I’m in a hair quandary!

PamelaJ I recognise that lovely house, it's not far from where I live. We hope to visit again very soon.

I have an appointment in 10 days. I also fancy keeping my hair a bit longer so have decided to ask the hairdresser just to even up the ends so then we both should be happy! Let's see what happens though!

As you haven't seen your hairdresser since before lock down, now is the perfect time to find another hairdresser.
If you start to go back again, you'll feel obliged to keep with him.

Last year I just git so fed up with having grey coloured out and decided to go for a silver look giving the grey a chance to grow out without being to noticeable. When mentioned this to my regular hairdresser she told me not to be stupid, I needed colour. Well that was it. Away in caravan on holiday I met a young woman with lovely hair, asked ger where she went as I was needing a hair cut. Made an appointment, had the silver done and I love it. Told to just use a "blue" shampoo now and again to brighten up. I am so glad I stopped the colouring, my grey must be well grown in now given lockdown. I think hairdressers want you to ho for colouring as going grey doesn't bring in money for them. Go to another hairdresser and do what you want.

MissAdventure gave the very same answer I would ... find a picure of the style you want, show it to your hairdresser and tell him you want it to look like that when he's finished. Compare your cut with the photo and, if it doesn't match , refuse to pay/tell him to fix it/say you will not be coming back (delete as applicable). Personally I would do all three!

Hi,I would go elsewhere and if you bump into your usual hairdresser say something like, I've got a friends family member coming to my house to do my hair, it suits me better. Chances are you won't see your hairdresser again. This made me think of something that happened years ago I was visiting my mum who was having her hair cut/styled in kitchen and my brother future mother in law was visiting for first time. And she said to mum I hope your hairdresser is better than mine. Mine is rubbis.I could do with getting a new one myself. Mums hairdresser walked into front room after a while and said oh Hello Jackie.was only her hairdresser. We still laugh about it now years later.

I had my hair cut on Monday this week. My hairdresser always asks me how I want to have it done and he does it as per my request. Good hairdressers are hard to come by and finding another salon, and getting used to a new stylist can take time. Years ago I had a female stylist who just did the same style over and over again, despite my requests to try something new. When I said I'd like to have blonde highlights, she laughed and said they wouldn't suit me. (I was late 20s at the time!!) A friend took me to his salon in Brockley (a 3 bus journey for me) but they were great. They listened and transformed me! I went there for years. Now - I'm ancient, I go to a salon a short walk from my house and my guy is lovely. I regularly have highlights; he always suggests things if I say I don't know what to have done and it's always right for me.

My hairdresser rang to say they were taking bookings again but I don't want to go back - what I SHOULD have said was 'thanks but I'm letting it grow', needless to say I didn't think quickly enough. However I have reckoned they are so busy at the moment that I won't be missed so have booked with a new salon and pre-warned them I am wanting to discuss a new style.

Many people have realised during shut-down that grown-out natural-coloured and self-trimmed hair looks just fine. And it does! Your friends all look good, don't they? Hairdressers are terrified! You'll be paying the same as the men for hairdressing now - if you spend anything.

My other son has been cutting his own for awhile now, and saving money, but youngest wont let either of us use the clippers on his.

Dont worry too much speldnan, im sure they wont miss one or two customers, theres always going to be new ones to take their place.

Yangste1007 yes i often wonder about that.its a money racket. im certainly not rushing my son(17) there every four weeks at the price they charge near us for a lads haircut!

Edithb-Thats because theyve got the visors on! be pointless having both..ours had visors and aprons, but i was surprised they didnt wear gloves? I had gloves on (I'd taken my own) and they gave me apron, a plastic over shoulder cover & what seemed to be a disposable kind of thick towel? I started off with my own mask on but it went on floor as i had hair washed so i put it in my pocket for washing. i seem to be fine. they had masks there but weren't insisting on them.im glad im having a colour next time though, she'll have to wear gloves.

When i used to travel on bus, (other son drives now) all the older ladies used to look like they must all go to same hairdressers, all cut short and grey (or a rinse) all mostly straight, all same style.looked like 'stepford grans'

My hairdressers are taking many precautions, including them wearing visors and clients wearing masks. They are not required to wear masks themselves.

Take a pic of hair style you REALLY WANT and stick to youre guns- your hair can be however you like- it can 'take' whatever style you like- provided you have enough hair for that one (i.e.if you've short hair you can't have a long style) unless you have extensions put in? But also say, if its not how i want it i won't pay for it! Or cancel now and go to a new one? Im sure you could get an appt in a short while if you ring round a bit? Try not go for the old fashioned 'old lady' type hair dressers who make them all look same (short, grey, snipped off hair) try find a more 'modern' one.I hadnt secured an appt on saturday for mine cutting, at my usual one- but i got one with their barber for my son- when i got there with him, i went to counter to book mine ahead for another day and they said they could fit me in, in 10 minutes or so.So not all booked up for wks or mths! Try it.

Hi Noname, I have just had my haircut for the first time since January, took this opportunity to change from my same old, same old hairdresser. Grey not a problem, grew mine out 20 + years ago but the Short spiky pixie cut I like. Had become a short back and sides ( older gents will know what I mean).
Cancel the appointment, look on Pinterest for a new hair cut and Be brave it is your hair you are paying. I am so glad I did x

A bit off subject here, but one thing lockdown has taught me is that I don't need to go to the hairdresser nearly so often as the hairdresser would like me to go.

‘I know I could go somewhere else but don’t want to offend my stylist’

How would he know? If he doesn’t know, he cannot possibly be offended, can he? I don’t think it likely that you’ll get in touch with him to announce that you’re going elsewhere. Why would you?

I have an appointment on Friday. I know my hairdresser and his staff will be wearing visors. I think it would be asking a lot to expect them to wear masks all day when you consider how hard this must be for hospital staff who, of course, have no choice. I’m sure any decent hairdresser would wear a mask at a client’s request if he or she felt vulnerable.

The truth is (and I’m not criticising them, been there myself) but highlights, colour, regrowths etc all cost a lot more than a straightforward cut and dry and short-styled hair requires more frequent maintenance than longer hair (which can be flatteringly put up). It’s logical that hairdressers (and I don’t blame them either in the current economic climate) are bound to discourage going with the grey and more likely to suggest highlights, flattering short styles for older women etc. You just have to decide what’s best for you and perhaps ask a truly trusted friend or two as to what suits you best if you’re undecided. Hairdressers inevitably have a conflict of interest financially but on the other hand they are also professionals who may well know better than you what suits your face and hair type, it’s a tricky balance .........

I'm in the same situation. I started growing my silver hair out last November and it's looking good(ish). As someone said, they do become friends. I'm hedging my bets at the mo!

I’m afraid of offending my long term hairdresser by not wanting to go and have my hair cut also my partner has been going to her every 6 weeks for years. Early in lockdown we bought a hair cutting razor thing and I’ve been cutting his hair almost as well as she does! Since it costs him £20 plus at the hairdressers he is loathe to go back there! But it will deny our hairdresser business so it’s quite a moral dilemma.
I’ve decided not to colour my hair anymore and have been letting it get long so I’m not sure if I’ll go back either at the moment.

My daughter is a hairdresser and she is fully booked until the end of July. Its her salon and she is open from 7.30 to 7.30 for the next 2 weeks, 7 days a week. She is more than busy with people who do want highlights and cuts etc. without worrying about the few clients who want to try grey.
Hairdressing is one of the few businesses that has recovered over night( at least for July) and she is grateful for that. The lull will come when we have all had our hair done and haven't yet reached the redo stage but by then those who do not yet have the courage to venture out will be dipping a toe in the water now that they can see what's involved.

I think a lot of us probably felt in need of change after lockdown. My own hair is short and spiky but it had grown and I asked for longer layers and more of a short pixie bob. I took a lot of photos with me - I think the thing to keep in mind is that whatever picture you use, it will look different on everyone because different hair/head/face. I’m pleased with mine but it’s not a million miles from what it was. Great to get it done though.??