One hairdresser reported that her salon was far less busy than usual, sparking a debate online as to why.
“Salons are quieter this season than usual,” TikToker @nicolepommehair said in a recent video.
Many people responded to this observation by splicing together videos.
With 382,000 views, TikToker Ally K (@anonymousally198) posted a “controversial opinion'' about the real reason why so many people quit hair salons and choose to style their hair with viral stitches. ”
“Going to the hair salon now is like gambling,” she began the clip.
She believes that trusting a hairstylist to handle your hair, even the best, is like taking a gamble that your hair might get damaged or you might not like the result. It's a thing, he said.
“And many of us don't have money to gamble anymore,” she continued. “So we're learning how to do our hair at home.”
Ally also thinks the hairstylist community is becoming increasingly catty and “mean.” She said she experienced some of this inappropriate behavior at cosmetology school before dropping out to get a “normal” education.
“The gossip and competition was making my hair fall out,” she said. “I don't want anything to do with it.”
This woman believes that what she experienced while attending cosmetology school reflects the state of the industry as a whole. Thanks to social media, this “mean girl” attitude has now been captured and viewed by millions of people. She gave the example of a celebrity stylist who has built a following online by making fun of women who try to do their own hair in their own homes. The TikToker even said that her stylist criticized her for giving shampoo tips to her followers.
“The criticism I received was ridiculous,” she lamented.
Ally believes this attitude stems from stylists' sense of entitlement over who should be able to style their hair. She claimed that as a qualified professional, she felt authoritative over other people's keys. She added that some customers may be afraid to speak up if a stylist makes a mistake when cutting, coloring or styling their hair. She says that if a customer requests a style modification, she is very likely to upset the hairdresser.
“It's like the cook spitting on your food just because you sent it back,” she claimed. “But it's my head, so I have to wear it every day.”
In the end, Ally said that while her hair may look “weird” at times, she's saved tens of thousands of dollars after 22 years of doing her own hair extensions at home. She gave a shoutout to stylists around the world who do their jobs and care about how they treat their clients, but in the end, the mean stylists are clearly outnumbered. She said she was winning.
@anonymousally198 The real reason we don't go to the hairdresser anymore, and why some salons aren't that busy. Controversial opinions of the modern hair industry and stylists. That's a mean girl hairdresser for me. See how Atlanta hairstylists treat their customers. #greenscreenvideo #hairstylistsoftiktok #hairstylistproblems #hairstylistoftiktok #meangirlhairstylist #bleachfail #hairfail #bleachdisasters ♬ Original song – Ally K
Another TikToker named Sam (@sampanda_) also shared concerns about affordability.
“They can't afford it right now,” she responded in a stitch in @nicolepommehair video.
In the comments section of Ally's video, many agreed that she no longer has the luxury of getting her hair done.
User Crayola commented, “We can't afford that.” “So I had a stylist shave off most of my hair. Then I went to the barber to get my hair straightened. I need to dye it, but I can't afford it.”
User Ashleighclark1313 added: “The thing that annoys me is the people who say don't come get your hair done if you can't afford it.” “That's exactly what I'm doing.”
Some agreed that the DIY trend has reduced the need to go to the hairdresser.
“Yes, it’s over,” user @Tastest 53 said. “Bradmond revolutionized his DIY haircuts. There's no going back.”
The Daily Dot reached out to Ally K for comment via TikTok Comments.
We crawl the web for you so you don't have to.
Sign up for the Daily Dot newsletter to get the best and worst of the internet delivered to your inbox every day.
*First published: February 16, 2024 at 11:00 PM CST
Tiffany Drayton
Tiffany Drayton is a geek culture and lifestyle reporter who covers everything from gender and race to anime and Xbox. Her work has appeared in Complex, Salon, Marie Claire, Playboy, and more.
