Why do some Hairdressers insist on cutting your hair instead of trimming it like you've asked them to?

Question

I am African American and have been growing my hair out for a long time now wearing it natural. Sometimes I would press and curl it.

I went to a local Beauty Salon that specializes in ethnic hair and wanted a professional press n curl. The Hairdresser asked if I wanted my ends trimmed because it would "look" better. I have soft fine curly hair and it looked good to me. I at first said, "NO" and then decided on the TRIM, NOT a hair cut. I even told her just "sweep off the ends" which is less than an actual trim.

Before I went to that Salon my hair was way past my shoulders and now it's just below my ears "near" my shoulders. I DID not ask for that! I told her I wanted to keep my hair past my shoulders. I took $10 off her fee and explained that she did not do what I told her to do. My ends were NOT that dead for crying out loud.

WHY DO HAIRDRESSERS DO THIS TO PEOPLE?

I would especially love to hear from Beauticians, Salon Owners, Hair Stylists, etc. on this one.

Answer 1

I love this question! I have a few theories, but the primary one is pride. Hairdressers (at least the ones I've been to) think that they know what's best for you. Wrong. They THINK they know best. They've done the beauty school thing. Since you, the customer, has not been through that, you don't know what's going on with your hair. Their reputation is on the line if your hair doesn't look good. Naturally, they'll try to persuade you into doing what they want.

Theory 2: Cutting versus trimming cost more. They want more money. What constitutes a trim? A cut less than one inch? I don't know! It all depends on the hairdresser. I certainly feel your pain. I have curly hair. My previous hair dressers always tried to tell me MY way won't look good on my hair type. It's MY hair! Not everyone has stick straight, Asian-type hair! I also tell them that cutting my hair when it's wet will make it longer than it really is. They would refuse to cut my hair because their scissors would get dull. I found a lady who cuts hair dry or wet. She's awesome!

I hope you find the perfect hairdresser!

Answer 2

hey Im a hairstylist. And I totally understand what your saying. It is extremely important that you stress the fact that you DO NOT want anymore than what you want taken off. You need to speak up and tell them, it seems like the hairstylist that you went to was trying to make a quick buck. Another reason could be that some local hairstylist can be just coming out of beauty school or are inexperienced and are cutting your hair to even out the mistakes they made, and they keep cutting and cutting the next thing you know you have a halle berry cut circa 98.
dont feel hesitant to complain, not tip and not pay. It was not the service you asked for and therefore it is not worth paying for

Answer 3

This is something that I always hate when coworkers would do that to a client. When someone stresses to me that they want a light trim and they have been growing there hair out I truly give them a light trim. Some hairdressers just do what they want. You need to find a stylist that you are comfortable with that you can always trust to do what you want. I know that is hard to do sometimes but just look around you can usually tell by an attitude.

Answer 4

I know what you mean.... my sister had colour...the hair dresser didn't like it...and so every time she went in for a trim she'd basically chop off all the new growth...my sisters colour grew out completely and she couldn't understand why her hair was the same length
and my mother...went in for a trim when she was in her teens...her hair was reached her mid back...when she walked out of that salon she had like an inch of hair left....she cried for days...it wasn't even a cute cut...I have no pictures of it...just her with an afro when her hair grew enough to actually look good---and don't get my started on what they did to me when i was twelve...
sometimes they get scissor happy...or try to even it out your hair without your permission =\...or maybe they have a vision in their head...of how your hair should look...they can get sued....b/c they are suppose to tell you these things before hand...like okay I'm taking off 3inches

Answer 5

My aunt, my neice and some of my friends all are beauticians and hair stylists. You should not go to a salon anymore if you don't like the way they do hair there. Go someplace else and be VERY exact about how you want it.

Answer 6

It could be a variety of reasons. They may not be paying attention to what you are saying, or they are interpreting what you are saying as something else.

Try to ask your friends to recommend a good stylist. Then stick with one person. That way they know you, they know your hair and they'll come to know what it is exactly how you want your hair.

All the best! <3

Answer 7

omg!!! thank you for asking this question. i've been asking this lately since my last hair cut has me looking like the front man for an eighties heavy metal band. needless to say i ran out there crying and i know that a lot of signals were crossed. i tried to explain what i wanted with the lady, but she seemed to get ideas of her own and just did a horrible job on the hair cut. it's nice to know that there are others out there having the same problems as i have and i hope if there is a next time (i hope not) i have the courage to tell them that this isn't wat i wanted and for them to fix it.

Answer 8

The last time that happened to me, I asked to speak to the manager and told him I was not paying for the cut. It was not what I asked for and he had better talk to his staff about customer service. Right or wrong, I want what I want and thats final, non-negotiable and not for the hairdresser to change my "order". I don't care what they think, it's my bloody head and unless they are going to be at my house at 7am everyday to do my hair, they better do what I ask them to.
I didn't have to pay and my next visit was free, too.

Answer 9

My Aunt Who Is A HairDresser Does The Same Thing She Is Scissor Crazy Lol But She Says Because It EvenS It Out Because It May Look Even But Its Not Well Thats Wat My Aunt Says

Answer 10

its definitley for the $. At my salon it's free to get your hair TRIMMED but if they cut a certain length off you have to pay..i hate that!