People make me crazy.  I give up.  My salon does these stupid coupons for free cut/blow with color service.  What happens is you get the dingdongs with waist length super thick horses tails and they expect you to style it into a silky shiny mane and you are never booked the extra time it takes to perform such magic.  The coupon people are the biggest pains in the pitooties and they usually don't come back.  I cringe everytime I get a coupon person or someone with superlongthickhorsehair. 

I'm sick of people expecting me to entertain them as I work on their hair.  Like I'm supposed to be the keynote speaker.

I sick of customers thinking they can just sit in my chair or sit on my cutting stool if I walk away for one minute.

I sick of customers parading the whole darn family back to watch.  I am not a stage performer. 

I'm sick of owners making us work our day off during a holiday week.  Yes, we have to make up for getting Thanksgiving and Christmas off.  We are penalized for national holidays.   A holiday for me is not an easy day off.  It's work being around family.  It makes me hate the holidays and my owner.

All my owner cares about is moneymoneymoneymoney.  He's always buying some new car and his wife never wears the same outfit twice and the money we bring in is never enough.  Our vacation pay is a joke and we get no healthcare or 401K.

Yes I had a crappy day and I'm venting.   

sometimes I wish they could just send their hair in to be taken care of and that they would stay at home...  i wish i could be paid for counseling and self esteem...i wish people would take the "no children unless being serviced " sign seriously...i wish all coworkers were as pleasant as the pleasant ones... i wish owners would see the art in this profession...  i wish i had angelina jolies lips, jenifer anistons hair, and paris hiltons butt (lol)...

sounds like doit needs a hug...

its saturday night, relax release and get ready for next week....

itll be better, i promise...

I like doing hair, I just wish I could turn certain people into mannequins.  Or better yet, I'd like to zap them with a stun gun until they shut up and sit still.  I think I'm usually good at hair, but days like this make me want to chuck it all. 

My 15 year old dog also died two weeks ago.  I miss her so much.  People with their stupid precious hair can just kiss my big flat behind because they mean nothing to me.    

I feel like being anti-holiday this year.  I think I'll rent horror/slasher movies and ditch the Christmas tree this year.  I hope all the people that poop all over service workers this holiday get nothing but bags of dirty rocks from Santa.  That is my holiday wish.   

hey doit-
we've ALL definitely been there-i can 'feel' ya.  take charge of the situation as much as you can.  YOU yourself or by speaking with that owner.  you shouldn't have a crowd around while working with chemicals or sharp instruments and for this same reason clients should not be bopping around in the chair.  if we don't sternly say anthing and stick to it-they will think it's OK to continue the behaviour.  tell them right from the beginning of the appointment after the consult-what YOU expect (no moving or the cut will be 'off', no cell phone etc. whatever you need to have happen).  set the rules and stick with them or dismiss the client from your space.  as for the coupons-speak with the owner.  if he is so money hungry- you asking to make stipulations on the coupon will be a welcomed suggestion.  such as 'additional charges maybe applied for longer/thicker etc. hair'. (even newspaper ads have stipulations.  since you're taking more product and time to do the hair, it would make sense business wise and work wise.  he'll make more money and hopefully more time would be slotted for this type of client's hair.  the receptionist should inquire whether the client has seen you before and then ask about the length and texture etc of the hair.

so sorry about your dog.....i know how that is as well.

now get involved and don't back down you can DOIT!!!!!

Thanks for the support.  I am in kind of a funk right now.  I too have many great clients that have been loyal to me for years that I enjoy being with.  I try to hold on to that.  And I do plan on telling them this again this holiday season.

I work in an affluent suburb.  Lots of professionals and lots of soccer moms.  I think high maintenance types just go with that territory.  It seems like I've been on quite a run lately though.  I've even had some nice people lately that loved what I did for the first few appointments and then got nitpicky and then stopped coming.  So it makes me wonder if I'm off my game or those people just weren't the right fit for me.

I don't know what to do about the kid problem either.  I have many clients that have great well behaved kids.  Lots of parents seem oblivious to their unruly children.   

doit-

Thank you for being so honest in your thread!  I have enjoyed reading it.  And I think many others have also.  And you know what??  It is so very true.  And I am very sorry about your dog also.  It seems that it all piles up at one time.  Boom there it is!  And burnout hits us so hard in the face.  Do not think I have not felt everything you have so been thru.  And I think it is wonderful that so many caring people have been here to guide you thru this.  So big hugs to you!  Loosing clients are tough.  Sometimes personalities just don't click, but you know in the long run, it is for the best.  So don't beat yourself up.  Some people see a cut or a color and come in from a referral and just don't come back.  We have all had that.  It's like that circle of friend soccer mom thing.  They all want to come to the same person.  Then they see the next soccer mom with a new do and then go try that moms hairdresser out, and off they go.  Then you see them 6 months later.  You care, and that makes a difference.......and that makes you good.  I know you know what I am talking about.  Some people wouldn't even notice they had lost a few clients, let alone talk about it on a talk back board.  Just keep on reaching out, because by sharing here.......you let others know they are not alone and it's ok for them to share too. 

I will share this.  I was feeling kinda down booked solid at the holidays.  Going thru a divorce.  I just couldn't do it one day.  I didn't feel it.  I just did not have it in me to really care if I made the clients happy or not.  I was making them happy.  Kinda like on auto pilot.  But just going thru the motions.  I wasn't as talkative as usual.  So I decided I really needed to leave, as I needed a mental health day.  So I told the mgr I have to go.  She said "Cindy, you can't leave!  You are the only one in here booked solid!"  I said, "I know.  But I just don't care, I don't have it in my.  I hope you understand what I am about to tell you, but I really don't care if I make them happy and that is not fair to them.  I think if one of them complained, I just wouldn't care."  Not that is scary.  She told me I was so very blessed to be in my situation.  I told I knew that, but I just didn't feel it right now.  She said she was not going to let me leave.  I told her, well, I am anyways.  Yes, I know that I was not listening to my mgr, but I also know I was with that company for 16 years, I know what is necessary to serve those clients, I could not give them 100% and as a professional I had to leave.  So she was going to have to deal with it or fire me.  I told her I would call them and rebook them and work them back in.  She gave me a hug and off I went.  A little down time and rest seemed to pull me thru even if it was for an afternoon.

So it's the funk.  You are good at what you do and you care.  So I feel for you.........and you will make it thru this.

Cindy Farr Hester   Asst Moderator

www.behindthechair.com

No matter what you are going to have bad days and clients who drive you insane, there are people who analyze everything, at every point in the cut, funny thing is can they really tell if you are doing it right.  I have always believed that you shouldn't judge a cut or colour or whatever until it's done, it's obviously not going to look perfect halfway through, wait till the end and then speak.  You know something though, when it's hard and you have more clients to do but don't want to, think of the clients you like and the wonderful moments that you have had with your clients, it cheers me up alot when I think it's hard.  When you need a break like was mentioned then take one.....clients will understand and so will your boss (hopefully) no point in burning out and not performing your best.  I hate to say it but all careers have their good days and bad, even students in school do.  There are days that you don't want to do anything and other days where you feel on top of the world.  Sometimes clients don't click with you and that's okay too, to them you weren't what they were looking for and for you they weren't what you wanted as a client...it's normal.  Cheer up, and I'm sorry about your dog too...I love dogs too! Everything will get better in time, and just as a reminder you are in a great career...you get to make people beautiful....and sometimes that comb is a magic wand!

Had a new client that my owner booked for me for a mani, pedi, facial, cut and color......

This person is from India, husband makes big bucks, she has 3 live-ins, blah blah blah!!  She came in at 1:00 with level 2 hair, and proceeded to tell me (I had owner listen in to give advice) that she did not want to look "indian" and wanted her hair light with streaks in it.....Together, the 3 of us decided to highlite HEAVILY her whole head, she had bra length hair one length a chestnut color(by Scruples blazing)....Took 2 hours to foil......while she was processing I did her facial, and pedicure.... After the facial she informed me that in India they did facials differently and she would "teach me how to do a correct facial"  (she snored during facial)after the pedi she informed me that in India they did pedi's different and she would "teach me how to do one correctly"...Did mani, all except painting nails and she informed me.........

anyway, when the foils came off she was very unhappy because she still had more black hair than chestnut hair.  By this time it was 5:30 and we were closing......she informed me that her husband was bringing her twin 8 month old daughters in and I was to cut one twins bangs/////"only take 2 minutes"   Owner said ok, *(trying to please i guess) and in comes husband,  i proceeded to cut twins bangs and after 15 minutes it got her ok....she was very unhappy with color and wanted the shop to stay open so we could highlite more, but owner said NO, she would have to come back....her nanny was there as well and she said she would come to her house to watch twins and the woman said she would return at 9 am.....

asked me what her total would be, i told her the cost of each service and she DEDUCTED THE HAIR COLOR AMOUNT and said she would pay for that when her hair was done properly....

she did not show the next day, owner called and she said sitter did not show up, we could come to her house for the rest of the money...we called her husband and he said he would come by to pay the extra, but in the middle of the afternoon she called and said husband was mad because we called him....she was going to come in as soon as she could to get her hair done, but guess what that was almost 2 weeks ago....

I know i should have gotten all of the money but I really don;t think she would have given it to me......

I am really po'd about this whole business, not to mention my bursitis is KILLING ME!!!! 

anyone else care to top this????

I've had enough rocky experiences with the Indian clientele to cringe whenever I do one.  I'm not meaning to sound racist, but this is just my experience.  (I also recently had an Indian male client who was as nice as he could be).

I've had them question every little thing I was doing, be very abrupt and generally standoffish, scrutinize their hair in the mirror from every possible angle for an awfully long time, complain about how in India haircuts are dirt cheap,  change their mind midstream, or say "Just cut a little all over and then I'll decide if I want more off".  Some have poor English and that's a whole other discussion.   

Ive had indian clients who WONT pay more than $5 for a haircut while working in an african braid shop.  The owners are so busy trying to get the money that they dont realize that the stylists are selling themselves short.  Im not racist either, but its crazy how Im african american and i am told that americans are nothing and america is no good by africans.  Not only that, but they want to pay less than the indians for their services, Then the owner hires anyone from africa, lets them come in and perform chemicals with no licenses, and say that it is okay because they learned to do it in italy.  Then they say that 35 is too much for a relaxer, haircut, condition, and style.  I ask them, well, how much should it cost then? then they get offended.  I caouldnt understand it.  They say that the white man has brainwashed me and now i am spoiled (or no good) and that i shouldnt use white products or do white clients....

Needless to say i ran as fast as my legs would carry me.  I dont even know if the salon is licensed, i know the owner is and she refuses to take continuing education, saying why should she? she already has a license.  Let this be an example of the way I dont want to be when i grow up.....

I've had an Indian client also that wanted me to shave her one year old daughter's head. Then she brought her son in who is 6 and was in his face the entire time I cut his hair. She made a 10 minute cut take 25 and nothing was ever exactly right to her. She wanted his hair no shorter than 2 inches....I just couldn't understand.

So you want to know if I shaved the little girl's hair right? lol...HELL No. I wouldn't. I charge 10 dollars for children under 6 and I can live without that. What got me is that  she wanted the boys hair longer than hers??? and her reason for wanting to shave her head is because it is "too hot" here. Give me break. Lol, thankfully she started going to the girl next to me for her son and gets someone else to buzz the girl.

I'm scared now though from reading the other post...This woman called me 15 min ago (I'm at home on lunch)  and said she has been going to a girl for 20, I repeat 20!!! years and said her stylist said "I don't think you are happy with me...I have to let you go" gave her the formula and out the door.  She said, I LOVE HER??? I am a little worried now lol...this could be a problem on the way..but that's ok. Money is money.

i have decided that when she does call in for me to "do her hair correctly" I am going to say I am sorry, but  I just don't think that I am the stylist for you...as far as the money is concerned, I am not going to drive myself crazy about it.......I really don;t want to ever do her again......she says if she likes a place she is a regular customer and she pays well, but if I saw her name on my book I would go home sick before I did her again!!! 

Why is their behavior so demeaning toward us???  and why do they not want to look like they came from India?>  she said she is the only one in her family with olive skin and black hair, everyone else has fair skin, (they bleach their skin~~~) and have lightened hair?  are they ashamed or what????  I personally don;t ever want to do another one again!!!

Alenal... run fast.  If the other stylist took 20 years to get up the nerve- just imagine what kind of client she is going to be.  Obviously she is NEVER pleased.

As for clients saying #2's and what have you I have news for all stylists:

It is YOUR JOB to COMMUNICATE with your client.  Not GRAB the clippers if they call out a number.  When a client says they want a number #2... yes, some do know what they are talking about- the fact is, all clippers, guards and blades are not all the same.  You must then say, ok.  Do you want it so short that you can see the scalp?  Or not that short?  Keep asking questions and looking at pictures and until you KNOW EXACTLY what they want, do NOT start cutting.  They will appreciate it, they will be educated and they are likely to stay as your client.  Using a longer guard didn't work, because you still didn't know how short the client actually wanted the hair.  So honestly, being the professional, who's fault was it that the hair was too short?  Clients are not professional stylists- they do not know terms, sizes of guards, or color formulas.  Yet so many stylists let clients dictate what is done to their hair.

A lot of stylists don't know that communication is valued more than technical skills.  Don't believe me?  Ask yourself why so many mediocre stylists make 6 figure incomes.  It is because they communicate and create a relationship with their clients.

Salondiva:

I love how clients say " I don't mind paying good money..." as if that is a carrot dangling in front of your face.  They think their money justifies the way the behave.  In reality no money in the world is worth a pain in the ass client.

I learned the hard way about the client & the clipper numbers....this guy asked for #1!!! he really wanted #2 & when I said let me do it with the #2 and we'll see- he poo-ed poo-ed that and told me to use the #1. So how could I know he was clueless? he was so convincing & then he said his hair looked awful & he was going gambling that night & needed his hair to look right and now it didn't.     ???????    wacko.

 If they say #2, then go with #3!! or to be really safe #4. If they ever say #1....don't do it without making sure that this guy knows it will make him pretty BALD!

It's better to take a little off & take more if need be than to take too much and give them the opportunity to bad mouth your haircuts!

Actually it's better to cut scissor and clipper over comb- then prove to them that the haircut looks better and more finely detailed.  That is how you turn a know-it-all client into a loyal gracious one who trusts you and hangs on your every word.  When a new client sits down and says, oh I want a #3.  I simply say "are you happy with your hair"?  If they answer yes, I ask why they are sitting in my chair and not the last person that cut it.  If they say no, I ask why are you asking for the same haircut you always get, if you don't like it?  Then I ask, how long has it been since your last cut?  From that answer I know how much it has grown and I ask was it too long or short last time?  Or was the length just right?  Sometimes these questions tell the client you really care about what you are about to do.  It also shows them how much more knowledgable you are.  When the hair is cut right, no matter how much the talk and fuss- they won't do it again.  Most clients who talk too much and think they know it all have never had a good cut.  Once you prove yourself, they usually shut up.  My guys sit down and either say to me do whatever you want (and I get to be creative) or they ask what I think.  It is how you present yourself as to whether you are taken seriously as a professional or not.

Don't get me wrong, I use clippers (Oster Turbo 111) and I have all the blades.  But I never ever do a clipper cut without first going clipper over comb and going shorter and shorter to determine what length they want.  Then I always finish the cut with scissor and/or blending shear over comb at the end.  It gets rid of hard edges and because all heads are not shaped evenly- gets rid of any dark patchy areas and makes the haircut look a little lived in and less like they went to a barber.

Yes Laura, I have also taken clients aside when I hear them bemoaning their child's hair, e.g. "She has awful thin hair just like mine" or "His father has the same cowlick which makes the hair stand up in the back"...You are right and brave to communicate to them how they are hurting their children's psyches and self-esteem... good for you.

This cowlick business makes me laugh too, usually they are trying to make the hair go back on the crown when it grows forward and they seem amazed when I comb the hair and it goes down. Almost every week I get someone in the chair who wants bangs but has a hairline which grows back or toward each ear in the front. I try to explain that a haircut can't change the fundamental nature of the hair but they often seem amazed. The other one that I love is the client with straight flat hair who wants layers to 'give it fullness'...As if layering the hair will somehow make it lift up at the scalp (or roots, as they like to say)...Too many commercials talking about root-lift products, (even some professional lines refer to root-lift)...Of course as we all know, the roots are under the scalp, so lifting them would be difficult and probably painful too!

Ah yes, parents.  My peeves are the parents that bring their little scamps in while they get a service and bring nothing for their kids to do.  And we know what bored little kids do.  It also bugs me when parents of toddlers totally ignore them.  On Saturday a toddler starting taking stuff off my rollabout.  They were just clippies but sometimes I lay my shears on the top.  Just imagine.  I'm working in an adult environment and my job is not babysitter, especially when the parent is right there.  I also can't stand the hovering parents of older kids.  Jeez, let your kid breathe on their own once in a while is what I want to say.

We have signs up front that say do not leave you children unattended.  But nobody reads or cares about signs do they?  I was in a gift shop recently that had a sign "All unattended children will receive a free kitten".  Love it.  I think we need this sign, "All unattended children receive a pair of newly sharpened shears". 

To doit...

The best way to handle this coupon thing is to not include styling in the deal. It sometimes takes as long, or longer, to blow and style a head of hair, as it does to cut it. Unless it's short or fine hair which can be done in 5-6 minutes it's best to just put them under the dryer to dry off. Blow-drying and styling long hair is too much hard work to include in a color deal. Perhaps it should be cut OR blow-styling included, but not both. The salon owner should see the sense in this too after all he/she has to absorb the product (color) cost too, so there's not much profit being made. If the client has to pay for the 'extra' service, everybody makes out better.

To runs with scissors...

Mousse does not weigh the hair down, it evaporates and provides weightless body actually, it's gel that weighs the hair down because it doesn't 'dissappear' like mousse.

Back to the true meaning of this "thread"

I am new to BTC-Hello

A bad day for me consists of the following, and all of these things have happened to me.  After 2 years of gaining experience in a busy, low end salon.    I will be opening my own salon in the near future

-yes I agree with the children coming into the salon. We used to have these blocks the kids used to play with while waiting for their parents.  The would all smash together in the plastic container and make this noise that would drive me insane. Needless to say, I put those blocks where they belonged...in the garbage. They were probably covered on germies anyways.  Now we have educational books for them to read, and everything is quiet. I guess when they arent screaming.

-once, I was cutting this mothers hair, as her little daughter grabbed all my stuff and asked "whats this?"  "whats this" GRRRR! her mother wasn't saying anything, so I told the girl to read a book, or play with blocks...or whatever was there at the time.  The little girl didnt go away, and the mother still wasn't saying anything!! The little girl picked up my hand mirror, and as I was telling her to put it down, she dropped it and it smashed into pieces all around her. Her mom finally said something....."watch our for the glass sweetie" no sorry, no nothing. Its hard to control yourself in a situation like this. Somehow I did.

-my station, right beside the waiting room = people sitting and staring at every move I make, and listening to every word I say.

-once I caught a guy masterbating under the drape.  Need I say more? 

Thats all for now!!!

Welcome to the BTC Talk Back Boards!  We look forward to your participation!

Cindy Farr Hester  Asst Moderator

www.behindthechair.com

Having a high price for children's haircuts is very effective, only a handful of people will pay premium for their kid's haircuts. So you wil be able to edge them out without looking negative towards children. It worked for me, you wouldn't believe how many people dragged their rambunctious children out of the salon when I told them what I charge for kidcuts.

Yes, a child's cut that takes time should be charged for the time, not just an arbitrary 'Kids' price.

It always amazes me when people, (both men and women) ask me "how much do you charge for a man's cut"? Of course I always answer "The same as a woman's", which is not only the law in California but the only sensible reply. I just don't know how hairstylists who are cutting a female client's hair for $40.00 e.g. can tell a male that his cut will be $25.00. Can you imagine a restaurant doing that? Or a dentist? Even women, calling for men ask the same question. How stupid and pathetic can you get?

Incidentally, I understand that there's a private Member's bill in the Ontario (Canada) legislation to make illegal the price difference.

Tayalynn, I TOTALLY agree with what you're about those darn kids! They are crazy!!! I had one who was I suppose was about 3 or 4. His mother brought him in, sat him in my chair, and promptly left. She went to the other side of the side to look at the  retail area. She just strolled through the salon looking at everything while her son jumped all over the place and screamed. Every now and then, she would pop back around the corner to yell at him to be quiet, then she was off again! One of the receptionists came over to occupy him while him while I was cutting, and she gave him my spray bottle to play with. After I had to catch him in midair to keep from cutting him, me or the receptionist, AND after 20 minutes of lifting him back up in the chair, I said that's it. I told him mom to come and get him, because by then, we were all soaking wet, and I was tired of chasing him. She had the nerve to tell me his hair wasn't the way she wanted it, the receptionist told her "too bad", if you wanted it a certain way, then YOU should have been over here not me, and she can't cut what she can't your kid's head still long enough to see.

And speaking of being sick of people, what about clients who are 30 mins or more late for their  appt, and get an attitude when you call to find out if they are coming?

One of the nail techs in our salon had a regular customer who was really late, so she had the receptionist call her on her cell to see if she was still coming. The young lady called the client, and the client said she was right outside. When she did come in, all hell broke loose! She can in screaming at the girl at the desk, telling her how dare she call her on her cell to ask her where she was. She went over to the pedicure area, and really showed off! At first I couldn't hear everything because I was in the supply closet. Then I heard "That little b**** has no business calling me, a f*** her !" The receptionist went over there to let her know that she heard her, meanwhile, the nail tech wasn't sayng anything beacause she thought it was funny. Finally the idiot decided to quiet down, and finish getting her service. At the end when she was leaving, instead of just paying and going she started again with the receptionist. She needed to make another appointment, but she did not want the receptionist to do it, so she went off again. I had had enough of her, so I called the receptionist back to my station and told her to have a seat. I walked around to the front desk and looked dead at her and asked her when would she like her next appointment. It's amazing how quiet she got and how much the attitude changed. I guess she picked up on the look in my eyes and on my face, because unlike our receptionist, I was not 17 years old, and I was NOT having it! What I got was, "OK dear, thank you so much!"

The next step would have calling security, or somebody choking her!

stylediva,

you just let her re-book after that display? Didn't you let her know that she was now on shaky ground because she was way out of line and that you did not appreciate, nor would tolerate  anyone speaking in that language in your salon?

Whoopie-doo! every client acts more respectful to the owner even in boothrental salons. Out of respect for the poor receptionist (who by the way was doing her job well.) I would have asked the client AND the nail tech to apologize to the receptionist. and I would have informed the client that is she ever shows that kind of attitude to anyone in that salon again she would be out the door and never welcomed back.

And finally: if the salon wasn't to call her on her cell- then why was the number provided to the salon?

how incredibly RUDE. 

Well, I can't stand people that contradict themselves.