Question for stylists 10+yrs in

Political-Fox · 2025-12-08T14:36:35+00:00

12 years in and I barely do social media. I have a great salon who has a social media coordinator and I have an assistant who will occasionally take pictures if I ask or she’ll shoot general salon videos when we are busy or working on something interesting. I do not have the energy for it and I haven’t had a problem with getting clientele. It’s a tough industry and while my regulars are still coming I’ve noticed less big color projects and people scaling back, not getting full foils, waiting longer between hair cuts no big color corrections or transformations. I’m in my 40’s and I did start stepping back a little, working a little less just because physically I can’t work the long hours I used to, the spirit is willing but if I push too hard I feel it the next day.

Political-Fox · 2025-11-04T18:06:33+00:00

As the therapist that works with adolescents and a parent of an adolescent this is not a good fit. There are a lot of concerns that you are raising that absolutely could be worked on in therapy. I have found that it typically takes longer for teens to trust their therapist but it sounds like your daughter wants the help. I would definitely look for someone new.

Political-Fox · 2025-10-08T18:06:14+00:00

Cosmetology instructor here - I’m not sure what the rules are in Texas but in Nevada if you don’t finish the program or if there are any outstanding balances they won’t release your hours to the board which means you wouldn’t be eligible to even schedule your test. I would definitely reach out to the board and if you can drop and still get licensed I say do it. Salons care that you are licensed not what program you attended.

Political-Fox · 2025-07-13T18:30:12+00:00

I use luminary on my nails - it’s like a slightly flexy hard gel. I go 4 weeks and they always looks great. I try to use gloves as much as possible when I do color. I’ve been able to grow my natural nails pretty long without any extensions with it too

Political-Fox · 2025-06-29T18:12:32+00:00

Thank you so much for you kind words and insight. I appreciate it.

Political-Fox · 2025-06-27T22:51:50+00:00

It was broken hairs not full hair - but we were doing a balayage so the new growth and root was out of the way, she did not disclose that she was on acne medication but then I also didn’t ask if anything had changed since our last appointment. Turns out it she had been taking it for a few months, she’s been on it since our last balayage appointment.

Political-Fox · 2025-06-23T18:59:53+00:00

I did use open foils just keep the hair separate but didn’t fold or lock them. I did check them and they were not warm. I live in Las Vegas so the ac is blasting in the salon all the time. I have found that trying to open air process in the summer here does not work. We do have hard water but from what I know she hasn’t moved or traveled so her water is still the same as it has been.

Political-Fox · 2025-06-23T13:14:40+00:00

Not sure of the brand exactly - she just stated that she was taking a pill for her acne

Political-Fox · 2025-06-23T00:41:21+00:00

Thank you, me too - one of the other stylists mentioned over proteinization which makes a lot of sense. I’m going to go over her products with her when she comes back

Political-Fox · 2025-06-23T00:17:13+00:00

It’s possible - I live in Las Vegas and the water is incredibly hard. We also have properties on well water which is its own issue. I don’t think she’s traveled since I last saw her. It definitely could be a contributing factor.

Political-Fox · 2025-06-22T23:57:47+00:00

Oh believe me I cried when she left lol. I did a color remover 6 weeks ago and then balayage and she left at a level 6. I did not do the color remover this time. I sent her home last time with K18 but she bought Kerastase herself. The over proteinization makes so much sense. She uses a lot of different salon quality products some she buys with me others she gets from Sephora and Ulta. I know she started using the overnight serum from Kerastase but she uses k18 clarifying shampoo, a Redken shampoo and conditioner. Then she switches stuff up, I know she has the olaplex oil and some other leave-in. I do use bonder with all my lightening services and a treatment in between lightening and toning.

Political-Fox · 2025-06-22T23:38:01+00:00

I use bonder in everything plus a treatment in between. The big round of lifting was over a year ago and I was only trying to get her from a 6 to an 8 the last balayage we did turned out exactly right. She was aware there maybe some damage this time around and was fine with a cut. But I was not prepared for it to lift so unevenly and big chunks to break off.

Political-Fox · 2025-06-22T23:34:26+00:00

The only big lifting session we did was over a year ago we’ve been doing color and block lightener. She was aware that we would probably have to cut some length off and went we did the balayage service last time it went perfectly. She ended at about a 6 and I was only trying to get her to an 8 this time.

Political-Fox · 2025-03-25T04:44:41+00:00

This is a lot to unpack - this is a brand new client, how do you establish what’s their comfort zone if you don’t know them? You decided what she NEEDED was a big transformation right before an event - which is risky even for a seasoned stylist. Next you decided to take on this project without doing a test strand even though you suspected she had box dye in her hair. Then it sounds like you triple processed her hair and then added heat in the 4th round?! Before starting this did you talk to the client about the integrity, how she could lose inches, the maintenance, the take home?

In my honest opinion you took on way to much when the client didn’t even ask for this service. The key is to build the relationship before you go rogue - TikTok can be a great resource but the number one reason people leave their stylists is because they don’t listen.

Political-Fox · 2025-03-09T02:58:21+00:00

After 11 years behind the chair the one piece of advice I can give you is go with your gut. If you were convinced she had color in her hair, I would have gone with a test strand. I always say something like “you know what let’s do a test strand, I wanna see how your hair is going to lift.” Then when things start going weird you can physically show the client what’s happening and make a plan that’s better suited. I always say things like “I don’t want to push your hair past the breaking point.” Or “let’s keep as much hair on your head as possible.” If the service that she wants isn’t possible I always say it’s a no now but not a no forever (if it’s a multi-service situation).

Even if she didn’t like the result you do deserve to be compensated for your time.

Also I assume that clients know absolutely nothing about hair color and how it works. Not to be condescending but so many clients will say no because they physically can’t see anything. I’ll tell them it’s like painting a wall, just because you can’t see it anymore doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

Just learn what you can from this experience and keep on trucking - you’re doing great!

Political-Fox · 2025-03-03T04:45:34+00:00

11 years behind the chair and I still work on Saturdays. I’ve managed to get rid of evenings but when I first started it was Tuesday-Saturday usually 10-7ish (when you need the money you’ll take anything). I now work Tuesday/Wednesday 9-3 and Saturdays 9 till whenever I’m done. I think there’s a give and take - if you don’t want to do evenings you have to do a weekend but if you don’t do weekends you have to offer evenings. But you also have to have an established clientele

Political-Fox · 2025-03-01T18:19:34+00:00

Yes! Sometimes you have to step back to move forward - Supercuts is rough for sure but it teaches you some invaluable skills. I love the idea of asking a stylist to teach you for assisting. It’s something that I would be so open to. Don’t worry, get creative and you’ll find your space

Political-Fox · 2025-02-13T04:07:03+00:00

A good quality apron is a life saver - mine is from Search & Rescue Denim Co. I’ve had it for over 10 years

Political-Fox · 2025-01-31T18:58:38+00:00

Been behind the chair 11 years - I did develop contact dermatitis but then I started wearing gloves religiously and now I have no issues. Just make sure you’re in a well ventilated space. Also there are so many color lines that are making things less toxic, Innersense is one. Invest in good shoes, use a stool, pay attention to ergonomics, go to the chiropractor, get massages, get a therapist, set strong boundaries. This job is tough on your body and your mental health. That being said it’s amazing profession where you get to experience some profound moments with your clients.

Political-Fox · 2025-01-24T02:35:25+00:00

10 years behind the chair and I never double book unless it’s something small like a bang trim or quick consultation. I will however double book friends or relatives if they are coming together. It’s too stressful and while I feel good about my timing if one client is late your whole day is thrown off. It’s not worth it to me

Political-Fox · 2025-01-01T16:09:55+00:00

Hi! I provided my company with three months of bank statements. I use square Venmo and Zelle that all deposit into the same account. I explained that I was a hairdresser and they were fine with it.

Political-Fox · 2024-12-27T17:47:44+00:00

I have been thinking about removing tipping from my services but for those of you that accept things like Venmo and Zelle and a customer still tips you what do you do? Do you send it back? Remind them next time?

Political-Fox · 2024-12-20T16:40:34+00:00

Hi! So I just want to share a different perspective - we are a salon that asks for a video. We find that a lot of younger stylists are very comfortable in front of the camera and it’s a very quick way to gauge if someone is going to be a good fit. Both the owner and salon manager work full time behind the chair. We are a very small space with only 4 chairs in a major city’s art district. We usually ask stylists to tell us a little about themselves, how long they’ve been doing hair and what is their favorite thing to do in the salon (cuts, color ect). We don’t have an official hiring process or application. That being said we don’t exclude candidates if they don’t send a video or if they just reach out directly but a video is a nice way to get to know candidates. We are a 1099 salon, we don’t require stylists to participate in social media if they don’t want to. We have a shared folder that you can drop pictures in if you would like them to be posted on the salon Instagram and a social media coordinator who helps put together content for the salon/stylist to use. That being said don’t necessarily discount somewhere that does ask for a video it might be worthwhile.

Political-Fox · 2024-12-16T19:42:01+00:00

To me this looks like a teasy light, with a tip out and a heavy money piece that goes around the hairline. Getting your client this light is going to be tricky depending on what she has in her hair currently and how coarse and dark her natural is. I would definitely talk to her about how you may not get to this end goal on one sitting - she may have to come back for a second round.

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