The glorious part about working as a hairdresser for over 30 years is this; you find what you are good at. I’ve found enjoyment in this business training new hairdressers fresh from school to working behind a chair.
It is no easy task- it is taxing, and it is repetitive.
In this article, I will go over some real roadblocks that will happen to the newbies out there and give you stylists real answers to your questions. More than —commission or booth rent. Hopefully, this can help with some anxieties you will have to get over within the first month.
Let’s get to it, shall we
It’s your first week – Let’s pretend you have no clients, what then?
GET USED TO YOUR SPACE
Your first week, you will notice a flow to the salon and pay particular attention. Watch how the stylist greets their clients. Smiles, quick greetings, how are you? Watch the stylist talk to the client about their hair, listen to the questions, memorize these questions.
Relax- work with your chair – ask to shampoo a fellow stylist to get used to the chair, so you’re not a total dork when you attempt your first shampoo. Don’t sit your client up without that towel around her- I have seen this so often with new stylists- slow down. Believe it or not HOW you shampoo tells the client LOADS, so get better at it quickly. Ask another stylist who is known for shampooing to shampoo you. Copy that – be That.
GET A RYTHUM
Greet- Show them where to put their purse- coat-Use a CLEAN CAPE-
STAND IN FRONT OF THE PERSON IN YOUR CHAIR and ASK
“What do you hate about your hair? Now tell me what you LOVE about your hair.”
Watch them light up-it’s a question not asked often.
Most, if not all first encounters with clients involve the same questions. Please pay particular attention to where their hands fall while they are explaining their hair to you. Have the client SHOW you what they think an inch is. Even if your haircut is subpar- they won’t forget the time you spent TRYING to please them.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO TELL THEM YOU ARE IN TRAINING
Your first week will be weird; you’ll be happy – scared- disappointed and confused.
It is all very typical, and don’t expect anything less. What’s worse is- it will feel like this every day for the first year. Go easy on yourself – remember you are not the first person to do this, and you won’t be the last. When you explain to the client you are IN training, they appreciate the HONESTY; it opens up a door of understanding when you need help YOU Ask.
Quick things to help you look cool
Don’t over comb; take two to four swipes then get to it.
OPEN your shears- stop taking out mouse bites – don’t be afraid to CUT
Part down the back in a ‘Y’ -work bottom first- the sides – around the front – work from the top down.
LIFT your elbows when drying the hair
WATCH HOW TO CUT WITH ELEVATION
Get a pair of GREAT SHEARS —GET A AWESOME CAPE—-USE AWESOME EQUIPMENT— Don’t skimp on these. You’ll need to focus on a great blow dryer- at least two curling irons – 1 needs to be around ¾ –flat iron – 2 round brushes – 1 wet brush – 2 foil combs – 1 rat tail comb– clips -jaws and flat clips –Jaws for the thick hair – flat for fine thin hair and while working with foils.
The next step is working on your lines – for MOST beginners, I’m going to need you to BACK UP from the client -look at the line – does the bottom line look straight? You’ll be surprised how that line looks when your not on top of it. Get a different view – again, SLOW down but NOT at a snail’s pace.
Walk around to the client’s FRONT, pull the hair down and measure – use facial features as guides – the lips the chin – you get it- our eyes don’t come out and apart, so don’t guess- check.
Not sure about the bangs? Wait till you dry the hair to see where the lines need to be.
Finally- LEARN how to blow dry correctly- THIS IS THE MUST DO. It is your base for EVERYTHING- I can tell you one thing I do know- IF your elbows are not UP – you are not doing it correctly.
These are some of the points I work on with my new stylists – please, if you have any questions, ask.
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