Made to stand and look down during haircut

[Reebokker]

i went to a different salon today
I’ve always had long hair
she said I had to stand up and “look down” for her to cut my hair
it was not a relaxing experience, I also have a bad neck from bad posture / curvature of spine and have to see physio to correct it. I kept saying “this is hurting my neck , I have a bad neck, I have physio on my neck. That I never normally have to stand to have my haircut” . I asked for an adjustable chair
she said the chair would get in the way.
she seemed annoyed with me. I didn’t complain but I won’t go back l. Is this normal ?!

So if your hair is tumbling over the back of the chair back how did they cut it straight?

I have long hair, I hate going to the hairdresser, partly because of the having to stand up thing. I cut my own

Did you explain your issues with your neck ?

It probably took longer than it needed to if you kept moaning and lifting your head up!

you’d complain if it was wonky or “a shit cut”

tipping your head forward to have it cut gives a neater finish when you lift your head back up.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdCL9bAg/

Yes she just wasn’t acknowledging what I was saying

she just said this is how we do it here

Find a new hairdresser imo. If they don't care about your physical discomfort that's a problem.

There are other ways of doing a cut on long hair. They can raise your chair up higher for example, squat or sit down themselves on a small stool.

The back of the chair still gets in the way. If it was a layered cut you’d probably have been able to sit more as they pull up and out but it’s not to do with reaching hair it’s getting the angle right for no long bits underneath. If you look straight on, or the stylist pulls hair towards them to cut (chair in the way) when you lean forward the hair at your crown is shorter than at the back. So you see some unevenness.

You could of asked to talk to the manager. But to be fare it does make sense to get you to stand as you had longish hair

I suspect there’s more to this than what you’ve actually posted , I’ve been working in salons since 14 and qualified since 18 , when cutting hair you need to be sat down legs uncrossed and chin down onto the chest to get a straight even cut this is standard and if you have a look on Google it will explain why the head position effects a cut due to angles etc . If the hair sits over the back of the chair then indeed I would do a cut stood up to get a perfect finish , however that being said if you had stated to me what you had then at that point I would have said unfortunately I can do my best but if you are not in the correct position I will not be able to ensure your cut is fully even are you happy for me to proceed .

was the stylist experienced ? Did you inform her before starting the cut that you had these problems because if this was a salon of good standard and also a chain salon I really am struggling to understand all of this.

Hi, OP - FWIW I have been required to stand for haircuts at Dessange Salons. I think it is part of their technique. The haircuts have been really good!

I saw your post earlier but I am not convenient to a Dessange Salon now so I had forgotten about it. No one ever told me to look down that I recall, however.

PS It should go without saying that no o e should ever coerce you or make you uncomfortable, but I realise that isn’t always easy in the moment

You make some really good points. I agree what you said

That’s your view though. She might of had a normal tone if voice. Or she might be very tired. Be kind!

That isn’t normal. She sounds like a rude and inconsiderate person. You did not deserve to be treated that way. She should have found a different way to cut your hair. I would personally complain.

No, that's not normal at all. Most people go to a salon for a salon experience. My hair is around elbow length so nearly down to my waist and I've never experienced this. The hair goes over the back of the chair.

Be more assertive. If you are in pain then say stop.

in my twenty years of experience and working in many salons until finally owning my own with 4 member of staff under me I can quite honestly say this is “ lazy shoddy “ hairdressing you don’t look at the back of your bottom layers of hair and sides can be cut evenly with no problem as there is no restriction there and hairdressers know this … well anyone knows this as it’s you that cant see it so as said above laziness from stylists who don’t take pride in their work . I’d love to say that’s few and far between but unfortunately it is not .

Had the same hairdresser for 8 years and I always stand for the back and sides cut with my head down. I then sit for my layers, shaping around the front etc.

You say it took 20 minutes, but that you also had to keep stopping. So what could be a shorter cut stood up was elongated with pauses and repositioning.

It's normal for them to check when you stand up but making you stand for the full appointment is absolutely not normal and it's not lazy or shoddy to let your clients sit down at all.

imo many hairdressers and juniors who blow dry are getting less skilled, or less aware of the customer experience, whether it is standing to cut or leaning forward in the chair for them so they can blow dry the front of hair easier.

Yes, I’ve always had to do this. Not for the entire duration though, just the longest length.

ok I’ll just take my experience back to where I came from then as obviously twenty years has taught me nothing at all and I’ve also quite obviously trained the 40 ish member of staff wrongly as well . Thanks for letting me know that really appreciate it .

I never ever had to stand for a haircut, not even for a few minutes and my hair is long.
I always go to the same place and the same woman has cut my hair for 40 years so maybe she's just used to dealing with my hair.