To think that a lot of hairdressers lack social skills, etiquette and basic boundaries?

I agree and also dislike the chit chat too. But I’ll smile and participate in the generic talk. I tell them I’m either working a half day and/or I’m fetching my kid after this appointment and have a bit of time pressure.

Then I’ll have my book ready and start reading.

I’ve not had a problem with someone talking my ear off after this little routine.

A hairdressing appointment is a treat for me so I don’t want it ruined by excessive talking when it should be a relaxing experience.

Nope. Never left a hairdresser’s appointment not feeling cheerful. I think it’s you.

ill have a bit of a chat but preference wise im usually quiet as its knowing what to chat about, that said it can be a mix, its almost like some hairdressers are gchq

You sound a bit up your own arse 🙄

Nope…never found this….I’m 60 and been owing the hairdressers many years….had regulars over the years for several years….until I’ve moved or they have …,all been very professional and just genuinely nice people …all with great social skills and emotional intelligence

I’m still shocked by the sexual revelations of one hairdresser I had almost ten years later!

Current hairdresser is nothing like that at all and entirely professional.

I agree with you. I've got a hairdresser atm, a man in his fifties - and though he cuts and colours hair well, he's an absolute gobshite. Loves himself with this daft masculine swagger, and will spout loads of bullshit back of a cereal packet type life advice as though he's Deepak Chopra with a straight face. I hear so much about his holidays, his divorce, his brilliant business acumen, the successes he's made in parenting his teenagers - it's a bit exhausting. If I didn't live in a small town where it's really hard to find a good hairdresser, I'd go elsewhere.

He asks me questions then cuts me off with another anecdote about himself before I can finish my sentence, turning the conversation back to himself. Complete lack of self-awareness, no wonder his ex wife divorced him.

I'm 66 and have never met a hairdresser who lacked social skills, etiquette or basic boundaries (and I've been to a lot of hairdressers over the years). However, unlike many MNers I am quite happy to chat to others and make small talk rather than retreat into my own little shell.

They seem pretty clued up to me. They shut up pretty quick if that’s my mood. The only thing I hate is when they are constantly looking at what their mates are doing or around the room. They have one chance with me. But I’ve gone back to my old hairdresser 80 miles from home after trying FIVE London stylists. The only one I liked moved to Newcastle.

I agree with the very first reply you had.

YABU

No you just don't want to chat to them

This won’t end well.

To be honest, I hate going to the hairdressers for this very reason. Small minded chit chat (gossip) which I don’t get involved in and wanting to know every detail of everyone’s lives then pass that on to the next client in the chair. All while taking 4-6 hrs to do my hair because of chit chat… it’s a hard no from me. I avoid as much as possible now.

I go for a massage to relax, I don't want to say a word, just lie there. Once they get familiar and start chatting away, asking all sorts of questions, my head's in a spin, it's a waste of £40. Then I have to find another masseuse and start all over again with the silence, until the dreaded questions 🙄

Men's barbers are the same - I don't watch the crap on TV that they want to talk about, I don't do football, and I'll not engage with low-level sexism or racism. Once they've tried all those, we can proceed in the quiet I prefer ✂️💇💈

@ChairSideManner i tend to take my laptop and work. Tends to avoid the random chit chat.

I knew one that habitually ran 45 mins - 1hr behind just through gabbing. I used her twice and the second time after i eventually got in the chair she actually stopped what she was doing four or five times to finish her sentence.

Never used her again, boiled my blood.

I see your hairdresser and raise you my masseuse.

She's an excellent masseuse, but she doesn't half rabbit on whenever she's given half a chance.

Most hairdressers have brilliant social skills. However, I will admit that my experience is limited as I have been going to the same person for about 20 years! However I hear her and the other wonen in the salon chatting to their clients, and i wouldn't say any of them had poor social skills. Even the apprentices are pretty good and do their best.

I was at the time but can laugh about it now. Just wish I was brave enough to leave a review on her page as the haircut is absolutely awful and all uneven so I will need to get it fixed now!

That totally depends on your barber though.

My son's barber spills everything from the dramas with his latest boyfriend, to how worried he is about the mucus coming out of his cat's eye!

I'm kind of invested myself now, and often ask my son for updates 🤣🤣

I had one who told me at great length about her MIL in language I would never use.
It didn't make for a pleasant experience and I didn't go back.

That is awful! Some people don’t half talk tripe. I hope you’re not offended

I went to one before Christmas who told me she would leave my hair longer at the front away from my jawline as ‘obviously I wouldn’t want folk looking at my face’.
I was too shocked to say anything but then she cut the front level with my jawline 🙄
Definetely won’t be going back to her again!!

As a man I only need to say "grade 3 on the sides and the back, trim on top" and then "thank you looks great" at the end. We really do have it easy!

OP's disappeared.