Salon Etiquette for the Client
In the past, I have written about how to find a good hairstylist, what qualities to look for and how to identify a really great stylist. This week, I'm going to give some advice on how to be a good customer. These tips will make your next trip to the salon more effective and a better overall experience.
The vast majority of salon clients mean well, and have good intentions; but even the most well-meaning customer can cause distractions that may compromise the quality of the stylist's work. I am not blaming anything on the clients, of course, but the process of cutting and styling hair requires some basic "salon etiquette".
Let's begin by examining the appointment-making process. If you have a difficult time remembering appointments, write down the date and time on a piece of paper and place it where you won't forget about it. Missed appointments (referred to as "no-shows" in salon lingo), seriously cripple a salon's ability to run on time. As a result, the receptionists and stylists have to re-work all of their standing appointments to accomodate for the loss. Some salons require a client to notify the salon if they are running late or will miss their appointment. If the salon hasn't been notified within a reasonable amount of time, they may impose a cancellation fee. This is the same thing a doctor's office will do if you are a no-show for an appointment. Failing to notify the salon is irresponsible, rude, and unnecessary. All it takes is a few seconds to dial a phone number. When a client makes an appointment, the stylist has to block out at least 45 minutes of his or her time. This time is a valuable commodity in the salon. Just about every salon will understand if you need to change or re-schedule your appointment, and will make the necessary changes without any problems. Totally ignoring an appointment is the ultimate expression of disregard for a stylist's time.
Clients should also make the attempt to stay up-to-date on all the current trends and styles. This means knowing the names of the cuts and styles. If you aren't sure how to describe how you want your hair done, it is advisable to bring a picture. Pictures are indeed worth a thousand words. They give a visual image of what you want, and most stylists appreciate it when you bring in at least one picture of the style you had in mind.
Latest Articles