- If you need to cancel an appointment last minute, remember that, depending on the stylist’s books and their weekly schedule, they may be fully booked already and getting a spot with them that same week may be impossible. Try not to get upset with your normal stylist for not being able to squeeze you in. As a side-note, asking your stylist to work extra hours and come in on their day off specifically for you is never a good way to convince someone to help you… trust me.
- Try not to be late. As simple as this sounds, it is one of a stylist’s biggest nightmares. When they’re limited on time because you really needed that extra afternoon latte from Starbucks, it makes everyone involved grumpy. You’ll feel rushed and won’t get the extra attention you deserve and the stylist will have to hurry through a service that would normally take an extra 15 minutes. Things happen and incidents come up. Five minutes here or there won’t cause a coronary, but try to keep your stylist in the loop; call the salon or spa and let your service provider know that you’re running behind. If you’re more than 15 minutes late, know that you may need to reschedule. Service providers simply cannot run over into another person’s appointment because the previous client showed up at 3:45 instead of 3:15. If something happens that throws off your schedule, take a deep breath and assess the situation. Reschedule if needed and then go ahead and grab that double-shot latte… and a cupcake while you’re at it, you courageous thing.
- Don’t be rude to the person at the desk. Sure, there are some lousy customer service reps out there and I’ve talked with a good handful of them in my time, but if the person over the phone or at the front desk is genuinely trying to help and be polite, you should do the same. It’s perfectly okay to be upset about something. Yelling obscenities in someone’s ear is not.
In spite of everything, there are always bad apples. On occasion, you’ll be faced with a service provider who actually did a less-than-desirable job or one who is really and truly awful to their clients. Speak up. Calmly tell the manager that you were unhappy with what transpired and, more often than not, they’ll help rectify the situation and let you come in free of charge to correct any mistakes that were made.
To all of the stylists, nail techs, estheticians and massage therapists out there, what kinds of advice would you give to your clients? As for the rest of you lovelies, is there anything that you would want to ask or tell your service provider if you had the chance?
Featured image via Shutterstock
Thanks for the article, especially the part about how your hair is NEVER going to look like a celebrity- that is a hard pill to swallow! I always wanted the Jennifer Aniston “Rachel” back in the day. I have super thick, super coarse hair and it just wasn’t going to happen. I ended up looking like a Scottish Terrier trying to look like Rachel. It wasn’t good.
I have a question, I have asked it many times, of many different people but I feel like you will give me a straight answer. How much should you tip? Should you tip the same as you would a server in a restaurant? I typically tip 20% plus a little more during Christmas or if she has worked me into the schedule, or I am just squealing with delight because I love my new do! Would love anyone’s comments on this. Thanks!
Generally speaking, a good tip is anywhere from 15-20% for your hairstylist, nail tech, massage therapist or esthetician; this depends mainly on how satisfied you were with your visit. I always hate telling people how much to tip, but since you asked, I thought I’d give you a straight answer.
If you were unsatisfied with any services, let them know right away so they can fix it. Usually, they can do it right then and there, unless it’s some sort of corrective color (brunettes going red or blonde or very dark from very light); most stylists are in no way offended if you ask them to fix a specific part of the cut or style. They’d much rather make sure you’re happy in one visit than you having to trek all the way back in. At that point, you can tip them as you see fit.
Good questions! It sounds like you have a great stylist! Happy styling!
The last point made me uncomfortable, as a woman who is very self conscious of her (sometimes) scabby dermatitus scalp and which I try every treatment out there for, I would like to think I too, can visit a hair salon to feel great about myself and not feel prejudiced against or told to see a doctor.
Indefinitely understand your concern. I never want to book massages because, over the last year of no longer being able to be on BC, the skin on my back often will break out heavily, despite medications and topical products. When I mentioned a problem on your scalp, I meant something that has sprung up recently, something new and something that you’re a bit wary of. If you don’t know what it is, get it checked out. If its an ongoing condition, it’s completely understandable! Just let stylist know that you’re aware if it. Most likely, it will not bother them in the least to take you as a client, so long as you come in with a happy, smiling face!
After years of stylists that told me my hair was unhealthy and a one inch trim would have to be like five, I avoided them for two years until I finally caved and found my current stylist. He admitted that the ‘unhealthy’ line had been rubbish and that a lot of stylists just didn’t want to deal with very long hair. I’ve been going to him for almost a year now and he is amazing! I think that I’m done with switching stylists.
I never go back to the same stylist anymore. I have fine, pin-straight, wont hold body to save its life, dark brown hair. I always leave (no matter who’s been snipping it) feeling that they were just so unimpressed with my tresses. Their last suppressed sighs just read “Oh well, good enough.” It doesn’t make my heart happy, and I’m never that satisfied either.
I love my hair stylist. She goes out of her way to make sure I can come in, even when it means staying late when I can’t get off until 5pm. She’s great about going along with my “need” to experiment, but isn’t afraid to tell me to take it slow or if it’s too much. It seems that honesty and really listening to each other goes a long way in preventing misunderstandings. I always try to tip her generously, and call if I think I can’t make it or am running late. It can be hard to find a stylist you jive with, and I’m lucky I found one!
My peeve was having clients complain about my co-workers. I would tell them (politely if course) that they should probably talk with the person they were upset with. If you have an upset or disagreement with someone at the place you go to, do not be afraid to talk to them about it. Or if you really aren’t sure, you should talk to the person in charge at said salon/spa. You never know, you may be complaining about one of our good friends, or maybe even best friend.
What if you have psoriasis? Then you always have patches and weird scabs on your scalp, does that mean I’m not allowed to get haircuts?
I feel you, Erin! I have skin issues related to allergies, so more often than not I have a small rash on my scalp. I usually alert my stylist, who understands the situation and doesn’t have a problem with it.
I’ve been lucky enough to have more than one hairdresser as a friend so I haven’t had to get embarrassed at a salon since it got bad (getting older brings so many awesome surprises) but I remember the first time my friend cut my hair I was like “YOU WON’T CATCH IT I PROMISE” and we laughed it off.
Absolutely not! We know the difference between psoriasis and when it’s something to get checked out by a doctor.
Get your hair did, girl.
PHEW! I usually get it done by my stylist friends anyway but I was worried if I went to a classy salon they would get grossed out.
I love you.
Haha
I let my hairstylist go to town with my hair around Christmas, and she went shorter than she had in the past. I was devastated, but I learned my lesson: state clearly what you want, and never leave out the key words of “leave the length, though.”
I would also add, if you have a stylist you LOVE don’t change because you like the haircut someone else has. I have a stylist that has done my hair of 14 years now. My hair went really curly during adolescence and she was there for me. She know my curls, My hair texture and how much it can take when it comes to highlights. I have watched girls change stylists because they want to go to trendier salons or they think they can say “cut my hair like So-in-so’s” and it always ends up bad.. Stick with who you love ladies. haha
I love my stylist, she’s wonderful. She and my mom are very close friends, and I’ve been going to her for about four years. It’s good for me to stick with someone in this sort of thing, as I’m often way too shy to speak up and be direct with what I want!
In disbelief that one would go to a salon with a rash/fungus/icky thing on or around their head. Yucks.
I had a teacher in the 8th grade who had gone to a stylist with head lice…no joke! She said she went because she felt that they could “wash them out better” than she could. She didn’t admit to the stylist that she had lice until AFTER her hair had been washed! She was actually venting to the class about this because the salon had banned her from ever coming back. [She was literally fuming about it because she didn't think it was fair] I was in horror because the stylist she went to was the same one I went to at the time :[
Like I mentioned above, sometimes it can’t be helped. Due to allergies, I almost always have some sort of small rash on my scalp. It’s not contagious, and I’m always upfront about it if I’m going to a new stylist so they’re aware of it. If I waited for it to clear up I could get a haircut… never.
Apparently it has happened before… Eek!
the only thing I would add is if you, as the stylist are running very late – call me and let me know (or have someone call me). Just as you may not be able to still fit me in if I am very late, I may not be able to still make the appt if you’re running late. At the very least, I can stop and get that latte and a cupcake, so my wait won’t be so trying
Absolutely! Many salons will call their clients to let them know when stylists are running more than 10 or 15 minutes late; if they don’t, and you’ve already showed up, let them know. Say, “I would have really appreciated a phone call; my personal schedule will need to be moved around now.”
Great point! Thanks for reading.