When hairstylists have to “fire a client”…
“Fire a client?” you may ask “What does that mean? Does that mean what I think it means? “
In the modern day world, we all have so many choices of what service providers we can choose from and what businesses we want to support. The same goes for service providers in the varying ages, races, personality types, and hair types that the hairstylists of the world may get in their chair on any given day. Throughout the history of hairstyling, it has been assumed that the client will never leave their beloved hairstylist unless either of them moved away or retired, among a few life altering reasons.
What most people don’t realize is that sometimes the client and the stylist just aren’t meshing…yes, it really does happen. All. The. Time. Staying professional, and achieving an objective is our top priority. Establishing rapport along with earning and giving respect on both sides is a very close second. By all means, NEVER, should either party have to endure disrespect, put downs, off the cuff remarks about the craft or workmanship of the services, or personal comments about family, etc.
It is only after very careful consideration that as a professional, do we have to come to the conclusion that something is just not working within the pairing of some clients. When we give our all to provide the best knowledge, consultation of expectations, execution of particularly desired haircut or hair color results, and it feels “off” or exhausting at every appointment, it is time to make a tough decision. That tough decision is not met with a light hand. As service providers in an industry that is driven mostly by emotions to achieve a look that will help a client to FEEL better when they look in the mirror, trust me, it can come across as nothing but personal and as an emotional attack of rejection to the client. Therefore having to actually commit to saying what needs to be said (whether in person or via email/phone call) is beyond upsetting.
Please understand that each time (luckily I have only had to do this 4x over 28 years) it is PAINFULLY DIFFICULT to tell someone that A: I can not technically make you happy with my skillset B: Your hair or your comments/personality is somewhat difficult to endure and C: we have to admit that it’s not a good fit for my or your mental and emotional health to feel like we are going uphill in quicksand at every appointment.
When a hairstylist has to “fire a client” or if this has happened to you, please know that your best interest is equally at hand in receiving this hard-to-hear information. I personally know that I put my all into every single person who sits in my chair. I expect respect and a full understanding of a REALISTIC timeline for results involving your specific hair situation. Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out that way. And that is OKAY!! I can admit that there is probably someone else out there best suited for you and I recognize that it isn’t me for what you are expecting with your hair.
Many of my fellow professionals share the same sentiment about this delicate topic. It is not something we take lightly or truly ever want to do. Most people forget that we get “fired” all the time. We have to sit and wonder occasionally about “why did Susie Q or Mary Jane just stop booking with me or no longer comes in?” We get “ghosted” over the years by new/first time clients who don’t return more often than most people realize. You know what we all concur?? Just means there was something that didn’t mesh well for that client about me and that is okay. There are sooooo many stylists out there and some are better suited for others. I take no offense. It is the nature of the beast in this industry. The same goes for manicurists, waxers, lash technicians, and massage therapists to name a few. I am guilty of trying out new providers and there was just something missing or that felt “off” so I don’t go back and I end up seeking someone else. It isn’t personal. It is how the nature of this industry is. But why is it taken so terribly awful when we are the ones to “fire a client?”
Life is too short for any of us to just coast with one another and not truly see eye to eye and have an amazing rapport regarding your hair. I pride myself on being genuine, a good listener, being honest, having professionalism while being sympathetic, and truly getting to a level to want to make each and every one of my clients 100% happy. I protect my peace at all costs at the end of the day. Therefore I will not tolerate opposing political conversation of hatred towards any group of people or disrespect to me as a licensed professional. Period.
I hope that I helped to shed some light on the fact that this does HAVE to happen SOMETIMES when it comes to managing my clientele list. I truly believe we each deserve honesty and never have it delivered with malice. We are all trying to make it through this amazing thing called life, it’s the least we can be thankful for when a message is delivered to keep moving forward and seek those who feel more like “home.”
