To wish for a silent hairdressers?

[IndianaMoleWoman]

Hair cut today, the hairdresser was lovely but asked 10,000+ questions and didn’t seem to get the hint with my short but polite answers, even when I mentioned that my small children are driving me mad with questions!

Does anyone else wish that there was a chain of specialist silent hairdressers where you could go for a bit of peace and not an interrogation?

You do realise you can choose which hairdresser/salon to go to?

If you've got someone who is too chatty and you can't speak up to tell them you're not up to it and/or they don't pick up your signals then you'll always have this first world 'problem'. Vote with your feet.

I think its a nervous thing. Being so close to someone who you dont class as a friend is uncomfortable.
And remember they are touching you too.
I would and do feel uncomfortable when having my hair cut or in a taxi.
The drivers talk for England.

That's interesting KUGA, I find it intimidating if taxi drivers don't make at least a basic attempt at conversation.

I generally find being polite but not having anything in common with the hairdresser helps. I rarely go out anymore, I barely watch any TV, can't remember the last film I saw, apart from the weather I don't have much chat.

The last time I went I told her I was very tired from being up all night with my toddler and we barely spoke. Brilliant.

I know my hairdressers (colourist/stylist) quite well now, so it’s a fairly easy flow of conversation, but tbh my absolute ideal would be silence.
Also when I’m at the sink having my hair washed, the junior always asks what my plans for the day are. Last week I was so relaxed having my head massaged, when she asked me a just mumbled ‘nothing’.
It’s a fairly high end salon and I find the questions just banal. When my head is bent backwards over a sink, my feet up and my eyes are shut, isn’t it obvious I want to relax!?

The salon owners probably encourage them to engage with the customers to be fair. Part of the job.
I like to chat and ask them what they are doing / going to etc and that works well. They seem happy to tell me about their holidays and boyfriend woes.
I admire anyone who can deal with my hair as it's a pain.

I don't like it either. I turn the conversation to hair stuff and pick up tips. The last one I went to had quiet background music so at keastyU didn't have to shout over that and the dryers! As for the comment from the pp saying to help break up the monotony of the job..... apparently hairdressing is one of the happiest professions.

Had my hair cut yesterday.
I now know about the life and times of 6 people she met on holiday who I don’t know, will never meet, have zero interest in but apparently Tony likes a drink but sue doesn’t, mike doesn’t like sea food but Pete does, Kathy starts her new job on Monday and Richard will drop the kids off at school on a Tuesday, weds and Friday....

The best conversation was as follows:
Hairdresser..”saw a lad I went to school with the other night. He said “hi how are you?” I said “yeah I’m great thanks”, he said “great”.

And that was an actual thing she was telling me.

She is a long time friend as well as my hair dresser but I have to gear myself up to getting a hair cut.

I don’t speak at all. Can’t get a word in actually.

@busybarbara Wow! Your comments are shocking. Hairdressers earn good money and are highly skilled.

I went to one of those cheap and cheerful ones the other day, think the hairdresser was Romanian. No chat - bliss!

The salon owners probably encourage them to engage with the customers to be fair. Part of the job.

Quite.

And then there'd be the thread -

"Went to the hairdresser's yesterday. Moody cow didn't say a word the whole time!
Really uncomfortable sitting there in total silence ..."

Yanbu op. I'm really an introvert and situations like this just drain me. My hairdresser knows I'm very quiet and we exchange a few pleasantries and then he gets on with it. Just get busy with a book.

Dh and his hairdresser have a real bond. He asks her advice on things. She usually has the right answer!

I think a lot of hairdressers would rather you STFU to be honest 😏 they have to make some convo to be polite but despite popular belief not all hairdressers are gagging to discuss clients holidays 8 times a day 🙄

Mines amazing. Are you anywhere near Sheffield?

I used the same hairdressers for 6 years, when she started she could barely say words about hairdressing... overtime she didn't become chatty at all although her English improved. She was a joy to go to as she was efficient but no chit chat. Then she moved away!!

My new one chats all the time, I actually wondered if she takes something to pep her up (no idea what) or if I am just missing the original one!

@busybarbara: Re your comment about being prepared to pay more for a robot to cut your hair.

This will probably be on offer in the future, but you will actually be paying less.

I do agree hairstylist should take the hint. Sometimes if you don't do much at the weekends, or don't want to talk about what you do do, it can be a bit difficult.

Personally though I actually find this conversation easier as I get older, and I also like to ask the hairstylist, how is business etc.

But I don't see the same hairstylist every time.

Nanny, exactly! You can't win. If someone had a surly / non chatty hairdresser there would be a thread about that too.

Hairdressing is part of the ' service industry' and being able to communicate is important too.

OMG YES!!!!
I love getting my hair done, but I suffer social anxiety so I get it done maybe once a year now cos I just feel trapped by the constant chatter!

Hairdressers earn good money and are highly skilled.

Maybe if you're going to a top salon or Nicky Clarke hun but if you're going to a normal high street salon like me they seem to be the wash ups from the local college who couldn't make it into theatre school

Hair salon small talk is part of the reason I bought clippers and am learning to cut my own short hair.

@busybarbara Wow.
You are certainly the cream of the crop aren't you.

My local college is 2 years for a certificate in hairdressing at a cost of $18,000.

I've not had my hair cut /styled or coloured by a hairdresser at all in the past decade because I hate going into a salon. I'm fat, frumpy, ugly and approaching middle age. I feel completely out of place, anxious and uncomfortable around all the girls in a salon