My inspiration for this post came from my dear, longtime blogging friend, Debbie @ Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who is not only a gifted...
I was a licensed cosmetologist for 13 years.
And like with any job, there are good moments and not-so-good moments.
Today I’d like to share one the not-so-good moments.
There’s a fine line between a stylist listening to and giving a client what they want, and then knowing and advising a client, as to what would and would not work for them.
I always took the approach, that since a client is the one paying for my services, it was my job to grant their wishes. However, there were times, when I just knew that what they were wishing for, would not be for the best, and would say so.
When giving a perm, the size of the perm rod determines the size curl you want to achieve.
The clients hair length, texture, condition and hair color also needs to be considered. If someone has light blond or gray/white hair, the perm will always appear “tighter” than say, if someone who has darker hair. Lighter hair will always LOOK curlier.
I had a client once, who requested that I use small perm rods on her hair, so that it would last for 4-5 months. I advised her, that because she had white, coarser textured hair, I thought it would be better if I used medium rods, so that her hair wouldn’t look as though she had stuck a wet finger into an electrical socket.
But she insisted that because she was going on vacation, she didn’t want to have to fuss with her hair, and only wanted to wash and wear it.
I explained to her again, my professional advice.
She insisted it being her way.
Since her hair was healthy and in very good condition, I gave her what she wanted, but told her that if she wasn’t satisfied…I didn’t want to hear any complaints.
She said, “Do it.”
When she left, her hair was still wet, so neither one of us saw what it would look like after it dried, but to my eyes, it looked as though it was a good conditioned perm.
Now, let’s fast forward to the next day…..
(the dreaded phone call)
My boss told me that one of my clients was on the phone and needed to talk to me…
Me: Hello?
She: Hello, Ron?
Me: Yes?
She: I’m the women with the white hair who you gave a perm to yesterday…do you remember me?
Me: Yes, I do.
She: Well I HATE it!...when I woke up this morning and looked in the mirror, it appears as though I have a huge fuzzy COTTON BALL sitting on my head - it’s HORRIBLE!
Me: Well, if you remember me advising you yesterday about using smaller rods, I was trying to avoid this.
She: So what am I suppose to do about it??
Me: Well, if you would like to come in today, I could try running a deep conditioner through it and see if that will relax it a bit.
She: I don’t have TIME to come in today, because I’m leaving on my vacation this evening and I still have things I need to do!
Me: Well then, I really don’t know what to say.
She: But I’m completely dissatisfied with what you did!
Me: Listen, I told you that if I did the perm the way you requested, I was not going to take responsibility for it, remember?
She: Yes, I remember, but my hair looks like fuzzy COTTON!…I ‘m telling you, COTTON!… Do you hear what I‘m saying?…COTTON!
Me: Yes, I get the picture…cotton.
She: Well how can I go on my vacation looking like a COTTON BALL exploded on my head??
Me: I offered to try and help you out with a deep conditioner, but you can’t come in, so I guess you’re just going to have to wait until it grows out.
She: Well, I just want you to know that this is the WORST perm I’ve EVER gotten, and I will NEVER be coming back to you!
Me (alleluia): Yes, I totally understand your decision.
She (hanging up): SLAM!
I never did get to see what the perm looked like, but this is what I always imagined….
Cotton!!
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