Many people have a regular hairdresser that they go to for all of their style needs. From color to cuts, they trust their stylist with their life — as many feel as though their hair can determine how they present themselves to the rest of the world. While we may trust them with our heads, we don’t always focus or pay much attention to the things we say to them.
In fact, many people go to the salon and end up word-vomiting all over the place — as salons are synonymous with gossip and slander. But when we’re talking about our hair, there are some expressions we may let slip that rub our beloved hairstylists the wrong way.
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Here are the most cringe-worthy comments hairstylists have heard.
Hairstylists take their jobs very seriously
As they deal with many different people who want so many different colors and styles, they take their jobs very seriously and focus on what their clients want. This means that they focus on everything we say at the salon, especially when it comes to our wants and requests for our hair.
Some things we say can be pretty hurtful to their art
Luke Gregory, a Senior Colourist at SALON64 in London, told The Mirror that several comments just don’t sit right with him. The first one is when a client says, “We can always change it back.”
Hairdressers work hard to give clients exactly what they ask for — and they spend a lot of time and effort to do so. If a client goes in thinking that they will just revert back to their original color or look, it makes them feel as though all of their time and effort was spent there for nothing.
It can also mean you’re not ready
Some people go into the salon looking for a major change and do something drastic. This can be a huge cut — going from a long style to a bob — or a drastic color change. However, when someone talks about possibly going back to what they originally started with, Gregory said this can showcase that it’s the right color/cut, but the wrong time for you.
Another is when people focus on growing their new haircut out
When you get a haircut, many stylists expect you to love it. Or, maybe you shouldn’t be getting a haircut in the first place — right? When a client sits in the salon chair and looks in the mirror after a stylist has just done their magic and says, “It’ll look better when it’s grown out,” it makes them feel like they’ve done a bad job. No stylist wants their client to leave unhappy.
On the contrary, some clients only mean “well” by this comment. They sometimes say this in a way that compliments the stylist that the cut was done well and that it’ll grow out well in between sessions.
One pet peeve to stylists is how long the color will last
Many clients will ask Gregory and other stylists if their color will “last long” but refuse to invest in shampoos and conditioners that will help maintain their color. When clients use inexpensive shampoos — especially those 2-in-1 products — it’s guaranteed to hurt their color job.
Not only will the client be unhappy, but your hairstylist will also be upset knowing they got you to the color of your dreams, but it didn’t last very long.
Some products are better than others
Depending on your color and style, some products will help your hair, and some will hurt it. For blondes, using brass-preventing shampoos and conditioners is the way to go. For those who are going red, a color-safe and red-protecting shampoo will help keep that shine.
If you choose shampoos that don’t help your color, you can be sure it will fade. Gregory says you should always compare the ingredients in your hair products, not prices.
Gregory said that any changes to your hair should be about you
The stylist also said that when a client sits in a chair and says, “They hope their partner, parents, or friends will like their new look,” he doesn’t love it. He believes that everyone should be getting their hair done for them and be proud of their look.
“Own any bespoke style that your stylist will have carefully crafted for you. Be proud and be confident in your own choice,” he said.
The worst is when someone says they cut their hair at home
All girls have been in a place where they want to cut their own bangs. Those nights when we get the urge to have bangs but don’t want to wait for a salon appointment to get them done — we have all been there. But no hairstylist wants to hear that you’ve done your own fringe at home. In fact, they have to clean up the “mess now” that we have all made — it’ll take them quite a while to fix our late-night messes.
Or when people use the wrong hairbrushes
Damage can come from using the wrong products in the shower, such as shampoos and conditioners, or using the wrong styling tools. All stylists know that heat can be very damaging to a person’s hair, no matter what color or texture they have. But, another stylist told The Mirror that the type of hairbrush you use can truly make or break your hair, too.
Using metal bristle brushes with coarse textures can pull and rip hair, causing damage and breakage. Instead, stylists say they want to hear people using wooden bristle brushes, especially with space in between. This causes less damage and also less breakage.
Be mindful when going to the hair salon
Although we don’t think much about our comments during our beauty days at the salon, we should always remember that hairdressers do hair as their passion and livelihood. They dedicate themselves to making others feel and look good. When we question their techniques, methods, or their “art,” it can truly be rude and painful for them.
