Hairdresser couldn’t cut toddlers hair but charged full price

[Bubblebather89]

I was recommended a hairdresser in my local area to cut my 22 month olds hair. She has a walk in only salon with one of those sit in car chairs for children. She was highly recommend from a mum whose child has ASD and she said she’s great with kids and makes them feel comfortable, is flexible etc etc. Anyway we visited his hairdresser on a number of occasions and all went well. My son sat better than expected so she was able to cut his hair with no issues.

Then last week I took him and it was particularly busy with it being near Christmas. My son decided he didn’t want to sit in the car so we moved to the chair with him on my lap. But he was particularly fussy and crying. After 5 minutes she said she wasn’t able to cut his hair. She had cut some at the back but literally hardly anything, of course I understood and I was fine with her not carrying on and I said no problem we will come back another time. It wasn’t a good time for my son and she had a line of people waiting I completely understood. As I was getting my son into his pram she said that will be £15 please darling, which was the full price of the hair cut normally. I was taken back because I thought she wouldn’t charge me anything as she literally only cut a small amount at the back and the rest of the time was me trying to hold him down as he tried to wriggle away. His hair looked worse than when we came in. Because there was a full salon of people waiting and looking at me I just paid. If I’d known she was going to charge me the full amount I would have expected her to try abit harder to cut his hair and been more patient with him. The whole appointment took around 5 mins so barely any time at all. Should I have paid full price or should she have discounted it/ let me come back and try again?

It's upsetting and frustrating. And, her time is worth money. So yes, she was right to charge.

My point remains that the hairdresser did not provide the service for whatever reason and additionally presumably did not spend the entire length of a normal appointment attempting to negotiate with the child

The owner has a car seat for little customers. I don't understand her business model if she doesn't have patience and distractions when cutting small children's hair she might as well give up. Where I live there was the same business model it was kitted out for young customers and their comfort. I think it lasted a year or two. It's was a lovely idea but like you said it's not profitable and a child's head takes the same time as an adult. I never took my son there for his cut it reminded me of a play centre.

Tbh I think the more professional the barber looks or salon the less likely the child will play up. I've never had any issues with my son he may squirm here and there but that's about it.

OP shouldn’t be expected to tip if the hairdresser only accepts cash… I wonder why that is?? Can’t stand cash only businesses, I pay my taxes why shouldn’t they?

I assume it has more to do with the fees credit companies charge to take payment.

It fair that she charged you you took up time and she is paid for her time. If you don't want to go back so be it, she will have considered that reaction in this approach. There was a queue for her. She will be fine with or without you.

I just don’t believe you did all the moving around and it only took five minutes.

It’s more likely the whole thing took 15/20 but the actual cutting was only 5 as he was so wriggly.

Also, if she felt you weren’t doing enough I suppose she charged you to put you off returning.

It’s a bit rubbish, but next time try and be better prepared?

And the hairdresser would likely make it just as clear that she charges for her time. OP took up an appointment slot. It’s not the hairdressers’ fault that the child wouldn’t tolerate the haircut.

YABU, it would t have been fair to your son for her to keep trying for 30 mins! That would actually have been quite distressing for him when he was already wound up from a 30 min wait.

You don’t pay for people’s time .. you pay for a service that she didn’t receive. It’s not like she’s took up a full day sitting in the chair, she’s took up a couple of minutes.
if the hairdresser was that concerned about her time she could of charged half at least

Why should the hairdresser lose out on money?
This isn't a "bad haircut". This was being physically unable to cut the child's hair because of their behaviour. And the appointment still taking up the hairdresser's time
OP can by all means call up and "insist" they've already paid.
Hairdresser can (rightfully) disagree and additionally refuse to have them back again for being an absolute CF

You absolutely do pay for people’s time. Most employment is based on being available for a certain number of hours. If you were at work and circumstances arose that prevented you from doing your job you’d expect to be paid, wouldn’t you?

I’m going to work on Monday, if I get involved in anything which is too much effort I’m going to refuse to deal with it. Sounds like a good plan to me!

Im afraid you need to write off this barber and find a new one. I couldn’t use her again. According to this thread though she’d be ok because it seems quite a few people have a very low bar when it comes to what they expect from a service.

Not the type of work I do … I would be expected to complete my job that was asked of me. Regardless if it took me longer than expected

What if you couldn’t do it at all through circumstances beyond anyone’s control? You’d just write off your pay?

You are missing the point.

so you’ve walked into a restaurant .. you’ve ordered your food.. it came out cold and burnt.. you take it back.. do you still pay for it because the chef “took time to cook it” no.

she went in for a service she didn’t receive. Regardless of the circumstances.

What I mean is that you turned up as a walk in and asked for a child’s cut which then meant the hairdresser wasn’t free to see anyone else in that time and also that you were agreeing to pay the price of a child’s cut. If the hairdresser starts it but it’s not fully completed in that time / the appointment is cut short solely due to your child or you for whatever reason, I’d say it’s fair to say the initially agreed cost for the service is still payable. I think if the place was dead and she didn’t have anyone else waiting / tuen anyone away, she could perhaps have charged less as a gesture but it was busy and she could’ve given the time to someone else. I think she’ll see it as: 1) customer walked in and requested a child’s cut; 2) I started to do the child’s cut; 3) child couldn’t be made to sit still etc so customer then wanted to only pay for part of it; 4) it’s not my issue that the agreed cut wasn’t finished and I still want to be paid.

I think you just have to chalk it up to a lesson of not going during a busy period.

I think there's only so much a hairdresser can do.

I also think if you went back in January when they are really quiet and asked nicely she'll probably cut it for free or at a discount.

If it takes that long to explain your point then it stopped being the obvious point.

Hairdresser could not carry out the service she said she would. Therefore shouldn’t have expected payment.

She couldn't carry out the service due to her client not cooperating - it wasn't her fault, so she shouldn't lose out because of it.

What? A 22 month old? You kind of have to make exceptions or time. Which she didn’t do either.

If we were talking about an adult cancelling or walking out mid way because they have not organised their time you’d have a point.

I don't see it any differently. Either way, she couldn't carry out the service she was being hired to provide, through no fault of her own.

A 22 month old can’t organise their time and they certainly can’t manage their emotions.

So that’s a huge difference.

How do you know it was no fault of her own? The op literally said she didn’t try and the time was cut short. There is no point making up your own backstory.

Yeah..dissappointing i know , my hairdresser would've discounted a bit i think , but i'm sure all you described was more than 5mins. As it's a no book/walk-in why would you choose to take him when it's so busy???🤪 Any kid is going to react in those circumstances. Fair dues..she had to charge.

I haven’t made anything up 🫣 OP says herself they tried several different things and her child was wriggling and wouldn’t sit still. She managed to get some hair cut at the back but didn’t feel able to carry on.

What was she supposed to do? Continue and potentially injure OP’s DS? Let me get even more fidgety and potentially have a full blown tantrum?

Of course a 22 month old can’t control themselves but that’s not her fault just as it isn’t OP’s fault - it’s just one of those things that unfortunately happens as a parent.