Hairdressers. Why do you do it? Anyone else?

[theworriermum]

I don't know if it's all hairdressers or just my hair type (long, thick, coarse) but unless I'm absolutely prescriptive and borderline stern, they go to town.

Right now, I'm 4 months postpartum, heavier than I usually am and looking tired but my long brunette hair was my saving grace! I walked around with a birds nest in 4th Trimester to give it a break from heat. I straightened it before the cut for the first time and it was gorgeous and healthy. So long, long feathering across my jawline and neck.

I took my eye off the ball not saying 'trim only, no thinning, and please NO dramatic diagonal scissors for feathering'. I did say keep the length and that I liked the existing cut but it wasn't stern enough.

I couldn't see what she was doing at the back but it's clear to me now that she has thinned it without asking. A lot of them do this as I have thick hair but I hate it. At the front I asked for shorter parts to frame my face, which I already had but she has taken it way too far back, I look like a Shetland pony and the most infuriating part.... when she went to feather my hair, rather than trim the existing feathers she angled her scissors away from my face at a drastic angle and before I could say anything she slid them down. I asked her to stop but she said 'it's not even' and kept going, so now between the Shetland pony style side fringe, and OTT angle feathering, my actual hair only starts behind my shoulders. It's so ugly.

I'm devastated tbh. 2.5 weeks on and I still hate it. It's going to take months to grow this out. Last time this happened it took 10 months and I've been growing it and protecting it since.

Why? Why do you do it hairdressers? Anyone else?

I wouldn't mind the Edward scissors hands approach if they knew what they were doing. It's a shame the only person I trust to cut my hair is fully booked for weeks and I only know my window of free time a day or two before being mum of 2.

Oh, OP, I hear you... I hear you so much!

OP I've had the angled back, it's infuriating isn't it OP.
I now cut my short, all one length bob, myself with my sewing scissors.

If I go to the hairdresser's I ask for all one length, and I show them the length I mean.

Same here!! I have long thick course wavy hair where strands are the thickness of cotton but also a lot of it!! I have to pre warn hairdressers about how much I have because it will take longer than average. I’m happiest with a femullet which I’ve had for over 15yrs to help me manage it better. Last one I went to said it can’t be done like that as my hair is too thick and would look silly. I ended up with a feather finish I hated it so much. Don’t tell me how my hair should be I’ve lived with it long enough to know!!
im also 4months post partum with my first 🥰

I'm so sorry you're in this horrible predicament. The only answer I've found is to not go to them. I've worn my hair very long (mid-thigh) for years. The first thing every hairdresser said was, 'Let me give you a nice short young cut.' No. No. And again, no. The last time I went was on my wedding day, having had a rehearsal with the same stylist, who couldn't remember what she'd done. Yes, I took photos. She made such a botch, snipping here and clipping there I was in tears and swore I'd never go to a salon again. And never have. That's almost 50 years ago, so they haven't changed.

Do you wear a swimming cap? It is essential for me.

Change your hairdresser she's obviously not listening and not right for you

Truth is a lot of hairdressers are not very good. Not trained to cut hair properly and their repertoire is very limited. I am a hairdresser , have been for 40 years . Got customers that I've virtually been doing for that length of time. I listen and generally deliver what we've agreed on. I would recommend that if you spot someone with a haircut you like.. ask them who they ve been to , to have it cut.. if they are booked up well in advance, be patient and wait until they can do it.. Good cutters are few and far between.. but they are out there. Good luck finding one and I'm sorry that so many are rubbish

Hi I'm late to this post but just saw your comment and wanted to suggest rosemary oil for hair to you. My ds has a receeding hairline and has been massaging this in a few times a week. He has so much new hair growth! I was skeptical at first but now I'm amazed!

I have short hair. Brown, short hair. The sort of hair you'd think you would struggle to get wrong.
Last hairdresser must have misheard my "cut it around my ears, slightly longer on top, I last had it cut 6 weeks ago" as "I've been cast as a male extra on Peaky Blinders next week"
I've had to buy a Bakers boy cap and everything

I feel your pain… I refused to pay a previous hairdresser, I told her how upset I was that she hadn’t listened and asked her if she’d be happy looking like a poodle. I just got up and walked out. Hairdressers make me so angry when they project their own idea of what they think will suit us and go right on in with the scissors then it’s too late… chop, the hair is gone. I’ve had so many bad cuts over the years because my hair is curly.
I’ve finally found a hairdresser who cuts my hair the way I want it, she never shuts up talking the whole time, and I feel less than relaxed by the end of it, but I put up and shut up for a decent cut.
If it happens again don’t pay, just walk away, they need to learn how to listen to their clients.

This is what I said - it’s a simple as lots of bad hairdressers.

Don't get me started on that half curled with straighteners look. That's fine if that's what you want, but it's as if all the hairdressers I've been to recently can do nothing else. Even well I tell them I want a nice bouncy blow dry, they can't resist getting those straighteners on it. I think they do it just to disguise the fact that the cut isn't very good

I've yet to find a hairdresser who advocates good hair health.
I have long hair and find that when they wash my hair, they scrub in lots of knots, then casually rip my hair when brushing out the mess they made. I have started taking a tangle teaser to gently tease out all the knots - while the staff look at me like I am mad.
My hair rarely knots when I wash it myself. Why do they insist on breaking my long hair which I lovingly treat like silk?

Oh I hate that style, I’ve only had a hairdresser try it once and I asked her to stop. Bring back rollers!

I've got very thick, very coarse hair. Had layers by choice for 30+ years, ace hairdresser for the last 25, no razors, she's the only one I trust. Great at cut/colour. Have grown chin length bob out recently and she actually suggested no layers at the last cut. And she was right. I have moved away but still travel 30+ miles back to her, she just "gets" my hair.

If anyone is near Wigan DM and you can have her details.

I gave up on hairdressers in the end and my hair looks much better, my bank balance healthier. I just get a family member to cut it straight across and sometimes do the sides (or even whole thing myself). I have wavy hair and hairdressers love to put layers in which just made it look even frizzier. I love not having the faff of going and having to look at myself in the mirror and make small-talk. The very last time I went, my hair was cut so short and looked so dreadful, I missed a big birthday party of someone who subsequently died. I regret not going so much but I felt shit and just wanted to hide

As above, I too have long come to the conclusion that it’s a weak apprenticeship structure that’s to blame. Same as in so many industries where the standards have gone downhill; all part of the decline in education and training.

I like that @MTPF has customers too, because that’s what we are, not bloody clients.

If you’re in the north west please message me @MTPF , I’d like to join your (no doubt extensive) waiting list.

I haven’t been to the hairdresser in four years since she accidentally shaved the side of my head. She insisted that’s how she usually cuts my hair when that’s never been the case! After I’d said that and was fighting tears and in shock she went to shave the other side to even it out and I pulled away half way through. I left in tears without paying still had the gown and everything. I had a friend’s dad fix it as best he could (he’s a barber) but still looked awful, mostly because I still have bald patches from illness. I’ve only ever had two hairdressers listen to me and cut my hair beautifully. The rest have done what they want. Usually too busy chatting to listen properly. I’ve given up now and trim it myself and it’s not perfect but I don’t care 🤷🏻‍♀️
I can really empathise with you, having great hair is a big deal and being postpartum you want to feel as good as possible. Sending you huge hugs 🥰

HAIRDRESSER HERE!!
I posted on the other hair post too,

I spent all last night reading this thread and am pretty shocked.

I never ever do any of the things mentioned here,

I have had clients with mega thick hair ask me to thin it out, I always explain that you cant thin it out, thinning scissors should never be used on long thick hair, most of my staff don't even know how to use them , i use mine on short hair sometimes,

I always , always listen,
my salon has around 200 5 star reviews on google ,and a lot talk about how happy they were because we listened, gave them what they want and cant wait to come back .
I have had lots of clients who always said they hated coming to the hairdressers and now they love it ,
My clients book 6 months ahead , and im fully booked 38 hours a week without fail , i very rarely get a cancellation because they know they wont get back in ,if my client cancels if they are ill or accident then i will stay behind or come early to do it.
Can i say that i absolutely love virtually all my clients, and will do anything to make them happy
I will remember what drink you like,and have it sent over while you wait , if you like one biscuit or two ,if you like peanuts or kettle crisps with your G and T !
if you are vegan and want oats milk , your kids name, if you don't want the massage chair on, which flavour can of pop you like

Im up North too in Newcastle , and we are not the cheapest, and when ive put prices up every year nobody leaves.

We are not all terrible ! You just need to find the right person
My apprentices get loads of training, we all go on courses,
There are some terrible hairdressers around, but lots of good ones too
Younger stylists often don't like cutting short hair , and like doing long wave styles

I was taught to blow dry well before GHD time , and often don't need to use the straightener's at all

The very odd time a colour is not perfect, we will tell them we are not 100% happy , and ask if we can tweak it to get it perfect , free fringe trims in between

I advise my clients if they move away when looking for a stylist to tell them what they DONT want, as well as what they do want.
Lots of clients dont actually know how to describe what they want, and it takes experience to work it out

Im very sorry you've all had these experiences, it makes me sad,

ps, we are not all imbeciles….

Made me laugh 😆 sorry xx 😘 my hairdresser is perhaps too “ safe “ for want of a better word .
if I want 2 inches off then I might get a half inch ..they really really like long hair at my salon and the girls ( no male stylists at all ) are all alike , all long hair

Time for a new hairdresser. Mine is absolutely amazing and it's like a day out for me. 6 or 7 months after my ex left I went to her and said give me something new and shorter ( he demanded I have long hair) she put me in middle of room so no mirrors and was very patient when I started crying when she cut and did it inch by inch . You need to find someone who listens to you

Have a look at Brad Mondo ?
Some of his videos are funny but he does also show how to do some cuts

Btw .. I live in Cardiff and would love to restore your faith in hairdressers. I can cut hair and I do listen and never pick up a pair of tongs or straighteners. Totally old school.had an excellent training , which has sustained my 40 yr career. My customers return every time.

I live and work in Cardiff. Id love to restore your faith in hairdressers, but sadly you are too far away... I'm totally old school. I was very fortunate to have an excellent training.. no gadgets to hide crappy haircuts. I learned to cut hair properly and I love the whole experience for me and my customers. Nothing more delightful than seeing someone trot out of the salon with a smile on their face . A plee to all excellent hairdressers. Make yourself known and let's restore faith in the women commenting on this post😊

YES! I found Brad Mondo during lockdown. I was growing out my dyed red hair (that I couldn’t be bothered to keep dyeing) and his YouTube channel kept me looking reasonably OK.

The best hair style I had also evolved into the worst.
I went to a local hairdresser who had a salon at home, she was highly recommended and the idea of it just being me and her made me feel more comfortable (I’ll explain later). I wanted a spiral perm. My hair was long and I fancied the idea of corkscrew curls. It looked bloody lovely.
There is one photo of me like this. It was meant to be a studio photo of our dog as a present for my husband, but no matter how many dog treats we fed him, Bill wouldn’t stay still. The photographer suggested I sit in. I look a mess grinning, in scruffy jeans and a work shirt, grinning and holding the dog (who was always such a handsome boy!), but my hair is fantastic for once.
Then the roots started to grow out. The hairdresser who had done the original perm had moved house, to god knows where. I went back to the one that styled my hair for my wedding , we had barely lived there two years and I spent 4 months of them in a hospital, I didn’t know anyone else. Stupid, stupid,stupid.
I explained the problem and they told me they could fix it easily.
My long corkscrew curls and straight roots came out looking like I had shoulder length tight dreadlocks, and to make matters worse we were getting our passport photos taken.
The hairstyle amused my stepsons no end. But I was so glad when my passport expired. I had it chopped to a pixie cut before they were fashionable.
The other thing that annoys me is the fact that I have a bald patch on my head (the hospital time) from a burn. And I have yet to meet a hairdresser who doesn’t ask how I got the bald patch.