Thread: in shock

I went to get my hair trimmed today. Easy-peasy, I thought, just a trim with a little length taken off.

The crazy hairdresser chopped of 12 inches... 12!!!! My attention was on my almost 2 year old when she first started cutting it (after I told her no more than 5 inches off the bottom), so I didn't notice how much she was cutting off. It was hubby's expression when he walked in the salon that clued me in.

I'm still in shock. My beautiful hair...... It was at hip length, and I wanted it right at waist length. Instead, it's brushing my bra band. I can't believe it.

..cr.:..cr.:..cr.:..cr.:..cr.:..cr.:

I'm so sorry! I don't understand why hairdressers will do this sometimes. I would be tempted not to pay for it.

Oh, NO!!! .w.: ..cr.: I'm so sorry this happened... I hope you gave that hairdressing a stiff talkin'-to!!!!,m::

how horrible!!! Is she crazy? Don't she know how long it takes to get hair long? ,m:: - I hope you didn't pay her!

I would not have paid her at all. She got scissor happy. Hairdressers main job is to please the client, i am so sorry, but i'm sure you can make it faboulous!!!

I will tell you how it probably happened, because I've done it myself when I was a baby hairdresser (except I realised what was happening and changed my guide.) When you cut long hair it's the same as a bob, but longer, so you take the first bottom section at the nape, cut, then take more sections, comb them down to the guide and cut to match. Simple, right. EXCEPT that in long hair, especially very long hair, the hairs at the nape are often broken shorter than the rest of the head, and you don't realise that till you've taken a few sections and you're up near the occipital and suddenly you're going "holy hell, I was cutting two inches and now I'm cutting five!"

Either that or the hairdresser misunderstood you, but I bet it's the former.

I can make all the usual noises about how the hair is now going to be so much healthier and it will grow soon but none of those actualy help. It sucks. But it *will* grow, and because it's still really quite long you still have the lovely look of long hair, and it should grow nicely. Plus the northern summer is coming and hair grows faster in summer.

yeah, she was a baby hairdresser... and no, i didn't pay for it...

but my hair is gone *wail*

I'd talk to the manager... Even if it's good for your hair, and you now look more fabulous than you imagined... Tell the manager. This is completely unacceptable. If she doesn't know how cut 5" and not 12", then she needs a different job or a lot more training. PERIOD. I've experienced too many "baby hairdresser" mistakes. I will NEVER go to a baby hairdresser again. That's what school is for. (AND I HAVE 3 FRIENDS WHO ARE AT VARYING LEVELS/ADVANCEMENTS IN HAIRSTYLING... ALL AGREE)

Wow, I am so sorry to hear this. I know the painful feeling of loosing locks to a hairdresser. I don't know what to say to make you feel better. This much length definitelly takes some weight off the roots so it may give your hair a nice healthy boost.

Originally Posted by xodinahox

but my hair is gone *wail*

Find a fun way to put it up. You won't notice it so much. Get a really cool hair clip with bling or flowers or something on it. It's spring.... you can go wild...l;,

Originally Posted by xodinahox

yeah, she was a baby hairdresser... and no, i didn't pay for it...

but my hair is gone *wail*

One year, my dear, and it'll be at your waist again. Give it lots of lovely treatments and think about how it is still long and lovely, just not as long - but definitely as lovely! - as it was!

If it's any consolation that hairdresser is probably in agonies over what she did. Check out other long-haired people you know to find a replacement - there are always good hairdressers who "get" long hair and the long haired people know where they are.

You know, this is really a classic life experience. You go to a hairdresser, you state your wishes, hairdresser feels you should do something else and just goes and does it. Someone I knew sat down and said "I'm keeping it long. I just need the ends trimmed." The hairdresser said, "You're going to like it better THIS way, TRUST me!" and on the word "trust," clipped off a huge section of hair at the top of her neck, thus instantly condemning her to a short haircut. This was probably 20 years ago but I've never forgotten the story. She jumped up and walked of the salon but then of course she just had to go to another salon to get the rest of the short haircut done.
Rosette

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this :( Had some bad experiences myself when my hair was long, this can be quite traumatic.. Hugs to you. And I concur with the advice of the others re. talking to the manager.. at least your experience can be of help to future clients that way!

I know it's too late, but my personal policy upon entering a salon is to tell them right off the bat that I am a professional bellydancer and I have to keep my hair long for my business. There is an unspoken understanding when I say that that ANY straying from my "look" will result in lost business = possible liability for them. Yeah, I'm not gonna sue if they mess up, but believe me it's kept my stylist on the same page with me for the long-haul.

I'd probably be freaking out if something like this happened to me, especially since my hair takes so long to grow. Horror stories like this are exactly the reason why now that my lifetime hairdresser (my mom) is in a different country, I had to learn to cut my own hair.

But as has already been mentioned, I bet your hair is a lot healthier now and that it shows.

I know my hair would look a lot better if I cut 12 inches off of it, but I don't have the courage and I definitely prize the length more than anything else right now, but most people (outside of the belly dance world) don't see it the same way. I'm sure a lot of people are thinking your hair looks even more beautiful now, even if you don't agree.

I wish I had a consistent hairdresser. The hair salon around the corner from me has big turn around and you never see the same stylists there, plus the cost (all inclusive the mngr. tells me) is 60.00 just to get a hair wash, cut and style... and they NEVER, ever do what I want them to do. What's the deal with some hair dressers these days? Sometimes I think they should be actual butchers instead.

Originally Posted by Khalilah

I know it's too late, but my personal policy upon entering a salon is to tell them right off the bat that I am a professional bellydancer and I have to keep my hair long for my business. There is an unspoken understanding when I say that that ANY straying from my "look" will result in lost business = possible liability for them. Yeah, I'm not gonna sue if they mess up, but believe me it's kept my stylist on the same page with me for the long-haul.

That is a VERY good idea.

Originally Posted by salsabelly

I'd talk to the manager... Even if it's good for your hair, and you now look more fabulous than you imagined... Tell the manager. This is completely unacceptable. If she doesn't know how cut 5" and not 12", then she needs a different job or a lot more training. PERIOD. I've experienced too many "baby hairdresser" mistakes. I will NEVER go to a baby hairdresser again. That's what school is for. (AND I HAVE 3 FRIENDS WHO ARE AT VARYING LEVELS/ADVANCEMENTS IN HAIRSTYLING... ALL AGREE)

This is why I went back to my original hairdresser. When I say 1/2 inch, she does that. Her hair is down to her hips and she's had the same experience. so she knows what I mean. I am so sorry this happened - I would be in shock.

Originally Posted by Khalilah

I know it's too late, but my personal policy upon entering a salon is to tell them right off the bat that I am a professional bellydancer and I have to keep my hair long for my business. There is an unspoken understanding when I say that that ANY straying from my "look" will result in lost business = possible liability for them. Yeah, I'm not gonna sue if they mess up, but believe me it's kept my stylist on the same page with me for the long-haul.

I told this to one hairdresser and he told me that maybe I should use wigs. ,m:: I no longer go there.

My hair was really healthy except for the last 3 inches. That's why I wanted 5 taken off, so that it would look awesome and still be long enough for the 'wow' factor.

I have a major show in France this weekend, and my performance has a lot of spins and hair accents. I've been trying out some of the movements with my shorter length, and now my hair smacks me in the face... not a good thing.... I have to practice to not use so much force now, but I really don't have much free time to do that.

*sigh* if it's not one thing, it's another...

I had this happen to me at a training salon. We were really, really broke and I was wearing my hair in a pixie cut at the time. I asked her if she could take like another 1/4" off, and she left me with about that much in some places, and longer than that in others. I ended up having to essentially have it buzz level short to even out.

I'm sorry this happened, it sucks!

Bummer! {{{HUGS}}}

You're still beautiful regardless!

I just lost 3 - 5" on a salon floor. Not a happy camper. And the stylist is an old pro. She does amazing colour (fixed one of my few mistakes) but then took off too much.

It is healthier, it does grow quickly, and I will see the length again. But I will not go back to her for a cut!

{{{HUGS}}}

i'm so sorry. i just never ever ever let one of the apprentices cut my hair in the salon i go to. that's the only place in the world i behave like a diva and "insist" the manager or ONE other guy i trust cut it. the only thing i late the new ones do is wash, possibly colour, but they arent going anywhere near it with scissors.

i'm sooo sorry for your hair. it will grow back, but oh, the agony, now...
xxx

without going as far as threatening them, yes, i've also made sure my salon knows why i sometimes go in wanting my hair to be perfect (big show) and will make a fuss. i've even brought them like pictures of a new photoshoot, send them a clip on youtube, so they "get" it.

Originally Posted by Khalilah

I know it's too late, but my personal policy upon entering a salon is to tell them right off the bat that I am a professional bellydancer and I have to keep my hair long for my business. There is an unspoken understanding when I say that that ANY straying from my "look" will result in lost business = possible liability for them. Yeah, I'm not gonna sue if they mess up, but believe me it's kept my stylist on the same page with me for the long-haul.

Oh no, that stinks! I'm sorry to hear that. You could try massaging a little almond oil in your scalp a few times a week it might help stimulate the growth.

Back when my hair was very long I let my hairdresser friend trim my hair (no more than an inch, or so I thought!) and she whacked off more like 8 or 9 inches and then just shrugged when I said what the #@$%&*? I wanted to throttle her!!!

Needless to say we weren't friends anymore after that, nope.

Originally Posted by Khalilah

I know it's too late, but my personal policy upon entering a salon is to tell them right off the bat that I am a professional bellydancer and I have to keep my hair long for my business. There is an unspoken understanding when I say that that ANY straying from my "look" will result in lost business = possible liability for them. Yeah, I'm not gonna sue if they mess up, but believe me it's kept my stylist on the same page with me for the long-haul.

Yep, my stylist knows that the main reason I keep my hair in long, full layers is so that I can get the "big hair" for performing. I know sometimes she's dying to do something a little sleeker and updated, but she knows better than to do anything except trim up the layers.

I chopped my hair short (asymmetrical bob - shaved at the nape) really short about a year and a half ago. I did it on purpose and loved it, but I still missed my bra band length hair.

Then we went to Arab World Fest in Milwaukee and were performing a Khaleeji. I had my stylist (she's a friend of mine) make some clip in hair extensions. It made for extra fullness (my hair is thin) and added almost 6" in the length. I use them all the time for shows now. They stay in, they add length and all... just a thought...

This happened to me! I went in for a trim of my waist long hair and came out with it just below my shoulders. It was sooo traumatizing. I cried and cried and my mom even cried when i went to her house to show her what happened. My hair grows super slow and it only got to that length because of my pregnancy. Needless to say I did not go get a haircut for 2 years because I was so upset. This was 10 years ago and my hair has never been able to grow past my bra strap since. I can totally understand your feelings.

Oh, Dina, I'm so sorry! I understand how you feel, because I also used to have very long hair (about 70 cm / 27 inches long). I hated going to the hairdresser! Once they cut much more than I asked, like they did to you... It was terrible...