Hairdressers who don't listen

I had medium length hair, which when straightened reached my shoulders. My hair is slightly wavy and therefore looks really stupid if its in-between pixie-cut short and shoulder-length. I went to my hairdresser and explained that I just wanted a trim and I wanted a full-fringe again(I have a side-fringe) She then proceeded to explain that having a fringe would make my hair look shorter and that I should have my side fringe cut a little. I agreed and said that I just wanted a small trim and for her to do something with my fringe. She cut all my lovely hair off and at the back it sits just at the top of my neck. I HATE it!!!

I have very fine , thin hair and nearly every haidresser I've tried cuts it into SHORT, FEATHERED LAYERS when I specifically ask them not to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I'm now trying (again!!!!!!!!) to grow the layers down . I always explain I want a blunt cut bob with long layers, but do they listen?NO!

I don't know where I'm going wrong here, even the more expensive salons are no better.

I am never going back to a hairdresser ever!!! They never listen, I have just had my hair done and I asked for a "trim" then I got about 5 inches off?? It's also all different lengths to why do the compelete opposite of what I wanted I specifically said I was growing it to!! what a bimbo I tried so hard for it to grow as well. I never straightened it or nothing to avoid split ends just for her to chop it all back off it's going to take forever to grow back now. What is so hard about listening to what the client wants done with THEIR OWN HAIR!!

I haven't been to a hairdresser for 5 years.don't trust them since I had my nearly waist length hair trimmed 5 inches.honestly don't they know the difference between a centremetre and an inch it took me ages to get it back where I had it and I won't be going back,my dear hubby trimms it now and he knows how much a centremetre is.

Virginian - No offence if I am wrong but, if you have been colouring your hair for a long time, then it may , at 51, be quite grey underneath. If so, and you dye it brown then it will still show a sharp "line" as you grow it out.

Ashy blonde, no gold or honey, with highlights would probably show the least as you grow it all out to whatever natural colour is there.

Know what you mean about fine, thin hair. Mine is too. In fact I find it quite worrying how thin it is getting. A short layered style seems to hide it best but, as you say "texturising" just makes it look worse. It is maddening when they won't listen to you.

Try a model session in a hairdressing college. They may actually listen to what you are saying! I am assuming that it is the same as here and that they only use the students near the end of their training and that they are closely supervised.

I am a 51 year old American female, and yes, I experience the same issues here in the States. I have extremely baby fine, thin hair and stylists like to "texturize" my hair...problem is, one needs volume to do that in the first place. As a result, I have fine, thin, choppy hair (with sideburns, too!) I pay minimum $35 before tip for a blow dry virtually anywhere I go...it is frustrating. If I say I want to quit dying my hair, the stylist will yack about how it adds texture. I disagree. but I can't get them to dye it back to my brown color (because I wouldn't need them, they must be thinking!) I guess I have to buy a bottle and do it myself.

I told my hair dresser what I wanted I said "cut at the front 4cm and the back 5cm and he totally messed it up! I look like a nerd from my school!!! I am never going there again!

omg I have been to the hairdressers and told her exactly what I wanted done
and hey ho my hair is a complete mess thinned out to much and very very short layers and different lenths
my hair was lovely and thick it took me ages to grow and now it looks like something from the 70s, I cant do anything except wait for it to grow again
I will never ever go back to a hairdressers again.. you all think you know what best well think on you dont try listening to your customers we pay your wages

it is so hard to find a hairdresser you like. Ive had mine for years now and she always knows better than me - that is what she has trained for.

If you get a good one keep her/him and tell your friends!

actually hairdressers often know best, twice in my career I did exactly what a clients asked me after explaning why it would not work, and at the end they agree I was right but guess who had to re do it for free, staying at work till 10 pm? If you'd listen to why your idea might not be good maybe we would not waste our breath. And if you do get what you want but don't like it you'll have to live with that till oh my god the following day. And re pay for it.

I have the same problem with hairdressers. They not only refuse to cut my hair the way I ask but they also experiment with the colour like they see fit and when told it is not what I was looking for they refuse to fix it quickly, dragging the visits out while giving me a partial fix with a promise for better results next time so that I'll come back for more. Most of them also know nothing about science and pester me with nonsensical comments and hair myths (e.g. if you cut hair it'll grow faster). Therefore, I decided to learn how to cut my own hair and taught my husband to give me the perfect haircut. I will also grow out my colour since it is expensive and way too much effort. I learned the hard way that cutting hair can be tricky but colour is even trickier if the wrong person is doing it. Needless to say, every hairdresser I ever visited had a different vision of which colours/haircuts suit me and I find it all too contradictory. I think they are either lazy (especially if it's late in the day), lack education and skill, or are terrible salespeople (keeping a client by creating a problem and then gradually fixing it.) The advice I have for you is to find a friend or relative who is willing to learn and give you that perfect haircut you need. Otherwise, "interview" some more hairdressers and ask for hair shorter/longer than you want so that they'll get it the perfect length without knowing. Otherwise you can either cut your own hair roughly or ask a friend/relative to do so and then go to the salon asking the hairdresser to fix it. That way they have no choice but to keep it short if it is already cut.

I have had a number of excellent cuts from different hairdressers - not easy with my thick, curly hair. However, I have had too many very bad ones. I have also repeatedly told hairdressers NOT to use mousse and a diffuser on my hair as I end up with a serious bouffant (making me look 10 years older), or else I look like Crystal (from Crystal Tips and Alistair). Yet, they do it EVERY time! Just because I have curly hair I do not need it moussing to within an inch of its life!

The last time - the hairdresser made such a hash of blowing my hair (with mousse and a diffuser) that I refused to leave the premises and walk down the street like that! It was washed out and then I blew it myself! Everyone there said what I great job I made of it (that's because I have been living with this hair for the past 48 years and DO know what to do with it). Then they had the nerve to try and charge me for the blow drying!! Naturally, they did not get it, nor did they get any repeat business.

Now I do all cutting, blowing and colouring of my own hair - and am regularly complemented on it.

Further to my earlier post when I walked out and ended up cutting my hair myself, I did get a good result in the end as I compained to the head office and got a free hair cut by the manager - how I wanted it and was asked to complete a statement of what happened. Reading an earlier hairdresser's comments "the fact that they are wanting such a old fashioned hair style that hair stylist would not even no how to do such a style because they were never taught.
The fact is that yes you may want a more mature hair style but at least try and keep it modern and up to date. why have something that makes you look old. I just dont get it." I think this just about sums it all up.
a) They are often only trained to do modern hair cuts. (Sorry they should be taught to cut for all ages).
b) Why have something that makes you look old. Well I am 63 and do not have old haircuts, I just do not like my hair cut in a certain way, i.e. long at the sides and short at the back.
c) Final comment "I just don;t get it". Well no you don't onbiously. Sorry, but the customer knows what they want to look like and they are paying, so give them what they want.

Shop around and take a picture is probably the best solution. Have since had a very nice cut on a local hairdresser, so will be sticking with her.

I hate it when hairdressers do this to. I just had my hair cut and I like it, apart from my fringe! It's completley different to how I want it. When you go in a hairdressers you should get the hair you want, no matter what it is! I'm really depressed and I have school tomorrow. And it doesn't really matter if the hairdressers think it wont suit you, or it's 'too old fashioned' if you want a certain haircut, you should get it! I mean you are paying for it!

I am a hairdresser. I find that most of the time people who moan about there actually dont even no what they want with there hair, or the fact that they are wanting such a old fashioned hair style that hair stylist would not even no how to do such a style because they were never taught.
The fact is that yes you may want a more mature hair style but at least try and keep it modern and up to date. why have something that makes you look old. I just dont get it.

see if you can find a local hairdresser who will come to your house! we have quite a few round here who will willingly make an appointment to cut your hair in your own house... that way you can have exactly what you want as a) if they don;t like the style they're cutting for you in won;t matter as no one will see them doing it and b) its your house so you're in control, rather than their salon where they are boss!
check out the yellow pages or local phonebook so see if you can find hairdressers advertising for this service. Good luck!

It's a shame that you can't find a stylist who will do what you want. My suggestion is to shop around. A good consultation should always precede a good haircut. Pictures are worth 1,000 words. If you can take a photo to the stylist, and they still refuse to do that for you, then get up out of the chair and move on. You owe them nothing if they won't give you at least some version of what YOU are paying for. I'm a stylist in the US and communication is key. Perhaps you could check out a Sassoon salon or training academy in your area. They usually get it right. Keep looking. You will find a good stylist because they're out there, and not as scarce as you might think. A lot of us still have pleasing you as our main goal, because without YOU, we won't be working.

Hacked and look like an Idiot 29-Jan-2010 22:45 if you dont like your service,then do it yourself oh I could do it better not !

What they want and what they tell you are 2 completely different things. Yes,a picture helps us to visualize what you require,however,if the photo is sleek,shiney & long & you come in with hair that is course, short, curly & frizzy then no amount of titivating,cutting or product is going to make you look like the picture. Sadly,a lot of people do not like hearing the truth. When pushed to carry out their demands, even when we try to suggest an alternative, suddenly it's our fault when they walk out resembling a rodents rectum! Thankfully, I do not encounter this problem much as I have a full clientele, some of who I have been doing for 19 years,so obviously I do listen. People wander why i'm so unsociable outside of work,well after reading some of these comments, is it any wander I dislike the human race in general. Dealing with the deluded and rude public every day of my working life has made me this way. So,come on ladies and gents,give us a break,and at least have a bit of common sense, you may even find you get a style you like. Manners and noncondescending discussions with your stylist will get you a long way! If all else fails and you're still encountering Sweeny Todd, may I suggest you try another salon on recommendation or your last resort buy a wig!

Time to hear from a hairdresser with 24 years continuous employment on this touchy subject,i think. While I completely sympathize with the afore mention's gripes & various other persons on this page,please let me put my point across. Yes,there are many stylists like the ones you have encountered. A lot have not had 5 years training as I did under a Day Release City and Guilds course while working in a salon to gain Indentures as proof of apprenticeship. Many think they are qualified after a quick course at the college or just working in a salon-not acceptable,however,after all my years of hairdressing i've come to the conclusion I either come from another planet or I speak a different language. Guess what,guys,i have yet to master the art of walking on water and I don't read minds. Sadly many people who come in seem to think we can work miracles.continued on next comment.