After abruptly refusing to cut her broken ends,  a client blurted “is it normal

to be scared to cut your hair?”- perhaps out of embarrassment.   One thing I have learned in life is never to dismiss other people’s feelings because you don’t know how they came about. We continued the conversation and she eventually allowed me to cut the tiniest amount, checking every time.  We do regular trims now!   

Over the years, I had some interesting interactions with clients when it came to haircuts. I found out that

there are various reasons for this fear.  The most common  were:

 

  • Many were told they look “better” with long hair growing up and this fuelled the need to keep it long, no matter how it looked.  They just keep it in a ponytail to hide the evidence.
  • Fear it would not grow back – for people with curly hair this happens because the hair turns on itself, so growth is not visible unless it is straightened.
  • In the past, a small trim ended up being a big chop – this was by far the most common reason.  It is always better to agree on the amount to cut.  It is also better to prepare them that some areas may require more based on the hairstyle chosen.

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  • Some had their hair shaved for most of their life for school or as a form of punishment and it revives bad memories – usually this was from psychotic parents/guardians while growing up.  
  • Some were ridiculed for their short hair growing up – at school or by relatives or if you are the odd kid.  This happens mostly because the diet was lacking in some vitamins/minerals.
  • Mainstream media and movies promotion of models with long hair – gives women issues when they don’t have that long, lustrous, shiny hair in product ads or music videos..  It does not help that most leading ladies sport longer hair.
  • Many people are not comfortable changing their look and want to have the same length hair they had since childhood.

Is it normal to be scared to cut your hair?  Most hair stylists will tell you it can sometimes take months, years, alopecia, or surrender for fear of losing all their hair, to get some clients to get a haircut.  

I got to the point where I say when a cut is necessary but if there is outright refusal, I let it go.  Later, when the subject of hair loss, or the inability of the hair to keep a style comes up, I give advice.  No pressure as long as they admit to anyone who asks about their wild hair that it is their fault.

By Paula Barker, Silkie Locks Hair Design

Books:  “Talking Hair”, “Filling My Head” & Dreadlocks – A Hairstylist’s Manifest.