Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Hair Appointment Should Not Take So Long!

61 replies

AiryFlyingFairy · 31/05/2021 11:55

I've been going to my hairdresser for many years. She is a good hairdresser but the appointment always takes absolutely ages.
So I had my 1st post Lockdown do of a cut & full head colour.
For context, I have a lot of shoulder length. thick hair so I understand it can take longer than average.
I was in there more than 4 hours.
She was doing 2 people's hair the same time as mine. So at 1 point I was left at the sink waiting for my colour to be washed off while she was putting a colour on another customer & that was 30 minutes for me just waiting. Bored sh@@less.
I've heard other people saying she takes too long so not just me.
I've got to the point now where I dread the appointment but good hairdressers are hard to find. I do actually like her too & the price is affordable.

Mumsnetters, How long does your cut & highlights take?
Is it reasonable to expect a cut & colour to take more than 4 hours?

OP posts:

Dddccc · 31/05/2021 13:12

My hair is really thick and for a cut and colour takes about 4.5 hours its halfway down my back and thats only working on me

user1471548941 · 31/05/2021 13:12

Mine is 2 hours for a full head of hightlights and a trim. Extra 20 mins if I want a blowdry.

She takes approx 45 to get the foils in, then my hair takes EXCEPTIONALLY quickly. I think normally she would have enough time to foil someone else, but actually for me she only because books a cut in between. Usually 30 mins to take and then 20 mins at the sink!

FeatheredHope · 31/05/2021 13:15

I have long thick hair and if I’m having a FULL head of highlights and a cut then yes, it can easily take up to 4 hours.

I have never understood why anyone sees having their haircut as a “treat”. I love actually having my hair washed, but that 5 minutes of pleasure is drowned out by sitting making small talk in a gown whilst staring at my ugly mug in the mirror for 4 hours and spending a fortune for the pleasure. I like to look nice, obviously, but it’s my idea of hell.

HoppingPavlova · 31/05/2021 13:19

Around 3.5hrs as I’m fully grey and it needs to be filled or some such crap before the colour in order for the colour to hold. I’m not left for more than 10mins usually between stages as they time it well with other peoples stages with a few of us on the boil at the same time.

NailsNeedDoing · 31/05/2021 13:20

I stopped going to a certain hairdresser for this reason, she was good, but not so good that it was worth wasting half a day for her. If I’m paying for the hairdressers time and service, I shouldn’t expect to have to share it with someone else. They charge too much for that to be reasonable.

OrangeBananaFish · 31/05/2021 13:35

Back in the day when I used to get my hair coloured professionally I think it was about 3 hours or so. Hairdresser would discuss what I wanted, then get out the foils and would put them in. They would have to ask the apprentice to get more foils and dye as my hair is very thick (its always commented on). Then I would sit for a bit while they did someone else, but my hair would keep getting checked. Then the apprentice would wash out my dye. Hairdresser would cut, dry and finish my hair. I'm a bit confused about PPs only wanting hairdresser to do it all.

I'm like FeatheredHope and don't understand why its a treat to so many. I dye my hair at home myself and have been cutting it myself for years. Every so often I will get it done properly, but it annoys me when just because I'm female its expected that I want to be pampered and have an experience. No I just want to lose some hair and get it cut by someone who know's what they are doing. I don't want to spend the best part of 50 quid to have a pamper afternoon. Also why do they never have prices up? You have to go in and ask and then you feel like you have to make an appointment. Men, however can pop in and get their hair cut for a tenner.

I have an appointment on Saturday for the first time in nearly 2 years (July 2019 was my last) for a wet cut. I refused the blow dry. Its a 30 min appointment apparently. Only reluctantly made the appointment because DD2 needs her hair sorting. My attempt back in Jan isn't very good. So I thought I may as well get mine done too.

BillyIsMyBunny · 31/05/2021 13:36

Just go somewhere else if you’re not happy. YABU to complain about it but to also say you don’t want to change hairdressers because she is friendly and affordable and somewhere else might be more expensive or less welcoming. It sounds like the long appointment time is the price you are paying for a cheaper service, if it’s not worth it to you go somewhere else and put up with paying more. You can’t necessarily have it both ways and expect both a cheap appointment and a quick one where you’re the only focus.

Wotsnewpussycat · 31/05/2021 14:28

2.5 hours and I have really long and thick hair. For full colour on most of hair, highlights, cut, blow dry and straightened hair.

Nancylovesthecock · 31/05/2021 14:37

My hairdresser is trying to fit in the same amount of people with 40% of the staff. It meant my post lockdown balayage took 6 hours. It took the piss and has put me off going back. But I can't blame her for trying to do as much as she can when it's so uncertain and small businesses have suffered so much.

Duchess379 · 31/05/2021 14:46

Blimey, the last time I spent 4hrs at the hairdressers was when I had hair extensions!! Might be worth using the 'nextdoor' ap & asking your local neighbourhood for recommendations. Just a thought..

cupsofcoffee · 31/05/2021 14:59

About 2-2.5 hours for a full cut and colour.

Original poster

AiryFlyingFairy · 31/05/2021 15:01

I normally go on a day off but last time I'd booked a half day off work. I made sure she knew I had to get back to work but she still took an age.
I don't see having hair dos as a treat either. It's so uncomfortable. She was combing & pulling my hair so much. I had tears in my eyes & couldn't wait to get it over with.
I think she over books in case of no shows.
I wasn't too happy with the result either. She left the colour on too long so it came out too dark.
I've had someone else recommended to me now so think will try a new hairdresser.
Thanks for all your replies

OP posts:

HideousKinky · 31/05/2021 15:29

I've been with my hairdresser 30 years.
I'm in there 2 hours max for cut & colour.

ChrissyPlummer · 31/05/2021 19:15

@AiryFlyingFairy I was! Relieved that I could finally go and have it done by a professional. I’m NEVER bleaching it at home again!

FrankButchersDickieBow · 31/05/2021 19:20

A couple of appointments I have had have been about 4 hours, but that has been because I was going from a dark coppery colour, to light blonde, so a couple of times the procedure has taken longer than usual.

I love going to the hairdressers though and have been going to her for years and always end up having a laugh there

cansu · 31/05/2021 19:26

I think that sometimes if you have been going somewhere for a while, the hairdresser may start to take the piss. I wouldn't be happy to wait that long. She is trying to do too many clients at once and this is leading to a poorer service.

purplecorkheart · 31/05/2021 19:32

My stylist used to work in a salon but has now gone out on his own. One of the reasons because of the way his clients were booked. When he worked in the salon I could be there 3 + hours where as now I am out in 2 hours (without the free head massage it would be much less).

Castlepeak · 31/05/2021 19:36

My hair takes 3 hours, but none of that time feels wasted.

I did have one hairdresser who seemed to treat me like a practice dummy. I could barely get her attention when she was working on me and then she would pop off to just do something real quick that was in no way related to my service or her personal needs. She would just want to squeeze in a quick trim or chat with someone real quick. It caused a bit of drama to stop seeing her because she was beloved by several members of my family, but I just couldn’t stand her even though she was talented.

LemonRoses · 31/05/2021 19:37

About three and a half hours for cut and highlights. I do have thick, quite long hair and I do have four colours though.

steff13 · 31/05/2021 19:39

I have dark hair that is about to the bottom of my bra band in length. If I'm getting a cut, color, and highlights, it takes 3-4 hours. The color and the bleaching and highlights all take time, then the wash and cut and style.

PegasusReturns · 31/05/2021 19:39

Half head of highlights, toner and a blow dry take three hours. My hair is bra strap length.

JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam · 31/05/2021 19:40

Thick shoulder length hair. Foils, toner, full root touch up, wash, dry and style about 4-5 hours. in what is a very popular and busy salon.

shouldistop · 31/05/2021 19:41

My cut and colour takes 90 minutes. Highlights and lowlights on long, medium thickness hair.

tabulahrasa · 31/05/2021 19:45

I was there nearly 5 hours last time... but that was cut, bleach, then colour on top of that.

MrMeSeeks · 31/05/2021 19:45

Medium to long but even when it was a bob when i were blonde it could take 1-5/2hours.
Roots, then ends refresh, toner and a cut

Flip

1 2 3