Do you go to the salon alone?

[Annibelle]

I know lots of us don't visit salons, but for those who do... do you go alone?

I want to see a wavy/curly hair specialist in the next couple of weeks. I found one who has great reviews, but I haven't been to a salon in five years. I'm kind of scared. :o Do you guys ever bring someone with you? Maybe they get their hair cut while yours is cut?

I read that this stylist can take two or so hours to do the cut, as she washes, dries, cuts, then does the process all over again. It gets great results, apparently, but that's a lot of time to sit in there! I wonder if it would be rude if I brought a book along instead of a friend... :neutral:

ETA: I had a poll, and now it's not here! :(

ETA2: Added! :silly:

[Suze2012]

Good luck!

I only go for wet cuts now as the full works..they blow dry and put way too much product on it and I never use any of that at home.
Tomorrow I have a cut booked and I'll show her how my hair is and how it behaves..what length ends up where with a curl etc.
I'm also going to write a list of what I like about bits of my hair and what I don't and what I want it to achieve when I walk out of there.

I'm fussy! haha!

I couldn't take someone with me..my work colleagues are already laughing and wondering whether I will take a shotgun! (kidding!).

[afu]

I always go on my own - only i know how i want my hair and i feel having someone else there would either a) annoy me if they tried to add input, or b) they would get really bored! I havn't had my hair cut at a salon since ive been actively growing it, i just have my highlights topped up and leave with wet hair

[Vampyria]

I always went with my mom, when I was still dyeing my hair. We made the appointment together, because we were going to the same hairdresser then.

The last time I went (after 3 years), I didn't take nobody with me, but I preferred it that way. We were talking all the time, so 1 hour passed by really fast.

[Carolyn]

I can't imagine who would want to go with me. Unless it was another woman with long hair, I don't think I'd want to deal with having someone with me. I enjoy talking hair with my stylist and I'm not sure I'd want one of my friends knowing how much I am into hair. I've been to a few long hair meets at Enchantress in Ohio. I count that as more of a long haired girls day out with the side benefit of a nice trim.

[hazelscythe]

I don't go anymore but I started to go to the salon alone when I was 16.
I so want a cheesesteak with provolone cheese now...

[BlazingHeart]

If anyone else goes with me, they just end up sitting in the waiting area up front. It's not uncommon for someone to drop me off and head to the grocery store in the next center, and come back for me in 45 minutes.

~Blaze

[Ticky]

When I used to go, I didn't go alone. If there was a reason for me to go now, I would probably still choose to take someone. It would be nice to have someone I know there with me.

[jeanniet]

I don't go, but if I did, I'd go alone. I'm pretty good at advocating for myself. I don't see what's wrong with bringing a book if you're going to have time to read it.

[Honeyfall]

I find that whenever I take other people along, they try to influence my choice of cut/color/etc. I only have one friend I would trust to support my choices when it comes to my hair and unfortunately she doesn't live near me. So I generally prefer to go alone.

[Madora]

My only salon experience has been visits to the GM salon in NYC. I brought a crossword puzzle book with me, as the drying time was very lengthy.

I see no harm in taking a book to read or whatever.

[Bedhead]

I only go alone. Going to a salon is my time, and I don't want to think about the person waiting for me, I like to be selfish and bask in the feeling during any therapeutic situations (I do this for massages as well).

As far as a book, the only thing I can see it good for is the waiting room, or having your head in a big dryer, since while in the chair hair technicians keep adjusting my head and talk to me, and I close my eyes a lot. I never even finish my tea because of all this.

[Annibelle]

Bedhead, you get tea when you go?! I wonder if this stylist will give me anything... :hmm: It's a rather expensive place, so I hope I get hot chocolate. Muahahaha.

[jacqueline101]

I go alone.

[Dovetail]

I go alone, when I do go, for two reasons: I don't have anyone to go with, and if I did have someone to invite I don't think I'd want to feel rushed. If I ever go get a manicure then I'd invite someone though.

[CurlyCap]

I always go alone. Most of my friends have hair nothing like mine, and don't understand what's going on, why it's cut the way it is, then non-styled the way it is. To be truthful, there are times when I don't want to think about how different my hair is and just want to sit back and relax.

Also, when it was long, it could take a while and I don't know anyone who would want to sit around that long. When I did go with friends (YEARS ago), my friends would be shampood, cut and styled b the time the hair washing tech finally figured out how to get product all the way through my hair. Guh.

[HobbitMopHead]

I go to the same hairdresser as my mom and sister do, so sometimes if we hit out "cutting dates" we go together. Mainly it's two of us talking and waiting for the other, but we don't really but into each other's hair preferences.

[RisaMoe]

I go alone, since I'm there for a highlight and that takes at least 2 hours.

My stylist and I generally chat while she is applying the highlight, then I read something for the time under the dryer, then back to chatting and discussing what to do with my bangs after that.

I cut my hair, my stylist only cuts my bangs

[patienceneeded]

I always go by myself. I can't imagine why I would need/want to have someone with me...it's the only time I get to be by myself! I take magazines or my Kindle and read, plus talk to the stylist. Much simpler to go alone.

[Amber_Maiden]

Always alone.

[millyaulait]

I usually go alone but at other times me & my Mom get our hair done together. :)

[Bedhead]

Bedhead, you get tea when you go?! I wonder if this stylist will give me anything... :hmm: It's a rather expensive place, so I hope I get hot chocolate. Muahahaha.

I just thought about it, and I think this happens because I tend to go to Aveda Concept salons, although it's been a while. But yes, I get tea in the waiting room, and while I'm getting my hair done.

[Mononoke]

I've been to a salon only once in my life (at age 17) and my mother and sister were with me.

[spookyghost]

I always go alone. Today I went to talk to a hair color specialist and I was alone today too:) I was scared to death to see what she had to say and to make an appointment with her to fix my hair color from a rescent bad color I just got. I could have used someones hand to hold!:D

[Dragon Faery]

I usually cut my own hair. But occasionally, when I'm visiting my parents (2 states away), I go see my mom's stylist for a trim simply because she's so nice and accommodating and I want to support her business. Sometimes my DH will get his hair cut there, too. She's a family friend, and I've seen her alone, with my mom, with my sis (back when I lived in the area), and with my DH. It's just really who's available (if anyone) to socialize at the time. :)

So I voted Provolone. :cheese:

[Kittyxx]

always alone, mostly because it never occured to me to bring someone, it sounds kinda fun now i think about it ... i'm not particularly fond of small talk and prefer the stylist to focus on their job lol
I tend to go for magazines instead of books - my salon has pretty decent ones there anyway and it's so much less annoying to have to be adjusted in the middle of a slightly inane article than a critical part of a book lol

[TheMechaGinger]

When I used to go to the salon I'd like to have someone with me so I could explain to them what I want. Then if the hairdresser is doing something I don't want but I can't see it, the person with me can tell 'em what's what!

[seven77]

Hmmm.. now that I think about it, the only time I had a good haircut was when my husband was with me.
All the times I've gone alone.. yikes lol.

[BrightEyes]

I always go alone. My stylist is a good friend, so we chat about this and that the whole time. And she's been doing my hair for so long, I have no problems telling her what I do or don't like. I also get highlights everytime I go, so I'm always there for a couple hours.

[inertia]

I always go alone. Usually I just get color, no cut, so it takes a long time but I'm not being moved that much.

For me salon time is magazine time. Specifically, Western fashion magazines in English. I won't buy them myself because they're far too impractical to justify the import costs, but every few months it's nice to flip through a bunch for free at the salon.

[akilina]

I go alone. I dont need moral support though before a haircut. Well...when I did go. I'm a hair dresser myself so I just cut my own. It is fun though especially if you get to talking and having a great time :) Sometimes someone you bring along with you isnt allowed to come back with you.
As a hairstylist it is incredibly irritating and frustrating when people bring someone with them and that person seriously stands a foot away from you. It is also really irritating when you need to have a conversation with the client to find what they want or if you just want to talk and get to know them but you cant because all their attention is on their friend.

[misspriss]

I go alone ever since I've been able to go alone. I think the only person I would ever have go with me is my sister, maybe someday we can go together. I go to an expensive guy though, and get like one haircut every 6 months to 2 years. She goes pretty often since she likes to keep her hair at one length. It's pretty easy to justify expensive haircuts when you only get them every two years! But not so much if you get them pretty often, IMO. But I would go to this guy no matter what, I've never gotten a bad haircut from him. I hope he cuts hair forever. I was kind of surprised the time I waited two years, he went grey while I was away!

[luxepiggy]

I recommend going alone, and not bringing a book. You don't want to be distracted while she's snipping away. Don't you want to be aware of what she's doing as she cuts, so you can stop her if she's taking off too much?

Otherwise, who knows what could happen back there while you're distracted? ( ' (oo) ' )

Furthermore, holding a book, turning the pages and shifting your head to read may throw your posture off-center and affect the end result of the cut.

[alex68]

I always go alone. The stylist is a friend of mine and does only what I want. We talk about this and that and the time passes quickly. :cool:

[Altariel]

I go alone but I have always gone to the same hairdresser :)
so we know and understand eachother wery well. normally i walk in and i say " I whant my hair short/ I want to let them grow" and he does a magical job :) (he tries to explain me what he is going to do, most of the times i don't understan xD )

[torrilin]

I'm provolone.

I'm legally blind without my glasses. That means I can't see a darn thing the stylist is doing while they cut. Most stylists really are pretty understanding about that, and will try to help and work in a manner where I know what's happening... but some parts of a cut really do need to be done with my glasses off.

Most stylists are also totally understanding about my preference to have someone I trust there for a cut who can be eyes for me. My mom and my sister are both really good about it, but my partner-creature is almost as good as they are, and with a lot less practice.

I don't refuse to go to a salon unless I can have someone there as my eyes... if I did at this point I'd pretty much never get my hair cut. But if I were looking for a new regular stylist, I'd definitely try to get them used to the basics without it turning into a giant attack. It's hard for them too, because I don't look blind and they often forget that I can't even begin to see what they did.

[RedBlue]

I don't have to go to a salon, because my mother is a hair stylist. Though, she does prefer to cut hair and color it at the salon. She owns her own salon, and she is the only stylist so far.

[anthonyswife]

I haven't been to a salon in 3+ years, but when I was going frequently I always went with my Mother because my stylist has been a friend of my Mother's since I was a baby. Aside from that, I think I would always like to have someone with me for second opinions, I always question I my own judgement, lol.

[MintChocChip]

I tend to go alone. When I was at university I always used to go with friends because it was more of a fun experience. But since coming back to my home town I tend go alone. I've known my hairdresser for 6 years so I'm not too fussed about having someone else to talk to, as I can just talk to her.

It helps that she knows exactly what I want, and has never cut my hair badly or in a way that I wasn't happy with too!

[Clem_Dela]

I always go with my mom... because she pays for it :D
But it's been over a year now :)

[BeccaAngel]

I can go alone anytime, its more fun with friends kinda like a girls day or just something fun to do for yourself. So i could do either one! :)

[BrownEyedBeauty]

I have always gone alone. I don't see the point in having someone sitting around waiting for me to finish and I also don't want someone distracting my hairstylist by talking too much.

[palaeoqueen]

I don't go to salons any more but when I did it would always be alone. What would be the point of taking a friend? They can't sit with you as they'd be in the way so they have to sit/stand around waiting - why?

With regards to the tea comments, I wouldn't go back to a salon that didn't offer me a drink (tea/coffee/water), it's a pretty basic thing for me! And I do/did tip less if they offer then forget to bring it.

[gratitudinous]

I love provolone! :D
I've never been to any kind of salon, or had a professional haircut. My awesome Mom trims my hair for me (and probably will continue to do so for as long as she can). But if I did go to a salon, I would most definitely take somebody with me to be my watchdog! I've heard too many horror stories of scissor happy stylists, and I have a hard time speaking up to people.