July 9, 2025 • 22 mins
Your reputation as a salon professional extends far beyond your technical skills – it encompasses everything you say and do, both inside and outside the salon walls. That off-duty stylist loudly complaining about their boss at the coffee shop? They're actively damaging their salon's reputation with every word, even when they're not behind the chair.
Professional conduct directly impacts a salon's bottom line. From the moment clients walk through your doors, they're absorbing every detail of your environment – the conversations between stylists, the cleanliness of stations, and the overall atmosphere you've created. Each element either reinforces their decision to be there or gives them reason to seek services elsewhere.
Whether you're a new stylist building your book or a salon owner cultivating your team culture, remember that professionalism isn't just about what happens behind the chair – it's a lifestyle that follows you everywhere. Your next client might be watching you in line at the grocery store or sitting next to you at a restaurant. How will you represent your profession and your salon when you think no one's paying attention?
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Grab your FREE PDF of The In-Salon Training Toolkit today.
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Download The Ultimate In-Salon Training Toolkit today and start onboarding your stylists with clarity, confidence, and zero guesswork.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Have you ever been sitting in another business hair
salon, coffee shop, doctor'soffice and you are watching
maybe an employee who's off dutyat the moment, because you
happen to know or you noticethat they just clocked out or
whatever and they're in streetclothes, but you know their
(00:22):
employee.
Maybe they came in to say hi ontheir day off or something and
they start ranting about anotheremployee?
Yeah, that's happened to me.
I was sitting there and thisgirl I knew she worked there,
you could tell, and she wasdropping the F bomb and a few
other you know ugly words aboutthe boss and it was kind of
(00:42):
awkward.
I felt awkward and I wanted toleave.
So I ask you did her actions,even though she was off work,
affect the perception of thebusiness in my eyes?
You bet it did.
Here's my point.
Everything that happens withinthe salon, good or bad, affects
the bottom line.
(01:04):
Welcome to All About Hair, wherewe talk, shop, share stories
and spill the secrets behindgreat hair and a great career.
I'm your host, denise Kylitz, aformer salon owner, educator
and a lifelong hair crusader.
Whether you're a new stylistbuilding your book or just
someone who loves learning aboutall things hair, you're in the
(01:26):
right place.
You see, professionalhairstylists don't realize how
their actions and words affect aclient's perception of the
salon Anywhere you go.
If they know that you work atthat salon, anything whether
(01:47):
you're in target, whether youwere shopping, whether you're in
your street clothes, you're ata bar partying that affects how
that customer, that client feelsabout the salon that you work
at.
So if you're just starting yourbeauty career, if you are in
your beauty career and youyou're wondering why don't I
(02:09):
have enough clients?
Or if you're a salon owner andtruly trying to figure out how
to get new stylists in yoursalon, think about your actions
outside of the salon.
I remember a long time ago Iused to be a Mary Kay rep and I
remember the director that'swhat they were called who leads
(02:30):
the community of Mary Kayconsultants that's what they
were called.
She would say you need to lookyour part even when you're not
working, because you never knowwhen you run into somebody who
might need you and that's kindof stuck with me Meaning if you
aren't working that day andyou're going grocery shopping or
(02:53):
to the doctor's office orwhatever, at least have your
hair and makeup done.
You could be wearing leggingsor whatever, but you never know
when a conversation is going tocome up and you could whip out
your business card and say, hey,I happen to do hair Now it
doesn't have to be completelydone and looking a hundred
percent, but don't go out withyour hair sticking up all over
(03:16):
the place and looking like youjust rolled out of bed, because,
you never know, your nextclient might be sitting right
next to you at a coffee shop andyou need to look your best.
Anyway, that's on a tangent.
I'm sorry, but that advice hasalways stayed with me.
Now, am I always looking mybest?
No, but I try to at least lookpresentable.
(03:39):
Let's get back to some of thethings that happen in a salon
the do's and the don'tsBasically.
Some of the things that happenin a salon the do's and the
don'ts Basically.
You know that there's a ton ofdifferent personalities that
work together in a salon.
Everyone has an effect on thefeel of the salon and of your
client perception of the salon.
Okay, we have all kinds ofpeople in the salon, right?
(04:00):
You would think you've got yourperson who has a big ego.
You got your really coolhairstylist've got your person
who has a big ego.
You got your really coolhairstylist.
You got your salon manager thatwants everything going click,
click, click.
Maybe you've got somebody who'sbipolar and you never know what
how they're going to be whenthey walk in the salon.
Maybe you've got somebody who'sreally sweet and just neutral
about everything, and maybe thenyou have somebody who's very
(04:22):
aggressive and very loud andyou've got to know how to work
with every personality.
So let's get to our list.
Okay, our first thing is don'tshout or talk loud enough for
the entire salon to hear you.
This isn't a nightclub, it's abusiness.
Do talk at a normal level so asnot to interfere with other
(04:47):
stylists conversations withtheir clients.
Have you ever been in a salonand there's somebody at the
shampoo bowl and they'reshouting across the salon?
That's what I'm talking about.
Or if you have like eightstations and you have a stylist
at a station across the room andthey're yelling to the front
desk hey, can you add a toner tomy?
(05:07):
Whatever.
Don't do that.
That's just not professional.
I think you know what I'mtalking about.
We've all been there, we've allheard that and it's very
awkward and it just it makes mecringe.
So don't do that.
Don't wear bangle bracelets thatmake noise in a client's ear,
it will drive them crazy andthey won't come back to you.
(05:29):
So if you want to wear jewelry,wear tasteful jewelry to match
your outfit.
Bracelets are fine, just notthe noisy ones, and you know
what I'm talking about there too.
Right, when you're shampooingand they go, you know your
bracelets are all dangling andyeah, it happens, it happens.
So just be mindful of that whenyou're getting ready.
(05:51):
Save your bracelets, yourbangle bracelets for going out
to dinner, having date night,whatever.
Just keep the client in mind atall times.
Okay, here's a big one Don'tgossip about coworkers.
Drama runs rampant in a salon,especially in that break room.
Don't be the one that startsthe storms or adds to them.
(06:13):
It makes for a veryuncomfortable work environment
and that is just reallyunpleasant for you and it's
stressful to your clients,because they can hear it, they
know it.
So make it a habit to walk awayfrom gossip and don't
participate.
Believe me, it can be done.
Just walk away.
If you heard somebody in thebreak room and they're starting
(06:35):
to talk about a coworker, justsay hey, we don't do that, just
walk away.
Here's a big one.
Don't ever, ever, have yourcell phone on the salon floor.
It is one of the mostunprofessional things to do in
the salon.
If you can't keep off of it,keep it in the back so you're
not tempted to look at it.
(06:55):
I once saw a stylist talking onher cell while cutting a man's
hair.
What it was unbelievable to me.
How would you feel if she wascutting your hair?
If you have to check yourmessages, check it during your
break.
I do know that we allowed cellphones at the stations only if
(07:16):
they were pulling up Pinterestor getting ideas for haircuts,
using it for their consultation,because our program actually
had the consultation forms thatthe stylist could get on their
cell phones, but they were notallowed to take phone calls,
check messages, anything likethat.
It is just so unprofessionaland it really does make your
(07:37):
client feel very neglected or,in the least, very unimportant.
All right, here's a big one,and we had this actually in our
handbook.
Do not discuss religion,politics or sex.
These are the three industryno-nos.
Oh my goodness, you could starta war zone in the salon.
(08:01):
Just don't go there.
You don't know who's sitting inyour chair.
You don't know who's sitting inthe chair next to you it could
be a senator's wife and you'resitting here talking politics,
or it could be somebody who'shad terrible relationships or
had something terrible happen toher and you're sitting here
talking about your you knowsexual rendezvous.
I don't know.
(08:22):
You don't know what's going on.
So keep it clean.
Ask a client about their workor their hobby.
This keeps the focus on themand it is appropriate
conversation and you could takeit from there.
All right, here's one thatconversation and you could take
it from there.
All right, here's one that thishas happened in the salon and
it's a hard one to.
I don't know you'll get it whenI tell you Don't stink.
(08:45):
I know, I know it's one of themost common complaints from
clients A stylist smelling likesmoke.
It's very unpleasant for anon-smoker and they will not
return to you.
I won't.
I don't smoke cigarettes, Idon't want to be around
cigarette smoke and it is if youdon't smoke cigarettes and
(09:05):
you're around that it is justlike blaring in your face.
So not only are the cigarettescosting you money, they can cost
you clients, which is money,understand.
So just quit.
Sounds simple, right, butseriously, keep Febreze or
mouthwash in the break room andmake sure to wash your hands too
(09:25):
.
Don't believe that a spritz ofperfume will mask that smell.
What you can do is wear an oldsmock and disposable gloves to
smoke.
This will keep the smell offyour clothes.
All right, here's one.
Don't poach clients from otherstylists.
Now, in our salon we used toshare clients and we love that
(09:48):
whole idea.
Hey, if I'm not available, youcan go to anybody in here.
As long as you're walking inour two doors, we're glad to
have you.
We loved it that way in here.
As long as you're walking inour two doors, we're glad to
have you.
We loved it that way.
However, not every salon isdesigned that way, so you need
to build your own clientele andif you need help with that, I've
got a couple of my podcasts.
I'll link them in the shownotes below.
That will help you build yourclientele and if you need advice
(10:11):
on that, reach out to me.
I can help you with that.
Okay, another one Don't be alazy professional hairstylist.
The salon's cleanliness is theresponsibility of every person
who works in those four walls.
The condition of your equipmentand your station is your
responsibility.
A lazy hairstylist affects theentire team.
(10:32):
Someone always has to pick upthe slack from the lazy ones,
and don't let that be you.
It damages your reputation tobe seen as the lazy one and
brings down the value of thesalon.
Yes, every salon has a lazyprofessional and it is really
hard to manage because theydon't see themselves that way,
throwing their bowls in the sinkand thinking they're going to
(10:54):
get back to them and they neverdo.
You know who I'm talking about.
Everybody has one on their team.
So what do you do?
Do your part and then some.
Keep your station clean andsanitized.
We used to always say yourstation needs to look fresh.
Every single client.
It needs to look like they arethe very first client of the day
.
So what does that mean?
(11:15):
It means, after every timeyou're you're done with your
client, you straighten it all up.
You put your chair face in thefront, you clean up all your
combs, you put them in your,your sanitizer.
Whatever you need to do, makeit look fresh and clean and
always, always, always, do it atthe end of the day and sanitize
before you're being told I mean, my goodness, with the flu and
(11:37):
COVID and all that stuff, we allknow what to do.
Just make life easier on themanager and guess what?
You'll increase your value tothe salon.
All right, I just mentionedthis.
Don't leave your color bowlsfor others to clean and don't
leave hair in the sink and don'tleave a mess in the break room.
Basically, clean up any messyou make.
(11:58):
That's an easy one.
Don't place any tools oraccessories in your mouth, like
bobby pins, foils, clipsEspecially these days, with
germs being a top priority.
You know, we've all seen it orwe've done it.
We've used the bobby pin in ourteeth to open it.
Don't do that.
Work organized.
(12:21):
Okay.
Use your apron if you need to.
Aprons have little pockets.
You can clip your clips onthere.
Or your wristband, or get oneof those magnetic wristbands.
Don't assume clients know how tospeak our language.
They probably don't know what a4R means.
That makes sense, right?
They might not even know whatslicing versus weaving or
anything like that.
(12:41):
They don't know our language,and how many times have they sat
down in your chair and balayageand they can't even pronounce
it?
It happens.
So just communicate in termsthat the client understands.
Try to put yourself in theirshoes.
Talk so they can understandwhat you're saying.
Don't talk in our terms.
We have our own secret littlestylist language.
(13:04):
All right, here's another one.
Don't talk about your personallife.
For one thing, it's not coolfor clients to know your
personal details and second,they don't want to hear your
problems.
Going to the salon is a breakfor them.
Please don't bring drama tothem.
Keep the focus on them.
This is their time and they areactually paying for it, so make
(13:29):
it really special for them.
Here's another one Don't keepclients waiting.
You running behind shouldn't betheir problem.
How long do you think they willwait before deciding never to
go to you again?
So try to keep a tight scheduleand be mindful of time
management.
Your client's time is valuable.
(13:50):
They will respect you if yourespect them.
Don't take your clients forgranted.
Thank them for their business.
When you're done, just saythank you so much for coming in.
Everyone likes to beappreciated.
Don't call in sick.
When you aren't Not showing upfor clients will derail your
beauty career, and when you'renot in the salon, someone else
(14:14):
will have to be you.
Deciding to take the day offcould make a coworker have to
come in on his or her day off.
That is no way to be a goodteam member.
Just treat your position as aprofessional hairstylist as
valuable.
Just be responsible.
We are all adults here.
(14:35):
Don't run from clients you don'twant to do.
Oh, my goodness and I knowespecially brand new stylists
who get very anxious, do this alot.
They see a walk-in, come in thesalon a men's haircut maybe, or
a pixie cut or an A-line bob oryou know those hairstyles that
(14:55):
you're like oh, I don't knowwhat, how to do that.
I'm not very good at doing that.
Don't run from it.
It only means that yourcoworkers will have to pick up
your slack.
So what do you do?
Take the client and learn fromit.
Ask for help, if you need help.
We all do from time to time.
Heck, that's one of the bestthings you could do is help your
(15:16):
team members.
Here's one of the best thingsyou could do is help your team
members.
Here's one.
It happens.
Don't let the girls out too much.
You know what I mean.
You might have, you know, niceta-tas, but too much it takes
from your professional image itdoes.
We used to always say no boobs,no belly, no armpits.
I just I learned that a longtime ago.
(15:37):
It's just not respectful.
So dress with respect foryourself and your clients,
because your boobs are in theirface.
I mean, think about whereyou're standing.
You're doing a bang trim.
You got to be right in front oftheir nose, right?
Do you really think that womenwant to see down your blouse?
Every client counts.
Better to take the high roadthan the chance alienating
(15:58):
anyone.
Don't swear on the salon floorwhere any clients can hear you.
Don't swear.
You may think you're cool withit because they smile, but
they'll complain when you're notaround.
So hold yourself to a higherstandard and clean up your act,
and then you'll be seen as areal professional.
And, oh gosh, here's a big one.
(16:20):
Don't discuss tips on the salonfloor or with clients.
Oh my gosh, this is sounprofessional.
Oh my gosh.
And it happens.
And you may think that nobodycan hear you.
How many times, oh gosh, I'veheard people go.
She just tip me $5 and I spentthree hours on her or whatever,
(16:41):
I don't know.
I'm making that up.
Just please, don't talk abouttips and don't keep tips visible
on at your station.
Put them in your pocket, yourapron, or some salons keep
envelopes at the front desk.
So just keep your tipconversation, your bitching or
bragging in the break room outof earshot of clients.
If you, you know, if you'rewanting to talk about it like
(17:03):
don't go.
You know, don't go through thesalon going.
I just made a hundred bucks.
No, no, no, no, no, don't dothat.
Here's another one.
Don't repair flesh wounds atyour station.
Oh my goodness, you just cutyourself with scissors.
Excuse yourself and get to thebreak room and clean it up.
Your client doesn't want to seeor they don't need to see all
(17:26):
that blood and it makes themfeel like that you got cut
because you were cutting theirhair and it makes them feel a
little guilty too.
Keep a cut kit in your lockeror your salon should have one
and they do make some waterproofbandages.
That's really good for cuts onyour fingers and they have like
extra strong hold on them.
They also have cut glue thatyou can it's almost like crazy
(17:49):
glue or super glue, so you canput that on there too to stop
the bleeding.
Just excuse yourself to theclient.
Tell them you'll be right backand that you nicked yourself and
need to clean it up.
That's all you do want to smelllike you've just sanitized your
hands so they know that you're.
You know you took care of itand you want to dispose of
anything you're using on theclient while in front of them.
(18:10):
Get a clean comb, a clean brush, clean scissors.
You want the client to see thattheir health is a top priority
to you.
Don't overwhelm your clientswith your perfume or cologne.
That happens.
When I was first started out mycareer in San Diego, I remember
her saying that we weren'tallowed to wear perfume.
(18:31):
Yeah, because people haveallergies and also smells can
trigger memories, good or bad.
And what if your clone remindedthem of an ex?
They probably won't come backto you just because you smell
like somebody they hate and plusit's strong and you're in their
face.
So just, I probably justwouldn't wear it.
I, when I worked in the salon,I just never wore it and also
(18:53):
use deodorant.
All right, that wraps it up.
That's a lot, I know.
But if you go back and listento this again the do's and
don'ts make a list Heck, youmight even want to include this
in your handbook, because theseare good, these are really good.
Everything we do makes animpression on a client, whether
(19:13):
you're in the salon or outsideof the salon.
You have to be a salonprofessional.
That's what you signed up for,that's what you're in business
to do.
That's your money-making careerthere.
So, whether you're behind yourchair or behind somebody in the
Starbucks line.
You want to look like a salonprofessional, so I hope these
(19:34):
helped, hope they either madeyou laugh or conjured up some
kind of memory, or maybe justlet you think about it a little
bit that, wow, I didn't evenconsider that.
Thanks for tuning in to AllAbout Hair.
If you loved this episode, hit,subscribe, leave us a review
and share it with a fellowstylist or hair loving friend.
(19:55):
You want more tips, tools andbehind the scenes?
Goodness, follow me on YouTubeor head to my website at
denisekeilitzcom.
Yes, I know it's hard to spell,so don't worry, the link is in
the show notes.
Until next time, keep learning,keep creating and keep loving
what you do.
Have you ever been sitting in another business hair
salon, coffee shop, doctor'soffice and you are watching
maybe an employee who's off dutyat the moment, because you
happen to know or you noticethat they just clocked out or
whatever and they're in streetclothes, but you know their
(00:22):
employee.
Maybe they came in to say hi ontheir day off or something and
they start ranting about anotheremployee?
Yeah, that's happened to me.
I was sitting there and thisgirl I knew she worked there,
you could tell, and she wasdropping the F bomb and a few
other you know ugly words aboutthe boss and it was kind of
(00:42):
awkward.
I felt awkward and I wanted toleave.
So I ask you did her actions,even though she was off work,
affect the perception of thebusiness in my eyes?
You bet it did.
Here's my point.
Everything that happens withinthe salon, good or bad, affects
the bottom line.
(01:04):
Welcome to All About Hair, wherewe talk, shop, share stories
and spill the secrets behindgreat hair and a great career.
I'm your host, denise Kylitz, aformer salon owner, educator
and a lifelong hair crusader.
Whether you're a new stylistbuilding your book or just
someone who loves learning aboutall things hair, you're in the
(01:26):
right place.
You see, professionalhairstylists don't realize how
their actions and words affect aclient's perception of the
salon Anywhere you go.
If they know that you work atthat salon, anything whether
(01:47):
you're in target, whether youwere shopping, whether you're in
your street clothes, you're ata bar partying that affects how
that customer, that client feelsabout the salon that you work
at.
So if you're just starting yourbeauty career, if you are in
your beauty career and youyou're wondering why don't I
(02:09):
have enough clients?
Or if you're a salon owner andtruly trying to figure out how
to get new stylists in yoursalon, think about your actions
outside of the salon.
I remember a long time ago Iused to be a Mary Kay rep and I
remember the director that'swhat they were called who leads
(02:30):
the community of Mary Kayconsultants that's what they
were called.
She would say you need to lookyour part even when you're not
working, because you never knowwhen you run into somebody who
might need you and that's kindof stuck with me Meaning if you
aren't working that day andyou're going grocery shopping or
(02:53):
to the doctor's office orwhatever, at least have your
hair and makeup done.
You could be wearing leggingsor whatever, but you never know
when a conversation is going tocome up and you could whip out
your business card and say, hey,I happen to do hair Now it
doesn't have to be completelydone and looking a hundred
percent, but don't go out withyour hair sticking up all over
(03:16):
the place and looking like youjust rolled out of bed, because,
you never know, your nextclient might be sitting right
next to you at a coffee shop andyou need to look your best.
Anyway, that's on a tangent.
I'm sorry, but that advice hasalways stayed with me.
Now, am I always looking mybest?
No, but I try to at least lookpresentable.
(03:39):
Let's get back to some of thethings that happen in a salon
the do's and the don'tsBasically.
Some of the things that happenin a salon the do's and the
don'ts Basically.
You know that there's a ton ofdifferent personalities that
work together in a salon.
Everyone has an effect on thefeel of the salon and of your
client perception of the salon.
Okay, we have all kinds ofpeople in the salon, right?
(04:00):
You would think you've got yourperson who has a big ego.
You got your really coolhairstylist've got your person
who has a big ego.
You got your really coolhairstylist.
You got your salon manager thatwants everything going click,
click, click.
Maybe you've got somebody who'sbipolar and you never know what
how they're going to be whenthey walk in the salon.
Maybe you've got somebody who'sreally sweet and just neutral
about everything, and maybe thenyou have somebody who's very
(04:22):
aggressive and very loud andyou've got to know how to work
with every personality.
So let's get to our list.
Okay, our first thing is don'tshout or talk loud enough for
the entire salon to hear you.
This isn't a nightclub, it's abusiness.
Do talk at a normal level so asnot to interfere with other
(04:47):
stylists conversations withtheir clients.
Have you ever been in a salonand there's somebody at the
shampoo bowl and they'reshouting across the salon?
That's what I'm talking about.
Or if you have like eightstations and you have a stylist
at a station across the room andthey're yelling to the front
desk hey, can you add a toner tomy?
(05:07):
Whatever.
Don't do that.
That's just not professional.
I think you know what I'mtalking about.
We've all been there, we've allheard that and it's very
awkward and it just it makes mecringe.
So don't do that.
Don't wear bangle bracelets thatmake noise in a client's ear,
it will drive them crazy andthey won't come back to you.
(05:29):
So if you want to wear jewelry,wear tasteful jewelry to match
your outfit.
Bracelets are fine, just notthe noisy ones, and you know
what I'm talking about there too.
Right, when you're shampooingand they go, you know your
bracelets are all dangling andyeah, it happens, it happens.
So just be mindful of that whenyou're getting ready.
(05:51):
Save your bracelets, yourbangle bracelets for going out
to dinner, having date night,whatever.
Just keep the client in mind atall times.
Okay, here's a big one Don'tgossip about coworkers.
Drama runs rampant in a salon,especially in that break room.
Don't be the one that startsthe storms or adds to them.
(06:13):
It makes for a veryuncomfortable work environment
and that is just reallyunpleasant for you and it's
stressful to your clients,because they can hear it, they
know it.
So make it a habit to walk awayfrom gossip and don't
participate.
Believe me, it can be done.
Just walk away.
If you heard somebody in thebreak room and they're starting
(06:35):
to talk about a coworker, justsay hey, we don't do that, just
walk away.
Here's a big one.
Don't ever, ever, have yourcell phone on the salon floor.
It is one of the mostunprofessional things to do in
the salon.
If you can't keep off of it,keep it in the back so you're
not tempted to look at it.
(06:55):
I once saw a stylist talking onher cell while cutting a man's
hair.
What it was unbelievable to me.
How would you feel if she wascutting your hair?
If you have to check yourmessages, check it during your
break.
I do know that we allowed cellphones at the stations only if
(07:16):
they were pulling up Pinterestor getting ideas for haircuts,
using it for their consultation,because our program actually
had the consultation forms thatthe stylist could get on their
cell phones, but they were notallowed to take phone calls,
check messages, anything likethat.
It is just so unprofessionaland it really does make your
(07:37):
client feel very neglected or,in the least, very unimportant.
All right, here's a big one,and we had this actually in our
handbook.
Do not discuss religion,politics or sex.
These are the three industryno-nos.
Oh my goodness, you could starta war zone in the salon.
(08:01):
Just don't go there.
You don't know who's sitting inyour chair.
You don't know who's sitting inthe chair next to you it could
be a senator's wife and you'resitting here talking politics,
or it could be somebody who'shad terrible relationships or
had something terrible happen toher and you're sitting here
talking about your you knowsexual rendezvous.
I don't know.
(08:22):
You don't know what's going on.
So keep it clean.
Ask a client about their workor their hobby.
This keeps the focus on themand it is appropriate
conversation and you could takeit from there.
All right, here's one thatconversation and you could take
it from there.
All right, here's one that thishas happened in the salon and
it's a hard one to.
I don't know you'll get it whenI tell you Don't stink.
(08:45):
I know, I know it's one of themost common complaints from
clients A stylist smelling likesmoke.
It's very unpleasant for anon-smoker and they will not
return to you.
I won't.
I don't smoke cigarettes, Idon't want to be around
cigarette smoke and it is if youdon't smoke cigarettes and
(09:05):
you're around that it is justlike blaring in your face.
So not only are the cigarettescosting you money, they can cost
you clients, which is money,understand.
So just quit.
Sounds simple, right, butseriously, keep Febreze or
mouthwash in the break room andmake sure to wash your hands too
(09:25):
.
Don't believe that a spritz ofperfume will mask that smell.
What you can do is wear an oldsmock and disposable gloves to
smoke.
This will keep the smell offyour clothes.
All right, here's one.
Don't poach clients from otherstylists.
Now, in our salon we used toshare clients and we love that
(09:48):
whole idea.
Hey, if I'm not available, youcan go to anybody in here.
As long as you're walking inour two doors, we're glad to
have you.
We loved it that way in here.
As long as you're walking inour two doors, we're glad to
have you.
We loved it that way.
However, not every salon isdesigned that way, so you need
to build your own clientele andif you need help with that, I've
got a couple of my podcasts.
I'll link them in the shownotes below.
That will help you build yourclientele and if you need advice
(10:11):
on that, reach out to me.
I can help you with that.
Okay, another one Don't be alazy professional hairstylist.
The salon's cleanliness is theresponsibility of every person
who works in those four walls.
The condition of your equipmentand your station is your
responsibility.
A lazy hairstylist affects theentire team.
(10:32):
Someone always has to pick upthe slack from the lazy ones,
and don't let that be you.
It damages your reputation tobe seen as the lazy one and
brings down the value of thesalon.
Yes, every salon has a lazyprofessional and it is really
hard to manage because theydon't see themselves that way,
throwing their bowls in the sinkand thinking they're going to
(10:54):
get back to them and they neverdo.
You know who I'm talking about.
Everybody has one on their team.
So what do you do?
Do your part and then some.
Keep your station clean andsanitized.
We used to always say yourstation needs to look fresh.
Every single client.
It needs to look like they arethe very first client of the day
.
So what does that mean?
(11:15):
It means, after every timeyou're you're done with your
client, you straighten it all up.
You put your chair face in thefront, you clean up all your
combs, you put them in your,your sanitizer.
Whatever you need to do, makeit look fresh and clean and
always, always, always, do it atthe end of the day and sanitize
before you're being told I mean, my goodness, with the flu and
(11:37):
COVID and all that stuff, we allknow what to do.
Just make life easier on themanager and guess what?
You'll increase your value tothe salon.
All right, I just mentionedthis.
Don't leave your color bowlsfor others to clean and don't
leave hair in the sink and don'tleave a mess in the break room.
Basically, clean up any messyou make.
(11:58):
That's an easy one.
Don't place any tools oraccessories in your mouth, like
bobby pins, foils, clipsEspecially these days, with
germs being a top priority.
You know, we've all seen it orwe've done it.
We've used the bobby pin in ourteeth to open it.
Don't do that.
Work organized.
(12:21):
Okay.
Use your apron if you need to.
Aprons have little pockets.
You can clip your clips onthere.
Or your wristband, or get oneof those magnetic wristbands.
Don't assume clients know how tospeak our language.
They probably don't know what a4R means.
That makes sense, right?
They might not even know whatslicing versus weaving or
anything like that.
(12:41):
They don't know our language,and how many times have they sat
down in your chair and balayageand they can't even pronounce
it?
It happens.
So just communicate in termsthat the client understands.
Try to put yourself in theirshoes.
Talk so they can understandwhat you're saying.
Don't talk in our terms.
We have our own secret littlestylist language.
(13:04):
All right, here's another one.
Don't talk about your personallife.
For one thing, it's not coolfor clients to know your
personal details and second,they don't want to hear your
problems.
Going to the salon is a breakfor them.
Please don't bring drama tothem.
Keep the focus on them.
This is their time and they areactually paying for it, so make
(13:29):
it really special for them.
Here's another one Don't keepclients waiting.
You running behind shouldn't betheir problem.
How long do you think they willwait before deciding never to
go to you again?
So try to keep a tight scheduleand be mindful of time
management.
Your client's time is valuable.
(13:50):
They will respect you if yourespect them.
Don't take your clients forgranted.
Thank them for their business.
When you're done, just saythank you so much for coming in.
Everyone likes to beappreciated.
Don't call in sick.
When you aren't Not showing upfor clients will derail your
beauty career, and when you'renot in the salon, someone else
(14:14):
will have to be you.
Deciding to take the day offcould make a coworker have to
come in on his or her day off.
That is no way to be a goodteam member.
Just treat your position as aprofessional hairstylist as
valuable.
Just be responsible.
We are all adults here.
(14:35):
Don't run from clients you don'twant to do.
Oh, my goodness and I knowespecially brand new stylists
who get very anxious, do this alot.
They see a walk-in, come in thesalon a men's haircut maybe, or
a pixie cut or an A-line bob oryou know those hairstyles that
(14:55):
you're like oh, I don't knowwhat, how to do that.
I'm not very good at doing that.
Don't run from it.
It only means that yourcoworkers will have to pick up
your slack.
So what do you do?
Take the client and learn fromit.
Ask for help, if you need help.
We all do from time to time.
Heck, that's one of the bestthings you could do is help your
(15:16):
team members.
Here's one of the best thingsyou could do is help your team
members.
Here's one.
It happens.
Don't let the girls out too much.
You know what I mean.
You might have, you know, niceta-tas, but too much it takes
from your professional image itdoes.
We used to always say no boobs,no belly, no armpits.
I just I learned that a longtime ago.
(15:37):
It's just not respectful.
So dress with respect foryourself and your clients,
because your boobs are in theirface.
I mean, think about whereyou're standing.
You're doing a bang trim.
You got to be right in front oftheir nose, right?
Do you really think that womenwant to see down your blouse?
Every client counts.
Better to take the high roadthan the chance alienating
(15:58):
anyone.
Don't swear on the salon floorwhere any clients can hear you.
Don't swear.
You may think you're cool withit because they smile, but
they'll complain when you're notaround.
So hold yourself to a higherstandard and clean up your act,
and then you'll be seen as areal professional.
And, oh gosh, here's a big one.
(16:20):
Don't discuss tips on the salonfloor or with clients.
Oh my gosh, this is sounprofessional.
Oh my gosh.
And it happens.
And you may think that nobodycan hear you.
How many times, oh gosh, I'veheard people go.
She just tip me $5 and I spentthree hours on her or whatever,
(16:41):
I don't know.
I'm making that up.
Just please, don't talk abouttips and don't keep tips visible
on at your station.
Put them in your pocket, yourapron, or some salons keep
envelopes at the front desk.
So just keep your tipconversation, your bitching or
bragging in the break room outof earshot of clients.
If you, you know, if you'rewanting to talk about it like
(17:03):
don't go.
You know, don't go through thesalon going.
I just made a hundred bucks.
No, no, no, no, no, don't dothat.
Here's another one.
Don't repair flesh wounds atyour station.
Oh my goodness, you just cutyourself with scissors.
Excuse yourself and get to thebreak room and clean it up.
Your client doesn't want to seeor they don't need to see all
(17:26):
that blood and it makes themfeel like that you got cut
because you were cutting theirhair and it makes them feel a
little guilty too.
Keep a cut kit in your lockeror your salon should have one
and they do make some waterproofbandages.
That's really good for cuts onyour fingers and they have like
extra strong hold on them.
They also have cut glue thatyou can it's almost like crazy
(17:49):
glue or super glue, so you canput that on there too to stop
the bleeding.
Just excuse yourself to theclient.
Tell them you'll be right backand that you nicked yourself and
need to clean it up.
That's all you do want to smelllike you've just sanitized your
hands so they know that you're.
You know you took care of itand you want to dispose of
anything you're using on theclient while in front of them.
(18:10):
Get a clean comb, a clean brush, clean scissors.
You want the client to see thattheir health is a top priority
to you.
Don't overwhelm your clientswith your perfume or cologne.
That happens.
When I was first started out mycareer in San Diego, I remember
her saying that we weren'tallowed to wear perfume.
(18:31):
Yeah, because people haveallergies and also smells can
trigger memories, good or bad.
And what if your clone remindedthem of an ex?
They probably won't come backto you just because you smell
like somebody they hate and plusit's strong and you're in their
face.
So just, I probably justwouldn't wear it.
I, when I worked in the salon,I just never wore it and also
(18:53):
use deodorant.
All right, that wraps it up.
That's a lot, I know.
But if you go back and listento this again the do's and
don'ts make a list Heck, youmight even want to include this
in your handbook, because theseare good, these are really good.
Everything we do makes animpression on a client, whether
(19:13):
you're in the salon or outsideof the salon.
You have to be a salonprofessional.
That's what you signed up for,that's what you're in business
to do.
That's your money-making careerthere.
So, whether you're behind yourchair or behind somebody in the
Starbucks line.
You want to look like a salonprofessional, so I hope these
(19:34):
helped, hope they either madeyou laugh or conjured up some
kind of memory, or maybe justlet you think about it a little
bit that, wow, I didn't evenconsider that.
Thanks for tuning in to AllAbout Hair.
If you loved this episode, hit,subscribe, leave us a review
and share it with a fellowstylist or hair loving friend.
(19:55):
You want more tips, tools andbehind the scenes?
Goodness, follow me on YouTubeor head to my website at
denisekeilitzcom.
Yes, I know it's hard to spell,so don't worry, the link is in
the show notes.
Until next time, keep learning,keep creating and keep loving
what you do.
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