Do you visit hair salons regularly?
I haven’t been to one in more than a year now (gasp!). It’s not that I’m too lazy to go, I just haven’t found a salon I really like. Either the hair stylist’s skills didn’t impress me or the atmosphere at their salon was so standoffish. You know what I mean, right?
But the main reason is another: I get bored easily. Having your hair cut, dyed or whatever can take a couple of hours. Just the thought of being in there for so long is enough to make me feel really stressed…
That got me thinking… What could I do to make a trip to the salon the relaxing and pampering experience it should be? Here’s what I came up with and how I plan to pass the time at my next salon trip (yes, it’s all booked):
1. Read
I’ve always been an avid reader, but as I grow old I seem to have less and less time for books. These days I mostly read on weekends but somehow that doesn’t seem to be enough to reduce the huge pile of books on my desk… I’ve started taking a book with me every time I go to the doctor’s or when I travel, so why not bring one to the hair salon too? I know they have magazines, but I’m not interested in them. Give me a good book anytime and the time spent at the salon will fly by much quicker.
Related: Why I Don’t Read Women’s Magazines Anymore
2. Do crossword puzzles
If reading isn’t your thing, you can use the time at the salon to do your crossword puzzles. My sister and mum are huge fans of them, and I enjoy doing them too sometimes. They’re fun. Plus, you’ll have to use your vocabulary, spelling and reasoning abilities – all things that sharpen your mind and maybe make you learn something new too.
3. Sleep
If you’re feeling very tired or didn’t get much sleep the night before, just close your eyes and doze off. Personally speaking, I just can’t sleep outside of my bedroom and never nap on trains, planes, buses, no matter how tired I am. But if you can, this is the perfect opportunity to catch some zzzz. While I don’t recommend falling into a deep sleep (you may wanna check the hairdresser doesn’t forget all about you or that she’s not cutting your hair too short), dozing off with your eyes closed can be very relaxing and make you feel rested.
4. Gossip
Lots of people like chatting and gossiping with their hairdresser when they go to a salon. I change salon pretty often so I don’t really know the stylist so well to tell her my life story. I wish I were one of those people with the gift of the gab who can make conversation easily flow even with perfect strangers, but I ain’t . But if you’re extrovert or know your stylist quite well, chatting and catching up with her will make the time pass quickly and pleasantly.
What do you do when you’re at the hair salon to pass the time? Let me know in the comments. 🙂
I chat with the stylist or read: either the gossip/fashion magazines tat I’d NEVER buy, or a book that I bring along with me.
My new hairdresser (I have moved few months ago) is close to a bookstore, and they always have some of the newest titles: you can read them, but not take them away – so if you’re hooked by a book (bhooked?? ;)) you can go in the bookstore and buy it!! Clever co-marketing, IMHO.
Fuzzyleo, that is such a wonderful idea! And very clever marketing too I agree. I wish we had something similar here. It’s a great way to both pass the time while at the salon and discover some new great books. 🙂
I wear glasses and I’m half blind without them. Since I have to take off my glasses to get my hair done, reading and anything else requiring good eyesight is out. So usually I chat with ny stylistic or make plans for my free time in the upcoming week, or just nap.
shusheshe, those are great way to pass the time for those that wear glasses. 🙂
I haven’t been to a hair salon in 10 years (gasp!) because I hate having people touch my hair, and my hair never looks any better when it’s done professionally. But I used to get bored too, which is another reason to not go. However, my boyfriend loooves getting his hair done for some reason, even though it takes 3 hours for them to cut and color it! He reads trashy magazines and talks with his stylist, and he loves getting his hair washed. That’s another thing I hate – the uncomfortable tub they wash your hair in.
Jeni, bless your boyfriend. He must really enjoy going to the hair salon. And I have to agree with him about having my hair washed, I love it too. I agree that the tubs they have are uncomfortable but when they wash your hair they usually massage it as well and I find it very relaxing. 🙂
I don’t really do anything! I usually just sort of zone out and relax. I don’t find it particularly fun, though … it’s sort of a chore, really, like getting an oil change. And I do go to the salon fairly frequently because I have short hair. Le sigh.
Principessa Grassa, I feel the same. Going to the salon is a chore that I could gladly do without. But sometimes it’s necessary so I hope that these tips will make my next appointment less boring.
I’m like Jeni. I haven’t had my hair professionally cut in about 12 years. I’ve been cutting it myself this whole time. I was thinking about getting it cut at this fancy salon recently, but chickened out. I know my hair better than any stylist. And most stylists hate curly hair, have no idea what to do with it, and always try to convince you to go straight. Blah.
Trisha, I tend to avoid fancy salons. I’ve been to one once and the hairdressers were so stuck up. They wouldn’t even talk among themslves. It’s put me off from trying other fancy salons sadly.
And I hate when stylist do that. Unless one is unsure on what hairstyle to get and ask for advice, they should just shut up and do what they’re asked to do, not trying to convince you to have treatments done one doesn’t want or need.
The salon I went to in Taiwan had a small tv for everyone lol so it was nice, you could just watch whatever you wanted. Normally though, I am bored out of my mind like you.
Makeup Morsels, that’s great that they had a tv. It gives people something to do. I think more salons should do it. 🙂
I sit and watch the stylist work and chat from time to time. I try to keep quite so they don’t get too distracted and mess up, though. I can never concentrate on reading or puzzles in such a noisy environment like a salon.
Tammy, I agree that it is hard to concentrate on rading or doing puzzles in a noise enviroment. I like to be in a room with utter silence to be able to read. But if I’m reading something light like a magazine or a chick-flick novel then I can read even if it’s noisy around me.
I used to bring books to read. Now I bring my Kindle 2 and read.
Phyrra, that’s lighter and easier to carry around. 🙂
I usually don’t have to wait at my salon, but in case I do I’ll just take a look at some magazines about haircuts and stuff! 🙂 I get easily bored as well, are you a Gemini maybe? lol
Stavroula, no, I’m a Virgo lol. I just get bored easily lol. Sometimes the salon’s so busy that it takes longer than usual to have your hair cut or something and I just sit there waiting and not knowing what to do. I tried reading the mags they provided but they’re so uninteresting to me that I put them down after 5 minutes lol.
I read everything, gossip magazines, hairstyling magazines, anything! lol ! As long as I don’t just sit there and do nothing!
Yeah, that’s better than doing nothing. Maybe it’s Italian mags that are crap. They are all full of pix and nothing to read lol.
I’m definitely not a gossiper (mostly because I’m shy and very socially awkward so I don’t know how to talk to people haha). I also can’t doze off because then my head droops and I’m afraid the hair cut will be ruined. But I love reading- its just hard to find a good book I can get swept up into. Fortunately, I’ve been reading Game of Thrones and I love it!
Thanks for the tips!
Muna, I’m very shy too, so I can sympathize with you. It’s not easy to talk to someone you don’t know well. So, I just stick to small talk.
Game of Thrones is amazing, isn’t it? I love it too.