Five good reasons to break up with your hairdresser
The relationship between client and hairdresser is built on trust, communication and – let’s be honest – a fair slice of emotional investment.
Stylists see us through big life changes, listen to our rants about work and relationships, and (ideally) help us walk out of the salon feeling our best. Such is the intimate nature of the relationship, some stylists have been trained to recognise signs of domestic violence.
But as with any relationship, sometimes things just don’t work out. With more than 63,000 hair stylists employed in Australia, there’s no need to settle for second best if you’re unhappy with your hairdresser. Here are five signs it might be time to cut ties and find someone else to wield the scissors.
Communication is key, says Maureen Harding, national president of Hair and Beauty AustraliaCredit: Getty Images
They don’t listen
There’s nothing more frustrating than asking for a trim and walking out with half your hair on the salon floor.
If you consistently find that your stylist isn’t paying attention to your requests or doesn’t seem to understand what you’re asking for, it might be time to move on.
Maureen Harding, national president of Hair and Beauty Australia, says that if you start feeling overlooked, it’s worth expressing your concerns. An open dialogue is essential to ensuring you walk out of the salon happy with your hair.
“The consumer needs to let the stylist know [what they want], and the stylist on the other hand needs to also listen,” she says.
A good hairdresser should be able to balance their expertise with your personal preferences. If you continue to feel unheard in the chair, it’s a good idea to seek out someone who is a better fit.
You don’t feel good about yourself when you leave
Getting your hair done should leave you feeling refreshed and confident. If you repeatedly walk out feeling disappointed or self-conscious, it might mean your stylist isn’t meeting your needs.
Harding says you should let your stylist know how you feel: “As stylists, we need to consult, we need to communicate, but we can’t always necessarily read a person’s mind. Let the stylist know, good, bad or indifferent, and we as professionals should be able to take that.”
With the right communication, changing hairdressers doesn’t have to be difficult. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
If you encounter unwelcome comments or unsatisfactory results, speak up. And if your concerns continue to go unaddressed, it might be time to find a new hairdresser.
They’re always running late
Sure, popular stylists have packed schedules, and things don’t always run on time. You may also have been guilty of this a couple of times. But if your stylist is consistently late and leaves you waiting well past your appointment time, it’s a sign of poor time management.
Your time is valuable, and while a few minutes here and there is forgivable, regularly being kept waiting shows a lack of respect for your schedule.
You can’t afford them any more
The cost-of-living crisis is hitting everyone – including hairdressers, many of whom have had to raise their prices due to rent increases and rising supply costs. While it’s understandable, that doesn’t mean you have to stick with a stylist whose rates no longer fit your budget.
If your stylist’s fees have escalated beyond what you’re comfortable paying, it might be worth exploring more affordable options. With the average cost of a haircut ranging from $50-$100 for short hair and $100-$250 for longer styles (and higher for colour treatments), it’s OK to shop around.
They make you feel uncomfortable
A trip to the salon can be an intimate experience. It involves trusting someone with your appearance while sitting in a chair for an extended period of time.
Harding says service is key across all industries, and a professional stylist should create an environment where you feel welcome, respected and at ease.
“If you don’t feel good in that environment – and I’m not just specifically pointing out hair and beauty, but in general businesses – don’t go back. Again, it comes back to service and communication.”
So how do you do it?
Harding advises against ending the relationship with your stylist without first discussing your concerns. If you ultimately decide the stylist isn’t the right fit, try another stylist within the same salon rather than abandoning the business entirely.
“As in the art world, you’ve got Monet, you’ve got Van Gogh, you’ve got Australian artists … What’s the commonality about them? They’re all fabulous, and they’re all good, but they’re all different. They won’t suit everyone,” she says.
“Don’t just dump the hairdressing salon you’re at. Try someone different.”
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