Opinion on the hairdresser please

[MakeMineTea]

I've namechanged for this.

I've moved around hairdressers a bit - ended up where I am after one I used for ages, and got on really well with, gave me a slightly dodgy cut once. But I'm tempted to try them again because my current one (been going for a couple of years) just sets me on edge!

So- my current one seems to be a good cutter but she is just 'hard work'. I never feel comfortable with her. She's opinionated to the point of being rude. Like the first time I went, I mentioned my hair was fine but I had lots of it (something all hairdressers have told me over decades) and she argued the toss that it wasn't fine at all, it was 'medium'. She's also very opinionated about all kinds of stuff- current affairs etc etc in a way that might seem 'tactless' when you are dealing with clients.

She asks me what I want doing, but doesn't ask me before she trims my fringe, or how much I want off it. When she blow dries it she never asks how I want it doing (ie lots of volume, flicked up at ends or under) and she never shows me the back with a mirror when she's finished. She never asks me when she's finished if it's okay or I'd like a bit more off, or more layers, or whatever. She's not a junior in fact is a director of the business.

I used to have superb hairdresser but they went off travelling and it's no exaggeration to say they'd have cut every single hair separately to get it right! They'd cut it wet, then dry, and make sure I was really happy. Don't get me wrong, I am not super-fussy, but I just don't feel my current hairdresser is really 'caring'.

LTB

I had a hairdresser like this once, I never went back. The cut was good but her 'chairside manner' was awful, I want to be asked if it looks okay, or how I want it finished. Find someone else, it's not about being fussy but if your paying a lot of money for it you should have someone who at least gives the impression of caring

I'm wondering if we live in the same place because I too had a wonderful hairdresser who went of travelling!

@wildcherryblosson LOL!

Thanks both- makes me feel better.

I'm really not a diva, I just want to feel comfortable with her.

Someone else I know used her and said although technically she's okay, she was 'bossy'.

@dishranawaywitthespoon- well, mine who went travelling was in London but I travelled to see them. I partly got tired of the journey and the added cost, but I did feel really 'cared about' with them.

I’d ditch her, presumably you’re paying a fair whack of money for her services, it’s meant to be enjoyable, not set you on edge!

It's the going rate where I am - around the £60 mark for cut and finish.

It's one of those situations where we don't really have much in common and when she chats, it feels a bit forced- but she'd 'prickly- never rude at all, but just not really attentive in a 'caring' way. It takes 45 mins including wash and dry whereas the one who went travelling could take 1hr 15 mins for the same, by going back through my hair afterwards and cutting in more layers underneath etc.

Part of me thinks she sees me as a middle aged 50s woman who has a fairly boring long bob style and she just isn't really interested.

If she was really good I’d ignore all the rest. Is she really good?

If she was really good I’d ignore all the rest. Is she really good?

That's what I've been wondering! She's 'okay/ good' but hard to be sure.

I was a bit fed up last time because we'd had this ongoing thing of long layers in the back or not, and decided yes for the last few cuts, then this time she argued the toss that I didn't have layers.

She also isn't great at taking off what I want; usually too much. I'll say a couple of cms each time and usually it's more like 1.5 inches.

I think it's her manner- she's a bit abbrasive in a way that shuts down conversation - and I'm pretty confident as a person so that says something.

Getting your hair cut should be pleasurable.

I'm having doubts about my hairdresser. She does a good basic cut but is real meat and potatoes. Straight to the basin, no consultation with dry hair to ask what I want done. No offer of a coffee or a magazine and then her friends / locals come in and they chat chat chat while she does my hair and she only takes cash. She is cheap though, £28 in South London is a steal.

I used to love going to the hair salon in a big department store to meet my mum when she had her hair done, the smell of the hairspray and the noise of the hairdryer and it just felt luxurious, when it wasn't that expensive.

I'd definitely go somewhere else. Ask around for recs, friends, colleagues etc

|n your shoes, I would probably look for another hairdresser. I do feel you need to share an aesthetic to get a result that works for you.

i feel the same, had highlights at same salon with diferent hairdresser, she was very hard to talk to, i hate having my hair done anyway, but the highlights are the best i have had for a long time, i wont be going back.