Yeah, I don’t even get it coloured curently so it’s less than an hour, and it’s right around the corner from my house, but I still delay the whole process of calling for an appointment and going in. If they had online booking I’d do it - making phone calls has become such a chore somehow, lol!
I should call now actually, my hair is so long and bottom-heavy I haven’t worn it down for months.

I loved getting my hair colored when I had more time -- sure the process is a bit tedious, but the result is totally worth it. Now I appreciate that my stylist does a fast and fantastic job on both me and my husband: he's been cutting our hair for 15 years. At some point he became more interested in traditional barbering techniques, and eventually closed his salon to focus on that exclusively. Fortunately he'll still cut my hair -- so far I haven't seen other women clients at his barber shop!

My husband and I get back-to-back appointments and go to lunch afterward, which makes it a nice little ritual.

FashIntern and Gigi, thanks for the references! I had found the CurlyGirl site a couple years ago and then forgot about it completely. It’s nice to see the variety of opinions as well as hair types on there. Affirms that not every product works for every curly head. I haven’t checked out Ouidad yet but will head (ha!) there next. I think I’ve heard of products by that name.

I went to the same stylist (cut only) for over 30 years, but became dissatisfied in the past couple of years and I think he was taking me for granted. A few months ago he abruptly cancelled all his appointments (I used to book a year in advance) because his wife's doctor said she only had six months to live. Poor guy! But I scrambled and found someone else to cut my hair at a little more than one-third the cost. It's a change having a razor cut vs. scissors cut, and I quite like it. But no, I'm not a salon type.

I love getting my hair cut & styled, but can only afford it two or three times a year. I've known my stylist for over 10 years so we catch up, and she does magic with my thinning tresses.

I use box color at home every couple months, and don't like the smell or the tingling but it is over in half an hour.


The responses here are a revelation. I always feel awkward in salons. I don't like being touched, have to tell them to leave off the hand massage and make up touch up, and when I colored I really resented the hours (and hours and hours) it took, especially when I had babies at home.

I can manage the chat, but don't want to have a gushy relationship with my hairstylist, although I get that people do. If the salon is always busy with ladies gossiping, I'll have to really like my stylist or I'll switch.

It's heartening to know other people feel the same way (anyone in Raleigh, NC with a salon to recommend?)

I had my hair cut yesterday, I checked first if the same stylist was on at the chain, that has done it two out of the last 3 times. I choose the chain mainly because I can walk in there and not have to make an appointment, and the cost is also reasonable at $30. ( Not as cheap as Deb’s at $15 every 3 months!)
I wanted her if possible because she had done a pretty good job those two times, and this cut is 2 weeks before our trip and daughter’s wedding. I wasn’t totally happy last time but thought I could explain the tweak I wanted- which I did, and would say I am 95% happy. Hopefully growth of 2 weeks will be close to perfect ( for me).
Cutting a pixie takes maybe 20-30 minutes? I don’t time it. This stylist concentrates hard and doesn’t chat, which I actually prefer. I mostly close my eyes and let her cut.
I understand what Taylor is saying about being friends with many of her long-standing clients: I also feel I am lucky in my vocation to have what feels like a whole host of female friends who I know quite well and have a good relationship with- I am not sure though that they would see me as a friend, and they are not actually friends, just it feels similar to friendship in the way we interact. It’s not the same as what Janet and Lisap have where they actually socialise outside the workplace.
I thought of this thread while my eyes were closed!- and still found it a functional experience not a fun one. I also specifically ask them not to use product if they offer some- I say no thank you.