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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be surprised by this hairdresser etiquette?

27 replies

YellowYoYoYam · 10/09/2014 21:53

Two weeks ago I had my hair cut and highlighted at a salon by a young hairdresser who was enthusiastic, positive and friendly. The cut was good but the highlights were dreadful, they came out brassy and she had put in far too many and they did not go down to the roots. I didn't realise this until I left and had a good look at it at home. I phoned, politely complained, went back to the salon to speak to the manager and senior colourist and got another appointment for the senior colourist to fix it. The manager and senior colourist agreed with my complaints.

When I got it redone, the young hairdresser was working. She totally blanked me. AIBU to have expected some acknowledgment from her? I didn't want her to grovel and I don't feel angry with her. Maybe any hairdressers out there could tell me if there's an etiquette here? I felt quite awkward...

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 10/09/2014 21:55

She was probably mortified

GingerSkin · 10/09/2014 21:58

I would have thought she was probably embarrassed.

If the complaint was resolved, I'd move on from it and don't go back

SailorEverRose · 10/09/2014 21:58

She probably got into trouble for it and was annoyed at you. Not a professional approach at all.

But you made the right decision, having highlights in your hair is expensive and you want to be happy with the result. I'd forget about it and if you chose to go back then book in with the stylist who did it the second time.

twostucktogether · 10/09/2014 22:00

and they did not go down to the roots.

This part is not acceptable, especially when they charge you a fortune!

But SO many hairdressers fail to get close enough to the scalp, so you are still left with dark roots when you leave the Hairdressers.

It's not rocket science surely - to get closer to the scalp.
I have come out in the past with at least half an inch of dark roots showing Angry

The younger stylist shouldn't have blanked you. She should treat it as a learning curve. (constructive criticism)

hollie84 · 10/09/2014 22:00

She was probably really embarrassed - wouldn't you be?

needaholidaynow · 10/09/2014 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DertieBertie · 10/09/2014 22:03

Perhaps she didn't recognise you?

DollyMixture99 · 10/09/2014 22:05

She's probably mortified and didn't know what to say to you.

twostucktogether · 10/09/2014 22:06

OP, you shouldn't have felt guilty for going back.
You paid for a service and they didn't provide - it in the way it should have been (highlights should have been done closer and it shouldn't have been brassy/orangey).

So if you buy something from a shop and there is a fault, you take it back and they replace it.
Why should hairdressers be treated any different?

Needstrength14 · 10/09/2014 22:06

Awkward but she must have felt uncomfortable.

And that she could not resolve the issue, and that you might be angry.

And also that you had taken the complaint about her to her senior. So it was already dealt with and out of her hands.

Teddybeau1988 · 10/09/2014 22:08

She was probably too embarrassed.

My sister once complained about her dye job, and got given the same hairdresser to fix it. the hairdresser was quite put out that her work was criticised and according to dsis it was the most uncomfortable hour of her life.

twostucktogether · 10/09/2014 22:08

I wonder how many people put up and shut up with something they're not happy with, because they are worried about breaking some sort of hairdresser's ettiquette code? Hmm
I bet a lot.

crazylady321 · 10/09/2014 22:08

like others have said shes probilly embarrased, feels awkward and probilly having a bit of a strop because shes been in trouble. She'll get over it

Original poster
YellowYoYoYam · 10/09/2014 22:12

Thanks, you know I hadn't really considered that she was embarrassed, I got a vibe of her being angry towards me which I kind of thought was not justified as I had been polite in my complaints.

hollie I guess personally I would be embarrassed but I would definitely have wanted to seek the complainer out. I'm a teacher and if a parent complains, which thankfully doesn't happen very often, I prefer to meet, discuss and try to reach an agreement from which we can move on. I suppose that process doesn't really apply here though.

OP posts:
Original poster
YellowYoYoYam · 10/09/2014 22:13

Off her not of her

OP posts:
MaccaPaccaismyNemesis · 10/09/2014 22:15

When the hairdresser shaved my hair off by mistake nearly up to my ears and then didn't tell me ?? I never heard so much of a whisper of apology from her in the year it took for my hair to grow back again. Short hair so no way to hide it.

Loletta · 10/09/2014 22:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

needaholidaynow · 10/09/2014 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OnlyLovers · 10/09/2014 22:36

I'd imagine she was embarrassed/upset and it came across as angry.

I'd expect her boss to have spoken to her in advance and made clear that while she'd made a mistake, it was part of a learning curve, and talked about how to work on it. I'd also have expected them to discuss how to handle you coming back, what she should or shouldn't say to you etc.

A failure of management IMO.

Original poster
YellowYoYoYam · 10/09/2014 22:58

MaccaPacca I love your name. DD is obsessed by Macca Pacca and his stones, she would be against you too! Sorry your problem could only be fixed by waiting for your hair to grow back!

Loletta I suppose I expected her to come over and say she was sorry I didn't like it and glad her colleague could sort it for me. I think that's what I would have said in the situation. But maybe she thought I'd be mad and shout at her and cause a scene in the shop so she stayed away. Grin Also, I was quite careful to complain about my hair and not about her, maybe it's the same thing in this situation though.

need I was there for three and a half hours (I have a lot of hair!) and she walked right by me many times, particularly three or four times while I was having the dye washed out alone. As someone else said maybe she didn't recognise me.

OnlyLovers yes, I thought management would have told her how to behave, that's why I came here wondering if there was some sort of protocol on how to behave here.

OP posts:
Mrsgrumble · 10/09/2014 23:02

I think she was embarrassed but also angry. Maybe a little immature ? I would change salons over this. The last thing you need when you are supposed to be having a treat is bad vibes. Life's to short and hairdressers are too expensive.

I have left a beauty salon before over an issue like this. Plenty more qualified people around.

mamasilla · 10/09/2014 23:22

You got her into trouble, obvious behaviour!

You were right though to ask for it to get sorted

Topaz25 · 11/09/2014 00:15

She probably avoided you because she was embarrassed and because the manager and senior colourist were dealing with you so she left it to them. She could have apologised but I wouldn't have expected it. If the manager agreed with your complaints then presumably they already apologised on behalf of the salon? The problem had been passed onto them.

itsbetterthanabox · 11/09/2014 00:26

You may have complained politely but it may have not been so polite when the manager repeated it to her.
Also imagine if she had come over to apologise that would have been so awkward! I think you're better off her ignoring tbh.

Aeroflotgirl · 11/09/2014 00:32

I agree with others, she was young mabey immature and was probably embarassed and angry. Hopefully with more experience she will learn not to take things personally. Yes you may have been polite in your complaint, but her manager might have been really heavy on her.