Breaking up with your hairdresser

[Innermagic]

Would love some feedback from people on the reasons they decided to find a new hairdresser.
I've noticed I've lost a few loyal clients recently and can't help take it to heart.
Would also like to hear from other hairdressers on how they deal with this.

The price is generally my issue for swapping hairdressers and being kept waiting gives me the rage. I once booked an appointment at 9.20, was still sat there at 10.10 while she took her time doing someone else's hair. I walked out and never went back.

I very often don't go back again because I do think that of all the millions of hairdressers out there, very very few are actually any good at it.

One thing I've never worked out how to achieve comfortably is this: How do you change to another hairdresser within the same salon without it being awkward? Sometimes I would like to try someone else there but how do you do it??

I don't really like feeling I'm supposed to have some sort of special relationship with a hairdresser. Either they do it right and I'll come back or they mess it up and I spend the next few months laboriously growing out some disaster whilst hunting about for someone else.

I'm drifting apart from mine as he is totally uninventive. When I say I'd like a change and ask advice, he says he'll be able to do anything, but I need to come up with the ideas. He doesn't even look at pictures with me. I'd love him to suggest options, he's known me long enough. Also, although he does a good cut and colour, he does the most crappy blow dries. Even though a I say I'd like volume, it's always totally flat. I've been prepared to forgive him blow dries on the basis of his other expertise till now, but I'm nearly done. It's about £120 every 6 weeks. Also, I don't tip him (his job title in the salon is creative director) and I've stayed with him through all his promotions (and associated price increases!), and I feel I pay him enough, although I do always give the girl who washes my hair and brings me coffee a tip. Anyway, the last twice I've been there he's bitched to me about other clients who don't tip him. Apart from the fact I feel that's indiscreet I do feel he's having a dig at me. So I'm currently flirting with two others - the downside is that it will mean going out of he local area, as they are the only decent salon in town, and I don't quite have the nerve to go to someone else in the same salon.

Had a lovely home hairdresser, but she was almost a bit much - brought christmas presents for my kids etc (fairly big ones, and at the point when she had only been a handful of times). She just had a very giving personality I think. However, I just wanted it to be more of a boundaried business transaction - not to be second guessing myself about whether I should be giving a bigger tip or buying her a present. I think that probably says more about me than her .

I left mine after a few bad haircuts....I gave her 3 chances but she'd stopped listening to what I wanted and after paying £60, I didn't expect to see scissor cuts.

Even though a I say I'd like volume, it's always totally flat

I had a hairdresser recently who decided to blow dry my hair with more volume because I was going out that evening. Gawd I looked terrifying My hairstyle was expanded to absurd and terrifying proportions. I don't know how either cos it's only a short bob, so I don't actually have that much.

How anyone could think it looked remotely ok is baffling. I just scuttled off and washed it again at home.

It's price. Mine has gone up a couple of quid every year, and like a pp said, it's now in a different price band. She also takes about 10 minutes to do my hair but still charges me the full whack. Why not charge me less? It makes me feel ripped off.

hahaha, yes , my hairdresser dries my short pixie crop into some kind of Lego helmet type thing with loads of product on! I dont mind as I wash it when I get home to get rid of all the small hairs everywhere but when I style it, I do it differently and dont use a hairdryer. I just leave it to dry and put some wax on the ends to spike it up.

Anyway, my hairdresser does a good cut but I am not so keen on her highlights, the last few times it was a bit orangey on one side and a bit zebra-ish stripes. I have stopped having it coloured and it is now very grey and natural. I would like some highlights but am a bit reluctant unless I might go somewhere else for those doing.

I agree Scrap I also struggle with the overly exuberant ones. That's just not the kind of interaction I'm looking for.

When I end up with the inevitable haircut from hell it makes the extrication so much harder.

Have changed hairdressers four times.
First one cut it too short when she knows I prefer it longer
Second one the staff were too bitchy about other staff
Third one - gave me an awful haircut, like she'd forgotten how to do it. Looked like two different cuts and I had to go to another hairdresser to get it sorted.
Fourth one (see the other hairdresser who fixed my hair previously) went mad with the thinning scissors (my hair is thin enough) and I looked ridiculous. Had to find yet another to fix it. She would also chat too much to other staff and customers whilst midway through styling my hair.

I still hanker for my old hairdresser. She left to have a baby then years later when I spotted her in my school playground I asked if she still cut hair. Unfortunately only for family. She was brilliant.

A few other points that always win me over, and the old hairdresser was the only one to do this.

• when I first went it, she sat down with me before doing anything to see how my hair was in it's natural state and how I liked it styled
• she did everything from washing to cutting, to drying. No several different people.
• she always asked how I liked it dried. I hate it when some hairdressers just plough on and dry your hair without even considering this. And when I interrupt their flow to say I prefer it with a bit more volume rather than flat as a pancake they look irked.

But the most important one for me is to take time with your client at first so you see their hair in it's natural state and how the client styles it for they will never be able to replicate however you style it so make it easy for them. Nothing worse than being whisked off for a hair wash by the apprentice then the stylist appears when your barnet is soaking wet. How are you supposed to tell what your client's hair is like? Even if you can, if it's something taught at hairdressing college, just give your client a moment of your time when she first comes in. Good luck

Meant to add, my old hairdresser wasn't just alone in a salon. This was a very busy top end salon in Glasgow. At the time I paid about twice as much as average but it was worth it for the personal service. She was a senior stylist and did everything and that's worth paying for.

I agree Scrap. That's just not the kind of interaction I'm looking for either. I just want a great haircut and I'm happy to pay for that. I don't want an overly exuberant 'relationship'. It makes things awkward when and if there's a problem.

To more helpfully answer your question though, maybe your recent price increase has moved you into a different band of client. So it's not that you are more expensive than everyone else, it's because you've gone outwith the price tolerance for the type of clients you currently have. So if you, for example, have clients who are in the 'under £25' bracket, and your price is now £30, you need to attract clients who are in the £30-£40 bracket. It's not that your rice rise is wrong or too much, it's just that it's moved you into a different bracket. Also, I think HOW small businesses manage price increases is important. Having an annual price increase in March or whatever is fine, whinging about needing to put your prices up because of increasing costs is not, because your clients are facing those same costs of living/business increases. Rather than fretting too much about why people have left (although I know it stings), what might help is building a profile of your ideal client, then thinking about what they need and want and working out how you can supply that in a total customer experience.

I left mine because he constantly gave me a Rachel.
Despite it being very much not the 90s.

I changed mine because she was unfair on pricing. She had a home salon and she did my hair, my DH, and both my DS's. They all have thick hair that is layered, I have thin, one length that takes her half the time to cut. When we started going there she charged us all the same price to which I would add a small tip, the men gave her double the tip I did.

Suddenly she started charging me what my menfolk paid including the tip they added - so if I still added a tip myself I would have been paying a lot more. She did not alter the price she charged them.

So, she was close by, cost less than a salon and did a good job, but I felt taken advantage of and haven't been back since. DH thinks I'm daft, but it made me so angry I can't get past it.

I left a hairdresser b cause she ignored how I wanted my hair styled for a Big event and just did it how she wanted, which wasn't nice.

I've been through a zillion hairdressers, so couldn't really be classed as a 'loyal client'. I've been with my current one for about two years, and actually went for a cut today. It was final warning - although of course, she didn't know.

The reason?

No-one fucking gets my hair. It's thick, coarse, wiry. It's neither curly, nor wavy, nor straight. It's very fluffy. It takes me aaaaaages to style, which I hate.

It clearly needs to be cut in a certain way to avoid the dreaded triangle look.

Last time I went, I said I wanted A LOT of bulk taken out off the ends. She didn't, as she never does.

I end up with fuzzy, triangle hair.

This time, she has taken a lot of the bulk off the bottom and I'm happy.

Sorry - this is a very particular rant, relating to my problem hair. Basically - I just want someone to recognise my hair type and work with it.

OMG Crypto - all the while I was getting my hair cut this evening, I was thinking 'this better not end up as a fucking Rachel'.

I'm very loyal to my hairdressers and it takes a lot to make me move on. One I had for ages who visited me at home when the DC were small eventually became unreliable and presumably felt I was a soft touch and didn't turn up a few times. When she was booked to help me choose and style my wig whilst I was having chemo...and cancelled on me at the last minute, I decided it was time to end the relationship after about five years. I didn't have any hair for months any way!

The hairdresser who probably gave me the best cut I have ever had, after several years suddenly became difficult to book. Whenever I called, she said she was fully booked. Then I used to drive past the salon and she was sitting there staring into space. The business shut down shortly after. I am now with a salon which is definitely more expensive but the prices don't go up too frequently, and they and I are happy for any stylist for do blow dries, although I stick to the same one for cuts. They always seem to be able to fit me in, even at short notice and they are generally busy. I'm sticking with them for the time being.

I left one because she had a heavy cold and sneezed down my back.

I left one because she snipped my ear and denued it, even though there was blood.

I left one because she washed my hair, my shoulders and down the back of my neck, while gossiping to the hairdresser on the adjacent basin.Then she combed my hair flat against my head and snipped a line. Took ten minutes. She didn't use my name (not even a 'right Ms Conyo, would you come this way' type thing). I didn't know her name. She tried to make me 'join' the salon when i just wanted to pay and go. She shuddered at my au naturel grey hair. I didn't like her lap-dancer's cut. Obvs we weren't a great match

My now hairdresser has been my hairdresser for 3 years. Knows exactly what I want. Helped me transition to au naturel grey and was very reassuring. I have a fairly standard inverse bob and it takes an hour and a half because we chat and he is fascinating! He understands my curly haired friend's hair and she recommended him. He is my hair hero

Basically - I just want someone to recognise my hair type and work with it

Me too. And to listen and look at the picture I've taken in. Really look and listen.

But so many just do their own thing.

I've said this before but I really do believe that hairdressing should be better regulated and less of a gamble.

Every salon should be showing recent and honest feedback. Every hairdresser should have pictures up of recent haircuts they've done for real clients (not some airy fairy competition they entered). TripAdvisor for salons.

I would like to see for myself how competent someone is, what their style of working is, how they interpret customers expectations before they start on me.

I must've spent years of my life growing out disasters. I see on Mn all the time oh go for it it's only hair, it'll grow back. Well my hair grows very slowly and whilst having a crap haircut isn't life threatening or the worst thing that can happen to anyone, it really can bring you down

We moved about 3 years ago, I have had 5 hairdressers since and I am looking for a 6th!

Reasons for not staying:

They talk too much

They don't understand that I HATE going to hairdressers and begrudge every penny and minute spent!

No-one will give me a straight blow dry in this country. I have a bob.

They all want to give me a turned under blow dry and use straighteners. If I can blow it straight at home, how hard can it be for a professional?!

If someone can recommend a hairdresser who can cut an even bob, blow dry straight and won't talk too much, I want to know! I am in Winchester area!

1. Left because she only accepted cash and I got tired of having to remember to take out £££ before each visit.

1. Left because I went through a bad depression and missed two appointments but too embarrassed to go back and didn't want to have to explain why I had missed the appointments, nor did I want to lie. Still feel bad about that one, not her fault.

1. Left because the guy did not get me at all and his vision for what I should look like didn't match mine, nor did it match my comfort levels.

1. Left because it was the single worst haircut I've received in my life and there was no way I would give a chance to correct it (which I normally would as it's important to give someone the chance--in fact the reason I re-booked with my current hairdresser is down to how she handled the situation when I asked for a colour correction after trying it for a few days. She was very professional, not at all defensive, and fixed it beautifully.)

1. Left because he hit on me even though I am married.

ilovecherries gave some sound advice. Good luck, OP.

Great to read honest feedback, think it's time for me to reassess my work and give long term clients the same consultation I give new ones, bring back staff meetings etc.
It's so easy to become complacent, I do love my job and treat clients like friends and I think that's why it hurts when the dint come back.
Better go now I got a client waiting

elQuintoConyo if you are in London, please PM me your hairdresser's details! Am always searching for a really good hairdresser that understands curly hair.