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Original poster

Why do hairdressers offer you tea or coffee

109 replies

SpottyDoll · 21/09/2023 17:04

I remember my mother tksing me to a hairdresser when I was small and my mother was offered tea. The offering of tea/coffee/refreshments happemed a few times since then.

There was a time when I stopped going to hairdressers and so I forgot about it. But I and an appointment last week and I was offered tea/coffee. I declinced because I was only there for a short time (wash and cut and blow-dry and also I had my bottle of water there with me).

I could understand the offering of tea or coffee for a long service if one will be there for a few hours but for a short service like a wash and blow-dry or for a cut, wash and blow - it's only really about 50 minutes.

It's just something I was pondering about.

OP posts:
PurplePositivity · 21/09/2023 18:29

Mine has a velvetiser, bloody love going to the hairdressers!

MrsMarzetti · 21/09/2023 18:36

My hairdresser always offers tea, coffee and biscuits or cakes if she has them. But then i go to a wee rural hairdressers where everyone knows everyone and it really is like going to a friends house.

MachinesOfGod · 21/09/2023 18:40

Even my nail lady has a coffee waiting for my arrival. I haven’t taken offence to it, and I love to be offered a drink when I’m getting my hair done.

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Beauty
MonumentalLentil · 21/09/2023 18:45

The cynic in me might think it is so that the junior gets a tip for making/bringing it...

Musicaltheatremum · 21/09/2023 18:46

Love my tea at my hairdresser. Sometimes get wine too it's great

BrennanBooth · 21/09/2023 18:52

I went to a hairdresser once who offered a glass of Prosecco and a fruit salad portion!! Couldn’t believe it when I enjoyed strawberries with my haircut lol 😆

Hotsaucegal · 21/09/2023 18:55

It’s a gesture of hospitality, most people view getting their hair done as a little treat. Also suspect it’s a good way to diffuse annoyance if your specific hairdresser is running late. Incidentally although I do agree that offering tea/coffee is a British thing, I don’t think it is uniquely so. I’m offered tea/coffee at my hairdressers in belgium. :)

saltnsaucey · 21/09/2023 18:56

MonumentalLentil · 21/09/2023 18:45

The cynic in me might think it is so that the junior gets a tip for making/bringing it...

Fair play to them

Phos · 21/09/2023 18:57

It's nice, just part of the service. I used to go to one where you'd get offered wine, Prosecco or G&T. To be fair my current one might do that but I always have an 8:30 appointment so it's a little early. The other one also used to bring you a little bowl with olives and crisps in.

43ontherocksporfavor · 21/09/2023 18:58

I’m there 2 hours so always have a coffee. Really missed it post Covid when I had to bring my own. It’s a service so you can relax. Not that hard to understand surely!?

Sammi89 · 21/09/2023 18:58

SuddenlyISee · 21/09/2023 17:12

Mine offer drinks and I often decline but it's a nice gesture. Although I did have a 6.5 hour appointment when I was 39 weeks pregnant (big mistake) and my hairdresser did go out and get me some lunch!

Aw how lovely 🥰

RosesAndHellebores · 21/09/2023 19:00

I like it. If I go after 6 my hairdresser offers wine as well. Her coffee is great.

mrsbyers · 21/09/2023 19:00

Mine gives me a black coffee and a tunnocks teacake

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 21/09/2023 19:04

Mine offers me gin. Sometimes Prosecco. But I usually have the tea because I mostly have the car.

ClaudiaNaughton · 21/09/2023 19:10

What’s an affirmation card?

LindorDoubleChoc · 21/09/2023 19:13

I only go for a cut and blow-dry. Usually there less than an hour so I always decline, but I'm extremely fussy about my tea and coffee.

PuppyMonkey · 21/09/2023 19:19

I’m extremely fussy about tea too but my hairdresser makes a more than decent cuppa.I usually go for my cut and blow dry straight after work and sometimes I’m gasping for a tea, so it’s lovely.

EquallyDetermined · 21/09/2023 19:20

I only ever go for a cut and blow dry so am in the chair for about half an hour but I enjoy the cuppa. I always have tea which is served in a pot on a little tray with a jug of milk so I pour it after 5 mins or so, take sips when the stylist pauses for a moment for whatever reason and finish it at the end.

purplecorkheart · 21/09/2023 19:24

I get my hair done by a stylist in their own home. They don't drink tea or coffee and never really have it in. However they always offer water or soft drinks.

I go to a salon near work for blowdries in my lunch break. They offer really good coffee and little pots of tea with a large selection of bags. It is quite a big salon and they encourage you to stay and finish your drink if you haven't during service. They also have chilled water and juice.

RobinStrike · 21/09/2023 19:29

For those of you who have a coffee/tea during a cut and blow dry, how do you navigate drinking it? I'm happy to have a up if I arrive early or they are running late but when I'm in the chair having my hair cut I daren't move to pick up the cup. I'd probably choose the wrong second and the scissors would snip in the wrong direction !

43ontherocksporfavor · 21/09/2023 19:29

My coffee arrives when the stylist leaves me for my foils to develop.

Twotooto · 21/09/2023 19:31

PurpleChrayne · 21/09/2023 17:11

What a bizarre thing to take the hump about!

Totally bonkers, if they offer and you don’t want it then just say no.

AuntieMarys · 21/09/2023 19:32

Mine offers wine free of charge

MrsAvocet · 21/09/2023 19:33

I usually decline now because I've found that as soon as my tea arrives the hairdresser asks me to put my head down so I can see my tea and biscuits tantalising close but impossible to consume! I've never had my hair coloured though and I can imagine that if you're sitting there for ages for something like that it would be nice.

AiryFlyingFairy · 21/09/2023 19:33

This has reminded me of a hairdressers, I went to about 15 years ago now. It was a fairly busy, salon with about 4 stylists. They did NOT offer you a drink. Not even water. BUT here's the thing - They had their cuppas right in front of you! I couldn't understand it. I was having my hair done one time & obviously pregnant but not even offered a glass of water, while I watched my stylist supping her coffee.
It was a local ( Not city centre) hairdrissers recommended to me by a friend & I remarked to her afterwards that I'd never not been offered a drink like that & to add insult to injury having to see them drinking theirs. She said she'd never been offered a cuppa there either so not just me that time.
I only went once.