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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To HATE going to the hairdressers?

156 replies

pugsandseals · 23/04/2010 15:12

Is it just me? I thought women were mean't to find the whole experience pampering & relaxing- I just come out wanting to kill someone!!! Why is what I want done always wrong? I either need it cut slightly shorter/longer than they want it, or want the wrong type of fringe. All I want to do is have it cut the length I want it with a few layers & a front bit that pushes back, but oh no. I have to have straigteners, backcombing, hairspray & a full discussion on why what I want is not trendy!

AIBU?
Maybe I should go to the barbers next time

Sorry, needed a rant before I explode!

OP posts:
VoluptuaGoodshag · 24/04/2010 20:52

What I'd like to know is .......

  • why do men pay so much less
  • why does it take so long for women to have a haircut even if they have short hair
  • what exactly is the difference between the dye potions used by a salon compared to the off the shelf ones
  • why are there so many variations of shampoo and conditioner in shops for different types of hair but then when you go to the hairdressers they slap on whatever is in the large communal bottle next to the basins
  • why are the basins fo fecking uncomfortable
  • why does the actual stylist not come and look at what your hair is like before getting the junior to wash it so you can explain better how you'd like it styled. Everyone's hair looks much the same when soaking wet and combed straight.

Please, please enlighten me

ItalyLovingMummy · 24/04/2010 21:03

I found a hairdresser who was just wonderful and made my hair look a million dollars, I was a walking L'oreal ad...then she upped sticks and moved. My hair is just dull now. I was traumatised.

Crazycatlady · 24/04/2010 21:07

I had the same problem Italy and it's taken me five years to find someone just as good. There are a lot of average salons with average stylists out there and when you find a good one, and then they leave, it's a BIG DEAL!

StephysFamous · 24/04/2010 21:15

In answer to your questions VoluptuaGoodshag,

  1. Women's services generally take longer, where I work we charge on time taken for the service.
  2. Sectioning etc, to make sure the hair cut is even and a stylist should always cross check the cut.
  3. DIY color is usually a coating of colour on your hair.
Salon color is usually a more penetrating colour, in other words it goes into your hair where the colour naturally is located. Yes, you are paying for the stylists time, but you are also paying for their knowledge. Understanding colour is a skill acquired over a period of years of learning the different types of hair and color products. Depending on where you go of course.
  1. Honestly most of these shampoos & conditioners never work. Salons tend to use products for all hair types, saves money.
  2. Owner is cheap, comfy basins are available just more expensive.
  3. You need a new stylist, hair changes form completely when wet. I don't get why people do this, they're looking for trouble IYKWIM.
nooka · 25/04/2010 05:44

I haven't been to the hairdresser for over a year now. The last cut I had was from a granny hairdresser (I had not realised this in advance) and really was fairly terrible. The one before was just very uninspiring, so it's been a while since I've had anything I liked.

Before we left the UK I had a great hairstylist who really knew what he was doing, and so he should, as he owned the place, and charged a premium. He was the only person that understood that I really really don't do anything with my hair apart from wash and towel dry it every other day, and brush it on the day in between (can't wash it every day as I get very dry skin if I do). So no products, no straighteners, no blowdrying and it still has to look good. I like my hair to look striking, and generally have it short with interesting colours (generally blond and red in my dark brown hair). Within those constraints I just asked him to cut and colour it however he thought would look good, and he seemed to enjoy that (he also had some very strong opinions - for example refused he refused to die my hair pink). I'm also fairly straight up about not talking. I'm another short sighted person, and I can't see my face without my glasses, let alone the hairdresser, which makes it difficult to hear what they are saying (it's amazing how much you lip read in practice), so I just apologise at the beginning.

dh keeps bugging me about having it cut, and I'd really like to, but hate wasting all that time (three hours plus for the colours) and money on something that's going to make me feel a bit crap. I've tried looking at photos, but to be honest rarely see anything I like, and when I have tried this it's never turned out right in any case. What I should have done is take a photo the day I had my hair cut right and then kept it when I moved.

cumbria81 · 25/04/2010 08:02

I dabbled with a mobile hairdresser but got annoyed that a) I had to tidy the house before she came b) the only mirror in our house is above the bathroom sink so I was effectively having it cut without being able to see what she was doing and c) I had to sweep up my hair afterwards.

way too much hassle.

octopio · 25/04/2010 09:32

Haven't read whole thread so sorry if it's been said, but I have recently been converted to Supercuts- £13 for one inch off the bottom and no faffing or talking you into layers etc. Suits me as I have a one length straight bob, and as I can afford to go more often, it is now in quite nice condition. I've never had to wait long either.

cheeseycharlie · 25/04/2010 09:56

I have had some horror stories, expensive haircuts where the salon have taken my money while I am in floods of tears over what they have done (admittedly I shouldn't have paid but I was feeling a bit violated!)

Anyway, my hair horror stories are now over, and your can be too. Pick the person you know with the nicest hair. Swallow your pride (especially if they are your boss or the bitchy type) and ask them where they go. And go there, even if it costs more or involves a bit of a trek.

Bad haircuts are just not worth the stress.

Curiousmama · 25/04/2010 12:16

I'm a hairstylist (have been for 25 years ) but I don't work in a salon now. Am just about to go back to work mobile, mostly cutting and colouring, foils etc... I can sympathise with those who hate going though. It took me a while to find a good hairstylist who didn't charge the earth. I did go to Toni and guy when I was with exdh and had more cash but once on my own couldn't afford it so went to a few salons, some with good reps but still wasn't happy. Now I go to a stylist who's even older than me but like me she's up to date and is an excellent hairdresser. Plus, it's only £9 for a wetcut!! I am in the north east of England though so prices aren't so bad usually. The main thing I used to have problems with is that being a hairstylist myself, I could see when they weren't any good. You just know when they're doing it that they aren't. Can you imagine sitting there getting your haircut knowing the person doing it doesn't have a clue?? It's torture. I'm so relieved that I have someone I can trust. Plus we're totally on the same wavelength, talk about allsorts and I'm in there an hour.

I'm in the process of starting up alone and won't be charging the earth. I want to make an honest wage so I can keep going but I know that people are struggling. It's the cutting I focus on anyway not the drying so if people just want wetcuts then that's a bonus. I love colouring too as did my level 3 in colouring, we were the pilot group in the UK. You can totally change a look with colour.

kaphc · 25/04/2010 14:34

YANBU

I haven't been to the hairdressers for 6 1/2 years because I hate going so much.

Am trying to pluck up the courage to go soon, but really the whole experience fills me with fear. It's on a par with going to the dentist for me.

lunavix · 25/04/2010 14:40

Got to laugh at the title of this thread on the homepage. There's a hairdresser near us called curl up and dye :D

lowenergylightbulb · 25/04/2010 16:54

I like going to the hairdressers. I think that hair cutting is a really difficult skill - it is an art.

I don't go that often 'cos it's expensive. But I like the head massaging and chit chat.

I'd actually love to be a hairdresser, but I really am not at all creative and would be really bad at it!!!

dittany · 25/04/2010 17:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

2old4thislark · 25/04/2010 17:58

I was given a voucher for an pretentious expensive salon. The colour they used faded really quickly so I went back to colouring it myself. Trouble is, I have to keep going darker to try to cover up their colour. 8 months on and I can still see a shade change

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 25/04/2010 18:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

abunchofmasterdebaters · 25/04/2010 18:08

your hair will just get darker and darker if you do it yourself mine wa alsomt Black before i started getting it done at the hairdresser .Yes it is very expensive as i have to go every 3 weeks to get Grey roots done but its worth it as my hair is now a gorgeous natural Brown colour and my hair is cut really well it is long and wavy but i like it straightened when i go . I ger head massage which i enjoy and my hairdersser just cats for a bit more like a catchup with a friend. I hate sitting in front of a big mirror though

Conundrumish · 25/04/2010 18:21

'It's on a par with going to the dentist for me'. I disagree Kaphc. Dentists generally listen to what you are saying & treat you with respect. I'd rather go to the dentist.

From the way our local Toni & Guy staff prance around, you'd think they were the ones that had excelled at school and undergone a six year (or however long dentistry is) university course.

2old4thislark · 25/04/2010 18:42

No my hair was great - used the same colour (Boots Botanics - doesn't sting my scalp) - just did the roots every 3 weeks and it looked natural. Going to a hairdressers buggered it up!

bloss · 25/04/2010 18:49

Message withdrawn

saffy202 · 25/04/2010 18:57

Ooohh Curiousmama whereabouts in the NE are you? Would love to find a good colourist to sort out my dirty blonde hair

VoluptuaGoodshag · 25/04/2010 20:19

Forgot to mention. I got my hair dyed properly at the hairdressers after doing it for myself for years. I got the big lecture about why it's always best to have it done professionally. Got roots done after about 6 weeks but thought, jeez I can't afford to keep this up. Got myself a naturetints colour from the local health food shop. Hair looked great afterwards and when I went back to hairdressers just for a cut, they were oohing and aahing about how good it still looked and that the colour was lasting really well. When I told them I'd done it myself it was truly a tumbleweed moment.

maxpower · 25/04/2010 20:27

Thank God it's not just me! I loathe having my haircut. It's so bad that I can't face making an appointment anywhere as it makes me so anxious in the lead up. For that reason I've used supercuts for years now, although last time I went (in Sept), the hairdresser butchered my hair so much so I complained. What made it worse was that it was 3 weeks before my sister's wedding. So now my hair is in desperate need of a cut and I'm actually frightened to go anywhere.

phoebebouffet · 25/04/2010 20:57

yes, with you all the way on this one, my problem is, I just don't know what to say, I dont know what i want, i just want it to look a bit diffrent and young and trendy!

Curiousmama · 25/04/2010 21:01

saffy202 I'm in Darlington, co durham.

Never heard of supercuts? They sound a good idea though.

I'm off to get mine done next Thursday, I can't wait

BigWeeHag · 25/04/2010 22:32

I hate hate hate hate it. Really really.

I hate having my hair washed. They hurt, they pull my hair and it's horrible.

I hate having it combed through.

I hate having to talk to a mumbler over the hideous noise of hair dryers and showers and stupid mindless boom boom noise from the radio.

And I fucking hate having my hair blow dried.

AND I don't like that it costs approximately £12million.

DS1 kicks and screams when I make him go to the barbers. Wish I could.