How long do you usually wait for a reply?

[Fluffydogears]

How long does it take for a hairdresser to reply back to you?

My hairdresser is self employed, renting a chair in a salon and doing her own stuff. I need to get highlights topped up. I didn't feel comfortable ringing her in case she's with a client. I sent her a message this morning.

It's been three hours and she didn't respond. I know there's so many different variables like maybe her first client of the day was late and the appointment ran into the next. I don't know. I know she only books one client at a time. When I get my hair done, once the bleach is applied I am left under a heat lamp for a while. She usually has a break at this stage for about 15 or 20 minutes.

I mentioned that my roots are growing and I asked her if I need to update my highlights and I asked her about what to book on her online system - she has a few different options like full head highlights, half head, scattered, just the roots.

I presume she had some space in her morning this morning to maybe read a message and reply. Or at least give a thumbs up to at least let me know that she got the message.

She uses her phone for taking payments and there was picture uploaded this morning to her socials.

So she has her phone on her but she never responded.

I am just wondering - for people here - how long do you wait to hear back from your hairdresser? Does it take a few hours or up to a day or do they respond quickly.

I presume she had some space in her schedule today but she never responded.

I didn't ask something complicated. I was just asking her what do I pick on her online booking.

She usually gets booked quickly and a lot of September is gone already and I would like to get a slot that's still available towards the end of September.

Wrong!

No.

What you should do:
Put a very cold flannel on your fevered brow.
Lie down in a dark room.
And listen to the Moonlight Sonata on repeat.
While meditating on the the meaning of Life.

There, there....

That's entirely up to you if you think she's rude and don't want to give her a bit longer to reply. I personally would give it a couple of days and not think too much of it. You have no idea what kind of day she might have had between clients or what else is going on in her life. If you've been happy with her before, just wait another day or so, that's not an unreasonable amount of time. If your highlights are the absolute emergency you seem to be making out they are, book another salon now.

Ring her.

I have a mobile hairdresser . She has other things in her life aside from doing people's hair . If I'm messaging her asking to book in then I would think a couple of days maybe if it wasn't an urgent request.

I do tend to book in my next appointment when I see her though.

Maybe your hairdresser is on holiday ?

She's not on holiday. She's working. The social media showed selfies throughout the day with colleagues.

Don't forget OP that your hairdresser is entitled to breaks during her day - so when you see she is posting on social media it's probably her tea break rather than her admin time .

Perhaps she hasn't replied as she finds you hard work which is how you come across here.

My hair dresser takes 2 days to reply, same as DHs hair dresser. You don't want the appointment for another 5 weeks, calm down then book elsewhere if no response by Thursday.

I'm with you op. As soon as she got your message she should have pushed her current client off the rented chair and wheeled it at top speed round to your house. How dare she treat you like a normal person! 😱

Admin time - she's not sitting in front of a computer. She uses her phone for everything. It's not like she has to log onto a computer.

Stop being silly.

Wow!

I bet with that attitude you're also a nightmare client. I wouldn't rush to respond either.

Lots of reasons she hasn't responded...

She's busy with back to back clients

She only has cuts in all day so no break in processing time

She's on holiday/having a day off

She doesn't like you and wants to get rid

She's ill

She's waiting back to hear from another client who she might want to adjust a booking slightly to fit you in

She's rushed home from work to straight away deal with kids dinner/life

She's gone out straight from work for the evening

Her phone has died

There are just the basics, I am a hairdresser in a siimilar set up... I am absolutely shocked you're complaining that she didn't respond after 3 hours!

Oh and incase you didn't know, businesses can schedule social media posts to appear at any time. It doesn't mean she posted right then....

I wouldn't want to do your hair, either. You are being completely ridiculous.

Admin - she's doing everything from her mobile phone. She doesn't have to sit down at a computer and log into to reply to a message.

I know whenever I got my hair done with her previously she would leave me processing under a heat lamp for anything between 20 to 40 minutes. She's getting gaps in her day for sure.

I didn't bombard her. I sent her one message this morning.

I came on here to seek clarification if it's common for hairdressers to ignore a message.

OP, my mum's a hairdresser and sometimes appts back to back take hours on end... And is absolutely exhausted by the end of her day.

Try and think, the hairdresser also has to give the client in front of her attention, and not sit answering messages all day. You're likely one of several people contacting her.

And so what if she took a photo in her salon this morning and hasn't replied yet? She is not beholden to send you a same day reply?
I think you're being unreasonable to expect such a quick response.

She is a one woman band who is self employed. She doesn't have admin staff assisting her.

She may want to give you a more meaningful reply than a thumbs up as you've asked her questions about what to book with what you need.

And if you want quick replies, then go to a salon which has a receptionist and a team of people and don't use her?

She doesn't have to juggle any other client around to fit me in. I asked her what would I book on her online system and then I could pick a time from there.

I came on here to seek clarification if it's common for hairdressers to ignore a message.

And people replied, @Fluffydogears , saying yes, it’s common to take a couple of days to respond.

If I haven’t heard by the end of the week I chase mine up, but I certainly don’t expect a reply that afternoon unless it’s a particular quiet time for my hairdresser.

You’re far too intense about this.

You're being completely ridiculous.

OMG all this angst over a hair appointment.

How do you cope with real problems?

You don't see how demanding you're being.
You have asked for people's expectations but you seem unable to take them in.

I would wait for a day or 2.

She might be avoiding you though...I wonder if you're a demanding customer.

I won't be waiting til the end of the week for a reply.

So do I send a message maybe tomorrow and rephrase it and suggest booking myself a partial highlights and if it's not suitable to let me know and go ahead and book it.

No, I have a carefree and easy going attitude and I am far from a Karen type of person. I always turned up on time and I never complained and I left what I thought was a good Google review too recommending her to others.

Well, I already waited one day considering I sent three messages this morning and I got no reply. That's one day down.

Phone her!

It's not.

I was always on time and easy going with her and I always enjoyed my appointments with her. She ignored my message and I am not left thinking what's wrong. Does she not want to help me. Why doesn't she want to do my hair again.