Do hairdressers seem ageist to you ?

I’m happy with my current hairdresser, I’ve been going to the same salon for a few years. I go during the week when it’s quieter and many of the clients seem to be around my age (I’m early 60’s) It’s a lovely modern salon and they really make an effort to make you feel pampered. The only down side is the price, especially highlights but I don’t have them done as often now.
In the past I’ve had hairdressers who have got a bit complacent and have also been pushing expensive hair products, my last salon started charging an extra £10 for a deep conditioner. They literally sat you in a chair covered in a soft throw lit a tea light and massaged some conditioner into your hair, a rip off IMO. So far so good with my current stylist though. Hairdressers should value their older clients.

I've been to many different types of hair salons for a cut and the best was only half as bad as the worst one. I used this opportunity to teach myself how to cut my own hair and have never been happier. The right tools & mirrors make it easier.

no they don't

My hairdresser works out of what was once a Chinese takeaway, has tattoos that are very interesting, the area that her and her son work in is rundown and she is the most fantastic person and hairdresser I have had.

My hairdresser is fabulous. I found her when we moved here 5 years ago. I've had the same very short cut for years and no one's ever cut it as well as she does.

We always have 'fringe gate' though, as she wants to cut it shorter than I like so we both end up making a compromise; her's bigger than mine.

I have had the same hairdresser for 40 years - is this a record?! He sold his salon and now works from his home for just his favourite clients, luckily I’m one of them. He is like my therapist and ‘knows’ my hair so well.

Itsnell

I’ve been going to an older man who trained in the 1970s. He’s now retired and has been ill with covid. He told me that trainee hairdressers don’t get the depth of training nowadays. They don’t always know how to cut hair and some of them seem only able to use a pair of straighteners. They don’t learn social skills either.

If I look at the website and Facebook pages of a hair salon and it’s all pictures of young women with long coloured or bleached tresses I don’t bother with them. When I go into a hair salon and if the talk to me like I’m simple because I’m old I walk out

As a student in London 50 years (!!) ago we used to go to Vidal Sassoons and pay 50p to get our hair cut by trainees who were very closely supervised by the trainers. We learnt what a good cut was through going to Vidal Sassoons. I kept going right up til the 1990s

I’ve ended up going to a hair salon back in my home town which has hairdressers who ex trainers from a big hairdressing chain and they know how to talk to all ages without patronising them and don’t see hairdressing as just about doing young women’s tresses.

I only recently stopped going to the Vidal Sassoon academy (I think it’s a victim of Covid and they have shut down and scattered their trainers around their salons). I used to love watching the students be trained and the prices were amazing - £12 for a haircut, £30 for highlights. Took ages though as so heavily supervised.

When I was on chemo a few years ago I got a wig catalogue and almost every photo was of a beautiful young woman with seemingly lovely 'hair', most of the styles wouldn't look quite so good with an older face like mine. That's the giveaway - young hair with an old face.

I've been with my hairdresser for about 5 years and she's perfectly satisfactory. Her clientele are perhaps a little older as many young trendies go elsewhere.

Nvella I took my mum once and we went in at 3 and came out at 6!! My mum charmed all the young male trainees. The girl doing mine struggled to get the water temperature right and ended up in tears as she was getting told off by her trainer. We came out with great haircut however.

dragonfly my hairdresser was amazing too when I lost my hair from chemotherapy. She refused to take money for little trims when it was growing back. I'm 65 with short hair but I'm very fashion conscious and she keeps my hair on trend as much as possible.
I hope you have made a good recovery x

It makes me smile that when I visit my hairdressers all the pictures are of young women and men with flowing, beautiful locks and all the customers are greying oldsters like me.

They'd go out of business without our money - whatever they might think of us in private.

Maybe a mobile hairdresser who comes to your home might suit you better. No comparisons . Look for someone in your area. My MIL always had her hairdresser come to her. I understand what you are saying. My best friend does my hair. I go to her house.

I am 74 and was quite flattered recently when my hairdresser said she books the older ladies in at the beginning of the week when town is quieter and they can park more easily. She books me in for a Friday ?

My hairdresser is about 30'ish and always asks what I want and then goes about it the best way she can - with success. It must be the salon she works in, her predecessor, I never recognised because her would be pink, white, blue or black. She was under 30, but she always took care of my hair, unfortunately she moved to a different salon, I was lucky to find a good replacement.

My hairdresser is in her 60's but has a younger stylist too, she told me she's had new customers going to her who struggled to find somewhere that does shampoo and sets and perms. She also doesn't mind if you like your hair to stay curly lol

FlexibleFriend

Well younger people are more photogenic and generally love having their photo taken. My hairdresser caters for all ages. Why not phone them and have a chat.

Isn't the idea of who is more photogenic entirely subjective. By asserting old people are less so you rather reinforce the very ageism mentioned.

Society is ageist and that will be reflected. Of course, there are lovely exceptions.

Was a life long hairdresser loathed until my latest find. Wonderful young team all completely dedicated to whoever they are with at the given time regardless of age. Ask around your peer group

I haven't found my hairdressers ageist at all - I'm 68 and have had no difficulty in getting them to (a) crop my hair ultra short and spikey then dye it funky colours and (b) help me grow it and get my natural silver back. It just depends on what I tell them I want, and they are always lovely: chatty, friendly and willing to discuss possible future styles in light of my face shape rather than age.

You should probably pop in to a few of your local salons and ask for a price list, just so that you can get a wee idea of how friendly or pretentious or condescending they seem to you.

Hope you find a really great one!

My aunt in the 70s went to one of the new "unisex" salons just because it was convenient & she needed a do, she was turned away because... she wasn't the type of client they catered to. She was in her 40s then... & she's still hale & hearty now. That was blatantly ageist, cant see that cutting a 40 y0 hair is much different to cutting a hip 70s 20 yo's hair.

In our area there are several hairdressers. The one I go to caters for all but a tip from a friend was go to the hairdressers early in the week. They’re not so busy and are glad of the older client when everybody else is at work. I think that is true as when I go on Tuesdays they have time to chat and are friendly and remember what you told them last visit. My hairdresser is 24.

i haven’t been to a hairdresser since 1963. Until we moved I had a very good hairdresser then had had bad experience so I gave up. Bought some hairdressing scissors and have managed ever since. Until recently my hair has been straight but thick but is now falling out because of old age. it is just below my ear lobes. I only wash it once a week don’t use conditioner and put it in rollers. Then rub in some .Vitapoint. Have often had compliments regarding my hair.

I think older women one sees on TV and younger ones look awful with long straggly hair.

How do you define ‘long straggly hair’? Mine’s long - past my shoulders - but in jolly good nick. Unlike you I condition it each time I wash it.

Never go to a new hairdresser and ask for a completely different hairstyle to what you already have , they need to get to know your hair and yourself. If you see someone out and about with the style you like don't be afraid to ask them which hairdresser they go to them book a trim as a 1st appointment, Get a feel for the place and if you think it may suit you, then ask the stylist if she thinks your hair is suitable for that style as quite often people want styles for a different type of hair to what they have. Do not try and go before Christmas most good places are pre booked anyway. It is quite in January try then. Good luck.

I am a woman who asks for Judy Dench style. My hair is now a great silver colour so I just like it short and easy to manage. My hairdresser in London works for a very posh and expensive salon in Marylebone and I only went once. The price was ridiculous and as we are friends she cuts my hair at home when I am there. I only have myself to please and short hair is easy to look after.