To think this problem is too common with hairdressers?!

[treeru]

I'm angry at hairdressers today (sorry to group you all together, lighthearted! )

But honestly, I went to the hairdresser yesterday and asked for about 4 inches off and they've took about 8. I'd make clear that I didn't want it too short either (as it was waist length) and it's at my collarbone.

It just frustrates me that it's not the first time it's happened to me and I bet a lot of others have a similar story. I feel like some hairdressers just don't listen at all when it comes to length.

1. AIBU to be angry about this and be close to swearing off hairdressers? (Lighthearted - ish)
2. AIBU to be as upset as I am about this? (This isn't lighthearted, I'm genuinely upset at how much has been taken off and can't even look in the mirror and it's just making me feel so down knowing there's nothing to be able to fix it other than wait years for it to grow back)

and
3) anyone else got a bad haircut story to share to lighten my mood today?

If your hair was waist length and now sitting at your collarbone, having had 8 inches taken off, you must be very short-waisted.

No, I've never had that problem. My hairdresser has always done what I wanted. Did you explicitly tell them you wanted just 4" off? Did you not watch as she started cutting?

I'm really wary of hairdressers for the same reason. The one I have now is expensive as she owns her own salon, but she's great and talks me through how much she is cutting off etc I can't stand it when they get scissor happy.

Twice in my life I've walked out of a hairdressers with my long hair cut short, like actually short, a bowl hair cut that I didn't ask for! Also got an Anthea Turner hair cut with ginger highlights once that I didn't ask for either. I don't why these things keep happening to me 🤷🏼‍♀️

@RosesAndHellebores I am absolutely GUESSING amounts I wanted it to under my boobs and it's now a couple inches under my collarbone.

My description was iffy in my moment of dramatisation I think but it was definitely 4 inches more than I said off I think still

I usually have the opposite problem, ask for two inches off and get barely one!

But how on earth did you get that much cut off and not say anything?!

Turns out I'm not good at estimating in inches
But yes, was at my waist, asked for it just under my boobs and it's just below my collarbone

Time management is the thing that pisses me off

How did you not notice at the time?

@Unbridezilla it was all cut behind me besides the last bit of the sides so I didn't realise it was shorter than I'd wanted until the very end of the cut

If you are guessing amounts, perhaps they were too. I usually indicate where I want my hair to land when dry during the consultation.

But collarbone length hair is very wearable and lovely, I'm sure it'll look great once you have gotten used to it.

This. It’s bad enough it takes 4 hours without starting 20 minutes late and being left sat for chunks of time too.

Well, once they've started cutting, it'd already too late isn't it?

I've been going to the same hairdresser for years and have never been given a cut I didn't want.

It's just got me very upset and very dramatic DP thinks I'm being ridiculous. The length just doesn't suit me at all though. I felt I was already being brave bringing it from my waist to just under my boob line!!! So to take several more inches after that has just made me distraught. Maybe I'll get used to it and get over it

You need to make a real thing about how you hate having much cut off before they start. If you want to lose 4 inches you tell them no more than two. If you want a trim you tell them only the very ends off.
My hairdresser thinks I'm practically phobic about it being cut because I've made such a song snd dance about it and now takes the exact amount I want, going to great trouble to check with me first.

Never had this happen , I’ve had a fair few hairdressers at the same salon. Discussion always goes along the lines of “I’d like 3inches off “ . Hairdresser lifts hair , shows where that would be in her opinion and gets confirmation before the first cut .

All of them have said that customers will tell them how many inches and then have a very different view of what that actually looks like in terms of hair length for some reason , did you both not confirm this before the cutting started ?

You think they chop off less.

If they cut off more you have to visit the hairdresser's less - less money for them....

@Theraffarian I didn't even try and use inches when explaining as I know I'm shit, just pointed to wear I'd like it and indicated with my hand! Clearly must've been miscommunicated though

Next time show them where you want it cutting to, rather than in inches. Nobody can estimate inches (or the size of fish) correctly. I wonder why 🤔

I've had this happen on multiple occasions; it's like they can't help themselves! I get my DSis to trim my split ends now; she just takes an inch off. I don't have layers or anything, I just like to have long hair with an occasional trim to get rid of (some) split ends. I think hairdressers hate any split ends hence then cutting off more than you ask for.

I fucking hate this about hairdressers too. I don’t go anymore cos of it. Bad enough whne they say ‘oh no you deffo need more than thta off’ ok hun, but it is MY HAIR. But worse when they just take it upon themselves to do it!

Do you have photos?

I've had fabulous hairdressers over the last 25 years or so - I went this morning, fabulous cut.
Outside of the two recent hairdressers, for ages I've had variations of an asymmetric cut, very long on one side at the front.
On two occasions I've had people carefully cut it keeping to the existing style, and then at the very last minute snip the long bit at the front off 😮

I am sure it looks lovely. Next time say "level with my bra strap".

Perhaps she got confused with under and over? Perhaps she was trying to be complimentary. Under my boots would vary hugely depending on if I was wearing a bra. Heavens to Betsy, under my boots could mean near my knees!

You will get used to it. And most importantly, it will grow.

Boobs.

I had this problem myself and it's extremely annoying. Eight years ago I could sit on the ends of my hair but after a house move and not being within easy reach of my previous salon (who always cut my hair exactly how I wanted) I decided to try a small local salon, and asked for an inch off the bottom of my hair. I didn't have my glasses on when the hairdresser cut into my hair and was extremely displeased to end up with hair cut to bra-strap lenth despite it mot needing anywhere near that much cut off !
I haven't been back to the local salon since and have reverted to a different banch of the same salon that I 'd previously used, even if it does mean a bus journey and a train journey to get there and a hefty salon bill each time. I now go religiously every three months to keep the split ends under control, and have got my hair back to a nice healthy waist length.
As I'm an OAP I also find it annoying that a lot of folk - hairdressers included - seem to think it odd that a woman over 30 should still be wanting to grow her hair long. My 92 yr old mother, who has had short hair all her life, thinks I should have my hair cut to shoulder length but I've told her very firmly NO WAY!
I reccommend you ask around for salon and hairdresser reccomendations from friends with long hair, to find someone who isn't scissor-happy.