A hairdresser has revealed a comment she sometimes receives from her clients that she considers a “red flag”.
British hairdresser Sarah Louise Tyne, known as the The mobile hairdressing guru, took to TikTok to reveal what clients say annoys professional stylists.
Sarah revealed in the video that the phrase ‘my old hairdresser used to do my hair like this’ gets on stylists’ nerves.
The content creator said that these types of comments can backfire, as your current stylist might not know exactly what you’re talking about or might have a different skill set to offer.
She began the clip with: ‘Your new client sits in the chair and says to you ‘my old hairdresser used to do it like this’.
British hairdresser Sarah Louise Tyne, known as the mobile hairdressing guru, took to TikTok to reveal the one comment clients make that annoys professionals.
When a client sits down in the chair and says this, Sarah said the initial thought is often one of frustration.
She added: ‘Your first thought in your head is ‘I’m not your old hairdresser’.
‘To be fair, your old hairdresser may have moved on, may have retired, may be looking for some common ground with you, a way to communicate with you in the way he normally likes to have his hair done.
“It can be helpful to have some points of reference, but when do you cross the line? When you feel like you’re competing with a hairdresser you’ve never met.”
Sarah went on to recommend several different ways to communicate the look you really want without offending or upsetting your stylist.
Explaining the importance of visual cues, she said: ‘Rather than showing me how your old hairdresser used to style your hair, can you show me some pictures of what you’re hoping to achieve and I’ll see if they’ll work with your hair type/texture?’
In relation to the title of the video, Sarah also gave some advice to hairdressers, urging them not to be upset by the comment.
She wrote: “How do you respond? You might get really nervous and say, ‘Well, go back to them then.'”
Sarah revealed in the video that the phrase “my old hairdresser used to do my hair like this” gets on stylists’ nerves.
Other hairdressers took to the comments to leave their own thoughts on the issue, with some saying they didn’t care about the comment.
‘Or instead of getting upset by the comment, say, ‘I understand you might be nervous about having to go to another stylist to get your hair done, but you really are in good hands,’ and reassure them and help calm their nerves.
‘If it seems like no matter what you do/say nothing seems to calm/relax and your client keeps saying ‘he/she/they didn’t use to do that, it doesn’t look like XX used to do my hair’.
‘They may not be a good match, that happens. Do your best to provide the best possible outcome and politely explain to them that they may not be a good match.’
Other hairdressers took to the comments to leave their own opinions on the issue, with some saying they don’t mind a client mentioning their former stylist.
One person said: “It’s over the top when they say, ‘My old hairdresser ONLY CHARGED me XYZ.'”
Another added: “I usually ask what they liked about how they did it or explain why I do it differently.”
Someone else added: ‘I don’t see this comment as a problem, if she liked it that way I would try to do it the way she wants.’
To which Sarah replied: “Absolutely, but it’s also about establishing a new relationship. What if the client still sticks to that style because they’ve never been offered anything different?”
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