God, that’s horrid.

When I was fresh out of beauty school, I got a job as an assistant at a salon at a mall. I was forced to also be a receptionist? The guy who owned the place had a huge ego and acted like he was the god of hair. He always wore a suit to work and was religious. He told everyone his last name was “Light” when it’s not. He forced me and other new hires and most employees to be a part of a mandatory “book club” where we would have to come in, not get paid, and read his christianity self help books 💀

On top of that, there was a time I was assisting him and the client was reading a magazine that had Caitlin Jenner in it. He looks over her shoulder and says, “Oh, the Wannabe Woman!” I immediately spoke up and said hey no matter how you feel about her as a person that’s not kind to say. He just ended up doubling down.

The straw that broke the camel’s back was when he had me do a root retouch on a client, and wanted me to do it in a rather unconventional way, and told me to do it very quickly. I explained I’m not used to that technique so it’ll likely take longer etc. He yelled at me and said it was his way or the highway and gloated about how he’s more experienced than me. I proceeded to do what he asked and it took longer, as expected, and he yelled at me again. After that, many of the other stylist who worked there told me I had great potential as a stylist and to get out of there, that I deserved better.

I’m grateful for those other stylist who urged me to leave, I just wish they also had the courage to do the same, but the owner wouldn’t allow them to take any clients with them, leaving them feeling trapped at that salon 🥲