Breaking up with your Hairstylist???

Have any of you beautynistas ever been really satisfied with the salon you visit, but not necessarily with the stylist you see?? Do you find yourself struggling to try to convince your stylist to do what you want her to do rather than the same old thing?  Has your eye been wandering to the hair stylist's chair across the room because her clients are always leaving the chair with an awesome do?  It happens!  So many people are afraid to A- tell their stylist that they aren't happy and want to try a new look or color or B- that they really would like to start seeing another stylist in the same salon.  It is a really uncomfortable situation but just like relationships come and go, so do hairstylists.   And once you find that one right person, you aren't giving them up!  Here are a few tips I have found work the best when it comes to breaking up with your stylist or talking them in to making a change.

Let's talk baby steps.  If you are not ready to make the final split but are not happy with the way you hair has been looking the last few salon visits, here is some help.  Make sure you KNOW exactly what you want.  You can not sit in your stylist's chair and tell them you are unhappy with you hair and not be able to tell them what exactly it is that you are unhappy with.  Is it the layers, is it too brassy, is it too dark, to limp, to short?  No matter what it is, you need to be ready to articulate that to them.  Too many times clients sit in the chair and say they want to change something, that their hair has been driving them nuts, but then they can't explain what it is they want to be done differently.  Don't misunderstand, it is not your responsibility as a client to know what needs to be done to fix the problem, but it is your responsibility to know what the problem is.  Example: if your hair is lacking volume and movement in a certain area, then your stylist should know to switch up your layers a bit, enhance your volume with the cut.  However no stylist is a miracle worker and some clients just have very fine, thin hair.  A stylist can do all the tricks in her handy book and sometimes your hair will continue to lay flatter based simply on your hair type.  If this is the case, unfortunately beautynistas, you have your genes to blame, not your stylist.  Now with that being said, any good stylist is going to do her absolute best to trick your hair in to the opposite. 

Now on the other hand, let's say you have done all you can.  You have told your stylist time and time again that you are not happy with your hair and have been very specific as to what it is you are unhappy with and it continues to be a problem.  At this point, I fully encourage a break up.  Not everything is meant to last forever!  But here lies the problem of the day, how do you tell your stylist you would like to see another stylist..in the same salon?!  Tricky!  First off, do not, and I repeat do NOT try to have to stylist you would like to start seeing do the dirty work for you.  Many clients will approach the desired stylist privately (lets call her Lisa) and try to have them go to the previous stylist (lets call her Jan) with a little speech that usually goes something like this " So I spoke with your client and she wants to make an appointment with me, would you mind"?  NOT OK!  This will only cause drama beautynistas, and salons in and of themselves have enough drama and gossip going on an a good day.  Not only that, but this will only make it more awkward for you when you show up to your next appointment with Lisa instead of Jan.  If you have not had an official conversation with Jan and are showing up for appointments with Lisa, heads are going to turn.  And let's face it, eventually it will become super uncomfortable with you trying to avoid eye contact in the salon with Jan or worse, trying to book your appointments on the days she is off work behind her back.  Eventually you will want to leave the salon in general,  leaving you back at square one!

 Now if your not the nervy type, you can blame it on scheduling.  Find out what days Jan is off from the salon, let's pretend Wednesdays are her day off.  Assuming that works for your schedule, simply explain to her that you are only able to come in on Wednesdays now ( your kid has soccer practice, your work schedule changed, whatever it takes) and you are thinking of booking with Lisa next time because she is here on Wednesdays.  Now trust me Jan is NOT going to want to come in on her day off for one client, or switch her schedule for one client so this is usually a quick and easy way to take care of this sticky situation. 

Let's now pretend the scheduling excuse, for whatever reason, is not going to work.  Here is how you should handle it.  First off, know that unfortunately, no matter what, it will be an uncomfortable conversation to have.  If you know that in advance you should be fine.  First try looking for something or some technique that you really like about the new stylist.  Example: she does great blow dry's, she is awesome with layering, she is super experienced with blonde color (or whatever color you may be), she specializes in curly hair.  If you have something like that to say to back you up, then you have a little more of a leg to stand on.  Start by saying "You know Jan, I love you and your work but I have just been really unhappy with my hair lately, and I think it is just time for a change.  I always notice how great Lisa works with blonde hair and if you wouldn't mind I think I would like to try her out next time."  Now I won't lie to you and say that Jan is not going to be offended but we can all only hope that Jan is a team player and would rather lose a client to Lisa (who can refer clients back to her later) than to lose a client to another salon completely.


Let's be clear here,  I am in no way sitting here telling you that this is an easy thing to do.  But there are ways to do it to make it less stressful and awkward.  As a air stylist, we have all been broken up with or have had to break up with clients ourselves, it happens.  I think I speak for us all when I say that we would all prefer honesty.  Good luck beautynistas!!!  Stand your ground!  If any of you have any similar experiences to this or any further advice, please reach out in the comment section below :)