To think that a lot of hairdressers lack social skills, etiquette and basic boundaries?

[ChairSideManner]

I’ve had some lovely ones but honestly too many don’t seem to know how to read the room. From oversharing about their own lives, to asking way too personal questions or assuming you want constant chit-chat when you clearly don’t. Some even make borderline inappropriate comments or treat the appointment like a therapy session for them.

I get that hairdressers are in a people-focused role but shouldn’t social awareness be part of the job?

I am sure some are, but " a lot" is pushing it, I've never encountered any of these issue with any of my hairdressers. You've just been unlucky because it's not the norm.

If you've had some lovely ones why don't you see them rather than going to 'lots' of hairdressers?

Ugh Can’t stand the chit chat, don’t enjoy talking random nonsense when having my hair done - took me ten hairdressers to find one who actually understood that.

A bit of chat's ok, but by the time she puts the hairdryer on, I can't hear anything anyway 😕

I’ve always found the opposite honestly! I’m always amazed that they mange to maintain polite chitchat all day long.

No, most I’ve encountered are sociable, know how to make conversation with lots of different types of people (not easy) and trustworthy

Well… yes? No. Maybe?
Anyway.
Tea first.

OP's disappeared.

As a man I only need to say "grade 3 on the sides and the back, trim on top" and then "thank you looks great" at the end. We really do have it easy!

I went to one before Christmas who told me she would leave my hair longer at the front away from my jawline as ‘obviously I wouldn’t want folk looking at my face’.
I was too shocked to say anything but then she cut the front level with my jawline 🙄
Definetely won’t be going back to her again!!

That is awful! Some people don’t half talk tripe. I hope you’re not offended

I had one who told me at great length about her MIL in language I would never use.
It didn't make for a pleasant experience and I didn't go back.

That totally depends on your barber though.

My son's barber spills everything from the dramas with his latest boyfriend, to how worried he is about the mucus coming out of his cat's eye!

I'm kind of invested myself now, and often ask my son for updates 🤣🤣

I was at the time but can laugh about it now. Just wish I was brave enough to leave a review on her page as the haircut is absolutely awful and all uneven so I will need to get it fixed now!

Most hairdressers have brilliant social skills. However, I will admit that my experience is limited as I have been going to the same person for about 20 years! However I hear her and the other wonen in the salon chatting to their clients, and i wouldn't say any of them had poor social skills. Even the apprentices are pretty good and do their best.

I see your hairdresser and raise you my masseuse.

She's an excellent masseuse, but she doesn't half rabbit on whenever she's given half a chance.

I knew one that habitually ran 45 mins - 1hr behind just through gabbing. I used her twice and the second time after i eventually got in the chair she actually stopped what she was doing four or five times to finish her sentence.

Never used her again, boiled my blood.

@ChairSideManner i tend to take my laptop and work. Tends to avoid the random chit chat.

Men's barbers are the same - I don't watch the crap on TV that they want to talk about, I don't do football, and I'll not engage with low-level sexism or racism. Once they've tried all those, we can proceed in the quiet I prefer ✂️💇💈

I go for a massage to relax, I don't want to say a word, just lie there. Once they get familiar and start chatting away, asking all sorts of questions, my head's in a spin, it's a waste of £40. Then I have to find another masseuse and start all over again with the silence, until the dreaded questions 🙄

This won’t end well.

To be honest, I hate going to the hairdressers for this very reason. Small minded chit chat (gossip) which I don’t get involved in and wanting to know every detail of everyone’s lives then pass that on to the next client in the chair. All while taking 4-6 hrs to do my hair because of chit chat… it’s a hard no from me. I avoid as much as possible now.

No you just don't want to chat to them

I agree with the very first reply you had.

YABU

They seem pretty clued up to me. They shut up pretty quick if that’s my mood. The only thing I hate is when they are constantly looking at what their mates are doing or around the room. They have one chance with me. But I’ve gone back to my old hairdresser 80 miles from home after trying FIVE London stylists. The only one I liked moved to Newcastle.

I'm 66 and have never met a hairdresser who lacked social skills, etiquette or basic boundaries (and I've been to a lot of hairdressers over the years). However, unlike many MNers I am quite happy to chat to others and make small talk rather than retreat into my own little shell.