# Is anybody else intimidated by hair salons? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 17, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338 "2002-07-17T03:14:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/21 "2002-07-17T16:30:40Z")
Thanks for the answer, **Cheesesteak**. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/22 "2002-07-17T18:23:14Z")
Glad I’m not the only one **featherlou**. It’s wierd and irrational, but I’m afraid they’ll make fun of my hair, since I cut it at home and don’t use anything fancy on it. And **LolaCocaCola**? I’m a temp worker. I make $8.50 an hour. $50 is a _lot_ for me to even think about spending on my hair. ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/23 "2002-07-17T18:33:20Z")
Mind you that’s w/ shampoo w/ head massage and tips (I tip 20% if it’s good) But it’s also for color whcih takes FOREVER to do since it involves foil, small bunches of strands and 3 different shades of blond. The blow-dry and style is $20 extra. But I DO get to drink wine while getting it all done. I’ve paid less, but have never been happy. These folks do the best they can with the type of hair I have–fine and thin. But they always make me feel like crap while I’m there before I’ve been “transformed.” “What HAVE you been doing with your hair? Your ends look frayed and AWFUL!” “You have been using supermarket product on your hair, haven’t you–I can TELL.” "Don’t wait so long between appointments and you hair won’t look so bad (as if I could afford to come more often!) ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/24 "2002-07-17T19:13:21Z")
featherlou, it sounds like you went to the wrong salon. (I’m captain obvious, right?) With some proper research, you should be able to find a place that gives great haircuts and are not jerks. If you are just looking for someone to do your hair for your wedding, try calling places to see if they will send someone to you. I had a wedding planner and she made the arrangements, but we had a lady come to my hotel and do my hair. Get her on your turf and see how snooty she is to you! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/25 "2002-07-17T19:26:58Z")
I usually have a good time at the beauty salon–though it doesn’t sound as snobby and nasty as the ones y’all go to. I get dragged in every once in a while by one of my friends. They always go nuts over my hair, which is super-long, and if they aren’t too busy they’ll usually offer–nay, beg–to do it up all fancy. My bobby-pin collection is a sight to see. I love how they coo and ooh and ahhh . . . “How do you keep it so shiny?” “Oh my god, it’s so _healthy_! What do you use on it?” Answer: nothing. I use Head and Shoulders extra strength to fight dandruff, and shampoo and condition with Pantene, which I buy at the supermarket, thankyouverymuch, and wash every couple of weeks with a different shampoo (whatever random cheap stuff the hubby has–Suave, or White Rain) to eliminate buildup, and I _don’t_ blowdry, and I _don’t_ use hairspray, mousse, gel, or any of that other crap on it. So much for all that crud they sell to their customers, stringing them along with the illusion that if they just spend enough money and slather on the right salon-style botanical whosiwhatsis, they, too, will have beautiful hair. (“If you want to have beautiful hair, you must pronounce SALon as _I_ do, with the emphasis on the first syllable!”) My hair usually looks like nothin’ special–other than being long and healthy, which is fine for me. On my wedding day, we went to my grandma’s “beauty operator” who pulled my hair back in a nice barette and curled it in nice springy-bouncy-curls here and there. My sister insisted on a little makeup, which I agreed to because I knew she’d do a nice job of it. But that was it. Good luck finding a good person/place to put your hair up, **featherlou.** I can see how you want to have it all fancy and stuff for your wedding, but sheesh! On of my friend had a professional makeup lady come special to put up the bridal party’s hair and do our makeup. (Since most of the bridal party were physicists who could not operate a mascara wand without putting out an eye, I think this was a Good Call on her part!) I don’t doubt that it cost an arm and a leg, but the lady was super nice, and super good. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/26 "2002-07-17T19:59:05Z")
**tlw-** You seem to direct that statement to snooty hairdressers and the like, but the bit I quoted above sure seems like a blanket statement about all service industry folks. Maybe if you didn’t have a “Kiss my patron butt” attitude (your words) you might give the service workers a _reason_ to treat you with dignity and respect. As nice as it would be, I’ve found that the default customer attitude is sure as hell _not_ one of respect toward the worker. Any reason I shouldn’t consider you as living proof? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/27 "2002-07-17T20:03:28Z")
Oh, by the way, I work in a Ralph’s grocery store service deli. Elitist and snooty it ain’t. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/28 "2002-07-17T20:04:28Z")
Oh, but I love spa salons. You come out looking fab and feeling relaxed. I have been to a few where the receptionist is snooty but I have this way of reminding her (sometimes him) that s/he’s just a receptionist and s/he can lose the attitude. \ Does anyone remember the Ab Fab when Eddy goes to the gallery to purchase a ‘art’ (as she put it) and the sales girl treats her with a very condescending attitude? \ ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/29 "2002-07-17T20:05:51Z")
**featherlou** , I can almost guarantee you that you have a friend who is good at hair and makeup. And it is _extremely_ flattering to be asked to do a friend’s hair and/or makeup for her wedding, so most people will really work hard to make it perfect. I’ve done makeup for a couple of friends at their weddings, as well as doing my own (and both my bridesmaids’), and it always came out great. (I also do it for dozens of new ballroom dancers at their first competition - I coach a college time. But that’s a somewhat different style of makeup). The funny thing is that I almost never bother to wear the stuff myself, except when I dance. The friend of mine who typically does the hair for all those ballroom newbies whose faces I’m painting swears by [this book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1570540187/qid=1026935223/sr=2-1/002-4997866-9340012). I can do some of the styles in it on myself, and that’s saying a lot. It’s got lots of good pictures and will really help you if you decide to just have a friend do it. (It’s not just braids, although there are a lot of them - there’s various other twists and updos). All that said, I went to my Mom’s salon to get my hair put up for my wedding (and my husband-to-be went there to get his hair styled, too). It looked great, and nobody intimidated me at all. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/30 "2002-07-17T22:21:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NightRabbit \* > \*\*\Do you want a girl in clown makeup doing yours? \ \*\* If I did, I know where to go - I posted a thread about a make-up person I talked to at one of these salons who had the weirdest looking make-up I’ve ever seen, never mind on a make-up specialist. Who is still wearing bright blue mascara and eyeliner? (Um, if anyone _is_ still wearing blue mascara and eyeliner, no offense intended. But you’re probably not a make-up professional, right?) Thanks for all the advice and commiseration, peeps. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll give a hoighty-toighty salon a chance to wow me some day. Just not on my wedding day. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/31 "2002-07-17T23:38:02Z")
I _might_ wear lipstick on my wedding day. Maybe. And I’ll get my split ends trimmed a week before. I can’t bear the thought of spending more on my hair than I did on my dress ($130). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/32 "2002-07-18T00:14:57Z")
And it looks gorgeous, I might add, **Lissla**. I’ll just go to my stylist. One of the old lady salons-but they do pretty much anyone. 9 bucks, plus tip. I just got my hair streaked, and it looks great. I’ve been going there since I was a kid. **Jeanie** -yeesh! That’s SCARY. Hell, that’s more than my monthly college loan payments. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/33 "2002-07-18T00:31:09Z")
$50 for a haircut? Eh, its your money, but 50 U.S. Dollars!!! Yikes. Even $50 Canadian or AUS for a haircut is way too much, in my ignorant opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/34 "2002-07-18T07:01:54Z")
I for one am also intimidated. I went to the expensive chain salon near my hometown today to get my hair cut. I don’t get it cut there often often, but they’re the only ones who do it right (I have really difficult hair), so it’s occasionally worth it. Everytime I go there, the person doing my hair says something along the lines of “you have such _beautiful_ hair.” This makes me want to go “oh, CRAM it” because I hate my hair. Usually I just nod and say “oh, thank you…” Today, the stylist did the same thing, and asked how I wanted my hair styled when she finished cutting. I said, “I just want a little bit of a wave.” Riiiiight. As she’s drying it, I tell her several times that I don’t want it that curly/don’t want that much stuff in my hair/don’t want hairspray/DON’T WANT IT THAT CURLY, JUST A LITTLE BODY WAVE PLEASE, DAMMIT/how would you like if it I took a straightening iron to your pubic hair? (well…okay…I didn’t say that last bit…). It still comes out way curly and covered in gel crap. I get “isn’t that cute?” :mad: I’m not even bothering asking for a little bit of a wave next time. I’m just telling them to dry it straight. See, for me, part of the fun of getting a haircut is getting my hair dried all nice and stuff. Having to go home, brush it out, and have it look EXACTLY like it does every other damn day ruins the experience for me. Plus, I was pissed that the stylist just did whatever she pleased, instead of listening to what I was asking her to do. If I’m paying that kind of money, I should get what I want. But here’s the kicker–I felt like I couldn’t say anything. I mean, there’s me walking in in my Hot Topic T-shirt, jeans, and sandals…and she’s got the million-dollar makeup and hair. What I was I supposed to say? Feh. ---
**Author:** ![Domino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@Domino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Domino)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/35 "2002-07-18T14:39:03Z")
My sister tried the “spend a buttload of money for a beautiful do” thing for her wedding. She looked like one of Dolly Parton’s wigs exploded on her head. We ended up going to her maid of honor’s home, sis got drunk, and the MOH’s washed and set my sister’s hair. (blech) I go to the schools for haircuts–we have an Aveda school about 5 blocks away from my work. Usually a great job. My main angst about getting my hair cut is… MY HAIR IS NOT LIKE YOURS, DO NOT GIVE ME THE SAME RATTY ASS ‘DO’ AS YOU HAVE!!! Because of that, I usually have men cut my hair. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/36 "2002-07-18T15:05:19Z")
Angel, I’m not picking on you but I don’t quite understand why you didn’t tell the stylist that you were dissatisfied with the level of service you received. I equate this to ordering your steak cooked rare and receiving it cooked well-done. You wouldn’t accept that, would you? Why wouldn’t you speak to the stylist or owner about your level of dissatisfaction about something much more personal than a steak? Again, I’m not being mean, I’m genuinely curious. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/37 "2002-07-18T15:08:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\* > > $50 is a lot for a haircut??? > > That sounds pretty average to me. \*\* $50.00 is \< censored \> insane for a hair cut. $12.00 is a lot for a hair cut. “Short and blocked in back, get it off my ears and just trim everything else.” About $8.00. Unless you’re a really big tipper. 😉 😃 Or is this a guy/girl thing? Fenris ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/38 "2002-07-18T15:51:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cheesesteak \* > \*\*Up-do is the fancy hairdo where all the long hair is piled on top of the head, stylishly, of course. Normally held in with about 100 bobbie pins that the glowing bride has to spend a half hour removing at the end of the night. \*\* … or an Anxious Groom about 10 minutes with a lot of determination! 😉 **Featherlou** , Mrs. Bernse used to go to a “salon” (or whatever the hell its called) at Market Mall. She can be pretty frugal so I bet its reasonably priced. They always seemed to do a good job as she went back many times. I can probably get a name if you like? ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/39 "2002-07-18T17:30:50Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by JuanitaTech_ > \*\*Angel, I’m not picking on you but I don’t quite understand why you didn’t tell the stylist that you were dissatisfied with the level of service you received. > > I equate this to ordering your steak cooked rare and receiving it cooked well-done. You wouldn’t accept that, would you? Why wouldn’t you speak to the stylist or owner about your level of dissatisfaction about something much more personal than a steak?\*\* Actually…I probably wouldn’t send the steak back :o. Though, I admit, it would be more likely than me making a big deal about this. I suppose that I didn’t complain (excessively) because I figured that there was nothing that anyone could do at that point. It would be unreasonable of me to expect her to redo my hair when she had other customers waiting…I wouldn’t want to inconvenience them. I mean, I could send a steak back, and it wouldn’t take that much time for them to fix it…and, for me, a well-done steak would be pretty much inedible. It would’ve taken her half an hour to get my hair wet again, and then dry it the way I wanted it. There was nothing wrong with the cut itself, just the styling, which, admittedly, _other_ people (like my sister who was with me) thought it looked good. The style just wasn’t what I had in mind, and I didn’t find it to be very appealing. I did let her know that it wasn’t _exactly_ what I had in mind, but. . .it didn’t seem to be all that important. Besides, her basic response was, “but you look great!” It’s a bit hard to argue with that, and I’m not very argumentative in situations like this. Plus, I was kind of intimidated (hence why I posted it here). I felt that if I said anything, the Hair Nazis would go medieval on my frumpy punk ass. The woman I had cutting my hair was very…forceful. I think I was scared of losing my head or something ;). ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338/40 "2002-07-18T18:00:36Z")
Fair enough. I think it’s very kind of you to think of the other customers, by the way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-intimidated-by-hair-salons/119338.md?page=3)