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?

I reckon 50% of the time Im unhappy with the result. Mostly due to hairdressers obsession with layers. M

My haircut before last was at my usual place but with a different hairdresser. I showed her what I wanted, an actual photo of me, and pointed to where I wanted my collarbone length to be, thought we were in the same page.
I have never been worried about how much has been cut off as they are usually much more cautious to go from bra length hair to too short, so I usually get it a bit longer than asked for.

Until this time.

It was when she was cutting at the back I thought, wait a minute, this feels higher up than normal. So I mentioned it, she said collarbone length & I said yes, and she continued. But my spidey senses were tingling and when my head was upright I said that it was a lot shorter than I was expecting, and she said collarbone length is here pointing at the very top of them, not where everyone else has cut to, at the bottom. To be fair, the cut was lovely, but I couldn't put it up, one thing I always stipulate, to be able to put it up. She wasn't apologetic at all. I paid for the cut & went. Everyone said it was nice etc but it wasn't what I asked for.
I went to another hairdressers as they had a really good offer on with a trainee and she did a wonderful job, and have been back there since. Not sure I'd go back to my original one tbh.

Yes I’ve had many a scissor happy hairdresser. Nowadays I am very firm about how much they are to take off (or rather how much not to take off).

I have had some absolutely terrible hairdressers over the years and none were cheap!

I have my hair pretty short but tell hairdressers that if they cut it too short it stands on end like Rod Stewart. Do they listen? No, they cut it too short and then say something like "oh yeah your hair does stand on end"!

I like a choppy fringe which seems just about impossible for any of them to do so I have to take the scissors to it myself when I get home.

To the PP that asked what I said when she was done which I read further down, I said 'thanks!' and went to pay. I knew it was far too short at this point but I am faaar too awkward to actually say anything and it definitely looks worse since being home and washed. The awkwardness is another reason why I hate going to the hairdresser really - I'm too awkward to say when it's too short (not that there'd be much point!) and I feel kind of awkward the entire time anyway.

Anyway, update, I've curled it a bit now and it looks better (in terms of the layers that don't suit me). The length still has me grieving but it definitely looks a bit better with curls in. HOWEVER, I'm wanting it to grow as fast as possible and now worried that if I do regularly curl it that the regular heat use will stop it growing as quick? (Is this a myth?!?!? )

37 years on the planet, and I’ve had, I think, a total of 2 haircuts that have achieved what I want.

Whether it’s length, style, colour or - as someone else said - done to time (booked massively ahead, deadline to leave specified and triple checked!) I’m almost always left somewhere between unsatisfied and almost-crying. Okay, once I did actually cry.

YANBU!

It will soon grow back. It grows from the roots, not the ends, so the curling won't affect anything. Rub your fingernails together for 10 mins a day and get the hair gummis from Holland & Barrett if you want to expedite things.

Omg that's awful!
I've had hairdressers do this too, I'm lucky I have longish thick quite 'easy' haor. I can now cut my own since I learned in lockdown .

@lieselotte thank you!!

I totally get you about just saying “thanks” and paying. My last visit had me thinking “you’ve left stripes like I’m a zebra” but what I said was “that’s lovely. Can I pay by card?”

Only once has a hairdresser corrected my hair before I left, and that time was because little disobedient droplets were escaping my eyes.

Just take in a photo of what you want.

@TakeMeToKernow thank god it's not just me. DP is saying 'you should message and complain if you're so unhappy!' but I feel like I don't have a leg to stand on because I thanked her and said nothing before happily paying (even if I felt comfortable messaging anyway, which I wouldn't )

I know exactly how you feel.

I had waist length hair in my teens due to the awful cuts I had as a kid. When I finally plucked up the courage to go to a hairdressers I asked for 2 inches off and even explained how scared I was. She cut 8 inches off, I didn't get my hair cut for years again after that.

Your hair might still be long to some people, but that's not the point, it's your hair and it's not how you wanted it. You are not unreasonable to be upset at all.

For me it's often that they cut it wet, so when they take 4" off, when it's dried it looks like more because it bounces up.

I once left dd having her hair cut from about bottom length to shoulder length. When I came back in to pick her up I said as a joke. "I thought you just wanted a trim". The entire set of hairdressers turned round with horror on their faces. 🤣🤣🤣

She had 3 feet off last time she had it cut (it was ankle length when wet) and we measured it when wet to work out how much to say she wanted off, which worked better for her.
She likes to let it grow really long, then have it cut back and she donates it.

Maybe I’m naive because my hair is wavy, which can hide any unevenness, but for people with properly long hair, is it not easier just to pull it over your shoulders and trim it in front of a mirror or get your partner / a friend to do it?

I’ve literally never had my hair cut in a hairdresser’s. Mainly because it seemed a waste of money for something I can do myself, but from this thread it also seems like the safer option!

@PurpleParrotfish I think you're absolutely right. DP is being recruited to dry cut it next time

I was left with this monstrosity a few years ago. Just a random chunk cut out at the front. I had to go elsewhere and pay again to get it fixed.

It was also super fucking stripy.

This is why I’ve not been to a hairdresser for a year.
Due to health reasons my hair is very slow to grow.
Every time I get it almost long enough to tie up, I end up getting scalped.
I’ve tried various ones and ask for just the ends tidied and always end up with hair 3 inches shorter.
And I then have to start growing it again, which upsets me every time I look in the mirror.

Last time I had mine cut I asked if he could put a few long layers in for texture. He took the scissors and literally cut a layer at half my hair length. Wtf. By that time it was too late for it to be reversed so I just let him finish, hoping it would look ok when it was done. It doesn't. I'm now growing it out, wearing it up most of the time as it looks shit.

I also told him that as I run it needs to be long enough for me to tie back. Of course it isn't and I've spent the last few weeks running with it flying in my face. Why don't they bloody listen?!?

Always happens to me as well. It's annoying as hell. I ask for two inches off and she cuts more like 3 or 4 off. They never listen.

Hah! You think this will guarantee success, my sweet summer child?

@FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee Bloody hell. What was their response to that?
Your hair is beautiful by the way but someone did a good number on you there 😔

@eurochick @PinkRiceKrispies thank god it's not just me who has experiences with hairdressers never listening. (And NO, this is not ALL hairdressers, I'm sure some ARE great!) but yes, there is definitely too many hairdressers (for this amount of people to have similar experiences) who just seem to think they know best and not listen to a persons wishes.

I think sometimes they take more off as the hair needs it (bad condition) and they don't want to send you off with scraggy hair with their name on it as it makes them look crap...though they should do what you ask really.
When I get mine cut now I first thing I say is no feathers no layers, no thinning ha ha.

Sympathy op. I learned how to cut hair adequately in lockdown and both my dc want me to cut theirs now because I listen to what they want.

My experience is that even if the first cut is to the agreed length, there’s a lot of mouse and cheese nibbling that goes on.

But recently I’m having the opposite problem- I want mine bobbed and my hairdresser is reluctant to do anything but graze the ends with her scissors.

I think they’re just contrary.