Hairdressers - called to ask to change time then a completely different hairdresser cut my hair

[Kattekit]

I live in a rather small town so finding a good hairdresser has taken some time. My last appointment 8 weeks ago I was talked into a whole restyle. I loved it. Had booked an appointment for today which was about 8 weeks later.

I got a phone call on Tuesday asking if I’d mind changing my appointment time from 3pm to 5pm. I was happy to change.

I turn up at the salon and instantly forget the hairdressers name. Brain fog on my part due to Fibromyalgia and long Covid. It takes me a minute and I then remember and give the name let’s just say it was Louise. The receptionist says oh do you mean Alice? I say no and she asks me to take a seat. A lady I’ve never seen before takes me over and seats me (this has happened before, especially if the hairdresser was running behind)
Next thing I know Alice has scissors in hand and is cutting my hair. At this point I asked where Louise was. Apparently she left about 7-8 weeks ago. I’ve ended up with the tiniest of trims and been charged the normal senior stylist rate. They also asked if I wanted to book my next appointment, I declined. Now home and really disappointed.

AIBU to have expected to be told this on the phone when they changed my appointment?

Louise & Alice are not the real names, but as different to each other as the real names iykwim

There seem to be people who have no difficulty in being appropriately assertive in other areas of their lives who simply can't assert themselves in the hairdressers.

This would annoy me. One of the owners of my salon contacted me and told me that Sarah my usual stylist had left and would I be happy for him to do my hair instead. I agreed even though he was a bit more expensive and I’ve stayed with him ever since - he is brilliant. Sarah eventually came back which was a bit embarrassing at first but there’s no hard feelings.

As an aside, a lot of Autistic people and those with social, speech or language difficulties/disabilities really detest that phrase. It's interpreted as extremely ableist and patronising.

The irony is that they can't tell you to fuck off for being ableist because of the disability.

Whenever a hairdresser I’ve had has left, someone from the salon has phoned and offered a different stylist. Then you can decide whether you want to stay with the salon, or find somewhere new.

I’ve never been to a new stylist and not had a consultation before, about what I want and whether it will work.

It sounds like the wires might have been crossed a bit but also that you missed opportunities to say so. Do you feel intimidated or overwhelmed in that environment? I know it can be hard to speak up. If you want more continuity and a more personal experience might be worth finding a home hairdresser or a smaller salon? Someone you can build a rapport with rather than a bigger salon.

If you booked specifically to see a regular stylist that isn't ok, but if you just booked for a cut at the salon and the stylist has done her job well they haven't done anything wrong. Also, if she has done a good job what is your reason for going back? That you might get someone who isn't so good next time? In which case you could rebook and specify you only want Alice or look for a stylist elsewhere.

They usually have policies about not letting you know how to contact Louise if she's S still in the industry, but always worth an ask as sometimes they will tell you if eg. They've gone elsewhere in the franchise or set up independently. They may not tell you but if so you could ask on local Facebook page if anyone knows where she works now?

As for the senior stylist, in all 4 years I’ve never seen Alice at the salon. Looking on their website she was a trainee hairdresser only 2 years ago and? Maybe she's worked hard to get to senior.

Trainee level 2 or 3 2 years ago she could absolutely be a senior stylist now. She'll have had 2 years to do level 3/advanced cutting and maybe even a level 4. She could well be the manager as well as the head stylist.

Because mystic Alice who appeared out of nowhere and started cutting the ops hair, also immediately disappeared in a puff of smoke to seek out her next victim, before the op could utter the magical phrase "could you take a bit more off please?"

Honestly, people need to take the responsibility when there are miscommunicating with their hairdresser.

Time to start using your words OP.

If you wanted more cut off, then say, "actually, I wanted quite a lot more off than that."

You would have had umpteen opportunities to speak up, but didn't.

Unfortunately mind reading is not actually a module at hairdressing college 😂 bloody should be though!

@NeverDropYourMooncup I agree. Very offensive. To some people it's not as easy as "using your words".
OP I think you should have been told it wouldn't be with who you'd expected at the start.

Ok I get that there were chances for me to say something, as I've said I really wasn't feeling well and was glad to get home.

My AIBU is purely about the phone call I'd received earlier in the week to change my appointment time (that had been booked with Louise 8 weeks ago) surely they should have told me that Louise had left and they had just booked me in with somebody else.

Post on a local fb group and see if you can find out where Louise is now working.

Try and track her down online.

The salon will not tell you she has left hoping to retain your custom by not giving you chance to cancel and find her online. In your situation I’d be annoyed to be put on the spot so I would do my very best to find her online and not return to the salon.

If I found her online I would also post a review saying how good she is!

I just wanted them to tell me on the phone when they changed my appointment time that it would also be with a different stylist.

I’ve searched with no luck, either she’s left hairdressing locally or decided to do something else completely. I suppose with lock down etc I wouldn’t blame her

I just wanted them to tell me on the phone when they changed my appointment time that it would also be with a different stylist. I think they should have done this.

Thank you

They should have told you she had left when they phoned and changed your time

I've never worked anywhere that would just book you in with someone else without telling you

I also agree. Where I go, sometimes the person I've booked with is ill on the day and they call me and say is it ok if Alice cuts your hair instead of Louise.

if someone has left they should let you know and ask if you still want to go ahead with the appointment.

Thank you both, that’s all I was trying to ask. I’m now going to have to start the process of looking for a new hairdresser again