Hairdresser appointment. Was I being precious?

[LadyLindaT]

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?

@RunningFromInsanity

People go to the toilet at the hairdressers??

Why do you sound surprised at this?

its utter nonsense. Go to the hairdresser, use the toilet, get on with your life. What the hell are you going to catch anyway?

Get mobile person.

Whether 3 hours is reasonable depends on the journey time to the salon (15 mins aka 3hours 30 total is different to 45 mins each was 4 hours 30mins). I've been given the no toilet email but can bring bottled water

if you have highlights/balayage and a cut & blow dry it can easily take 3 hours

I have half head and it takes about 2 hours, so I can imagine full head could easily take 3.

I have never been to the toilet in a hairdressers in my life

To be fair, I don't think I have but completely agree that as soon as you are told you can't, you need to go!

I don't know anyone who travels 3 hours for a haircut. Perhaps a lifestyle rethink is in order.

@caitlinohara

I don’t understand why people can’t go 3 hours without a drink or going to the loo, I find that really weird to be honest. If that’s more important to you than who does your hair then fair enough, YANBU. Personally it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.

That might be the case for you, not everyone is the same

Or if the poster is happy to travel 3 hours, she can carry on.

@cologne4711 I had a full head yesterday. Appointment was at 10, left at 1.30

Defo not being unreasonable! I always use the loo once I leave the hair dressers, specially after 3hour app!!

@choli I live on the west coast of Scotland. My nearest town is a 3.5 hour drive away. I could possibly go to the lady in the local village who has been cutting the same hairstyles since 1965.

My lifestyle was rethought which is why we move here from the dirty, congested South of England.

OP YANBU, three hours plus travel time is a lot, I would cancel too.
It's not just a matter if not drinking while there, it's prior to the appointment too. And feeling uncomfortable if you do get the urge, especially early on in your appointment!

@LEELULUMPKIN Catalonia might not be the best example, they are having a spike in cases.
english.elpais.com/society/2020-07-17/catalan-government-recommends-residents-of-barcelona-and-metropolitan-area-stay-at-home.html

I didn’t even realise Hairdressers had toilets that customers could use.

@Unicornflakegirl After seeing what I did with regards to loos etc, and lack of social distancing in many places I am not in the least surprised.

It was very interesting to see with my own eyes how another country is dealing with it all, very different to many media reports.

I can usually manage in the hairdressers without the toilet but I would have no chance at the dentist. Must be a nerves thing.

I would also have cancelled the appointment if I was told that there was no toilet and no water available for 3 hours. YANBU

The insensitive comments about people needing the toilet more frequently are so sad.

I am in my 20’s, fit and healthy “looking” but with sometimes uncontrollable, sudden Irritable bowel syndrome (I have had this for over 10 years, there is no cure)

I do not know when it will “strike”, I have literally a few minutes to get to the toilet and have to plan any trip outside the house with toilet facilities in mind.

Lockdown and lack of business and public toilets mean I can’t go anywhere really. I would not chance going to any business without facilities close by.

Maybe a bit more understanding for others medical needs is needed!

YANBU

I think they are being unreasonable. Lots of places have opened and have toilet facilities. They just need to clean them. Why should hairdressers be any different? I have a hair appointment on Thursday. If I am not treated properly then it will be the last time I go there. Of course there needs to be precautions but I would expect to be able to go to the toilet and bring a drink with me.

YANBU, I have an appointment on Friday about 25 miles from where I live. There is no parking near the hairdresser so I drive to a tram stop and travel that way. The entire journey time is 35 minutes but I might have to wait up to 12 minutes for a tram, same on the way back. I expect my hair will take at least 2/3 hours, no way could I do the journey each way and the appointment without using the loo. A drink, I’m not that bothered about as I don’t tend to drink loads anyway. I did a 7.5 hour shift today and used the loo at work four times, I’ve always been like that.

I would have cancelled too. Like a pp, I have a stoma bag attached to my back, that my kidney drains the urine into. I also have to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to keep my kidney functioning. I couldn't go for 3 hours not having anything to drink.

I also occasionally have problems with my bowels, with very little warning, so if I need to go, I need to go straight away.

I don’t understand why people can’t go 3 hours without a drink or going to the loo,

Seriously? Do you have no imagination? Have you never seen the TenaLady adverts, or all the continence products in the supermarkets? Or heard of heavy periods/flooding, IBS?

@HowLongCanICallitBabyWeight

People on MN seem to have tiny bladders, I last sent for a wee about half eleven before I put DS down for his nap, I've had two drinks since. I don't need to go again. Surely if you made sure you went before you'd be ok? It's not like it's a daily situation

Happy you have a perfect bladder.

Lots don’t.

I think I'm cancelling mine that is next week - the owner of the salon put a video on FB this week and it looks horrific. The staff look as if they've just walked out of an operating theatre, and all of the chairs are surrounded by perspex walls including the wash basin chairs - there is a strict one way system, no waiting area you have to wait outside, temperature taken on arrival, no cloakroom, and the toilets are closed/no drinks on offer. Considering they are an "upmarket" salon in a grotty small city, and they charge £60 for a cut and blow dry I don't want to be made to feel like I'm carrying the bubonic plague thanks all the same

I am sorry that this has caused a bunfight.
I just think that if you are going to open for business that should include the loo.

I never use toilet at hairdressers, they have one I used once as wasn’t going home after. Yesterday they had it open and also offered tea and coffee in throw away cups.