“Listen, I like to chat, but today I am feeling a bit overwhelmed from work and I need some peace and quiet, could this be a silent haircut please? It would do wonders for my soul right now!”
You are responsible for setting boundaries and attending to your needs. Any good hairdresser will be totally fine with this, and some may even be relieved.
That’s great advice, but I find myself amused that even when you give an example of being direct and setting expectations for what you want and need, there still has to be a load of social hedging to make the reason more palletable.
The “tired from work” thing conveniently externalises the cause so that neither you nor the hairdresser needs to be part of the reason.
If we could say exactly what we want to say and mean, it would be “I don’t like small-talk and I don’t want any with you, not today, not next time, and not any future time. I just want you to cut my hair.”
But no, the raw truth could both offend the hairdresser and make them think there’s something wrong with you, so “tired from work” it is.
The place I go to has an option for a “quiet haircut” when you book the appointment. I’m pretty social, so I don’t usually do it, but I think it’s a nice idea for those who want it.
I’m only as chatty as they are. If they need to be silent and work, that’s fine. If they feel the need to to chat while they work that’s also fine.
I’m lucky that I can cut my own hair.
Every time I went to get a haircut, they never did what I wanted anyway. Maybe its because I wasn’t clear enough, or maybe I went to cheap places, but I was never happy to pay for something that simple. So I gave up and started doing it myself. I can do a crew cut with mirrors and guides. It’s okay, I think.
My other issue like this is with taxis. I already hate paying for someone to drive me around in a car, then I have to talk to them?! No thanks. I’ll take the bus and silently watch outside.
This actually changed my view on vacation places. I went to St-Martin and there were only taxis. I hated it. But then I visited Guadeloupe, was able to use local buses, packed, with no AC, and I was much happier.
As a cyclist taxi drivers are the biggest fucking cunts on the road and are by far the people that put my life at risk most often.
I will walk for hours before I ever give those entitled pieces of shit any of my money. Buses and trains ftw!
I’m lucky that I can cut my own hair.
Yep. Let my hair grow, and when it starts suffocating me, BZZZZZZZZZ
Haven’t had to make small talk with a barber in years. My secret? A little thing called Male Pattern Baldness.
I see, so you are rocking meter long hair with a bald spot on top?
Don’t hate me cause I’m beautiful!
Same goes for the dentist.
They blow dry your hair too right?
The guys in my go to barbershop were talking in Arab to each other all the time. That’s how you know it’s a good shop.
I finally found a stylist who I legitimately enjoy talking to so now they’re the only one I get haircuts from.
