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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have been annoyed in the hairdressers?

235 replies

LargeGlassOfPepsi · 29/09/2018 19:59

I had a hair appointment today. I turned up at 12 really looking forward to having my hair done and reading while my colour was put on. My hair takes 4 hours to do and I enjoy having a few coffees, reading and chatting to the hairdresser. I turned up and noticed the pram then the toddler running around while the hairdressers were trying their best to dodge her.

After being sat next to the parent I asked to be moved to another chair. The baby was 5 months old (mum repeated this numerous times), then there was the "Do you need your lunch, can you remove my gown otherwise he'll suffocate when I feed him and we don't want that do we?" "Oh look here's Sophie giraffe" then fucking Sophie giraffe was squeaked."My nipples must be elastic as you're just chewing on them." Then to the toddler "oh look at what that lady is having done, look over there that lady is having her hair washed, oh look that lady is having purple in her hair"

She was there 3 and a half hours. The above went on for the whole time mum was there then a hairdresser was asked to hold the baby while she had her hair rinsed.

I appreciate people need their hair done but FFS some of us want to relax and have our hair done in peace.

OP posts:
CutesyUserName · 30/09/2018 10:54

You are seriously BVU. Buy some earplugs, stick your nose in a book and consider getting a mobile hairdresser for next time so you don't have to put up with such unreasonable behaviour. Hmm

HundredsAndThousandsOfThem · 30/09/2018 10:59

or you end up with an employer asking you why you cant look presentable

I really don't think your employer is going to fire you because you haven't spent 5 hours in a hair salon (I've never spent so long and never had an issue). You can get a mobile hairdresser, or just leave your children in childcare (which you must have if you're working) and get a normal hair cut at the salon.

I do get annoyed at the "oh should I never leave the house?" comments. Of course you should leave the house, there are lots of places where people should welcome your children. BUT of course your choices are restricted if you have young kids.

FairfaxAikman · 30/09/2018 11:14

I recently went for a cut and blow dry with 5 month old DS. I went to the quietest salon of a small chain on their quietest day.
I did ask my stylist if it was ok and he positively encouraged it - he said getting them used to the salon at a young age makes them less difficult when they start getting their own hair cut.

adaline · 30/09/2018 11:17

or you end up with an employer asking you why you cant look presentable

Ah, don't be ridiculous.

tabulahrasa · 30/09/2018 11:52

People go to the hairdressers to relax?... really?... I always thought that was just one of those media tropes perpetuated by men trying to imagine what women like doing.

Popc0rn · 30/09/2018 12:51

@tabulahrasa

I used to hate getting my hair cut, but I love my current hairdresser. I arrive, get given tea or wine Smile, have my hair washed with a head massage, then a have a bit of a gossip with my lovely hairdresser while they make my hair behave, or just read my magazine or phone in peace. Bliss!

Only once was there someone in there with kids, who were running around while their mum was glued to her phone, and you could tell the staff were on edge while walking around with scissors, chemicals, hot irons etc. Not safe places for kids.

tabulahrasa · 30/09/2018 13:08

I don’t hate it and I like my hairdresser fine... but I’m only there because my hair needs doing.

If I was wanting to relax, I’d not go to the hairdressers.

I mean I didn’t take my children when they were young, but only because it’s too hard to supervise one when you’re not fully mobile and they are and things are dangerous.

happymummy12345 · 30/09/2018 13:32

I can understand how hard it could be for her, especially if she has no help, but equally I can see the other side and she was wrong to think she could entertain them herself while there and even more so to expect someone else to look after them while she was having her hair done.
Personally i wouldn't do that. I have a husband so I have help, and my son goes to nursery one full day and one half day. I get my nails done every two weeks but I always go when my son is at nursery. Same with my eyebrows, I always go when he is at nursery. I've even had to wait another week before going at times, because I couldn't go when my son was at nursery and my husband had to work. So I would have had to take him with me, Evan though it's 5 minutes, I wouldn't do it. It's not fair on anyone. Same when one of my nails was partially broken, I coped with a partially broken nail just so I didn't have to take my son with me so she could fix it. I waited until my husband was off and popped in.

Whereisthecoffee · 30/09/2018 13:59

It’s not fair on the kids or customers. Even the best behaved child isn’t going to be still behaving impeccably when they are trapped in a salon for four hours.

derxa · 30/09/2018 14:15

I have never come across the idea that a hair appointment is a time to relax Really? My hairdresser is a wonderful place where everything is done to make the experience lovely. Children are welcome but they are usually very well behaved. It is a ver naice place though Wink

melj1213 · 30/09/2018 14:33

YANBU - even the best behaved toddlers are going to struggle being in a salon for 3+ hours and if the mother is doing nothing to keep them entertained then it is not fair to expect the salon to be childcare.

I try to book any appointments when DD is with her dad because I know that even at 10 and with snacks, book, a tablet and/or phone there's still a chance that she'll get bored and restless during my 4 hour dye and cut appointments.

There's no way I would have ever taken her to the salon as a toddler except to get her own hair cut, and I always used a specific children's salon because it was set up to keep kids entertained and engaged during their appointments and had plenty of toys/books etc to distract kids who were waiting.

To me it wasn't that I wouldn't take DD as a courtesy to others but as a practical and safety issue - a salon is filled with loud noise, lots of people coming and going, various chemicals, electrical outlets, sharp scissors, hot implements and I am stuck in a chair, often without a view of anything but my stylist and the workstation behind me. Why would I take my toddler when they could get hurt so easily (or even get out of the salon when other customers are entering/leaving) and I can't possibly keep an eye on them?

sunsunsunsunsun · 30/09/2018 15:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HermioneWeasley · 30/09/2018 15:34

YANBU, it’s a ridiculous situation. The mother is an idiot

sprinklesandsauce · 30/09/2018 15:52

My hair easily took at least 3 hours last time I was there. I had 3 different colours in foils which takes ages, and an all over colour on the rest of it. Then there is the "cooking" time, then washing and conditioning, including a little head massage, and then the sylist wanted to blowdry it as it brings out the colours better. (I never have it blow dried normally as I never wear my hair straight). So yes, was in the salon for 3-4 hours.

StoneofDestiny · 30/09/2018 16:12

Basically it’s making every hairdresser and customer a childminder - all on edge watching the kids safety!
Selfish in the extreme

4yearsnosleep · 30/09/2018 16:31

The only time I took my 2 year old with me was when the salon completely fucked my hair colour by turning it bright red with pink roots. It took 5 hours to make it passable and I didn't have childcare for that 2nd appointment. It was awful for me and everyone else there, but not my fault

Its2oclockinthemorning · 30/09/2018 16:38

I’m not sure this would have bothered me in the slightest

QueenOfMyWorld · 30/09/2018 16:38

The hairdressers to me is a 'pamper time' place such as a spa or a beauticians,there shouldn't be v young children there imo and I have a young ds.Never in a million years would I take him with me to the hairdressers id be stressed to the max if I had to keep still to get my hair cut and could see him getting up to mischief that I couldn't prevent

RibbonAurora · 30/09/2018 16:46

4yearsnosleep yes it was your fault. You could have made another appointment when you did have childcare. The salon had the duty to fix your hair not to have themselves and their other clients be subjected to the awfulness of putting up with your 2 yr old for 5 hours. And even assuming the salon got what they deserved what did the customers do AND your 2 year old do to deserve that awfulness?

Mrsharper88 · 30/09/2018 16:47

Agree with the OP. If you can't find childcare then you need to use a mobile hairdresser. It's not fair on the other clients, the hairdressers or the children. But perhaps the hairdressers specifically said she could bring in the children, I had a beautician insist I could bring my DS in once when I tried to cancel a appointment as my childcare had fallen through- although this was literally for a ten minute treatment which is a bit different! Xx

ButtermilkBiscuits · 30/09/2018 16:49

It has literally never occurred to me to bring my son with me to the hairdressers, nor have I ever seen children in there. I thought it was an unspoken rule that you don't bring kids! Confused

SalemBlackCat · 30/09/2018 19:02

@TheEmmaDilemma Spiral perms for long hair don't even take 4 hours (and I mean long near waist-length). And there is SO much more involved. So so much more. What is with all this toner and foil stuff? I do my own hair and touch-ups, one hour and 15 mins to an hour and a half tops. People often ask me where I got my hair coloured because it looks gorgeous. I say, myself. I have no hairdresser training but it is not hard to follow plain instructions! There is no need for hair dying to take 2 hours, let alone 3, never mind 4. It is impossible.

Original poster
LargeGlassOfPepsi · 30/09/2018 19:29

Good for you @SalemBlackCat. Personally, I don't want to colour my hair at home and would never attempt doing foils myself. I enjoy going to the hairdressers and often have my nails done while my colour is developing as well as a pedicure. If you don't agree with 4 hour hair appointments then that's your opinion, you don't HAVE to agree but some of us enjoy them without children running riot. 4 hour hair appoints aren't impossible FFS many people have them.

OP posts:
HelenaDove · 30/09/2018 19:58

Hundreds im not currently employed and im childfree by choice.

I was just making the point that in a lot of workplaces where more is expected of women image wise. The massive failed petition to make it illegal to force or pressure women to wear high heels in the workplace proves this.

HelenaDove · 30/09/2018 20:06

LargeGlass i dont either. I have extremely long thick brunette hair (colored back to my natural color) and grey roots when they come through I dont have foils , just a block color and sometimes have two stylists putting the color on (one on each side)

it would take boxes (plural) of home hair dye to do it and because there is so much hair it would be impossible to get right.

i dont smoke , drink or go on holiday so this is my thing as i HATE having grey hair.