When to cut and run from your hairdresser – and how to do it nicely

A good hairdresser should be able to balance their expertise with your personal preferences. If you continue to feel unheard in the chair, it’s a good idea to seek out someone who is a better fit.

You don’t feel good about yourself when you leave

Getting your hair done should leave you feeling refreshed and confident. If you repeatedly walk out feeling disappointed or self-conscious, it might mean your stylist isn’t meeting your needs.

Harding says you should let your stylist know how you feel: “As stylists, we need to consult, we need to communicate, but we can’t always necessarily read a person’s mind. Let the stylist know, good, bad or indifferent, and we as professionals should be able to take that.”

If you encounter unwelcome comments or unsatisfactory results, speak up. And if your concerns continue to go unaddressed, it might be time to find a new hairdresser.

They’re always running late

Sure, popular stylists have packed schedules, and things don’t always run on time. You may also have been guilty of this a couple of times. But if your stylist is consistently late and leaves you waiting well past your appointment time, it’s a sign of poor time management.

Your time is valuable, and while a few minutes here and there is forgivable, regularly being kept waiting shows a lack of respect for your schedule.

You can’t afford them any more

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The cost-of-living crisis is hitting everyone – including hairdressers, many of whom have had to raise their prices due to rent increases and rising supply costs. While it’s understandable, that doesn’t mean you have to stick with a stylist whose rates no longer fit your budget.

If your stylist’s fees have escalated beyond what you’re comfortable paying, it might be worth exploring more affordable options. With the average cost of a haircut ranging from $50-$100 for short hair and $100-$250 for longer styles (and higher for colour treatments), it’s OK to shop around.

They make you feel uncomfortable

A trip to the salon can be an intimate experience. It involves trusting someone with your appearance while sitting in a chair for an extended period of time.

Harding says service is key across all industries, and a professional stylist should create an environment where you feel welcome, respected and at ease.

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“If you don’t feel good in that environment – and I’m not just specifically pointing out hair and beauty, but in general businesses – don’t go back. Again, it comes back to service and communication.”

So how do you do it?

Harding advises against ending the relationship with your stylist without first discussing your concerns. If you ultimately decide the stylist isn’t the right fit, try another stylist within the same salon rather than abandoning the business entirely.

“As in the art world, you’ve got Monet, you’ve got Van Gogh, you’ve got Australian artists … What’s the commonality about them? They’re all fabulous, and they’re all good, but they’re all different. They won’t suit everyone,” she says.

“Don’t just dump the hairdressing salon you’re at. Try someone different.”

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