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Original poster

Cleaner/receptionist did my hair at the salon

209 replies

Brood · 15/11/2025 17:47

An incident happened at my hairdressers today and I’m wondering if I was the unreasonable one. Before I get into that, I have been going to this salon for about 15 years. I attend between once a week and once a month.

In the past year, there have been issues I’ve been unhappy about. I’ll name two.

I like to get my hair blow dried on Sunday to do me for the working week. On one occasion, the stylist called over a girl working there cleaning the salon and told her it was an opportunity for her to learn. She blow dried and curled half my head of hair while the stylist did the other side. I paid full price but the side the unqualified girl did fell out before I got home.

Another time this unqualified girl rubbed in my colour and washed my hair even though I was booked in with the professional. I again paid full price but my colour wasn’t done right - she missed bits and didn’t put it at the start of the root and I had to wash it myself after 2 days.

I booked in to get my hair done today. The stylist was about 30 minutes late starting - this can be pretty typical, which can be a bit irritating if I’ve rushed to get there on time & could have been getting a coffee in the time I’m sitting waiting. It’s even more annoying that no staff members approach me to inform me how long the delay will be instead walking by me ignoring me.

When the hairdresser eventually came out, she sat me down & cloaked me up & went off to mix my colour. Then she disappeared into the staff kitchen. The same girl from before who works on reception and helps out sweeping the floor etc. came over and started rubbing in my colour independently. She got it all over my face, in my ears and down the back of my neck. After about an hour she came back to wash it out. During the wash, she applied very little pressure and I could tell when I got up the colour wasn’t properly washed out, she applied no conditioner and my hair was full of knots.

The stylist I was booked in with came over and told me this girl was going to start to blow dry my hair. I told her I would prefer to wait until she was ready to do it explaining I had booked in with her. I stressed that I had booked in with her for my colour and wash too. She said she was running behind. I told her if she didn’t have time to do it, I’d prefer to go home and do it myself. I then got up and went to pay. She followed me and I explained that when I ring a professional hairdressing salon to get my hair done, I want it done by a professional. I was told on the phone a professional would be doing it.

I explained that I had got my hair done before at hairdressing colleges and booked in with a student there where I would be charged half price. I explained that the girl who did my hair was not a student, had no hairdressing training and if I wanted an unprofessional job, I could do it myself and save my time and money.

I also said that it should be made clear on the phone if there is no professional available and that it’s not fair to the customer or the girl to be put in the position we were put in.

They asked me if they could clean the dye off me as it was all over my face and neck. I pointed out that it was that way because I had been placed in the hands of someone who wasn’t a professional

The stylist said sorry but I didn’t feel she really meant it. She said things got backed up and she felt it would be better for me to get my hair done with someone rather than no- one. I mean, really?! The manager seemed horrified but she was fully aware of what was going on. I think she was more horrified that they were being called out on it.

Am I the unreasonable one in this situation. Is it too much to expect that if I book in to get my hair professionally done and I am being charged professional prices that I get a professional job?

I came home with wet hair full of knots and spent about 15 minutes removing dye with nail varnish remover. I had a planned date but ended up cancelling it

Do you think this is ok?

OP posts:
wnyaadbify · 16/11/2025 18:39

I didn’t keep having bad experiences. I had maybe 15% of bad experiences in the whole time I’ve been going there. The most recent experiences though and the fact these instances aren’t once offs are becoming harder to brush off

15% bad experiences is a lot of bad experiences, especially when you are paying a lot of money.

YWNBU to complain but I would have objected as soon as the girl came over and started putting colour on.

Don't go there again and tell them why.
It's not acceptable.

Trainees do have to learn at some point but it needs to be done under constant supervision from a trained stylist and you'd expect a reduction in price. So if she was a genuine hairdressing trainee and you were asked and agreed to it, it would be ok as long as a trained stylist supervised and corrected any mistakes. But she isn't even a trainee hairdresser. Ridiculous.

Jaggy1 · 16/11/2025 18:35

I stopped going to my regular hairdresser a few years ago due to this.
Not untrained but really new trainees, the hairdresser would do my foils, then trainees did everything else til the stylist came back and trimmed it quickly before shoving me out the door. Just hated it, my hairs so damaged they always hurt me drying it and attacking it with a brush 🤣 also meant I never got a good wet cut & couldn’t ever have my hair curled because they needdd it straight to cut.

definitely in the right to bring it up & call them out, I just stopped going there & now have a salon with no trainees! I know they need to learn somewhere and I’d be happy for them to do bits but they were just left to do it all & it was never a nice experience.

Elvisismycat · 16/11/2025 18:26

Brood · 15/11/2025 17:47

An incident happened at my hairdressers today and I’m wondering if I was the unreasonable one. Before I get into that, I have been going to this salon for about 15 years. I attend between once a week and once a month.

In the past year, there have been issues I’ve been unhappy about. I’ll name two.

I like to get my hair blow dried on Sunday to do me for the working week. On one occasion, the stylist called over a girl working there cleaning the salon and told her it was an opportunity for her to learn. She blow dried and curled half my head of hair while the stylist did the other side. I paid full price but the side the unqualified girl did fell out before I got home.

Another time this unqualified girl rubbed in my colour and washed my hair even though I was booked in with the professional. I again paid full price but my colour wasn’t done right - she missed bits and didn’t put it at the start of the root and I had to wash it myself after 2 days.

I booked in to get my hair done today. The stylist was about 30 minutes late starting - this can be pretty typical, which can be a bit irritating if I’ve rushed to get there on time & could have been getting a coffee in the time I’m sitting waiting. It’s even more annoying that no staff members approach me to inform me how long the delay will be instead walking by me ignoring me.

When the hairdresser eventually came out, she sat me down & cloaked me up & went off to mix my colour. Then she disappeared into the staff kitchen. The same girl from before who works on reception and helps out sweeping the floor etc. came over and started rubbing in my colour independently. She got it all over my face, in my ears and down the back of my neck. After about an hour she came back to wash it out. During the wash, she applied very little pressure and I could tell when I got up the colour wasn’t properly washed out, she applied no conditioner and my hair was full of knots.

The stylist I was booked in with came over and told me this girl was going to start to blow dry my hair. I told her I would prefer to wait until she was ready to do it explaining I had booked in with her. I stressed that I had booked in with her for my colour and wash too. She said she was running behind. I told her if she didn’t have time to do it, I’d prefer to go home and do it myself. I then got up and went to pay. She followed me and I explained that when I ring a professional hairdressing salon to get my hair done, I want it done by a professional. I was told on the phone a professional would be doing it.

I explained that I had got my hair done before at hairdressing colleges and booked in with a student there where I would be charged half price. I explained that the girl who did my hair was not a student, had no hairdressing training and if I wanted an unprofessional job, I could do it myself and save my time and money.

I also said that it should be made clear on the phone if there is no professional available and that it’s not fair to the customer or the girl to be put in the position we were put in.

They asked me if they could clean the dye off me as it was all over my face and neck. I pointed out that it was that way because I had been placed in the hands of someone who wasn’t a professional

The stylist said sorry but I didn’t feel she really meant it. She said things got backed up and she felt it would be better for me to get my hair done with someone rather than no- one. I mean, really?! The manager seemed horrified but she was fully aware of what was going on. I think she was more horrified that they were being called out on it.

Am I the unreasonable one in this situation. Is it too much to expect that if I book in to get my hair professionally done and I am being charged professional prices that I get a professional job?

I came home with wet hair full of knots and spent about 15 minutes removing dye with nail varnish remover. I had a planned date but ended up cancelling it

Do you think this is ok?

This happened to me, my hair is really porous and the untrained member of staff took so long trying to dry my hair cos my stylist was busy seeing to another client that my hair ended up a frizzy mess. I was fuming and haven't been back.

Wexone · 16/11/2025 15:32

Brood · 16/11/2025 14:20

That has happened before. I usually tie it up for those activities in a way that it’s won’t be a mess. Some of the best blow dries are almost like a Brazilian blow dry, they last. This is probably one of the reasons I keep going back. My favourite stylist there does an amazing blow dry and cut

Edited
Show quote history

totally agree a good blow dry will last a week. even a beauty writer wrote an article on how a good blow dry will.last one week. I only wash my hair once a week anyway but if got a good blow dry don't need any dry shampoo towards the end of the week. love it and if could afford it would get it done every week

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 16/11/2025 14:26

I have a friend, fully qualified, very experienced in all aspects of hair. She hates the dumbing down of the industry, poor quality college training and paying for an 'experienced' stylist and then not getting the service. I walked out of a salon as the drying was left to someone without a clue and when another salon took the piss with a quick trim and not a cut / care I paid for.

Original poster
Brood · 16/11/2025 14:20

Bobiverse · 15/11/2025 22:32

This is going to sound a bit rude but do you not do any activity during the week? No exercise… no sex? Nothing that would mean you might sweat and get messy hair and need to wash it?

I cannot imaging going through an entire work week without having to clean my hair due as it wouldn’t survive the gym! Or my partner 😂

Show quote history

That has happened before. I usually tie it up for those activities in a way that it’s won’t be a mess. Some of the best blow dries are almost like a Brazilian blow dry, they last. This is probably one of the reasons I keep going back. My favourite stylist there does an amazing blow dry and cut

OP posts:
zingally · 16/11/2025 11:28

Lesson learned. Find another hairdressers.

Original poster
Brood · 16/11/2025 11:05

themerchentofvenus · 16/11/2025 10:53

It's absolutely NOT common place.

Sometimes trainees watch the professional do the cut/process and are talked through what is happening but they shouldn't NOT be doing it themselves at all!

I would not set foot in that place again. I would also be leaving a very factual review on Google for others to see, as charging top prices then getting someone who isn't even a trainee to do things is ridiculous, and clearly not even a one off. VERY unprofessional.

Given you are a very regular customer then they should have treated you with a lot more respect.

Show quote history

Thank you so much. That’s exactly how I feel. It seems to be chanced in this salon. The owner’s daughter in law was doing hair at one point about ten years ago when staff was low even though she’s a trainee carpenter by trade. I had my hair done by her a few times and got suspicious when it wasn’t done well. I thought they’d moved away from this practice. They used to act like I was being unreasonable when I’d request a stylist

OP posts:
Original poster
Brood · 16/11/2025 10:56

rainbowsandraspberrygin · 16/11/2025 10:27

It’s common for trainees - but they are supervised and you should be told and charged less. It’s not common for someone with zero experience who’s job is NOT hair dressing.

it’s not fair on anyone. I read the thread where the poor girl ended up with horrendous burns. That was with a qualified person I believe. And I expect they have insurance. Not saying it’s ok! But for someone random to do it - what if something went wrong - it’s not her fault either.

and of course definitely not fair on you.

it’s so bad. I would complain officially.

Show quote history

That’s what I was hoping. They act like it’s no big deal. I wonder how they’d feel if they showed up for a medical procedure and the receptionist was brought in instead to have a go because the doctor was running behind. I don’t understand how I even need to explain this to them.

I didn’t see that thread with the woman who got skin burns but I have had bad experiences myself in the past. I have a scar on my face from an unqualified laser technician and that was dismissed as well. The stylist was MIA for the whole appointment - apart from when she came over to tell me the receptionist/cleaner would start to blow dry my hair - so she wasn’t even supervising. There’s just no respect or duty of care

Because I’ve had a personal relationship with the salon over the years, it’s really hard to report them or write a bad review even though if something happened to another customer and I didn’t say anything, I’d feel partly responsible.

Hopefully the manager will take action now. It was a bit of a scene in the salon with multiple people standing around and someone turned the radio off during this heated conversation.

I asked to change all my appointments to the stylist that I have a good past experience with. It’s not just me who goes to this salon but all of my family go there too and I book in all their appointments. I’ve booked family weddings with them. If I go elsewhere, so will everyone else. I’ll give them a chance to put it right but i definitely won’t be tolerating anything like this again

OP posts:
themerchentofvenus · 16/11/2025 10:53

Brood · 16/11/2025 07:35

Is this not fairly common place? I think there should be standards in place to protect customers from things like this happening. I didn’t consent to someone unqualified touching my hair. I shouldn’t have had to leave the salon upset with wet hair and dye all down my face. I think all hairdressers should have their certs hanging up like other professional have. There must be no inspections taking place. They have really good reviews on Google as well but there aren’t many recent ones

Show quote history

It's absolutely NOT common place.

Sometimes trainees watch the professional do the cut/process and are talked through what is happening but they shouldn't NOT be doing it themselves at all!

I would not set foot in that place again. I would also be leaving a very factual review on Google for others to see, as charging top prices then getting someone who isn't even a trainee to do things is ridiculous, and clearly not even a one off. VERY unprofessional.

Given you are a very regular customer then they should have treated you with a lot more respect.

Merseymum1980 · 16/11/2025 10:41

You need a new hairdressers but you will struggle to find others open on a sunday

Talltreesbythelake · 16/11/2025 10:36

I think the suggestion upthread to contact trading standards is a good idea. They need pulling up on this practice. Please edit your initial post into a letter of complaint and email it to your local council.

rainbowsandraspberrygin · 16/11/2025 10:27

Brood · 16/11/2025 07:35

Is this not fairly common place? I think there should be standards in place to protect customers from things like this happening. I didn’t consent to someone unqualified touching my hair. I shouldn’t have had to leave the salon upset with wet hair and dye all down my face. I think all hairdressers should have their certs hanging up like other professional have. There must be no inspections taking place. They have really good reviews on Google as well but there aren’t many recent ones

Show quote history

It’s common for trainees - but they are supervised and you should be told and charged less. It’s not common for someone with zero experience who’s job is NOT hair dressing.

it’s not fair on anyone. I read the thread where the poor girl ended up with horrendous burns. That was with a qualified person I believe. And I expect they have insurance. Not saying it’s ok! But for someone random to do it - what if something went wrong - it’s not her fault either.

and of course definitely not fair on you.

it’s so bad. I would complain officially.

Valeriekat · 16/11/2025 08:16

Why did you go back, why did you let her near your hair and why did you pay them?

PrioritisePleasure24 · 16/11/2025 08:10

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 15/11/2025 22:01

This ^^ hairdressers are usually closed on Mondays because the weekends are their busiest time for obvious reasons.

Show quote history

Ive lived in two north west towns ten miles apart and Sunday/Monday have been the days off for any salons. It’s pretty standard

I don’t know any open on sundays. Maybe just before xmas/new year if they extend late nights and add in sunday due to being busy.

@Brood You are being unreasonable to not complain the first time, to actually pay and actually let her near your head again. To actually keep going back! I can’t believe you even want to consider that. No wonder they are walking all over you. If you are such a long standing regular customer i would have expected the manager to apologise formally and even ring you after the event. Spend your money elsewhere. I don’t believe everywhere is worse. Get online/social media and ask for recommendations

Original poster
Brood · 16/11/2025 07:35

Hoipers · 15/11/2025 23:48

Can you report them under trading standards.

I think you need to alert people to the fact they allow completely unqualified receptionists colour clients hair if they are busy and you had to leave mid colour.
That is disgraceful.

Is this not fairly common place? I think there should be standards in place to protect customers from things like this happening. I didn’t consent to someone unqualified touching my hair. I shouldn’t have had to leave the salon upset with wet hair and dye all down my face. I think all hairdressers should have their certs hanging up like other professional have. There must be no inspections taking place. They have really good reviews on Google as well but there aren’t many recent ones

OP posts:
Original poster
Brood · 16/11/2025 07:30

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 16/11/2025 00:10

They get complacent if you’ve been going there for years. My previous hairdresser of ten years said to me on a couple of occasions after I’d been waiting for half an hour, ‘I’ll have to do you quickly because my last client was late”. The second time this happened I very forcefully said ‘why are you catching up on me? Do my hair properly and let your next client wait. Don’t make up your lost time on me”. She never did it again.

That’s exactly it. They start to treat you carelessly. When she said to me things got backed up and she thought it was better an unqualified girl do my hair than no one, I just thought - why would an unqualified girl do my hair because you’re behind? I’m next. Why would my appointment get dropped when they were open for another 6 hours and there were lots of people booked in after me? The other customers will have to wait like I had to. I looked around and this unqualified girl was only doing my hair, all the other customers had qualified hairdressers - that was a choice. And a different customer came in over an hour later and the hairdresser I was booked in with was doing her hair in front of me while I was still waiting with the dye in my hair. She was still doing this other customer’s hair after my dye was (partly) washed out and she told me the unqualified girl will start on my blow dry. The more I think of it, the more I can’t believe their audacity and the more I’ve lost respect for them

OP posts:
AppleDumplingWithCustard · 16/11/2025 00:10

They get complacent if you’ve been going there for years. My previous hairdresser of ten years said to me on a couple of occasions after I’d been waiting for half an hour, ‘I’ll have to do you quickly because my last client was late”. The second time this happened I very forcefully said ‘why are you catching up on me? Do my hair properly and let your next client wait. Don’t make up your lost time on me”. She never did it again.

Hoipers · 15/11/2025 23:48

Can you report them under trading standards.

I think you need to alert people to the fact they allow completely unqualified receptionists colour clients hair if they are busy and you had to leave mid colour.
That is disgraceful.

FenceBooksCycle · 15/11/2025 23:46

You were being unreasonable to go back again after the first time this happened. You were unreasonable not to tell them about the unsatisfactory quality, and having gone back you were unreasonable ot to say anything.

You have to say it out loud - "if I was happy to have the apprentice working on my hair I would expect to pay a lower rate but I am paying full price and I am not happy with anything less than the fully qualified and experienced stylist"

Pushmepullu · 15/11/2025 23:37

If someone takes the piss and gets away with it, they do it again. When it works the second and third time it becomes habit. When it involves a person who keeps going back for more then they become an enabler and others then take the piss too. Thing is op, you have come on here and asked AIBU, you are but not for the reason you have asked. You Abu because you plan to go back and continue with the abuse. When my hairdresser asked a junior to rinse out a colour and she failed to do it properly and didn’t use conditioner I was given the colour for free.

DPotter · 15/11/2025 23:34

Brood · 15/11/2025 21:02

The nail varnish remover was to remove the dye from my skin because it was all over my face, ears and neck

Show quote history

Next time you get hair dye on your face etc, remove it with milk, full fat if you have it is ideal but semi skimmed will do. A lot gentler on your skin and just as effective at removing the dye.

That aside - you've heard of the fallacy of sunk costs ? Well that's where you are with this salon. You've been going to this salon for 15 years but this iteration isn't working for you. Ask locally for recommendations. My hairdresser tells me the market is hard out there for salons so competition is fierce. If you simply must return - make sure you challenge poor service as soon as it happens. Don't let anyone untrained near your hair. I go to my hairdressers every 6 weeks or so and have done for over 30 years and I have always had the stylist I booked with apply hair dye, never a junior. Juniors have rough dried my hair but that the limit. Don't be a push over - speak up !!

LunaDeBallona · 15/11/2025 23:19

No way on this earth would I let the untrained cleaner/receptionist dye my hair!!
Are you usually this passive? The stylist did this because she didn’t think you would say anything, equally all the times you have paid full price when it wasn’t a qualified hairdresser doing it for you.
If you went to the butchers, asked for fillet steak but they gave you a bit of liver priced as fillet steak would you just take itand pay??
I voted YANBU but I wish I had voted YABU as you are a walkover.
Honestly, woman up and stop being treated so badly, paying for the privilege and then going back for more piss taking!!

DollyPop100 · 15/11/2025 23:10

i use to go to a place on my day off and use to have to block out at least 3 hours for cut and colour. She use to start it then leave me in chair whilst she did about 2 other people etc. used to wind my up and wasn’t cheap. I went elsewhere and it takes 1.5 hours tops and she is so professional and was shocked when I told her re my previous experiences. You need to find an alternative place !! Good luck x

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 15/11/2025 23:02

Find another salon! No way would I be returning.

Also, you really should’ve complained the first time this happened.