Hairdresser refusing appointment for DC

[storminateacupagain]

I have been going to the same hairdresser every 6 weeks for years, My DC's 5 and 2 usually come with me every second visit for tidy up/trims. DS in particular has very curly hair and after a while his hair is totally wild, I always book appointments for them same time as me.
Last visit for when l tried to rebook for us all just before Christmas l was told that they were not doing any childrens hair for the month of December,.
Surely this is unfair for regular clients?

[Cavementality]

He's a child! We should all be entitled to safe spaces!

[Austen33]

Take your son to a barbers. Well under £10 and more appropriate conversation. You don't want to raise the sort of boy who thinks he is entitled to be in women's safe spaces.

[DDMAC]

I have a curly haired daughter and I can understand because when it gets to a certain point, it really is a nightmare to brush and actually harder on the stylist to cut if she’s late on going back. If you feel it can’t wait I’d just look elsewhere. During lockdown I did successfully trim my dd’s hair and it did the job so you could give it a shot?

[Marvellousmadness]

Change hairdressers. Problem solved.

[PinkSyCo]

It’s a terrible way to treat regular customers. I would be voting with my feet and finding myself a different hairdresser if I were you OP. And I would be telling your greedy fucker current hairdresser the exact reason why.

[JurgensCakeBabyJesus]

Are there no children's salons locally? I take DS to one that's essentially a sub salon of a main hairdresser, separate door etc, decorated in a DC friendly way, race cars and unicorns etc as seats, cartoons on a TV for those that need distracting and the hairdressers all seem to have 5+ children of their own so are very good at working with little ones and cutting their hair! I pay £15 for DS there and he asks when he can go next.

[HolidayTime2021]

@Cavementality

Appalling customer service! Your child is as much a regular as you are! This is age discrimination and I would be upset too.
You need to find another hairdresser who values you and your children. X

Then it is age discrimination to charge adults more!

[JerryGiraffe]

Unpopular opinion here but I agree with you OP. My hairdresser doesn't do this and a dry trim for my DS is the same as for me, £7.50 which I think is great value. DS hair doesn't take any longer than mine. I realise they have had a crap year but actually I think it's bad form to refuse children's appointments in December when you have supported them for years. Personally I would look for another hairdresser

[Roxy69]

It works both ways, customer loyalty means nothing to them so find another hairdresser. I would never go back.

[Apd93]

I don't think you are unreasonable OP and I would try to find another hairdresser, more reliable and happy to help all customers no matter what month of year it is. Many hairdressers have children, how would they feel if restaurant for exemple would say no children allowed only in December because their menus are too cheap and is not profitable.

[Notmrsfitz]

So now you know, book for the last week in November and the first week in January - it’s just the way it is - a barbers local to me wouldn’t do children’s hair on a Saturday unless you paid adult price and that was fair enough.

[MyNameIsJane]

My hairdresser really suffered financially during lockdowns, she nearly lost her house. I think that it is perfectly fine for your hairdresser to put a hold on children’s cuts.

[BogRollBOGOF]

My local hairdressers/ barbers were a pain for getting long-haired boys cuts done. Being boys they went to the barbers... but one of the two barbers had the hairdressing skills to cut hair rather than use clippers so it always took at least double the wait. I ended up with another WFH hairdresser that was more practical (and cheaper) and while I'm not a devoted client, I do get my occasional professional cuts done there now too.
Customers vote with their feet if businesses' conditions don't work for them.

A clear policy of not offering concessions during December is acceptable practice.
Refusing to serve a demographic at all is not acceptable and becomes discrimination.

Is it worth risking a regular client over a concessionary hair cut for one month a year?

[Sj050210]

Just to add my December appointments are usually booked up a couple of months in advance so maybe your usual hairdresser has limited availability and is saving those slots for colour appointments

[Sj050210]

I am a hairdresser, I understand your frustration but I also try to avoid booking children’s cut in during my busiest periods. This is simply so I can maximise my profits, especially after being furloughed 3 times for long periods during the last few years. In my salon we do offer appointments throughout November for children’s cuts, so try and get the last week of November.

[Vynalbob]

Take your custom elsewhere, when their Jan-Nov numbers start going down the penny might drop.....
Not happy for my kids custom not going to get mine (obv. minus bars n suchlike)

[Cryalot2]

I can see both points of view.
You can either decide you all move to a new hairdresser due to this, and let your hairdresser know . Or you can trim his hair, or take him somewhere else.
Would a barber do?
Most salons here are booked up in Dec. Many work less for the first couple of weeks in Nov, but from them on it is crazy.
What with covid there are so many rules and regulations it's crazy.

Cutting a child's hair can be time consuming and not all children sit well. Then there is the same cleaning and sanitising as for an adult.

Some businesses are fighting for survival and they make rules to suit their needs best.

[Explosivefarts]

I would change hairdressers as you say it’s not exactly cheap . I pay £7 for my sons hair .

[Pollypocket81]

Does your child do modelling and need their hair a certain way at a certain time? If not, even the curliest of hair can wait a couple of weeks and if you are concerned about safety with hair falling into their eyes, then get a pair of scissors and do the fringe yourself. Book them in for early January to tidy up your hairdressing.

[Morgysmum]

Do they use the clippers or scissors? Why not give it a go yourself if you cannot wait more than 6 weeks. His hair probably will last more than 6 weeks. I take my son when he asks for a hair cut, not every 6 weeks.
In Lockdown, he had me doing his hair, as I was going to get it done, before we locked down. He had it done twice, in 2 different lock downs., I used scissors as he doesn't like clippers, but clippers would probably be easier, my mum has always done my dad's, he hasn't been to hairdresser since he was 17, now mid 60's. It saves you some money.

[Kate0902900908]

Your children are clients and I think that is outrageous, his hair will need to be cut for christmas?!
I would ring up and ask once more and ask is it policy your not going childrens hair in December? If so explain your going to have to find a new hairdresser after being a regular client because you bring the children with you.
Thats just not fare! It's discrimination if you ask me. And for all the people saying they need to maximise profit I completely understand but childrens hair doesn't take as long and they set the price so that's not right?

[Cavementality]

Appalling customer service! Your child is as much a regular as you are! This is age discrimination and I would be upset too.
You need to find another hairdresser who values you and your children. X

[007Stocko]

That is really dreadful service by the hairdressers and totally unreasonable of them. I would definitely look to take your custom elsewhere.

[MeanWeedratStew]

As a business, they have the right to implement whatever policy they want, within the law.

As a customer, you have the right to be put off by this policy and go elsewhere (I know I would).

Neither side is right or wrong, really, it's just that this particular business can't give you what you need. Find one that can.

[Desolate2nite]

Change your salon. I'm a hairdresser and I wouldn't do this to my clients