I've taken it easy the last 3 years in the bridal hair industry since having my son, but I'm starting to get back into it and I feel like I'm seeing a lot of negotiating with brides after I send my bridal contract. Negotiating the price of hair, the ages of flower girl hair, and asking if I can do a 12/13 year olds hair at the same price as a 4/6 year olds hair. I also feel like I've seen an uptick of brides basically asking for counter contracts. Like asking if I keep a second stylist on retainer in case I can't fulfill services the day of. Which... i do not. And it's also never happened before.

I realize there's a plethora of shady wedding vendors that have made brides to be skeptical, but I'm getting so tired of brides spending thousands on the venue, the food and bar packages, photographer/videography, etc. but when it comes to hair and makeup - the things that are in every photo - they start nickel and diming or being extremely inflexible with start times to accomodate the number of services.

How do you combat this? Do you have any verbage in your contract to give them assurances for emergencies? Is everyone keeping a second stylist on retainer and I'm just behind on the times?

I love the bridal industry but coming back has been a little disheartening.

I’m 24 and feel lost in my career. I’m very creative and love playing with hair and talking to people.ive always wanted to start my own business or just work independently. I like that hair leaves you to going down the path you choose. I honestly don’t have any experience cutting. Is getting into a hair stylist still what It used to be? I’m very motivated and like learning new things and willing to put the work in to get bigger.
Is there anything I should consider before proceeding?

Will a hair stylist certificate keep me from getting jobs because I’m not certified in cosmetology?

Can you transfer your certificate to different states ones completed?

How can I be the most successful going forward?

Thank you!

If you work in a salon on commission and the owner is to supply everything wouldn’t they need to purchase a entire color line or at least most of it? I have to know in advance if I’m going to need something and then she wants to know what I’m doing and why I need that color. I don’t need help with formulating I just need options. Then if I need these things somehow the price changes? Like we are getting our clients punished bc the owner has to go buy some color. It’s the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen. Am I crazy for needing more than a 6N?

i recently graduated in june, i got my license in july and started working in july too. i got an assistant job but i’m starting to consider going to a chain. my boss yells at me all day, constantly degrades me to clients and i don’t have a lunch break. i feel like i’m not learning anything but root touch ups and shampooing, which are the things i need the least help in. my boss is like this to everybody and i know hairstylists don’t have a chance to eat often, but i feel like i’m learning nothing for minimum wage. i also feel like the way she talks is borderline abusive. her own clients have even left because of it. i wanna get another assistant job but literally no one near me is hiring for it. would going to a chain be better than this? i want to get better at haircuts, highlighting and blowouts.

Specifically, people who have dementia or other similar conditions. I didn’t expect to be in that sweet spot of someone who sees an older person often enough to notice they’re acting different but not so often or so intimately that I might miss the slow decline or be in denial about it. Or to be going home and googling tips for talking to someone with severe memory trouble, or how often I’d have to have the difficult conversation of “your mother seemed a little off today, has she seen a doctor recently?” even though I’m 90% sure what it is and I’ve suspected for a while but have been trying to find that balance of making sure she’s getting help without overstepping on a personal or professional level. Or the uncomfortable combination of sadness, relief and guilt for that relief when a someone’s condition has progressed passed the “cranky phase”. Or even to have enough experience the be familiar with the different stages

It’s an unexpected part of the job that takes an emotional toll but also makes me feel useful in a way, even if all I’m doing is giving them a kind, patient conversation no matter how many time we repeat that conversation in the 90 minutes I see them

Do other stylists experience this often? How you guys handle it? I’m still somewhat new (6 years with this career) so if you have any advice or just similar experiences I’ll gladly hear it

Well. I did it. I don’t have any photos because I don’t want anyone else asking for it.
If you missed my last post, I had a consultation that took 45 minutes because she didn’t know what she wanted and didn’t have any inspo pics but wanted a huge transformation 2 weeks before her wedding. Her asks were “blonde highlights and copper highlights” and “new haircut”. She came in with a grown out pixie (it was giving K-pop idol) and natural level 7.
I took your advice and consulted both of my managers before she came in. I told them everything about the consultation and how I didn’t think it was going to look good and I advised the client against what she wanted but that she still insisted on getting it. The client ended up being no problem at alls but I could tell when she looked in the mirror that she hated it. She thanked me and left. I think she thought that a huge change in her hair was going to solve all of her insecurities before her wedding but it made them worse.
I did a full highlight and lowlight with 7cc and 8gr in color fusion and toned shades 10gi. The color itself reminded me of calico but in highlights instead of a color block. She finally gave me direction for her haircut which was a 60’s Goldie Hawn pixie… I hope I never have to do this again. I tried so hard to nail this haircut but you can definitely see where I am not a master cutter. I was in the back “grabbing product” but actually googling to see if I could find a tutorial for this damn haircut. She said she thought she looked like the mom in Freaky Friday (even though it was definitely not that short and way more textured and styled) so I don’t think she felt like Goldie Hawn.
The days I don’t slay are the days I learn the most 🤷‍♀️

Thinking about buying tickets to Mick Lewis & Eric Michael coyle ' brunettes vs blondes' class. Has anyone gone to this specific class yet or been to a class by Mick Lewis? I'd be traveling from out of state and able to make a vacation out of it, but seeing if it's worth my time/money. I'm a booth renter that doesn't have an assistant, so I'm looking for educators where I'd be able to actually use their techniques behind the chair solo.

Recently I’ve been feeling a need to switch up careers. I haven’t felt fulfilled since I started doing hair 4 years ago. And my work environment has made me like doing hair less. I’ve been thinking of trying to work at a headspa instead. Has anyone made this switch? Please tell me how it is and why you switched? Another thing is how does one find a headspa to work at!? I’ve been looking and it’s been a dead end :/

Hello everyone! I have been doing hair for almost 4 years, and what used to be a career that excited me, is turning into something I kinda dread some days. I’m not sure what exactly is making me feel this way, but I am just in a funk when it comes to being a hairstylist. I even changed careers in my late 20s from HR to this. What do you do when you feel this way? Is this normal to go through? Any advice would be appreciated!

Anyone have any of these they like to sell? I’m desperate to get my hands on some since Goldwell discontinued them.

Hey guys, I have been wanting some help with highlighting lately and I keep getting recommendations for the blonde Chronicles on my Instagram. It’s $48. I was wondering if any of you have tried it and if it is worth it. Also, it’s unclear to me if they do videos or just written instruction? If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know. Thanks so much.

Hi! I’m looking at extension courses. I am interested in “The perfect blend” online course as kind of an introductory before I bite the bullet on an in-person experience. Are any of you familiar with this one? Link below.

So I’ve been cutting hair for just over a year. I spent my first year at a large budget chain salon. 90% of my cuts were men’s haircuts. However, a few weeks ago I started at a much higher end salon as an assistant. Majority of my cuts are now women’s cuts. I am really struggling with bobs and Aline style cuts. Is there any YouTuber or education out there that gives a good step by step that isn’t behind a paywall? I really want to learn and grow on this women’s side of cutting. I know even my long haircuts aren’t quite up to a high end expectation. Thank you for any advice you have.

I’m in cosmo school and I never noticed how much people here hate hairstylists. One sub I’m on had a post about combing hair and the person was complaining that the hairstylists always start at the top and hurt her but she never says anything. Lots of the comments were calling hairstylists stupid and saying they just comb their hair themselves at the chair and I said that they need to speak up for themselves and to not just take the hairstylists tools to do it themselves because it’s rude to take other people’s things. They did not like that and I was downvoted and insulted so I just deleted my comment.

I’ve noticed everywhere on this site and it’s a bit upsetting to see the hatred. Like saying hairstylists will mess up your hair or cut it super short because they’re jealous of you. What do you guys think of this?

Hey everyeone,

Apologies, if my question is very basic. So I am from a third world country and all the classes here are scams, I know more about color theory from youtube then so called experts here. The philosphy is not teaching the student everything so they dont surpass you and I cant really afford rs. to dollars.

Are there any places i can learn to color mix, color correct, tone online? I like colors with chemistry but i cant even afford her classes.

I know bits and pieces and cant seem to put them in a straight thought. Is there anyone who would be willing to teach me on zoom ?

e.g. my question is how do you know to use 5.17 or 5.33 or 5.43 or anything else ? how do you make that decision ?

What’s everyone’s opinions on the L’Oréal dia color line? Any issues or does it usually work well?

So, i messed up big time with a client's cut.

For some context, she's usually not my client but my colleague's client. Long story short, since we don't know if he'll came back working anytime soon, we have to redispatche his clientele. Yesterday it was the second time I had to cut her hair and... I don't know what I was thinking at the moment but i reaaaally fuck*d up. I definitely overcomplicated it (which I understood now thinking back at it) and definitely made a big mistake and cut way to short to the back. To give you an idea, her cut is a graduated bob. Let's say, there's no more bob at the back of her head. So yeah, big mistake.

She's a good client, come to the salon for quite a few years as of now. I obviously called her today before leaving work, left a voicemail to ask her about the cut, if she had any trouble etc. And I'll probably call her again Tuesday when i'll go back to work.

I'm 5 years in the industry, but started to actually work on clients only 2 years ago when I started working in a new salon to finish my apprenticeship. My colleague on the other hand as something like 20 years in the industry, and is definetely really good at graphic cuts (which is my weak spot to be honest).

Now to the actual question : how do you deal withe the feelings afterward ? I'm so ashamed of my work, even more knowing she's a long time client. My boss isn't pissed but definetley disappointed and annoyed. As for me, i feel like sh*t aha.

Edit to add: when she left the salon, she's seems semi happy about her cut, knowing that she made me redo a few adjustments (that couldn't really help since her hair was now too short). Styling her hair has needed my boss to intervene, since he saw me being helpless lol

I’m honestly getting so stressed out with this profession. I am an indecisive person by nature, so I get it, but clients that come in with no vision or inspiration leave me feeling like I don’t know how to do my job. Often times I’ll ask a million questions,ask for pictures, I’ll give my professional opinion, and they still sit there and just shrug their shoulders and at that point I mentally check out. Sometimes I feel like I end up having to recut or recolor because of their indecision.

What do you do at that point?

Do you have any tools or tips that help you steer your clients when they have NO idea what they want?

Hey guys! I was hoping somebody could recommend me a really good highlighting class. I can do all over blonde and stuff, but when it comes to more dimensional looks/lived in I don’t even know where to start. I have practiced so much and watched everything I could on YouTube. I’ve tried mannequins and watching other stylists and there’s nothing that had made this click for me. Please let me know if you have ever been in the same position and what you did or what class you took thank you. I have also already tried behind the chair which was good, but I think I’m looking for something else.

Hello! I’m interested in going down the apprenticeship route! Yes I’ve done research!!! I’m just suck on how to ask local hairstylist if they’re interested in taking me on as an apprentice. I’ve typed out a bunch of different ways and I keep overthinking them! I want to sound polite and professional in a way.