... but when I go to the hairdresser I do not want a head massage!

[frankie3]

I went to the hairdressers yesterday and while washing my hair they put the conditioner on and then started a very slow, intense head massage. I was not in the mood for this! And I am not into massage anyway. I felt that I could not ask her to stop as that would have been insulting to her.

....urgh makes me feel all shivery to think of it.

Or am I unusual to not like this?

Doh!! 8 years too late

Depends if the person doing it is any good at it.

I had one woman do it who was so good at it, felt so fantastic that I swear it made me question my sexuality for a moment.

Then there was the talentless she demon
(with 40 years experience I might add)
who not only gave the shittiest hair cuts
(I cried. Think poorly cut uneven super short mullet. It was NOT the eighties)
but whose wash and head massage was a painful experience akin to being attacked by a couple of superstrong razor clawed giant eagles.

The head massage is the best bit of going to the hairdressers for me. If I don't like it I would tell them to stop.... I can't see that happening anytime soon 😛 I can wit for my - - cut and blow dry--head massage apt tomorrow. Pure bliss! 😄

Ahh. Head massage is my favourite bit!

Ask her to not do it next time though, easy!

I like the head massage, and I think it was this thread that introduced me to the term ASMR, which really explained why I like the massages.

Also used to enjoy the kids playing dress up with my hair when they were little.

I hate it and always ask them not to do it. I am amazed that so many people like it!
Just wash my hair and get on with it.
Although I hardly ever go to an actual hairdresser any more as I can't bear either the touching nor coming out looking crap and having to pay for it. I do it myself now. It's not perfect, but it's not as bad as some professional cuts I've had, and the advantages are many.

I love the head massage. In Asia they have beds horizontal to the sink, so you life flat with your head in a sink so it is very comfy. They don't talk to you, they tell you to close your eyes and relax. I think it is amazing. At the head they get a hot wet towel and towel in around your neck and ears and it feels divine. I would honestly pay for an hour of just that if I could.

I know it's a ghost thread, but I agree with this so much - I HATE the head massages, and I thought I was the only one!

It's happened to me in a few places, and I've never once been asked before they've done it, so I just assumed it was standard and I was the weird one for not liking them.

They normally dig their fingers into my head so hard it hurts, and often pull my hair while they're about it. Hate, hate, hate it. Wish they'd just wash my hair like I thought they were going to.

We all need to speak up - as your neck gets pulled back into the sink it’s best to say firmly what you want! We all pay a lot for haircuts I bet ( it is getting more expensive) and we should get what we want! I say no to to this and tell them not to cut it too short and not too straight. Im polite but I’ve learnt you need to be firm! ( takrn me years though yo go this) my hair dresser is lovely though!

Lots of typos there but you get the gist.

Massage is the best part of getting a haircut. I think I might have to move to Japan!

I wish they would ask first. It's really hard to say 'actually can you stop' when they've already started. I hate head massages, they feel horrible.

I like it and wish they'd do it for longer. I also wish they'd rinse my hair for longer, I never feel like they rinse it for long enough.

I am always asked if I want the massage and there was only once when I wasn't in the mood so asked them not to, but it's the only time in my life I haven't wanted the head massage.

I just book a wet cut too as I don't like a blow dry.

Oh gosh zombie thread! How is this still happening? I thought all older threads tell you they are old now and suggest you start your own thread?

it is the absolutely best part of going to the hairdressers!

I hate it. I have started going to an express salon recently and there is much less fuss and a better haircut than the trendy expensive one I used to go to.

They did try the massage thing the first time, and I asked her to stop as I don't like it and the chair hurts my neck after about 2 minutes. Now I go in with damp freshly washed hair and avoid the wash nonsense all together.

I normally love it, very relaxing, but occasionally when they dig their fingers into the sides of my head it gives me a sharp pain which is rather worrying!

I get tingly feelings just watching other people have a massage or reading about massage! I have been known to watch YouTube videos of body or head massages to relax...

I may be odd though. And my hairdresser doesn't do head massages. Which is a terrible shame. (I am old enough to remember the Nit Nurse at school, and I was the only child who looked forward to having her hair riffled through...)

Oh god

I'm never going to leave my hairdresser. When she decided to branch out on her own, she poached me from the salon.

Now the routine is:

Arrive at her house, go to special front room set up as mini salon
Get colour done. Swipe through her tinder and pick her some nice looking chaps. Pat her dog.
Get brought some juice and left on sofa with dog, remote control and Sky TV until colour ready. Blanket available if it's late at night and you'd rather just have a nap.
Various options for hair-washing, choose shampoo, whether to lie back at sink or tip head over etc. Head massage, increased intensity if she "thinks you seem stressed"
Get hair cut, blow dried etc. See if there have been any tinder matches. Feed dog some treats.
Pay by bank transfer when I get home.

I swear I live in fear of the day she meets a nice bloke, settles down and goes off on maternity leave!!

I usually get my hair cut in my lunch break so need to be in and out in a reasonable time frame. Nonsense like head massages are definite no no. Their insistence on drying my hair does my head in as well. I'm not going to die of pneumonia, honest - just let me go, please.... In fact I've been known to ask if I can please go now if they are stringing things out.

The blow dry is a pain i agree - it goes on and on as my hair is quite thick and medium length , so it takes forever for her to get it all dry.
the poster above with the salon in her hairdressers home sounds divine.
with colours they usually just put some old magazines out and you sit there bored or look out the window or on your phone and the time drags, having the TV remote sounds a much nicer idea. I do get a cup of tea for free though. Im off for a cut today , no head massage and should be done in 45 minutes. i hope. she will moan about my grey hairs but that will have to wait as have to save up for those to be done!

A lot of the time when an assistant gives you a head massage it is to buy the stylist some time if they are running late.