What would you do? Free haircut offer

So I was approached buy a stylist looking for hair models today. He says he has 7 years experience and works with Vidal Sassoon. Said he wanted to shape the back a little and he knows I want to continue growing into a bob.

Part of me wants to be loyal and safe and stick to my current gal, but it is hard to turn down a free cut when working on a 6% commission.

What would you do??

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38 Comments

  • lyn* replied 10 years ago

    I'd do it!!!

  • rachylou replied 10 years ago

    Totally go for it. That's an easy story to back to your regular stylist - doing the hair model thing. Too much fun.

  • Diana replied 10 years ago

    I've gotten a similar offer (stylist who wanted to cut my hair as a teaching demo, I think) and I turned it down.  I said that I was very loyal to my current stylist.  Which is true, but the real reason is that I have trust issues.  =P

  • Mary Beth (formerly LBD) replied 10 years ago

    Free is free.  If this guy seems like he knows what he's doing, take him up on the offer :)     Who knows?  You may love it and wind up with a new stylist - and there is nothing wrong with that.

  • Jaime replied 10 years ago

    If he seemed legit I would be very tempted!

  • MsMary replied 10 years ago

    I would totally do it.  It's just hair ... even if you don't like it, it'll grow back!

  • replied 10 years ago

    I'd do it!

  • Raisin replied 10 years ago

    Give it a go!  It's just a one time thing, you're not changing hair stylists. 

  • Rambling Ann replied 10 years ago

    A haircut haiku:

    Hair grows regardless 
    of who cuts it or how badly
    If only money grew

  • DonnaF replied 10 years ago

    Back in the '70s when I was a poor student, I would be a hair model at the Sassoon school.  They were all experienced licensed stylists like your guy so it was much less risky than getting a cut at a beauty school.  I never got a bad cut.  A friend also got her hair cut there.  Once she got a beret (that's what it looked like!), so it was unusual, but she never got a bad cut even if it wasn't precisely what she wanted.  I would go for it.  It is only hair and will grow out.  Plus, you wouldn't be getting a perm or color, right?  Those can take longer to fix.

  • Nicole D replied 10 years ago

    Mmmmmmm....no.  I did that once but it was for my regular hairdresser.
    Despite Rambling Ann's sidesplitting haiku, i would demur.  Too risky.

  • K. Period. replied 10 years ago

    I did Sassoon school cuts & color all through law school. Free is very nice. Even cheap (follow up cuts) is nice.  The folks at the school are experienced stylists who are getting additional training, so the cuts are good.  Also, the school instructors (the people who are really magic) come through afterwards and finish your cut if there is anything that needs perfecting.  Only you know if you hair person is going to take it badly, though.  I would just say that someone asked you to be a hair model for a quick cut and you really needed to save the money.  If you don't feel like you can be honest with your hair person in that way, then I would pass on the free cut.  

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    I would do it if I needed a trim. But I am reckless like that. :-)

  • citygirldc replied 10 years ago

    Do it. You can still go back to your old stylist later.

  • replied 10 years ago

    What is your gut feeling? Are you excited about the prospect of being a hair model? If so, do it! I would think your regular hair stylist would understand that. If you are terrified that this guy is going to mess up your hair, then skip it. 

  • Caro in Oz replied 10 years ago

    What cc said  - if you feel it's only hair it will grow back then do it. If you feel you can't cope with the idea of a bad cut then don't. If it were me I'd take the chance though :)

  • Glory replied 10 years ago

    nothing ventured.... I say do it. it will grow back

  • Gaylene replied 10 years ago

    Your hair, your decision as to who cuts it. Worst case scenario, you have to go back to your regular stylist with a botched cut and a promise never to leave again.

  • replied 10 years ago

    Nope. Never in a million years would I be tempted by a free haircut and cringe just thinking about how I'd explain that to my regular stylist if it turned out badly.

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    How did the guy's own hair look to you? Could you ask to see photos of his work?

  • deb replied 10 years ago

    I would do it.

  • rae replied 10 years ago

    Ok, I just texted the stylist, and I do get input on the style and he knows I want to grow into a short bob, so I said I would do it! My hair is an awkward length anyway, and he happened to appear right when I was getting sick of it. 

    It has been a real adjustment going from cutting my own hair for 10 years to having to pay the equivalent of a pair of new shoes every few months, so a free cut is a welcome break. Going to look at it as the universe throwing me a bone... and hey, the hair already looks awkward and needs to grow out... even if I don't like the cut, I won't really be in any different situation.

    Thank you so much for the reviews of VS and encouragement to give it a try!

  • rute replied 10 years ago

    go for it!

  • Hil replied 10 years ago

    Ooh fun! I did the hair model thing a few years ago - it was awesome! Loved it. It wasn't a style I wanted to keep for long, but while I had it, it was way cool!

  • harmonica replied 10 years ago

    Go for it! It's just hair

  • jurocha replied 10 years ago

    I eagerly wait for pics with the new cut! 

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    How fab is that? Looking forward to seeing the "after" pics.

  • replied 10 years ago

    Nope. My hair is not for experimentation. I would not do it.

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    Personally, I'd be a complete no on this, and the proposition would not be tempting to me at all. But if you are tempted Rae, I support your decision.

  • Thistle replied 10 years ago

    As hair is SUCH a big part of your style, and you are in the image industry, I would say no.

  • replied 10 years ago

    ...and a side note( not to scare you off), but the last time I did a spurt of the moment move like that, it ended up pretty badly. I used to take little Zap to a  Paul David salon for her haircut. As I waited for her to be done, I got talked into getting a trim... Well, the stylist chopped my bottom layer off ( My hair is cut in layers, forming a v in the back), making the top layers much heavier. It look about 5 haircuts and two years for my stylist to fix the mistake, since that bottom layer needed to grow about 4 inches.
    Yep, it is hair, yep it grows, it might just take a long while.
    For me, never again!

  • T-Rex replied 10 years ago

    I would do it. First of all, I'm a bit of a gambler. Second, I would want to help him out. Third, hair will grow back. Fourth, it's not as much of a gamble as volunteering for a newbie hair stylist. The guy has seven years under his belt. Fifth, I may find that I like what he does.

    The only thing that would keep me from doing it would be if I had recently had a hair cut from my regular stylist, and it still looked really good. I'm too much of a scrimper and saver to waste a good haircut that I already had.

  • texstyle replied 10 years ago

    For me it would be a no unless maybe he had given me a photo of the proposed cut and I had seen some of his other work. I thought you were pretty disappointed in your last cut rae - not because the stylist did it wrong, but because you felt like maybe you didn't want it that short after all. My question would be then, how is this stylist going to use you as a model without doing a pretty drastic cut? Usually hair show models get pretty drastic cuts/styles.

  • Marley replied 10 years ago

    I think that this really makes sense for you Rae - because you are in the process of growing your hair into a different style, it needs some shaping right now - and this guy is experienced and understands what you are trying to achieve.  Its not like your hair is in a style right now that you absolutely love and that your hairstylist has it absolutely nailed.  You're in flux - I'd go into this experience  viewing it as a transitional cut/style - and an adventure!  (as well as a way to save some money!)

  • catgirl replied 10 years ago

    I wouldn't do it because I am completely devoted to my own stylist to the point of dysfunction.  But before her, I'd have taken up such an offer in a heartbeat.   

  • replied 10 years ago

    Good point by Marley there.

  • amiable replied 10 years ago

    I'd do it - but then, my hair is nothing special, and I like playing with it.

    And I see you're intending to do it - have fun!  

    :)

  • Irene replied 10 years ago

    I don't get the faithfulness to a stylist. You like them, you keep having them cut your hair. You don't, you stop visiting them. You have three favourite stylists, great for you, have the three of them work on your hair.

    I also don't get the 'let's take it if it's free' if you don't want/need it. It's like me having Mexican food just because it's free. That doesn't change the fact that I don't like Mexican food! lol

    But if you DO feel like getting your hair cut, and you DO feel like you can trust this stylist, I don't see why not to give it a try.

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