Unforunatley we are an expendable sevrvice, I myself found this out recently.  We as stylists are very pasionate, sensative people who need the reasurrance of others(clients)to tell us how great we are, that is our Achilles heel.  Lately, instead of trying to win Miss Congeniality, I provide a service to the best of my ability and collect my pay.  Every client is a walking dollar sign, when one leaves another replaces them.  It may sound harsh, but I know from experience the sacrafices hairdressers make to retain clients.  How many times have you come in sick or missed a family get together to appease a clients schedule only to have them not show up or not tip?  The salon industry needs to run more like a profesional business rather than a mom and pop shop.  We need to demand more respect for ourselves.  People say "oh, but you're only a hairdresser", let them get a bad haircut and see how unimportant our talent is. 

The image of a gum poppin' air head is synonymous with a hairdresser.  How many creeps have hit on you at work because all hairdressers are easy?  I have stated befor that our industry is one of the top10 high stress jobs.  Co- workers are self serving, clients are unfaithfull, society has little respect for us, so why do we do it?

Because it's the best damn job in the world!  We hold in our hand the power to make or break someone- we just have to learn to keep the power.  (I'll come down off my soap box now)

Anyway, I found my boss booking my clients for herself.  That's a fine reward for loyalty. It happens to the best of us.

I AGREE ,

WE DON'T GET THE RESPECT OR THE PAY WE DESERVE, BUT I HAVE TO AGREE WITH DR. PHIL THAT WE TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO TREAT US.

 I REMEBER TIMES THAT I WOULD GO OUT OF MY WAY TO PLEASE CLIENTS. I WOULD COME IN EARLY, STAY LATE, COME IN ON MY DAY OFF, WORK ON A HOLIDAY, BUT THE ONE TIME THAT I HAD TO RESCHEDULE THEM OR I WAS RUNNING LATE THEY WOULD  GET MAD AND START GOING SOME WHERE ELSE. WELL LET ME TELL YOU , I DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE. I WORK ONLY THE HOURS I WANT TO WORK, I DON'T DO ANYMORE FAVORS FOR CLIENTS. IF THEY ARE RUNNING WAY LATE I RESCHEDULE THEM, AND. THE CLIENTS THAT LOVE MY WORK FIND AWAY TO MAKE IT ON THE DAYS & HRS THAT I WORK.

 THE BOUNDERIES THAT I HAVE ESTABLISHED WITH MY CLIENTS GIVES ME MUCH MORE RESPECT. I NOW TEACH THEM THAT I AM A PROFESSIONAL AND WILL BE TREATED AS SUCH. I HAVE GREAT SKILLS AND SERVICE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY COME BACK FOR. HAIR STYLIST NEED TO MAKE THE CLIENT FEEL LIKE THEY NEED US AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. IF THEY FEEL LIKE WE CAN'T MAKE IT WITH OUT THEM , THEY WILL TREAT US IN SUCH A MANNER.

 I AGREE THAT SALONS & STYLIST NEED TO BE MUCH MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN WHAT THEY ARE.

Is your salon more of a walk-in salon? All of my clients would always call for an appt or make one after there service for the next time. Maybe you can suggest to these cleints when they say this to you, to make an appt. for next time to ansure they get you.I would always say to mine to not leave out making their appt. I think it looks good for you because it would let them know that you were in demand and if they didnt make appt they would be giving that time to someone else.

Hey CutterJ, I agree with you.  A few years ago When I was cutting this guy's hair, he proceeded to tell me that the reason that we hairstylists do hair is that we were not smart enough to get into a real college.  He said that he knows this because he had been in the military. (I know, it didn't make sense to me either) Well I don't take crap off of anyone, especially jerks like him so I told him that every guy that I know who joined  the service did so becuse they had attitude problems and couldn't hold down a job.  I also told him that our profession is not only artistic but technical at the same time and that only intellegent people can pull that off.   Needless to say he learned to keep his big mouth shut.  He was never a jerk to any of us again.  (Oh and I mean no disrespect to anyone in the military.  The insult was only aimed at him.)    Another thing that makes me mad just happened the other day.  I started working at a new salon, we had an open house so people can check us out.  A friend of the manager was there.  this woman is one of those people who thinks she knows more about your job than you do even though she doesn't do hair.  Well anyway, she was asking me about my experience and credentials, so I told her I've been in the business for 14 years, I was master designer and colorist at my old salon and, I have had extensive training in color and texture services.  I answered all her questions.  She called the manager later that night (they're friends)  and said I am arrogant and was bragging about how good I am.  If she didn't want to know why did she ask?  She was interrogating me but I guess she wanted me to act timid and unsure of my abilities.  I have every right to be confident, I've worked my tail off for the last 14 years to get where I am.  Do you know I got a talking to about my acting too confident?  Isn't that the stoupidest thing you've ever heard?  when I was a manager, I had talks with my stylists about acting more confident. I feel like I went to work in Bizarro Salon.              

Look at it like this,

    Most Clients really just want to try something new.  Dont take it personally.  You will get some of their clinent as well.  Share the wealth. The ideal is to have everyone clents come in and feel comfortable sitting in anyones chair.  Thats how you keep the businness in the shop.  Also if this is happening a lot you may want to consider avdvanced cometology traing such as taking up seminars on your weakness.  Like you already know, Im a student.  The salon Im going to be working in when I get out everyone is good at one particular thing. they all have their specilties.  You  may also have to go out and get you a fresh bathch of customer. Pick the one that you know  you can do an awsome job with or someone you can really work with........................Cosomo