ackk! fear of salons!

[aktj01]

I have my hair scheduled to be done-up at a salon for a friends wedding in a few weeks. And I'm scared that I'll get some lady who is totally careless with frying and tearing my hair! I don't like anybody styling my hair unless they have the same hair care knowledge as I do. I'm seriously leaning towards telling my friends mom (who scheduled us ladies at the salon) that I'll just do my hair myself.

Does anyone else have this fear?

[MyFireElf]

I know what you mean. I'm so grateful to have a sister to cut my hair (who understands the meaning of the word "trim").

A lot of the time brides will go in for a "rehearsal style" a week or two before the wedding. If you know what salon you're going to, you might try doing the same thing, or at least finding out who will be handling your hair and having a consultation with her to find out if she knows how to do it properly. Then you have time to switch if you still don't trust her.

[connie]

I agree with what MyFireElf said, go check it out in advance. At least then you'll have some idea of whether or not your fears are unfounded. You could find out what kind of hairstyle they have in mind so you know what you're up against.

For all you know, it will just involve pinning and braiding.

Good luck!

[fluffer]

YES, i have share your fear! My fear is founded because so many hairdressers in my past abused my hair.

So funny you posted this tonight because I have been thinking about this all day....


Last night I watched a show on tv last night called Shear Genius. Hairdressers styled hair to win a competition. The episode on last night was about styling for weddings....updoes...yikes. I cant believe how rough hairdressers are on their client's hair -teasing, brushing by ripping out knots, aggressively twisting *cringe*!

I am much more bold than I used to be -If I were you, I would be adamant about how they handle your hair and what products they use. I hope it works out!

[wonhwa]

I am thinking the same thing you are! My sister is getting married in a few months and we are debating hairstyles right now. I am wondering about doing my own; it seems it would be difficult on a day when I am supposed to be taking care of the bride, or having it done at a salon by someone I don't know and cannot meet ahead of time.
sigh...
I missed Shear-whatever it is , that TV show this week, but have watched it before. Very interesting! Very strange...but interesting.

Wonhwa

[spidermom]

I tell you this - from now on, I will do my hair for special occasions by myself. I had my hair styled for my son's wedding. I asked for a simple french twist, and after he finished with the curling iron and the teasing and the arranging, I wanted to wear a bag over my head. I still cringe when I see the wedding pictures. Unfortunately the marriage ended in divorce, so fortunately nobody displays any of those pictures.

[annarose]

aktj01, I just had my updo rehearsal today and yes she flat ironed, curling ironed, siliconed, waxed, and used a can of hair spray on my hair (LOL) but I came home and gently s&ced it out and am now deep treating my hair. For the once or twice every few years I get this done I don't feel it will hurt too much, you just have to MAKE THEM AWARE you are watching.

I did stop her immediatly when she went to back comb though, no way is anyone going to be doing that to my hair! She actually got a little angry and put down her comb and asked how I thought she was going to get any height on top, I said make me a flattop then.

She found another way.

I know it is hard telling a stranger how to do their job, but maybe if you go in and explain even before you sit down how your hair is fragile and prone to breakage with any kind of rough handling and you are aiming for longness they may get the hint then. And as for anyone having your hair care knowledge...I think not. My hairdresser asks me about ingredients! And she politely asked me what was wrong with backcombing! They aren't usually in the business of growing long healthy hair, they are there for lovely quick do's and to color and cut off damage so they don't need to use the knowledge we have here. I don't mean to disrespect any HD's here, this is just IMHO .

Maybe you could do an easy less harmfull updo, like a 40's style, I think in Rini's journal she has a gorgeous kind of waved easy top with a few big loose bouncy curls cascading down her back and clipped up on one side. I'll try to find something like it.

[AngelicBrunette]

Originally Posted by spidermom

Unfortunately the marriage ended in divorce, so fortunately nobody displays any of those pictures.

When i first read that, I read it as FORTUNATELY the marriage ended in divorce and I was thinking 'geez! Was it THAT bad??'

[spidermom]

Originally Posted by AngelicBrunette

When i first read that, I read it as FORTUNATELY the marriage ended in divorce and I was thinking 'geez! Was it THAT bad??'

hahahahaha - well, it was pretty bad, but there was a child involved, so the divorce could be nothing but unfortunate.

[serenitygal]

Try talking to the sylist beforehand and perhaps bringing your own products. Maybe, if you are good at updoes, the brise would even let you do your own hair? I wan in a wedding a few weeks ago; I did my own hair, and, frankly, it turned out much better than if the stylist who did the bride's had done it. The woman spent almost two hours (how the h*ll can you spend two hours donig a simple french twist with a couple of pin curls on straight shoulder length hair?!) torturing this poor girl's hair: first she sprayed it with water, then fried it dry, then coated it in hairspray, then used a flatiron (rubbing it up and down the hair), then used a curling iron, then decided that it didn't look good enough so repeated the last two steps at least three times, etc, etc. I was cringing and slightly nauseated by the end. My hair, on the other hand, was sleekly pulled back into a mass of twists on the back of my head and some ringlets (natural) around my face. I used LOTS of aloe to keep every strand in place. It looked fantastic and healthy-and no heat! Haven't used a heated hair appliance in a year and a half.
The first time that I went for a trim (even out the layers) to my stylist, I decided that she was going to do my hair from then on before she even cut (which she did a fantastic job on, BTW). Before even TOUCHING my hair, she sat down next to me and said, "What do YOU want me to do to your hair?" I explained what I wanted for a cut, what products I used and why, and that I did NOT want a blowdrier used on my hair. She said, "Sounds cool. I can do that." And she did.
Anyhow, that was a bit off-track, but the points are: one, perhaps you could do your own hair, two, if not, talk to the stylist, and three, bring your own products.
HTH, and good luck!

[twilight_faerie]

If you're really worried about having the salon ruin your hair, talk to your stylist beforehand. Tell her/him that you're uncomfortable having other people work on your hair, and that you'd like to use as few chemicals as possible. You might want to stay away from dyes altogether, if you're nervous.

[Sorus]

I think the only thing you should be afraid of is not standing up for yourself. If the stylist won't touch your hair without being able to fry and chop it, and thats obviously not what you want, just don't do it. Your long term goals for your hair are important, and is it worth it for one day of an updo? I really hope the people who set up the appointment will be understanding if its not something you can do, but if not I'm sure everyone here will support you

On the other hand, maybe your stylist will rock and it will be a great experience. You could bring your own hair friendly products and clips and ask that those be the only things used in your hair.

I should note I'm kind of worked up on stylists after taking the lady I'm a caregiver for to a hair appt. today. There was a lady in the back of the salon who was getting her pretty wavy hair blow-dried straight for an hour . Also, I had to watch the steam rise off my friend's heavily hairsprayed hair for some of that hour. Not a fun day. (cute smiley though!)

Stepping off my soap-box, finishing the novel and answering the original question; yes! I'm terrified of walking into a salon. I kind of want to get bangs again and I want them to look nice, but the effort of finding a good stylist is overwhelming...

[AJO8]

Im pretty scared to go to the hairdressers, i won't go anymore, I haven't been for a haircut since Decmeber.
If you're worried why don't you find a nice hairstyle and practice doing it yourself? Its your hair and at the end of it all, and if you can style your own hair nicely then I'm sure it won't be a problem.

[Melian]

I would also say go to the rehearsals. See what kind of style the bride is trying to achieve. And then see if you can come up yourself with a style.
I was a bride two months ago and I did my own hair. It involved a sock bun (you can get the prefab thing at Claires) with the ends rolled up underneath it. I only got compliments and that without blowdrying, styling, hairspray or flatironing.