To ask what hairdressers think of 'quiet' customers

[ChicRaven]

I absolutely hate going to the hairdresser.
I have crap hair which is very thin as I approach 40 and starting to get grey streaks in it.
I hate looking at myself in the mirror for ages and I despise small talk.
After telling my hairdresser what I want doing, it's then very silent which sometimes I think she gets irritated by. So what do hairdressers really think of quiet customers and are you also quiet or a chatter when you go to the hairdressers?

I think it would only be awkward if you are just staring back at them in the mirror or something. Do you have a magazine or a book to keep yourself busy? I think you should exchange some brief pleasantries if you don't already, like "How are you?"

I'm very quiet at the hair dressers, I don't think they mind. My old hair dresser said she loved cutting my hair so I assume its fine! I've always wondered if it would be rude to do a bit of scrolling on my phone, I feel like it would be less awkward if I had something to do rather than just sitting there...

@PassingStranger I am not a chatter. I want to relax and not make small talk.

I have this too. I always feel like I have to talk and then I say something that is "oversharing" and then I wish I hadn't. It's a bit hard work. I have no idea what I'm meant to do.

One of the reasons I hate the hairdressers is I hate small talk! I find it really hard work but just have to grit my teeth and get on with it when my hair needs cutting- holidays, what’s on tv, asking for advice on different things re hair (even if you’re not that interested) usually does the job but I’m always relieved when it’s over.

You didn’t ask me but if I had the nerve I’d go on specifically so that I didn’t have to talk to them

I have known my stylist for years and he takes his cue from me. If I am not on a mood for talk he won’t push it.

Don't worry about that.
Worry about the result re your hair.
I'm very similar in these aspects to yourself.

I hate going to the hairdressers. I'm chatty in there but if I had the choice I'd rather be in silence and relax but I have this need to fill any awkward silences

@Catza I was a massage therapist and reflexologist. Clients rarely talked ....they generally instantly fall asleep during reflexology and occasionally if a massage client had something on their mind they would talk once they'd turned over onto their back. Although when I had a reflexology treatment in my new area (Yorkshire) the therapist said that almost everyone chats most of the time!

I stayed for way too long with a hairdresser who gave me consistently disappointing haircuts just because I found her really easy to talk to. I usually find the smalltalk a bit exhausting. My favourite hairdresser ever was one who was upfront right away that he didn't really like to chat much. I loved that. I don't mind a chat at all but being hostage in a chair potentially for hours feels like a lot.

Wish he was my hairdresser @ladycarlotta

I'm blind as a bat with no glasses on (which I don't wear during a cut as it's a short French bob, and they'd get in the way) so I don't have to stare at myself. 😂 I don't mind the chatter though. Often they're just being polite, other times they genuinely seem happy to chatter!

I quite like my current hairdresser as our kids are a similar age, and she loves reading so we have book talk. Other hairdressers have been a bit more awkward, but it's never world ending. You can always ask them questions so it's not you being asked things if they make you feel awkward.

For those who are quiet, do most of you read then or look at your phone?
I would feel a bit awkward about doing that to be honest.

Mine does this too

Surely most hairdressers would welcome a quiet customer in their day. I can't imagine how exhausting it must be to make polite chit chat while trying to work for 8 hours a day.

I take a book. We have the initial consultation, a quick chit chat and then as soon as she start doing my hair I start reading my book. It's not awkward at all.

really? The hairdresser, in this scenario, is someone with a skill you are utilizing, like a mechanic. If you could leave your hair and go off and do something else while it was cut or coloured, I'm sure we would. If you happen to personally gel with them or have kids in common or something that's great but honestly, most people I think (I know I do) see it as a slice of "me time" that I will use to read my book. Some might scroll or whatever but the point is its their time. Small talk is, by definition pretty pointless and at worst, draining. If doing it turns what should be a treat into a bit of an ordeal, it shouldn't be an issue to not.

I don't like looking at my phone in public (we all have our own hangups, I guess). I take a book or newspaper.

If you get the feeling she’s irritated by you change hairdressers and make a point of saying when you book “I’m not very chatty so I’d prefer a stylist who is ok with that” I’m not chatty and I tend to just sit there quietly and read a magazine or look around the salon, if the stylist doesn’t like it that’s not my problem.

Sounds great!

I read a book

There was an apprentice at a hairdresser I went to for years, who had the hide to say getting your hair done is a social occasion and you, the customer, are rude not to want to talk. What she didn't consider an expectation was turning up for work when she was supposed to. No surprise she got the boot.

Silly lass. it's paying for a service and good hairdressers are not only good hairdressers but have some sensitivity too. For instance someone going through a hard time or illness may need to look presentable but not really want to hear a near stranger wittering about their holidays, children and day to day life or talk about themselves beyond pleasantries.

Absolutely. But if this one was scored on sensitivity, she'd have got a minus.

I'm quiet too, I have nothing to say to someone I don't know except initial hair convo. I'll answer the questions (no holidays booked no) but i figure they prefer not having to 'entertain' me, I'm always relieved when the dryer comes out as I know talk is over.