Services

How to overcome hair appointment anxiety | Abingdon | Didcot | Wantage | Oxfordshire

Opening in 2018, our space is now one of the busiest. Our creative team are celebrated for their signature haircuts, hair colour, perms, blowdries and more.

CALL: 01235 534705
EMAIL: [email protected]
4 EAST ST. HELEN STREET, OX14 5EA

Hair Salon Opening Times

Tuesday
First Appointment
Last Appointment

Wednesday-Thursday
First Appointment
Last Appointment

Friday
First Appointment
Last Appointment

Saturday
First Appointment:
Last Appointment:

10 am
3:30 pm

11:30 am
7:30 pm

10 am
6 pm

9 am
4:30 pm

Anxiety-Free Hair Appointments in Abingdon

Hairdressers often mean different things to different people. The ‘salon experience’ is typically marketed for its opportunity to switch off, relax, pampering and leaving feeling glamorous. However in our experience the ‘salon experience’ represents different benefits to all. For some it’s an opportunity to switch off from work, kids, family life, stresses at home. For some clients they would prefer not to engage beyond the necessity to discuss their hair, for others it’s to work in peace, to read a book or even just simply a functional service!

Whilst many people take from the experience different values, for many the experience of a hairdressers can be unpleasant and can trigger anxiety whether it’s the need to be sociable, behave a certain way, having been scarred from a previous experience, fear or judgement from a salon environment, the uncomfortable nature of being in a confined public space or something else. These issues are largely overlooked by many salons for a number of reasons, however fundamentally the experience for all the reasons listed above and more can present as overwhelming.

In our daily blog, we cover how we can support you discreetly if you are mindful that the ‘typical’ salon experience isn’t for you, how we challenge the accepted salon model to welcome as many people as possible and what our silent hair appointments look like.

If you are considering something different, our silent hair appointment service page can help. Finally, if you’re new to the salon and not sure how to get the most value from your next appointment, need a consultation or would value a conversation before booking, call or send a WhatsApp message on 01235 534705.

Got a Question?

Send a WhatsApp

Hair Salon Anxiety FAQ's

How can i overcome hair appointment anxiety?

Firstly, we don’t expect anyone to conform to our view of how we operate, however our duty is to make you and every client feel as welcome and comfortable as possible. We do this by making the salon a safe space, building trust, relationships and understanding your needs. The environment is designed to be as inclusive, non-judgemental and as friendly as possible and whilst we can’t tailor needs for every single client to their exact tastes, what we can do is guarantee to listen and maximise your time spent with us to the best of our abilities. So whilst the emphasis on overcoming anxiety isn’t exclusively down to you, our job is to understand, be patient and do our best to alleviate any concerns as much as possible. We do our best to accommodate this and the best thing in our experience is to communicate this as early as possible to support our ability to help you without judgement.

Whether it’s with ourselves or another salon, a supportive salon will never judge or dismiss your concerns nor should you ever be made to feel that your anxiety (whether big or small) isn’t an issue. Whilst some salons may suggest a quieter time, with some notice our salon is uniquely set across two floors to ensure a quieter, more relaxed experience whereby you have more say. This space allows us to control noise output, background interference, music, conversation, the environment, foot fall and more. This space is used just as commonly for colour appointments and our Stylists can be both tactful and discreet to ensure that attention isn’t drawn to an appointment in a safe space, given all spaces are used equally for many different purposes.

If you are uncomfortable in a salon, you may seek to try a service such as a consultation, fringe trim or four step treatment (services under 25 minutes) to get to know your salon, the people working on your hair or the atmosphere to build trust and confidence over time. Finally, the best thing to do for an appointment is to prepare questions and pictures. This can alleviate some of the unpredictability of a hair appointment and bring some comfort allowing you to settle in more easily. Here’s some top tips for hair appointment planning.

Do other people feel anxious about the hairdressers?

Regular clients aside, most people do in some form. In-fact unless they told you explicitly you wouldn’t know it and many Google reviews cite their nervousness, anxiousness and lack of confidence (which can be a surprise to us) given this can often be masked really well. However the common theme is that whether any feelings of anxiety have been communicated to us or not, we still commit to treatment people respectfully and with kindness and that in our experience goes a long way. Much of this is basic intuition. Visiting a hair salon can be intimidating and I think there is recognition of that. Speaking as a Stylist (who has spent much of my adult life in a hair salon), even I would feel anxious visiting a new salon so I think we can all in some way resonate with that feeling. Our job is to minimise that impact, inform through our marketing channels (such as this blog post) and deliver consistently across all appointments to ensure we offer a level of comfort across all appointments.

Does the salon cater to anxious clients?

Yes, we market this as ‘silent hair appointments’ however the reality is that we actually find silent hair appointments are scarcely ‘silent’! This is a service which takes into account visiting a hairdressers (particularly for the first time) and trying to remove as many of the ‘unknowns’ and ‘things’ which make for an unhealthy or uncomfortable experience. We actually find the whilst silent hair appointments are effective for anxious clients (because they offer a safe space) and whilst your Stylist won’t take the initiative to strike up conversation, often-times the appointment offers a level of comfort that clients feel able in a safe space in a one-to-one service to initiate a chat with relative freedom.

If you are slightly anxious, we would encourage you to let us know in advance. If you’d prefer a low-stimulation space, if you want to avoid mirrors, or if there’s a certain stylist you feel more at ease with, we will always do what we can to accommodate.

What are silent hair appointments?

A silent hair appointment is exactly what it sounds like. Whilst this may not appeal to every person that is anxious (given it doesn’t take into account the reasons why), this service offering is highly transparent. You and your Stylist agree to skip the small talk and allow the appointment to take its natural course in comfortable silence, without background interference and without interruption. This doesn’t mean no communication whatsoever (it’s important to discuss critical elements of your cutting, colouring etc) however the pressure to socially engage is removed entirely which is the most common reason for hair salon anxiety). The best bit however is that if you do decide that you would like to chat, you’re completely free to do so! The control is with you. If you wish to chat, your Stylist will be happy to. If you don’t wish to chat, your Stylist won’t force conversation on you. Stylists actually value these appointments in different ways with many of our Stylists actually volunteer for these appointments because they appreciate the quiet time for different reasons! It allows for a highly authentic silent hair appointment service.

For many, silent appointments are a game-changer. Not having to worry about what to say or how to keep up a conversation allows clients to fully relax, enjoy the service, and leave feeling mentally refreshed as well as physically polished.

Conclusion

Hair appointment anxiety is more common than many people realise, in real-time most salons will welcome clients daily that experience anxiety of some form and it’s nothing to feel ashamed of. Whether your nerves stem from sensory sensitivities, social discomfort, or previous experiences, try to communicate as freely as possible in advance of your appointment. In doing so, it will allow for a much smoother and accepting appointment where your Stylist can support any needs.

If you are feeling lost in what could work best for you, leave it to us. Our consultations work through any question you might have, logistics and we too make recommendations based upon your lifestyle and hair type.

@wisteriaavenuehairsalon Balayage and blow dry complete! ✅ #AbingdonHairdresser #OxfordHairdresser #Highlights #Balayage #HairColour #Blowdry #HairSalon #Hairdressers #Hair #HairStyle ♬ original sound - Wisteria Avenue Hair Salon

Opening in 2018, our space is now one of the busiest. Our creative team are celebrated for their signature haircuts, hair colour, perms, blowdries and more.

CALL: 01235 534705
EMAIL: [email protected]
4 EAST ST. HELEN STREET, OX14 5EA

Opening Times

Tuesday
First Appointment
Last Appointment

Wednesday-Thursday
First Appointment
Last Appointment

Friday
First Appointment
Last Appointment

Saturday
First Appointment:
Last Appointment:

10 am
3:30 pm

11:30 am
7:30 pm

10 am
6 pm

9 am
4:30 pm

Want to know more about aneity-free hair appointments?

Complete the below and a staff member will contact you at the earliest opportunity with further information about how we can help you with your hair appointment. Any questions, call or send a WhatsApp to the salon on 01235 534705 or book your appointment online.

Want to know more about silent hair appointments?

As one of the best hair salons for anxious clients in Oxfordshire, we would love to discuss your plans with you! To book your hair appointment or consultation, get in touch with Wisteria Avenue Hair Salon by booking online or calling us on 01235 53470.

Wisteria Avenue on instagram

wisteriaavesalon

We are a boutique hair salon in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. For hair appointments, visit www.wisteriaavenue.co.uk
☎️ | 01235 534705

Delicate highlights ✅ Delicate highlights, also

When you’re offered a blow dry in salon you migh

Follow on Instagram

Where are we?

Our Latest Hair Trends Blog

Our hair trends blog looks at the latest hairdressing trends, hair styles, hair colours, gents haircuts, ladies haircuts, perms, seasonal styles and much, much more!

For regular updates and blog postings, check out our recent blogs.