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Original poster

I want to change my hairdresser, but feel like I can’t.

39 replies

AHelpfulHand · 28/09/2023 22:45

I’ve had the same hairdresser for around 4 years, going to her every 6 weeks.

its a small salon with my hairdresser, her junior and 2 other people who rent a chair from her.

i also go to the beautician at the same place who rents the beauty room who I’ve also been going to for the same amount of time. I see her every 3 weeks.

now i really don’t want to change my beautician, i really like her and have a great bonding with her, however if i change my hairdresser, i dont feel i can go back to the beauty lady as its awkward.

ive not been happy with my hairdresser for around 10 months, she’s rough with my hair and also rough with the straighteners and it make me nervous that’s she’s going to burn my head with them, she’s too fast and snapping the straighteners together with every piece she does.

shes also caught my earring twice now and sent it flying out of my ear.

my hairdresser also takes deposits for every booking and wants you to book several in advance. Her dog has also started coming to the salon and he’s a pain tbh, always jumping up at you etc.

dh thinks I’ll have to change them both which is a shame, but staying with the beautician is also making me stay with the hairdresser.

what would you do?

OP posts:

ThatsMeTold · 28/09/2023 22:54

Next beautician visit ask if she also does home appointments?
I wouldn’t stay with a hairdresser I wasn’t happy with.

PinkDeer · 28/09/2023 22:56

Just change your hairdresser and continue to see the beautician if you want to. I changed my hairdresser recently. I liked my hairdresser very much but the salon owner kept putting the prices up and employs a salon manager/receptionist who was lovely but was a hairdresser who refused to cut hair so as he was the salon owners friend she employed him to be a receptionist. Hence the prices were going up again in order to pay his salary as well. I found another salon in town which was 30% cheaper. My previous hairdresser was making me book the next appointment in advance and pay a deposit even though I’d never cancelled or not shown up but she had twice cancelled on me. I just didn’t book the another appointment.
you don’t need to change your beautician though.

Original poster

AHelpfulHand · 28/09/2023 22:56

She doesn’t do home appointments 🙁

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Beauty

lilmishap · 28/09/2023 22:57

Suddenly get a younger friend or relative who is starting out in Hairdressing so you're helping her out by being her hair model.

Original poster

AHelpfulHand · 28/09/2023 22:58

I feel like I can’t walk in her salon when she’s no longer doing my hair.

what would I say to her when she can see my hair has been done but she hasn’t done it?

OP posts:

Ragwort · 28/09/2023 22:58

Just use the beautician and be confident ... the hairdresser is highly unlikely to say anything, it would be very unprofessional of her to actually ask what you aren't using her anymore. The fact she takes her dog to work is seriously off putting.

Ragwort · 28/09/2023 22:59

You are the customer, you shouldn't have to justify yourself to her, have more self assurance.

freeandfierce · 28/09/2023 22:59

I'm a hairdresser, I wouldn't be offended at all - it's business after all. You have every right to choose your stylist. We have to work hard to retain our clients loyalty, she hasn't so walk away. Keep your beauty therapist though!

Uncooperativefingers · 28/09/2023 23:01

Just change. In all likelihood, just as you are too British to complain, your hairdresser will be too British to ask why you have stopped going to her.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 28/09/2023 23:03

Keep the beautician but ditch the hairdresser. You absolutely have the right to change your hairdresser without any excuse or reason. I wouldn't put up with what you describe. Just say you fancied a change. Hopefully she'll get the message when you say you're not making any more bookings for a while.

FlockOfPigeons · 28/09/2023 23:03

I've asked hairdressers about this awkward situation, they all say they are really not bothered, don't take it personally and realise that customers will come and go. I think we worry about it more!

fairlygoodmother · 28/09/2023 23:03

Surely the momentary awkwardness of going to the salon and having her notice that someone else has done your hair is better than the hour or so every six weeks feeling uncomfortable and annoyed? She won’t say anything. I do get how you feel but you’re allowed to choose who you want to do your hair.

sofasunday · 28/09/2023 23:06

you might be overthinking, I doubt anyone there cares. People who are self employed or run their own businesses are used to clients leaving them or being more comfortable with other staff in the same salon. I think they tend to suss out clients who they don’t fully vibe with, I know you feel awkward - they might feel awkward with you too for whatever reason. Whereas you have a mutual bond with the beautician

however going back there means you’ll need to deal with the dog surely?

id probably go back to the beautician with the view of finding someone else in a few months

MotherOfShihTzus · 28/09/2023 23:06

Can you find out her 'off days'?!

LoveBluey · 28/09/2023 23:07

I have a really similar dilemma. I've not been that happy with my hairdresser for a while, colour never quite what I wanted and price going up every time and inconsistent (I queried it and she took £20 off!!)

Last time I made an appointment she was on holiday on the date I needed so she booked me with another (more senior) stylist and I loved how my hair looked plus it was actually cheaper which makes me think my normal one just adds it up wrong. Now I really want to book with the other stylist but I'm worried it will be awkward when I go back. My appointment is overdue and I keep putting off phoning to book!

CloakandDagger1 · 28/09/2023 23:09

I'd say your friends daughter or niece etc is training and she's doing it for free.

AlexaCanYouHearMe · 28/09/2023 23:13

Only answers are... carry on seeing beautician and offend hairdresser.

Ditch them both, and find another beautician AND hairdresser.

No other answers sorry.

I ditched a hairdresser some 15 years ago who I had been using 5 years or so - every 8 weeks. She was a 'senior stylist' who had been doing it for 10 years, but she worked for the owner. She had been great, but started to cut the hair uneven, fucked up DD's hair - luckily she was only 3 and not fussed, and I corrected it myself, and shaved/cut DH's hair almost bald.

Last straw was when she cut the hair short, at the sides of my face - so it was like a mullet! I had specifically said to leave it, and had been growing it for a year. I was watching (in the mirror,) but she was jibber jabbering, and I must have looked away for 30 seconds, and the one side had been snipped - 5" off it. I don't know what the fuck she was playing at. I was gutted. Too shocked to cry.

She also had a couple of times when she 'blonded' my hair. I wanted ash blonde, but it was like WHITE. Roots started to show in about 10 days! (My natural colour is light brown.) Also, she started asking me to give her cash, so she could put it in her own pocket, as she was brassick apparently. This felt very wrong.

She was a friend too, and when I stopped using her as a hairdresser, after a catalogue of fuck-ups over 4-5 or so months she took umbrage and stopped speaking to me.

I was surprised at how little I cared. Found a new hairdresser. Stuck with them for about 10 years, but after covid, the prices went up horrifically. Was £18 for a dry cut, now £45. Cut and blow dry was £25 - now £65. Highlights were £47 - now £120.

I have done my own hair since early 2021. (I lighten it every 2 months, and trim it at the same time.) Looks decent and is much bloody cheaper. I think hairdressers are overrated and overpriced. I wouldn't have said this a few years ago, but I do think it now.

Bobbotgegrinch · 28/09/2023 23:25

AHelpfulHand · 28/09/2023 22:58

I feel like I can’t walk in her salon when she’s no longer doing my hair.

what would I say to her when she can see my hair has been done but she hasn’t done it?

Why the fuck not?

You paid her for a service, you no longer want that service. However you still want the beauticians service so you're going to pay the beautician for her service.

You owe the hairdresser nothing, why are you stressing about. If she asks you why you don't want your hair done you just say you've sorted something else out.

It's a business relationship, not a friendship. Why do you care if she likes you?

sofasunday · 29/09/2023 01:18

Oooo if she asks who did you hair, why don’t you say you did it yourself and followed a tutorial online

Forgottenmypasswordagain · 29/09/2023 03:21

I guess you should find a new hairdresser, and beautician, who don't work at the same place in case you are dissatisfied with one of them.

givemeasunnyday · 29/09/2023 04:41

Of course you can change your hairdresser - I've done it more times than I can remember! I'm now back with one I had many years ago, and don't imagine for one second he has spent any time wondering where I went in the intervening years. You can also continue to go to the same beautician. You really don't have to stay with the hairdresser just because they are in the same place. Hairdressers are running a business, clients come and go. My friend changed hairdressers in the same salon, with no awkwardness at all.

daisychain01 · 29/09/2023 04:58

I had my hair cut by the owner of the local salon and they made a right pigs-ear of it. It was so awful, it was lopsided and looked bad even when I'd just walked out after having it done.

The next time I booked I just rang up and said anonymously (ie without saying who I was) "can you tell me the names of a few of your stylists, my friend has recommended one of them but I can't for the life of me remember the person's name". She said a few names and say "Oh maybe it was Tracy, she's been with us for years" so I picked her and have been with her for years.

even when I see the other stylist in there, there was no bad feeling, I just never explained why I'd changed, I just did it.

style it out, as they say.

Augustus40 · 29/09/2023 06:52

I cut my own hair plus dye it myself. Looks fine.

Pushkinia · 29/09/2023 06:58

LoveBluey · 28/09/2023 23:07

I’ve been going to the same salon for 5 years. For the last 2 years I’ve had the salon owner as my hairdresser and she does a great job when she’s there, but she’s started taking lots of days off, often changing my appointment at very short notice.

I’ve switched to a different hairdresser in the same salon, as I got fed up with this. It doesn’t make me uncomfortable, as I had a valid reason for changing (salon owner usually ignores me now though! 😁) and I’m happy with the new hairdresser.

Mamette · 29/09/2023 06:59

I’d have to go somewhere else entirely but then I’m a massive wuss with stuff like this.

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