Words And Phrases You May Want To Think Twice About Using

There are certain words and phrases you may want to think twice about

using when you are speaking with a hairstylist.  In an everyday setting, some words and phrases are reasonable to use, but in a salon, could be open to wrong interpretation!

Some of those words and phrases you may want to think twice about using are:

“Take a little off the bottom”

A “little” can mean anywhere between an inch or two. It is best to show how much you want taken off.  A picture is literally worth a thousand words.  Most people like hairstyles in a picture but have no intention of going as short. 

“Do what you like” or I am open to what you like”

I have over the years come to be on my guard when hearing these words from new clients.  The reason:  almost one hundred per cent of the time, they restyle “what you like”, to exactly as they came in.  I figured out shortly after a few of these incidents that these clients knew exactly what they wanted but were too scared to try on their own.  It takes up the hairstylist’s time and usually causes friction with the next appointment.

Also hairstylists see very different hairstyles than the regular person.  We see all kinds of cuts and colors which would make a conservative person horrified.  I have many times had clients ask  for “red, really red” and freak out when they get it. 

My hair is “short”, “medium” or “not very long”

If you are a natural hair stylist, this is when you ask probing questions. For some people “short” is mid-back, medium means near the shoulders.  If you are asked to give a quote without physically seeing the client, this can cause you to underestimate the cost.  Most clients tend to understate their hair length when researching cost.

I just want a “trim”.

In the hair salon world, a” trim” is still a haircut.  Whether it takes off a quarter of an inch or two inches, it is still a cut.  Hair salons charge more for longer hair because it takes longer to cut.

“I want to try something different”

If the style is very different, we ask deep questions to see if there are any major reasons like a relationship breakup that inspired this decision.  The hairstylist is not being nosy, we are just trying to avoid having to redo the hairstyle the next day.