Do you chat with the people that are cutting your hair?

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I've been going to the hair salon for haircuts since last summer, because I currently live far away from my parents and thus, can no longer get haircuts from them. I go to a hair salon near my university and get haircuts from a 30-something year old guy. This man was very friendly and social. He does ask customers including myself (who are usually the students) what they study and how their school lives are going. He also talks about weather, sports, and stuff happening in the area. I calmly chat with him while he trims my hair.

That's not all. I also have my dental appointments at the university dental school and the people that clean my teeth there are dental students or younger dentists. They ask me the same questions that the barber asks me since they know that I'm a student. Since the dental guys are friendly and young as I am, I calmly small talk with them.

I do small talk with people that provide me services of any kind, if they ask me questions that aren't too personal.

I have been going to the same place since I was a kid. Small place with one guy working there.
I often only nod and say "thank you" at the end when he is using the mirror to the finish, then "thank you" again when he gives the change. Sometimes I request "the usual, please" at the start.

At my last visit it occurred to me that I have no idea where I would go if/when his store closes!

During the haircut I usually close my eyes and revise recent chess study, or just enjoy the sound and feeling of having my hair cut.

Learned to cut my own hair so as to avoid having to sit in the chair and talk to someone.

Also I never knew how much I was supposed to tip. I avoid a lot of things for this reason, come to think of it.

No. I am usually non-verbal at first with new people. If I am calm, they are going a good job. I haven't had a problem with this before.

I don't talk unless I'm asked something but I always feel uncomfortable because I feel like they are expecting me to say something but I don't know what.

I usually get my haircut in whatever random place that cuts hair, I have it short so I figure they can't mess it up much.

I used to feel uncomfortable talking to the people cutting my hair, slowly I tried to get over this I figured it was a good time to test my social skills with a random, so I try to carry on a conversation with them now, however awkward it turns out.

I've always cut my own hair.

Not voluntarily, at least not at first. After a few visits and I get to know the person, I open up a little more. I also have horrible eye sight, and have to take off my glasses

If I know the barber and they are talkative, then I will reciprocate as well. It's usually about events around town and small talk. I am always reluctant to talk about anything too personal, don't want to feed the "Gossip Machine", some people just live to have some informational dirt on you. At one barber shop I used to go to; at the end of the haircut, they would rub some kind of tonic/conditioner in your hair and start this "Shoulder Massage" routine like the woman was some long lost old flame!! LOL! I always thought it was kinda creepy and a little too out of bounds of the haircut job.

I never start the conversation, but if they start I'll answer. I just follow the usual structure: they say something, and I say something like 'oh really', or if I feel more chatty or what they say interests me (which is rare!) I tell them something similar from my own experiences and then wait until they say something again. Usually I prefer to be quiet.

No. What if they get distracted and mess up or cut you. I just can't take that risk.
Besides, I have nothing to say and couldn't speak to save my soul.

No. and i hate to stare at my ugle mug in the mirror.

Pretty much close my eyes and half sleep. That seems to indicate that i dont wanna talk, im my experience.

Im there to get my hair cut not have conversations.

I talk to my hairdresser becouse I know her well outside of the salon from one of my special intrests so we always have lots of materal to talk about.

This part stood out for me. Don't you have this problem when making small talk with anyone? Why is it different with hairdressers? Many times I have remained silent instead of saying something that comes into my head because I think "they've heard that a million time already I bet" or "that's what everyone would say" or "I bet they are sick of being asked that". It's not a hairdresser problem for me, it's a people problem.

The solution is to just say the lame, boring things that everyone else would say. Everyone else would say it, so it must be okay to say. Rarely do I follow this advice though because I feel ridiculous doing it.