16 Problems Only Hairstylists Can Relate to

The problems faced by barbers (okay alright, hairdressers/stylists/people with exceptional power who don't use it) are varied and amusing. Hairdressers have occupational hazards that make things so much more fun at work.

There's nothing better than swapping old stories in the salon; the heads you accidentally shaved in part and the eyes you poked with scissors across your dangerous career. Or the time you escaped that lawsuit from the fat lady you almost made bald. Ah, the days of interning.

There's nothing better than swapping old stories in the salon; the heads you accidentally shaved in part and the eyes you poked with scissors across your dangerous career. Or the time you escaped that lawsuit from the fat lady you almost made bald. Ah, the days of interning.

It's definitely way tougher than it looks and is a challenging thing to do, with several disadvantages and scope for going grossly wrong, with horrible, career-damaging implications. There are some universal problems that only hairstylists know that they will relate to.

You ever wondered how come your hairdresser looks like a homeless person, with weird clothes, with the older ones mostly non-glamorous? Yeah, that's because the job they do doesn't really allow them to look their glamorous best. The bleach that they have to deal with on an almost daily basis tends to spray on to their clothes, causing weird splotches that look like a dog just took a big "liberty" at their shoes. They tend to repeat soiled ones after the first encounter. Stop judging, you.

Clients come without having any prior knowledge of how hairdressing works. They're not at fault, but their level of common sense makes stylists want to run away screaming. Researching a bit about the cut is better than expecting the stylist to make something grand and then blasting them for a bizarre cut you hate. Expecting the stylist to cut your hair, but not your split ends, is like telling them to kill you, but keep you alive. They still manage to kill. In their heads, of course.

Clients walk in expected to be treated like the Queen of England. They make an appointment for a trim and just "change their minds" on the way over to a lavish 'do for a party they just got invited to. Yeah, and the clock stops for other people delayed on their appointments. They bring in each of their family members and expect the stylist to play mommy and make space for everyone. Then try to sneak in requests for a highlight and a slight trim for the li'l one. All charged though.

While no one is exactly dancing the cha-cha of joy with the stylist uninvitingly pushing their intimate areas close to them, think of what happens when the stylist himself is freaked by the rep he will get if he does this. All part of the profession, my friends. That means the stylist needs to get the fragrance of his lunch off his fingers. Imagine the amount of product that goes on those precious hands, just to keep your nose hair from burning.

Not happening. They have NO TIME to do their hair so well because, well, their arms are fatigued. And you really can't do that good a job with your head on, can you?

The most annoying thing all hairstylists would agree with is that it is nigh impossible to make the client keep their head still, especially while cutting hair. They keep trying to angle your head, and you keep fidgeting, and you even have the gall to wipe the hair out of your eyes! God forbid if you fidget, because then your hair will not be cut symmetrically. No one wants a lopsided cut. Don't blame the stylist then, irresponsible advice-ignorers. Hmpf!

and has to end up shelling twice the money he paid to fix this. Oh, and the numskulls who have no basic idea about hair color, expect a magical transformation from black to blonde in one hour.

No one's interested in a two-hour long boring narrative about your daughter's hostel antics, or your crazy mom-in-law, honey, unless you are paying extra. Smile and nod, ladies, just... Smile. And. Nod.

A hairdresser is going to be super possessive about where their family and friends cut their hair and will almost always want people to come to them. Paradoxically, they will never really want to actually cut your hair when you go to them on their only day off. That's just rude. And counts as overtime. That too unpaid. They'll just glare daggers at you until you get the point. Family and friends' cuts during work hours only.

There's a special place reserved in hell for people who ask for a specific amount of length reduction but end up screaming at the hairdresser for making it "way shorter than what I expected". Hey, who told us to 'snip off' about 5 inches?

The disadvantages of being a hairdresser are lost on many. To the customer, it looks like they're having fun being all social and helping people get their pretty on. Behind the scenes, there are sore, swollen feet from standing all day, excruciating knee pain that causes sleepless nights and countless trips to doctors and podiatrists. The profession means standing the entire day, and that means constant wear and tear of tendons and ligaments.

The entire body suffers by standing all day, week after week. Ask them how they do it and you'll know it means constant massages and trips to the bathroom so no one sees them stretching. Varicose veins and backaches are common. The arms are held out in front of the body all day, causing bad posture, cramps, and pressure on the heart from working super hard by pumping blood to outstretched arms. This, with cranky customers, is a nightmare they manage to smile through.

Burns are common as occupational hazards due to blow dryers and irons. Several hairdressers get scalded in the process of handling electronic devices, sometimes due to fidgety clients. This results in delayed work and slowing down. Though not very frequent, scalding and burning of client hair and skin occurs too. As revenge. Haha, okay, no it doesn't.

Allergies are seen on people who are intolerant towards chemicals in hairspray, styling creams, gels, dyes, powders, and bleaching agents. This is a serious problem that afflicts many people who are clients as well, but there is no escape for hairstylists in this case. Immediate hospitalization is necessary in such instances.

So, despite all the yammering and the hammering and the airs of clients, their hairdressers put up with so much at such expense. Giving them a personal thank you note would be more appropriate. Be polite and considerate the next time you enter the salon, and appreciate the job that a hairstylist does for you, because for them, it's not a walk in the park. It's a profession. Take it seriously, for your own sake.