Do hairdressers keep notes?

[ckay87]

I'm so curious about this. Hairdressers keep notes on their clients don't they? How detailed are they? I'm just curious. I see a guy every other month and he seems to remember everything about me, my family, my vacations and interests, etc. I'm not a particularly interesting person , so it dawned on me that there must be a short novel written about me somewhere in that shop!

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I never kept those kind of notes, I always kept color formulas etc..perm notes rod size and products. I have a great memory so I always remember the type of stuff you are talking about..but I can see someone doing it, if they did not...

 

[Kit'smommy]

Most of them keep notes on the products they use on their clients and how they cut their hair. I know a stylist who jots down a few personal notes.

I used to work in public accouting and actually kept a few notes on staff at the clients as I only saw them every quarter or once a year and it really helped our relationship when I could make some small talk with them about little Johnny's troubles in school or their 20 cats.

Of course, some people just have a really good memory.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Mine definitely does. She will "remember" details about things we talked about, my kids' names or the way she layered my hair. She's a great hairstylist but a tad ditzy so I don't see her remembering those details on her own. She always tells me the same details about herself repeatedly so she obviously doesn't remember what she already told someone. Maybe she should write that down too.

 

[ckay87]

I never kept those kind of notes, I always kept color formulas etc..perm notes rod size and products. I have a great memory so I always remember the type of stuff you are talking about..but I can see someone doing it, if they did not...

That's interesting. I do believe you have to be a really great people-person to do that job, so I guess it's possible that he actually remembers that stuff about me. I couldn't do it, though. I'm far too senile (or self-centered).

 

[dancin Disney style]

Yes we keep notes on the work that we do but not on the things we talk about. After a while you just remember things about your clients. When you see the same people over and over you start to develop a relationship with them just like any friend. I think it's just part of the job. If I never remembered things about my clients I doubt they would keep coming back....it's a bit of an insult to forget. The work that we do is the most important part of keeping a client happy but the social side is just as important. People want to unload about their kids, jobs etc. to someone who is not involved.

 

[ckay87]

Yes we keep notes on the work that we do but not on the things we talk about. After a while you just remember things about your clients. When you see the same people over and over you start to develop a relationship with them just like any friend. I think it's just part of the job. If I never remembered things about my clients I doubt they would keep coming back....it's a bit of an insult to forget. The work that we do is the most important part of keeping a client happy but the social side is just as important. People want to unload about their kids, jobs etc. to someone who is not involved.

Yes, but God bless you. Really, I doubt that if I spoke with a person every other month, in between speaking with about 100 other people, I could remember much. It's a skill, it really is. I'm sure you're a wonderful hairdresser!

 

[Frantasmic]

Most hair cutters/stylists are misunderstood.

They aren't hair people who happen to be good talkers; they are good talkers who happen to cut/style hair. They just get paid to do something productive while they are talking.

There is a restaurant in our town. It is a well-known German restaurant. I am convinced the guy opened this restaurant, not to serve good food, but to have a captive audience for his band each night.

 

[Becky2005]

Yes, but God bless you. Really, I doubt that if I spoke with a person every other month, in between speaking with about 100 other people, I could remember much. It's a skill, it really is. I'm sure you're a wonderful hairdresser!

I absolutely would stink at something like that. I can't even remember NAMES most of the time. I know faces but actual names, you would have to be one of those people that would come in at least once a week or something. Forget more details like their kid's names or pet issues, etc.... It would be one of those while we are talking about it, sure I could remember but I wouldn't have a clue the next time I saw you other than maybe bits & pieces if I was lucky.

Then again, I'm probably one of those people the hairdressers hate. I don't really talk much while getting my hair done. I will answer questions you ask me but other than that, I just sit there and let them do their work because I mean really, it's not like they are a best friend or anything & they really don't care about stuff going on in my life.

 

[2cats1kid]

You could also find that this hairdresser is just trying to be as professional as possible.

I'm not a hairdresser, I work with children. At any time I will have 400+ children on my books. I remember all their names, quite a lot of the mums' names, the names of elder siblings I also worked with etc. I also try to remember details like if mum says to me "we won't see you next week as we are on holiday" I'll ask "anywhere nice" and then when they come back try to say "did you have a nice time in XXX". It makes the customers feel special and that you really take an interest in them, and is what makes people come back with subsequent children. If they phone up and I can say "oh is this a baby brother of Ellie?" or whatever they really love it that I've remembered them.

Personal touch goes a long way towards getting custom and also retaining it.

 

[Magpie]

I went to a new hairdresser for the first time in January. Then I went back a couple of weeks ago. I mentioned to the receptionist that I'd been there in January and she asked if I remembered who did my hair. I said I didn't, but one of the hair cutters waved her hand and said, "It was me! I remember you. Just give me a minute and I'll finish up here."

And then a few minutes later when I was sitting in her chair, the receptionist came over and said, "That's right - I remember now! You came in with your partner. How did your TV interview go?"

It was neat - I could see all of the women in the shop piecing together the story of who I was, and why I'd come by the last time to get my hair done. Then they wanted to know why I was back, and was it another special occasion? (It was.) So, at least in this salon, I don't think they take written notes, but they do all work together to help each other remember who the customers are and why each customer is special.

It's a very friendly place, and after all the compliments I got on my hair that night, I'll definitely be going back.

Now if only I could remember which woman cut my hair...

 

[starrzone]

I travel quite a bit, and my hairdresser would ALWAYS ask about my trips! I even started bringing her back small gifts from my travels. What was really special is that I remember when she got engaged, then the wedding, honeymoon, her being pregnant with her first, and then when he was born; it was really special to be able to be there throughout it all. She really was a friend to me; I hated having to move away and lose her

Here's a from me for hairdressers. Most of the time, you do much more for us than just cutting and coloring our hair. You're a sounding board, an impartial voice for our vents (or maybe it's just me, but I want to say thanks anyway! ).

 

[yoopermom]

Here's a from me for hairdressers. Most of the time, you do much more for us than just cutting and coloring our hair. You're a sounding board, an impartial voice for our vents (or maybe it's just me, but I want to say thanks anyway! ).

I tip mine at least 20-25% because she's cheaper than a therapist, and knows just as much about me. I just adore her!!!!

Terri

 

[minniecarousel]

My hairdresser is very special to me. She's seen me through perms (Egad - she wanted me to stop long before I did!). She started doing my Mom's hair and listened to me through all my Mom's illnesses. She is someone who understands how hard it's been since my Mom passed away.

(Plus, she has the best color formula for me!)

 

[starrzone]

I tip mine at least 20-25% because she's cheaper than a therapist, and knows just as much about me. I just adore her!!!!

Terri

Same with the hairdresser I posted about! She used to throw in a scalp massage with my shampoo before I got cut and colored, and I know that wasn't standard for a shampoo. She got tipped very well from me and deserved every penny!

 

[dancin Disney style]

They aren't hair people who happen to be good talkers; they are good talkers who happen to cut/style hair. They just get paid to do something productive while they are talking.

Sorry but you are way wrong on that one. You have to be good at what you do or else you will not have any clients. The beauty industry is reputation driven. I happen to be a rather shy person but I was taken aside many years ago when I started and was told that if I didn't start chatting a little with my clients they wouldn't come back no matter how good my work was. And BTW, I'm an award winning stylist and have worked very hard to get to the top of the heap so I take offence in the remark that I'm nothing more than a good talker.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

Most hair cutters/stylists are misunderstood.

They aren't hair people who happen to be good talkers; they are good talkers who happen to cut/style hair. They just get paid to do something productive while they are talking.

There is a restaurant in our town. It is a well-known German restaurant. I am convinced the guy opened this restaurant, not to serve good food, but to have a captive audience for his band each night.

ya, I am not caring for this either, I consider myself to be an artist! I went to art school before hairdressing school, and every cut, was a piece of work to me. so I definitely disagree!! I took a ton of pride in what I did and had the clientele to prove it!

 

[Buckalew11]

Sorry but you are way wrong on that one. You have to be good at what you do or else you will not have any clients. The beauty industry is reputation driven. I happen to be a rather shy person but I was taken aside many years ago when I started and was told that if I didn't start chatting a little with my clients they wouldn't come back no matter how good my work was. And BTW, I'm an award winning stylist and have worked very hard to get to the top of the heap so I take offence in the remark that I'm nothing more than a good talker.

I was told the exact same thing...27yrs. ago this month!! Now, I talk a lot. but these people are part of my life--like extended family but I love them more than extended family! I've been doing their hair for 27 yrs. in many, many cases! I love my clientele.

That post was an insult.

ya, I am not caring for this either, I consider myself to be an artist! I went to art school before hairdressing school, and every cut, was a piece of work to me. so I definitely disagree!! I took a ton of pride in what I did and had the clientele to prove it!

I don't keep notes except color formula. No haircutting notes,lol. If I can't tell what I did last time, shame on me. I don't take notes about my clients--I've worked with many hairdressers over the yrs. and have not seen anyone do that.
People schedule their next appointment before they leave the shop. When we make the appointment, if I give them a date and they say, "That's the day beforemy DH's b-day or something, I will jot a note down next to their name about that, "Mitch's b-day, the 10th" or something because otherwise I'd never remember that.