As always, I love to point out the ever so obvious in our line of work. Does it kill people to say, “Hey, Great Job!”
Recently I caught myself on repeat, saying, “It’s important to lift other hairdressers and praise them.” My girls at the shop roll their eyes so hard I’m surprised the darn things drop back into their rightful place. They are tired of hearing me say it, and I don’t blame them. Understand this about me; I always root for the underdog- still have always will. When I see a hairdresser posting less than stellar works to display on their photo album I have to remember this is her journey – and she is proud. Sometimes I follow them so it gives me a better perspective as to Where my girls are –
I want to make the girls at my shop see the best in everything. Honestly, I do, and I’m not going to lie, it’s hard.
The glee in their eyes when they discover ungodly displays of hair trash is a hard attitude to change- without a smirk. I suppose knowing you’re not alone in our super sucky starts makes us feel better. Not because we are becoming more empathetic in our field, no our glee stems from knowing better than to post anything that came out looking remotely like that trash she dared TO post.
Hairdressing is a very competitive field, and sometimes the only thing that will separate you from the crowd will be the attitude. I want the girls who work with me to be better than the rest by not bashing other girls’ work. I think it’s pointless. It’s inevitable in our line of work to hear girls talking trash about another hairdresser, but I swear to you – people are watching, and I, for one, find it reprehensible to speak of other professional stylists work in such a manner.
Just kidding- we all do it—
There is a Redken rep out there that I adore watching on Instagram. She recently did a perm with what I call “a kinda tutorial” on perms. She had no clue what she was doing and had no problems sharing her lack of knowledge on the video. The hairdresser proceeded to read out loud, in front of the client -ON the main salon floor the directions to said perm. This is after – I repeat after openly admitting to her client she hadn’t done one since hair school!
It gets better, and she would read a sentence, pause, look at the hair talk about the wrap. She was touching the hair like it was a foreign object; she was nervous. It was raw talk – and I died laughing. I wasn’t making fun of her, oh no quite the opposite I’m laughing that Finally, we have someone who doesn’t KNOW IT ALL! It was such a breath of fresh air! Every second, people watched her most vulnerable moments unfold, and I, for one, was impressed. Young hairdressers who attended her video pounced on her every wrong turn, some lifted her with encouragement others, offered praises of you can do it!
My God, how awesome was of her to post such raw moments. I was throughly engaged in the fact, no matter what the hundreds of people say to her, she keeps posting hilarious “Uh-Oh” moments. Good news though, she is getting better- and that is where the game changes. You see, it’s inevitable that that raw, uncensored hairdresser will become an amazingly talented artist.
How so? You ask – Because she is not afraid of your wild, whimsical stabs at her approach to hair – no- she keeps on chugging. I would bet for every stupid comment put on her site she received ten more, ‘Great Job!’
And That my friends are what keeps hairdressers moving through the sludge of updo horrors and perm failures. Encouragement
I’m here to tell you – give it – give it as often as you can. It’ll make you look better. I can tell you that much.
This wonderful girl is showing how we can benefit from developing new skills through experimentation. We all start from somewhere – and sometimes it’s the bare basics. SO great job, kiddo!
Hair Salon Owner rooting you sloppy first timers out there the best of luck!
BookPressed.com Owner– Heather Lea
whackedadventures.com 