Don't get me wrong, My clients are usually great, but I have one single client who makes me question my level of ability to do hair every time she comes in. She makes it hard to concentrate on other clients the day she is booked because I worry about her newest low blow to my work. Every time I do her hair she loves it until she gets home, she also brings her teen daughter in too and her daughter will love her hair when she leaves, but her mother will go home and tell her how bad it looks and want it re-done!!  The problem is for two years+ She and her daughter have gotten their haircolor, highlight, and cuts, re-done almost every time they come in.  It is costing me time and money. I have tried to tell her in a professional manner that I cannot make her happy, and that she can try a different stylist,  but that was two years ago and she is still coming in. I finally broke down and started charging her for the re-do, but the first time I did, she walked out and did not pay!UGH!!! I don't know what to do, but she clouds my dream of being a happy, creative, sucessful, hair artist. How do I "Break Up" with this client?

Would you all just grow up please?

Simply tell anyone that you do not want to work on, that you do not want their business any more and you would appreciate it if they would go elsewhere and not call you any more. It's as simple as that. If you need to, just post a sign that says "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone we choose, including you... so be nice".

It's your time, your life, your career, just throw the troublemakers out, you'll never regret it, but if you don't, you'll regret it every time they call.

i would add to this:
by continuing to redo the hair services you are confirming what she is complaining of as if something were truly 'wrong' as well as furthering her control over YOU.   Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt- break that cycle now and let the appointment slot be filled by a new client.
send this client a nicely phrased note saying you won't be able to assist her with her hair needs any longer.  'thanks for your business in the past' and 'best wishes'.  then DO NOT take another appointment from her.  DO NOT.

britboy is 100% right!! Be honest and just tell them you can't afford to keep them as clients.

Good Luck

This was my first time on the board and I want to thank you all for the replys to my question. I actually called my client back, because of course, she wanted her daughters hair re-done after her service last week. I was waiting on the responses before I called her and in the meantime, she left me five voicemails in one day. CRAZY I ended up calling her and letting her know the truth.  The constant cancellations, re do's and negative attitude are no longer welcome in our salon. She was speechless for the first time ever. finally she responded with, well you know as well as I do that every time you do my hair there is something wrong with it. I, Politely as possible told her that there were no problems with her hair and that she needs to understand she is the only client who constantly has a problem with what I do. I also told her That it is really hard to work on someone who questions your ability  every time they come in. I ended the conversation with have a nice day goodbye!   After that it felt as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. 

thanks again, Heather

Congratulations Heatherorchid-it took a lot of inner strength to do that and good for you!

Well done Heather, now you feel better, right?

Just dump anyone who you don't really enjoy in your chair, life's too short to do it any other way. I can tell you that I do not ever go to work dreading anyone on my book, I simply won't allow them in, it's just as simple as that. This trade isn't anything serious, it's just hair-bending, it's really not important enough to let the bad apples, whiners, troublemakers, complainers, constant latecomers, bad check writers and malcontents get you down...just say NO.

It takes an unbalanced person to continue to patronize the same stylist if there is consistently a "problem" with her (or his) hair afterward. Nobody in their right mind would keep going to the same stylist if that were the case.

Heatherorchid, you are well rid of this woman. Kudos to you for drawing your line in the sand.

"The truth is incontrovertible; malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is."
Winston Churchill

Sorry it took a minute to reply, forgetful me, i forgot my pasword!?@$#  Anyhow, what a breath of fresh air to start this week knowing that crazy client would not be calling me anymore.  You don't realize until you have been in this type of situation how stressful it is. Thanks to all of you, I am sane again, and back to the art of hair. I LOVE MY JOB!!!!!! 

Thank you BTC members,  Heather

People like this need to be let go. Let them be someone elses problem. We are professionals and deserve to be treated as such. Any doctor or other professional would of kicked them to the curb. I have been in your spot before-many times. Seems many women and men have emotional issues and need to see a psychologist, not a hairstylist.

I  have many, and I mean many, GOOD, LOYAL, on time clients who are happy and pay my price without regret .

Time is money. Your time is valuable. When it is wasted, you gain nothing. Like the others said on this board, a new client can fill her spot and whoever else is related to her.

This should make you feel better. Here are my rants for the day, as posted on my blog. ENJOY!

 PERSONALLY DELETED DUE TO BANDWITH EXCEEDED

sorry my font was HUUUUGE in that post. I have no idea what made it big...lol

Everything on that list has happened either recently or in the past. I would never post it in the salon or on a "salon website". Its purpose was to "vent". Some days I wonder why people have to be rude and ignorant. I have more good clients than bad. I am grateful for that and that is what keeps me going.

i LOVED THE LIST, and I think we have all had a few on the list.  I actually think it would be a great funny thing to put in the dispensary for the staff to add their crazy moments too!! I know the staff at my salon would probably enjoy it.

heather