how long does your hairdresser keep you waiting?

[Anonymous]

seems like I routinely wait 20 minutes after the appointment is supposed to begin, even on weekdays, and sometimes as long as 45 minutes on the weekends. It makes me totally crazy, enough to think about switching, but I have hair that people like to 'experiment' with, so finding a new hairdresser can result in a lot of bad hair days. Is this kind of wait normal?

[Anonymous]

That's too long.

[Anonymous]

She probably charges you $100 for a haircut too! Did you tell her that its a problem for you? can she text you when to come in? i spend as little time in hair salons as i can. they drive me crazy with the waiting and the shuttling and the hot and the cold. and wanting a big christmas tip to boot too!

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat as you, OP. In addition, once she gets started, there are a lot of interruptions, phone calls, asides with co-workers, etc. A simple cut can take around 60-90 minutes, not to mention when I have to have my highlights done. I love her skills and she has never given me a bad cut or color in over 10 years. The time wasn't even an issue until I had kids when every minute became so much more precious. Now I just fume every time I go see her, but am still reluctant to "break up" because she does such a great job!

[Anonymous]

I actually left one hairdresser because I waited 30 minutes - at least - even when I was the first client (she was running late).

But my new place isn't much better. I think they just try to jam as many people in as possible, and assume there will be cancellations. I understand the need to make money, but I hate it when I show up and realize my guy is just starting to cut someone else's hair. But heck, when is the last time I had an appointment anywhere and didn't have to wait?

[Anonymous]

Never. I always book the first appt on a Sat morning and I am in and out.

[Anonymous]

I had this problem with my old guy. It sucked because I often went in during my work day (I was working weekends too, so it didn't even matter). I would call before I had to leave for the appointment and ask the receptionist if he was running on schedule or not. Once I made it clear to them that time was critical to me, they were good about letting me know acurately when I should arrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat as you, OP. In addition, once she gets started, there are a lot of interruptions, phone calls, asides with co-workers, etc. A simple cut can take around 60-90 minutes, not to mention when I have to have my highlights done. I love her skills and she has never given me a bad cut or color in over 10 years. The time wasn't even an issue until I had kids when every minute became so much more precious. Now I just fume every time I go see her, but am still reluctant to "break up" because she does such a great job!

exactly. one time she was actually checking someone's color every 10 minutes. I get it that they dont want to waste their time sitting around while someone has foils in, but I dont want a distracted hairdresser or one who keeps me waiting for so long. I did however tell the receptionist to never schedule me again when she has another appointment at the same time. I guess I could start calling ahead, but it's really about planning the day - can I get to the supermarket before the appt, or can I squeeze it into this part of my workday - so while part of it is the annoyance of sitting there for 1/2 hour, the other part is that it wouldn't even be that convenient to leave and come back or try to do something else in the interim.

grrr.

[Anonymous]

Never. Mine does house calls. Awesomeness. Really.

[Anonymous]

My old hairdresser would automatically cancel your appt if you were more than 10 minutes late. I really appreciated this policy. The tardiness of one person can screw up the entire schedule for the day.

[Anonymous]

Not at all. I would leave or complain.

[Anonymous]

I've never had to wait, ever. If you've had to wait more than once, it isn't just people showing up late and throwing off the day, it's a scheduling policy problem. They're scheduling too many people, not accurately estimating how long "jobs" will take, etc. Find another hairdresser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never. Mine does house calls. Awesomeness. Really.

Mine does too! All I have to do is pick her up from the Metro and make sure I've got clean towels. So much Win.

[Anonymous]

Maybe I've waited 5 minutes. Been with my hairdresser for 15 years. She'll usually do someone else's cut while I have color on. If that takes longer than expected the shampoo girl just gives me a longer massage. No complaints about that!

[Anonymous]

I would not return to a hairdresser who kept me waiting more than 10-15 minutes. I suppose if I had stylist to call my own, I'd give her one warning before dumping her.

I have also walked out of doctor's waiting rooms after 30 minutes, with a polite reminder to the front desk staff NOT to bill my insurance for the visit, since it did not take place. That leaves them with an unbilled slot on their schedule, which they then have to justify to the practice manager. I've never had to do this more than once at any medical practice.