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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have walked out of barbers...

13 replies

Brunocat · 08/04/2010 12:46

Son hates the barber - went to a new one that had been recommended and managed to keep him (He's 2 and a half) and his six month old brother perfectly quiet and well behaved for fourty minutes while we waited. This in itself is a miracle as he's normally crying from the moment we set into a barbers - honestly it was like a masterclass in toddler behaviour control.
When it was his turn he ran into the chair and said can he have the lolly now as it will keep him still - barber said no - that's not how he does things. As he is putting the cape on DS I said he doesn't like the cape and he said "Well he'll just get covered then" in an offhand way and I said that was fine. Son tried to take the cape off and the barber started huffing and said "I knew this was going to be a bad day" again really offhand not in a joking way. When the water spray went onto DS's head he flinched and barber started huffing again so I told him that I didn't like his attitude, removed son and walked out.
Did I over react?

OP posts:

WitchyWooWoo · 08/04/2010 12:48

noo you didn't.

sounds like the barber was a grumpy old git, and tbh someone dealing with children in that situation should be a bit more easy going. hell i would give them 100 lollies to ensure they sat still as to not slice of an ear or something

ben5 · 08/04/2010 12:50

i would of walked out to. luckily have found fab hairdresssers. they have toy cars for boys to play with and they get bounced as if in a space chair first!!!!

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 08/04/2010 12:52

No I don't think you overreacted at all, it's not his place to get all enforce his silly rules over your tiny son, it was no skin off his nose if your ds got covered in hair.

I usually have to bribe my ds (2.8) with chocolate buttons or something to get him to sit still throughout a haircut, whether it's at a barbers or at home.

Glad you walked out, show the bloke he can't be such a grump and get away with it. He's lost your custom, and word of mouth is a powerful thing amongst mums.

motherbeyond · 08/04/2010 12:59

miserable bastard! your lo did VERY well sitting so nicely..you were just right to walk out,i would have too.i'm really lucky,we know a girl that works for toni and guy,but she does a bit of moonlighting and sees my mum at home.so when she's having her high lights,my two (dd just 4 and ds just2) have their hair trimmed.

she's really lovely with them and they sit like statue's for her!

i have also taken them to our village hair dressers and they were ok and charged £5 ish.try a womens' salon?

i did have an experience with a female stylist huffing at my dd once,and questioned it..it turned out she had to close that day as her business was failing

Mouseface · 08/04/2010 13:26

No, you didn't overreact. The guy doesn't deserve your money if he's going to make you all feel so unwelcome.

Maybe he should have a sign on the door saying "Only sedated children can have their hair cut, I can't be arsed with conversation or smiling"

5Foot5 · 08/04/2010 13:35

YANBU - hopefully he will think twice about his atitude in future.

I used to get a bit cross with the hairdresser I tokk DD to when she was small because he used to get one of the young women out to hold her head still.

Just a thought but could you maybe cut his hair yourself? If you get electric shears it really is quite easy and quick (honestly if it was at all hard I wouldn't be abe to do it) Ours cost about £15 quid from Argos and have now paid for themselves many times over.

Firawla · 08/04/2010 13:37

no you did the right thing, it didnt sound suitable because if he's in a mood from the start i dont think he will get the job done and remain calm

ben5's one with the cars and space bouncing chairs sounds really good!

i take mine 2 a women's hairdresser they atleast make the effort 2 wave a few combs and equipments around infront of him 2 keep him entertained, if it doesnt look like they make any effort for your child and just see them as a "nusiance" i would not be happy to go back, or to support them with custom. it cant be the only barber shop around so why put up with the bad treatment

claig · 08/04/2010 13:37

YANBU. You didn't overreact. You taught the miserable bastard a lesson, and maybe he will not be so rude to other customers in the future. Very well done, and give your DS lots of lollies.

Numberfour · 08/04/2010 13:38

not unreasonable at all! as a friend of mine has said to me: if you don't stick up for your children, who will!

good for you for walking out.

claig · 08/04/2010 13:46

Good idea by Firawla about using a women's haidresser instead, they are much more understanding and polite than grumpy old men like him. You might want to also try mobile hairdressers who come to your house? They are not too expensive.

troublewithtalk · 08/04/2010 17:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Eglu · 08/04/2010 17:40

YANBU. He clearly didn't really want your business with that attitude.

ManicMother7777 · 09/04/2010 10:37

Must be something about barbers. The only traditional barber in our town will not do kids at all. I also think traditional barbers are classic male environments and they don't like mothers either. Wasn't there something on the news a while back where the barber painted a red line on the floor which said 'no women beyond this point' because they were sick of the bloke wanting one haircut and the dw telling them something else.

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