Who here hates it when hairdressers make conversation with you??

Question

I hate going to hairdressers who constantly try to make conversation with me. I'm there to get my hair cut, not to make small talk. Why do hairdressers always want to know about their customers. Obviously I know it is to make the customer feel more comfortable, and thus more likely to return. But not all customers want to talk,and thus I would like to know how hairdressers feel when their customers do not want to talk. I am quite shy and find it difficult to maintain converstaions. Although I am perfectly happy to sit in silence whilst having my hair cut, I feel uncomfortable when hairdressers constantly try to make converstaion with me. If I feel that they are not uncomfortable then I am fine. I think men are lucky when they go to the hairdressers/barber because I think with men there is no pressure for the barber or customer to make small talk. They can go in there have a hair cut and not expect to interrogated about their life!!

This was not meant to be in this section - I pressed the post question without looking at what section my question was put in!! How strange for it to be put in this section.

Answer 1

I know EXACTLY where you're coming from!!! I thought it was just me and I wasn't normal......I would prefer to just sit and relax and enjoy having my hair done than be given the Spanish Inquisition!
However I am far too polite to tell them that and keep answering their questions like I'm at an interview or something!!

They are trained to be "chatty" but really they should be trained to be chatty only if the customer starts a conversation in the first place!

Answer 2

Im a hairdresser and I just do it to pass the day quicker. But I dont talk to every client. I look out for body language and start by asking something simple like hi how are you. If the answer is "fine" or something really short I normaly dont say anything else unless they do. If they give me a big long answer then I think they are a talker so I talk away. Just be short and perhaps a little blunt with your answer, if they have any social skills then they should stop talking. If they dont then they are a crap hairdresser because I huge part of it is people skills not just how good you are with hair.

Answer 3

I used to, but then I got a hairdresser that actually had something in common with me and the conversation was great! Not forced at all. Hopefully she keeps up the good job and doesn't mess up my hair.I would hate to go back t the usual chat now. It's just an awkward situation. I used to be fairly shy myself, but conversation gets easier as you get older, are out in the world and gain some confidence in your interactions. Sometimes I just don't feel like talking though. It's hard when it is someone that you have zero in common with and you have to manufacture pointless small talk.

I agree though - usually you are trapped in a lame conversation when all you want is a haircut. And you don't want to risk offending the person with scissors do ya!? You could wind up bald. Half the time I am dozing off in the chair...I don't really want to talk about anything.

Answer 4

Hate 'em ... but I try to keep them to the point to be as less rude as possible. I wonder if they do it for the tip, if they do, then it's not necessary as I would tip them any way, more so, happily if I didn't have to have the conversation. P.S. Having said that, I don't find anything wrong in being besties with hairdressers.

Answer 5

It's cool that you posted your question here, mistake or not. Some people will jump down your throat if the questions in not LBGT related, but LBGT people get haircuts too. lol. To answer your question, I don't mind the conversation because I feel uncomfortable sitting in silence. I guess I am opposite of you. I am not shy, in fact my job as a teacher has me talking to kids all day, so when I can carry on a conversation with an adult I am happy! But if you don't like, there's no reason why you should have to talk. You may need to keep changing salons until you find one with people who don't want to chat. The higher end salons usually have quieter workers I find. Good luck!

Answer 6

I think most of these hairdressers might feel bored standing all day while cutting the customers' hair, so they yak a little to pass the time and feel good about it. But I agree that sometimes they go too far. There's this hairdressing place my cousin told me about "Andy's Annex" and not only will the hairdresser not stop yakking and interrogating my cousin about every single person in her family: "My life partner is studying in a university in Cape Town... I don't like fat people... I hate everyone online... blah blah blah..." In addition, she is very unkempt: she wears a see thru fishnet top without a bra (I'm not kidding), her specs are too big, her mouth has a permanent sulk etched to it and her hair looks like it needs shampooing cos its terribly frisky, oily and untidy, but worst of all, whenever she opens her mouth, it smells of fermented sardines and tuna, and my cousin said that she tried to hold her breath whenever Andy, the owner, opened her mouth to gossip, but unfortunately Andy would talk non-stop for minutes at a time, and when my cousin couldn't hold her breath any longer and takes a huge breather, she was in Skunk Heaven!!! I tell ya, I laughed my head off my she told me this story. Nowadays, my cousin only goes to Andy's Annex for a trim... she goes out of the way to have her hair bleached or permed elsewhere cos those things take hours and she doesn't want to smell fermented fish breath and be interrogated about her life by that nosey parker, Andy.

Answer 7

Don't be stupid. This is how hairdressers are supposed to be! They are taught this in class and it typically helps to work on getting a tip. Most customers don't want to be ignored while sitting in the chair. If you don't like the chit-chat, simply tell them that you aren't much of a talker or you're not up for conversation. These jobs are about "people skills." If you understand that, then you can see why they do these things! Also, if you act like you don't want to engage in conversation, or give one-worded replies to questions, many will take the hint. I hope you can look at this differently after reading my response, because I see that most of the people out here are clueless about people skills on the job.

Answer 8

I was a hairdresser for a few years and i thought it was just a way of making the client feel more at ease, but to continue yapping when the client would much rather sit in silence....well i can see how that would be irritating, but interrogating some one about their life is just plain out of bounds, not to mention order.

Answer 9

I know how you feel but I can also see how the hairdresser is only trying to put you at ease. I hated it when I was being asked all sorts of personal questions and everyone there was straining to listen. I got round this by only ever talking about my cats! As soon as I get asked how I've been I launch straight into it, all about the cats. Luckily I can talk for ages about them. The time just flies. If you don't have a pet talk about someone else,s.

Answer 10

Ok, I'm a hairdresser and would like to point out.. We really might not care two hoots about your personal life - there again, it could make very good topic of conversation once you leave the building. (JOKING) but I found, if I knew my clients well, what type of lifestyle they have, I could give them a cut that would suit their lifestyles more than an initial trim. I'm fortunate, I made many good friends - there were other clients if they were on fire, I wouldn't spit at them. Shyness isn't a reason not to speak. If you prefer not to speak, just say that at the start of the hair do. Believe me, the stylist might be glad of a break from all the incessant, trivial crap they are 'conditioned' to talk about.