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Original poster

AIBU to be angry my hairdresser took so long?

136 replies

Porridgeaddiction · 03/09/2022 20:10

I just need to vent. I'm just feeling really frustrated.

Went to get my hair cut this morning, It was a half head of highlights and a trim. My hair is fine and shoulder length, so definitely not a lot of it.

My appointment was at 11, the girl took until 12 to do a half head of foils, then said she'd leave it in 45 minutes and went to do her next client. Over an hour later she came to check on my foils, got the Saturday girl to wash it (another 5 minutes later) then I was sat for another 20 minutes before she came to do the cut. I asked her not to blow dry it as I said that my parking ticket was due to expire and left. At this point it was 2 o clock.

By this time I was so hungry and just angry that I had been sat without any attention for so long during the appointment. I have a young baby, so it's rare that I get out on my own to do appointments like this and the way I'm feeling now I don't want to ever get my hair cut again. I just feel like my whole day was ruined.

Am I being silly?!

OP posts:
Apollonia1 · 03/09/2022 22:18

I've very long hair and get a full head of highlights and cut and blow dry.
It takes about 6 hours!
I HATE going to the hairdressers. Who wants to sit in a chair for 6 hours? If I've childcare booked for 6 hours, there's a lot more interesting things I'd want to do than sit in a chair. Having days that, it's been about 8 months since I got my hair done, so need to suck up another day stuck immobile in a chair.

alliwantissleeeep · 03/09/2022 22:18

And I do think it feels like time wasted when you have nothing to read, nothing to drink and you're just sat there. I absolutely get why you're frustrated. It doesn't sound like it was relaxing or anything.

PumpkinPie2016 · 03/09/2022 22:19

I think that's about normal.

Foils can take a while to put in and then have to be left so that the colour can 'take'.

I went to the hairdressers this morning at 9.30am for a colour +foils and a cut (graduated bob cut) and blow dry. I left at around 12 which I thought was good.

I don't mind it though - a few hours of peace/brew/bit of gossip 😁

Fancylike · 03/09/2022 22:23

YANBU but I am biased due to getting a rare blowdry this week and the stylist took so long! Seemed to not know how to work a brush through my medium length, dead straight hair and somehow got it all knotted up. I decided to leave after 110 minutes, she was only halfway through and my scalp was itching from the constant heat.

Suzi888 · 03/09/2022 22:24

YANBU…..
If, as in my experiences sometimes and I don’t know what it is (they pull the huge electric thingy out over your head and heats the foils) so it accelerates the colouring process- and hence the time you leave. I can take anywhere from an amazing 90 mins approx to bloody 3 hours.

Seriously, sitting on your ass, bolt upright, needing a pee, for three hours IS NOT BLISS!

Gwenhwyfar · 03/09/2022 22:26

You have a complicated hair appointment at 11 so it's obvious that it will cut into lunchtime to some extent isn't it?

RainWindandSnowFlakes · 03/09/2022 22:27

I used to go every 4 weeks to a hairdresser, roots one time, cut, roots colour the next, I was there all day, no matter what time I went in, it would be about 5 by the time I left…
I think they just got used to be me being there, and thought I wouldn’t mind waiting, reading magazines and my kindle.
Eventually I resented wasting a whole day, and found somewhere new. ( plus it annoyed me their younger staff, stood around chatting and the place was really dusty in places ) 😂
My hair missed them though, as they were very good

SucculentSunshine · 03/09/2022 22:28

Next time take snacks and a book and enjoy the three hours of peace!
I love it when my hair takes hours.

Gwenhwyfar · 03/09/2022 22:28

"Seriously, sitting on your ass, bolt upright, needing a pee, for three hours IS NOT BLISS!"

There is always a toilet!

Bagzzz · 03/09/2022 22:34

BIWI · 03/09/2022 21:11

@Bagzzz

Why can't you wear your glasses? They're only doing your hair!

Show quote history

I get asked to remove for the cut, then don’t want to get the arms dirty with the colour. I remember having a cut during the short time I had contacts and it was great.

Rupertgrintismyguiltypleasure · 03/09/2022 22:46

timing is why I hate hairdressers, haven’t had my hair cut for 7 years because it stresses me out... hey talk to each other too much, my hairdresser has a knack for stopping 50 times to do random things. The only reason I kept going to her was because she’s the only one who can do something constructive with my wayward hair. She just takes fucking ages.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/09/2022 22:49

That's a ridiculous length of time for an appt. I have the same and I'm done in 1hr 40.

Apl · 03/09/2022 22:50

I find it takes aaaaaages when they do both colour and cut because they book in another appointment for while your dye is setting and unless everyone’s perfectly on time with your and her washes and treatments then timings are going to slip.

Sympathies, I too found this out the hard way with 3 hrs in hairdressers. I now never book colour at same time as cut!

BeachTree · 03/09/2022 23:00

Have had similar experiences too. As mentioned, it might take the sting out slightly if you were at least offered a nice coffee/bicscuit or magazine. Pre-covid my hairdresser used to offer a range of drinks which were served with a biscuit, but since covid, they firstly stopped serving any drinks as were the rules at the time, and now only serve a cheap and nasty coffee (one cup if you are lucky!) They no longer offer or ask if you'd like another drink or a glass of water or magazine. The last time I went, I had my hair washed, and was left sitting at the sink alone for about 20 minutes while hey finished up their other client, wouldn't have been so bad if I'd been offered a drink or at least updated, 20 mins is a long time to sit with dripping wet hair at those washing bowls which aren't comfortable - It feels like a chore rather than a relaxing, pamper as man have mentioned.

Scepticalwotsits · 03/09/2022 23:01

yanbu. It’s not just hairdressers though a lot of service in service and hospitality industries is slow. It’s not because of slow staff (although in some it is). Businesses are understaffed to squeeze out as much profit to the detriment of service. We just accept it

dottiedodah · 03/09/2022 23:07

I just colour my own hair .cut as well. Have done for ages. Hate sitting in HD feel uncomfortable and just a waste of time

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 03/09/2022 23:13

I feel your pain. I have recently changed hairdresser as the amount of time sitting around waiting was just getting ridiculous.

He also LOVED to talk but couldn't cut and talk at the same time! I said several times in my last 2 appointments that I had a limited time on my car but it made no difference. So I have left and gone to another hairdresser who does my hair with minimal faff!

Whataplanker · 03/09/2022 23:20
  1. Use their loo!
  2. Ask for a drink if you don't get offered one
  3. Always take something to read for colour appointments and deffo put your specs back on while your colour is developing. I'm-10.00 so couldn't sit there blind for all that time!
  4. I have had to dash to the car park with foils in and cape on to put another ticket on the car.
Gwenhwyfar · 03/09/2022 23:25

"I get asked to remove for the cut, then don’t want to get the arms dirty with the colour."

It comes off easily.

mrsfollowill · 03/09/2022 23:42

I have a mobile hairdresser who comes to my house- It takes 3 hrs on the dot to do my highlights/colour/cut/style and I have it done 3 times a year - costs £55 each time. She has been coming for the last 15yrs we get on very well and have coffee and cake while my hair is in foils- I go to the loo etc as and when.
I used to go to a salon but it cost £95 in 2005 for the same look I get now.
When it shut down I panicked a bit but I'm far better off now. Look for a better option there will be one! and if you live in Yorkshire or Lancashire PM me.

kitcat15 · 04/09/2022 07:38

Moonshine160 · 03/09/2022 21:05

3 hours for that is completely normal.

For highlights, cut and blow dry at my hairdressers usually takes about 3.5 hours. Just sitting there without a toddler pulling on me is bliss.

No its not completely normal at all 🙄.... 1.5 hrs max for half head, cut and blow is normal

noclothesinbed · 04/09/2022 08:09

My daughter has highlights and she's there 3 hours minimum. Maybe it was just the lack of communication and you just felt left there without them explaining what was happening

Beautiful3 · 04/09/2022 08:43

When i used to get foils, it took 3 hours too. Why did you expect it to be quicker?! If they put a heat lamp over you, that can speed it up.

Puppypads · 04/09/2022 08:54

I hate hate hate going to the hairdresser. It's so long and boring! And expensive!! I highly recommend finding someone who will come to your house. Much quicker, and they can do the kids while your foils are in. Plus you can have your own coffee and stick a wash in. Much more efficient !!
Anyway YANBU OP it's insanely annoying.

Baconking · 04/09/2022 08:58

My hairdresser only has one client per stylist at any one time, probably partly due to space but it does mean not waiting around for them to finish another client before they get back to me and I can have a colour, cut & blow dry in 90 minutes.

I would look elsewhere for next time OP, I would be less than impressed sitting for 3 hours and not offered a drink!