I get that, a lot. Especially on social media. This is what I got today in a private message:
"Help! I put a box of reddish blonde on my hair and XXXXXX (young adult son) went into the shower when I was ready to rinse, so the color stayed on too long and now I'm bright red!! And it's not even even."
To which I replied, "I don't have any stuff at home, sorry. :( Come see me at the salon"
"I can't afford the salon. Can't you tell me what to put on it to fix it??" " I really can't do anything without seeing what was done" "So, the last time I got my hair done, it cost $120. What do you charge for color?"
Well, to fix the hot mess your hair probably is?? $120. I haven't responded to her yet, because she'll whine no matter what the price.
Want to know why we charge such a price?? Because fixing what you did is LABOR INTENSIVE. Even if I were to mix a magic potion to cover up the "bright red" (God only knows what the color really is), it WILL fade and the red will pop right back out. Especially since I know darn well she's going to wash her hair in screaming hot water and flat iron the crap out of it. Did I mention her hair is between the middle of her back and her waist?? And everyone seems to think it should cost $1.98 to fix their hair.
Here's why her color turned "bright red": On the back of the box is this "nifty" chart of pictures of what your hair color SHOULD be (mind you, these are computer generated photographs, so they're not even CLOSE to accurate) in order for this box of hair color to be remotely effective in turning your hair "reddish blonde" (which, by the way is roughly a level 7-8 coppery blonde). Now, if your hair happens to be fine in texture (meaning when you hold up a single strand of hair, it's practically invisible) and you happen to have a lot of hair per square inch, your hair is going to develop FAST. Why?? Because you have all that hair to trap the body heat to your head, causing the color to develop. Here's the other problem with box color: The pictures on the box aren't even remotely close to accurate, and most people don't even know what their natural color is. This nice lady's natural color is a level 6-7. Which means when the color is developing, it will "lift" the natural pigment to a level 7-8. Which is hair colorist code for ORANGE. Which supports a red head quite well.
The uneven-ness: In a standard box of hair color you purchase in the department store/grocery store/drug store/dollar store, there is a 2 ounce tube of color and 2.5 ounces of 20 volume developer. When you have hair 3/4 of the way down your back, one box of color will NOT cover your head. And, I don't know anyone who applies the color to themselves that manages to get the color onto every single area of their head. The "corners" ALWAYS get missed. The nape will get missed. Sometimes, even in the front of your head will get missed. Hence, the "uneven-ness".
Seriously. When will people EVER learn?? I realize that a lot of this is the fact that the hair color companies just cannot put all the important information into the box of color because that little "pamphlet" would be the size of my cosmetology text book. And when I usually explain to people exactly how they should color their hair, they usually either give up and don't do it, or they come in and get it done correctly. No matter how "good" I am, or how "good" people think I am, I cannot accurately diagnose what needs to be done. I will need to talk to you, in depth, while looking at the hair on your head, to determine what can be done. Then, and only then, can I quote you a price. And this is what I'm going to have to tell her. Sigh....
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Ch-ch-ch-changes....and other stuff...
So, we've had some staff changes. Which is why I haven't been on in EONS.
Joan quit back in May. No great loss, there. She turned out to be more trouble than she was worth. I've learned (because of her) that if someone says to me "Oh, you can confide in me. If someone tells me something and they say "don't say this to so and so" you can bet I won't" is usually lying through their teeth. Basically, Joan didn't like the fact that I wouldn't give in to her scheduling demands, and after the great scheduling fiasco back in April, she wouldn't work when I scheduled her to without a fuss, so, no great loss when she gave her notice. And, just for fun, she left a full two weeks earlier than what she said she would. LOVE people like that.
So, then, Tiffany lasted exactly one month longer than Joan did. And left for similar reasons. I know that I'm no picnic to work with, especially when I'm stressed. But, if you work WITH me instead of AGAINST me, life goes much easier, for everyone. I'm not demanding undying devotion. However, if you want to WORK in your chosen profession, you need to be at work. And you need to work when you're scheduled. Help us out. It's called TEAM WORK.
So, Tina and I have been working alone for the last two months. We also got a new District Manager, Diana, who lasted less than a month. And I knew, right from the moment I met her, that she and I were NOT going to get along. She came in with the attitude that she was the "Lady of the Manor", which doesn't tend to sit well with me. And on her last visit with us, she helped herself to a lot more things than the box of gloves I knew she was taking. And had no intention of returning those items when she ordered them. Love people like that.
So, then, we got Kelli as a District Manager. And that's been working well, so far. We've had some issues, mostly stemming from the fact that I've been left alone (as a salon manager) for a really long time and now I've got a DM up my butt. That's taken some adjusting, let me tell you! But, we're getting there. She did, however, find me some applications!
Here's the story: Apparently, two people applied for positions in our salon WAY BACK WHEN and I never knew about it (this is stuff I don't have access to as a salon manager...don't ask). So, when Kelli found them in a file on the computer, she pulled them up and made preliminary phone calls. She then gave me the numbers of these people to call. And one actually responded. Who is now working in the salon. Her name is Lisa. (again, a name change to protect the "innocent")
Lisa has been a stylist since 1991. She got out of hairdressing back in 2007, after an accident at her second job, lifting a patient and hurting her back. She decided, last year, she wanted to get back into the game. And, so she has. She's fabulous, confident, and will be a steady influence for Tina on the weekends.
And, Lynn is coming back!! I'm super psyched for this, also! We're just working out the details of when she can actually start working. So, things are looking U-P at the salon. We just had our best Tuesday in a long time last night because Lisa worked with me from 1-8. AWESOME!! I thanked her profusely and told her how glad I am she's working there.
IN OTHER NEWS.....
Lisa had a potential highlight/color in her chair last night. Her first one since she started last week (the poor lady has had trial by fire the whole time she's been here!). Her consultation was lengthy, and with good reason. A mere few months ago, the client had heavily highlighted hair...almost totally blonde, in fact. Who then put a box of brown over it, thinking "There! I fixed my hair. It's back to my natural color (kinda) and so I can highlight it again later if I want to!" Yuh. Not so much. Lisa talked to her, at length (and thank goodness the client understood what she was getting at, even though she kept looking for loop holes to jump through) about what would more than likely happen to her hair if she went ahead and highlighted it.
So, Lisa wound up doing a test strand on the client's hair. Rather revealing, which it's supposed to be. The first four inches of her hair, which were virgin, lifted beautifully. The next 5-6 inches, not so much. They did lift, but there's some major issues because of color build-up. The last 3 inches of her hair turned CRISPY. Through some more conversation, it was discovered that not only did she have multiple layers of hair color going on in there, she'd also had a chemical hair straightening. So, kids, she had a head full of heavily processed hair!! While she was pretty disappointed that she couldn't get what she wanted (and may wind up at another salon who will not care about the chemicals in her hair and do what she wants, anyway), she left after receiving a great haircut and purchased some products to help her hair along.
I'M SO GLAD I HIRED LISA!!! Now, once I get Lynn back on board, the place will ROCK!! WOO HOO!!!
And, lastly, Katie Katherine and I are moving! I bought a house!! We're super-psyched about this! Right now, we're living in "box city" because most of then apartment is packed up, ready to go! Just a little bit left (bathroom, my bedroom, empty out the closets, wipe down the walls) and we're good to go! Signing the papers on September 4th!!
Stay tuned!!
Joan quit back in May. No great loss, there. She turned out to be more trouble than she was worth. I've learned (because of her) that if someone says to me "Oh, you can confide in me. If someone tells me something and they say "don't say this to so and so" you can bet I won't" is usually lying through their teeth. Basically, Joan didn't like the fact that I wouldn't give in to her scheduling demands, and after the great scheduling fiasco back in April, she wouldn't work when I scheduled her to without a fuss, so, no great loss when she gave her notice. And, just for fun, she left a full two weeks earlier than what she said she would. LOVE people like that.
So, then, Tiffany lasted exactly one month longer than Joan did. And left for similar reasons. I know that I'm no picnic to work with, especially when I'm stressed. But, if you work WITH me instead of AGAINST me, life goes much easier, for everyone. I'm not demanding undying devotion. However, if you want to WORK in your chosen profession, you need to be at work. And you need to work when you're scheduled. Help us out. It's called TEAM WORK.
So, Tina and I have been working alone for the last two months. We also got a new District Manager, Diana, who lasted less than a month. And I knew, right from the moment I met her, that she and I were NOT going to get along. She came in with the attitude that she was the "Lady of the Manor", which doesn't tend to sit well with me. And on her last visit with us, she helped herself to a lot more things than the box of gloves I knew she was taking. And had no intention of returning those items when she ordered them. Love people like that.
So, then, we got Kelli as a District Manager. And that's been working well, so far. We've had some issues, mostly stemming from the fact that I've been left alone (as a salon manager) for a really long time and now I've got a DM up my butt. That's taken some adjusting, let me tell you! But, we're getting there. She did, however, find me some applications!
Here's the story: Apparently, two people applied for positions in our salon WAY BACK WHEN and I never knew about it (this is stuff I don't have access to as a salon manager...don't ask). So, when Kelli found them in a file on the computer, she pulled them up and made preliminary phone calls. She then gave me the numbers of these people to call. And one actually responded. Who is now working in the salon. Her name is Lisa. (again, a name change to protect the "innocent")
Lisa has been a stylist since 1991. She got out of hairdressing back in 2007, after an accident at her second job, lifting a patient and hurting her back. She decided, last year, she wanted to get back into the game. And, so she has. She's fabulous, confident, and will be a steady influence for Tina on the weekends.
And, Lynn is coming back!! I'm super psyched for this, also! We're just working out the details of when she can actually start working. So, things are looking U-P at the salon. We just had our best Tuesday in a long time last night because Lisa worked with me from 1-8. AWESOME!! I thanked her profusely and told her how glad I am she's working there.
IN OTHER NEWS.....
Lisa had a potential highlight/color in her chair last night. Her first one since she started last week (the poor lady has had trial by fire the whole time she's been here!). Her consultation was lengthy, and with good reason. A mere few months ago, the client had heavily highlighted hair...almost totally blonde, in fact. Who then put a box of brown over it, thinking "There! I fixed my hair. It's back to my natural color (kinda) and so I can highlight it again later if I want to!" Yuh. Not so much. Lisa talked to her, at length (and thank goodness the client understood what she was getting at, even though she kept looking for loop holes to jump through) about what would more than likely happen to her hair if she went ahead and highlighted it.
So, Lisa wound up doing a test strand on the client's hair. Rather revealing, which it's supposed to be. The first four inches of her hair, which were virgin, lifted beautifully. The next 5-6 inches, not so much. They did lift, but there's some major issues because of color build-up. The last 3 inches of her hair turned CRISPY. Through some more conversation, it was discovered that not only did she have multiple layers of hair color going on in there, she'd also had a chemical hair straightening. So, kids, she had a head full of heavily processed hair!! While she was pretty disappointed that she couldn't get what she wanted (and may wind up at another salon who will not care about the chemicals in her hair and do what she wants, anyway), she left after receiving a great haircut and purchased some products to help her hair along.
I'M SO GLAD I HIRED LISA!!! Now, once I get Lynn back on board, the place will ROCK!! WOO HOO!!!
And, lastly, Katie Katherine and I are moving! I bought a house!! We're super-psyched about this! Right now, we're living in "box city" because most of then apartment is packed up, ready to go! Just a little bit left (bathroom, my bedroom, empty out the closets, wipe down the walls) and we're good to go! Signing the papers on September 4th!!
Stay tuned!!
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