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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Shocked that hairdresser cancelled my appt because I was late!

343 replies

Adnerb95 · 22/08/2017 22:51

1st time at a new hairdressers this afternoon. Appointment was at 4:15pm for a cut and blow dry. I work 20 mins away, left in plenty of time but there had been an accident and so major traffic delays. I ended up arriving at the salon 8 mins late to be told by the stylist that she wouldn't be able to do my hair now, because she had another client at 5pm"and the turnaround is very tight".

I was almost speechless - never had that response before on the (rare!) occasions over the years when I have been a few minutes late.

It got worse. I was desperate to have a haircut so suggested that we forget the blowdry and I just have a dry cut. "We don't do that" . "Well, why not do a wet cut? That way, there is still plenty of time, since you won't be blow drying my hair, before your next client"

"We don't do that"

.??????????????.

I think this is not only ridiculous but completely unreasonable or is it me?

I have emailed the owner in advance of posting a public review to give her a chance of responding. In the meantime, I have now booked with another salon for a couple of days time (checked their policy - "we wouldn't cancel an appointment unless a client was at least 15 mins late")

Not only do the first salon have a very disgruntled customer who will certainly not recommend them, but they have lost my business for the next 4/5 years, probably. I was looking for a replacement for my lovely hairdresser of the last 7 years who has left for Scotland. So pretty naff commercial decision as well.

OP posts:
Copperbeech33 · 22/08/2017 23:37

I wouldn't expect anyone to see me for any appointment I was 8 minutes late for.

What are you giving her a bad review FOR? sticking to the schedule? I would have been angry if I had been the customer after you, and she had seen you

HeddaGarbled · 22/08/2017 23:38

Enable, not unable!

WorraLiberty · 22/08/2017 23:39

Lots of professional hairdressers don't like to do wet cuts, that's quite normal. They need to dry the hair to see if they've done a good job or not.

No they really don't.

A hair cut is a hair cut.

Unless the OP is having a dramatic re-style (unlikely or I'm sure she would have mentioned it), they should be perfectly capable of cutting hair without having to dry it to see how well they've done Confused

BritInUS1 · 22/08/2017 23:39

YABU you were late - don't slate them because of something that was not their fault

Copperbeech33 · 22/08/2017 23:39

never had that response before on the (rare!) occasions over the years when I have been a few minutes late.

Hmm

on rare occasions you have been a few minutes late?

I read that as regularly late, and expect everyone else to fall in line around YOUR timescale.

I think you will find most people are NEVER late

Spadequeen · 22/08/2017 23:43

Yabvu

I used to work at a hairdressers. 1st appointments often take longer, as the stylist will need to take the time to understand what you need.

You suggested a wet cut, they don't do them, they don't have to do them. Many hairdressers will actually continue to cut once your hair has been dried.

Did you at least call the salon to let them know you were stuck in traffic?

You would be completely unreasonable to write a bad review on them when it is your fault they weren't able to fit you in.

Leebee11 · 22/08/2017 23:45

I'm a hairdresser I wouldn't have done your hair either, new client you need time to discuss what you want and if it can be done. She doesn't know your hair. If it's a regular client you know your timings better.
Rushed haircut crap haircut!
Only children get dry cuts it's a horrible way to cut hair and a wet cut is better but to blow dry to just double check the cut and make sure it's right.
If you were booked in with me you wouldn't be offered a 2nd appointment

ItsNotLit · 22/08/2017 23:46

It was ok for her to cancel the appointment but it seems churlish of her not to agree to a wet cut with no blow dry. I would understand if she didn't want to do a dry cut but what would it matter to her if she didn't do a blow dry.

I wouldn't worry about it.

viques · 22/08/2017 23:47

If you turned up at my doctors late the appointment would be cancelled.
A first appointment with a hairdresser is important, you need to assess each other, the hd needs to look at your face and head shape, assess your personality, lifestyle, your hair type, discuss the style you want, the style they think suits you, the colour, condition etc of your hair. All takes time, I think a 45 minute first appointment is pushing it, you being late ( you say 8 minutes, I am betting it was on the wrong side of 10!) just makes it impossible to complete the appointment professionally.

Howlongtilldinner · 22/08/2017 23:49

The venom in some of these messages! Any business who VALUES their customers would've been discretionary about your timekeeping.

They'd be incredibly fortunate to have every single customer on time. They're probably charging you a bloody fortune too! You're not a 'regular' so I guess you're not 'worth' it.

Leave your review, but keep it factual, people will interpret how they wish. I know what I'd think, I'd give them a very wide berth!

Vonklump · 22/08/2017 23:49

I was once bollocked by arriving 8 minutes late by my hairdresser. I apologised and sat meekly whilst he scolded me and said someone else would have to dry my hair.

I look back and resent the scolding. The majority of times I waited twenty plus minutes without an apology.

I think under ten minutes late for a haircut is unreasonable for them to cancel you.

But I wouldn't write a bad review. I would take your money and go elsewhere.

DiscoDiva70 · 22/08/2017 23:52

People are blaming the Op but her appointment time was clearly earmarked for a rush job anyway!

There's no way a good hairdresser would give a potential new client a 45 min time slot (including the initial consultation and shampooing) for a quality cut and blow dry.

Howlongtilldinner · 22/08/2017 23:53

Oh and I've never had a problem with my hairdresser..cancelling/being late (which is incredibly rare) in 15 years.

Still can't get over some of the really arsey comments on here Hmm

MyLittlePickleBoo · 22/08/2017 23:57

I discovered why hairdressers don't like to do wet cuts which autocorrect keeps changing to butts Blush a few weeks ago.

I get my hair cut around once every two years. I just can't afford it so, for me, it's a luxury.

I went to my nearest hairdresser (first time there) for a wet cut because it's cheaper. She did the wet cut, then I went home to blow dry and straighten it. OMG it was bloody awful!! I cried! Honestly, I watched her cut it and it looked absolutely fine and even but out turns out it wasn't. I ended up going straight back for them to fix it (I was VERY nice and polite about it though!) and they all but said 'I told you so'! They made it quite clear that this is why they don't recommend a cut without a blow dry.

It was their attitude and their snarkiness that made me angry though and is the reason I won't be going back. If they had explained that too me at the time I would have just got the bloody blow dry, but instead they were just unnecessarily bitchy.

Sorry you didn't manage to get your hair cut, OP. I think most hairdressers would have kept your appointment anyway, so either it's that one stylist or possibly the business's policy or you were just very unlucky on this one occasion (as PPs suggested maybe she had other commitments she couldn't be late for).

Dorsetwayoflife · 22/08/2017 23:57

YANBU OP. If their schedules are so tight they should have mentioned their policy to you when you booked.

IMO anything under 10 minutes late is within a margin of error and they should have fitted you in. Their customer service sounds appalling but, as you say, their loss!

StrangeLookingParasite · 22/08/2017 23:59

I wouldn't expect anyone to see me for any appointment I was 8 minutes late for.

What a narrow little world you must live in.

I think you will find most people are NEVER late

I think you will find that things happen sometimes which make lateness unavoidable, no matter how many contingencies you allow for. With the best will, and best planning in the world, sometimes things happen.

TieGrr · 23/08/2017 00:03

Depends on whether you rang to say you were running late or not.

PickAChew · 23/08/2017 00:07

With a late afternoon appointment (and another one after yours) the hairdresser might have had other commitments of their own and not been able to run late for their last appointments of the day.

I managed to be late for a hair appointment at the weekend - the bus that should have got me there with 15 minutes to spare ended up over half an hour late, thanks to some pretty nasty roadworks that seemed to be letting through about 3 vehicles at once. I called and apologised as soon as I realised that this particular junction was (more) badly snarled up (than usual), though. Thankfully, there was a free slot after our double appointments, but if there hadn't been, I was quite open to re-scheduling one of the appointments.

EnidButton · 23/08/2017 00:10

Adnerb Where in the UK are you? Because my hairdresser of many years left for Scotland too and I'm looking for a new one. Pm me if you don't want to say on here.

BoomBoomsCousin · 23/08/2017 00:13

8 mins sounds pretty tight. But if it was a 4:15 appointment with another client at 5, that's nearly 20% of your appointment time already gone. And presumably 8 mins late is when you rolled up at the door, whereas they probably expect clients to be there before their appointment so they can get a gown on etc. and be ready to go at the appointment time. So that's probably another few minutes lost there as well.

Given you're a new client she doesn't know your hair etc. she can't guarantee a good cut I don't think she's being unreasonable to say she can't do it. It sucks, and it wasn't your fault if there was an accident. But it wasn't the hairdresser's fault either. Obviously, the hairdresser doesn't really want to turn business away, but she really won't want to send out a bad cut if she's got any professional pride.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 23/08/2017 00:22

I had the opposite problem a few years ago - left hairdressers to find I was 8 minutes late for my car and had to pay £60.

At least you're not out of pocket.

MyLittlePickleBoo · 23/08/2017 00:22

I think you will find most people are NEVER late

I disagree.

In my experience (juggling 100+ appointments every day for normal members of the public) MOST people are late by three to five minutes, fewer people are on time by +/- a couple of minutes or late by up to about 10 mins, even fewer are early by 5-10 mins, and fewer still are those more than 10 mins early or late.

Whenever I've been to a hairdressers they've always had an appointment diary out on the reception desk and from what I've seen from being nosey it looks like 45 mins is standard for a cut and blow dry.

I've never had any extra time allocated for me or special treatment for being a new client, even though I've always let them know that I'm new. It's this really a standard thing? I guess I'm just not important enough! Sad

3boys3dogshelp · 23/08/2017 00:28

I think 8 minutes is quite late. I have back to back 10 min consultations in a busy vet practice. I try really hard to see people if they're late but they are often 8-10 mins late and their whole slot has gone before they had even arrived!
Unfortunately for you, if you were late for the first appointment the hairdresser probably thought you'd be late every time. That's my experience- the 'late' people are always late.

Troubleinstore · 23/08/2017 00:34

I think as a new client..a consultation, wash, cut and blow dry should take more than 45 minutes. At my usual salon I get a 10 minute wash and condition and the blow dry takes at another 15 minutes. I think you had a lucky escape on a what would be a rush job.

hiphopcat · 23/08/2017 00:40

@Adnerb95

YANBU, what a shit establishment! FFS, they don't allow any margin for error for 8 sodding minutes?! Do they never ever ever have customers coming slightly late, like ever?! Bollocks.

The amount of times I have gone to have my hair done (even a dry cut!) and I have waited 15 to 20 minutes after my appointment time is nobody's business. If I had said 'piss off you're not doing my hair now' to every one, I'd look like fucking Rapunzel now. Hmm

As if they couldn't have given you just a dry cut, or even a wet one.

Shit service. I would never go again. Not sure I would badmouth them online though, as you were the one who was late, but I would take my custom elsewhere, and tell others (verbally,) what happened.

As has been said, they could have fit a dry cut in, and could have made 15 or 20 quid. Clearly they don't give a shit about losing money or custom, as they lost the money you'd have paid for a dry cut AND they will lose you as a customer (probably!)

To the people saying 'she was still 8 minutes late, so it would have thrown the whole appointment system out!' No it wouldn't. They could have still fit her in for a shorter appointment - like a dry cut. No-one can deny that. And it wouldn't have been a 'rush job' if they had had the decency to do a dry cut like the OP requested, because that would have taken less time to do! Is no-one able to work this out?! Confused

And it's extremely unfair to assume because someone is late one time, that they will always be late. Sometimes things crop up, like traffic jams, late trains and buses, and emergencies, which make people unintentionally late. If it had been the 3rd or 4th time, I would get it, but to 'punish' someone for being a few minutes late ONCE is ludicrous, and is terrible customer service.

Treating customers like this will bite them on the arse eventually.

And I agree that it's bollocks that if they do a wet cut, they need to wait for your hair to be dry to see if they have cut it straight! WTAF?! Shock

I asked my friend who owns a hair salon what she would do, and she said OF COURSE she would have accommodated the lady, because she cares about her customers, and she cares about her business. Clearly, the salon the OP went to cares about neither one.