When to Fire a Client

A QUICK AND VALUABLE LESSON FOR HAIRDRESSERS

HOW DO I FIRE CLIENTS? 

Today’s challenge is one that I have been dealing with throughout my long career as a hairdresser and I think I can help you by sharing my own experiences as you continue to grow and achieve your dreams. 

When you’re a new hairdresser and getting clients you know that you want to please everyone and do good work. We all want that!! ESPECIALLY ME Ha! 

I opened my second salon right out of beauty school, so I wanted to please my clients, make everyone happy, and I loved hearing that praise: 

“YOU'RE SO GREAT MISSSSSSSSSSSSY” 

I wanted this “instant gratification” from every single client and if I didn’t get it I was devastated or I was determined to get it and try to please that client no matter what.

I knew my training was good enough, but it was crushing to me if I felt that they weren't happy. I would say to myself, “OMG what else could I have done?” “This is so awful.” 

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PLEASE EVERYONE! 

So when I’m on Facebook groups etc., I see hairstylists asking the question:

“How do I fire my client”? You can just not rebook them and you don’t need to say why, “You’re just too busy” “It’s not working out” Eventually they’ll get the drift. You can also respond to a difficult client confidently during the consultation. 

HERE IS A LITTLE STORY THAT HELPED CHANGE THE DIFFICULT CLIENT RESPONSE FOR ME: I had just started at a new huge salon and the receptionist, knowing that my specialty was blondes, kindly referred me to her mom. YAY!! Not so fast…... 

I did my normal consultation with my assistant standing behind me. And let me just say the consultation lasted a good 15 minutes with her starting in on me and me doing my best trying to give her a proper consultation.. 

I am very confident about my abilities as a hairdresser and know I do excellent work, but there was some point during her complaining harassment that I lost it. Right?

I know something inside me snapped! I was thinking “I’m not doing this!” I laid my comb down in front of her and said: 

“ YOU KNOW WHAT - I’M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLEASE YOU AND I DON’T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO PLEASE YOU AND I DON’T THINK I SHOULD WASTE MY TIME OR YOUR TIME.” “ SO I DON’T KNOW, MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO TO SOMEONE ELSE.” 

And I said it just like that. And let me tell you what happened: She flipped her script!! She turned into the nicest person. “No no no that’s oKay, I was just worried, but no, that’s fine.” She has been one of my really good clients now for 10 years and tho’ she teases me some she is always up for whatever I do to her blonde hair. 

It just comes to a point where you have to remember that you don’t have to please everyone or deal with clients that give you a hard time. It’s your life. You’re not a therapist or a magician. Now I make sure I’m in control , and usually with humor, but with the message “that’s not going to work with me.” 

YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW HOW GOOD YOU ARE AS A HAIRDRESSER AND THIS GOES BACK TO ALL MY TRAINING SESSIONS WHERE I SAY YOU HAVE TO BE GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO WHICH MAKES YOU CONFIDENT. 

MY TIPS FOR TODAY FOR FIRING A CLIENT: 

Your consultation sets the tone. Be firm. Be strict. Be confident. 

Know that you don’t have to please everyone. 

Confrontations with your client in the salon are not a good thing.

“Fire” them in your mind. 

 Do it slowly…. just don’t let them in your book.

“I’m going to be travelling” 

“I’m just too busy” 

Someone writing a bad review about not getting in with you is better than someone yelling at you, making you feel bad, or causing a scene in the salon with an impossible to please or “crazy” client. 

Most importantly - Be Confident ! Be really good at what you do! And remember that there are so many other wonderful potential clients out there!