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

[AHelpfulHand]

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?

You’re paying so much money you have to be happy with the result! I find situations like this tough but even I think I’d power on by in this case, it’s supposed to feel good!

I'd front it out and still see the beautician. As someone else said develop an allergy to the dog or a relative doing hairdressing or just say in this COL crisis you found somewhere cheaper .

I'd say that it's the dog. Say you are scared of / allergic to dogs. It's fine whilst you are passing through to visit the beautician but you aren't able to sit in the same room with it.

I was going to suggest this!

I literally did exactly this, in fact going to see beautician today in the hair salon! It's all fine. I wasn't unhappy with the hairdresser, I jsut switched as couldn't get an appt once when I needed it and then just kept going to the other place as I liked what they did.

Hair and beauty salons are ten a penny and all want your business so why not start afresh altogether. When making a first appointment with a new place make a point of saying you were unhappy with the service in your old one but naming no names. Hopefully that will get you a satisfactory hair do.

This isn't ever going to be an issue with me as I haven't been to a hair stylist in years, nor have I used a beautician. Do it all myself.

You could say 'I'm not keen on dogs it was making me uncomfortable'.

You could say 'I've been getting it done by students, I've been so skint'.

Or you could say nothing.

DS and I go to the same hairdresser for haircuts - he’s fabulous - but he knows we go elsewhere for colour. We simply can’t afford his prices. Years ago I did the reverse - I decided I could no longer let the woman cut my hair but continued to go to her for colour. These people con you into thinking you are in a relationship with them but it is all business and that’s all. Carry on going to the beautician and go elsewhere to have your hair done.

My hairdresser is about to go on mat leave; she has (a) recommended several other hairdressers while she's away (b) given me what colours she uses so I can tell whoever I go to and (c) actually said, if I decide I prefer the new person & want to stick to them once she's back, she won't mind... I mean I'd like her to mind a bit if I don't go back to her😂but she's very clear that I don't owe her anything!

Don’t worry about awkwardness with the hairdresser. She clearly doesn’t care about convenience or service for her clients.

Go back to your beautician. At most, if the hairdresser is there, just say ‘hi’ and that’s it.

Is your worry that the hairdresser would actually say something to you? If so, you can say any of the following:

-I’ve let a friend of the family do it for a while as she’s training
-My circumstances have changed so it’s now more difficult for me to book weeks in advance
-Sorry I wasn’t actually comfortable with your dog jumping on me so have found another hairdresser who i’m happy with

I was in exactly this situation and just carried on going to the beauty lady. I say hello on my way in and the hairdresser makes small talk. There's no awkwardness (there was on my side at first but I really liked my beauty lady so was prepared to ride it out). They don't know why you have changed to a new hairdresser - it could be for cost reasons, you may have found someone who will come to your house, you might have moved to a salon closer to your work. They won't automatically take offence.

If she asks (and I doubt she would) you could always be honest and tell her why you've gone to a different hairdresser.

Just say "Well, there have been a few things I've not been happy with...."

Don't pussyfoot around. These things need to be out in the open, otherwise she'll never change.

Im a wuss too so i would find a new beautician and a new hairdresser.

I left my hairdresser for one closer and ended up back with her five years late. She was fine. It's business not personal.