1)      Food At the Station
This should be a crime. A stylist’s station should house nothing but tools needed for styling. This does NOT include candy wrappers, sub sandwiches, empty soda cans, or any other kind of food or drink. Not to mention this creates an unsanitary work environment, and a starving guest. Food should be kept in the break room only.

2)      Armpit Exposure
Ahh the dreaded armpit exposé. Washing the hair at the bowl goes from what could’ve been a marvelously relaxing imaginary travel to the Bahamas, to a nightmare on Elm Street. Exposed armpits at the bowl, equals torture for the guest. No one wants to stare at your pits, so cover em.

3)      Horrible Odor
Whether you smoke or just left the gym, the last thing a guest wants is to smell your life story. Nothing worse than that strong gust of ‘bad body odor’ when walking by, ew; or being forced at the shampoo bowl to inhale the odor, especially with exposed pits. To the guest, scent is part of the performance. Foul odor, sadly equals foul work.
    

4)      Inappropriate Music
Bleep this, bleep that. Inappropriate music (curse words or sexual connotations) can serve as quite a distraction, not to mention a cause for sending your guest straight out the door. People take offense to inappropriate occurrences in a business environment, so keep music clean, light and low. Wouldn’t want to have to yell to the person next to you.

5)      Children
Unless you’re running a daycare, children shouldn’t be allowed in the salon. Salons are meant to serve as a place of relaxation and serenity to your guests, not a screaming playpen. This kind of notice should be visibly read on the service menu or at an inconspicuous location at the front desk.

6)      Clothing
Anything too tight, too short, or too loose can serve as a complete distraction to your guest. Especially noisy accessories that obnoxiously jingle and jangle with every move you make. Uniformity shows professionalism. A salon that shows consistency with a certain color on every stylist, boosts professionalism, and ultimately clientele.


7)      Posture/Body Language
Poor posture shows poor confidence. Look your guest in the eye and stand up straight when talking to show your undivided attention. Sitting while talking may not translate as friendly, but lazy and “lax.” You never want to come off as too comfortable with your clients or they may not value the quality or price of your work. 

8)      Phone Calls
Taking a personal phone call is a definite no-no on the salon floor as this creates an “anything goes,” kind of vibe for guests and coworkers. Always keep the standard of professionalism high with personal phones on silent and salon calls taken by the receptionist.

9)      Dirty Nails
Routine manicures are a must when in the beauty business. No one wants to see dirty nails in their hair. Gross!

Hopefully these tips help YOU find the right stylist. And stylists: hopefully this puts proper performance into practice. What are some horrible salon occurrences that drive YOU crazy? Share below!

With Love,

Bebe Michelle