramatic. Just stop going? But a lot of people will have voted for him who work in service roles - your nurse maybe, postal workers, etc...you can't break with them all. For me it would depend on the views expressed. "I think Trump will be good for small businesses" - okay I disagree and think you're foolish but maybe we can still be friends. "I am strongly opposed to immigration and don't care about the way immigrant children are treated at the border" - probably the gulf is too wide.

But on the left we've tried abjuring the right and treating them as irredeemable idiots and it hasn't worked, has it. We have a duty to talk to each other, find common meeting points. That doesn't mean you have to concede a single point, but sequestering yourself from every Trump voter won't actually help to change anything even if it makes you feel briefly better.

Stickthakettleon · 23/11/2024 04:53

I understand where you're coming from OP, I'm no fan fof your new prez, his minions, or his supporters either.

However much it would be irritating to have to sit and listen to someone espouse their admiration and enthusiasm for this being, this person has been doing your hair to your satisfaction for 25 years, that's a long time.

If you've recently had a haircut, as in this past month, then of course this supporter will still be wanting to talk ad nauseam.

I wouldn't let that interfere with a good hairdresser, one who you've texted, talked on the phone with, and made meals for.

Switch off, don't respond, stick it out, go for your next appointment.

It's hard to believe she'll still be talking with the same enthusiasm for too many more appointments.

If she does, being aware that you've always kept politics out of your salon appointments, then you should either bring this up again to her, and failing a truce while you're there, start looking for another hairdresser.

There's enough division in the US amongst the population without you breaking with your hairdresser over political policies.

LoquaciousPineapple · 23/11/2024 04:44

It's only ever one side of the political spectrum that I ever hear saying "wow, you can't stop associating with people just because of their political views", and imply that someone's political choices don't say anything about their character.

OP, you're entitled to not associate with people who support bigoted and discriminatory political figures. Trump is not some middle ground conservative figure who has pros and cons, he literally stands on stage bragging about how awful he is. But even if her political choices weren't appalling, you'd be entitled to not use a hairdresser who keeps deliberately ignoring your requests to not talk about politics during appointments. Life is too short to waste it associating with people who you don't respect and who raise t blood pressure.

RingoJuice · 23/11/2024 04:08

It’s a real problem. Why do leftists want to cancel people for their opinions?

Honestly I voted for Trump and can’t even mention it to anyone irl but family because of people like this. (Which leads people to be like, who voted Trump? I don’t know anyone who did. Which I have literally heard in my friend circle lmao)

Edingril · 23/11/2024 02:56

Sure you don't need permission to change but this idea where people only want people that have been through a selection process of being vetted enough to be in your presence sounds a bit like what Hitler tried in the war

Mummyoflittledragon · 23/11/2024 02:49

RogueFemale · 23/11/2024 01:58

Yes, very noticeable how they've shut up about election fraud since winning. Election fraud vanished when they won.

I would say those people are a group of fanatics, anti establishment nuts and disruptors, who would answer the call to fight for any cause rather than the right.

NiftyKoala · 23/11/2024 02:04

I'm in the US too. I absolutely could not keep seeing her either. You are not unreasonable at all.

RogueFemale · 23/11/2024 01:58

Pickledhen · 23/11/2024 01:54

Is that why the right started an insurrection,attacked the Capiltol and then prattled on for the last 4 years about not having.lost the election in 2020 ?

The right then sarted all the conspiracies of election fraud this time too but promptly shut up when they realised they had won.

Yeah all very reasonable and balanced.

Yes, very noticeable how they've shut up about election fraud since winning. Election fraud vanished when they won.

Pickledhen · 23/11/2024 01:54

Errors · 22/11/2024 22:20

Before even reading the thread, I knew that the OP would be the left-wing one and her hairdresser would be right.
Ask me how I know?
Because it’s usually the left-wingers who want to end perfectly good friendships over differing political opinions. People on the right tend to be fine with ‘agree to disagree and move on’

To answer your question, no. I don’t think you should stop seeing her because her views are different to yours. That’s how you end up in an echo chamber.

Is that why the right started an insurrection,attacked the Capiltol and then prattled on for the last 4 years about not having.lost the election in 2020 ?

The right then sarted all the conspiracies of election fraud this time too but promptly shut up when they realised they had won.

Yeah all very reasonable and balanced.

misogynyisbigotry · 23/11/2024 01:38

I'd expect my friends, unless it's some kind of emergency, to respect my wishes if I asked that we avoid a painful subject. They don't need to agree that it's a problem topic or understand my reasons. I'd expect my hairdresser to avoid discussing politics on the job out of basic common sense and self-preservation (why alienate ANY customer?) She clearly knows this is an area of disagreement between the two of you and has been able to avoid it in the past, so why not now?

Personally, I'd cancel and move on. I have a strict "no rape apologists" policy, and I'd boycott anyone on that basis no matter how hellish my hair looked.

RogueFemale · 23/11/2024 01:29

Daisybuttercup12345 · 22/11/2024 23:50

This. Too many snowflakes about. Grow up and learn tolerance.

Tolerance of what?

RogueFemale · 23/11/2024 01:24

Verv · 22/11/2024 17:27

I accidentally hit YANBU when i meant YABU.

Good hairdressers are hard to find, and you pay for the cut, not to have their political belief match yours.

They're not that hard to find.

Ruthietuthie · 23/11/2024 01:22

I really couldn't keep using her as my hairdresser. To me, a vote for Trump is such a statement of your values - values that are the opposite to mine, and that will damage people I love. No way. Values have consequences.

Pickledhen · 23/11/2024 01:16

I would keep her as your hairdresser. Ask her not to speak of politics again...until the inevitable shxt show happens and then remind her of the time she thought the genius mangoed one was the next messiah....and laugh hysterically. 🙄

username8348 · 23/11/2024 01:13

Jumpingthruhoops · 23/11/2024 01:09

It's not about THAT they voted that way... but WHY they voted that way.
Clue: It's not because they're all MAGA hat wearing bigots and racists, despite what the media tells you.

I didn't say that they were all hat wearing racists. That's an assumption you made. I said that Trump won because a majority of voters voted for him. People who voted for Trump are responsible for his presidency.

I tend to treat people like adults and hold them responsible for their actions.

jezlifecoach · 23/11/2024 01:12

CoffeeAndPeanuts · 22/11/2024 20:14

well for 25 years they've disagreed, but kept it out of their friendship.

i agree Trump is a living nightmare,

BUT her love of him is. NOTnew news, the only difference is that she ran screaming over their unspoken boundary.

i don't ditch 25 year old friendships over a mistake without even trying to sort it out.

this isn't about her views on Trump, it's about going over a boundary.

Why is Trump a living nightmare? Is it because he might be the only person that Putin is willing to speak to to negotiate peace? Or is it the fact that under Trump there were no wars? Or is that Trump had a friendly meeting with the North Korean leader and wants to maintain that?

orrrr is it because Trump was the only person out of Obama, himself and Biden that supported gay marriage when it was a topic many years ago in the USA?

or is it because he knows the difference between a man and a woman?

or is it because he clearly is what American people want / need - hence why he won the election quite clearly?

I don’t know where this idea comes from that Trump supporters are in the minority when the results prove differently.

Jumpingthruhoops · 23/11/2024 01:09

username8348 · 23/11/2024 01:02

That the people who voted for Trump meant that he won the election? I'll keep thinking that.

It's not about THAT they voted that way... but WHY they voted that way.
Clue: It's not because they're all MAGA hat wearing bigots and racists, despite what the media tells you.

GiraffesAtThePark · 23/11/2024 01:08

If it was just that she was a Trump supporter then I’d say you were unreasonable however the fact she was bringing it up when you said not to and it caused a heated debate then I think it’s understandable. You’re a client and she should be the one more mindful of not causing unpleasantness.

username8348 · 23/11/2024 01:02

Jumpingthruhoops · 23/11/2024 01:00

Respectfully, keep thinking that and you'll never understand anything.

That the people who voted for Trump meant that he won the election? I'll keep thinking that.

Jumpingthruhoops · 23/11/2024 01:00

username8348 · 22/11/2024 23:29

It was the people who voted who won it for Trump. The very end.

Respectfully, keep thinking that and you'll never understand anything.

MzHz · 23/11/2024 00:02

I’ve just spent time both east coast and west coast and the politics of both sides of the US was the opposite to what I expected

I was shocked by the things I heard from both sides and much as I’m not a fan of the orange one, I CAN see why he was voted in . The media is making all this a circus and we aren’t getting the full picture in the uk.

people voted for change, like they did here, like they have all over the world.

If you like this hairdresser @momtoboys just agree to disagree and focus on other things.

you won’t see her for a while now, things will cool down over the next 6-8 weeks

wait and see what happens

Daisybuttercup12345 · 22/11/2024 23:50

Mrsknowitall · 22/11/2024 17:47

Seriously can nobody have an opinion these days without fear of losing a friend 🤷‍♀️

This. Too many snowflakes about. Grow up and learn tolerance.

username8348 · 22/11/2024 23:29

Jumpingthruhoops · 22/11/2024 23:12

Same here. Always amazes me how the default reaction from Left to Right always seems to be to 'cut off immediately'. I long for the day when people can once again discuss things like adults.
In relation to this specific issue, if I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: it's the attitudes/behaviour of the Democrats that won the election for Trump. The End.

It was the people who voted who won it for Trump. The very end.

Jumpingthruhoops · 22/11/2024 23:12

LauraNorda · 22/11/2024 17:41

Yeah, so? Enough American people must want the same because they voted for him.

I haven't dropped any of my friends who voted Labour, despite the hash they are making of it. I do rib them mercilessly but just in fun and most are regretting voting for them now.

Same here. Always amazes me how the default reaction from Left to Right always seems to be to 'cut off immediately'. I long for the day when people can once again discuss things like adults.
In relation to this specific issue, if I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: it's the attitudes/behaviour of the Democrats that won the election for Trump. The End.