Hairdressers Introduce the ‘Chair of Silence’

FILE - This Feb. 3, 2011 file photo shows Adriana Guedes as she has her hair straightened by hair dresser Tania Machado at a salon in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Brazilian Blowout surfaced around 2005 in Brazil, where a combination of high humidity and a largely mixed-race, curly haired population made for a nation of eager customers. It soon spread throughout North America and Europe. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

Picture by: Felipe Dana / AP/Press Association Images

“Are you going on holiday soon?” “This weather is awful isn’t it” “How’s work?”

I could probably put my life on it that at some point you have been in the hairdressers and have been asked these questions. Small talk is something you could have lessons in, there is certainly an art to it and a lot of people can not stand it.

But a salon in Cardiff has the answer… a silent chair!

Bauhaus Salon Owner, Scott Miller, said: “It was an attempt to allow salon-goers to switch off in an information age where it can be difficult to find peace and quiet.

“But at the same time, we understand people lead busy lives where they may have been communicating with people all day and want some relief.

“A trip to the hair salon is supposed to be relaxing, and while for some people that means catching up on what’s been going on in their lives, not everybody is comfortable with small talk.”

Phil Unsworth, from Guappo hair salon in Shotton, said: “It would work with some customers I think, some people do get embarrassed quite easily and feel awkward, whether they would actually book a silent chair is another thing though! Would you want that type of client in the salon?”

Bea Neall from Newcastle, who is a freelance beauty therapist and hairdresser, said: “I couldn’t imagine not speaking to a client, I think I would probably feel more awkward not speaking to my client, I think the sign of a good therapist is being able to put the client at ease and help them enjoy the treatment and conversation.”

So love it or hate it looks like small talk will always be part of the salon experience.

Now where do we sign up for those small talk lessons?

Would you take a seat in the silent chair? Let us know @Fashion_North.

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