I left work the other day feeling as though I had just left beauty school, yes a Rocky like attitude of I can do anything, let me have at those clients. On the other hand, a train load of inexperience and naivete. The day did not start well with a relatively new client called because the demi-permanent color we did the other day was a little transparent on the gray hair. So, I did what I thought I needed to do, have her come back in and retouch the color. When she came in she suggested we play. I didn't have the time to play. So, we decided to tone the fettuccine size pieces with special effect colors, and retouch the level 5 base. I told her I was a bit concerned that every time I did her hair, it's not quite right it seemed. "But then it is."
This is the second time I have had to reappoint her because she wasn't happy. We agreed we refining what she wants her hair to look like. Her hair looked great when she left. Candy apple red, mixed with burgundy wine pieces, alternating with 9.3 and 8N, 9% developer. Pretty. We will have to drop her base to a level 4 next time.
Then two cancellations in the middle of my day. Fatigue started to work its way into my body. Then I had another stylists client sit in my chair for the first time, the other hairstylist is out on leave. Her silver hair, that we weaved with spaghetti size pieces with a level 5N 20 vol., with a hint of blue accent (she said it turned warm every time with a formulation of 5NN), alternating with 6.1 vol. The result was a navy blue where the 5N, blue accent was placed. Blue hair, it was beautiful and would have been right for many other clients of mine who love to play. But, not blue hair, not on this client. I could see the blue accent oxidizing immediately. I thought, "It will darken." And it did, but into a deep navy blue. My fear is that it will lighten to a shade of pale blue as she shampoos her hair. I've been doing hair 27 years,this should not have happened, not to this client. I think I was intimidated about seeing her. She is the kind of person that finds it hard to let go, who needs to have her fingers in the haircut, and blow-dry her own hair. I walked away from the chair as she did so. I alerted the other stylists, did I indeed she make the biggest mistake ever?
And to boot, I don't love what her and the other stylist are doing with her hair, so I was doing something I didn't believe looked good even in the best case scenario. It's not easy to see that I compromised my work, my ideas,and my sensibilities. I delicately said, "let's try something different, I think it could look better." But change is too scary for her, she is much to insecure. Or maybe I am too soft to insist she needs to change.
I wanted to leave the salon. I wanted to quit doing hair for a moment. I half expected her to call, and I suppose I still do. Humility comes up and works its way into my life once again. Well, suffice it to say, I think I sabotaged myself. And that is a difficult thing to look at.
The only saving grace was the primaries. What an exciting time in history!