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!!
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.
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!!
ego is a great subject to blog! mainly because there are so many ways to look at it!
ReplyDeletei my 24yrs in this business,ive come across about every personality possible! id say that the key to this subject is perception. as a virtual career high end resort stylist,most of my perspective is from that point of view.
in the resort envirnment there is already a perception that you must be pretty good or you wouldnt be there. so a big ego is overkill! you just end up looking silly to your coworkers! a subtle but very friendly confidence is what you need. its a different package that makes you successful in the resort world than in a local salon setting.
for me, as the author of this blog states.i am not the greatest hair cutter. my updos and even general styling may be considered good at best? but with that said, i consider myself exceptional at what i do! be a successful resort hair stylist.
as we all know in this business. and if you dont you should! a great personality along with adequate skills,will kick ass over someone with crazy great skills and a shitty personality!like it or not? its true!!
out in the world of local salons. it is a highly competitive,dog eat dog world! if you're good, you should gradually get clientele. but this is were i have sympathy for those out there trying to distinguish themselves from the pack. self promoting, boasting of skills that may or may not exist? or even the taboo being cut throat with your fellow workers? because there is no reason a client should walk in off the street and choose YOU to be their stylist. ya have to make yourself at least SEEM to be desirable! what a stressful,painstaking thing all that is! unless you have that natural ability to self promote! including all the good things AND lousy things you have to do? your coworkers might still think your a big goof? but your likely going to be more successful than someone sitting on their hands hoping for a call?
which brings me to when a local bread stylist tries to cross over to the resort world. this may help future stylists considering this move?
it can be a great career move for people with the rite temprament. accepting that you are an employee of the resort! there are strict rules! DEFINATLY CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR! and generally accept that it is what it is!
in return, youll likely work in the most beautiful envirnment you ever have! your income will be certainly better than average! and when you go to the Dr.? THEY PAY FOR THAT SHIT!!! over the years, stylists have attempted the crossover. having been used to coming and going as they please. being in charge of the clients instead of the other way around! and worst of all, having to make yourself seem better than the rest! the inability to let go of these traits will ensure your doom in a resort! "im not gonna put up with clients complaining to get their money back!" "im not gonna sit around till 7:00 if i dont have a client!" "if i wanna wear flipflops and pajamas to work im going to!"or the worst!"im gonna do whatever i can to take customers for myself cuz its about #1!"....all or any of these additudes will ensure you a ticket out of there! or a miserable time while your there! so whats the golden rule? YOU GOTTA GO ALONG TO GET ALONG!
ive personally thrived and enjoyed all the perks of the resort envirnment for 22yrs using that philosophy. the good definatly out weighs the bad! but i understand and sympathize with the struggles many stlyist have. its just not for everyone?
moral of the story? for many, ego and false confidence is a nessesity! but its too bad,cuz to most others in the industry you look like an idiot!
I Agree w/alot of what is said about egos but as a professional in a #1 salon in our area and 25 yrs under my belt it has been my experience that you can be a good stylist w/ the best personality and be successful very successful because clients enjoy the stylists conversations some time we stylist are the only people that can make that client feel good about themself inside and out... but it has also been my experience that you can have more updo, cutting, product knowledge than any of you peers and your arrogance make you impossible to be around when your constantly correcting coworkers (Just because they dont do it your way doesnt make them wrong)clients pick up on it and believe it or not jo blow public isnt impressed w/ your ego so this personality flaw will hold you back in the fact theres not enough room for more than 1 diva at you work station and thats the client and eventually you wont even be part of breakroom conversations because your coworkers wont stick around when you walk in the breakroom then only thing they will want to partake in that is related to Mrs. ego is making mrs. ego the BUTT of their Jokes!!!
ReplyDeleteall true from jdstein. i had a coworker for about a year not long ago. he was a stylist that seemed to come from being a big fish in a little pond. a pond that unfortunatly dried up!
ReplyDeletehe came to work with an additude that screamed "I DESERVE THE BEST! THE REST OF YOU CAN WATCH, BUT GET OUTA THE WAY"! he stomped on toes from day one! now i used the term big fish loosely because this was a little man! so i imagined all his life having to scream out for attention! and that he did....
there wasnt a trick that he didnt try. he rustled every salon employee that could hopefully give him an edge into his chair for a "real haircut"? he "decorated" his station to look like something from little Italy! tried to use a leopard print cape. and used every silly looking platform artists waste of time technique that weve all seen and giggled at! you dont even want me to go into the wardrobe variations! between the little man syndrome, and being oblivious to the go along to get along policy? "to cool for school" was a powder keg waiting to blow!
one by one his antics were being squashed! by the end he was reduced to just a hair stylist. and that went against everything hes ever known! hed become a fish out of water. his enthusiasm turned to rebellion! and eventually......BA BYE!
now believe it or not? i personally had no problem with this fellow. actually he was mostly offensive to the women coworkers! there were 2 things i understood. one was that this behavior was all that he knew! it was nessesary to excel in the envirnment hed come from! to distinguish himself from all the others around him. he was never wired for the the envirnment he walked into? the resort SERVICE industry.
the second thing was his antics posed no threat.it was like a 10yr old standing on a chair yelling "LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME!" or im gonna stomped my feet until you do!! if you need to call your mom each day for her to tell you ur a handsome,talented,wonderful boy!(no eggageration)you know under all the bravado is a scared little guy.
so i looked past the nonsense and saw that he was just doing what he knew how to do? and we stuck to things we shared in common.
the moral of the story? this young man learned the hard way! check your ego! do good work! and have respect for your coworkers! i believe people deserve a second chance. good luck to him......