What can we learn from celebrity scissorhands?

When HJi caught up with Lee Stafford before Celebrity Scissorhands 2007 kicked off, he told us he had big plans for the celebrities he was about to transform into hairdressers. The 'stars' aren't just going to be cutting hair in the salon this year, they will also be putting on a stage show in front of an audience of hairdressers. And being a perfectionist, Lee wasn't going to settle for mediocrity from his students. "I want them to star on the stage and I don't just want the hairdressers in the audience to be thinking 'I can't believe they have achieved that', I also want them to be thinking 'I can't believe I learned something from them'," he said. So, one week into the programme what - if anything - can we learn from Celebrity Scissorhands? More than you might suspect...Before you raise a cynical eyebrow, hear us out, because we think there are already five useful lessons that both stylists and salon owners can take from the show?

• You must be able to trust your management team: Your assistant manager and the key members of your team don't have to be your best friends, but you do need to be able to trust them and their judgement. Seeing Lee go head to head with Steve Strange may make compelling viewing, but it leads to a stressful environment and is a situation that can be avoided just by putting the right people in the right roles.
• Sick-note staff are a liability: Be it Steve Strange and his cold or Javine and her head-ache (admittedly, the girl is pregnant so we'll cut her some slack!), staff playing the sickness card puts an unnecessary burden on the rest of the team. If you think you have a problem, it's essential you speak to the employees to get to the bottom of the problem - but remember different people need to treating differently and being aggressive or telling people that they are lazy can act like a red rag to a bull.
• It's vital to listen not just to hear: Never has this been demonstrated better than by Steve Strange's haircuts (if we can call them that!). If someone says they want to keep the length, guess what? They don't want their hair cut short - even if you think it would really suit them. But it's not just the importance of listening to your clients that has been highlighted. You need to listen to your staff too or otherwise you risk them walking out or calling in sick and that's not going to help anyone (see above).
• People will do anything for charity: We love that Celebrity Scissorhands is generating plenty of interest and helping to raise lots of money for Children in Need. Seeing clients risking their crowning glory for a good cause shows what lengths people will go to in the name of charity. While we're not suggesting that you exploit the nation's good nature; charity events, shows and fundraisers are a great way for you to get your salon's name known and do your bit for a worthy cause.
• The best hairstylists aren't always the best hairdressers: In week one Javine, generally thought of as the best of the celebrity stylists, raised the least 'tips' (clients pay the amount they think their haircut or treatment is worth). On the other hand, comedian Ninia Benjamin, who hasn't exactly taken to cutting hair like a duck to water, but is warm, friendly and amusing has been 'tipped' the most. It's further evidence that a trip to the hairdressers isn't just about the cut, but about the whole salon experience. If you can make your clients feel like they're the most important people in the world then you're halfway there.

Do you have an opinion about Celebrity Scissorhands? Why not join the debate on the My HJi forums, where the current consensus is that Steve Strange should never be let loose in a salon again.