Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Head Massage at Hairdressers

59 replies

HoneyFlowers · 24/01/2022 23:26

Anyone else think it's naff when you get a super short head massage at the basin? How do you communicate that it wasn't great at the time?

OP posts:
LadyT27 · 27/01/2022 20:52

I LOVE it! Always so disappointed when you go someone that doesn’t it.

Juniper68 · 27/01/2022 21:45

@SarahJessicaParker3

Sorry if this is a bit of an obvious idea, but could you not just pay for a massage from someone who does it for a living? I've seen head, neck and shoulder massages listed I'm sure
I was going to say the same.

I give a good head massage. I was a hairdresser for years. Plus I've taken an interest in holistic health care. My regular service user loves my head massages.

Original poster
HoneyFlowers · 27/01/2022 23:18

Whereabouts are you?

OP posts:
Juniper68 · 28/01/2022 12:38

@HoneyFlowers

Whereabouts are you?
Who me? Durham coast.
TheFlis12345 · 28/01/2022 17:01

My hairdresser where I used to live not only did amazing head massages but you were offered a free hand massage while your hair was being cut. I used to float out of there!

CheekyHobson · 28/01/2022 17:22

Oh, one of the best days of my life was when I was testing out a new conditioning treatment for a friend who owns a hair salon. She set one of the junior staffers onto giving me a head massage and said, "I've just got to make a quick call, I'll be back in five minutes. Just keep massaging till I come back."

Then she went off and got distracted on the call and didn't come back for 45 minutes. I honestly felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. It was 20 years ago and I still feel a small thrill of pleasure when I remember it haha. Felt a bit sorry for the poor junior, who was a really good massager so their fingers must have been just about falling off by the end.

One way you could preempt your dilemma is when they say, "Right, could you come over to the basin now?" say "Oh good, this is my favourite part of getting a cut/colour. I love head massages!"

PermanentTemporary · 28/01/2022 17:29

I have to ask - why don't they ask us??

I love a head massage but I know lots don't. Why on earth don't they just ask? Tbh they should, in fact.

JoyOrbison · 28/01/2022 17:30

Oh, i bet this was about 16 years ago, a salon in Leeds I won't name had a staff member called Deiter... He did the most amazing, long, luxurious head massages, and would happily do them longer when the harirdresser was running late to fill the client's waiting time.

God I miss Deiter 😂

Original poster
HoneyFlowers · 28/01/2022 17:56

One of my hairdressers did the whole head massage in 20 seconds... Was like a tick box... Front done, side done, back done... Now rinse!

OP posts:
Original poster
HoneyFlowers · 28/01/2022 18:01

@PermanentTemporary

I have to ask - why don't they ask us??

I love a head massage but I know lots don't. Why on earth don't they just ask? Tbh they should, in fact.

I totally agree with this. If they know lots hate it you'd think they'd ask? Instead they do a half hearted job just in case.
OP posts:
Original poster
HoneyFlowers · 13/02/2022 09:12

Tried a new hairdresser this week. She actually asked if it was okay to do a head massage and I said "yes please!" very enthusiastically. And I told her just prior to this that I had been poorly and was looking forward to a pamper... The head massage was still naff! Sad

OP posts:
OnGoldenPond · 13/02/2022 09:23

I had to warn my hairdresser not to do this as I have sensitive scars on my head from previous surgery. I forgot once and screamed when she started digging her fingertips into my scalp. She remembers without me telling her now! Grin

Stuffin · 13/02/2022 09:28

What's worse is paying a fortune for a head massage at a holistic treatment Center and being really disappointed.

First I was sat up right throughout and secondly it really wasn't the relaxing and nice massage I thought it would be.

I should have just paid my hairdresser a fraction of the price to sit there for the hour instead Grin

Ohmygodyesthatsit · 13/02/2022 10:29

@Stuffin i guess it was an indian head massage, they ate traditionally done seated, i do mine on a couch but its considered 'wrong'. Ihm is quite vigorous so often not what clients are expecting.
I always explain and ask if thats what they want or would they rather have a more relaxing massage still doing the back neck head and face.

Original poster
HoneyFlowers · 13/02/2022 11:22

I've just booked an Indian Head Massage, are they rough then???

OP posts:
Stuffin · 13/02/2022 12:37

[quote Ohmygodyesthatsit]@Stuffin i guess it was an indian head massage, they ate traditionally done seated, i do mine on a couch but its considered 'wrong'. Ihm is quite vigorous so often not what clients are expecting.
I always explain and ask if thats what they want or would they rather have a more relaxing massage still doing the back neck head and face.[/quote]
Oh I wish I had known Grin. You guessed right.

What should I have gone for? Is there a 'hairdressers version' Grin

Ohmygodyesthatsit · 13/02/2022 13:03

@Stuffin i would certainly do a upper back neck, scalp and face massage that would be more a traditional massage. But i book by time rather than type of massage and me and the client discuss needs in the consultation. And i can always adapt but i am trained in loads of massage some therapists are only trained in indian head massage so couldnt do a different type.

TheWeeDonkey · 13/02/2022 13:18

Oh this makes me feel so sad. There was a woman at my hairdressers who had magic fingers, she gave the most amazing head massages. No matter how I was feeling going in there I would float out. She left a while back and noody else matches up Sad

villainousbroodmare · 13/02/2022 13:24

Oh my God, no. I hate it. My neck is aching already on the edge of the basin. Just wash my hair without fuss and don't use a sickly sweet-fragranced shampoo.

LiveFromNewYork · 13/02/2022 14:27

I just don’t understand why a haircut would go hand in hand with a head massage. Mine doesn’t do it. There’s a horrible chair that does a back massage whilst your hair is washed but I don’t let them switch that on.

Lightning020 · 13/02/2022 15:08

Toni and Guy do very good scalp massages. Or at least they did in the days before ds when I could afford their prices. Which is ages ago!

Legoninjago1 · 13/02/2022 15:15

Hate them! Wash my hair as fast as you can please!

DDMAC · 13/02/2022 23:06

I love it although I went two weeks ago and it was a shit head massage I got. Now that I don’t colour anymore my haircuts are super short in time and this is the only part I get to look forward to anymore. I was also not happy with the haircut but that’s another matter.

Once the young lady forgot my head massage and my hairdresser asked how I’d enjoyed it. I said actually I didn’t get one. She made the washing person do it all over again!

JellyTots2009 · 13/02/2022 23:38

Oh I love a good head rub!
My hairdresser spends a good ten mins or so massaging mine as she does whatever it is she doing in the basin lol.

Always smells Devine too. I love it when she rubs the lower part of my head (just above my neck)
But that's only occasionally.

I always shut my eyes and relax. Last time I almost dropped off.

The most enjoyable part of the service.

EachandEveryone · 14/02/2022 00:04

Because of this thread ive booked an Indian head massage for tomorrow £30 i hope its worth it.