Is it important that you have "personality chemistry" with your hairdresser?

[marci65]

My curly hair has not looked better in the almost-2 years that I have been going to my "new" HD.     I don't like what he looks like (he doesn't look clean to me, but I know that he is), he never uses my name when he greets me or when he talks to me in the chair, I don't feel like being chit-chatty with him while in the chair, we have very little in common, and sometimes he runs 15 minutes late.  He is not rude, I just don't feel any personality chemistry with him.  But he cuts my hair consistently awesomely.  I like it better when I get home and style it myself, but he does a great job styling it, just that I can't duplicate his touches exactly at home.  Anyway, I say to myself after almost every appointment that he has given me the best haircut yet.  His haircuts are expensive, and other curly salon in town charges even more.  And yes, I do need a curly stylist for my hair.  My prior HD I loved, but she could not cut or style my hair well and I finally had to break up with her after literally 20 years.  (I don't do changes well    )

So if your haircuts rock, but you just don't have a personality match with your HD, would you stay with them or move on? 

[ILuvLucy]

I've never had this problem because my cousin owns a salon with her husband, and I go to her.  But, I say to stay with the excellent hair cut! As long as he isn't rude to you.
I worry that my cousin will retire to Florida.  Yes, I'd miss my cousin, but worse; I'd have to find a new hairdresser! 

[milla]

Stay with the excellent haircut!!! a good hairdresser is very hard to find and he obviously 'understands' your hair.What do you mean you don't have chemistry? if he is cutting your hair beautifully, what more chemistry do you need? the only thing that rings alarm bells slightly, is what you say about the way he looks. hygiene is very important in someone who has physical contact with the general public and it is also an indicator of the standards of your salon. Having said that, some people do cultivate a certain bohemian, 'louche' style, but that does not mean they are not clean. If that is the case, don't worry!
In all my life I have met 2, maybe three HDs who had the 'magic touch' with my hair. One of them used to cut it in the most beautiful, geometric bob-that was when  I had lots of  dark brown hair.I would have stayed with him forever..... Never found anyone like him. 

[Poppyfields]

I'd stay.  If you love the cut, and he is polite and you can style it as you like when you get home - Stay!
Finding a new stylist is hard, and you might have to suffer a few bad cuts in the search.

Just use the time to relax.  You are there for a service, not a friend.  It is delightful when you can find both, but its rare.  I'd stay.

[christinedenice]

Sounds like a consensus. I'd definitely stay. Poppy said it well: you're there for a service, not a friend. And, if you ever want or need to move on to someone else, it'll be easier if you don't feel that you're breaking up with a friend.

[SusieQ]

I would stay, Marci. I've been looking for a HD for maybe 10 years now. I think I posted it but one time I made an appointment with a salon near me and before I even step my foot in the door, the first hairdresser assigned to me was taken to the emergency after she cut her hand deeply. Then, they assigned someone that's been there for a long time and I had an afternoon appointment. An hour before my appointment she threw her back and she was also rushed to the emergency.  I'm still looking...

[cara4art]

Do you know how HARD it is to find a good cutter for curly hair? Once one finds one, stick with it, for sure. Ask me how I know LOL!
People who DON'T have curly hair don't understand this a lot of times - they often say "Oh, I get my hair cut at SuperCuts and it works fine for me - why spend all that money?" etc. But for curly-heads, getting a decent hair cut makes the difference between night and day - the Voice of Experience speaks here! Even though there's a sizeable number of people with curly hair, a lot don't wear it naturally-curly because either they're not ready to, or simply can't find a decent hair cutter for this type of hair. this aside from the prejudice that's still out there about curls etc. Many of us curlies have had bad haircuts to prove it too.
Again, stick with that cutter.

[marci65]

Thank you, ladies!  You have convinced me to stay where I currently go. Twice now I have gotten so close to biting the bullet and trying the other curly place when I really was hoping just to feel more comfortable there while getting haircut, not because I felt they could do a better job with the actual cut.

[makinalist]

I think this is the best decision you could make.  Chemistry, to me, is only important when it is very bad.  My experience has often been that when stylists are too chatty with me they are apt to forget what I want done or miss a spot here and there, etc.  Not good and not professional.  Consider this guy a treasure whom you probably will never invite to your home for dinner!

Try complimenting him on the cut he gives you.  Maybe he'll warm up a little.

[marci65]

I will definitely continue to do that! 

[anne]

It is important the HD has personal chemistry with my curly / wavy hair.

Over here, very very few people seem to have naturally curly or wavy hair. It is horrible to have a hair cut meant for ""normal"" straight hair: once, after my fringe dried, it was 2 inches shorter that it was meant to be. REALLY. It went almost afro on top of my head - not the look the HD had been going for. Also, HD´s trying all kinds of geometrical things etc etc.

I´d be happy to sit in silence the whole of my appointment if only I loved the result.

I haven´t found anyone specializing in naturally wavy hair ayn time in my whole life. My present HD knows I  wear my hair naturally most of the time, though, and considers that when cutting.

Also, my HD needs to understand my root growth fobia.

I do not mind that she is a lovely, friendly person, but I´d be happy with anyone who could give me lovely hair.

I am a bit weird though - I do not enjoy going to the HD´s, beauticians etc. If I could just snap my fingers, get the same result and pay, I´d be overjoyed. It seems like waste of time to have an appointment. (During that time I could, e.g. surf TTB, read books, think about things, look out of the window + other important, things.  )

[Styyna]

I so seldom visit a salon that it's a big deal for me. For years I had a stylist who did wonderful things to my hair. She could also tell when I was in the mood for chatting and she could tell when I just wanted to relax quietly and enjoy being pampered. Unfortunately moving has prevented me from seeing her any longer.

I understand why feeling uncomfortable with someone is an issue Marci. I've had mixed results with the personalities of those I've tried in our area. The best experience I've had is with a guy fresh out of cosmetology school. He seems to know when to chat and when to let me relax quietly while he works his magic. All the others I've tried have either been rather distant or almost evangelical about other interests (holy yoga and the like). So far, I'm sticking with the young guy because his work is no better or worse than anyone else's. He listens to what I have to say and offers suggestions. I can't say that we've hit the magic "do" for my wavy hair but in my area my options are pretty limited so I'll keep trying with this guy. At least I can see his skill level improving and maybe with me he'll learn to work with wavy hair.

All that said, if any one of the other people I've been to had done a fab job with my hair, that's the person I'd be going to on a regular basis, in spite of personality and evangelism. I think you've made the right choice to stay with your current stylist.

[anne]

Envy.

I just re-read Marci´s message and realized her town has TWO CURLY SALONS. Deep, deep envy.

[marci65]

You visit me and I take to you one or both, okay? OK!

[anne]

Ooh! I wouldn´t not mind visiting USA every now and then to get my hair cut and to shop just a little bit. As soon as I win the lottery.

Can you imagine I really did not know there are such things like curly salons? I do not know if our whole country has even one single curly stylist! (If we do, they do not advertise, that´s for sure.)

Oh well, my hair is so difficult anyway, as I imagine curly hair usually is wiry and thick, and mine is baby-fine. They probably wouldn´t know what to do with it anyway. (Trying to comfort oneself and think of reasons why it is ok we do not have any curly salons.)

Once, when I visited a hair-dresser in Britain, she called out to her collegues: Hey, come over here and feel this! This hair is so fine! (or did she say thin?  ) there is almost nothing there! Then, all the HD´s came over and grabbed my hair. Humilitation! I paid full price, too.