So...I went to Zurich yesterday to have my hair done. My usual hairdresser (english speaking) is away on holiday, and she normally does my hair colour and cuts. SO I booked a new appointment in a hairdressers a friend recommended.

I normally have my hair bleached, and tonned, I told them this when I arrived. The lady who was doing my hair was (ahem!) an "experienced" stylist...I PAID for an experinced stylist, and she is a slightly annoyed voice, "Yes, yes, I know thank you!" as if I were telling her her job. So I shut up. Two of them then consulted the colour book, and were discussing what colour to make. I told them again, it's not a dye I have it's bleach/peroxide (peroxide auf deutsch as well!) and she said again..."it's ok, we know what we are doing".

So I think, I havn't had my hair bleached THAT many times, so I put my hair in the trust of the "experienced" hairdresser. She proceeds to put hair dye in my hair, leaves it for 1/2 hour, comes back, and NOTHING has happened. NOTHING at all. She couldn't understand it, and says it's the first time a colour has not had any effect. So she speaks to her manager or whatnot, and they decide on a different colour to try which they do.....another 1/2 hour later nothing happened again. THEN they decide it's actually a bleach they need (hallelujah!) and bleach my hair. By this time my scalp is SO sensitive as I have had 2 lots of hair dye on it, the bleach (that normally has virtually no effect on me) was agony on my scalp. I also asked her to tone my hair so it was all the same colour, which she said she didn't need to do, as it was the same colour, and in the salon it looked fine (finally!) but today looking at it in natural daylight I can see my roots are a different colour to the rest of my hair! ARGH!!!!

I got not reduction even though I asked, as they said well, even though it was their mistake I still used 2 lots of blonde hair dye (my fault how??) but they gave me a free conditioning mask! Wow huh??

NOT HAPPY!!!!



So anyone else got any hairdressing horror stories??!

Sounds like the stuff of nightmares! Poor you!

However, on a more positive note, at least you didn't lose your hair as a result...

I'll have to ask my daughter tomorrow, she'll be starting her third/last year next month.

Meanwhile, she's certainly as good as anyone I've had here, and will be cutting my hair and doing a friend's on Sunday (I even give her money!)

I'll show her you post, and see what she has to say.

Tom

I held my fingers 10 mm apart and said "tagliare un po 'per favore" which as you all know means "cut a little please"

She cut most of it off and left me about 10 mm.

on the plus side, you probably saved money on the next months cut

Ouch! Not a nice experience. How's your scalp?
When I was a student in London I shared a house with two, naturally blonde-haired, Swedish guys. They were models for a well-known agency, and to secure more modelling jobs they used to bleach their hair to the point that it was almost white. One night, they suggested I bleach my hair too. Being a brunette I was hesitant, thinking that the peroxide would be too strong and result in my hair falling out. Anyway, I went along with the idea and the bold move worked a treat! In the days following I was approached by numerous guys asking for my number and I was even spotted by a photographer, which resulted in being paid an extortionate amount of money for half an hour of posing. Definitely not bad when you're a student! But alas, the 'Bleached Brunette Look' took its toll; the hair became unmanageable despite slapping on copious amounts of conditioner. I was at a loss and took the extreme measure of shaving it all off. Again, it turned out to be another wondrous hit!
Now, thirteen years on I'm a boring, sensible, mid-length brunette who has a fear of hair salons because all the hairdressers who've dealt with me seem to be demons. I believe their purpose in life is to make one look and feel terrible. My hair is washed in a manner I feel that the hairdresser wants to detach my head from my shoulders (if she did succeed, I'm sure she'd kick it out of the salon) and talk about the hair-dryer being hot- that's an understatement, let me say it's more like having a blow torch aimed at every pore in my scalp. Oh, bring back my student days of housemates bleaching each others hair and fooling around making tin foil helmets, there was certainly more love involved compared with a trip to the poxy hairdressers!

(Note to any hairdressers: I'm sure you're not all demons).

I used to buzz my own head. When I came to Switzerland, I didn't bother with bringing my clippers with me and decided to go to a hairdresser. I opted for the Lehrling (apprentice) option as it was cheaper and I figured that you can't really go wrong with a simple buzz. Needless to say, the apprentice wasn't able to give a proper buzz...the owner (a "real" hairdresser) had to take over...and managed to mess it up even more.
Right after I got done (and 34.5Chf lighter) I went straight to shop to get me some clippers (for 14.9Chf).

isha is right - hair dye on your hair TWICE and then peroxide, I am surprised that you had any hair left. Shocking service. Am sorry to hear that. I would have been fuming and kicked up a big fuss at the salon.

Wont go into names but I had a similar experience with a hairdresser here. He kept brushing me off with that famous "yes yes, I know" line and got ever so defensive at the end of the cut, when I told him that he didnt do it right - and even showed him the picture of what was initially discussed.

Most hairdressers will have another go at it but he simply argued till the cows came home that he did it right.

Never again.

__________________
Remember when someone annoys you, it takes 42 muscles to frown, BUT it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and b****-slap the mother-f***er upside the head.

I'm with LiB on this one. Bought myself some clippers 12 years ago and never been to the Gentleman's Hairdresser since.
Speaking of which, seems I need to give myself a buzz, it's totally unmanageable, darling..

I and my husband were going to a hairdresser who spoke english. She was nice enough but when she washed your hair it felt like she was attempting to scalp you!
Her assistant did a wash much friendlier on the scalp but you couldn't be guaranteed you'd get her. We were reasonably happy with the cuts initially (even though I did have to even up my hair once after seeing her), but each cut got successively worse; our last cuts were hideous!

I walked out with haircut suitable only for someone over 60 who wears pastel pantsuits and pearls and my husbands dishevelled locks were cropped into a short back and sides reminiscent of a maths teacher I used to have. It seems that when hairdressers here think you're a 'regular' they stop giving you what you ask for and give you what they think you should have.

Needless to say, I went to San Francisco a little later and had it repaired. My husband waited 10 weeks before he had a new cut. We havent been back since.

Wow, that is one really nasty experience!

I had only a very embarrassing problem...

After asking about 15 hairdressers in Zürich City Centre whether they did eyebrows and over lip waxing (getting always a no for an answer) I found a nice hairdresser next to the Bourse that did it (I know I know, I should have seen it...).

Though she was delicate enough while removing the hair and all, I didn't get a little bit of cream to calm the skin or even a bit of concealer to hide the redness (which I always refused, but it's still nice to be asked). She was also a bit of a scrooge with the baby powder before applying the wax.

Then I went to pay.

She said "Achtzig"
I understood (in my innocent) "Achtzehn?" And pulled a 20CHF
She repeated "Achzig"
"Like 80CHF? For eyebrows and over lip?"

I had no money and no credit card with me, because me idiot thought it could not be more that 3 times the price I pay back home.... which would make 30 CHF.

Fortunately I had my mobile. I called husband and he can to come release me Never went back…

My hair dresser is wonderfurl. She is very good and is actually one of the best friends I have here in Switzerland. I haveactually met her through EF.

One form the other side of the chair. When my sister was a hairdresser she had a client one day whose hair was infested my nits & lice . My sister had to carry on doing the wash, cut & blow dry as if all was normal so as not to offend her customer.

OMG arrrrrgh

...you got a Knightrider and a Stach?!

I been toilking to a couple of skinheads?????????????????

That's right, baby! If I am not careful I can make this guy competion:

Too many horror stories and horrible hair days that for 2 years in college i decided to go bald and went to a barber shop to maintain. I loved the back massages with hot towels and the stories/gossip(they thought i was a dike but i didnt mind). After reading so many of these here in EF, i think i now look into becoming a hair dresser. Hope its not too late!

I had so many bad experiences that I learned to cut my hair myself. I shave hubby's head since years now too.

Refused to pay so much money for a clipping.

Just don't get your haircut at the Flughafen, my boyfriend did and paid CHF 63.... - the hairdresser gave his card and suggested I go along, at those prices not likely!