Dear idahoali-

I am sorry you had such a bad day!  Don't worry we have all had them.  Those are the day that I just want to go home and say you know what I think I am having an off day.  Kinda makes you nervous the rest of the day - if you can get out of there - do!  But, don't worry, we have all had bad days.  I don't wax - but just guessing - maybe she had a scar or somthing?  As for the mole - well it happens.  It's gross and sad, but thank goodness we catch 99% of them.  All you can do is say you are so sorry.  And mean it.  We are practicing the art of hairstyling, waxing, etc.  We are not perfect.  You did not mean to do either of those things.  It sounds as if the clients were nice - so off you go.  Head held high you go back into the trenches and hope that this was your off day for quite some time.  Please don't beat  yourself up about this. :)

Cindy Farr Hester   Asst Moderator

Thanks for the kind words. I certainly hope I've gotten my bad day done for a long time too!  (I have to point out I didn't catch a mole on my haircut client, I actually put a Hole in the cut - nape section). 

I almost feel like I'm sabotaging, or second guessing myself because I just agreed to join a new salon that's more upscale than my current location, charges more, etc.  I'm nervous and have to admit feeling a bit unworthy.  I know I need to work on my confidence, then something like yesterday happens and YIKES!

Anyway, thanks again for the words of encouragement.  I have to focus on all my clients that love their hair and learn from my mistakes when they happen!

So glad that I'm not the only one having a rough week. Doesn't happen a lot, but when it does....   I think that as stylists, we pour ourselves into our work, and when we mess up, or make a mistake it becomes about us. Well, it does for me anyway. Hang in there. There are no mistakes, only discoveries.

I am a cosmetology student and the other day I had to do a facial on a client. The thing is I haven't done a facial on a live client AT ALL. I only did the facial on another student when i was learning it. I managed to get a copy of my sheet with my intructions on it. and i managed to get through it but now i feel like i can do one because the thing i thought was so hard is the easy thing to do. I also have trouble with manicures and pedicures- MAINLY PEDICURES!!!! I am scared of hurting or doing something to the client.IT IS NERVE WRACKING.  I get nervous when i have clients!!!!!! but it also depends on the service too. but man am i a wreck when it comes to clients. any advice on how to deal?  

Better days will come for u at the salon. Its just one of those days where everything goes wrong!!! I've had those myself at school and work.

When I was a student (I still cringe at this event) I was doing a full facial shave for the first time in my life, and it was on a live man!  Yes, a real breathing one...before that we had practiced on water filled balloons and our own legs, arms etc  - to get the feel of the "cut-throat razor" (aptly named) that we had learned to hone and strop to a fine edge.   

My client was a teacher at the college and was donating his time for the students to perfect their...talents...? Yup, doing well, getting overly confident and right under the jaw I "created" a gash/flap/slash whatever you want to call it ...THE BLOOD WAS GUSHING!!    I was horrified!  I had to scream and leave (had not been taught any different) but my instructor wasn't letting up, he came and found me hiding in the locker room, with tears rolling down my face he dragged me back to the salon.  I was mortified that I actually had to face this MAN AGAIN!  I was told to clean him up, apologize and get the bleeding stopped, then finish the shave.  Besides, this man could not leave looking like THAT, or I'd never touch another razor again.  After the lesson, the instructor asked if I really thought I was the only one to have ever done that, and the best way to deal with it is professionally, and get over it.  He made me take the next client available to get through the bad feeling of "it could happen again" - it will he said, but maybe not today - and I did a great job!  

We ALL have days that we just don't concentrate enough or get overly confident, or are too tired, whatever the reason it reflects on our work.  How you handle the client is up to you when you make on error, but believe me they don't think you meant to do it if you apologize sincerely and try your best to make things right!  

This is another example of the fact that we as stylists are not perfect, I HAD to share it though, I hope there is no blood involved with your next "learning experience"!...OR MINE!!!!!

OK, I had a client today who was booked for a color then a crown highlight, haircut and a deep conditioner.

I had another client I was doing highlights on as well. while her color was processing...30 minutes I was finishing up the other lady's highlights. I finished my other's  highlight and went to check on her color, (an assistant applied it which is standard practice.) When I got back there she told me sha had to leave in 2 hourz. I said in 2 hours? I cannot do your whole head highlight, and this color, cut and style in 2 hours there is just no way

OMG, right in front of the other client she went off told that client to get out of my chair, that I "had" to finish her first. I almost died.

I told her no she was not getting up that she needed to sit down and be patient and she still had to have a deep conditioner.

She was loud, rude, and arrogant,

I was stressed out by the time she left. 

i hate those days where you wake up and everything feels like its going 2 be a great perfect day and then you walk into work and it goes down hill from there. recently my salon hired a new girl. in plain words shes useless. im sorry i know thats mean but its true. she is always messing things up. she was a receptionist before she came to my salon. so she knows how to do things. or so we all thought. she sits on her phone, shes on her laptop doing homework, or just sitting around reading magazines. and i work at a laid back salon but honestly!! everyone hates her EVEN my bosses. i dont understand!! i hear her name i or look at her and its instant annoyance!! how do you train someone to pick up on things? she doesnt seem to want to listen and learn from us. I have been here a year and i know the ropes at my salon. we tell her not 2 do things but yet she still does them. again how do we get her to listen and be professional? shes 24 and newer to the business. i guess i just dont understand. im only 19 and i have a better work ethic than her. please help!!

do you rely on her as part of the job you do?is she the receptionist, or a hairdresser?basically, if she is a fellow stylist, try to ignore her, what she does has got nothing to do with you,and she will eventually be gone.but if you need her to do her job correctly in order to do your job, then talk to your boss and point out how much she is disturbing the flow in the salon. if everybody complains about her lack of motivation and how poorly her attitude reflects on the image of the salon, the boss will have to wake up and find a replacement..

its great that you have good work ethics, don't let her bring you down. take the high road.good luck!