The 8 worst things you can do at the hairdresser or barber

While you may feel quite comfortable in your regular salon or barbershop, sometimes customers can have a little fun Also comfortable and scissor pros just want people to cut it.

There are some actions that people may not realize are rude, but they have a major impact on the hairstylist’s ability to do their job or the experience of other customers and salon staff. They can also negatively impact the rest of the stylist’s day long after you’ve left the office.

To help everyone better understand the most respectful way to behave while getting their hair done, we polled six long-time professionals from around the country to ask about the rudest behavior they witness on a regular basis from their customers.

Among the questioned stylists, complaint no. 1 was customer delay. “One late customer can have a ripple effect on an entire day’s work schedule,” explained Viktor Holas, who has been a barber for eight years and currently works in San Diego. The wise barber. “This means other customers will be forced to wait despite arriving on time. It also puts more pressure on the stylist to work as quickly as possible to restore the original timeline.

Plus, “being late can end up denying your stylist five to 10 minutes of well-deserved rest between cuts,” Holas said.

If you are unexpectedly late, call your salon as soon as possible to let them know. And when you arrive, make the rest of the meeting go as smoothly and as quickly as possible to avoid delays.

“There are levels,” noted the 12-year industry professional Yvey Valcindriving to Seattle Salon Yvey. If the call is important, for example for children or work, try to make it quickly and quietly. “But if it’s just casual conversation,” Valcin added, “it’s not very respectful.”

If you need to make a quick call during your appointment, don’t ignore your stylist in the process. “Self [you are] questions about your cut or style, answer right away,” she added Olya Iudinaa 15-year-old fashion designer based at IGK NYC in New York.

“After arriving 15 minutes late, a customer sat on the phone for 10 minutes. When they hung up, I had to tell them I didn’t have time to cut them and they were furious,” recalls the stylist. Andrea Cottiniwho has 13 years of experience and works in Portland, Oregon Exhibition propaganda.

If you have to interrupt service to leave for an emergency call, don’t expect to “resume full service as if nothing happened,” he said. Justin Kafandoa New York barber with Guild of Hair Surgeons who has over 20 years of experience. To avoid delaying subsequent client appointments, your stylist may have to rush or not be able to provide the same services as if it were a 24/7 appointment.

Stylists agree that they’d rather have a client get sick than sit in a chair while spreading germs. By becoming contagious, you not only put the hairstylist at risk, but also other stylists, clients and staff.

“If someone gets the same disease, they’re going to be forced to take sick leave and you’re going to be involuntarily out of work for a few days,” Holas said. “This also means canceling appointments for several days, which will be more inconvenient for us and the customers affected by the cancellations.”

When you’re in a hair salon, you should act like you are a guest in someone’s homewhich means respecting their property. Ricardo RojasHairdresser for 30 years who owns four salons including Ricardo Rojas Salon from New York, called back shortly after the salon was redecorated with beautiful new chairs. “[A client] eat a piece of cake with your hands,” Rojas said. “He placed the cake directly on the silk chair to shake my hand. I was terrified.”

Another no-no: Touching stylist equipment without permission. “We take great pride and care in our tools because they are expensive and need to be in top shape to deliver a perfect cut,” explained Kafando.

How you sit in the stylist’s chair can affect their ability to do their job. A big annoyance for hairstylists is when clients “wake up every two seconds to look in the mirror,” Kafando said. “We know your hair doesn’t look good unless it’s done. We’re getting there!”

Additionally, a client who “sits crooked or has their head down constantly can make it difficult to cut and color their hair,” noted Cottin. If you’re looking down at your phone during your appointment, try to make sure it doesn’t affect your posture in a way that could hurt the stylist.

Some lounges offer free refreshments such as coffee, tea, snacks or even alcoholic beverages. Sure, you can accept whatever refreshments are offered, but can you request a reservation? And is it good to pass by the snack table more than once?

“Typically, more than one refill of liquor is denied,” Cottin advised.

“Refills are usually not in the initial budget and could end up being expensive for your barber,” added Holas, who cautioned against “turning the soft drink corner into [your] your personal buffet.”

While cash tips are generally preferred, many salons offer alternatives if you don’t have bills handy, such as money transfer apps, ATMs, or credit card tips. If you are satisfied with the service you received, the stylists surveyed agreed that 20% of the service fee is an appropriate tip for the main stylist.

“You should tip your colorist, stylist and assistants if they helped wash or dry your hair,” noted Iudina, who added that $5-$15 is usually an appropriate tip for assistants, regardless of cost the service.