What if your actions outside the salon could make or break your career? Join me in this eye-opening episode of "All About Hair," where I pull back the curtain on how a stylist's behavior and professionalism impact not just their own reputation but the entire salon's success. I'll be sharing personal stories and invaluable insights into maintaining a presentable image in public, navigating diverse personalities within the salon, and why every word you say matters. If you've ever wondered how your off-duty conduct affects your clientele and workplace environment, this episode is a must-listen.
But that's not all. I'll also offer key tips on essential salon etiquette to help you enhance client satisfaction and cultivate a positive, harmonious salon atmosphere. Learn about the significance of separating personal life from professional interactions, the criticality of punctuality, and the importance of showing gratitude to your clients. We’ll tackle how to handle difficult tasks with grace, maintain a professional appearance, and avoid common pitfalls like discussing tips or personal matters in front of clients. Finish off with a special call to action that encourages you to share and review the episode, growing our community and spreading these crucial insights far and wide. Don't miss this chance to elevate your professional journey and ensure the success of your salon!
What if your actions outside the salon could make or break your career? Join me in this eye-opening episode of "All About Hair," where I pull back the curtain on how a stylist's behavior and professionalism impact not just their own reputation but the entire salon's success. I'll be sharing personal stories and invaluable insights into maintaining a presentable image in public, navigating diverse personalities within the salon, and why every word you say matters. If you've ever wondered how your off-duty conduct affects your clientele and workplace environment, this episode is a must-listen.
But that's not all. I'll also offer key tips on essential salon etiquette to help you enhance client satisfaction and cultivate a positive, harmonious salon atmosphere. Learn about the significance of separating personal life from professional interactions, the criticality of punctuality, and the importance of showing gratitude to your clients. We’ll tackle how to handle difficult tasks with grace, maintain a professional appearance, and avoid common pitfalls like discussing tips or personal matters in front of clients. Finish off with a special call to action that encourages you to share and review the episode, growing our community and spreading these crucial insights far and wide. Don't miss this chance to elevate your professional journey and ensure the success of your salon!
Hey and happy, almost summertime, right. I am taking off a few weeks here and there, so I've decided to go back into my episodes and see what are some of the most popular episodes that you guys have loved, and this is one of them salon etiquette outside of the salon. It's huge. As a stylist did you know that that really does affect your business and your salon's business. I'm glad you guys enjoyed this episode. I hope you'll enjoy it again and thanks for letting me take off a few weeks.
Speaker 1:
Welcome to All About Hair, the go-to podcast for stylists, salon owners and anyone passionate about hairstyling. Whether you're a seasoned stylist refining your skills or a curious listener looking to enhance your hair knowledge, we've got you covered. I'm your host, denise Kylitz, a former stylist and salon owner with four award-winning salons under my belt, with over 30 years of experience, I've dedicated myself to helping stylists excel in foundational haircutting, color theory, client communication and more, enabling them to build six-figure careers they can be proud of. My mission is to uplift our industry by sharing valuable insights gathered along my journey. Get ready for enlightening discussions, captivating interviews and practical advice on marketing, sales and technical skills. This is the podcast all about hair.
Speaker 1:
Have you ever been sitting in another business hair salon, coffee shop, doctor's office and you are watching maybe an employee who's off duty at the moment, because you happen to know or you notice that they just clocked out or whatever and they're in street clothes. But you know their employee. Maybe they came in to say hi on their day off or something and they start ranting about another employee. Yeah, that's happened to me. I was sitting there and this girl I knew she worked there, you could tell that's happened to me. I was sitting there and this girl I knew she worked there, you could tell and she was dropping the F bomb and a few other you know ugly words about the boss and it was kind of awkward. I felt awkward and I wanted to leave. So I ask you, did her actions, even though she was off work, affect the perception of the business? In my eyes? You bet it did. Here's my point Everything that happens within the salon, good or bad, affects the bottom line. You see, professional hairstylists don't realize how their actions and words affect a client's perception of the salon Anywhere you go, if they know that you work at that salon. Anything, whether you're in target, whether you were shopping, whether you're in your street clothes, you're at a bar partying, that affects how that customer, that client, feels about the salon that you work at. So if you're just starting your beauty career, if you are in your beauty career and you're wondering why don't I have enough clients, or if you're a salon owner and truly trying to figure out how to get new stylists in your salon, think about your actions outside of the salon.
Speaker 1:
I remember a long time ago I used to be a Mary Kay rep and I remember the director that's what they were called who leads the community of Mary Kay consultants that's what they were called. She would say you need to look your part, even when you're not working, because you never know when you run into somebody who might need you and that's kind of stuck with me, meaning, if you aren't working that day and you're going grocery shopping or to the doctor's office or whatever, at least have your hair and makeup done. You could be wearing leggings or whatever, but you never know when a conversation is going to come up and you could whip out your your business card and say, hey, I happen to do hair Now. It doesn't have to be completely done and looking a hundred percent, but don't go out with your hair sticking up all over the place and looking like you just rolled out of bed, because you never know your next guest. Your next client might be sitting right next to you at a coffee shop and you need to look your best. Anyway, that's on a tangent. I'm sorry, but that advice has always stayed with me. Now, am I always looking my best? No, but I try to at least look presentable.
Speaker 1:
Let's get back to some of the things that happen in a salon, the do's and the don'ts, if we will. Okay, so basically you know that there's a ton of different personalities that work together in a salon. Everyone has an effect on the feel of the salon and of your client perception of the salon. Okay, we have all kinds of people in the salon. Right, you would think you've got your person who has a big ego. You got your really cool hairstylist. You got your salon manager that wants everything going click, click, click. Maybe you've got somebody who's bipolar and you never know what how they're going to be when they walk in the salon. Maybe you've got somebody who's really sweet and just neutral about everything. And maybe then you have somebody who's very aggressive and very loud and you've got to know how to work with every personality. So let's get to our list.
Speaker 1:
Okay, our first thing is don't shout or talk loud enough for the entire salon to hear you. This isn't a nightclub, it's a business. Do talk at a normal level so as not to interfere with other stylist conversations with their clients. Have you ever been in a salon and there's somebody at the shampoo bowl and they're shouting across the salon? That's what I'm talking about. Or if you have like eight stations and you have a stylist at a station across the salon, that's what I'm talking about. Or if you have like eight stations and you have a stylist at a station across the room and they're yelling to the front desk hey, can you add a toner to my whatever? Don't do that. That is, that's just not professional. I think you know what I'm talking about. We've all been there, we've all heard that and it's very awkward and it just it makes me cringe. So don't do that.
Speaker 1:
Okay, don't wear bangle bracelets that make noise in a client's ear. It will drive them crazy and they won't come back to you. So if you want to wear jewelry, wear tasteful jewelry to match your outfit. Bracelets are fine, just not the noisy ones, and you know what I'm talking about there too. Right, when you're shampooing and they go, you know your bracelets are all dangling and yeah, it happens, it happens. So just be mindful of that when you're getting ready. Save your bracelets, your bangle bracelets for going out to dinner, having date night, whatever. Just keep the client in mind at all times.
Speaker 1:
Okay, here's a big one. Don't gossip about coworkers. Drama runs rampant in a salon, especially in that break room. Don't be the one that starts the storms or adds to them. It makes for a very uncomfortable work environment and that is just really unpleasant for you and it's stressful to your clients because they can hear it, they know it. So make it a habit to walk away from gossip and don't participate. Believe me, it can be done, just walk away. If you heard somebody in the break room and they're starting to talk about a coworker, just say hey, we don't do that, just walk away.
Speaker 1:
All right, here's a big one. Don't ever, ever have your cell phone on the salon floor. It is one of the most unprofessional 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. I once saw a stylist talking on her cell while cutting a man's hair. What? It was unbelievable to me. How would you feel if she was cutting your hair? If you have to check your messages, check it during your break. I do know that we allowed cell phones at the stations only if they were pulling up Pinterest or getting ideas for haircuts, using it for their consultation, because our program actually had the consultation forms that the stylist could get on their cell phones, but they were not allowed to take phone calls, check messages, anything like that. It is just so unprofessional and it really does make your 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.
Speaker 1:
These are the three industry no-no's. Oh, my goodness, you could start a war zone in the salon. Just don't go there. You don't know who's sitting in your chair. You don't know who's sitting in the chair next to you. It could be a senator's wife and you're sitting here talking politics. Or it could be somebody who's had terrible relationships or had something terrible happen to her and you're sitting here talking about your you know sexual rendezvous. I don't know. You don't know what's going on. So keep it clean. Ask a client about their work or their hobby. This keeps the focus on them and it is appropriate conversation and you could take it from there. All right, here's one that this has happened in a salon and it's a hard one to. I don't know you'll get it when I tell you Don't stink.
Speaker 1:
I know, I know it's one of the most common complaints from clients A stylist smelling like smoke. It's very unpleasant for a non-smoker and they will not return to you. I won't. I don't smoke cigarettes, I don't want to be around cigarette smoke and it is if you don't smoke cigarettes and you're around that it is just like blaring in your face. So not only are the cigarettes costing you money, they can cost you clients, which is money, understand. So just quit. Sounds simple, right, but seriously, keep Febreze or mouthwash in the break room and make sure to wash your hands too. Don't believe that a spritz of perfume will mask that smell. What you can do is wear an old smock and disposable gloves to smoke. This will keep the smell off your clothes.
Speaker 1:
All right, here's one. Don't poach clients from other stylists. Now, in our salon we used to share clients and we loved that whole idea. Hey, if I'm not available, you can go to anybody in here, as long as you're walking in our two doors. We're glad to have you. We loved it that way. However, not every salon is designed that way, so you need to build your own clientele and if you need help with that, I've got a couple of my podcasts. I'll link them in the show notes below. That will help you build your clientele and if you need advice on that, reach out to me. I can help you with that. All right, another don't. All right, I just paused it to clear my throat a little bit. Okay, another one Don't be a lazy professional hairstylist.
Speaker 1:
The salon's cleanliness is the responsibility of every person who works in those four walls. The condition of your equipment and your station is your responsibility. A lazy hairstylist affects the entire team. Someone always has to pick up the slack from the lazy ones, and don't let that be you. It damages your reputation to be seen as the lazy one and brings down the value of the salon. Yes, every salon has a lazy professional and it is really hard to manage because they don't see themselves that way, throwing their bowls in the sink and thinking they're going to get back to them, and they never do. You know who I'm talking about. Everybody has one on their team.
Speaker 1:
So what do you do? Do your part and then some, keep your station clean and sanitized. We used to always say your station needs to look fresh, every single client. It needs to look like they are the very first client of the day. So what does that mean? It means after every time you're done with your client, you straighten it all up, you put your chair face in the front, you clean up all your combs, you put them in your, your sanitizer. Whatever you need to do, make it look fresh and clean and always, always, always, do it at the end of the day and sanitize before you're being told. I mean, my goodness, with the flu and COVID and all that stuff. We all know what to do. Just make life easier on the manager and guess what? You'll increase your value to the salon. All right, I just mentioned this.
Speaker 1:
Don't leave your color bowls for others to clean and don't leave hair in the sink and don't leave a mess in the break room. Basically, clean up any mess you make. That's an easy one. Don't place any tools or accessories in your mouth, like bobby pins, foils clips, especially these days with germs being a top priority. You know, we've all seen it or we've done it. We've used the bobby pin in our teeth to open it. Don't do that. Work organized. Okay, use your apron if you need to. Aprons have little pockets. You can clip your clips on there. Or your wristband, or get one of those magnetic wristbands. I think I have a link on my giftsforstylistcom. Go over there, check it out.
Speaker 1:
Okay, don't assume clients know how to speak our language. They probably don't know what a 4R means. That makes sense, right? They might not even know what slicing versus weaving or anything like that. They don't know our language. And how many times have they sat down in your chair and balayage and they can't even pronounce it? It happens. So just communicate in terms that the client understands. Try to put yourself in their shoes. Talk so they can understand what you're saying. Don't talk in our terms. We have our own secret little stylist language.
Speaker 1:
All right, here's another one. Don't talk about your personal life. For one thing, it's not cool for clients to know your personal details and, second, they don't want to hear your problems. Going to the salon is a break for them. Please don't bring drama to them. Keep the focus on them. This is their time and they are actually paying for it, so make it really special for them.
Speaker 1:
Here's another one. Don't keep clients waiting. You running behind shouldn't be their problem. How long do you think they will wait before deciding never to go to you again? Hmm, so try to keep a tight schedule and be mindful of time management. Your client's time is valuable. They will respect you if you respect them. Don't take your clients for granted. Thank them for their business. When you're done, just say thank you so much for coming in. Everyone likes to be appreciated. Don't call in sick when you aren't Not showing up, for clients will derail your beauty career and when you're not in the salon, someone else will have to be. You deciding to take the day off could make a coworker have to come in on his or her day off. That is no way to be a good team member. Just treat your position as a professional hairstylist as valuable. Just be responsible. We are all adults here. Valuable. Just be responsible. We are all adults here.
Speaker 1:
Don't run from clients you don't want to do. Oh, my goodness and I know especially brand new stylists who get very anxious do this a lot. They see a walk-in, come in the salon. A men's haircut maybe, or a pixie cut or an A-line bob or you know those hairstyles that you're like. Oh, I don't know what, how to do that. I'm not very good at doing that. Don't run from it. It only means that your coworkers will have to pick up your slack. So what, what do you do? Take the client and learn from it. Ask for help If you need help. We all do from time to time. Heck, that's one of the best things you could do is help your team members. Here's one. It happens.
Speaker 1:
Don't let the girls out too much. You know what I mean. You might have, you know, nice ta-tas, but too much it takes from your professional image it does. We used to always say no boobs, no belly, no armpits. I just I learned that a long time ago. It's just not respectful. So dress with respect for yourself and your clients, because your boobs are in their face. I mean, think about where you're standing. You're doing a bang trim. You got to be right in front of their nose, right? Do you really think that women want to see down your blouse? She may be thinking hooker instead of professional. Every client counts. Better to take the high road than the chance alienating anyone.
Speaker 1:
Don't swear on the salon floor where any clients can hear you. Don't swear. You may think you're cool with it because they smile, but they'll complain when you're not around. So hold yourself to a higher standard and clean up your act and then you'll be seen as a real professional. And oh gosh, here's a big one.
Speaker 1:
Don't discuss tips on the salon floor or with clients. Oh my gosh, this is so unprofessional. Oh my gosh. And it happens. And you may think that nobody can hear you. How many times, oh gosh, I've heard people go. She just tip me $5 and I spent three hours on her, or whatever, I don't know, I'm making that up. Just please, don't talk about tips and don't keep tips visible on at your station. Put them in your pocket, your apron, or some salons keep envelopes at the front desk. So just keep your tip conversation, your bitching or bragging in the break room out of earshot of clients. If you, you know, if you're wanting to talk about it, like especially with the holidays here and people are leaving big tips, whoa, don't go. You know, don't go through the salon going. I just made a hundred bucks. No, no, no, no, no. Don't do that. Here's another one Don't repair flesh wounds at your station.
Speaker 1:
Oh my goodness. You just cut yourself with scissors, excuse yourself and get to the break room and clean it up. Your client doesn't want to see or they don't need to see all that blood and it makes them feel like that you got cut because you were cutting their hair and it makes them feel a little guilty too. Keep a cut kit in your locker or your salon should have one and they do make some waterproof bandages. That's really good for cuts on your fingers and they have like extra strong hold on them. They also have cut glue that you can. It's almost like crazy glue or super glue, so you can put that on there too to stop the bleeding. Just excuse yourself to the client. Tell them you'll be right back and that you nicked yourself and need to clean it up. That's all you do want to smell like. You've just sanitized your hands so they know that you're you know you took care of it and you want to dispose of anything you're using on the client while in front of them. Get a clean comb, a clean brush, clean scissors. You want the client to see that their health is a top priority to you.
Speaker 1:
Don't overwhelm your clients with your perfume or cologne. That happens. When I first started out my career in San Diego, I remember her saying that we weren't allowed to wear perfume. Yeah, because people have allergies and also smells can trigger memories, good or bad. And what if your clone reminded them of an ex? They probably won't come back to you just because you smell like somebody they hate and plus, it's strong and you're in their face. So, just, I probably just wouldn't wear it. I, when I worked in the salon, I just never wore it and also use deodorant. All right, that wraps it up. That's a lot, I know. But if you go back and listen to this again the do's and don'ts make a list Heck, you might even want to include this in your handbook, because these are good. These are really good.
Speaker 1:
Everything we do makes an impression on a client. Whether you're in the salon or outside of the salon, you have to be a salon professional. That's what you signed up for, that's what you're in business to do. That's your money-making career there. So, whether you're behind your chair or behind somebody in the Starbucks line, you want to look like a salon professional. So I hope these helped. Hope they either made you laugh or conjured up some kind of memory, or maybe just let you think about it a little bit, that, wow, I didn't even consider that.
Speaker 1:
Thanks so much for tuning in to this episode of All About Hair. Here's what I'd love for you to do next. Take a screenshot of this episode and share it on your Instagram stories. Be sure to tag me at Denise Kylitz so I can see that you're listening. Sharing on your stories helps more people discover this podcast, allowing them to learn how to build their salon business more easily and faster. If you're really enjoying the show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and leave All About Hair a review. Your support helps boost the podcast and it makes it easier for others to find All right. Let's wrap this up. I'm Denise Keilitz, and until next week, remember when you know better, you do better.