'Head massages' at hairdressers....why?

[jaffacakesallround]

Had a good hair cut recently but the shampooist- why oh why do they do it? When they apply conditioner they try to give you a head massage- usually inexpertly- feels a bit like being kissed by a spotty teenager who doesn't know what to do- and makes me cringe.
Does anyone else find it annoying, uncomfortable and just want to tell them to get on with the washing and leave your head alone?

I love them too, definitely my favourite bit.

It's supposed to be something to do with improving circulation yadda yadda yadda.

A good one is great but I find I tense up in anticipation of a head massage because hairdressers are a VERY mixed bag in terms of ability at doing it well. It's always a voyage of uncertainty.

I love them too. There is just something about someone else washing your hair.... Sigh...

All my erogenous zones have moved to my head and feet. Love being touched there ..not so keen in between

I like it - isn't it a way to allow time for the conditioner to do it's job - and to spread it across the hair - so just as much about massaging the hair as the scalp?

It is the best bit of the trip to the hairdressers. I've been really lucky it would seem as I havent had a bad one.

Most of the time I drift off into some semi conscious state.

BUT one time I had one and it was just amazing and I felt very embarassed as it reallu arousing, and one should not get that feeling at the hairdressers .

I hate it and just ask them not to do it (even though I suppose they do it well and the salon itself is a very relaxing, spa-like place). All I want is to get my hair cut with minimal fuss and get out and on with my day. I don't know why they don't ask first; if I wanted a spa treatment I'd get one. I just want a haircut. I simply cannot bear any faffing around with the hair washing generally. It is a functional chore; I do it every day; just get on with it people!

I really hate it; always thought I must be the only one so it's nice to read this thread! Fortunately the bloke I go to now doesn't do it. Also hate it when the comb runs across the edge of my ears, it hurts.

Hate it too! And the massage chairs. At least they ask whether you want the chair 'on'.

I hate it - but then I hate being massaged by anyone. It's an invasion of my personal space.

It's horrible. They rub hair over hair rather than massaging the scalp. It's like squeaky chalk on a blackboard.

I hate that. That's what happens when it's done badly. But when it's done well it's bliss. They need to make sure they slide their fingertips very firmly under the bulk of the hair so they are making contact with the scalp, rather than just rubbing vigorously and absent-mindedly at the hair into the hair itself, which is annoying and all wrong.

I like it too but then I love head massages. They send me into a trance. I must have been a dog in a former life

I've had bad massages which I did thnk was a bit pointless but have actually fallen asleep with a good one I got so relaxed. Love them.

rhondajean are you in glasgow? I had one just like that this morning and it was lovely (though the relaxation was spoiled a bit by keeping one eye open to watch DD). If I was a cat I would purr.

If its just right then its wonderful. I hate ones that are too heavy handed, but equally the ones who just tickle your hair are horrible too!!

I use a mobile hairdresser at the moment and I do miss having my hair washed for me. She either does the washes over the kitchen sink with a jug which is awful (and she never rinses well enough) or I can do it myself in the shower. I do the latter.

I like it! It is usually followed by lots if pulling and tugging, as they try to remove all the tangles they've created, though.

Ohhhh, I LOVE the head massage. When they first became popular, our hairdresser used to put on whale music and cover your eyes with a mask, but now they just massage. I nearly fell asleep last time.

Although once the person doing the shampoo/message was wearing latex gloves because of an allergy issue - now that was unpleasant, like fingernails on a blackboard.

Weird how it's Love or Hate.....

I don't mind it but I do feel a complete berk having it done.

I love it. At my hairdresser they are obviously trained well as they have a routine with moves I recognise from my usual masseuse.
We also get cucumbers on our eyes :)

Musemum I hope you mean cucumber SLICES because whole cucumbers would be tres odd. Hurhur.

I quite like them too, although the sinks generally are really uncomfortable. I don't get my hair cut very often though, may twice or three times a year, so it's a bit of a novelty that makes the whole tedium of getting a haircut slightly more ok.