c/cosmetologists

A chat with my client's husband changed my mind on balayage pricing

I was doing a color correction last week for a regular, and her husband was waiting. He asked, just out of curiosity, why the balayage I was about to do cost $275 when a salon down the street charges $180. My usual answer was about my skill and the quality of my products, but he said something simple: 'So it's not really about the time, then?' That hit different. I've always priced based on what I think my work is worth, which is fine, but I never really broke it down for a client in a way that made the value clear beyond just saying I'm good. He wasn't being rude, he just didn't get it, and that's on me. It made me rethink how I explain my prices. Now I'm working on a little menu that shows what goes into it, like the extra time for hand-painting and the specific Olaplex step. How do you guys talk about your pricing without making it sound like you're just more expensive?

I used to fight with every single client's hair texture, now I just listen to it

Honestly, for the first five years in my chair, I had this one way to cut. I'd try to force wavy hair to lay straight or make fine hair look thick with tons of layers, and it never really worked out. The change came after a client, Maria, came in with this gorgeous, super curly hair that I butchered trying to give her a blunt bob. She was nice about it, but I felt awful. That weekend, I signed up for a texture-specific class in Charlotte. The teacher basically said, 'Your job isn't to change the hair, it's to shape what's already there.' Ngl, that hit me. Now, before I even pick up my shears, I spend a good five minutes just feeling the hair, seeing how it dries, and asking the client what it does on its own. My cuts take a bit longer, but people leave way happier. Has anyone else had a specific technique or mindset shift that completely turned your results around?

Shoutout to the old school stylist who showed me a pin curl trick for stubborn cowlicks

Back when I was starting out, a client with a really strong cowlick kept messing up her blunt bangs. I tried everything, even heavy gels, and it just looked stiff. An older stylist at the salon saw me struggling and said, 'Try a wet set pin curl right at the root before you blow dry.' I did it on damp hair, clipped it for about 10 minutes while I did her color, then dried it. The hair dried with memory and laid perfectly flat without any crunch. Has anyone else found a vintage technique that still solves modern problems?

Finally nailed a consistent balayage formula after switching my lightener

I was using a standard powder bleach for years but the lift was always a bit uneven on my thicker-haired clients. Switched to the L'Oreal Blond Studio Creme Lightener last month and the difference is night and day. The cream base gives me way more control and processing time, so I can get that perfect soft blend from root to end in one go. Anyone else have a go-to lightener for dense, type 2 hair?

A bride in my chair last Saturday said she'd been growing her hair out for three years just for this day, and it made me realize the weight of our work.

She was so nervous her hands were shaking, but after we finished her updo she looked in the mirror, took a deep breath, and said 'Okay, I'm ready to get married now'.

Had a client ask for a 'sunset balayage' and show me a picture of a literal sunset

She brought in a photo from her vacation, not a hair inspo pic, and got upset when I said I couldn't match the exact colors of the sky. The whole 90 minute consultation was just her pointing at clouds. I had to explain pigment, lightening, and tone all over again. Anyone else deal with clients bringing in pictures of things that aren't hair?

Shoutout to the stylist in Tampa who showed me a better way to handle stubborn color correction. That one job took me almost 4 hours last month!

Had a client come in for a color correction last Thursday that took 6 hours and she tipped me $100 on a $250 service.

She had tried to go platinum at home with a box kit and it was a mess, super brassy and uneven. We had to do a color remover first, then two rounds of lightener, then tone. She was so patient and just kept thanking me. It was one of those days where you feel like you really saved someone's hair and they actually see the value. What's the longest correction you've ever had to do?

Was reading an old beauty school textbook from the 80s and found out a perm solution back then had a pH of 9.8. That's basically drain cleaner strength.

Heard a client say she hasn't had a real shampoo in a salon since 2019, just uses dry shampoo.

It made me realize how many people might be skipping the foundational steps we were taught. Anyone else seeing this and adjusting their consultation questions?

Rant: My favorite shears just gave out mid-haircut

It happened yesterday with a regular client in my chair. I was doing a long layer cut and the pivot screw snapped clean through. I had to grab my backup pair, a cheap set I keep in the drawer, to finish the job. The whole thing felt clunky and threw off my rhythm for the rest of the cut. Has anyone had a good pair of shears repaired, or is it usually a lost cause?

Spent $300 on a new steamer for the shop and it's been a game changer

I got tired of the old one taking forever to heat up and not holding enough water for a full day. This new one heats in under two minutes and the tank lasts through five or six full sets of towels. Has anyone else found a piece of equipment that really cut down on your wait time between clients?

I mean, maybe it's just me but I dropped like $80 on a new brand of color remover and it totally fried a client's hair.

A stylist at the salon said 'balayage is just a lazy technique' and I've been thinking about it all week.

I think that view misses how much skill it takes to get a soft, natural blend free of harsh lines, which I saw a master colorist achieve on a client with 4 inches of regrowth just last Thursday.

Choosing between a classic bob and a textured shag for a client

A regular client came in last week wanting a big change but couldn't decide between a sharp, chin-length bob or a longer, piecey shag. I had to pick a direction to start cutting. I went with the shag, thinking it would grow out better and fit her wavy hair texture more. The whole cut took about 90 minutes, focusing on lots of internal layers and face-framing pieces. She loved the movement and how easy it is to style now, just using a sea salt spray. For those of you who do a lot of these 'in-between' consultations, how do you guide a client when they're truly stuck between two very different styles?

A client in her 70s asked me for a full bleach and tone last week.

She said she wanted to look like she did at 25, but her hair was already so thin and dry. I mean, I did a deep conditioning treatment first and talked her into a softer honey blonde instead. How do you handle those requests when you know the client's hair can't take it?

Trying to color-match a client's 3-year-old home dye job took me a solid 4 hours of strand tests.

I'm torn between the idea that you should always do a full correction for a perfect result and the reality that sometimes a client just wants a quick, affordable fix, so what's your take on when to draw the line?

Unpopular opinion: I hit 500 blowouts this quarter and it felt weird

My bookkeeper showed me the number and I realized I've been working on autopilot, not really connecting. Does anyone else get that feeling after a big volume stretch?

Spent three hours trying to match a client's old balayage from a photo

Had a new client bring in a picture from her last stylist, but the formula wasn't listed and the tones were way off. I ended up doing four separate test strands before I even started the full service. What's your go-to method for color matching when you don't have the original formula?

Used to cut wet hair for every client. Switched to dry cutting 3 years ago after a workshop. Way faster for me. But my coworker still swears by wet. Which side are you on?

Why does nobody talk about the difference in client retention after you stop using those cheap, single-use mixing bowls?

My rebooking rate jumped from 60% to 85% in 6 months after I switched to proper glass bowls, because clients feel the service is more professional when they don't see disposable plastic.

My $8 silicone face shield from the hardware store is the best thing for keeping bleach off a client's skin during foils

I was tired of using cotton and petroleum jelly, so I cut a small painter's face shield to fit the hairline and it creates a perfect barrier without smearing the base color, has anyone else tried something like this for color services?

Rant: My portable shampoo bowl pump gave out mid-service at a wedding in Boise

Was doing bridesmaid updos at the Riverside Hotel last Saturday when the pump on my Tressa Mobile Spa unit just died. Had to run cold water from the hotel sink into a pitcher for the final two clients. Anyone know a more reliable brand for on-location work? My backup is a cheap Amazon one and I don't trust it.

Appreciation post: A client in a wheelchair taught me more about my station setup than any class

I was at my salon in Portland last month, and I had a new client who uses a wheelchair. I thought my station was fine, but when she rolled up, I saw right away the mirror was too high and my tools were spread out on a counter she couldn't reach. I had to grab everything for her, and it felt awkward for both of us. She was super nice about it, but I felt terrible. That night, I measured everything. I lowered a side mirror to 40 inches high, put my most-used shears and combs in a rolling cart I can pull close, and got a longer, flexible hose for my shampoo bowl. Now I think about access with every new client booking. Has anyone else had to change their space for better client comfort?

Hot take: I tried a new gel polish line and the old one is still better

Last week, I switched to a brand called 'GlossLock' for my nail clients, seeing all the hype online. After using it on five different people, the color chipped within three days on three of them, even with my usual prep. My old reliable 'Crystal Coat' line from the supply store in Tampa never does that, it lasts a full week easy. Has anyone else found that the trendy new stuff just doesn't hold up?