Your hairstylist won’t say it to your face, but these annoying habits make their job miserable.
Your hairdresser might be a magician with scissors, but they’re not a mind reader. They’re also not your personal therapist, miracle worker, or free consultant for every hair trend under the sun. They deal with all kinds of clients every day—some amazing, some frustrating, and a few that make them consider switching careers entirely. If you’ve ever felt like your stylist isn’t as chatty or friendly as they used to be, you might be unknowingly making their job harder.
Most hairdressers will never call you out directly, but trust me, there are certain things that drive them absolutely nuts. Maybe it’s something small you never even thought about, or perhaps you’re guilty of a repeat offense without realizing it.
Either way, avoiding these habits will not only make your appointments smoother but also ensure your stylist actually enjoys having you in their chair. If you want to stay on their good side, stop making these mistakes.
1. Showing up late and expecting them to “squeeze you in.”
Your hairdresser’s schedule isn’t some loose guideline—they run on strict appointment slots, and when you show up 10, 15, or even 30 minutes late, you’re throwing their whole day off, as several stylists attest to in a survey on Behind The Chair. You might think it’s no big deal, but that time adds up. If one person runs behind, the next client gets pushed back, and by the end of the day, your stylist is scrambling to catch up. Nobody likes feeling rushed, and your stylist definitely doesn’t enjoy cutting corners just to make up for lost time.
Even worse is when late clients act like their appointment should still go on as planned, regardless of how much time they’ve eaten into. If you roll in late and then insist on the full service, you’re forcing them to either make someone else wait or give you a rushed job. Neither is fair. If you’re running behind, at least call ahead, and don’t get mad if they can’t fit you in.
2. Bringing unrealistic hair inspo and expecting identical results.
Your hairdresser is talented, but they can’t rewrite the laws of hair physics. If you walk in with a picture of Kim Kardashian’s sleek, jet-black hair but yours is fine, frizzy, and box-dyed blonde, there’s only so much they can do, says Trudy Petith in an article on About Face. The same goes for Pinterest-perfect balayage that requires five hours of lightening when you only booked a quick trim. Expecting them to turn you into a completely different person in one session isn’t just unfair—it’s impossible.
The best thing you can do is trust their expertise. If they say a certain style won’t work for your hair type, they’re not trying to ruin your dreams; they’re saving you from disappointment. Instead of demanding an exact copy of a celebrity look, ask for their professional opinion on what would suit your hair best. A good stylist wants you to walk out with something that looks amazing on you—not just on a photoshopped model.
3. Moving your head constantly while they’re trying to cut.
Your stylist isn’t trying to choreograph a dance—they just need you to sit still. Every time you tilt your head, jerk forward to check your phone, or swing your hair around mid-cut, you make their job ten times harder. Precision is everything when it comes to a great haircut, say writers at Sunday Salon, and even the slightest unexpected movement can throw things off.
Think of it like getting your nails painted—if you keep wiggling your fingers, the polish is going to get smudged. The same logic applies here. If you’re deep in conversation and tend to talk with your hands (or worse, nod aggressively while venting about work), try to keep your body as still as possible. Your hairdresser will appreciate it, and you’ll get a much cleaner, more even cut.
4. Expecting a full therapy session along with your trim.
Hairdressers are great listeners, but they didn’t sign up to be your free therapist. Sure, a little friendly conversation is part of the experience, but unloading your deepest family drama, venting about your failing marriage, or expecting them to solve your existential crisis might be a bit much. They have back-to-back clients all day, and after hours of absorbing other people’s problems, they’re emotionally drained.
A lighthearted chat is fine, but don’t assume they want to hear every detail of your life. If they’re giving short responses or not asking follow-up questions, they might be signaling that they’re not in the mood to dive into heavy topics. Read the room. Some stylists love to talk, while others prefer to focus on their work. Either way, respect their energy levels, and don’t treat them like a built-in therapist.
5. Showing up with dirty, greasy, or tangled hair.
Yes, your stylist will wash your hair if your appointment includes it, but that doesn’t mean you should show up with three days’ worth of dry shampoo, crunchy product buildup, or a tangled mess. If they have to spend extra time scrubbing out gunk or detangling knots before they even start cutting, it eats into your appointment time and makes their job way harder.
A little effort goes a long way. If you’re coming in for a color appointment, wash your hair the day before with no heavy styling products so they have a clean slate to work with. If you’re getting a cut, at least run a brush through it before walking in. The cleaner and more manageable your hair is, the easier (and quicker) the process will be.
6. Arguing about pricing after the service is done
Your stylist isn’t running a flea market—you don’t get to haggle after the fact. Prices are set based on their expertise, experience, and the time it takes to do your hair. If you didn’t ask about pricing beforehand, don’t act shocked when you see the bill. Complaining or trying to negotiate after the service is done isn’t just awkward—it’s disrespectful.
If you’re on a budget, discuss the cost before the appointment. Many stylists are happy to work within your price range and suggest services that fit. But demanding a discount after they’ve spent hours perfecting your hair? That’s a guaranteed way to land on their least-favorite-client list.
7. Texting or taking calls in the middle of your appointment
Your stylist is using sharp scissors near your face—do you really want to be jerking around to answer texts? Constantly reaching for your phone, holding long conversations, or tilting your head to scroll through social media makes their job twice as difficult. It’s not just annoying; it can lead to a bad haircut if you’re not staying still.
If you absolutely must check your phone, let them know and do it quickly while they’re not actively cutting or coloring. Otherwise, put it away and be present. It’s just a couple of hours, and trust me, your notifications will still be there when you’re done.
8. Bringing extra guests who get in the way
Your hair appointment is about you, but when you bring a friend, your child, or even your significant other, it suddenly becomes a crowd. Most salons aren’t set up for extra guests hanging around, and your stylist doesn’t want to work around someone hovering near the chair or taking up space. If the salon is busy, extra people can be disruptive, especially if they’re chiming in with their own opinions on how your hair should look.
Even worse is when someone brings a restless child who gets bored and starts running around. Stylists work with sharp scissors, hot tools, and chemical treatments—it’s not the place for distractions. If you need someone with you for support, make sure they understand the visit is about your appointment, not a social outing. Otherwise, leave the plus-one at home and let your stylist focus on you.
9. Asking for a completely different hairstyle every single visit
Your hairdresser loves creativity, but if you’re switching from long layers to a bob one month, then asking for waist-length extensions the next, they might start dreading your appointments. Constantly chasing new trends puts a strain on your hair and forces your stylist to work against what they just did. Haircuts and colors take time to grow out and blend properly—changing things too frequently can lead to damage, uneven cuts, and an inconsistent look.
If you’re someone who loves to experiment, that’s great—just understand that drastic changes require patience and planning. Instead of impulsively demanding a new style every visit, talk to your stylist about what’s realistically achievable. They’ll help you create a plan that keeps your hair healthy while still giving you fresh, exciting looks. And if they do give you an amazing new cut, at least enjoy it for more than a month before flipping the script again.
10. Not tipping—or tipping way too little
Stylists don’t just make your hair look good—they stand on their feet all day, deal with difficult clients, and often work long hours to fit people in. If you’re happy with their work, tipping is the best way to show appreciation. Leaving little to no tip is like saying their effort didn’t matter. And no, “I’ll tip extra next time” doesn’t count—there might not be a next time if they decide they’d rather not book you again.
A good rule of thumb? At least 20% for a job well done. If they went above and beyond—squeezing you in last minute, fixing a hair disaster, or spending extra time to make sure everything was perfect—tip even more. Hairdressers remember who tips well and who doesn’t. If you consistently leave little to nothing, don’t be surprised if they’re suddenly “booked up” next time you try to get an appointment.
11. Expecting your stylist to fix a DIY hair disaster for free
We’ve all had that moment of hair regret—the at-home box dye that turned orange, the self-inflicted bangs that don’t sit right, or the bleach job that left your hair feeling like straw. But when you walk into the salon expecting your stylist to magically fix it in one session (and for cheap), you’re asking for the impossible. Hair correction takes time, effort, and often multiple appointments. A quick fix isn’t always realistic.
Instead of demanding an instant miracle, be upfront about what happened and trust their expertise on the best way forward. It may take patience and a few sessions to get your hair back to normal, but expecting them to undo months of damage in one visit isn’t fair. And whatever you do, don’t blame them when it takes longer (or costs more) than you hoped—especially if you’re the one who reached for the box dye in the first place.