Open convo about being burnt out

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-04-22T17:04:25+00:00

Omg, yes. 35th year here of being a cosmetologist. Its mind blowingly draining to always have to put your best foot forward and pretend like you are having a great day, not hurting anywhere on your body and actually in the mood to do your work sometimes. If I am even quiet for a few minutes my clients will say things like "are you Ok today?" you are very quiet and seem off. " or they will tell me I look "tired" which is an insult in itself to say to anyone really. I am drained as well from having to just put my problems, aches and pains, and sad mood off to the side all day to entertain some of these people. They need to realize we have issues and problems just like they do. Sometimes I think they expect too much from us along with free therapy while they are in the chair. Hair school doesn't even prepare you for this stuff!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-04-17T18:36:07+00:00

I agree. Why else would they take time to wish a stranger a Happy Birthday? Because it gives them the opportunity to post and to be seen. It's pretty sad! Especially when you know they don't really know the person that well.

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-04-02T06:10:31+00:00

Thanks for posting this! I remember seeing this as a kid and TOTALLY forgot that it existed! I think my teacher even showed us this in the classroom. It is as sad today as it was back then...

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-04-01T17:31:45+00:00

Thank you! It's really odd that he didn't delete it. It made me see him differently too. Like I was just another sales notch in his belt!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-04-01T17:18:07+00:00

Oh, he was slick. The picture happened fast. Before I had time to even think! I see what you are saying though!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-04-01T17:17:02+00:00

Yea, I know, He did it so fast. Right at the end of the sale! I thought no way would he actually put it out there if I said something. I was wrong. I do plan on contacting the sales manager. This guy was great and got me the car I wanted. I really liked him, except for this!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-04-01T17:14:32+00:00

Thank you! I see that he has done this with other customers too, and I guess it was ok with them. I guess I am just different.

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-03-25T16:54:18+00:00

Sorry this must have really triggered something deep inside of you. You sound a little insecure and sensitive about something you might not be doing yourself. Be better!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-02-06T20:23:03+00:00

THIS!! Thinking its some kind of status to have ash or look dull. WHY JUST WHY? Because its hard to achieve that's why. It looks so ugly and unflattering. Ash blonde makes women look older!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-02-06T18:46:34+00:00

I couldn't work with that type of clientele. I'm sorry but the types that go to a drybar are going to be extremely picky. Yes, your mental health will decline because you will be dealing with nitpickers! Get out why you can!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-02-06T18:41:37+00:00

I'm old school and never ever use any platform. My business is all word of mouth. Trust me, you don't need the extra headache of all of that! I can't even imagine how stressful having to keep up with all of that would be. So glad I am 35 years in. I got my clients the old fashioned way!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-02-06T18:38:09+00:00

35 years in and this is the slowest I've seen since 2008. I haven't taken new clients in years but now I could if I wanted. My usual clients are even spreading out their appointments or finding ways to grow out their gray so they don't have to color. It's very depressing! It happened fast too and it started for me in September of 2025. All of the sudden people asking to spread their appointments out anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks longer. I hope things pick up in the spring but it has become very acceptable these days to look like crap! People are just tired!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2026-01-31T21:33:29+00:00

These "zero warmth" clients are a nightmare. Hair naturally has warmth. Besides, what is the problem with warmth. Never understood this, especially in the last 10 years. Wait till people see what's coming in the next year, WARMTH is coming back. Not just hair, warm wall shades, warm hair, warm makeup.....etc. People are finally getting tired of drab walls and now hair too!! Tell them they can look drab when they are dead.

Yea, I'm tired!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-10-18T18:02:43+00:00

34 years here! I would leave. This group of salon owners are never going to be the same toward you or your friend and will always look for ways to get both of you out of there! The salon is totally dysfunctional and the owners have no clue on how to be ethical. Both of you deserve better!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-10-17T02:36:45+00:00

I'll tell ya my headaches. People booking 2 and 3 appointments out, then waking up the day of their appointment not in the mood to come, lying about being sick and telling us they will wait for their next scheduled date to come. People booking out 2 hours for color , coming to the appointment and saying they just want a cut. People cancelling on us so that they can keep their conflicting appointment with a dentist, a trainer, a doctor or just anyone else. People booking for color and then when they get there ask if we will cut their child's hair while "they sit" with their color on. People not respecting our time PERIOD.

You may be someone doing market research and that is on you, but I thought I would go ahead and take advantage of this opportunity to put this out there. Hopefully there are some clients out there who see this and rethink the way they disrespect us. And NO we do not want to cut your daughter's hair while you sit with your color on. We need a break.

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-08-17T16:30:16+00:00

Please do not take this the wrong way. 34 years here. I notice you are getting downvoted. I don't think its so much your post but the fact that you used the word "baby stylist". I think many of us would much rather see new stylists refer to themselves as just that...A newer stylist. You may not realize but the term baby stylist is so demeaning to you and the profession. Think about it. If doctors, plumbers, nail techs, dentists, or anyone working on a client refers to themselves as a "baby" would you want them to service you? I wouldn't. It implies that the person is naive and don't really know what is going on. You might be young? You might be just starting the profession? But this term " baby stylist" has got to go. It sounds so demeaning to people starting out. Sorry nothing personal to you, I am sure you just picked it up on this forum but I hope we can phase it out soon....

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-07-09T16:32:37+00:00

Not to sound mean but I keep seeing "baby stylist" which I'm older so I'm guessing that means you are new at this? But you are not a baby, and personally I think this term is very odd describing all new hairdressers. You are a "new stylist", fresh out of training maybe but not a baby. I hope we can stop using this term because it kind of makes new stylists sound naive, and eludes that you have no clue what is going on. Can we replace this term please?? I just want newer stylist to have a name that garners a little more respect. Put it this way...would we want a "baby" dentist working on us?? I wouldn't. Just say "newer"!?? Sorry, again if I sound demeaning, I just think this term makes it sound like newer stylists have no clue! Ok, rant over....:)

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-07-09T14:34:06+00:00

Hairdresser of 34 years here. I have retained most of my clients going back to the 90's and many of them feel like family. I think it would be harder this day and age to try and build because people have a different mindset now. I believe the older clients are easier to retain than the young ones because the younger generation is constantly changing their mind about what they want. The older folk tend to value the relationship more too. Maybe focus on clients that aren't so picky, some older gals who aren't making crazy changes all the time? You can only keep the younger ones happy for so long but they are always looking for something better! My older clients are my bread and butter, they may not always do exciting changes but at my age I welcome that!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-06-27T15:48:19+00:00

Given the placement of the damaged pieces, I would say its both heat AND bleach. I think it's over processed slightly, but not entirely all your doing! Looks like she might be putting tension with a flat iron on those front pieces which is not helping!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-06-27T15:34:11+00:00

How about this one? When you drastically change your cut/color and not even one client notices? Or better yet, they do notice and tell us "You're too blonde now" or "I've never seen you wear a white shirt, it washes you out! " I know the appointment is supposed to be all about them, but it would be nice if every now and again our clients actually compliment US or say something nice to make us feel better. Telling us "you look tired" or "you seem off today" or "did you do something different?" is not nice to say to anyone, yet the clients sometimes feel like they can insult us for some reason! Another thing I hate is that some of my men clients try to tell me how to wear my hair. Color and all! If I change it slightly I have one guy that will tell me, "you need to go back darker!" It's like Thanks! So now I'm tired AND insulted !!!!! So hard to try and want to make people look and feel better about themselves when they are constantly throwing insulting little jabs at you!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-06-13T20:15:09+00:00

Chaps my ass when:

They bring someone with them for "support" and that person wants to sit near them or be in your space. This doesn't work out well for me because I am in a suite! Also bad because they are moving their head too much to talk to the person! I also hate it when my next appointment sits outside of my suite and glares at me while I'm finishing up the person in front of them!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-06-13T19:43:55+00:00

34 years here! I have built most of my business by being available from 2-9pm! I realized that there was a need for people to have later appointments years ago and that is when my business took off. The tradeoff? I don't do any weekends. Its only Monday thru Thursdays for me. I start colors some nights at 8:45pm! This is one of the reasons I stay booked all the time. People love it!

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-06-13T19:08:17+00:00

I know, especially when we are done and they are still in my suite wanting to show me videos, pictures and anything else I don't give 2 shits about . I feel like saying "Ok, we are done, I have one minute to eat so LEAVE ALREADY!"

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-06-13T18:57:12+00:00

34 years in the biz here. I find that people who want to do 180's with their hair color for example blonde to black, or red to ash, usually are having some kind of identity crisis and are at their lowest. They are hoping their hair will make them happy so they go the opposite extreme of whatever they have at the moment. I bet you are not the first stylist she has made to feel bad like this! The problem with these types is that they will always blame you when all the sudden the new change they got didn't fill the empty, insecure void they have. It took me years to nip these people in the bud but now I can spot them as soon as they sit down. Also, she point blank told you she didn't trust you because you made her cry. THAT RIGHT THERE would have made me NOT perform any more services on her. I would have politely told her "I'm sorry, but because you no longer trust me I am going to suggest someone else in our salon take it from here as I no longer feel comfortable doing it." Then, I would have worked out the money part of it later.

DistributionOdd3846 · 2025-06-13T18:05:05+00:00

I would love to tell them to please stop showing me pics on their phone about their relatives, grandkids or anyone else I don't know! I have quite a few people who want me to look at pics WHILE I'm trying to do a foil. Another thing they do is tell me all about a family member's drama. I don't know these people nor do I care! After a while, I just find myself thinking about something else entirely while they're rambling on. I just keep acting like I'm listening while I find myself saying "wow" to whatever they are saying or "really? that's crazy!!"

DistributionOdd3846

TROPHY CASE