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Because Anna Wintour Would Probably Sue

Published 11.01.2006 | Permanent Link | Comments (6)

Hi Amy,

I recently moved to a smallish new city, and after three months, I finally put off the inevitable and went to get a haircut. I randomly chose a salon that looked established and I told the stylist that I wanted a jawline bob, like Anna Wintour, but without the bangs. She said she knew exactly what I wanted, I didn't get Anna Wintour, I got what she called "kicky and modern" and "super low maintenance,” as in toss a lot of product on and sculpt the crap out of it with lots of "little layers" and "texture." My hair now looks like this: an extreme wedge on crack. I've had a jawline bob for close to ten years, its looks good on me, its low maintenance for my fine hair, and I've also been able to successfully communicate it whenever I have moved and switched stylists. I'm sort of non-confrontational, so I didn't vehemently express my displeasure, I said at the end it wasn't what I had in mind, but I would give it a try. It's now going to take several months for my hair to grow out, I really, really hate, it isn't me at all, I don't know what to do with it and I'm stuffing a hat on my head every chance I get. My question is do I go back to the salon, and say look this is not what I wanted at all, here is a picture of what I want it to look like, and let’s work towards that and give her another chance, or do I just find another salon?

Karen

I was already formulating my response to you before I clicked on that link. Then I clicked on that link.

My answer remains the same, only now I feel the need to include a lot! More! Exclamation! Points!

Youdonotgoback!

If you didn’t mind confrontation, you certainly could go back to the salon and try again – but only if you were up for demanding they fix it for free. Which would be entirely within your rights. I, however, am a big yellow-bellied cowardly chicken.

I also have zero tolerance for stylists who don’t listen. Not everybody wants to be “modernized.” Not everybody wants "kicky" “layers” and “texture.” Some people just want the haircut they asked for. I know if I were a stylist and someone came in sporting like, teased mall bangs or something, I’d try AWFULLY HARD to convince them that it was time for an update, but ultimately, it’s not my head.

So no, you should not go back.

Whenever possible, try to find a recommendation for someone instead of choosing randomly. As this column has proven again and again, women LOVE to talk about their hair. So ask your friends and coworkers where they go and who they see. Or just ask that woman with great hair ahead of you in the grocery store line. She’ll probably be flattered, and I know I’m always happy to recommend my stylist to people.

If you have to go without a specific recommendation, try to make an appointment. Every damn time I’ve gone to a salon as a “walk-in,” it has ended in disaster. While it’s certainly not true in every case, the stylists just standing around without appointments can be new, inexperienced or simply the type who have trouble attracting regular clients (i.e. BAD LISTENERS WHO CUT CRAZY-ASS LAYERS THAT YOU DON’T WANT).

It never hurts to bring a picture, even if you think what you want isn’t that complicated. It at least shows that you are serious when you say: This. I want this. Do not deviate. Although the last time I had a photo (for a wedding), it was a picture of Sienna Miller with just a few loose, swept-back ringlets. And my hair was still teased and curled and pouffed within an inch of its life.

It’s hard finding a new stylist. Mine just moved to a new location. I’m torn between trying someone new at the same salon (two blocks from my house), or following her to her new salon (a 45-minute drive). After reading your question, I am leaning towards “ROAD TRIP.”

Please visit us again tomorrow for another Q&A.

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Comments (6):

Jenn said:

Two years ago, we moved away from our small town (and our hair stylist) to a big city, and with a zillion hair stylists. We're two hours from our old hair stylist and we still go back every 6 weeks for hair cuts rather than try to find someone new. Road trip indeed!

Posted on November 1, 2006 10:05

Mers said:

I hear you on the troubles in finding a good hair stylist!! I lucked out at one point when I was visiting a friend who lived in a city 5 hours away. For about 4 years, I would make the trip every couple of months to get him to cut my hair. He eventually moved to another city. I had made him promise to steal my contact information from the salon if he ever left, but I've never heard from him. :( I suffer with slightly above average hair stylists and hit and miss hair cuts (none that I hate thankfully). I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who was willing to take a road trip for a hair cut!

Posted on November 1, 2006 10:58

LittleOpal said:

I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the only non-confrontational person having haircut issues this month. I talked myself into a trim at a walk-in situation a week before my wedding, instead of driving an hour back to my hometown for a cut with a known stylist. I asked for a shoulder-length bob with a few layers (about 2" off what I had) and came home with a chin-length bob in the front and shoulder-length layers in the back -- modern mullet!

DO NOT give that hair dresser a second chance.

Though the cut in my case is cute (I mustered up enough bridezilla to make them fix it), I still don't really like it and am furious. No second chances for no-listen scissor-happy lady. Nuh-uh.

Posted on November 1, 2006 18:26

barnmouse said:

OMG do I have a hairdresser horror story for y'all. I'll make this short by saying that I have very thick, wavy, long hair that tangles itself into knots if I don't straighten it. I went to get my hair chemically straightened for the first time (and the stylist knew this). She slapped the chemical stuff all over my head and about an inch down on my forehead and even let a chunk swing down and slap me across the cheek. She didn't even bother to wipe it off. Then, she walks away. For about 15 minutes! While my skin was being eaten by this chemical! I was so in shock (and nonconfrontational) that I actually PAID her and had to fight back tears on the way back to my car. So the last week of my senior year of high school, I had basically no skin on my forehead and what looked like leprosy on my cheek. What a way to be remembered!

DON'T GO BACK!!!

I now drive 2 hours to get my hair done.

Posted on November 1, 2006 19:36

queenann said:

My assvice is to find women whose hairSTYLE you really like and ask them where they get it cut. I have moved a number of times and have difficult hair (cowlick central, curly in parts, fine, thick, gaaah). I need a stylist who will LISTEN to me and the only way I have ever found a good one is by asking others with good haircuts. Not good hair, good HAIRCUTS. And don't be shy about it- go up to strangers on the street! No one minds you loving their hair (unless they're pathological...). Trust me on this one and it will work out.

Posted on November 2, 2006 10:52

Karianna said:

Argh! I hate confrontation.

I would just live in hats for awhile. And hate myself for being such a coward.

And then I would be so afraid to get another haircut that it would end up butt-length before I'd get up the nerve to give another stylist a try.

Posted on November 3, 2006 23:13

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Amalah is a pseudonym of Amy Corbett Storch. A Washington D.C.-based freelance writer. The Smackdown is published on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. You can follow Amy's daily mothering adventures at www.amalah.com. Also, it's pronounced AIM-ah-lah.

Amy also documented her second pregnancy in a Weekly Pregnancy Calendar, Zero to Forty.

Amy is mother to delicious preschooler Noah and baby Ezra. NomNomNom.

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