Im one of the luckiest stylist as ½ my clients i've had for 15 plus years, although I could fill a bathtub with sticky notes of secrets i've held over the years from family secrets to personal secrets. Although it's hard not to give advice to a client, there is definitely a line you do not cross..As my mother said, she has a bucket of secrets in her memory banks she files and closes each file.Even though the relationships between client and hair designer is, each in their own right, special, there is definitely a line that should never be crossed.
For example, i would never tell a client to leave her husband as there are always two sides to every story and over time, even though your bond with that client is strong, you never want to be blamed for anything.I would never go out drinking with a client, nor would i ever allow them to see my personal faults as I am here for them.In the same toaken, as a client, you have seen your stylist go through each stage of life. You have experiences his or her good times and bad times.The birth of her children, his or her break ups, and the changes in their lives.
On a professional level, your stylist has your personal image in their hands. If you have a great relationship with your stylist, and are happy with what they always do with your looks, why would you ever change or leave? The number one reason a client leaves a stylist, is that clients get bored. This one ive never understood as if you have a great relationship with your stylist, you SHOULD be able to tell your stylist you want a different look or that your bored.
Sometimes it’s just a matter of a client moving. The statistics tell us that per year, 10% move, die or get bored. Another 2% just don't get along with each others personalities. But whatever the reason you have, or are thinking of leaving your stylist,whether you have been with them a year or 20 years, never leave them without face to face telling them why you're leaving.Give them a chance to right a wrong or fix something that has broken.After all, most relationships are built upon mutual respect, trust and an undying bond.
Before we owned Ajswigs, we also owned two other salons, and the one main policy we had with our staff is that our door was always open to them, no matter what. Over the 26 years between the 3 salons we had hundreds of employees and the number one reason our stylists would get upset is that one of their long term clients left them.As bosses, we would go over the normal things like… were you always suggesting different looks for them? Did you do this and that? But what bothered them the most about a client leaving, is that most clients leave without saying goodbye, or thank you for your years of service or thank you for your friendship etc etc. Losing a client is truly like losing a friend.
We stylists are a rare breed. We are creative, sensitive but most of all, we really value each and every client as a friend, and when we lose such a friendship, it hurts.The relationship between stylist and client is sacred. Sometimes we know more then their families know.They say, that we know more then most of our clients therapists know.
If you have had the same stylist for years, and you consider them a friend, then always be open and honest with them and never leave them without saying thank you, lets continue to be friends. And to the stylist out there reading this, treat each and every client as you want and deserve to be treated.Never take a client for granted and never under estimate the clients needs and desires to feel special. After all, you are their "release" from a hectic life and they need you to be many things.