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Original poster

Anyone else find hair salons incredibly stressful?

66 replies

Septembergirl20 · 15/09/2023 13:20

I'm looking for a mobile stylist both due to price increases and also just feeling more comfortable having my hair done at home. The last few stylists I've had haven't been great and it's kinda put me off wanting to go to a regular salon again. Anyone else just find the hairdresser stressful and put off going as long as possible?

OP posts:
cocksstrideintheevening · 15/09/2023 22:28

I hate it but find at home worse, I feel like I'm hosting and all I want is a haircut.

mynumber · 15/09/2023 22:34

I agree with all the comments I don't like it either and keep changing and it takes sooo p

mynumber · 15/09/2023 22:35

Sooo long.
I don't like mobile hairdressers either though as you have to sit with them for the extra 30 mins in your home while the colour is setting - at least in the salon they can leave you to read for a while!

LollipopChaos · 15/09/2023 22:39

Yes it is a very stressful experience. I generally find a new stylist is great the first appointment and then everything goes rapidly downhill.

I expect it to be a relaxing experience and not rushed. I hate the ending part when you're just shown your hair then frogmarched over to pay with the tip boxes in your face.

The worst experience is taking my child, what a mess everyone makes for a basic haircut!

LollipopChaos · 15/09/2023 22:40

I tried home hairdressers but hate not having the mirror to see what they're doing!

PickAChew · 15/09/2023 22:42

I love mine. Small boutique salon with a goth vibe. Fabulous basins with fully reclined chairs which are great for my arthritic neck.

Hopefully she'll stay in business as I have very thick, wavy hair and hate looking for a new stylist.

Cheesenpickleontoast · 15/09/2023 22:44

Yes. It's a necessarily evil! I skip out after its all done, thankful I won't have to go again for another 8 weeks. My hair is so fine and scrappy, I hate it being pawed over and the sympathetic looks and sometimes sneers I've had from hairdressers over the years. It's crap hair genetics, that's all. I'm doing my best to make the most of it!

RampantIvy · 15/09/2023 22:44

No. I hate having hair that I can't cut or colour myself so I pay a professional to make a good job of it for me.

PickAChew · 15/09/2023 22:51

ShadyPaws · 15/09/2023 14:23

Not now I have a nice hairdresser! There's only me in the salon, there's a dog, plenty of hot drinks and no sinks that hurt my neck. And he's a curly hair specialist. Bliss

Sounds bliss. Mine isn't a curly hair specialist but she's sympathetic, which goes a long way! Oddly, I actually trust her to give me a blowdry, now, as she does it properly and uses the natural wave to give it a bit of a flick, rather than trying to obliterate it. 3 times. A year!

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 15/09/2023 23:27

Agree with so many I really get myself into a panic going as have sensory issues and all the bright strong lights, which have been changed and are even brighter, busy salon also but very hard to find one that will let you bring your own colour which is Naturtint as doesn't have chemicals as otherwise get dry psoriasis on scalp which thankfully haven't had in years. So many hairdressers rushing about, I hate looking at myself in the mirror also and wish could find a little quiet hairdressers to just go to that is not busy. Will have to have a look around as is a few small ones and see will they do the hair colour I bring. She is a great hairdresser though and cuts efficiently and colours the same. Cannot do myself anymore as mainly the grey regrowth which I leave as long as I can and use spray to cover up greys in meantime. Too expensive to go every few weeks but it does give me a lift as last time got lots of compliments as got few inches off and everyone said I looked younger and hair really healthy looking which I needed as in peri-meno and confidence low.

Would love that hairdresser also with the dog and no other clients.

If had the face of Sinead O'Connor (r.i.p) would have it all shaved off now. She looked so beautiful with no hair and had such lovely features.

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 15/09/2023 23:27

oops sorry did not mean to write an essay...

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 15/09/2023 23:39

I love my hairdresser (we also have a salon dog!). He does a great job, and we’ve become such good friends I now do the salon’s social media as a freelance gig - so my hair is free, plus I get paid a monthly retainer fee.

If you find the right salon/person it should be an absolute pleasure.

TheDaphne · 15/09/2023 23:46

Everyone at my salon is extremely nice, and they do a good job, but I still hate going. I hate having my head touched, and it’s pretty much the same as the dentist for me. I also loathe manicures or having my eyebrows threaded (and seldom do either).

Im baffled by people who find having their hair done enjoyable.

TheOGCCL · 15/09/2023 23:56

Highly stressful. I don’t even like calling to make an appointment. The worst is sitting hoping there hasn’t been a major misunderstanding about what you’d like, you get stare at yourself for 40 minutes and constantly reappraise it. Awful.

I have found a good hairdresser now where it feels more like seeing an old friend. I think it’s partly finding a salon that suits and someone you have some chemistry with.

coxesorangepippin · 16/09/2023 01:51

I found a old lady hairdresser ( sorry, but you know what I mean)

She's absolutely perfect - great cut, no inane chit chat and good price.

Downunderduchess · 16/09/2023 07:01

Hate them, it takes so long for anything to get done, dislike when they are talking to all and sundry instead of focusing on the client and I never like the way they style my hair so always say just dry it off a little. Expensive as well. And I don’t want to have inane chit chat (not all hairdressers are like this, but enough are). I’ve been putting off going for so long I can’t actually remember when I last went. I don’t find it relaxing or pampering at all.

HoliHormonalTigerLillyTheSecond · 16/09/2023 07:07

Love my salon.

Hyphaeandspores865 · 16/09/2023 07:15

I gave up going to what was thought of as the “coolest” “best” hairdresser in town for all of the reasons stated above and found myself a local older lady who cuts better than anyone who I have gone to previously and half the price! Also I am in and out within 40 mins!

Coffeesnob11 · 16/09/2023 07:21

I haven't had my hair cut for an age because I need to find a new hairdresser and it's stressing me out. The last one cut my hair at his home but has left hairdressing for a break. The next one had a one man salon (no dog!). I moved away so it's too far.

I don't know if its because I have adhd or its just me but I hate being touched by strangers I don't trust. I work in West London and walk past several top rated salons but they are all so big and noisy.

I don't want my hair cut at home but I don't want to be in a vast space with the noise, bright lights etc. (Any suggestions for hairdressers near fitzrovia/Oxford St that are good and would fit the bike would be welcome!

MattDamon · 16/09/2023 07:25

I love my mobile hairdresser: no waiting around while she works on someone else, I can put the tv on the fill in the silences, no trek home afterwards.

But there are downsides - I really miss getting my hair washed. I do it myself bent over the shower. Not exactly relaxing!! Plus, the awkward 30 minute wait when the dye is taking. I do try to get up and do laundry or busy jobs but it always drags.

Overall, mobile works better for me

RampantIvy · 16/09/2023 07:40

It sounds like most of you need to find a different hairdresser. I have been using the same one for years. Both of our DC went to the same school and we ask about each other's DC and loads of other local stuff and not inane chat. It feels more like a catch with an old friend. It is only a small hairdresser so there isn't too much going on. I

Oh, and I'm very short sighted so I can't see myself clearly in the mirror when she is doing my hair Grin

TinselTarTars · 16/09/2023 07:44

Omg me too! Then I start overthrinking why I feel ill and that I'm going to pass out or be sick (never happened!) I went last week and actually meditated before I left and got up to look at the products whilst my dye was on and I felt absolutely fine, definitely had to break that cycle up.

RampantIvy · 16/09/2023 07:47

If you all hate hair salons that much why don't you post on the local Facebook pages to ask for recommendations for mobile hairdressers?

Frenchfancy · 16/09/2023 07:50

I hate it so much I haven't been for years. I box dye and cut my own hair.

I hate the sneering about the condition of my hair, staring at myself in a mirror, the same conversations about where I'm from because of my accent.

I'm looking for a new job and wondering if I need to visit a hairdresser before any eventual interviews. The thought scares me more than the interview!

Hbh17 · 16/09/2023 07:54

I like my hairdresser, and she has been doing my hair for many years. But I hate the salon, and I'm sorry to say it's other people. The shrieking and cackling, and inane conversation can just be awful so I feel completely out of place. Why can't people either sit quietly or at least have some sensible conversations?

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