Part of Hair Romance’s Salon Advice series, helping you navigate the salon and love your hair.
You used to love how your hairdresser styled your hair but now things are different. You’re bored with same look or maybe you’re not feeling appreciated. It could be time to break up with your hairdresser.
It seems dramatic to say “break up” but the relationship with your hairdresser can be highly emotional. More than stylist and client, you’re confidants, and have shared some very personal moments in the chair. Your stylist knows exactly how many greys you have, and they helped change your look to mark important times in your life. They spend more time touching and massaging you than your partner does. Breaking up is hard to do.
1. You’re both in a style rut
Your stylist has stopped asking what you want to do with your hair and just gives you the same look each visit. But have you ever told your stylist you want to try something new? Communication is important in any relationship. Talk to your hairdresser. Explain what you want to do with your hair and give them another chance before you break up. It could reignite your hair romance.
2. You hate your last haircut
Something changed and your last haircut was a disaster. You feel like you’ve been let down. You trusted them with your best accessory and they’ve given you a bad hair day that will take months to grow out. Go back and tell your stylist you’re not happy. Give them a chance to fix it. If they don’t accept there’s a problem it’s probably time to move on.
How to break up with your hairdresser
Although it feels emotional, recognise that it’s a professional relationship. You can just stop calling and move on to a new salon, but it’s polite to let them know. The feedback is also useful to your hairdresser. How can they improve if they don’t know what the problem is?
If you’re not comfortable calling them to tell them, a short email is the answer. No need to write an essay, but give them an idea as to why you’ve gone elsewhere. This gives your hairdresser the opportunity to improve, and perhaps win back your clientele. At least this closure removes any awkwardness if you see each other in the street.
If you want to give a polite excuse to spare your hairdresser’s feelings, here’s some suggestions you can choose from:
- The salon is too far from your house/school/work
- Your mum/sister/friend is paying for you to go to a different salon with them
- You’re going back to your natural colour
- You’ve joined a cult that won’t let you cut your hair
Have you ever had an emotional break up with your hairdresser? How did you tell them you wouldn’t need to make another appointment?
My hair stylist had a picture of EXACTLY what I wanted and she wouldn’t listen to me at all. She was rushing though the entire haircut even though I had made a set appointment hours prior and she agreed. She also cut 3 people’s hair after my appointment time. 3! She couldn’t care less about my hair and more about the money. When I asked her to stop layering my hair. She told me my hair was too thick so she just kept chopping. Instead of making me look edgy.. she made me look like a suburban mom and I have no idea what to do. HELP!
oh Savannah, this sounds like a nightmare salon visit. They say the difference between a bad haircut and a good haircut is 2 weeks so hopefully it grows quickly. I would give it some time to grow and then I’d be looking for a new stylist to fix up the cut. Good luck xx
Hi colour was different this time. Talked about it at great length and she was busy, became mad by her body language and i said you’re mad and she said she had to move on with my toning. She looked away and if given a chance looked like she was going to stomp her feet. Felt like she was denying my reality that the colour wasn’t the same this time and i know my hair in my mirror. Looked orangy and know she left some hair at the front not in the foils but she said she didn’t. Toning helped. Hairdresser can never get my left sideburn right despite me telling her the way i like it and what bugs me. Feel like going elsewhere and don’t want another hairdresser in the same salon as awkward. What do you think?
I just didn’t rebook but want to go to someone else in the same salon. Awkward! Not sure if I can pull it off.
I have your answer coming up next week! How to switch stylists is coming up on Tuesday x
I don’t think I could find anything better than this excuses 😉
I tend to not re-book my appointment and then just not go back. Something I did about 18 months ago, when my long time hairdresser went on maternity leave. Of course I’ve returned now that she’s back! Yay!
Thanks for the prescription. I was thinking of a breakup after my last ridiculous haircut. Now I have gotten some reason.