How To Find A Hair Good Stylist
The day will come when you will have to find a new stylist. It is
as inevitable as death, and about as pleasant.
In the days before I became involved in the beauty industry, I can
recall when my very pregnant stylist informed me, that after the
baby was born she would no longer be cutting hair.
Once the initial shock wore off, I manifested emotions such as -
denial, anger, pleadings to God, and pretended acceptance. When at
last it was time for my next haircut and not knowing what else to
do or where else to go, I simply returned to the same salon and
another girl cut my hair.
Not only did she do a fine job on my hair, she changed the look
altogether and it was much better than the already terrific job her
former coworker had been doing, and I remained a client at that
salon for the next fourteen years.
I took this lesson with me when I entered the beauty industry. You
might argue that it was just dumb luck, but it wasn't. Throughout
those fourteen years my stylists changed many times, but the
quality of service and workmanship did not. This was because I went
to an excellent salon with superior staff training and
mentoring.
In other words, it is finding the right salon that is critical, not
the right stylist, and all the better so as stylists tend to move
on every year or so, for no particular reason.
Over the years I have been asked many times how to find a good
stylist or salon and over time I have worked out the following
formula with very good results:
1. Do not ask friends, relatives or coworkers whom they
recommend.
As it turns out they will rarely tell you who their stylist really
is because over the course of time they have told that stylist
every detail about their personal life and they don't want it to
slip out. They also don't want you to show up with the same cut and
style that they have.
What they will do is give you the name of a relative or friend who
cuts hair because every single person on the face of the earth is
related to a hair stylist, or at least knows one socially. If you
actually go there and you are unsatisfied with the service, there
is no graceful way out of the situation without offending the
person who gave you the referral.
Instead I recommend asking a total stranger. If you see someone on
the street or at the grocery store who has a cut that you like,
simply stop them and ask. You needn't be embarrassed, it is quite
flattering to the person whom you stopped and they will be eager to
brag up their salon or stylist. After you have done this a few
times you will see a pattern emerge.
2. Age, gender, sexual orientation, race, and years of experience,
have nothing to do with the talent of a stylist.
Don't get caught up in those nonsensical stereotypes. They will
neither serve you, or become you.
Instead I recommend screening the salon. Do they have an internship
or apprentice program for training their new stylists. How often do
they have education in the salon, (other than product education).
How often do they go to an IBS, (International Beauty Show), in
Long Beach, Chicago or New York. How many of them have been to an
advanced academy with Toni & Guy, American Crew, Paul Mitchell
or the like.
In my salon we bring select beauty school students into our
internship program for six months. By the time they graduate beauty
school they hit the floor running and are usually better than
stylists who have been cutting hair for five years or more in other
salons. We have mandatory technical training in the salon every two
weeks. Failure to attend is grounds for immediate dismissal.
Stylists are required to either attend an advanced academy at their
own expense, ($1,000 - $3,000), or attend an IBS at a minimum of
once every two years. Twice per year our stylists are required to
compete in a National Cosmetology Association hair cutting
competition or State competition. Every single stylist is required
to do straight razor cuts from day one.
Now, I don't expect every salon to meet our standards, but I do
expect to see some degree of professionalism above that of the
average salon, or they don't get to touch my hair.
3. Last but not least, I always give the straight razor test.
Walk up to a stylist in the salon who isn't doing anything and ask
him or her to show you their straight razor. If it isn't in their
tool belt or on their station ready for use, or if it has a guard
on it, turn and go. Those people are not serious about hair
cutting. Imagine your plumber not knowing how to use a
wrench.
If the salon is dedicated to being the best, you can bet the
stylists are too, and it does not matter a hoot whom you choose in
that salon.
END.
by: Damien R. von Dahlem, HairStyles Magazine, http://www.hairstylesmagazine.org/articles/hair-salon-advice/find-good-hair-stylist.html
Jason: edited to attribute source