Rude Salon Clients – Who Are They and How to Deal with Them
Who are the rude salon clients, and how many different ways are there to deal with them?
Rude Salon Clients- How many can there be?
There is absolutely no way to narrow it down to an exact number. I mean, can you count how many ways there are to be rude? Me either.
🚩 Complainers, and drama queens 🚩
“No one has EVER done my hair right.” Ever heard this one behind the chair or on the phone with a possible new client? Just be careful. This isn’t always a bad thing, you could take it on as a professional challenge. Or this is a nightmare-client-in-waiting who has already determined that they won’t like anything that you do.
Complainers are the type of rude salon clients that have something negative to say even when it’s perfect. Both before and after you do their hair. There are two ways to deal with complainers –
1- Ask for a second opinion while doing their hair or refer them to another stylist
2- Educate them on why what they want isn’t possible, or how to style their hair properly to achieve the look that they want. It might not be that they aren’t happy, it could be that they just don’t know how to consistently get their preferred style for themselves at home.
🚩 Cheap Rude Salon Clients, Thieves 🚩
Watch out for these difficult salon clients!
The cheap clients and thieves are the type of rude salon clients that are looking for free services.
The ones that don’t respect you, your time, or your business.
Cheap clients are tricky. It’s hard when you’re down on your luck or you have a strict budget to keep yourself accountable to. But saying ‘no’ to asking for things you know you can’t afford and marinating yourself in your own pity party to get what you want on someone else’s dime is just wrong.
That’s cheating. It’s thieving someone else (you, as a salon professional) out of their fair and hard-earned wages.
How to Fire a Difficult Hair Client
🚩 Know-it-all rude salon clients 🚩
Sadly, sometimes the worst clients are hairstylists, barbers, cosmetologists, just like us. Or maybe they’ve been doing their own hair at home for the past however many years…
Or, they are the beauty school drop-out from 30 years ago. Or their cousin was. Therefore they are experts too. 🙄
They have poor anger management. It’s a nightmare when a client throws a fit while still in your chair.
🚫 Do not allow clients to tell you how to do your job. They do not get the privilege of touching your tools, or giving you specific formula for their color. They may be able to tell you what they used last, or what techniques they prefer used on their hair, but they do not get to dictate how you will execute your expertise.
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👍 Do allow them to educate you on their hair habits, routines, and to teach you how their hair typically grows, lays down, and the tendencies that it has that you won’t get to see on a day to day basis but they will.
How to Make a Great Salon Experience Better
How do you deal with a client who is a rude hairdresser themselves?
Honestly, the exact same as you would any other client.
Don’t go easy on those you work with just because they do the same thing you do.
Remind fellow hairdressers, especially the rude ones, who sit in your chair that they understand what it is like behind the chair and you are taking time out of your day to do their hair, the least they can do is respect you the same as they would expect their clients to respect them.
🚩 Indecisive Clients, Consistent Last Minute Cancelations 🚩
Red Flags!!!
The rude salon clients that are always cancelling on you absolutely do not respect you as a stylist or business. They are not considerate to your schedule, or are understanding that this is how you make your living, and when they cancel or no-show (especially if it’s often) you cannot fill those empty slots in your books and you aren’t able to make the money you need in that period of time.
The clients that are indecisive and cancel because they just aren’t positive about what kind of color or cut they want, these you may want to avoid as well.
It’s a different kind of rude salon client. They definitely don’t intend to be rude, but when they are taking away time from your work because they are unsure of their own mine, that’s inconsiderate.
Personally, I give my clients a 3 strikes and you’re out rule. If they no-call-no-show or are late 3 times, they’re out. I cannot afford to offer them my precious salon hours if they are going to throw them away.
For tips on how to go about firing an inconsistent, indecisive client, or a constant no-show please see How to Fire a Difficult Hair Client
🚩 Creeps and Predators 🚩
Though predator might sound like a strong word, there are predators that come into the salon. Beware of the rude salon clients that might not just be rude, but sincerely mean the creepy things they say.
❌ Do not allow clients to touch you! If a guest is sitting in your chair and reaches out to touch you inappropriately (pretty much anywhere but your arms), and you didn’t ask them to reach out (like to tuck that stray hair behind your ear because you have color on your hands)-
- BE SURE that you are not the only person working in the salon, you have a co-worker with you
- If you are uncomfortable with this client, whether it be what they say or what they do, IT’S OKAY to not do their hair anymore. Put a note in the computer, and tell your manager that you do not feel safe cutting this person’s hair anymore
- NEVER be sorry for being safe
Some clients are creepy without realizing it. For example, some grandpas just don’t realize that what they are saying is incredibly rude and can make young hairstylists uncomfortable. But again, if you are not comfortable, and do not feel safe, don’t cut their hair anymore. It’s okay!
🚩 The Rude Salon Clients that Stop your Service For Smoke Breaks and Phone Calls 🚩
Again, rude!
If your client truly has an urgent phone call, they will let you know at the beginning of the service that they are expecting a call that cannot wait.
Clients that are a walking chimney and cannot go more than an hour without a smoke break, these are red flags too. They do not have enough self control or will power to hold off until you are done with your service. They do not respect your time enough to allow you to finish your work before stepping out for a cigarette.
Let this client go!
How to Deal with Rude Salon Clients and Not Take Things Personally
Before giving your client the boot, remember these things –
- Put yourself in their shoes, try to understand their perspective
- Remember they are a guest, and they are human too- give grace and room for bad days
- Be level and honest with your clients
- Allow for a second opinion, let someone else into the consultation
- Practice patience and humility- Check your ego
If you have filtered each of the above rude salon clients through these five steps above and 1) their shoes are just ugly to wear, 2) they act like a queen on parade- not a guest in your house, 3) they do not respect you when you level and are honest with them, 4) they disrespect the second opinion you choose as well and 5) you’re positive it’s not your ego in the way… It’s time to fire this rude salon client.
How to Fire a Difficult Hair Client
Don’t worry! You will not have to fire all of your clients and start over. But the ones you do choose to let go, will only help you move on in your career. I guarantee it.
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FAQ- Rude Salon Clients, Who Are They and How to Deal With Them
How would you deal with a difficult client in a salon?
Check your ego, be level and honest with them, if the difficult client is not willing to change their behavior after speaking with them it might be time to let them go.
What do you do when a client doesn’t like their hair?
Do your best to find a resolution. Does the hair match the photo they brought in? Or is it a matter of how the hair is styled? If not, the client may be difficult, fishing for free or discounted services, or (again, check your ego and be humble) you might not be the right stylist for them. It might be time to suggest they see someone else who will be better suited for their needs.
How do salons deal with clients?
Salons deal with difficult clients according to how their stylist reports the client’s behavior. If the client has called the salon and complained, the salon management will deal with the situation accordingly.
Though if the hairstylist has reported that a particular client is inconsistent, complains often, or makes them uncomfortable or feel unsafe, the salon might ask that this client not return to this place of business, or no longer book services with that particular hairstylist and this particular client.