What Does A Hairdresser's Client Expect from you?

You may have started as a junior or an apprentice, either way you were sweeping floors, passing stuff to the operator, running errands until you developed onto shampooing and while all that was going on you may have notices how a client was received when they walked in the door.....at least I hope you did.

You would have seen a polite greeting or maybe a friendly one but regardless, it would have been respectful. A client comes to your salon to be pampered and fussed over apart from wishing to look good on exit.

They expect a quality of service from the boss right down to the junior because they are willing to pay for it and of course, they don't get it at home. With the choices she has, you had better make sure that she gets what she expects or she'll be off down the road next time.

As a junior you're expected to watch and learn and of course in some salons you actually get trained in a programmed course specifically designed by the firm you work for as they do at the Maidenhead Hairdressers my wife goes to. New clients are a little apprehensive and need what can be described as 'being led'. They don't know where to put their coat or where to go until you show them so the services starts immediately they have completed the check in at reception.

In good salons a junior or sometimes even the actual operator will greet them at reception and ask for their coat followed by offering help with a gown or cover of some sort.

The client should then be led confidently and courteously to a pre-determined position in the salon. You should never just walk off and expect to be followed without some sort of verbal instruction. It's all part of salon etiquette.

As a senior you now have the task of establishing what 'madam' wants to be done to her locks. Some clients know exactly and others will just 'leave it to you'. If you have the latter on your chair and it's only a simple cut and dry, just remember this.

Do not just get on with it. Be sure to offer a verbal suggestion using your hands to portray the image in her mind, mention the current length and where it will be at the end. If it's one length, point it out on her head, neck, shoulder or back, depending on the final result. Other than that, unless you know her well, touching anywhere other than her head is taboo.

If it's to be layers then explain that and if possible show her an example either on a live person or a photograph or video. If you go through these motions there's very little she can argue about at the end if she's not happy with the result. If 'madam' know what she wants and you have the knowledge and skills then it's odds on you have a client for a very long period

You've been trained in what styles suit what shaped face and know enough to cover any blemishes on or near her hairline. As an example, if she has a broad neck you should do what you can to make it look narrower so, no horizontal cutting. Obviously the opposite is true if she is very thin at the base of her rear hairline.

Of course you need to sell some ideas and products to her and each salon has a training procedure for that so I won't elaborate on it other than suggesting that you'll take into account her age and whether she requires something fashionable for a particular occasion or if she wants something practical because of her job or she's a busy mother.

At all times however, remember that she came in to be pampered and to feel good when she leaves.

By Peter Charalambos of iMarkets-Group.com A Marketing Management site for Maidenhead Hairdressers