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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to be able to get my child's haircut on the weekend?

36 replies

ponyprincess · 18/02/2011 13:35

I am not sure if this is just about my neighbourhood, but it is impossible to get an appointment for a child to get a haircut, eye test, etc. on the weekend. The reason given is that these days are reserved for adults or as it was put several times to me 'for working people'. Are they assuming all people who have children don't work? Is it unreasonable to think that parents should be able to do these things with their children on a weekend?

OP posts:
Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 18/02/2011 13:38

supercuts.

Meglet · 18/02/2011 13:39

yanbu! Parents work too.

SweetKate · 18/02/2011 13:41

Round where I live, you can always get things like haircuts for children on a Saturday but you pay adult prices. I was quoted £20 for my son's haircut - which costs just £5 in the week.

It is madness and these business don't realised that it is the working people who have to take their children at weekends.

This is what holidays and half-terms are for!

brummiemummie · 18/02/2011 13:42

I have never heard of this before Shock

How old are your DCs? Surely it is nearly as hard for school age DCs as "working people" to go to a weekday appointment as they will be at school ffs, even without considering the problems it causes for working parents? Hmm

Original poster
ponyprincess · 18/02/2011 13:44

Libra, that's a good idea, but I guess it is partly my neighbourhood as there is not Supercuts nearby. I suppose we could find one next to a child-friendly opticians and make a roadtrip : )

OP posts:
brummiemummie · 18/02/2011 13:44

I can understand haircuts costing a bit more though, if there is much more demand at weekends.

mysteryfairy · 18/02/2011 13:45

Are you expecting to pay a child's price? My 15 year old has had his hair cut by the same stylist for a number of years and we pay much less for it than for a gents haircut. When he turns 16 he will no longer pay child prices but I imagine cutting his hair will take the same amount of resources. I think it would be fair enough to restrict when he could go to their quieter times, though in fact they don't, as they can always fill Saturday with more profitable appointments.

I'm sure if you offer to pay the full rate someone will fit you in at the weekend.

RunningOutOfIdeas · 18/02/2011 13:46

I have the same problem. I just tried to get a hair appointment for DD (2.10) at my usual hairdresser. For Sunday they will charge £44. All I want is a quick trim all round so there is no way I am paying that.

Original poster
ponyprincess · 18/02/2011 13:47

Brummie my daugther is 7 and son is 3, and I agree for my daughter she is of course needing to be at school! I have had to leave work early to collect my son and get his hair cut later afternoon on a weekday, which is a bit ridiculous and not a good solution given how often a short-haired boy needs it cut!

OP posts:
Original poster
ponyprincess · 18/02/2011 13:49

Running, £44!! Shock I would be willing to pay more on a weekend, but that sounds pricey!

OP posts:
whydobirdssuddenlyappear · 18/02/2011 13:49

Pony, have you considered getting a set of clippers and doing your DS's hair yourself? Means it can be done when it needs to, and it saves time and money. It's dead easy.

Original poster
ponyprincess · 18/02/2011 13:52

Whydobirds, is it really easy? I have nightmares about the homecuts my mom used to to give me and my sis, but I suppose for a boy it could be simpler, and grow out more quickly if it did go wrong!!

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 18/02/2011 14:02

Hairdresser's don't cut hair out of the goodness of their hearts, weekends are their busiest times - they're taking adults because they'll pay more

Original poster
ponyprincess · 18/02/2011 14:29

tabulahrasa, that is a reasonable point, but I think this is partly compensated by how much less time they typically would need to spend on a child's cut. And even if that were not the case, they could at least offer an appointment at the same rate. None of the places I tried would even do that. And this would not really apply to eye tests would it, as I have had the exact same problem scheduling one of those!

OP posts:
ShesEverSoFamous · 18/02/2011 15:26

Where are you from OP? I'm a hairdresser and have never heard of not giving appointments or charging extra at weekends. That would be complete madness in my eyes!

Actually, I suppose I do charge extra at weekends because pensioners get a reduced rate from Mon - Thur, but only maybe £1 or £2 more. Turning away business though? Crazy! Confused

ShesEverSoFamous · 18/02/2011 15:27

As for cutting your DS's hair yourself, it can be easy depending on what he usually has done. By the sounds of the hairdressers you go to they would probably charge extra for a repair job!

whydobirdssuddenlyappear · 18/02/2011 18:20

It's easy enough to do a boy with clippers. Pretty difficult to make any disastrous mistakes too. I now do my DH's hair as well, after practising on DS for a while :). I got a set of clippers that had a guide to cutting hair in it too, and that was really helpful. I just graduate it from a short length with a small comb at the back and sides, to a slightly longer length on top. It's saved me a fortune. I just couldn't face trying to get my ds to sit still for somebody else. When he's old enough to care about his hair, he can go and get it cut professionally then :)

Original poster
ponyprincess · 28/02/2011 16:13

Eversofamous, I live in central London maybe it is just typical here!

I think I might just invest in some clippers for my son, and let my daughter go with her wish to have long, long hair!!!

OP posts:
Suchffun · 28/02/2011 16:16

Short haired DS gets his hair cut at the barbers - easy peasy, no appointment needed, just go when we can (and the queue isn't too long). Not too £££ either. About £6.

DD has had her hair cut twice in her 4.5 years so she works out quite cheap too Grin

EleanorJosie · 28/02/2011 16:21

Never had a problem with hairdressers - in fact I just booked an appointment for me and my daughter on a Saturday. It only take a few minutes to cut kids hair, they can usually squeeze it in around other customers. Not tried to make a medical appointment at the weekend. If I was a hairdresser I'd do a 'kids go free' offer if the parents were having their done and spending whatever it costs for a cut and blow dry. Term and conditions apply - one kid free per adult :)

EleanorJosie · 28/02/2011 16:22

Normally my childminder cuts their hair for free which is a bit of a bonus, but my DD wanted it done at the hairdressers because mummy was going.

ashamedandconfused · 28/02/2011 16:23

SIL swears by mobile hairdresser who comes to their house on a saturday morning and does 3 DC plus Dh for £25

Original poster
ponyprincess · 28/02/2011 16:40

Eleanor Josie, I agree, the haircuts don't take long for kids, so it's hard to see why they can't fit them in around all the 'working people' :)
The opticians is the same, it is not that they don't test at all on Saturdays, just not children. Luckily I did manage to get a late afternoon appointment during the term break period that we could fit in, and all is clear for another year on that front!

Ashamed, this idea of a mobile hairdresser sounds great, I want one!

OP posts:
MCos · 28/02/2011 16:45

Same in salon I go to in Ireland. Kids rate Mon-Thurs, adult prices only on Fri/Sat. It is a pain.
Optician is OK, as far as I remember.

MrsNorthman · 28/02/2011 16:52

Sorry if I repeat but not read all posts.

Its to do with the price. If they can get a working lady in for highlights and a cut & finish (which is what they want), then they will. Can't blame them really what would you rather earn in an hour £70 or £10?