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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To bring 4 month old to the hairdresser with me?

37 replies

Ilovetea42 · 23/04/2023 23:48

I haven't had my hair done since October and I'd really love to get it done this week before baby's christening and our holiday. I know I've left it late so I'd need to take whatever appointment I can get which means I might not be able to arrange childcare as family aren't nearby and dh is working. If I can get a weekend or evening then it's problem solved but I'm guessing these will likely be booked out by now. It normally takes me 2- 2.5 hrs to get my hair done and my normal hairdressers has just closed down so it's a new smaller salon I'd be trying. Is it unreasonable to ask if I can bring baby with me? He is generally very happy to be out and just watch all round him and he seems to like loud noises like the hairdryer at home. He's also breastfed so I can feed him easily under the cape if I need to but he has just in the last week started getting very interested in reaching things and I'm wondering if I'm just being very overambitious... also don't want to make the hairdressers life harder! Has anyone done it before with an almost 5 month old and any tips or should I just avoid altogether and accept that I'll have roots in the pics.

OP posts:
friendlycat · 23/04/2023 23:54

I think you need to contact your hairdresser. Some won’t allow this due to the chemicals that can drop potentially on your baby. Insurance etc. if chemicals were to drop on their arm face etc.

Also it’s not the relaxing experience that others go for. Ringing in advance is your best bet. They may say yes or no. Normally it would be a no.

JMSA · 23/04/2023 23:54

I'm pretty sure that this is commonly not allowed, but I could be wrong so will wait to see what others say.
Hopefully you will manage to get it done, but if not, have you heard of WOW powder? It's really good at hiding greys/roots, so could maybe tide you over.
Hope you have a really special day!

AlltheFs · 23/04/2023 23:58

My hairdresser was fine with it, DD was easy, I just fed her (BF) and she fell asleep in my arms for the duration. But it was off peak and they all had young babies at the time (not at work with them) do we were all in solidarity.

I didn’t take her from 6 months as she was harder to keep content once weaning.

Original poster
Ilovetea42 · 23/04/2023 23:59

JMSA · 23/04/2023 23:54

I'm pretty sure that this is commonly not allowed, but I could be wrong so will wait to see what others say.
Hopefully you will manage to get it done, but if not, have you heard of WOW powder? It's really good at hiding greys/roots, so could maybe tide you over.
Hope you have a really special day!

No I haven't, I'll have a look into it as a backup! My hair has just started falling out post partum so I'm a bit paranoid about it as it is although I'm pretty sure I notice it more than other people would so a bit of a lift would make me feel a bit more confident just!

OP posts:
SarahDippity · 24/04/2023 00:01

My hairdressers, which is a large chain, are totally fine with this. I would call in advance, and a midweek morning when not all stations are manned might be quieter than a busy Saturday.

Chocolateisnice · 24/04/2023 00:03

When my daughter was that age I arranged a hair dresser to come to me... I breastfed in-between and then she had a nap during the second half. Could that be an option?

JMSA · 24/04/2023 00:04

@Ilovetea42

I sympathise, as I shed loads of hair during Covid!

MaydinEssex · 24/04/2023 00:04

Maybe see if there are any mobile hairdressers that can come to you? That way if bubba starts crying etc you won't be annoying other clients

JMSA · 24/04/2023 00:06

MaydinEssex · 24/04/2023 00:04

Maybe see if there are any mobile hairdressers that can come to you? That way if bubba starts crying etc you won't be annoying other clients

This is a good idea. The baby wouldn't annoy me at all OP, but it would be a shame for you not to feel relaxed.

CherrySocks · 24/04/2023 00:10

I did this once many years ago with my baby daughter and had her on my lap while my hair was being cut and all the tiny little hairs landed on her face and I was anxious they had gone into her nostrils and mouth. So I never did that again. (She was fine, she's grown up now). But I got the impression from the hairdressers that bringing a baby with me was not the right thing to do.

Original poster
Ilovetea42 · 24/04/2023 00:11

Mobile hairdresser might work, that's a good suggestion I have never done that before so hadnt thought of it. Only problem is that our shower is currently not working and electrican hasn't been able to pinpoint the problem yet so I've been doing my hair over the bath - I'm assuming they'd need access to a shower for getting the dye out. (This is also why I'm not just doing a box job at home!)

OP posts:
twoandcooplease · 24/04/2023 00:29

My hairdresser was fine with it. I have only had two appointments but the first one she had me in when no one else was and the second she made sure she was on the shops downstairs level that day and I could have ds in the pram.
He breastfeed the majority of the time and watched cartoons eating snacks
The only thing is I always find the hairdressers very cold so take layers/blanket for baby

Nicecow · 24/04/2023 00:31

Depends on the type of place, is it a classy place where people go to relax and unwind? Then the answer is obviously no 🙄

UndercoverCop · 24/04/2023 00:34

If you're having your hair dyed, surely you won't want baby breathing in the fumes? You'll have to call around and get an evening or weekend appointment

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 24/04/2023 00:43

Ilovetea42 · 24/04/2023 00:11

Mobile hairdresser might work, that's a good suggestion I have never done that before so hadnt thought of it. Only problem is that our shower is currently not working and electrican hasn't been able to pinpoint the problem yet so I've been doing my hair over the bath - I'm assuming they'd need access to a shower for getting the dye out. (This is also why I'm not just doing a box job at home!)

Kitchen sink?

SunnySaturdayMorning · 24/04/2023 00:47

YABU. It’s not an appropriate place for a baby. It’s not safe for them and it’s disturbing for other clients.

sjpkgp1 · 24/04/2023 02:17

It is not unreasonable to ask, so just check if you really can't get an appointment when no-one can look after them. I didn't get my hair cut very often when mine were very young, but I can remember going in with a double pushchair when they were 1 and 2 with no childcare options, and they were genuinely loved by all, I did take them full of food and clean nappies, and I had to provide an endless supply of jelly tots meted out at intervals, and they were confined to the pushchair for the duration (probably an hour or so) with some toys occupy, but they were no bother and the other customers loved engaging with them. I always knew that if they decided to kick off I'd be getting my coat and moving out half-cut. Hair dryers and white noise often send them to sleep anyway (especially at 5 months) So yes, I would check, but then if its a yes, I would give it a go x

Snugglemonkey · 24/04/2023 02:53

I am bringing my 4 month old this week. My hairdresser is grand with it. I did the same with my first until he went to nursery.

Oblomov23 · 24/04/2023 02:59

It's not ok. It's noisy and got chemicals and is not a suitable place for a baby. Plus unfair on other customers who may go there for a treat, to get away from their own children, and they shouldn't be subjected to other peoples children.

wildinthecountry · 24/04/2023 03:09

I have to agree that it's not practical from a safety point of view and other clients may not be too happy , as we all tend to go to be relaxed and pampered not to listen to a crying baby . I really wouldn't be happy if this happened to me.

MumsDebt · 24/04/2023 03:35

As much as I sympathise with you, I go to the hairdressers for a relax and pamper and I'd hate it if there was a baby in there who started crying!

IrregularChoiceFan · 24/04/2023 03:40

I took my son into supercuts with me when he was about 10 months but there were no other customers and I was only nipping in for a straight cut which took approx 5 mins. He hated it in there, I won't be doing it again. You would be better getting someone mobile to come to you.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 24/04/2023 03:42

I called my hairdresser (who has two young children herself) and she was fine with me bringing my baby.

Chemicals and bits of hair hadn’t occurred to me. I was more concerned about my hairdresser not wanting the distraction and DD disturbing other customers. The salon I go to is small and expensive so i didn’t want to ruin someone else’s experience. I know that pre-baby, it would have irritated me so I didn’t want to inflict DD on anyone else in that way.

Anyway, my hairdresser said it was fine. She knows her own skills and her other customers so if she was ok with it, so was I.

WhatWouldJeevesDo · 24/04/2023 03:45

Ilovetea42 · 24/04/2023 00:11

Mobile hairdresser might work, that's a good suggestion I have never done that before so hadnt thought of it. Only problem is that our shower is currently not working and electrican hasn't been able to pinpoint the problem yet so I've been doing my hair over the bath - I'm assuming they'd need access to a shower for getting the dye out. (This is also why I'm not just doing a box job at home!)

They might have an attachment for taps. Not all domestic showers would be suitable so they must have some solution.

nats2010 · 24/04/2023 03:54

I rang my hairdressers and asked if I could take my daughter. She is EBF and I had no other choice. They made me feel very welcome. She spent most of her time in the pram,and was only on my lap to feed. At this time, the hairdresser stopped working at my hair to allow me to do this. I know my baby is generally very settled and doesn't cry unless she is unwell. If she had been a more unsettled baby I would have gave the venture second thoughts. You know best what you and baby would cope with, and yes I made my decision taking other customers into consideration. Could you even home dye and then nip to hairdressers for a cut to save you having to spend so much time there while baby is small? It's crap having to take such small tasks such as the hairdressers visit and its like military planning trying to get it sorted out. You deserve to get yourself pampered too, even if it is with a small baby in tow.......wish you good luck getting sorted out and hope you find something that you can manage. Enjoy the Christening and your holiday.