Saturday, January 10, 2009

A few things you shouldn't do when going to get your hair done...



When I started this blog I wanted to write about something that I knew about. I wanted to give advice and thoughts on a topic that was important to me. This isn't a mommy blog since I don't have kids, and this isn't a craft blog since I only really knit. This blog is about my life and the things I have going on and one of the biggest things in my life, besides Lincoln, is my job. I have been doing hair now for almost ten years. The title of the blog is in regards to the changes in my life with my new husband, but it also has to do with hair stuff. Get it? The "split ends" part of the title. Anyway, I work a ton and I have a ton of things that I want to say about how people look, how they think they should look and how to get the look you want. I know this topic may seem lame to some of you, but give me a chance. The things my clients tell me would make a prostitute blush. I have been through some very interesting situations with my job. But, let me get back to the true meaning of this post. I wanted to write a few things you should never do when going in to get your haircut. It is a comb people, not a magic wand. Help us, help you. Having good hair is a huge deal, don't make it hard to achieve by making some common mistakes. These are in no particular order. They are all important to remember.


1. When talking to your hairstylist don't look them in the eye, look at them through the mirror. This may seem weird, but we are working on the back of your head. If you turn around to look at us we will either cut your hair funny or cut our finger. Even if you are describing to us the latest concerns with your anal leakage and looking us in the eye might help the dramatic effect, we can still achieve maximum gross out even with you looking at us through the mirror.

2. We do want to have a sense of comfort and understanding with our clients, but there is such a thing as TMI. The anal leakage story actually happened to me just this week. I had no words of comfort to give my client. I just didn't know what to say. For some reason, I can wash someone's hair bring them back to my chair and the flood gates open. They tell me everything about themselves. I don't mind at all, actually I find it comforting that they trust me so much. But I do think there is a line that many of my clients have crossed, and after that happens it is very hard to go back. For example, telling my that they are cheating on their spouse when their spouse is another one of my clients, telling me something humiliating about their child when I also do their childs hair. Stuff like that, oh, and embarasing medical stuff that I know nothing about. These things don't necessarily effect the end results of your hair service, unless you are the client cheating on my other client. It just helps to not shock your stylist with some unwanted news while they are trying to concentrate.

3. Never ever come in saying this, "I really want a change, but I don't want you to take off a lot of length, and I really don't want any layers or bangs and I don't want you to color it either." Ok, well, then can I suggest you go shopping for new clothes or makeup, cause we can't make any changes with those rules. Come into a salon with a open mind. If you really want a hair change, don't set up boundaries, let them actually give you that change you are looking for.

4. Don't come in with a hoodie or turtleneck on! I have had clients wear these huge scarves to the salon and wanted to keep them on while I did there hair. If there is a huge bulge on your back or around your neck, expect the cut to be uneven. Along the same lines, don't wear your most expensive clothes when you are going in for a color service. Even if I have my clients wear a smock and a cape I still worry if they come in wearing cashmere. It just isn't worth the worry that it might get something on it. After all, we are working with dyes and bleach...

5. Don't touch your hair or have a spaghetti neck while your stylist is working on your hair. There is nothing worse than a client who can't keep her fingers out of her hair when you are working with it. The partings and sections are for the haircut. If you touch it and flip it around before we are done, our sections will get lost and the haircut might be ruined. On another note, there are so many people who talk with their heads. They move it around from side to side to better explain their story. This generally doesn't bother me since I usually just hold their head still while I am working, but there are some people who move around so much they make my job very difficult. Especially if you are getting a weaving. The color needs to be applied carefully so that it doesn't get on the scalp. If you move around like a bobble head, you may mess things up.

I know these suggestions may seem harsh or I might seem like I am nitpicking, but they are for your benefit. I can keep it cool when someone tells me more than they should, and I can give suggestions to cleints who are stuck in a rutt. This isn't about your hairdresser, it's about you. You can go to the best stylist in the world, but if you don't know how to be a good client, then you might not be getting all that you could out of your hair service.

9 comments:

Stephy said...

AHHHHH! That is so funny! You have already helped me "relax in the chair!" Anal leakage, YUCK!

Margo said...

Mallory, You are hilarious. I am totally laughing out loud. You always have a way to make me laugh. I hope I am a good client. love ya...

Alex said...

So funny. I dont think I could ever do peoples hair...I would be rather rude about their problems. Or throw-up.

cec said...

Anal leakage? E-gad. (I actually know what that IS, more's the pity. Is she taking Alli?) I am happy to report that I am largely free of such faux pas with my hairdresser, although he might disagree.

I enjoyed talking with you guys last night. Please don't take what we said too seriously. It's just all part of the family baggage we all deal with. But I do get discouraged at times. (Which is why i knit!!)

We love you!

Cec

Sarah Heder said...

I love this post! Please do more posts like this. I am always curious what the person cutting my hair is thinking of me and how I'm acting. How do you feel about clients who don't really want to talk? Sometimes I hate trying to make conversation with my hair person. Also, I am guilty of only one thing on your list --- #4. I just got my hair cut in Utah during vacation and I had a sweater on that was like a coat (kind of) --- it had a big collar. The hair guy asked me to take it off and I said I was cold and wanted to leave it on, I didn't know he NEEDED me take it off. I feel so bad! He should have told me but I guess that would have been weird for him. Oh well! Oh, and seriously, I can't believe some of the stuff your clients tell you! Geez!

Unknown said...

First of all, hello, knitting is totally cool and definetly worth blogging about. I want to see some of your projects because Chris got me knitting lessons at this cute knitting shop here for Valentine's day.
Second of all, I love this post too. I can't believe someone told you about that leaking thing. *dry heave* How in the world did you respond to that! I always feel like I should talk more to my stylist because I usually don't have too much to say. Plus I usually ask them questions about themselves. Does that make you uncomfortable? I just feel weird talking about myself the whole time. Or at all. What a looser. Anyway, I think that is funny that people try and look you in the eye while getting a weave. I have to say, hairstylists like you are one in a million. I still wish we could fly to Ohio every few months for a cut and color! Ha! Maybe I'll win the lottery. Miss you!! Love you!! And the card attached would say, thank you for being a friend...too!

whitney williams said...

Sooo Funny!! Do you like it when people say "do what ever you want?" Last time I had my hair done, the girl nxt to me said that to her stylist and the stylist looked like she was irritated because the girl offered no help to guide her. All she would say is I don't care.

Unknown said...

Lane went to the salon on Sat to get her hair cut and I immediately thought of you, of course! She LOVES to go to the salon and asked to wear her fanciest dress. I told her it wasn't a good idea, and that it might get hair all over it. She insisted and said "Mom, it's okay, they have smacks there." (I can only assume she meant smock???) Anyway, I don't think she broke any of your rules. She just sat there thinking she was the most beautiful thing while the hairstylist did her hair. It was pretty funny. She loves to pretend she is a hairstylist. I think she thinks it is the most glamorous profession in the world.

Stacey and Brody Miller said...

Hey just found your blog from Margo. You are now on my list to check out. I loved this post...I have always noticed if you have a job working with general public anything can happen and anything will be said. Keep up the good work!