“A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.”—Coco Chanel
Sometimes the importance of a haircut goes beyond just necessity. Although in a salon, we maintain our clientele by keeping them on a schedule for trims and touch-ups, every now and then you will have guests in your chair relying upon your haircut to change their lives.
Women often hold onto their hair as a “security blanket”; maybe they’ve always had long hair and that’s all they’ve ever known; or maybe they feel that it’s more feminine to keep their length. Whatever the case, never underestimate the power you have as a stylist to not only change a guest’s physical look, but to also change a guest’s lifestyle.
Too many times, I’ve walked a guest with long hair back to my chair and spoke the phrase: “So tell me a little bit about your hair, and what you’re looking to have done today.” I’ve expected, “Oh, just a trim.” But always expect the unexpected. Transformations such as these—from a simple long layered haircut to a drastically shorter haircut—are what keeps me inspired as a stylist. More than likely, there’s an important reason behind the guest’s decision as to why they’re “making the chop”; I believe that half the fun of the service is being the person responsible for their new outlook.
I’m sure any stylist would agree: doing a “big reveal” and observing your client’s expression has to be one of the most rewarding feelings you can experience in this industry. I encourage everyone not to overlook their appointments, and remember the impact that your service has on your guests!
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