How to Be Your Barber or Stylists' Favorite Client

It always surprises me that clients sometimes show such disregard for the person who is cutting their hair.  They can often run late, be rude or disrespectful, and not fully appreciate the role the barber or stylist plays in their lives.  Your hair is an important part of your look and self-image, so finding the right person and treating that person well, will help you get the most out of your salon visit and get the best haircut possible.  Following are my insiders tips on how to become your barber or stylists' favorite client.
 
Be Nice
This sounds like a no-brainer, but it is true.  Even if you are not the best tipper or if you have difficult hair, if you are nice to the person cutting it, that goes a long way.  Being behind the chair for eight hours a day is hard work -- it's difficult on the back, feet, and wrists.  You are covered in other people's hair all day.  It can be a pretty tough career, but sometimes that smiling face that walks through the door can make it completely worthwhile.
 We appreciate those clients who go above and beyond basic salon etiquette.   As a barber, I consider it my job to make your day -- not only by making you look better, but making you feel better, too.  My clients who reciprocate that feeling are my favorites!
 
Know What You Want
Few things get on a barber or stylists nerves more than a client who is indecisive.  It's important to know what you want before you sit down.  Of course, a good barber or stylist will help guide you to choose the perfect haircut, but if you're not sure what you are after in the first place, that can lead to miscommunication and frustration.  Once your haircutter has finished the cut, leave it alone (unless there are obvious errors).  It is incredibly frustrating to complete a haircut and have a client say, "Can you take the sides a bit shorter?"   Making this kind of adjustment sounds simple, but to take more off the sides or the top often requires more blending and finishing and can almost result in a complete second haircut.   As barbers or stylists, we often run a tight appointment book and what we earn is directly tied into how many clients we serve.  If you ask for "a little more off," this adjustment will likely be rushed and the end result will probably not look as polished.  Instead of asking for an adjustment, why not say, "this looks great, but next time I think I want to go a little shorter on the sides."
 
Put Your Phone Down
Few things are more distracting than having a client talking or texting during a service.  Communication with the person who is cutting your hair is critical and you can't do that effectively if you are on the phone.  It is also difficult to cut someone's hair when they are juggling a mobile phone from hear to ear or looking down trying to send a text.  Not only that, but it is disrespectful.  Make sure to schedule you salon appointments at a time when you can relax and give your barber or stylist your undivided attention. 
 
Be On Time
As mentioned above, barbers and stylists often work on a tight appointment schedule and nothing is more frustrating than waiting on a client who is running late.  When a client is late, we often have to rush the haircut in order to run on time for the clients who come after.  No barber or stylist wants to rush through a haircut (and you probably don't want them doing that either).  Plan your salon visit to allow you enough time to arrive before your appointment begins.  Of course, we realize things are often out of your control, so if you are running behind, call and let your haircutter know.  Quite often, we can arrange things on the schedule so we can still accomodate you without upsetting the rest of the schedule.
  
Tip Well
This goes without saying, but tips are a big part of a barber or stylists' income, so knowing how to tip is important.   Like you would tip a waiter, the rule is that you tip more for outstanding service -- 15% would be the minimum, but 25% would be my recommendation if you have received great service.  Very few barbers or stylists would admit this, but we do give better service to clients we know tip very well (and those who are cheap, well, let's just say we might move them out of the chair a tad faster).  Around the holidays (when barbers and stylists are often working longer hours), be sure to tip extra well.  Most great barbers or stylists will give you good service whether you are their favorite client or not, but if you really want that extra time and attention, treating your haircutter right, knowing what you want, and rewarding them for outstanding service is important.