We've read multiple articles about people breaking up with their hairdressers, but what about the very real phenomenon of hairdressers calling time on their clients?
There can be many valid reasons for hairdressers breaking up with their clients, from them causing disruptions in the salon to them being continually disastified with their hair outcomes.
But there are responsible and professional ways to call it quits with a client. We share the three ways to break up with a client below these stories.
Read the (anonymous) stories below, and we'd love to hear whether you've had similar experiences.
"Well, I thought I had broken up with a client. But then they came back to me a year later as they couldn't get the same haircut elsewhere!"
"I had one client who knowingly booked in for the wrong appointment, I told them it was wrong (it was on the day, as it was an online booking I hadn’t seen). I then told them how much longer the appointment would take before I started, but it wasn’t until I started doing a cut on another client during their development time that they went absolutely mental. They were going off on one because I was doing someone else’s hair whilst they developed. I’d been doing their hair for two years at this point, so they knew what service to book in for and that I do a back-to-back column. Bear in mind I had to add time onto the appointment, and I still managed to get them out before 4pm which is what time they said they had to fininsh by. I received a message afterwards apologising for their behaviour and acknowledging the 'bad vibes'. I just read it and didn’t reply. I felt like they were extremely ignorant in the salon, not even giving me a chance to show them I could get them out by the time they needed. They made everyone else in the salon on edge and uncomfortable. That kind of behaviour gets a no from me!"
"I had to break up with a client who was aggressive for no reason. When I 'broke up' with her she was so soft and apologetic. But I just couldn't take the chance of her getting back in my chair."
How to Break up with a Client
- Find a location that offers privacy and will make you both feel comfortable. Express gratitude and thank them for booking you / trusting you with their hair.
- Calmly explain the reason behind why you think it's best you no longer do their hair.
- Listen to any feedback they might have, and try to be objective. It's best not to rise to anything, even if you think they are in the wrong. You have made your decision by this point, so leave the relationship with dignity.
- If appropriate, offer alternative solutions, maybe another stylist you work with or a nearby salon that you trust.
