There is absolutely nothing worse in the world than showing up to a beauty appointment, or anything that is considered ” self-care” and leaving feeling worse about yourself than when you walked in...And listen, we’ve all been there…traumatized by a hair/nail/skin appointment that failed to meet the need we were seeking to fulfill. Yes, we are looking to improve our appearance, but we are also wanting to feel more confident within ourselves.
Over the years of well, just being a girl, I have encountered many of these such appointments…you know, the ones you leave and you’re like what the heck just happened there? Even as I am writing this, I can think of a handful that stand out to me as being the worst services I have ever experienced. I mean, I have been told by a woman giving me a blowout that my hair looked like hay! I have been cancelled on over and over again by the same hairstylist, and I have put a deposit down at a plastic surgery place that decided two days after I paid that they would permanently close, stealing my money. But looking back, there were definitely things that I ignored - red flags that showed up in these businesses that, had I been aware of these cautionary signs, I may not have been in these compromised positions.
Here are a few red flags to watch out for so that you may steer clear of bad beauty businesses.
Red Flag: Poor Customer Service
Picture this. You have never been to the nail salon down the street, but are open to trying something new, so you call ahead and ask if there are any openings. They tell you to come at 5:30 for a gel manicure. 5:30 rolls around and you walk in, your crusty nails just aching for a smooth polish. You walk into a bustling nail salon, not knowing where to go. Nobody looks at you. Nobody acknowledges you. In fact, you feel like they are purposely avoiding eye contact with you. You start to get paranoid. “Am I in the right place? Are they making fun of me? Was this all a sick joke?”
The way that you are greeted in a business says everything you need to know. Is the front desk person friendly? If they aren’t, there could be many reasons. Perhaps they are overworked, underpaid, or just lack respect and basic manners. Whatever the reason, a reputable business that cares for its customers will care about how the customers are treated. It is a powerful indication that they may not have customer care at the top of their priority list if you are left feeling lost or disheartened. A good service provider will want you to have a positive experience from the moment you walk in the door.
Red Flag: Insufficient Consultation
So many appointments in my life have gone awry during the consultation. As a sugaring specialist, this is when we find out your waxing experience, if you are on any medications, and also get to know you. Some things to look out for: Did the service provider rush you? Did they try to find out your lifestyle (if applicable)? Did they educate you on the cost, and any contraindications, and describe to you any side effects that could occur? Anything that prevents a service from being provided is a contraindication, and this is a big reason why service providers have to be licensed. We have to be able to carry our job out safely and effectively by being able to spot when we have to refuse service. For example, if a person has a sunburn, we cannot sugar and rip off their hair until their sunburn goes away. Or, if a client uses retinol on their face, we cannot wax because we could rip off a lot more than just hair! Failing to speak with clients about these things prior to the service can result in miscommunications and a mismatch of desired outcomes. The difference between a trim and cutting multiple inches could be the difference between your sanity and wanting to pull out your hair until it all grows back!
Red Flag: They comment on your body/looks in a negative way.
There is a certain way to comment on another female’s body that is honest, sincere, and kind. But there is another way to go about it that makes the client feel worse about themselves. I mean, I was told that my hair looked like hay...As if I didn’t already know I was a stallion. This was an effort to up-sell me on an expensive hair treatment. And regardless of the hay-like nature of my blonde locks, she could have presented it in a much kinder way.
We are all salespeople and clients ask us for recommendations all the time. But there are ways to be honest and gentle because you never know what insecurities people may have. If someone tries to make you feel bad about yourself in order to up-sell or try and get more money from you, SAYONARA SISTA.
Red Flag: Speaking poorly about their coworkers or clients
Everyone knows that we are basically therapists in the beauty industry. That means I get to hear a woman’s entire life story while staring at her labia…pretty cool right? So we have to be vaults… secrets come in and get locked deep inside. Remember, if someone is talking badly about someone else to you and sharing their secrets, they are most likely talking about you badly to someone else and sharing yours. There is a line between chit-chat and gossip and true professionals will know how to relate to their clients in an appropriate way.
Red Flag: Poor communication/difficulty booking
The phone is the first point of contact between potential customers and the business. And in this day and age, there are so many ways to set up your business for easy booking. Online booking/text options are great and allow for clients to easily book without actually talking to someone. In a detail-oriented industry, poor phone etiquette is an indication of a business that does not pay attention to the details.
Okay, so now I know what to avoid…but what should I look for? Here are a couple of green lights in the beauty industry that will help steer you in the right direction!
Green lights
Businesses that have you fill out and then go over an intake form. This is a good sign that they are trying to get to know you and proof that there is a system in place to address contraindications.
Honest education that actually may deter you from getting the service. I know how frustrating it is to hear the word “no” when you want to change something about your appearance, but sometimes refusing a service is the best thing you can do when looking out for a client’s best interest.
Continuous conversation about the cost. Service providers who are upfront will always agree on a cost beforehand rather than after. Any add-ons or hidden costs will be communicated clearly.
Following through on promises. Pay attention - do they call you back in the time frame that they promised you? Do they bring you the sample they said they would?
Taking their time. Now this one may be more of a preference, but I prefer to stay loyal to my service providers who don’t make me feel rushed. I like when they make me feel like they are taking their time and doing a good job. If I can sense that I am just a number and being pushed out the door, I tend to run the other way.
Now keep in mind, everybody has their bad days. And when it comes to red flags, just one of these may be okay! However, beware when they occur in clusters. Clusters of red flags indicate a higher likelihood that you may not leave as happy as you thought you would be! Remember, consent is an ongoing invisible contract and when encountering any of these red flags, don’t be afraid to walk away!
I want to hear from you! Share your stories of red flags in the beauty industry that you may have ignored.