Afraid of salons

Hi Iowa Biker,

I regret to say it (for the sake of women) but I think in general that male clients receive more respect in salons from female stylists than do female clients. I've been very fortunate going to many salons (that do not specialize in long hair) and having my requests for only 1/2" trimmed honored. The one time my hair was cut much shorter than requested (when I first began growing out), the stylist was a man. I never went back. After that, the next stylist was also a man but he was excellent, visited him at the salon for two years and helped me grow out the layers, trimmed the tiniest bit but the improvement in the state of my hair was noticeable each time.

Anyway, I ramble...

Ally, that is excellent that you are getting the respect you deserve at salons. You have trained your stylist well. Glad to hear that they see their challenge in the "proper" light. . The closer the stylist conforms to my request, the better the tip... what a concept, huh?

Sophie, it's good to hear that salons (and the product manufacturers) are so lenient with returns. I guess it depends on the circumstances. I guess there are some scenarios in which using most of a package before deciding it isn't working can be plausible (especially if a lot of the product is used in each "application").

If you purchased Salon Products at the salon...They will take the product back. Because the Manufacturer stands behind the product when purchased at a salon.

If they don't, put in a call to the 800# an the back of the product.

As a side note I have taken product back from a client, even if it is over half empty. Because my distributor will credit me for the product.

Hi Maria! I'd like to intersperse comments... is that okay?

Maria wrote: I am in a similar situation. I have cut, permed, colored (and many other bad things to my hair) over time. Well a year ago I decieded that I was going to grow my hair out. I stopped going to a salon entirely, because my stylist INSISTS I look better with short hair. And always manages to convince me to keep it short. Smooth talker!

Hmmm... they insisted that you look better with short hair... that may (or even may not be) their actual asthetic preference, but their insistence on the infallability of their subjective opinion is merely a hard sell. (the harder it is to talk somebody out of what they believe and/or know to be the truth, the harder the sales pitch).

Maria wrote: Anyway, I didn't go to a salon in a year and just let it grow (ever so slowly - I average about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch a month) I kept coloring it however and then one day decieded it has been a year I will try a new salon. Well WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE! the stylist is very pro long hair. I had started taking hair vitamins about a month before my salon visit and my hair grew an inch that month! I was excited and ready and she was great. She convinced me to stop lightening my hair and keep it my natural color and to continue using the products I had been using (redken all soft) even though her salon didn't sell it. She said the product was excellent and to continue with it because it was working and my hair wasn't looking to bad for everything I had done to it. she cut an inch and said for me to return in 6 weeks for another trim of 1/2 an inch and we would continue on that schedule of 1/2 inch every six weeks. When she was done you could not even tell that she had cut an inch off. Somewhow with the style she gave me it looked LONGER! Go figure. I had never been so happy.

Super! You were blessed to find a great stylist.

Maria wrote: So six weeks later (and another inch and a half odff growth) I really needed my trim and scheduled my appointment and added a deep conditioning treatment. I get to the salon and she is out sick so they give me to someone else. OK - so here is the problem - this lady told me that if I went with about an inch to an inch and a half then I could extend my time till the next visit since I will be very busy with work, school and holidays.

Uh oh...

Maria wrote: (something inside told me to reschedule and waait for the dream stylist I had found - but it was a week before thanksgiving and family was coming into town - and I wouldn't be able to get back there for at least 3 weeks -so I forged ahead)

Must... learn... to trust... gut... instinct...

Maria wrote: I told her I wasn't really interested in cutting more than an inch if she could keep it half an inch to an inch that would be fine though. Well needless to say I couldn't see how much she was cutting of the back but once she got to the side it was over 2 inches! Not only that she told me their shampoo and conditioner would put more shine to my hair I figured at $36 per bottle it had to be good so I bought it. Well I let her know she cut more than I wanted but the cut came out beautiful, so I figured no big deal I'll have the length back in 2 months. But here is my problem it has only been 2 weeks and I have split ends ALL OVER the place. I atribute it to the shampoo & conditioner (it is Aveda curresence or something like that) I only used it twice in the first week and noticed all the split ends and trimmed them myself and went back to redken and haven't had split ends in the last week so I know it has to be the shampoo & conditioner.

Are the split ends at the ends, or scattered throughout? If only at the ends, she may have used dull scissors on your hair. (This stylist sounds like an evil person to me).

Maria wrote: My question is will they take it back? I like other products from Aveda that I wouldn't even mind exchanging it for - or even if I got a credit since I will be going back to my ORIGINAL stylist - but does anyone know if a salon takes back shampoo and conditioner if it doesn't work and they are the ones that recomended it?

I don't know the protocol in such situations, but I would guess that if you used a noticeable amount of the product that they would be likely to refuse to accept your return of the product, even for store credit.

Maria wrote: I am so disappointed this hair cut cost me over 2 inches and split ends! AHH I feel like I will never get my long hair - it is just grazing my shoulders now. Maybe in another year it will be where I want it.

I feel badly for you. But I think you know what to say, next time your fave stylist is out ("No thanks, I'll come back when I can see her!").

If it's of any consolation, many of us have been in a similar situation, where we've had a trim request ignored and the stylist has cut off much more than was requested.

Hang in there!

I am in a similar situation. I have cut, permed, colored (and many other bad things to my hair) over time. Well a year ago I decieded that I was going to grow my hair out. I stopped going to a salon entirely, because my stylist INSISTS I look better with short hair. And always manages to convince me to keep it short. Smooth talker! Anyway, I didn't go to a salon in a year and just let it grow (ever so slowly - I average about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch a month) I kept coloring it however and then one day decieded it has been a year I will try a new salon. Well WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE! the stylist is very pro long hair. I had started taking hair vitamins about a month before my salon visit and my hair grew an inch that month! I was excited and ready and she was great. She convinced me to stop lightening my hair and keep it my natural color and to continue using the products I had been using (redken all soft) even though her salon didn't sell it. She said the product was excellent and to continue with it because it was working and my hair wasn't looking to bad for everything I had done to it. she cut an inch and said for me to return in 6 weeks for another trim of 1/2 an inch and we would continue on that schedule of 1/2 inch every six weeks. When she was done you could not even tell that she had cut an inch off. Somewhow with the style she gave me it looked LONGER! Go figure. I had never been so happy. So six weeks later (and another inch and a half odff growth) I really needed my trim and scheduled my appointment and added a deep conditioning treatment. I get to the salon and she is out sick so they give me to someone else. OK - so here is the problem - this lady told me that if I went with about an inch to an inch and a half then I could extend my time till the next visit since I will be very busy with work, school and holidays. (something inside told me to reschedule and waait for the dream stylist I had found - but it was a week before thanksgiving and family was coming into town - and I wouldn't be able to get back there for at least 3 weeks -so I forged ahead) I told her I wasn't really interested in cutting more than an inch if she could keep it half an inch to an inch that would be fine though. Well needless to say I couldn't see how much she was cutting of the back but once she got to the side it was over 2 inches! Not only that she told me their shampoo and conditioner would put more shine to my hair I figured at $36 per bottle it had to be good so I bought it. Well I let her know she cut more than I wanted but the cut came out beautiful, so I figured no big deal I'll have the length back in 2 months. But here is my problem it has only been 2 weeks and I have split ends ALL OVER the place. I atribute it to the shampoo & conditioner (it is Aveda curresence or something like that) I only used it twice in the first week and noticed all the split ends and trimmed them myself and went back to redken and haven't had split ends in the last week so I know it has to be the shampoo & conditioner. My question is will they take it back? I like other products from Aveda that I wouldn't even mind exchanging it for - or even if I got a credit since I will be going back to my ORIGINAL stylist - but does anyone know if a salon takes back shampoo and conditioner if it doesn't work and they are the ones that recomended it? I am so disappointed this hair cut cost me over 2 inches and split ends! AHH I feel like I will never get my long hair - it is just grazing my shoulders now. Maybe in another year it will be where I want it.

Good for you!
I wish I knew more people like the ones on this forum in real life. You know that "You'd be more popular if you cut your hair into a bob" What the hell? Like I care.

Why does no one in my pocket of Wales appreciate long hair?

Hair Fiddler, one video that was pretty good was EZ Home Cuts by James. It had multiple haircuts on it which included a long hair trim. One book I picked up several years was How to Cut Your Own or Anybody Else's Hair by Bob Bent. Also check out Amazon or do a search on google. Read the reviews. And be sure your husband takes off on a small amount the first couple times. A quarter inch is plenty for the first time. If necessary take another 1/8 you cut trim more but you cannot uncut it. I usually have my wife stand in the kitchen, I spritz her hair with a mister then I pin up most of it up in sections with a clip. I comb it forward, then trim straight across using a comb as a guide. I let down a little more and use the already trimmed hair as a guide. For the bangs, I comb them straight up and just trim them even across the top. She receives a lot of compliments on her hair, and even a couple coworkers have asked if I would do theirs too. I had to turn down one woman though. She had gorgeous blond, wavy hair past her elbows. I thought she wanted just a trim, but she wanted it bobbed! I told her it was too beautiful, it was her hair to do what she wanted with, but I couldn't chop off all her beautiful hair. I just could not bring myself to do it.
Good luck to your husband in keeping his lady looking fine. And you too in your efforts in growing out your beautiful long hair.

Oh....I have to tell you...My hubby trimmed an inch off of the back of my hair this summer on the deck...lol. He did a great job. Although I have to say that my inch is different than his. ....Isn't there a joke about that or something???...

I'll give you afew pointers...

The better the sheers, the better he will be able to
cut a straight line.

Stand in front of him...stand up straight, and look straight down to your toes.
Wet hair, combed down straight and smooth...start in the middle and work to each side.

Here's a great website that teaches you how to trim your own hair:

http://members.fortunecity.com/feye/trim.html

Check it out. And good luck!

She can report the salon to the Stateboard...I don't know that that will get her money back. They will be inspected and that may not even mean anything. The better Business Bureau(sp). No business likes that.

Then of course there is always small claims court.

Hi Hair Fiddler, where in Michigan are you? You can Bmail me if you don't want to say...I'm in Northwest Michigan. See my website if you like.

We have helped many clients grow their hair out in our salon. all I can say is I understand where your coming from...we see clents everyday that have had a bad salon experience.

Is it a ceramic Iron that you use?
Cheers