Annalie’s horrible haircut
December 10th, 2008
Okay, here’s the story:
My mom needed a haircut, the salon we planned to go to had closed up shop, it was late, so we settled for a not-Supercuts-but-similar salon. There was one stylist working. ONE. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a salon where there was only one person working. Maybe that should have been our first clue.
Annalie wanted a haircut too, and she was due for one, so I figured, why not? Even though it’s a cheapie salon, Annalie’s hairstyle is simple. And hey, cheap haircut! So Annalie went first. This woman who cut her hair:
- Didn’t introduce herself, to Annalie or to us. Hmm.
- Barely spoke to Annalie at all, which is unusual. I know not everyone likes kids, but Annalie is polite and cheerful and usually fairly talkative. People usually respond to her in kind, but this woman didn’t warm up at all.
- Didn’t put Annalie’s hair up in clips and cut it in sections. She just started hacking away. I realized the haircut wasn’t going to be any good but once she started I figured it was better to let her finish than to yank Annalie out of the chair half-trimmed.
- Didn’t seem to realize that giving a 4-year-old child a little verbal direction would be nice. Instead of saying, “Can you look down at the floor for me?” she would push Annalie’s head down, or turn it to the side, or whatever. She sprayed Annalie’s hair with water without warning her at all; luckily I saw it coming and managed to tell Annalie her hair was about to be sprayed before it happened. She started to cut her bangs without warning Annalie to close her eyes. I kept up a running commentary to Annalie all the while, saying things like, “Remember you have to sit really still when you get a haircut. I know, can you pretend you’re a statue?” etc. I thought maybe the stylist would take the hint and start doing the same, but she never did.
A couple of days later when we went to the kids’ salon here, Annalie asked why she was getting another haircut since she just got one. I told her that the other lady must have been tired when she cut her hair, because she missed a few spots, so we were just going to have it fixed. That seemed to satisfy her, and she was happy to have her hair trimmed again. I was just glad to know the awful stylist hadn’t traumatized her.
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We had a bad experience when Max was just 3. We had just moved and were getting ready for him to be in a wedding and hadn’t unpacked the clippers. We took him to a cheapie salon. All we wanted was a buzz all over. The lady was so very rough with him. She went so very fast and harsh, there were red lines on his scalp from the tips of the clipper guard! She didn’t talk to him either, but that was because she didn’t seem to speak English. To this day, he reminds me that doesn’t like “lady barbers”.
That is a really bad experience! The lady must have been in SOME mood to not respond to Annalie (I mean look how cute she is!). I’m glad too that Annalie didn’t suffer (other than the bad cut she got out of the deal!) from the whole thing.
I guess a lot of the things you mentioned seem like second nature to me but perhaps like you pointed out she may not have experience with kids or worse she might really dislike children. That’s kind of sad (the latter, I mean), especially since she doesn’t know Miss Annalie.
I’m glad it was something that was fixable!
Sheeesh! Maybe she’d been stuck alone with the closing shift? I’m hoping there’s some explanation other than “doesn’t care.” At least all is well now! :)
That’s a horrible experience! At least you didn’t have to take her there though because she attempted to cut her own bangs, say… an inch from her scalp! ;O)
I had the same experience!! It was awful. My 4yo son, who has autism spectrum disorder had just started opening up to strangers and decided haircuts were a cool thing. The lady was awful and mean. If he said ouch, she told him that it didn’t hurt. He kept asking her how he looked, if he looked good -and she would never answer.
Luckily, when she finished, he hopped off the chair, looked in the mirror and declared “I look so handsome” and gave himself a thumbs up. That was the only thing that saved her life…
I called the salon when we got home and had a cow.
PS – bad haircut or not – your daughter is stinkin’ cute!!
:)
Oooooh, Annalie is so sweet and cheerful! I’m glad it turned out ok. I think I would have cried. I was terrified of getting my daughter’s first “real” haircut. I hope that person was just having an off day.
I’m thinking we had the same hairstylist Annalie had a few weeks ago – down to the no talking, only one person working scenario.
Dang. That was not nice!
I wonder what the “stylist” would have done had you pulled Annalie out of the seat mid-way through!!?!?!
Hope you did not tip her…
That poor woman needs to take some Good Manners Pills. …Maybe a How-To-Cut-Hair Pill as well. Sheesh!
We had a bad hair experience when Sophie was little. We went in for a “trim”, and the next thing I knew, the woman had hacked off a three inch curl right out of the middle of Soph’s head. Before I could get over the shock of that and say, “Wait, wait, for Pete’s sake, WAIT!”, she made another cut. …Which resulted in me leaving the salon near tears with my little Marine.
Now, as a result, I’m one of “those women” whenever we go to get Sophie’s hair cut. Standing there, post-instructions, with the oh so subtle Not-too-MUCH! look on my face.
Glad Annalie was oblivious to the rudeness. =)
She’s still so darn adorable…
Oh-my-goodness. I hope your mom didn’t get her hair cut by the same person!
Wow that is a pretty bad haircut. And this person was supposedly trained?! My last haircut was with a guy who didn’t introduce himself. He didn’t talk to me. It was weird but my haircut was fabulous.
That’s AWFUL! At least Annalie is doing well and not scarred for life!
Did your Mom get her hair cut there or did you all bolt out the door as fast as you could??
Wow, what an experience. That’s kind of a precarious situation to be in. Her with the scissors all over you baby’s head and you knowing how awful it was going to end. At least Annalie didn’t catch on to any of it.
I think I might have made a big stink, which isn’t like me at all. Just lately I’ve found myself being very “Mama Bear” when it comes to my kids. Not sure why.
Seriously? HOW DID THAT ESCAPE HER NOTICE? That is a blatantly terrible haircut.
Me?
I wouldn’t have been so kind.
You?
A saint.
Oh my goodness! I can’t believe places like that are able to be in business. Sorry you had such a terrible experience and I’m really glad you took Annalie to get it fixed and also make sure she didn’t hold on to bad feelings about getting her hair done. Wow. I just can’t believe she was so rude. Even if the haircut was awesome her behavior was just unacceptable.
Glad Annalie wasn’t affected. I am still growing out my last terrible haircut so I can get it cut properly again.
I hope the stylist that fixed her hair was nicer!!
Sorry you had that experience. I could just kick that woman!! I hope your mom changed her mind about getting a haircut herself!!