#Salon Issues and #hairsalondrama videos trending on TikTok. So, what are stylists and their customers so mad about?

By Hair Expert Nicole Petty at Milk + Blush 

The relationship between a hairstylist and their customers is often nurtured and based on mutual respect, trust, warmth, communication and loyalty. It is a well-known fact that many people consider their stylists to be confidants and their service is a relaxing treat. 

However, it can be impossible to keep everyone happy all the time, and this relationship can often be fickle if either party doesn’t identify their pain points. #Salonissues and #hairsalondrama are popular hashtags on TikTok with over 16K posts between them, created by one famous TikTok creator/ hair stylist with over 2.7M followers and a penchant for creating funny videos based on her own or others, real-life salon experiences. 

But what issues concern stylists and their customers most? And how can you overcome them to maintain a healthy relationship? 

Clients demanding impossible colour corrections 

One video shows the hairdresser looking on in horror as a customer enters the salon with bright pink hair and demands a colour correction back to blonde. While she’s booked for a root touch-up and only willing to pay for that, the stylist is told by her boss to deal with it. 

With nearly one million likes on the social platform, the video resonates with a lot of stylists and, the reality is that stylists should be open and honest with their customers about what it is possible to achieve in a single appointment.  

Going from a colour such as pink straight to blonde is a lengthy process, which requires time and money to do correctly. So, by setting realistic expectations from the offset, the stylist and their customer can maintain trust, respect and good-looking and feeling hair. 

Clients not respecting schedules  

Arriving early to a hair appointment is no crime, but it is if you expect your stylist to be ready to serve you from the second you walk through the door. In this video, which has garnered nearly 400K views, the customer is angry at the stylist for finishing her lunch when she’s 15 minutes early. 

While the customer is always right, as the stylist rightly says, her lunch may be the only quiet time she gets throughout the day and should be respected. 

To avoid similar problems happening in the future, stylists should set boundaries, encouraging them to arrive on time, no earlier than five minutes before their appointment.  

Being late can cause havoc to your schedule, but being too early might even cut into another customer’s appointment time – which could disrupt your relationship with them, too. 

Establishing mutual consideration between the stylist and the client is crucial. 

Stylists being away on holiday  

One issue many clients are bound to face is what to do when their stylist heads off on holiday, as this could mess up their regular cut and colour routine.  

However, as outlined in the video watched by nearly 200K people, the issue can easily be resolved with good communication. 

Stylists should ensure they book annual leave well in advance and alert their customers at the earliest opportunity, either during an appointment or via social media. This way, customers won’t be blindsided and without crucial hair services when they need it most, and stylists can establish an alternative time for the appointment that works around their break without upsetting the customer. 

Stylists pushing products are too expensive 

In a cost-of-living crisis, times are as hard for stylists as they are for their customers, which can sometimes be a point of contention. In a video by the TikTok user, which has 405K views, the stylist is confused as to why her client’s hair isn’t lifting properly and discovers she isn’t using the products she’s recommended as they are too expensive.  

To avoid similar issues, stylists should be completely transparent about the products they are recommending and how much they cost and consider finding and suggesting suitable, cheaper alternatives. 

It’s important to remember that, for many, getting hair done is a luxury, and the best products aren’t always the most affordable long-term. However, it’s the ingredients in the products that make them worthwhile, and the benefits should be explained to maximise hair health between appointments.