Crying and walking out of hairdresser

[Calmondeck]

I don’t usually place much importance on haircuts but today’s was a big one. My first haircut post brain surgery. I was partially shaved for the operation so have rocked a very misshapen head for the past 8 months. Now I have multiple bolts holding my skull together, and I guess the psychological significance of getting to cut off all of this old hair that remains and starting afresh 8 months on felt big. I researched top hairdressers in my city and booked aiming to make it a special afternoon. I explained to them in advance the scaring and bolts issue. I arranged childcare.

After 4 hours, an hour of which was spent waiting for the hairdresser, and an hour waiting with wet hair while they forgot about me at the sinks… i just got quietly teary, realised I had to leave in order to cross the city and make it home to breastfeed my baby before bed…

now walking through the city with wet hair so disappointed. First world problems I know.

was I ABU for leaving?

Having worked in the industry for many , many years I have never heard of such a thing! Did reception not say anything when , with wet hair , you removed your gown and collected your coat ? They just ignored you walking out ?
Definitely name and shame and complain 'loudly' either in person or in writing.

YANBU
Leave them a really shitty google review

My memory is awful but... Is that Heaton way? I miss Newcastle!

It’s not first world problems OP you’ve been through a harrowing ordeal with your health. This is not good enough- make a formal complaint. Awful service. Hairdressing is so fucking expensive and overpriced as it is at least you can expect timely service & not waiting so long. But they were incredibly insensitive too- you explained your situation. If they were running behind they should have explained/apologised or made it up to you some how. Write a bad review & complain. They can’t get away with this this time nor in the future.

Having explained the importance of that haircut to them, those people were absolute trash to have treated you that way.

How could they forget, you were sitting there in plain sight?

Not many posts make me really angry but this is one of the worst.

You definitely need to make a formal complaint.

howbizzare22,
Hairdressing is not overpriced, folk have got very used to having it cheap for so long,
Can i ask why you think it is overpriced? Do you think that we ( mainly women) should not earn very much ?
Overheads and product cost is high, and i want to pay my staff properly .

We don't owe anybody cheap hair, Hairdressers have been undervalued for decades, and have been undercharging for too long, thankfully things are changing so we can finally be paid properly for the work we do.
I got asked if we did NHS discount recently by a client who was a surgeon…
I mean,no! Im not going to earn less standing on my feet for 10 hours a day so a surgeon on many times my income can have a cheaper price

I am booked out 3 months ahead with lovely clients who value me . and are happy to pay and never say anything when the prices go up.

It is a luxury service , and people are free to prioritise spending where they like
That does not make us overpriced, It means you would rather spend your money elsewhere which is absolutely fine !

You were so brave going on the first place after all you’ve been through.
Im so sorry you were treated like this. Find another hairdresser and try your best to forget the awful experience but make sure the other hairdressers knows how appalling they treated you-if you can’t tell them, ask a friend or family member to tell them.

Thanks so much for the messages 💛

I laughed at home when my 2 year old looked baffled at my exact same hair and offered me a haircut with his craft scissors.

I’m going to give it 24 hours and if I haven’t received some kind of communication from them then put something in writing. They definitely made a fuss when I arrived, it’s like they’d briefed everyone on the situation, but then there was obviously some kind of communication breakdown between reception / colourist / washer / cutter…

I explained in advance to them my injuries not just to save some poor apprentice at the sink the shock of feeling different bits of skull pieced together, but because I had to relearn how to speak post surgery and my brain is still switching speech on/off unpredictably.

This is what made me saddest, I was conserving energy just being patient and could appreciate how bustling the salon was on a Friday, but when I realised I would have to leave, I also lost speech, so embarrassingly I had to mime to them that I was leaving, had to feed my baby, etc.

My DH is trying to cheer me up rejoicing that the shaved rockstar look turned disheveled washed-up rocker look lives to see another day.

Sending hugs to all those other posters with post-cancer or post-surgery stories too.

Please don't worry about how you appeared, or that you lost your speech. It was a distressing experience, and it's good that you've found humour in the situation!
I hope that you got a good response from the salon.

Being kept waiting for so long and then being left waiting again with wet hair is terrible under any circumstances but knowing your situation makes it doubly bad. I haven’t read every reply from PP’s so I’m sorry if you’ve already said but what was their response when you left or did you just walk out without saying anything? I certainly wouldn’t blame you if you did

What a horrific way to treat you. I'm so angry on your behalf.
As a OP said, if you're able to share your rough geographical location, perhaps some of us will be able to recommend a nice, understanding and more professional hairdresser.

Oh OP, this was so sad to read, I’m so sorry ☹️ if you’re anywhere near Thanet, my hairdresser is absolute wonderful (proper salon in her own home), she would take excellent care of you (and you can bring your baby!) 🩷

I cut DH's hair for a long time after his brain surgery, although I didn't really know how to cut hair. I really wish that cancer centres (especially where head surgery is involved) would offer this service. It seems like something they could do well, and we would have happily paid for a haircut by someone who was experienced with head stitches and scars.

OP - I don't know where you live but I can definitely recommend my hairdressers so feel free to PM me if you want. I too have a few issues following illness and I have always been treated with kindness and dignity... including by the teenage juniors who one might think wouldn't yet have the maturity to know how to deal with the situation. Overall the experience is definitely enjoyable and relaxing and I always leave feeling better about myself than when I went in. Hope you get sorted soon and have the lovely experience you deserve.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. The people who work in the salon should be ashamed of themselves for dropping the ball in this manner. I'm shocked, frankly, no one has reached out to you or tried to apologise at the time!

It just reminds me that it's become a norm in hairdressers to leave you waiting around. I absolutely hate that with a passion as I don't enjoy the experience at all. I've moved hairdressers a few times to find someone who will cut quickly and get me out.

The experience you had was absolutely dreadful and you were right to walk. I think a mobile hairdresser might be great for you. You deserve a gentle experience.

Leaving people with wet hair etc is indicative of the salon owner trying to cram as many clients as possible into a short time to make more money. It is a disgusting way to treat people and I can think of one particular salon near me that does it.

Put something in writing to them and then find another salon. I'm so sorry OP, this was a horrendous experience. I hope you find an experience with a bit more heart soon.

But well done you for even going and being so bloody brave! You're a warrior!!

No you fucking were not unreasonable! I actually feel like crying for you, what a horrible experience after all you've been through.

Someone's arse needs a good kicking.

They were awful OP and that shouldn't of happened.

However I do think next time to book late morning in the week as that seems to be the quietest times for hairdressers, I think you need to be in a calm environment the first time. Or look at a mobile hairdresser for the first time so you feel comfortable at home, can breastfeed baby when you need to ect..

Don't put yourself under more pressure because you think you need to. I found going hairdressers quite stressful when breastfeeding because you have to schedule it in.

Did you call out after ten minutes whilst you were sat with wet hair?

Ten minutes would be far the longest time I would be kept waiting.

@duckcalledbill

I think this is a really unfair comment when @Calmondeck has already clearly explained some quite specific circumstances that logically may cause an emotional / confidence burden.

Oh op that’s so rubbish of them. I’m anxious to book my first hair appointment following head surgery (much more minor than yours). Agree with previous posters who suggest a personal recommendation of a hairdresser would be better than a ‘posh’ salon. Name and shame them if you feel up to it!

What’s going on with hairdressers. The last 3 I have tried have been shit too.