To hate going to the hairdressers

[RP235]

Hi,
AIBU to hate going to the hairdressers? I have an appointment today and I'm dreading it. There are a number of reasons I don't like it.

The inane small talk for a couple of hours. I'm a mum of a 6 month old and 3 year old. I have no energy to talk. Just let me close my eyes please

The colour is never quite right and always looks stripy along my parting. (Highlights).

They keep me waiting whilst dealing with other customers. It's only a small salon and if I've just got my hair washed they sometimes leave me with a towel on whilst cutting someone else's hair.

After it's been washed they really roughly dry it with the towel and inevitably it gets so tangled it takes them 15 minutes to comb through it.

Sorry to moan but it's not a relaxing experience and consequently I only have it coloured one a year. Doesn't look too bad considering. Would you change salons? I feel a bit loyal to them as I've been going there for years!
Anyone find the same?!

Martha’s Yes to full make up. I do that now too, makes the awful mirrors bit more bearable.

I’ve made a mistake going au naturel and ye gods, the spotlights at the hairdressers made me look about 20 years older

I hate it too. Looking at a mirror for ages is bad enough and I have social anxiety so the small talk and having people so close to me is really difficult. I don't get it done very often and go somewhere new each time in the hope of finding one I like. I always feel judged by them for not "looking after" my hair because I dont style it.
I also have really thick hair and always ask for it to be thinned a lot so I can wash it quicker. Only one has ever thinned it well, every other time it feels the same as before after I wash it, i.e. undo their straight blow dry.

I hate any hairdresser's, the chit chat etc, I actually lie about what I do for work now, otherwise people start disclosing all kinds of personal things about themselves or their family/friends. I'm there for a haircut not a risk planning or counselling session.

A friend used to be a hairdresser before she developed a dye allergy and will happily cut my hair, I pay her double what she asks for when she can do it just to avoid a salon. I've not seen her for a couple of months though and don't like to just contact her for a haircut. Pregnancy has turned me into Rapunzel so I do really need a cut, absolutely dreading it.

Change hairdresser!

I've never had my hair rubbed with a towel and the hairdresser always takes my cue regarding chat. The give me magazines and coffee and let me sit in silence.

Find a new hairdresser! Why on earth would you put up with ‘stripes’ for years?!

I just tell my stylist if I’m too tired to chat and sit there with my tea/wine and a pile of glossy mags.

I gave up hairdressers some years ago, even the 'top' ones were not that great, some too far up their own backsides to do what I asked for. The ones that were good would always move on and of course no-one ever told you where too so unless they told you before they left you had to start again.

After trying several of the 'posh' London ones I gave up because they were either awful or the good ones vanished.

The constant conversations about holidays, Christmas etc. only one that ever chatted about other things, a small place and all friendly, had mutual friends, but the hairdressing was a bit hit and miss.

I have scissors, tiny rubber bands, crea clips, and colouring equipment. I can get a cut or colour when I want it without having to chat about holidays.

I'd change. It should be an enjoyable relaxing experience.
I used to go to a brilliant hairdressers. The lady who always did my hair knew exactly how I liked it and I never had any problems at all.
I moved to a new city, 250 miles away. I didn't have my hair done for 6 years as I had no idea where to go. Someone recommended someone to me and I went there recently. Brilliant. I loved it and I will go to her all the time.
It's about finding somewhere or someone you trust and who does a good job.
If they are good at what they do you shouldn't hate going.
I was the same with my nails. I found a place when I moved and at the time I thought they were okay, but not the nicest. I used to dread my appointments and feel uncomfortable there. It turns out they were incredibly rude (won't go into details).
As for my eyebrows I struggled to find anywhere good to get them done.
I tried a new place, and the staff are genuinely the nicest people. I now love my appointments and look forward to my hour off every 2 weeks. They do my nails and eyebrows. And I get my hair done 2 doors down.
My point is again, the right people will make you love going, not hate going.

I hate going to the hairdresser. I have very thick hair, which is now greying at the front and as a result is more wavy for some reason. My bugbears are thus:

No, I don't want to dye my hair.
I don't want to chat.
Layers, but don't thin it out too much.
No, don't put all that stuff in my hair.
45 quid for half an hour???
I look like a pig in the mirror.

I have general anxiety, I am introverted and awkward with people I don't know well, I have low self esteem and so going to the hairdresser for a stranger to touch my head is an ordeal. I go maybe once or twice a year, and each time I hate the results (partly because of my low self esteem). I have tried lots of places and hated them all.

I don’t chat beyond the hi. I just get a pile of magazines and look at those. The stylist probably prefers not having to chat as well, a break, she can just think about the cut.

I really dislike any head massage so I ask for the washer to be quick, they zone out though and often forget which is annoying, habit

The hair dryer part is heat inducing all round

Anyway I don’t mind it too much as long as it’s a nice environment (magazines, low sound, nice smell) and they do a good job with my hair so it balances out

Don’t feel you have to chat though

I have had some hairdressers I hated. I have been going to the same one for a fee years now and I actually enjoy it. She listens to what I want doing and will make suggestions if I'm unsure. She is never negative or critical (even when I frazzled ny hair from heat appliances). All the staff are really nice. They have lovely teas and coffees and homemade cakes/biccies.
It is more pricey than I would like but am growing my hair at the moment and hadn't been for 6 months.

Op what I do (when changing hairdressers) is google hairdressers in your town, see if there is any reviews, and call each up and ask the price of a wash/blow-dry...

I use a wash/blow dry to trial new salons, then if I don't like it or they are crap then it's only shampoo and water and not hair dye ...

Also op don't be put off by price, I've tried really high price salons and not had good experience, and tried cheap salons and got good results...I now alternate between two or three hairdressers ..

Also ask around family, friends, colleagues etc for recommendations for a hairdresser...if they have good hair and are raving about how great a hair salon is then you know it will be a better experience than you are having at your own hair salon

Keep trying new ones until you get the one you like can take quite a few

I love the hair dresser. Going this afternoon. But then my hair dresser is brilliant at her job. I’ve used the same hair dresser for fourteen years so we don’t really have awkward chat. I love someone washing and doing my hair for me.

I think you need a different salon!