Does anyone find this awkward?

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Do any of you find it awkward when you're getting your hair done and you're not really saying anything to the hair stylist. I never really thought about this until a hair stylist once told me that I was so quiet. I'll talk to them if they say something or ask me something but I don't really keep a conversation going and if I do it's usually something stupid like how the weather is or are you busy today kind of talk. I once had a hair stylist who I connected really well and we talked about school and books but that's only because we had similar interests and I felt comfortable around her. I feel perfectly content with not saying anything but putting myself in the other person's shoes I'm guessing it might be a bit awkward to some hair stylists?

I love it when they don't expect me to talk or they talk to other stylists near them. So amazing. I generally end up asking them a ton of questions about their life so I don't have to talk about myself. I think they enjoy it since their other clients like to tell them about their own life.

My barber does not speak good English, so she may be too embarrassed to say anything. Maybe that's why all she says is "next", "same?", "finished", and "thank you".

She's the best barber I've ever had.

That's a good idea. I hate it when they ask you what you do for a living, they ask you that 9 times out of 10.

Also, I usually feel that women are more encouraged to converse than men. I've seen a lot of men just sitting quietly but women are always talking. I don't know if it's because they're generally more social or their hair styling usually takes longer than men's hair cuts.

I'm OK if the stylist initiates a conversation and asks me questions. I'd rather not talk though. I wonder if the stylist really doesn't want to chat either but is encouraged to by the boss.

It took years, but I've finally found a salon where I feel comfortable- a little two chair salon where all of the women are 50 to 70 years old. The stylists and the ladies waiting are pretty chatty, so nobody notices that I don't talk. I can just sit quietly and enjoy the gossip.

I can relate to this. When I'm getting my hair done, I'll see the other ladies around me telling the hair stylists their whole life stories and getting into these involved conversations (seriously). I will respond courteously to any questions the hair dresser asks me, but I otherwise sit silently, and allow my mind to wander. I feel a somewhat awkward about this, as all the other customers seem to converse with their hair stylists, but that's how it goes. I'm not going to force myself to converse just for the sake of conversing. That's too difficult for me, especially as I have highlights, and those take a long time. That would be a lot of conversation I'd have to force myself to engage in. The fact is, I couldn't think of anything to talk about, even if I had the desire to interact. I don't go to the salon to socialize. I go there to get my hair done.
It boggles my mind how most people seem to have this drive to seek out social interaction whenever they're among people for any length of time. When I see how other people instinctively gravitate toward others and form relationships, it drives home just how atypical I am. I just don't have that instinct. Socializing takes effort for me. Engaging in and sustaining social interaction can be a real struggle for me. My natural response tends to be to withdraw into myself. It's especially difficult to make that initial transition from my default "recluse mode" to "social mode." In certain situations, such as when I'm at work among co-workers, I often have to remind myself that I'm supposed to communicate, and engage in conversation. Sometimes, I forget to do this. Often I'll avoid it, going off on my own to a secluded spot for my breaks, because at a certain point, it all gets to be too much, and I need to get away from everything and everyone. I definitely can't be constantly "on," and ready to be social at a moment's notice. I'm just not wired that way, and nobody IRL seems to understand that.
Okay, my response was far too long, I know. My point is, I don't make conversation at the hair salon either, and forcing myself to do so would be torture.

That is one reason I rarely go to the hair salon. There are several other women there that are having in depth conversations with the hairdresser, and I am mostly silent. I answer questions when the hairdresser asks, but I do not feel comfortable with a conversation (not to mention that I have a hard time keeping a conversation going normally).

I hate that too O.o
And that is one of the reasons why I prefer cutting my hair myself at home. The hair salon I usually go to is nice but it annoys me that my hair stylist always asks the saaaame questions. I;'ve been going there for almost 3 years and I always request the same stylist (he's doing a fine job with my hair...) and that guy always asks the same questions. I don't know why that is, I'm sure he remembers me (there are not so many western females here in my big smoggy Chinese city who go to a Japanese hair salon and speak Japanese to the staff there so he must remember me somehow) so then why is he always asking for how long I've been here and what's my favourite food and argh, small talk I hate!

I just need a hair cut... I don't go there and pay a sh*tload of money to have a chitchat with my hair stylist

@OuterBoroughGirl
haha. this sounds so much like me. I don't have that instinct either. Just because there is another person (in the elevator, doing my hair, waiting in line with me...) doesn't mean I have to talk to them.

Where are all the
aspie hairdressers then?