The internet was divided on where the term” calling the shots” originally

came from but everyone agrees on the meaning!  I thought it was an appropriate name for this post since as hairstylists, we encounter these situations daily.  The meaning of “calling the shots” is simply “being in control”.  If you run a business, your primary goal is to have a cooperative relationship with your client so they get what they want and you get paid!

However, the post pandemic situation has brought out the darker side of the human personality. For

some reason, prior to 2020, folks were polite and considerate of others.  Since then, people have learned to hide behind online personas and bash anyone who dares to offer an opinion.  In person, they come with preconceived ideas of what they want because some influencer showed them how it should be done.

Here are some examples of triggering requests from people who like “calling the shots” for which there

has been an increase for 2024:

but it must be done immediately, with extensions, no appointment.

but they do not want extensions although their hair is not long enough to braid.

but the hair is broken and they do not want it cut to hold the style

• but their locs are short (but I want it like the picture)( shows pinned pic of model with hair at mid-back.  No extensions please, just with my hair).
• but the dreads/locs have not been retwisted for months

but no peroxide (I want it light, light  blond.  Can you do it without peroxide because it says online that it damages your hair).

but I used to pay (quotes a year 1999 dollar amount).  How is it so expensive?  How much will it be if I bring my own product?

but I want e.g. 150 dreads/locs. (If you are an experienced stylist, you know their hair might do 60-70 or so, if you did them really thin and they kept it short?)

Cancels at the time of the appointment/no show/no call/ghosts you if you call after waiting.

There is no problem with you calling the shots if you have all the information and are willing to work cooperatively with the stylist.  Unfortunately, it seems we lost the art of being polite from being on our own for so long.

By Paula Barker, Silkie Locks Hair Design

Books:  “Talking Hair”, “Filling My Head”, & “Dreadlocks – A Hairstylist’s Manifest”.