When You're Done With Your Hairstylist

When You're Done With Your Hairstylist

Dallas Hair Color Guru Rose Zuniga - Provided to Hairboutique by Rose Zuniga - All Rights Reserved

For the past 10 years I've been blissfully happy with my current Dallas hairstylist, Rose Zuniga (214-755-5628), who's an amazing color expert with great cutting skills to boot.

Not everyone is as lucky as I have been with Rose.  Which triggers the question, what do you do when you're done with your hairstylist?

Note:  Rose is amazing with color, naturally textured hair and long hair.  Her clientele is approximately 50% male and 50% female.  She's located near Mockingbird Station.  Please tell her Karen at Hairboutique.com sent you.

My hairdresser right before Rose created several heinous hair actions which left my hair with orange roots, blotchy green steaks and damaged ends.

Even worse, when things went horribly wrong, she avoided my phone calls, emails and texts like I had some a terrible disease.

Sometimes You Have To Take Hard Actions

Hairstylist Blowing Out - Photo Courtesy of HairBoutique.com

The final disaster Sharon created on my hair was combined with her being consistently 15-25 minutes late for my appointments, forgetting the color formula for my highlights and slapping product on my hair without even discussing it with me first.

My family always accuses me of being too nice and unwilling to take hard actions.  Sometimes I get pushed around because of my kindness flaws.

Alter Sharon turned my hair color into a freakish mess, I was still willing to try and work it out with her.    Yes, crazy me.  I learned that was just a very bad decision on my part.

Healthy Relationships Are Based On A Constant Flow Of Communication

Hairstylist Cutting Hair - Courtesy Empire Beauty School - All Rights Reserved

When I left four voice mails on her home answering machine asking her to call and she didn't, I became increasingly angry.

By the second day after no call-backs I was furious.  Emails and Social Media contacts also went unanswered.

Not only did I put up with her chronic tardiness, lack of concern for being properly prepared with the correct formulas and ignoring my questions, I had gone above and beyond to be a great client.  Yes, even a great friend to her.

I referred her new customers, I tipped her generously and always called the day before my appointment to verify my arrival time and color formulation needs.

No Relationship Is Ever 100% Perfect

Salon Hair Client After Rusk Hair Care Treatment

I'm one of those people who believe any healthy interaction between two people requires a constant flow of communication.

No relationship always runs smoothly.  People have bad days, they get ill, they may be hypersensitive or crabby.  They may even argue or hurt each other's feelings.

I will give anyone I care about several passes when our communication hits a bump.

However, when the other person stops returning my phone calls, doesn't answer my emails or interact with me in any manner for two or more days, I will lose my patience and eventually decide the relationship's just not worth fighting for.

If you can't talk about issues or problems that might pop up, the relationship is doomed long term.

The First Time Shame On Them, The Second Time Shame On You

Detangling Newly Shampooed Hair - Image Courtesy Of HairBoutique.com

My father used to always tell me if someone treats you badly the first time, shame on them.  If you allow them to continue to treat you badly, shame on you.

So what should you do when your relationship with your stylist has broken down and you need to end it?  Everyone needs to handle the break-up with their stylist in the way which best honors their true nature, personality and concern with karma.

Personally I don't like to ever burn a bridge.

However, if I have made every effort to communicate with repeated phone messages, email messages or similar that go unreturned, I will walk away and not ever look back.

When It's Over, Don't Look Back

Salon Interior Shot - HB Media - All Rights Reserved

It takes a lot for me to be that done, but when it happens for me, I realize the relationship wasn't mutual and the other person just didn't care about me or care about having a healthy relationship.

It's hard to ever end any type of relationship, whether romantic or professional.  One important question is to ask yourself whether or not you might run into the hairstylist again.

If you did, how would you feel?  Would you feel better if you made a clean break?

Block, Mute, Unfriend, Unfollow & Move On

If you don't feel the need to explain yourself go ahead and unfriend/unfollow/block them on Social Media, set up rules to push their emails to your spam/delete folders and block all their phone numbers.

Hair Being Styled At The Hair Salon By A Stylist - HB Media - All Rights Reserved

Viola you're done.  Move on and find a new stylist who will honor a healthy relationship with you.

Never Put Up With A Relationship That Hurts You

When you think you might have to interact with your stylist through mutual friends or acquaintances and you don't want to fire them in person, send a polite email or text letting them know things are not working out and you're moving on.

The Amazing Late Celeb Hairstylist Robert Hallowell At His Mt. Washington Height in Los Angeles Bleaching hair wefts - January 12, 2011 - Courtesy of Robert Hallowell - All Rights Reserved

Ultimately no one should ever be willing to suffer through any type of relationship where their phone calls, emails or related communications are ignored.

Remember, the goal for any relationships should be healthy, long-lasting and fun.  If you feel bad, the relationship is bad.

Note:  I sadly lost my LA hairstylist of 10+ years, Robert Hallowell to a sudden illness.  His passing was a true tragedy for me.  We had a fabulous long term relationship and he was a true friend.

Every worthwhile relationship may hit speed bumps, but if both people want to have a happy healthy connection, they won't ever turn off the communication flow.