Haircut story: What would you do?

[Anonymous]

So I moved away from DC a couple of years ago and am STILL looking for a new stylist that I love. After going through a couple of them quickly, I found one that I stayed with for more than a year. I have curly hair and she is trained as "curly hair specialist". At first I liked her and got one cut I REALLY liked from her, but the last 3ish cuts have been inconsistent and I've been generally not loving my hair and pulling my hair back almost every day (sign of a bad cut to me) despite openly communicating with her about not being thrilled with the way this area is doing this or that, etc.

So, I finally decided to move on and try someone new. I've tried to get recommendations from various sources, but still have yet to find that person on the street whose hair I love and is like mine to ask them where they get it done. So regardless, I did find someone new to try who supposedly is good at curly hair too. I had the appt. this morning and right away I didn't get an overly confident feeling that he knew what to do with my hair. I was getting increasingly nervous about having him touch it. Then he announces that he'd "like to get a second opinion." Apparently there's another woman who works at the salon who is good at curly hair and he'd like me to come back on Sunday (when she works) to do a consult with her and then a cut if I'm comfortable. I left feeling very strange about the experience - not to mention w/o a haircut. On one hand, I was grateful that he admitted he didn't know what to do but on the other hand - I have no idea who is other random stylist is. Also - he actually told me that minus a couple of small changes - he actually likes my current cut.

My question is: What should I do? If you were me, would you take the time to go hear what this other chick has to say or just drop it altogether? Frankly, now I'm considering just going back to my original lady and again trying to communicate with her what I don't like about the cut and seeing if we can fix it. I'm not totally opposed to listening to this new woman and possibly getting a cut from her - but I want to avoid the whole graveling back to my other stylist when I clearly tried someone else and it didn't work if I don't have to. Know what I mean?

Sorry this ended up being long - but I thought that was a strange experience. And this guy had oodles of good reviews (on citysearch). Oh, and when I walked up to the salon it said "walk-ins welcome" and they didn't seem very busy versus my other lady who's pretty difficult to get an appt. with. Oh how I miss Dragan at Bogart in Georgetown!! (for those of you looking for new stylists - I highly recommend him as do a few of my friends who also went to him when they lived in DC)

[Anonymous]

i'd give up on this guy. sounds weird.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely go back and get a consult from the other hair dresser. I think it is great that the hair stylist was willing to admit he wasn't the best stylist for the job and to recommend you to someone he thinks would do a good job. He works with the other stylist so he sees the customers when they come in and the results when they leave. And...if you decide to go and you are happy with the cut - please post back. I have curly hair and I am struggling with my stylist.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely not go back to the guy (or his colleague). You were scheduled for a haircut and he could not or would not give it to you. No way would I return. Unless you wanted something absolutely nuts done to your hair (which it doesn't sound like you did, and I don't know what that would be anyway), I would not have confidence in a hair stylist who needed to get a second opinion. This is not a medical mystery; it's a haircut. Plus, you got a weird vibe. Trust your instincts.

And I feel your pain. I can't find anyone in D.C. that I like to cut and highlight my hair, so I just get it cut when I go "home." That stylist has been cutting my hair for 19 years (since I was a pre-teen!) and I worry that I will never be satisfied with anyone else. If I were you, I would keep going to your so-so stylist and try to get her to do what you want, all the while keeping a keen lookout for that woman on the street who has the haircut you want.

[Anonymous]

Run as fast as your legs can carry you!