Great hair takes time and care – Hair To Go with Derry's Margaret Doherty

The salon has to be busy. That’s not us being greedy or overbooking for the craic. That’s real life. Wages have to be paid. Rent has to be covered. VAT, tax, rates, stock, electric — the list goes on. A salon doesn’t run on fresh air and good intentions. It runs on time, structure, and a steady flow of clients through the door.

But here’s the other side of it, if you want a transformation, give me the time to do it. Properly. Not rushed, not squeezed, not panicked. Good hair takes time. Always has, always will.

If you’re coming in for a root touch-up, allow the extra few minutes for a conditioning treatment. Your hair needs it, especially if you’re colouring regularly. If you’re booked for a full head of foils, those foils need time to develop. I can’t rush chemistry. Hair doesn’t care about the clock, and if you’re getting a hair extension refit, that takes precision. Every row, every bond, every blend — it all matters. Rushing is where mistakes happen, and nobody wants that.

Time is precious to everyone. I get that completely. Clients are juggling school runs, work, appointments, and life in general. But it’s also precious to us. We’re not standing chatting for the sake of it. If we spend a few extra minutes on your hair, it’s because we want the best outcome. It’s because we care. It’s because we know those few minutes can be the difference between ‘that’ll do’ and ‘that’s unreal.’

And here’s the truth, we don’t know what’s coming through the door down to the exact minute. No salon does. A consultation might take longer because someone’s nervous. A colour might need to be adjusted. Someone might need an extra toner. Another client might arrive with thicker hair than expected. It happens. It’s hairdressing. It’s not a factory line.

I’m sure this applies to every business. You walk into a doctor’s surgery, and you might wait. You go to a restaurant, and your table might not be ready. You call into a shop, and someone ahead of you needs extra help. Life runs like that. But for some reason, hairdressers can feel a lot of pressure around time, like every appointment should run to the exact minute. The reality is, we’re working with people, not robots.

So if we run a few minutes behind, it’s not because we don’t respect your time. It’s usually because we gave someone else the same care we’re about to give you. And when you sit in the chair, you’ll be glad we do. Because nobody wants their hair rushed just to keep the clock happy.

Don’t make us feel like our timekeeping is out of touch. We’re doing our best to balance everything - quality, care, business, and people. We have every client’s best interest at heart. That’s why we take the extra time. That’s why we check the tone again. That’s why we add the treatment. That’s why we perfect the finish.

I’m almost sure every appointment everywhere isn’t exactly on time. So give us grace too. Because those extra minutes? They’re usually spent making your hair better.