A year of learning to be a hairdresser - louis

As 2007 comes to an end - can you believe it's already over? - I've been reflecting on the year that has gone by and it has been a huge year for me. I suppose you could say that it was the year that I really got going and started to get into hairdressing. Last year I was just starting out in the industry and dipping in. Now I have tried every cut and every colour and learned a lot... but I still have a hell of a lot more to learn and next year will be another big year. Looking back, I think that the biggest lesson I have learned is the importance of good communication skills. If you can sit and talk to someone for an hour-and-a-half even if they don't love their hair they will be happy. Making the most of that lesson means learning to multi-task, though. Some might think that it is easy to cut hair and talk at the same time but when you are starting out it is really not! Fortunately so far my clients have been models and they know that I am still training so they will chat when I am sectioning off the hair and then stop talking when I am cutting because I have to concentrate. I've also learned about the client cycles in the salon. Back in the summer, there were times when Forresters was a very quiet place. Right now, as we countdown to Christmas, it is absolutely mental! There has been a constant stream of clients coming through the door and the stylists have a rota of 45 minutes for a cut and blow dry, so when people come in and want something that takes longer - as they seem to do a lot at this time of year - it all gets a little hectic! Everyone is festive, jolly and stressed; but for some reason no one seems that keen on me putting Christmas songs on at 9 o'clock in the morning! That's all from me this year... more in 2008. Happy Christmas!