AITA for snapping at a woman who kept interrupting my stylist?

Picture a salon buzzing with the hum of blow dryers and the scent of fresh color, where Sarah’s settling in for her favorite ritual: a cut, color, and blowout with her trusted stylist of six years. Foils in place, she’s ready for some pampering—until another client storms in, firing off questions like a hair product pop quiz. Despite the stylist’s polite deflections, the woman won’t quit, derailing Sarah’s appointment with every interruption.

After the fourth disruption, Sarah’s patience snaps. She tells the woman she’s rude for stealing her paid time, prompting a nasty retort and a dramatic exit. But the vibe’s off—her stylist’s quiet, and Sarah’s left wondering if she crossed a line. Was her outburst justified, or did she ruin the salon’s harmony? This Reddit tale dives into the unwritten rules of salon etiquette and the cost of standing up for yourself.

‘AITA for snapping at a woman who kept interrupting my stylist?’

I had a hair appointment this morning for a cut, color and blowout. I have been seeing my stylist for about six years now, and absolutely love her. During my appointment, another client came in and my stylist greeted her and informed she was just finishing my foils and was getting ready to put my under the dryer and she would be ready for her in about 10 minutes.

The woman sat down and right away started asking my stylist about a hair product. My stylist told her that they just started carrying it and they would talk about it when she was in the chair. Then she interrupted again and asked my stylist if she should go lighter or darker for her color. My stylist again told her that they would talk about it when she was in the chair and again told her she was almost done.

She then interrupted a third time and started asking about brow waxing. My stylist told her again that they would talk about what services she wanted when she was in the chair and asked her to sit down. The fourth time she came over, I did not even give her the chance to speak I just told her that she was being very rude,

that she was interrupting my scheduled appointment with her questions and told her that she will have her own appointment to ask questions, but if she wouldn't mind, I would like to have the stylist finish my foils without her coming over and forcing her to stop working.. The woman got upset and called me a n**ty name and then left.

My stylist was quiet and finished my appointment, but I could tell that she was upset. I did apologize to her, but I could tell she was off for the rest of my appointment. I was not trying to be mean, but it was getting annoying and the woman had her own appointment where she could have discussed all these things with the stylist that did not interrupt my time with her.. AITA for snapping at the woman?

Salon time is sacred, and interruptions can throw off more than just the vibe. Sarah’s frustration with the persistent client was valid—her paid appointment deserved focus. Etiquette expert Elaine Swann says, “Respecting others’ time in service settings builds trust and harmony” (Elaine Swann). The interrupting client ignored the stylist’s cues, disrupting Sarah’s experience and risking mistakes, like uneven foils, that could’ve cost more than just time.

This scenario reflects a broader issue: navigating shared spaces with courtesy. A 2022 Consumer Reports survey found 68% of service clients value uninterrupted attention during appointments (Consumer Reports). The client’s barrage of questions, while eager, stole Sarah’s time and pressured the stylist, who may have feared losing business by being too firm. Sarah’s snap, though sharp, defended her right to service.

Sarah’s apology to her stylist was a good move, but the stylist’s unease suggests she felt caught in the crossfire. In the future, Sarah could redirect politely, like, “I’m sure she’ll answer all your questions during your appointment!”

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

Reddit’s got takes as bold as a fresh balayage—here’s what they said about Sarah’s salon saga:

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[Reddit User] - NTA. Sounds like your stylists boundaries weren't being respected.

TheRestForTheWicked - NTA and I’m wondering if the people saying otherwise would have been okay if your stylist had made a mistake or allowed certain foils to be in too long resulting in an inconsistent dye job due to the constant interruption distracting them because that would have cost her money as well

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(via having to fix their mistake and depending on the customer, losing out on tips or future business). Like just because she’s in the open it doesn’t mean she isn’t working. If OP was getting a massage would those interruptions be acceptable? Absolutely not. This is no different.

PurpleAquilegia - NTA, in my opinion. There's a certain amount of etiquette in salons and she wasn't following it.

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gabbydearest91 - NTA. This is your time that you are paying for and the interloper interrupted 4 times!. Your stylist needed to stronger backbone and told her to not interrupt at all after the first time. It's not fun and it's not easy but it's something that comes up and when you're on the clock with a client you have a responsibility to that client.

It sucks that they potentially lost money but if they had told the interrupted to STOP interrupting, not just we'll talk about that later (notice how the woman had a new topic each time) then neither of your would have been in this position to start with.. I'm a Tailor not a Hair Stylist but interrupters and impatient people come up constantly.

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I say things along the lines of 'when I'm finished with my current client then I will be available to help you, or 'I'll be free to help you in a few minutes.' One time a new bank opened up across the street and I was literally pinning a dress on a client and two of the employees came in talking up their bank and would not listen to the polite send offs.

When they started on about how 'Customer Service Oriented they were' I had to say excuse me to my client and turned to them and said 'yes customer service is very important. As you can see I am currently attempting to provide a little customer service myself. It's past time for you to leave.'

Ruckus_Riot - NTA- she needed to be told she was being an a**hole, and since your livelihood doesn’t depend on her opinion, you were the best person to say something. She was essentially stealing time **you** paid for. Your stylist honestly really should have been more firm in telling her to wait.

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Yes she needs clients and income, but she needs to protect and honor her clients she’s working with as well.. I wouldn’t even say you snapped at her either btw. For me, “omg, would you please f**k off?!“ would be the reaction I would have to struggle with not acting on.

Swedish-Butt-Whistle - NTA. I would have said it was you who was TA if your stylist was the only person being impacted by this, but you were being negatively impacted as well. It was your scheduled appointment that you were paying for and this other lady had no right to intrude multiple times.

Intrusion and distraction also had the potential to cause the stylist to make a mistake on your hair which could have further negatively impacted you. You had the right to tell her to knock it off.

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HistoricalInaccurate - NTA - Your stylist told her to stop interrupting your appointment time. She did not. As the paying customer for that time slot, you had ever right to tell her off for interrupting your service.. It sucks your stylist lost her next appointment, but the woman needed to be told off.

[Reddit User] - NTA You were in a no win situation. If you do speak up, the woman heads out in a huff, potentially leaving your stylist high and dry. If you don't, then you continue to have your appointment interrupted, potentially leading to your cut, color, or blowout being less great than it should have been.

Snow-13 - NTA. Everyone saying otherwise has lost it. You didn't lose your hairdresser anything, your hairdresser did by not doing a better job of shutting that customer down. It never should have even gotten to that point to begin with. Honestly, I think you were pretty nice all things considered. My salon time is relax time. I don't want other people interrupting my experience. It's rude and disrespectful. I'm in the chair, I'm paying for that time.

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OrcEight - **NTA**. She was distracting your stylist from focussing on *your* hair during the appointment *you* paid for, which very rude and inconsiderate of her.

From cheering Sarah’s stand to critiquing the stylist’s soft boundaries, Reddit’s opinions are a full-blown style session. But do they trim the truth or just add extra flair?

Sarah’s snap at the salon intruder was a stand for her time, but it left a tense aftertaste. Was she right to call out the rudeness, or should she have stayed cool? Have you ever had to defend your space in a shared setting? Share your stories—what would you do when someone hijacks your moment?

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