Anyone else find salon chat awkward

[Cheesestring11]

I really enjoy getting my hair done, but I'm quiet and shy and struggle with the conversation.
Some hairdressers don't really chat, but I've had some who seem determined that there won't be any silence. I know it's part of their job and they're just trying to be friendly, but I find it hard making small talk with a total stranger.
I can't think of anything to ask them, i reply politely when they speak to me, it's the usual, doing anything nice over the weekend etc.
They must think I'm really unfriendly and awkward, but I just find it hard to chat to strangers.
Does anyone else not enjoy salon chatter so much? It's a shame as I love getting my hair done, but it puts me off going

Why do people find it so difficult to say "I'm sorry but I don't feel like chatting today, and I would rather just sit quietly while you do my hair"?

You need to find a good'un and keep going back to them, then if you're lucky you get to be friends so don't need all that cringy small talk.

At the beginning though I would just whip a mag or my kindle out if it was awks - I'm sure the stylists like a break from the forced chat too.

I would also say it's my only time to read a book without DC on at me, which was the truth!

I always used to find it incredibly awkward until I discovered my current hairdresser, who is absolutely fine with silence, but with whom I also have quite a lot in common, so if we do have a chat it's non-awkward. We're about the same age and have quite similar interests in terms of style, hobbies etc and a similar sense of humour, so I genuinely find her conversation interesting and easy. To be honest, the whole salon is probably the only one I've ever felt comfortable and 'myself' in.

No i like talking to the hairdresser. Whats wrong with talking to people.

I don’t really mind either way, but I find the “silent appointment” concept a bit weird. How can specifying up front that you do not wish to talk be any less awkward than just using normal social skills to encourage or discourage chit chat departments on how you feel? It doesn’t bother me at all to chat for a few minutes and then let the conversation tail off, but I’d be absolutely mortified to have to say I want silence!

*depends on how you feel

This is what I do now: Once I've sat down, after the hair wash and the talk about my hair, I pull my kindle/phone/magazine out and say would you mind if I read? It works every time and has taken the pre-visit anxiousness away.

Right now I have a lovely young woman as a hairdresser and it's quite nice to chat to her a bit, however, a full hour is still too much for me (and that's when my kindle comes out), nevermind when I have my colour done. Haircuts can be expensive and it should be relaxing time rather than something to endure.