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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hairdresser appointment. Was I being precious?

289 replies

LadyLindaT · 19/07/2020 14:20

My hairdresser is lovely, and I have been a client for over 30 years.
She offered me an appointment when they opened again on 4th July.
I wasn't in any rush, so I waited until this last week.
I asked in advance if there were any special instructions, e.g., whether I should wear a mask.
I knew that there would be no refreshments, magazines, etc., and I was not going to bring a coat or a handbag.
48 hours before, I got a generic email, which didn't sit right with me.
I was told that I couldn't bring my own bottle of water, and would not be allowed to use the toilet.
I am talking about an appointment which would take over 3 hours.
I cancelled, in good time, on the basis that I didn't feel comfortable with that.
I have been made to feel as if I were being awkward and difficult.
I can understand that a quick cut and blow dry might work this way, but, if you know that the work is going to take hours, shouldn't you factor in that people might want to use a loo?

OP posts:
GCAcademic · 20/07/2020 07:40

KeepWashingThoseHands

No, dickish is saying things like “I'm amazed people can't go 3 hours without getting dehydrated, or hold going to the loo for that long.“

Though, to give you the benefit of the doubt, you may just be very ignorant.

Or maybe the OP has to also realise we're living in a global pandemic and if she did in actual fact have a medical problem could have raised it with her hairdresser of 30 years before reacting like she did.

She cancelled the appointment, in good time, on the basis that she would not comply with their rules. What do you think she should have done? What was so wrong with the way she reacted?

flowery · 20/07/2020 07:45

@LadyLindaT

My thought was that I would just rather wait for a while, that's all.
That sounds fine, and perfectly sensible, and of course you have a right to do that.

But what was this “feedback” that made you feel like you were being awkward and difficult? Surely most salons would respond to the cancellation by saying “no problem at all, thanks for letting us know, do get in touch when you’re ready to rebook” or something?

What did they say?

NaughtyLittleElf · 20/07/2020 08:02

I'd have changed to a cut and blow dry maybe rather than cancelled, my hairdressers provided hot drinks in paper cups and plenty of cleaning supplies and instructions for the toilets, I need the loo at least once during a colour appointment.

HandsOffMyRights · 20/07/2020 08:08

I empathise as I was at my haidresser for 2.5 hours.

I couldn't use the loo.
I didn't have a drink.
I wore a face mask which steamed up my glasses - good job there were no magazines as I had to remove glasses, which left me blind as a bat and unable to even read my phone.

It was a very long 2.5 hours and I won't be returning.

woodhill · 20/07/2020 08:14

Horrible if you know you can't visit the loo.

I think that's why we never went anywhere too far in LD.

woodhill · 20/07/2020 08:15

Horrible if you know you can't visit the loo.

I think that's why we never went anywhere too far in LD.

eaglejulesk · 20/07/2020 08:29

I am getting very fed up of bad customer service, and covid is not an excuse. Your hairdresser sounds anything other than "lovely" if she reacted badly to you cancelling the appointment due to her rules. I would simply go to another hairdresser in future. People in business, any kind of business, need to remember that people don't have to use their services (in most cases), there are other options - and don't complain when your customers go elsewhere!

wafflyversatile · 20/07/2020 08:38

It's an interesting time for us all to be learning about setting boundaries and respecting boundaries. Were all having to decide what we're comfortable with and checking what others are comfortable with.

I think it's ok for both of you to have different ideas about what your comfortable with but agree that she should have accepted that it's ok for you to choose not to have the appointment if her arrangements didnt suit you.

Stellakent · 20/07/2020 09:01

That's very extreme. I can understand the need for good hygiene but if you go to a pub, restaurant or cafe, or use a public toilet, you're not going to have someone cleaning the loo after every person that uses it. It's about common sense and this is nonsense.

LolaSmiles · 20/07/2020 09:18

Ours aren't doing full blow dry at the moment, just rough drying so they can get the stations cleaned between clients.The only toilet is the one for staff and clients.

They've said that there's no toilets, no hot drinks and no magazines. They have disposable gowns and every is in masks. It's all clear in advance when we booked our appointments.

I can't be annoyed with them because I don't need a 4 hour hair appointment but they absolutely have the right to be safe at work.

I can't help but feeling that not returning to a hairdresser because they've said during a pandemic there's no toilets, no magazines and you've got to wear a mask is just childish.

It seems that just because some people want to pretend Covid doesn exist and want to go back to normal, they think everyone else should stop taking precautions.

LakieLady · 20/07/2020 10:03

I've got very thick hair and used to have it highlighted. It took an hour just to put all the foils and colour on, then another 45-60 mins for the colour to take. My hairdresser took 45 minutes to cut it when I had a bob and then blow dry and straightening took about another 20-30 minutes. If I had an Olaplex treatment as well, that added about another 30 mins.

Add on the travelling/parking time and a bit of hanging around, and the whole process meant I was out of the house for well over 4 hours.

The lavs were open when I went last week, there were anti-bac wipes in there and a sign asking customers to wipe down anything they'd touched. I didn't have to wear a mask as the hairdresser was wearing a mask and visor, and disposable apron thingy with sleeves. Every work station, mirror etc was sprayed between clients.

flowery · 20/07/2020 10:37

”I am getting very fed up of bad customer service, and covid is not an excuse. Your hairdresser sounds anything other than "lovely" if she reacted badly to you cancelling the appointment due to her rules”

Yes. I would be interested to know what this reaction actually was before calling it bad customer service though....

maxdash · 20/07/2020 10:38

I can't help but feeling that not returning to a hairdresser because they've said during a pandemic there's no toilets, no magazines and you've got to wear a mask is just childish.

I'm not being childish, I will literally wet myself without access to the toilet! Thanks DC!

So yes, it means I won't be able to get my hair done any time soon which is a shame for me and I'd like to support my hairdresser get back on her feet but it's just the way it's got to be in the current situation. I'm not moaning about it, I'm just not making an appointment because it can't meet my needs. Nothing childish about that.

squirrelsbizaar · 20/07/2020 11:36

I've never noticed many customers using the toilet when I have been in the hairdressers, pre lockdown. So I'm not sure why they are making a big issue of it now. Surely for longer appointments they could make some allowances.
Going off this site, there doesn't seem to be very consistent, or clear messaging for hairdressers. Would appear they have been given the vague - if you can avoid commuting, working in an office type crap we've been getting from Government.

CremeEggThief · 20/07/2020 11:37

@LolaSmiles, it's not about being 'childish'. Everyone has their own ideas about what is worth putting up with or not, and for me, it's not worth the hassle of going to the hairdresser at the moment, as so many negatives outweigh one positive.

LolaSmiles · 20/07/2020 13:59

CremeEggThief
It seems that way when people are saying they'll stop going to their hairdressers because they aren't running business as usual.

I've been with my hairdresser for 5-10 years. The idea of deciding to boycott them because when I booked an appointment during a pandemic they didn't have hot drinks, toilets and magazines available would be the height of childishness in my opinion. My salon were saying they've had people being arsey about what they're offering (eg not doing full blow dry / not using sprays). We aren't back to business as normal so we all need to be a bit flexible instead of moaning if places we want to go aren't running a full usual service.

It makes perfect sense to do as you've done and decide that during lockdown it's not worth the hassle going to the hairdressers. It's quite another to be moaning online, as some are, about how their hairdresser has now lost their custom.

MaxNormal · 20/07/2020 14:17

So unfortunately for those people they will have to forgo the luxury of a 3 hour beauty treatment during a global pandemic. It's not unrealistic to expect some compromises have to be made.

That's fine, as long as hairdressers don't start demanding more government assistance because half their customers boycott them. Their choice i suppose.

Bit shit for the elderly, people with birth injuries, heavy periods etc but hopefully they can find more accommodating salons and keep supporting them long term and let those who won't make the effort to cater for their customers needs close their doors.

LolaSmiles · 20/07/2020 16:24

MaxNormal
To be fair, they've only just been allowed to open. It's not going to hurt anyone to delay having a hair appointment.

I only got mine because my salon happened to have a cancellation. My Mum is waiting a few weeks for hers to see if things relax a bit. My MIL hasn't managed to get an appointment until August.

Neither of them is boycotting their hairdresser. They're just making the right decision for them during a pandemic and will resume their normal appointments when things are back to normal. Neither of them are going to cut their nose off to spite their face and go looking for a new hairdresser because there wasn't a full service a week or so into being allowed to reopen during the middle of a pandemic.

Lifeisgenerallyfun · 20/07/2020 17:39

I have a weak bladder and might need the loo at the hairdresser (my appointment will last 3 hours tomorrow too). Luckily my hairdresser is serving hot ands cold drinks in disposables and the loo remains open. Which is probBly a good call. Otherwise how long before someone has an accident?

graysquirrel · 20/07/2020 17:51

I'm sorry but if that was timed with the start of my period, no way could I go more than 2 hrs sat without the use of the toilet so I'd have to move/cancel in that case. I'd hope that my hairdressers were more understanding on that basis.

loulouljh · 20/07/2020 17:52

I think all service providers have to be sure they don't use Covid as an excuse for providing the best service that they can. Customers do have a choice. Whilst they want to support hairdressers who haven't been able to work for a while equally it is their hard earned money they are spending. If they are getting much less value for their money and not having the nice experience that a hairdresser should be then hairdressers have to expect customers will go elsewhere. It is a balancing act.

Bizawit · 20/07/2020 17:52

YANBU

Jack80 · 20/07/2020 18:05

Loo access should be available.

MyWitzEnd · 20/07/2020 18:07

I dont get it. The pubs have loos open! If this virus was so apparent in pee why are they shoving cotton buds round tonsils instead of doing a pregnany type test!?

cherish123 · 20/07/2020 18:22

I don't think I have ever been to the toilet at the hairdressers. 3 hrs is a long time to be in the hairdressers but it's also a long time to go without a loo.