Micro-managed by the Client

This is the worst!! First they bring their own product. Then they tell the assistant exactly how to wash their hair and the temperature of the water. The rinsing must be done "just so". The stylist must then forget everything they know about doing hair and do it like the robot this client hopes you will become!! 


She would like to program you and push "OK" and expect you to perform." You need to get more moisture out of the hair before adding her product. You need to get it closer to the root. You aren't getting enough on hair!! You are getting too much on the hair!! Oh great!! Now you will make the hair flat." And then you may hear " Please have the assistant re-shampoo ME. "


"The heat is too hot from the blow dryer. Now it isn't hot enough. This will never do. OH. You can't use that kind of brush. Don't you have another? Can I get something read? Do you think I could get some coffee. Not too much milk. Oh, and a glass of water. With lemon." 


What should I do with this kind of client? I have in instances given these to another stylist. Once you do that you can be relieved. You just tell them that "Jo Stylist" is much better with her type of hair and you have her best interests at heart. And sometimes you just hope for the best hoping they will quit being so difficult!! This can happen. And then they are happy like your best friend when it is all said and done. Which will make you feel like a super-star or just fatigued!! 


Keep in mind that when a client acts like this it usually has nothing to do with the hair. It has to do with control issues or something else. I have had hair for a long time and  have never acted like this. It is fine for a client to have requests. Some things work better for them than other things. It is crazy for them to think they have to "run the show".

I Miss Doing Hair

If I am not doing hair then I wish I was. If I am having a bad day I wish that I never had to do hair again!! It is a love-hate relationship. 

Check your ego at the door!!

I am going to respond to a comment by jdstein4. It makes her crazy being in a salon with big egos. This too makes me crazy!! I have always been a very grounded stylist. I don't think I am better than I am. I know my limitations but I am always trying to be better.


 I would love for people to get honest on this blog. Maybe you are one of those stylists that knows you are aren't that great but keeps up the posturing anyway. Tell us why you do that so we can understand. I am hoping everyone who visits this site can relax and be open. The more open the dialog the better the understanding. A better understanding means a friendlier workplace.

I have worked with a ton of stylists (and have been a client of stylists) that say they are fabulous and can do all kinds of things and then I see what they do and it is far from great. In some instances it is far from just OK. I think there are 2 scenarios going on here. 

#1- They have to act like they are great or they would just go home and curl up and never leave the house. Sometimes false confidence is necessary. It is the only way a person can fool themselves into thinking they can do something. I have seen a lot "blow-hards" and it's funny how many people they can fool!! Sometimes just saying it is enough to make it true. They become platform artists or a celebrity stylist. It cracks me up!!


 I have corrected several haircuts from internationally known stylists. The client did not want to go back even though they had spent 300 or more on a cut. They didn't want to go back because the attitude of the stylist was so terrible they couldn't!! I have also seen some really whack cuts that the client brags about because Mr. Hotshot did it. It truly is a case of the Emperor Has No Clothes.


I once worked with a stylist that would constantly say how great he was. But he kept coming to me for help. I had to teach him how to do a French roll among other things. I saw him struggle through Kathy Hiltons hair on a New Years Eve at the salon. It was just a blow-out!! Her hair isn't difficult and she is a very nice lady. But he could not do her hair. Talk about embarrassing. I was embarrassed for him. All that talk and not enough action!! He cut all the receptionists' hair because they thought he must be good because he kept saying he was!! They all complained afterwards. I guess they didn't tell each other they were unhappy. They told the stylists because we had to fix it!!

OR #2-They really are that good!! I find that if this is the case then most people keep their mouths shut. They have nothing to prove and don't need to go shouting it to the world. I respect these stylists. These are the real stylists. These are the people that has their talent stand alone. No posturing. No production. They get the job done it looks beautiful and thats it. 


The bad thing about this is that it doesn't usually get noticed because they aren't out "honking their own horn." So I think many times the real talent in this business is not recognized. That is why we see average getting so much praise. 

A little self-promotion is a good thing. Too much self-promotion makes you look like an ass!!! But many of those asses are laughing all the way to the bank!!

Hellllloooooooo??? Is there anybody out there?

Blogs are hard. You can't tell if people have visited unless they comment. I do appreciate my comments from hcg. Thank-you.

 So you can have all kinds of traffic and not know it. So basically it boils down to this: I may just be a crazy person talking to herself! I may even be crazier to think I am not and that people actually are visiting!!

There are a lot of frustrated people in the world but I think those in personal services take the cake. The general public demands a lot from us.

I have had sleepless nights due to stress from management, receptionists, clients, assistants, coworkers. I know you do too. Please get it off your chest. Let's give each other advice on how to improve  situations we are in. There is always a better way to get along in the workplace.
We can be happier!!!