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Unpopular opinion: I'm done cutting my family's hair for free
I've been doing hair for a long time, and my family still thinks I owe them free cuts. Just last week, my cousin texted me asking for a fancy updo for her date night, expecting it for nothing. This stuff eats into my personal time after a full day at the salon. They would never ask a nurse relative for free medical care, so why is my skill different? I put in years to learn this trade, and my tools and products cost money. When I tried explaining this, my brother called me cheap. Now I just say I'm booked, and it saves so much stress. My work has value, and I won't apologize for that anymore.
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brooke_fisher4mo agoMost Upvoted
Your cousin wanted a fancy updo for free?!
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brooke_fisher4mo agoMost Upvoted
My friend's cousin wanted a fancy braid for free at her grad, lol.
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carr.daniel1mo ago
...and honestly, that's the smartest way to handle it. I've been there too, and saying you're booked saves you the headache of explaining yourself over and over. What worked for me was setting a hard rule - I'll do their hair for their wedding or a super special event as a gift, but that's it. For everything else, I just tell them I'll send my salon pricing and they can book me there if they want. It stops the guilt trips cold because they see it's about respecting your time and skill, not about being cheap.
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