What to do about hair appointment that's now beginning to clash with work

[Blueflam]

I got partial highlights done in May (middle of may) to help blend previous bleach work.

These highlights are grown out now. I meant to make an appointment before now for more highlights and to refresh my look. I have an appointment booked for the 20th of September. For the morning time and that's on a Friday.

I work in care and I booked the appointment in good faith thinking that I would be free for a few hours that morning but now it looks like I will likely be needed in work that day for a longer day.
.I went online to reschedule my appointment but my hairdresser has no availability until october.

My work says I can still go to my hair appointment but it's coming from a man who has no idea that it's going to be 3 hours 20 mins. That's the time online for the work.

I put in a lot of hard work this summer and it's often relentless with the hours and intensity and I hate putting my own needs last.

I don't fancy cancelling my appointment with my hairdresser and putting it out for another month. Because there will be more excuses come October.

This is my head right now.

It badly needs to be done.

Or wills I find another salon and hairdresser with more availablity but my hairdresser knows me and my hair now.

Take a half days leave, they'll have to find someone else. You're entitled to AL even for hair appts.

Your scalp looks very red - is it sunburn? It might not be a good time to even have the appointment, as it could be very tender.

I suppose with hindsight you wouldn't have told your manager you had a hair appointment, just that you couldn't work early that day.

How 'late' do you expect to be that day?

Let your manager know how long the appointment is. If they have a problem with it, they’ll let you know.

”Thank you for being flexible about my hair appointment on the 20th. The appointment is at 9am so I should be in by 12.30”.

No I don't think so. I wasn't really out in the sun except for a walk for about an hour on Saturday morning.

I think it's likely just the lighting that I had here while I took the picture.

I should be able to get into work for no later than 2.15. Taking travel into consideration.

Picture of grown out roots from another angle. I don't think my scalp is red. My face is very red and flushed. I had covid a few weeks ago and I am more red than usual so maybe it's cortisol. I don't know.

My hairdresser says you need to have a patch test again if you've had COVID since last colour. Totally different topic but might be worth seeing what your hairdresser says. Would be awful to get to appointment and find you can't have it done!

Good practice is patch test every colour, nothing to do with Covid. Your scalp looks really inflamed, I wouldn't be putting bleach anywhere near it

My hairdresser never said that to me. I don't do permanent dyes. I do fashion colours in hair. I think people can have a reaction to permanent dyes and darker dyes and likely not so much with fashion colours. I don't know.

How can my scalp be inflamed?

I like to use a scalp serum after washing my hair and I have a caffeine serum. I washed my hair this morning. I am feeling my scalp sting a little bit with application of the serum. I don't know if it's from covid or from my one day in the sun this summer in August.

I'd ask a pharmacist what they think, it does look very inflamed

Your manager said that you can go in after so do that.

I would worry about highlights on your hair though, it doesn’t look too healthy.

I agree with this poster

I spent a day out on Sunday the 11th and I got some sun that day.

I wasn't really out in the sun since then.

I look after my hair and scalp and I buy good products. I used a alfaparf scalp renew shampoo and I don't find it irritating.

I apply a serum directly to my scalp after hair washing and I think sometimes is feel a sting from that.

This is my shampoo

So you all reckon I should reschedule my appointment.

My scalp doesn't feel sore and I can was it with ease and comfort.

What's your normal working pattern? Are you needing annual leave for this or do you have a flexible contract? If it's a flexible contract just explain you aren't available for those hours?.

I usually have flexibility.

Your scalp looks fine in the second picture. You'd know if you had sunburn or an inflamed scalp, I got burnt once and couldn't even brush my hair it was rust painful.

Although your root growth doesn't look that bad either.

Thank you for your lovely kind comment. My scalp isn't sore aside from when applying a serum after hair washing, I feel a little sting but I may lay off it. I don't feel any pain in my scalp.

Thanks for your kind comment. I washed my hair today so maybe it doesn't look too bad with clean hair. But by about day number three and some greasy roots it looks horrific.

By the time my appointment comes around it will be better fourth months since my last appointment.

I don’t think you are being at all unreasonable wanting to keep the appointment but agree you need to say how long it will take, I’m not a man but I’ve never had my hair coloured and wouldn’t really think of a hair appointment taking more than an hour as that’s normal for me. Also, I would try and pop into the salon beforehand if you have any concerns about your scalp, and also check about patch testing because it would be awful to turn up and not be able to have the colour because of not having had it done. Hope it all works out.

Could you get one of those root colour sprays to use as a touch up?

I'd take AL if you can. That way you've no time pressure to get back to work either. If they say no to AL, could swap with someone else?

I never had a patch test done. My hairdresser never said anything to me ever about a patch test. Do hairdressers invite you in before your appointment or is it on your own back to book a patch test.

I doubt I need it because I go for semi colours and I think it's so much more less likely to have an allergy to them fashion colours.

I think if I was going back close to my natural colour I would likely need a test done.

Unlikely for a root touch up spray cause I need my hair roots lightened. If I was going darker a root touch up spray would work but it's unlikely with going lighter.