I’m in a hair quandary!

I have just been! They are clearly taking a lot of precautions using everything disposable though I was a bit surprised they were wearing visors and not masks as well. Like others, my hair has really grown longer than I have had it for years so I am going to stick with a longer style myself... for now!

Hairdressers are used to being dumped - at least you don't have to make up an excuse, you just stop making appointments.

It is so important to be happy with your hair!

I have highlights and a bob but it has lost the shape now.

So I have decided to go shorter, see what it is like and if I feel that I need highlights again I will have them done.

I think I will see what my 'natural' hair colour is like to start with as I haven't seen it for so long!

Oh Noname.... this happened to me 2 years ago, I had to cancel my appointment for a cut and colour and readjust for just a cut, as I had emergency childcare commitments . He happily accepted this ,but when I came to pay, he had doubled the price for my haircut.He said it was because I’d ‘messed him about’. I’d been with him 25 years. I paid.... walked out, and never went back! I now colour my own hair ( £6 ).... and have a £10 cut once every 6 weeks. A saving of £63 per 6 weeks..... roughly £500 per year. Win-win I say! If he won’t do what YOU are paying for then drop him. Plenty of younger , original stylists out there,

Original Poster . On this thread it’s Noname

What is OP short for?

In my youth (last century) Hairdressers used to automatically give me the female version of short back and sides, I hated it. 'fraid I found a hairdresser similar age to myself, who had hair to die for! Told her what I wanted and suggested I might take the scissors to her hair if necessary. Trouble was she was expensive and I couldn't really afford it, so I started cutting my own hair. That is what I am doing these days! I do have a super hairdresser and will go back when I feel it's safe.

good point polnan,I had considered letting my hair go grey now,but my hairdresser rang me to offer an appointment,she asked if I wanted the same colour,and I said yes.I know I'll like it,but of course it's more money for them,they're not going to advise me to stop colouring.

It’s difficult if he has only one style in mind. It’s hard to say too.

I was going to a hairdresser nearby, very good name, but when they increased the price twice in a short period, I decided to leave them and go to a more price conscious hairdresser.

You're not married to your hairstylist, you have no contract with him so why worry about going elsewhere?
It's your hair, your choice in styles and if you want to have something different now after the lockdown overgrowth then find another salon.
If it bothered you that much send your old stylist a thank you card and end the "relationship" on a good note.

Welcome GirlyGran it’s always good to have new gransnetter’s ?

No hairdresser is going to be short of clients. I think you could move to a new one without your current one even noticing!

I would cancel, and try somewhere else. I had a similar issue with the colouring of mine, once it had gone past just a few highlights. I’d describe/show pictures of what I was after, the colourist would nod and agree - and I’d end up, yet again, with the same colour she did last time.

I eventually moved somewhere else, and armed with pictures got what I was asking for, which was a good outcome.

I did feel a bit awkward though, as I couldn’t bring myself to say that it was because I didn’t like the way she did my hair! Which is silly, I know.

Could you try a different salon, get your hair done by someone new and get exactly what you want? Then take a photo on your phone to show the regular and pretend that a 'friend' treated you to this session for a special present and you'd like keep the new style.

If that doesn't work you're going to have to 'dump' your regular hairdresser with tact. Could you say that you'd like to grow your hair and will leave a longer interval between each visit and will ring in due course? Then go elsewhere. Cowardly perhaps but many of us dislike confrontation.

It's your right to have your hair as you want it and if your hairdresser is as good as they think they are, the first thing that they should do is listen to you ! Not sure why some people are so frightened of them !
If you want a change of style/colour, why not? If it is your choice and it doesn't work , doesn't suit you, difficult for you to look after and so on, that is your choice - hair usually grows back again and it can always be restyled again .

I have a friend who is 25 years younger than I am .
She is totally grey and it looks great.
I am still mouse .
So boring.
Have highlights.

I had my first appointment this week since lockdown. I was pleased with the way my hair had grown, so just wanted a light trim. However my stylist, who I have been going to for years, got a bit scissor-happy and has cut too much off. I’m hoping it grows quickly so that I don’t continue to feel as disappointed as I do now.

I have a photograph of Joanna Lumley taken ,I imagine ,when she was starting out on her acting career.
She looks lovely.
Her hair is short, not bleached - pre Purdy .
I also have one of Julie Walters with her hair in the style it is now.
They are the ones I take to my hairdresser

Trying to find a new hairdresser can be really difficult. One of the methods I have tried successfully in the past is to look really carefully at your friends, colleagues and acquaintances' hairdos. Then try to find someone with a similar hair type to yours whose style you like and ask them for their hairdressers’ details (remembering to ask for the name of the stylist, not just the salon).
Taking a selection of pictures of styles you like can work, but you have to be realistic! As one hairdresser said to me, "I can restyle their hair, but not their face." A bit harsh, I thought
Do some research - a lot of hairdressers have their own profiles on social media where they share photos of their work.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do!

Noname, I could have written this!
I have an appointment for 4 Aug, but have already said I might not go. I have been saying for years that I wanted to grow out the shorter layers and my hairdresser has convinced me it wouldn’t work! However after 5 months I know it would work! I have trimmed the back myself quite successfully and I’m quite happy with my hair at the moment, although it will obviously need styling at some point. I feel as though if I go back to the same hairdresser I’ll be back to square one!

I must admit this has happened to me a few years ago, I used to go to the same hairdressers and the hairdresser did her own thing. Hence that hairdresser was outed and I moved on to one that I’m happy with who listened to me, and every so often she tries different styles

I do NEVER give offence, if you wish to take it, that is up to you!

I like that Polnan. Noted for future use

Noname.
I had my hair cut yesterday. They are booked up for weeks. Said that strangers were phoning them desperate for a hair cut. If I were you I’d just have a little cut off and wait for your next appointment before discussing a new hair style. I have kept mine a little longer than usual and just got him to tidy it up. Whatever you do don’t cancel your appointment as it could be another 6/8 weeks before you get another.

I can quite see your dilemma. I had my previous appointment for colour and cut on Monday and after twenty years of the same style I have had a completely new look. Husband said he does not like it so I think it must look ok ?. With my hairdresser I sort of laid it bare and said I had to have the change. That it was part of looking to the future and she got it. She did try to talk me out of it but I insisted. Go for it and insist I just know you will look fab. Take care ✅

Hairdressers are renowned for doing there own thing. A lot of us have probably gone home at some point and been unhappy with the style. If your hairdressers won't listen change. We pay a lot of money to them and should walk out of the salon feeling happy