I walked out of the hairdressers!

[JMAngel1]

I can’t believe I did it yesterday - cringing thinking about it but I went to a new salon that I was recommended as being fantastic at colour. I had sent a photo in advance of the colour of my hair and then a picture of the colour I wanted. She had asked for this as she said she wanted to be sure she had the colours in stock that she might need.

I sat down, she was lovely. We chatted and she then told me the colour she was planning to use and I questioned it and said I had been thinking about a Demi not a permanent in 2 shades lighter than what she wanted to use. I also explained my hair is very warm and always needs an ash:violet tone to counteract this.
I had sent her a photo of a caramel honey level 7/8 and she said she wanted to use a permanent 6/4. I ran for the hills!

Felt really awkward but just stood up and said I didn’t think this was going to work.

Got home and did it myself with demi I had bought last week. My friend had talked me into using her hairdresser and said for such a big change I shouldn’t do it myself (my hair was level 9 yellow in places and she said it might go patchy)
My hair this morning is exactly what I wanted - but I am cringing at how I walked out (but glad I did or else I would have dark burgundy hair now!!
I swear that hairdresser was colour blind.

I dont have a issue with you saying this wont work. I do however think at this time of year there should have been a cancellation fee. To the poster who linked it to a restaurant. I
Dh and I have reservations at a good restaurant on NYE if we do a no show. Or leave having decided we don't like the menu. There is a cancellation charge of £20 (Michelin restaurant always overbooked so I think that's very fair)

I use a very expensive hair dresser so for me £80 for colour is not a lot . However in the 4 years I have used them i have not once walked out unhappy with my hair. Last time I actually said to the colourist just do what you think will suit me. I loved the result. However that is 4 years after building a relationship with her. Not first visit. Hairdresser is also amazing but I walk out of there having spent close to £200 when i get cut and colour. For me hairdresser is one area I dont skimp on. When I have been unhappy it has always been less experienced saloons/stylists/colourist so these days I am with the senior staff.

I'm just thinking of when I had my light bleached blonde hair darkened. The hairdresser first dyed it bright red as a filler/colour neutraliser. It looked awful and I was sat there shitting myself thinking what the fuck?!

She then used a light ashy Brown and the end result was a dark blonde sort of "bronde" shade.

I doubt you would have ended up with burgundy hair. This hairdresser came on recommendation from your friend and was a colour specialist. I think something was lost in translation here.

I get your hesitancy though. I'm quite fearful of hairdressers and find it hard to trust them with my hair. It's very precious to me

But this wasn't a no show.

To compare it to a restaurant accurately it would be the op arrives at the restaurant, sits down, is given the menu, orders fish and is told no, you're not having that. We're going to cook you a steak. Op says no, I don't want a steak. I want fish. That is what I am ordering. Waiter says no, steak is better. We're doing steak.

At that point standing up, saying I don't want steak and since you won't serve me the fish I ordered, I am going to leave in no way obligates you to pay them anything. All they had to do was serve you what you had ordered. You would have eaten it, paid and left

Coming back to this there are certain colourists (one I knew that was all she did no cuts just colour). An excellent one like this is worth their weight in gold but I’ve had soooo many hairdressers who do highlights like they’re in a daze and then it’s me not them who has to tell them to break it up, it’s too blocky and so on. They know I prefer highlights not block colour. That really irritates me and shows laziness. I’d also love it if hairdressers sometimes suggest something like eg a pastel colour in the blonde (they did this with a friend of mine).

Also, a big no no for me is too chatty hairdressers, have had this recently with two hair salons one over lockdown (was correcting hair disaster and was like gold dust to get appointment). Both chatted so much I was put off. If I’m chatty great but if not I really prefer to be left alone to relax! The last one recently turned out to know and had met a friend of mine but then processed to say she thought their mutual male friend had slept with my friend (probably a lie). On a second visit to a salon that’s not what I want to hear thanks! Also i wasn’t happy at all with my hair how she’d done it (I explained and showed her photos), so she said come back if not happy and she’d correct. So I did so and then she did this with a face like a slapped arse (not my fault if she misunderstood me) and pointedly told me something about getting highlights for free (this was £230 in total), she was quite rude and catty generally but I messaged the manager telling her both reasons I wasn’t happy then left. I’d have returned if she wasn’t such a bitch, why say to return and she’d correct if you’re then going to be unpleasant about it? I couldn’t even be bothered to leave a bad review.

I had sent a photo in advance of the colour of my hair and then a picture of the colour I wanted. She had asked for this as she said she wanted to be sure she had the colours in stock that she might need

She was adamant that Demi 8/73 and 8/71 wouldn’t work and was hell bent on a permanent 6/4

It sounds like she didn't have the colour you wanted in stock but didn't want to lose your business.

You definitely did the right thing not going through with a permanent colour you didn't want though!

Well done OP! You did the right thing

I did this once. I had blonde low lights and wanted to take a similar tone through the rest of my hair. The low lights were from a very expensive salon but I was home for the holidays so went to a hairdresser recommended by my friend (also expensive ). The hairdresser just didn't listen at all. Told me I should go for red tones instead. I felt they were bulldozing me. Ultimately I didn't like that they didn't care they were being overbearing and that they weren't listening to me. So I left.

But OP knows what she wants.
IMO when hairdressers try to push something on you it’s because they are not skilled enough to do what you asked for.

My hairdresser usually does a good job, but this time he has cut my hair shorter on one side, so it’s not even!
I really should have gone back, but so far nobody seems to have noticed!

I think it worked out well for you both, this is the point of a consultation, you go for an opinion. She gave hers, you wanted something different and she is not there to be your technician and do as you say. You had different approaches, you are happy with your own colour plan. It wasn't really walking out, you just declined her approach. Really not a big deal.

@JMAngel1 you could literally be describing my hair and all my hairdressing experiences 😂 please tell me which demi you’re using!

The days of women going along with things they're not comfortable with for the sake of politeness are over. It has not served us well.

I think you were right to have decided against going ahead, sounds like it wouldn't have been what you wanted.

It isn't really 'walking out' though. You politely said you didn't intent to proceed, she said ok, you said thanks for your time and then left. Where else would you go other than out the premises, you don't need permission and the transaction had ended.

Not a dig at you OP, at all just can't see why it's a drama, there is no need to feel embarrassed by having left, at all. Good for you for getting the result you wanted at home!

@Athomewiththehales89
I use Wella Colour Touch.