Overblown

Stock image. Clients are never photographed.

Overblown

August 2017 | Without a doubt, one of the most common complaints women have after a visit to the hairdresser is, "my hair never looked as good as it did when I left the salon." This exact sentiment has been echoed repeatedly in every city I've worked in. After hearing the same thing over and over again, a committed professional should always work to unpack and resolve the issue.

Hairdressers will typically operate from a place of their skillset and vision, not their clients. To this point, the hairdresser's objective typically is to have everyone leave the salon looking polished to a picture perfect finish. While these efforts do support a lot of clients, it doesn't all of them. In fact, an over-styled salon presentation will often not thrill anyone who desires a more low-fuss natural look and spends little time at home styling themselves. Many times, these clients don't even own blow dryers and need a cut that is high performing on its own. This is where the issue begins.

Hairdressers often lack the cutting skills required to have a shape perform without styling. Instead, their stance typically is, "If a client wants the cut to look right, they will need to style it as I do." It's all too easy to see the problem here. These hairdressers see themselves as artists and not as conscientious service providers. A hair professional should work in a manner that helps each client achieve what they are after within the parameters of that client's aesthetic preferences. Good hairdressing should always consider a client's existing routine and skill set, then offer them work that can absolutely be duplicated at home. It serves no purpose, unless specifically requested, to over style a clients hair in a way they aren't comfortable with or lack the desire (or skills) to do themselves. A client who comes in for a haircut is often seeking just that, a haircut. A cut that they themselves can manage. A haircut that can grow out exceptionally well and make them feel beautiful. For the client who prefers a natural aesthetic, an overachieving style is entirely unproductive and inconsequential.

​In fact, the haircut may have missed the target entirely if a client isn't ever able to have it perform outside of their salon visit. To support this, a hairdresser must develop both strong cutting and communication skills. Both of these must be offered and performed to a much higher level than any finishing skills. As stated earlier, most salons are primarily concerned with their styling. They feel every client represents the salon and needs to look perfect walking out the door. This is entirely misguided. Clients don't represent a salon. Hairdressers should use their skills to reflect their client's needs on an individual basis and not default to a means of styling that the industry has promoted for way too long.

Time is a great commodity. Busy lives require that the time and money spent at the salon should yield results that support a chosen lifestyle. While certain clients have tools at home to style their hair when specifically needed, what they all want is a cut that actually looks amazing on the days they don't have the time or desire to put in the effort. Hairdressing should always strive to meet this goal and by doing so, a client will be rewarded with an experience that brings contentment for days, weeks and months ahead.