Are You Best Friends with Your Hair Stylist?
Posted by Healthy Strandz on July 6, 2008
© Kathy Wynn | Dreamstime.com
How social are you with your hair stylist? Do you prefer to be anonymous or do your try to become close enough to include her on the guest list for your wedding? Personally, my comfort level is somewhere in between.
Years ago on a referral from a friend, I went to a salon in Brooklyn, NY that treated everyone like a number. Literally, the salon identified clients by the time you walked into the door. When I checked in at the front desk, the receptionist noted the time that I arrived and wrote it on a label. To my dismay, she fastened the label to my shoulder. This is one of those “oh no, she didn’t” moments. For the entire time that I waited, I was known as “1:30.”
The stylists walked around on occasion to check the time stamps on everyone’s shoulders. I never figured out their system. When it was my time, the receptionist called out “1:30.” Oh, I guess that is me, I said. Honestly, I don’t remember how my hair turned out but I knew that the deli meat section treatment was not my style.
On the other hand, I have developed very friendly relationships with stylists. I define friendly by close enough that I felt compelled to bring over a plate of food after Thanksgiving. If I needed my hair done in a pinch, she would make an extra effort to fit me into the schedule. Dealing with a busy schedule and hair vanity, I always value feeling like a VIP in the salon. If all I have to do is chat it up and leave a decent tip, it is well worth the effort.
The problem only begins when you decide to part ways. You may think to yourself “did I get too emotionally invested.” If you are too attached you cannot objectively evaluate the services that you receive. In addition, you may feel obligated to overly consider your impact on the stylist’s cash flow in the event that you walk away. All of a sudden you start thinking more about her ability to pay her bills and her desire to go back to school than your own unhappiness with the level of service and/or her styling.
I do believe that the more the stylist understands how you live, the better he can help you achieve your goals. You should mean more to him than the woman who needs Brown #17 every 6 weeks.
I like to treat my stylist like a trusted beauty advisor. You need to share enough information with your stylist so that he can give you his professional opinion about your hair. Sometimes a discussion about your weekend plans will trigger follow-up questions about what you need to include in your hair care regimen.
I like to think that this lies somewhere between nameless hands manipulating my hair and maid of honor.
