Waiting time at the salon

[Lynnerie]

I know stylists can sometimes get behind when taking care of clients but...How long should you wait for service and have you ever left because they took too long?

 

[ANUBIS]

I would say the longest i would wait would be 30 mins if the stylist is really good. BUT i will walk out with the quickness if i see stylists doing hair while on the phone gossiping or eatting food while combing out someones hair...also cant stand when friends of the stylists come in and talk about what happened at the club last weekend shouting and jumping up and down...ugh no patience for all that...so yea 30 mins if its a professional place that does a good job

 

[StarScream35]

I have never walked out and the longest I have waited for services are an hour. I think alot of this is abuse and neglect but I think many African American stylists don't think we have a choice and of course we let them abuse us. But see this is about to change because many and I mean many black women are ditching the poor customer service and long waits for dominican salons and also more and more white stylists are learning to do AA hair and this gives us choices. My current stylist is white and I have NEVER had to wait more than 5 minutes, nor does he have his appts spaced 30 minutes apart like many traditional AA stylists. I personally think it's ridiculous to space a relaxer and a sew in 30 minutes apart but black stylists do this all the time. I cannot tell you the number of times I have gone for a relaxer only to get there and the stylist is working on a sew in. Oh and let me not get into stylists being late yet don't want to knock off the price for being late, leaving you in the chair while they are off on a phone call, letting hustlers in the salon to sell you stuff. I think its disrespect and they do it because they can. I no longer take abuse because I have explored my options!

 

[sj73]

You reminded me of the reason I decided to leave the salons alone. Haven't been in a salon in over 8 years. I have several horrible customer service stories. One that stands out vividly in my mind is the time I came in about 10 minutes early for a hair appointment. My stylist greeted me as SHE was walking OUT the door. She came back 30 minutes after my appointment was scheduled with her lunch and then went to the break room to eat it (another 30-45 minutes). She came out of the break room and called me over like everything was ok. I was SO mad. I didn't know much about hair then, but I never went back to her after that. If you want to eat lunch, fine...just don't schedule my appointment during your lunch break.

 

[mzteaze]

I used to be more patient about appointments than I am now. I used to wait forever for my former stylist sometimes up to 2-3 hours off schedule for her.

No more. I too go to a white stylist when I need services I can't do on my own. I have never waited more than 5 minutes for the start of the appointment nor had to deal with her trying to service two or five other customers at the same time.

So now, yeah I won't wait longer than 30 minutes for a SCHEDULED appointment. After that I am bouncing.

 

[*closer*2*my*dreams*]

30 minutes tops... After that, I will walk out and find someone else to do it if I can't do it myself.

 

[leona2025]

Ugh. The last time I waited was the last time I went to get my hair done. She was really good and cheap. She had did my hair before, but I had been a walk in so I had expected a long wait the first time. The second time I was sure to make an appointment for 10am.

I got to the salon at about 9:45. She was not there. I waited 30 minutes and then one of her co-workers came and told me she was on her way. She got there maybe at 11. Around 3pm I was still waiting. I was so pissed and now I just don't even go anymore. I do my hair myself and I get trims at Tgf haircutters.

 

[*closer*2*my*dreams*]

so you waited almost 6 hours?!

Wheeewwwww, you have patience, that's all I can say...

 

[StarScream35]

You reminded me of the reason I decided to leave the salons alone. Haven't been in a salon in over 8 years. I have several horrible customer service stories. One that stands out vividly in my mind is the time I came in about 10 minutes early for a hair appointment. My stylist greeted me as SHE was walking OUT the door. She came back 30 minutes after my appointment was scheduled with her lunch and then went to the break room to eat it (another 30-45 minutes). She came out of the break room and called me over like everything was ok. I was SO mad. I didn't know much about hair then, but I never went back to her after that. If you want to eat lunch, fine...just don't schedule my appointment during your lunch break.

This is just ridiculous! The sad part is many sistas (including myself) have tolerated this and many still do. I guarantee if she was losing clients she wouldn't have been pulling crap like that. But see many don't lose their clients and that's why they feel they can take advantage of you. I swear to God we as blacks are our own worst enemy. We could do so much better but we neglect and abuse each other too much. Your story reminded me of a experience I had with a stylist I had been going to for years. She washed my hair, set me under the dryer to let me dry. The dryer went off and a few minutes went by and she never came back to get me. I walked out from the back and she was no where in sight. I was like what!!! Not to mention it was dark outside and the neighborhood was kinda rough. Just when I was about to call her cell, here she comes barging in with grocery bags. And had the nerve to laugh about it! I mean come on!! Many black stylists act like they don't know what customer service is. I'm sorry but we gotta do better.

 

[StarScream35]

I used to be more patient about appointments than I am now. I used to wait forever for my former stylist sometimes up to 2-3 hours off schedule for her.

No more. I too go to a white stylist when I need services I can't do on my own. I have never waited more than 5 minutes for the start of the appointment nor had to deal with her trying to service two or five other customers at the same time.

So now, yeah I won't wait longer than 30 minutes for a SCHEDULED appointment. After that I am bouncing.

Kudos to you for exploring your options girl. It's amazing how white salons vs black salons are like night and day. I didn't know what to do with myself when I walked out of the salon within an hour and a half. I was like OMG I got the rest of the day to myself. Woo hoo!

 

[greenandchic]

Back in the day when I got my hair pressed/flat ironed weekly, I would sometimes have to wait up to half an hour. There were times I waited almost two hours. Usually that was because someone popped in late, or some sort of emergency. The woman who did my hair was old school and had a great work ethic - to her physical downfall actually. She wasn't the type to mess around wasting time. Bless her heart.

That was then and this is now. The places I would go to would have a receptionist that schedule appointments according to the services given so that people are not waiting around. If I have to wait, there will be tea or cucumber water waiting for me, a comfortable waiting area with clean, good smelling bathrooms with TP on the roll. The woman I went to last year for a trim + has her own shop and never overbooks. I was the only person in her shop while she was doing my hair and I didn't have to wait one second when I arrived. She is white and I hope the trend in the AA community salons change for the better.

 

[MsLizziA]

I used to be more patient about appointments than I am now. I used to wait forever for my former stylist sometimes up to 2-3 hours off schedule for her.

No more. I too go to a white stylist when I need services I can't do on my own. I have never waited more than 5 minutes for the start of the appointment nor had to deal with her trying to service two or five other customers at the same time.

So now, yeah I won't wait longer than 30 minutes for a SCHEDULED appointment. After that I am bouncing.

Niqqa please...

 

[iri9109]

if i have an appointment, i'll wait 30 minutes...an hr is pushing it...but when i used to go to the dominicans on the weekends, i would go before noon and sometimes didnt get started till after 2...it used to be crazy packed, and they only have so many dryers, but once they get you started you're out in like an hour, 1hr 30 minutes at the most.

 

[babyu21]

Ten minutes is the longest I will wait. My time is as valuable as the stylists and if they don't respect that then they don't deserve my money. I go to a white salon in Georgetown and while it is a little pricier I never have to wait and I don't get up out the chair until my hair is completely done. They don't double book. My appt time is all mine.

I will never wait for a hair stylist again. I don't care what kind of magic they have.

 

[MrsHdrLe]

THIS is how I found my current stylist! I had a lady, who was really good, but she was a single mom, in school, and seemed to be increasingly pulled in a lot of directions. The last straw was back in March, when I sat outside of the shop waiting for her for nearly an hour. She swears our appointment was at 10:30, but that still doesn't excuse the fact she rode up at 11:15! I went on and got the service done, all the while I didn't have the courage to tell her that that would be my last visit with her. I felt a little shady not being up front, but I guess I didn't want to hurt her feelings since my mind was already made up.
Fast forward to my current, he's knowledgable, fast and good, doesn't double book, listens, always faces you towards the mirror so you can see, doesn't get offended if you ask questions and best of all offers your choice of coffee, tea, water or WINE (and the good stuff!). Yeah, he's my new and forever.

 

[Prudent1]

I think 10 to 15 minutes w/ an explanation from somebody is sufficient. I always hated going to the shop for that reason (lost time). I felt trapped. I actually wanted to go there and get my services performed not gossip. I felt like one of Pavlov's dogs sitting there. My last stylist took long, argued too much on the phone w/ her husband, didn't listen to me, and was scissor happy. Now I only go for trims/dustings or color services. Everything else I do myself @ home.

 

[Leesh]

I'm afraid to tell yall how long I've waited when I used to go to stylists!

 

[EbonyCPrincess]

I can't even tell you the longest....smh just thinking about it. I know when I was getting ready for my 8th grade dance, I went to a new lady. My mother and I chose her because she had done a family friend's hair who also had virgin hair for her prom. However, the friend's hair was heat-trained and no where near as thick as my 4b/c hair. So when the lady began to wet my hair to shampoo it she stopped moving and said OH YOU DON'T HAVE A PERM?! I said "no." She was like "aiiiiiiighhhhhhhttttttt" After shampooing she left me sitting under the dryer for literally 2.5 hours. I finally went up to her chair (yes I was only 14) and said "Do you know what time it is? I have a dance tonight, and I still have other things to do to get ready!" She was just plain scared to do my hair. In the end though she did a pretty job.

Yes I have left. I have told them when I leave exactly why I am leaving, usually in a nice way though. "I'm sorry, I have to go I had no idea this appointment would take THIS long....I can't possibly wait any longer. Good day to you!"

Nowadays I only wait 15-20 minutes tops before my stylist gets started on me. Usually less. <3 my hairdresser...she's priceless!

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

I used to be patient as all hell. But, now I'm not. If I'm not in the chair by twenty minutes into my appointment time, I'm out of there.

However, since I haven't gone to a salon in an year, it's not an issue.

 

[ladybettle]

It is sad how AA treat each other. I was a high school senior when I first went to this stylist. I had a Sat. morning appointment, and I waited over an hour before I left. The other stylists was there, and this was before cell phones, they tried calling her to let her know that I was there and others. She did not answer the phone. I found out that she stayed out all night partying, and could not get up to go to work. Needless to say I went back, but if you do that to me now, I would be out the door in 15 min., and will not come back.

 

[AuNaturalMaMa]

I used to wait for that long at a black owned salon. Then I went to JCP for a while and I never had to wait like that. Now I don't wait at all.

I had this conversation with my friend the other day. She comes to town to get her hair relaxed/wrapped and waits 4-5 hours for the whole process.
She'll get there @ 9 and wont get out until 1. Quite Sad.

 

[PJaye]

I’ve never been to a Black hairdresser, so I don’t have any horror stories. Still, the longest I've ever waited after any scheduled appointment – whether it’s for a hairdresser, optometrist, dentist, dermatologist, or voodoo priestess – is 30 minutes tops.

There is entirely too much competition in this free market system to wait around.

 

[MizzBrown]

30 Minutes tops,(which is pushing it) and yes I have walked out on a stylist before. I either re-booked for another day or once I just went down the street to another salon. Once I went in and saw like 4 people waiting and just asked them out right "who yall waiting on?" If they all said my stylist then I'd rebook based on that.

I think part of the problem is us not complaining about it. We just see it as a rite of passage or something. Joking that you need to bring a bag lunch on Saturday's for your appointments.

Now when I read posts about people getting botched trims and long wait times, I blame the CLIENT. Don't complain about what you permit. This site taught me not to be a slave to my hair and I would never hesitate to leave a shop based up, or w/ wet hair.

We use that excuse a lot to: "Well, i had an event to go to..She already based me up...she already had the conditioner in..." No, just GET UP b/c that's a trap too.

 

[ericajoy]

I get so irritated when a stylist is running even 30 minutes behind. I think 20 minutes is my max for being understanding.

Also, a lot of ladies have commented on going to white stylists and not having to wait. There are good, professional Black stylists out there too! I've had two great stylists in Austin and one in LA, all Black, at nice salons, who did a good job and scheduled appropriately.

We just have to seek out the professionals if we want to support Black stylists and still not wait all day. I sometimes think it's more about the salon overall than about the individual stylists -- good salons attract good stylists and are managed well (i.e., won't leave their customers sitting there for hours).

 

[mzteaze]

Kudos to you for exploring your options girl. It's amazing how white salons vs black salons are like night and day. I didn't know what to do with myself when I walked out of the salon within an hour and a half. I was like OMG I got the rest of the day to myself. Woo hoo!

I fully agree about the differences between white vs black salons. When I was growing up, I went to a GREAT black stylist who worked in a white salon. What made her awesome was how the salon provided the staff to back her up. She had her own shampoo girl, assistant and prep person. All she had to do was move from head to head. As a client, you weren't waiting all day. However, when she moved on to a black salon, she no longer had a receptionist who scheduled her correctly nor the staff to let her focus on a client's service. So wait times went from manageable to ridiculous.

However, since I moved to NJ, I have seen wait times go to crazy heights. One shop was highly recommended. True to word, the male stylist was extremely talented. However, if you had a 9 AM appointment, you were LUCKY to walk out finished by 5 to 6 PM. Add to this watching him and his wife fight during the course of the day....well this made for a pleasant experience.

But, as a woman in that strong nation of black women who THOUGHT they couldn't style their own hair, I waited. PATIENTLY. With a book or three.

Those days are gone tho.

 

[Chromia]

I haven't been to a salon in almost 4 years, but I used to go every 2 weeks. There were times that I waited more than an hour. I had a stylist that I went to for years and I think she got too comfortable with me and took my business for granted.

Then there was the wait time after she started on my hair because she was servicing other customers at the same time. So she would wash my hair and then leave me sitting at the sink for a while. Or I'd be sitting under the dryer, the dryer would turn off, and I'd be sitting there with dry hair waiting for her to finish styling or shampooing someone else.

I eventually left her and went to a Dominican salon that was first-come first-serve. The first time I went there I waited 2 hours. The next 2 times I had a shorter wait because I knew to get there early to sign in.

sj73's story reminds me of a stylist I went to only once. When I got to the salon she wasn't there. She was still at lunch. She walked into the salon after my appointment was scheduled, complaining to me that she doesn't get a lunch break and she has to eat when she can.

 

[Lovelylocs]

so sad. Our stylists need to start carrying portfolios, too. New people shouldn't just have to take their word that they are talented.

 

[QBOE2001]

Longest i've have to wait was 1 and 1/2 hrs but keep in mind this was for a stylist who (1) I had been seeing 1x per week for 6 years straight and she had never been late or slow to take me back to get started and (2) She had called me about 4 days before to tell me that she would be doing the hair of one of her other clients that had passed away for their funeral and would most probably be running behind. She deserved a pass for sure and it never happened again.

 

[blessedandlucky]

at these responses. the longest i've waited is 10 minutes because my stylist was running late and she sent me a text to let me know in advance - before i even got there so i adjusted the time i came. waiting forever is really unprofessional and we're paying for a service so i expect professionalism. i haven't met anyone that good to justify wasting my time. i have little patience for that.

if you're in the dc metro area, lisa at aveda georgetown doesn't keep you waiting i've moved so i don't see her as often, but i go back about twice a year to see her.

 

[mscocoface]

When I was younger and dumber and didn't understand the value and worth of my time 1-2 hours in some salons was normal. Yeah normal.

But there is no way I would even entertain such craziness now.