The right manners are important when you’re dealing with somebody who’s very much in your personal space – sometimes for hours at a time. Rescu. has the top tips for how to behave at your hairdresser’s – whether they’re new or the same one you’ve been going to since you had no hair at all.
Be clear about what you want, and bring visual evidence.
This is the number one way to get the haircut you want: express it clearly. No ‘sort of’ or ‘kinda’ or ‘maybe a bit like that’.
If you want a side-fringe with layers and choppy parts at the front, say that. Look up hairdressing jargon if you’re not sure of how you should phrase it so it’s easily communicable.
And bring a picture; spend ages sourcing it if you have to, but finding something close to your desire to show will save you a thousand words.
Be flexible.
If you want something which the hairdresser tells you will frankly not work with your hair, colouring, face shape or anything else, don’t pout or fight back. It’s in their interest to make you look good, and if they know the end result won’t be pretty, they’ll do their best to say so.
Only proceed against the hairdresser’s advice unless you’re really sure you want that cut or colour – and be aware that this might frustrate them or make them feel disrespected. Say that you understand their concern and appreciate their advice, but that you’d like to experiment just this once and see what happens. After all, it is your hair.
Don’t be afraid to speak up if you have doubts.
If they’re trying to convince you to do something more radical or very different from what you’d intended, or if the hairstyling is progressing in a way you’re not sure about, do speak up.
Don’t make it confrontational – just ask what it is they’re doing and what it will look like, or firmly negate their suggestions by saying you simply don’t think that’s what you’d like at the moment.
Be polite if you’re not in the mood to chat.
Not everybody comes to the hairdresser prepared for a social time. If you’d rather just chill out or read a magazine, just do so – the hairdresser won’t be offended if you don’t entertain them while they do their job.
If they do keep talking when you’d rather they didn’t, don’t cut them off or ignore them. Either give quiet, distracted answers or say politely that you’ve had a hard day and want to just relax and be quiet, if that’s alright.
Don’t be overly familiar or interrupt when they’re concentrating.
Unless they’re your long-term friends and you catch up regularly, don’t presume to comment on their marital status, their weight, their job or anything else unless they invite the topic of conversation – just like you wouldn’t with any other contractor.
And don’t chatter on while they’re trying to do something complex with your head. It’ll only end badly if you distract them and they end up lopping something off by accident.
If you’re not qualified as a hairdresser, don’t tell them how to do their job.
Yes, maybe Maria does that particular cut differently. Yes, maybe your old hairdresser dried before cutting. However, there’s more than one way to give a haircut.
Unless it’s specific instructions – for example, a dye that you use regularly and are familiar with – don’t tell them what to do once you’ve given your instructions at the start. They should give you feedback throughout, and feel free to ask what they’re doing at each new stage, but if you start giving advice you’re not going to be popular.
Express dissatisfaction calmly and without anger.
Wanted to look like Cindy Crawford and come out looking like Ryan Cabera on a bad day? It’s OK to tell them you don’t like what they’ve done – but do it properly.
Find exactly what’s wrong, first. You need to identify specific problems rather than a general ‘I HATE it’, which can’t be fixed. And do identify how the end result departs from what you wanted in the first place.
Don’t be angry or emotional. Just say that you’re surprised by the outcome and would like to talk about how to move forward. Defer to them as the hairdressers – if they have good reasons for what they did, acknowledge that.
And ultimately have a goal in mind. Whether it’s a refund, a recut or advice on how to fix it at home, be clear, and ask them for options. This is just a professional transaction, and you deserve to have gotten what you asked for.
Accept responsibility.
If you didn’t properly say what you wanted, or messed up the communication, apologise.
That makes life a lot easier. Rather than blaming anybody, just accept that it was a breakdown in communication and ask for help on how to fix things.
Unless you’re 200% sure you were clear and that they understood what you wanted, this is more than likely what happened – or that you were working with an inexperienced hairdresser. Also, sometimes hair simply doesn’t do what it’s told, unfortunately enough.
And ultimately, don’t fuss – it’s just hair.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Manners