Hairdresser Speak: Communicating With Your Hairdresser
ð€ÇYes, I loved it.ð€ÝHas anyone else cut it since?
ð€ÝNo.ð€Ý
And you liked the length?
ð€ÇYesð€”I got so many compliments on it.ð€Ý
In my mind, if itð€™s been six months since her last cut with me, and she liked it, simple math tells me that if hair grows an average of half an inch per month, then it was three inches shorter when I last cut it. I decided for safetyð€™s sake to cut just an inch and a half. It seemed a better length.
When I turned her to the mirror she was shocked. Oh my, thatð€™s short! I repeated our consultation when she remembered, ð€ÇOh yeah, I DID get one haircut in between.ð€Ý
Though the haircut was attractive on her, she wasnð€™t comfortable with the length, and I wasnð€™t comfortable with her being uncomfortable. Had we communicated better, and had I trusted my intuition, Ið€™d have pressed further. Fortunately her words, ð€ÇItð€™s just hair, it will grow,ð€Ý helped. I will remember everything the next time sheð€™s in my chair and will undoubtedly just trim the ends.
ð€Ç I told him to cut it over my ears, but he thought I meant OVER my ears.ð€Ý
ð€“From a client in the chair
What you say. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What we think.
I want something fun. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â She wants choppy texture.
I want it to feel sexy. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â She wants movement and length.
I donð€™t want it too neat.                        She doesnð€™t want to feel old.
I donð€™t want to look frumpy.                She needs more makeup.
I need it long enough to pull back. Â Â Â Â Â Â She wants control.
I look terrible with short hair. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Trim the ends.
I like fullness. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â She feels fat.
Not too short. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wa wa wahh, wa wa wa wahhh.
I donð€™t have time.                                   She wonð€™t take time.
My husband likes long hair. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â She likes long hair.
I have a fat face.                                     If I had a pennyð€¦
How long have you been cutting            Sheð€™s testing me.
hair? Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Can you come do this every                  Sheð€™s not going to style it.
morning?
It has to be easy. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wa wa wahh, was wa wa wahhh. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Whatever you think. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â She trusts me.
Youð€™re the professional.                        I love you.
Do you think its short enough? Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â She wants more off.
Ið€™ll have to work with it myself            She doesnð€™t like how Ið€™m styling it.
Ið€™ll have to get used to it.                      She hates it.
Ok, itð€™s fine.                                          She wants to get out of the chair, fast!
Remember, communicating with your hairdresser is like communicating in any relationship. Be honest. You may not know what you want, and we don"t need you to tell us, but we do need a direction. Do you want a change but are afraid? Tell us. Do you want the same hairstyle, but are afraid you"re being boring? Tell us. We get it, we just need to communicate.