I have had that problem as well; at least this one did actually cut my hair as short as I wanted it. I took the advice of another LJ-friend of mine who suggested I tell the hairdresser how I didn't get my hair cut more than every six months or so and that I was really looking forward to having it short again. That seems to have done the trick, and I am really pleased with how it turned out this time. I can put up with know-it-all comments about how I 'should' blow dry my hair for the relatively short period the actual hair cutting takes for the pleasure of getting it done the way I want it.